JPH06336910A - Liquid level detector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an oil level gauge which can always produce a fixed negative pressure for exact measurement. CONSTITUTION:A cylinder 8 is jointed to the top end part of a pipe 7. A piston 15 is disposed inside the cylinder 8. Inside the cylinder 18, a lower stopper 11 and an upper stopper 13 are formed, and the piston 15 is constituted so as to move, sliding between the lower stopper 11 and the upper stopper 13. By making the piston 15 move from the lower stopper 11 to the upper stopper 13, a fixed negative pressure occurs inside the pipe 7 and the cylinder 8. By the negative pressure, engine oil is sucked from the bottom end part of the pipe 7, and the liquid level in the engine oil is detected based on the sucked liquid.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid amount detecting device for measuring the amount of liquid such as engine oil stored in an oil pan or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, an engine 31 is provided with a cylinder block 32, and a cylinder head 33 is fixed to the upper portion of the cylinder block 32. An oil pan 34 is connected to the lower portion of the cylinder block 32. The engine oil 35 is stored in the oil pan 34.

On the side surface of the cylinder block 32, an oil level gauge guide 3 for guiding an oil level gauge 36 for measuring the amount of engine oil 35 into an oil pan 34.
7 is attached. This oil level gauge guide 3
7 is curved due to design restrictions and the like.

The oil level gauge 36 is formed of a bendable thin plate-shaped or rod-shaped member. The oil level gauge 36 is inserted into an oil level gauge guide 37, and the engine oil 3 attached to the oil level gauge 36.
The amount of the engine oil 35 in the oil pan 34 is measured from the position of 5.

However, since the oil level gauge guide 37 is curved, the oil level gauge 3
There is a problem that the insertability of 6 is bad. Further, in order to prevent the insertability of the oil level gauge 36 from deteriorating, the oil level gauge guide 37 must be provided as linearly as possible, which reduces the degree of freedom in design.

Therefore, an oil level gauge for measuring the amount of engine oil 35 in the oil pan 34 without using the oil level gauge 36 formed of a thin plate or rod-shaped member is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 1-84025. ing.

This oil level gauge includes a flexible first hollow rod, a transparent second hollow rod into which one end of the first hollow rod is fitted and fixed, and a second hollow rod. And a bellows (negative pressure generating portion) mounted on the other end side of the. Then, the second hollow rod is provided with a scale. Further, a small hole is formed at the upper end of the bellows.
At this time, by inserting the oil level gauge into the oil pan to a predetermined position and contracting the bellows with the small hole closed, the engine pressure in the oil pan is reduced by the negative pressure generated. Is sucked into. When the engine oil sucked into the oil level gauge is equal to or larger than the scale of the second hollow rod, it is determined that the engine oil in the oil pan is filled to the specified amount, and the engine oil is equal to or smaller than the scale. It is judged that the specified amount of engine oil is not satisfied.

The engine oil sucked into the oil level gauge is released from the negative pressure by the bellows by opening the small hole of the bellows, and is discharged to the outside of the oil level gauge, for example, in an oil pan. Will be returned.

[0009]

However, in order to normally generate a negative pressure by the bellows, the operator closes the small hole with his / her finger to contract the bellows, and therefore the contraction degree is slightly increased. However, there is a problem that it is difficult to always generate a constant negative pressure.

The engine oil sucked into the oil level gauge by this negative pressure releases the finger from the small hole to release the negative pressure and returns to the oil pan. At this time, a part of the engine oil adhered to the inner wall of the oil level gauge such as the bellows and the second hollow rod and could not be reliably removed. As a result, when the engine oil adheres to the inner wall of the second hollow rod, it becomes oil stain and adheres to the vicinity of the scale, which makes it difficult to read the scale. Further, when continuously measuring the amount of engine oil, there is a problem that accurate measurement cannot be performed if part of the engine oil near the scale is still attached.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and a first object of the present invention is to provide a liquid amount detecting device which can always generate a constant negative pressure and can perform accurate measurement. To provide. A second object is to provide a liquid detection device capable of surely removing the liquid sucked by the liquid amount detection device and performing accurate measurement.

[0012]

In order to solve the above problems, a first aspect of the present invention is to connect a base end of an introduction pipe to a cylinder and to dispose a piston in the cylinder, and to dispose the piston in the piston. Is slid to bring the inside of the cylinder into a negative pressure state and to connect an operation member for introducing the liquid into the cylinder in which the piston slides from the front end opening portion of the introduction pipe, and to regulate the sliding range of the piston in the cylinder. The gist of this is to provide a regulating member.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the base end of the introducing pipe is connected to the cylinder, a piston is arranged in the cylinder, and the piston is slid on the piston to introduce a negative pressure in the cylinder for introduction. An operation member that introduces liquid into the cylinder in which the piston slides from the tip opening of the pipe is connected, and the cylinder portion in the sliding range of the piston serves as the liquid amount display unit, and the liquid amount display unit is at least a transparent material. The outline is that it was formed in.

[0014]

Therefore, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the piston moves within the sliding range regulated by the regulating member provided in the cylinder, so that a constant negative pressure is always generated in the cylinder to introduce the introduction pipe. Liquid is introduced from the tip opening of the. Then, the liquid amount is detected from the liquid introduced at the constant negative pressure.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the piston moves while sliding on the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder, whereby the liquid attached to the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder is removed by the piston. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the liquid from adhering to and dirty the liquid amount display portion, and to keep the inside of the cylinder easily visible from the outside.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An embodiment embodying the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS.
It will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the engine 1 is provided with a cylinder block 2, and a cylinder head 3 is fixed to the upper portion of the cylinder block 2. An oil pan 4 is connected to the lower portion of the cylinder block 2. At this time, the engine oil 5 as a liquid is stored inside the oil pan 4.

An oil level gauge 6 is mounted on the side surface of the cylinder block 2 as a liquid amount detecting device for measuring the amount of engine oil 5. The oil level gauge 6 is provided with a pipe 7 as a hollow introduction pipe made of metal extending in the vertical direction. The pipe 7 is attached to the side surface of the cylinder block 2 in a curved state in order to avoid various pipes attached to the side surface of the cylinder block 2. Further, the lower side of the pipe 7 is inserted into the oil pan 4, and the lower end as a tip is located near the bottom of the oil pan 4.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a cylinder 8 is provided at the upper end as the base end of the pipe 7.
That is, negative pressure is generated by the cylinder 8, and the engine oil 5 is sucked into the cylinder 8.

The cylinder 8 is provided with a bottomed cylindrical case 9 made of a transparent synthetic resin or the like. A through hole 10 is provided in the bottom surface 9a of the case 9, and the pipe 7 is fitted in the through hole 10.
That is, the oil pan 4 and the case 9 are in communication with each other via the pipe 7. That is, the engine oil 5 stored in the oil pan 4 can flow into the case 9 via the pipe 7, and the engine oil 5 flowing into the case 9 can flow into the oil pan 4 via the pipe 7.
Can be leaked to.

A lower stopper 11 as an annular regulating member is formed below the inside of the case 9 over the entire lower portion of the inner peripheral surface 9b. Further, a circular cap 12 is detachably attached to the outer periphery of the upper portion of the case 9 by being screwed with a screw or the like. The cap 12 closes the upper portion of the case 9. On the inner peripheral surface of the cap 12, an upper stopper 13 as a cylindrical regulating member is formed over the entire circumference of the inner peripheral surface. Then, in the state where the cap 12 is attached to the case 9, the gap between the lower stopper 11 and the upper stopper 13 is always kept at a predetermined gap. A circular through hole 14 is formed in the center of the upper surface of the cap 12.

In the case 9, a disc-shaped piston 15 is arranged above the lower stopper 11 so as to be slidable on the inner peripheral surface 9b. That is, the piston 15 can reciprocate while sliding between the lower stopper 11 and the upper stopper 13. A threaded hole 15a made of a female screw is formed in the center of the piston 15 so as to penetrate therethrough. A lower end of a support shaft 16 as an operating member having male threads formed on both ends is screwed into the screw hole 15a. The upper end of the support shaft 16 is projected to the outside of the cap 12 through the through hole 14. The upper end of the support shaft 16 is screwed onto a disc-shaped pressing plate 17. A through hole 16a is formed in a substantially central portion of the support shaft 16, and the through hole 16a is configured to communicate the outside air with the inside of the case 9.

A liquid quantity display section 18 for confirming the quantity of engine oil 5 sucked into the cylinder 8 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the case 9, and a plurality of liquid quantity display sections 18 are provided on the liquid quantity display section 18. A linear scale S composed of (five in this embodiment) is formed. These scales S are formed at a predetermined position between the lower stopper 11 and the upper stopper 13 at predetermined intervals. The graduation S located at the center of the graduation S is formed slightly longer to form a reference graduation (hereinafter referred to as a reference graduation) S0.

Next, the operation and effect of the oil level gauge constructed as described above will be described. 2 and 3
In order to measure the amount of the engine oil 5 stored in the oil pan 4, the operator pushes the pressing plate 17 with the through hole 16a open to push the piston 1
5 is lowered until it contacts the lower stopper 11. At this time, the oil surface of the engine oil 5 in the pipe 7 and the oil surface of the engine oil 5 in the oil pan 4 are kept flush with each other.

From this state, the through hole 16a is closed with a finger or the like, and the pressing plate 17 is pulled to raise the piston 15 until it comes into contact with the upper stopper 13. Then,
The space formed by the lower surface of the piston 15 and the bottom surface portion 9a and the inside of the pipe 8 have a negative pressure. And according to this negative pressure,
The engine oil 5 in the oil pan 4 is sucked into the case 9 of the cylinder 8 via the pipe 7. At this time, if the oil level of the engine oil 5 sucked into the case 9 is higher than the reference scale S0, it is determined that the engine oil 5 is filled in the oil pan 4 by a specified amount. If the oil level of the engine oil 5 is lower than the reference scale S0, it is determined that the engine oil 5 in the oil pan 4 does not meet the specified amount (is insufficient). Furthermore, the standard scale S
The degree S of the engine oil 5 being filled and the degree of lacking the engine oil 5 are determined by the scales S formed above or below zero.

The engine oil sucked into the case 9 is released from the through hole 16a, and the engine oil is removed.
Is released, the negative pressure is released and the case 9 flows into the oil pan 4 through the pipe 7. From this state, by further pressing the pressing plate 17,
The outer peripheral surface of the piston 15 descends while sliding on the inner peripheral surface 9b of the case 9. At this time, the outer peripheral surface of the piston 15 descends while reliably removing the engine oil 5 adhering to the inner peripheral surface 9b.

According to the oil level gauge 6 constructed as described above, by moving the piston 15 from the lower stopper 11 to the upper stopper 13 by a predetermined distance, the cylinder 8 is kept at a constant negative pressure. Can be generated. Therefore, since the engine oil 5 is always sucked into the case 9 at a constant negative pressure, it is possible to prevent the suction amount of the engine oil 5 from being different due to the variation of the negative pressure. At this time, since the case 9 is formed transparent, the amount of the engine oil 5 sucked into the case 9 can be easily visually recognized from the outside. Then, it is possible to determine whether or not the engine oil 5 in the oil pan 4 is filled with a specified amount by the reference scale S0, and by using each scale S, the engine oil 5 can be determined.
It is possible to judge the degree of satisfaction or lack of.

Further, during the measurement, the piston 15 is slid between the inner peripheral surfaces 9b of the case 9, so that the engine oil 5 adhering to the inner peripheral surface 9b can be reliably removed. Furthermore, after sucking the engine oil 5 into the cylinder 8 and then removing the cap 12 or the like, the engine oil 5 attached to the lower surface of the piston 15 can be directly confirmed, and the property of the engine oil 5 can be known. .

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and a part of the construction can be appropriately modified and carried out as follows without departing from the spirit of the invention. (1) In the above-described embodiment, the operator pulls the pressing plate 17 upward with the finger or the like closing the through hole 16a to generate a negative pressure in the case 9 of the cylinder 8 or the like.
As shown in FIG. 4, the pressing plate 17 may be automatically raised while the through hole 16a is closed.

As shown in FIG. 4, the support shaft 16 is rotatably provided with a plate 19 for closing the through hole 16a. At this time, the plate 19 is rotated upward to open the through hole 16a, and is rotated downward to close the through hole 16a. The plate 19 is always rotated downward due to gravity or the like, and is held in a state in which the through hole 16a is closed. Further, a spring 20 is interposed between the pressing plate 17 and the cap 12, and the spring 20 constantly urges the pressing plate 17 upward so that the piston 15 is held in contact with the upper stopper 13. There is. At this time, when the worker pushes the pressing plate 17 downward against the urging force of the spring 20, the air in the case 9 escapes through the through hole 16a, so that the positive pressure causes the plate 19 to move upward. It rotates to open the through hole 16a. Then, when the piston 15 contacts the lower stopper 11, the operator stops pushing the pressing plate 17. Then, since the positive pressure due to the air that escapes from the through hole 16a disappears, the plate 19 rotates downward and closes the through hole 16a. Furthermore, the pressing plate 17
Is raised by the biasing force of the spring 20, the piston 15
Automatically rises until it contacts the upper stopper 13. At this time, the plate 19 is in a state of being sucked by the negative pressure generated in the case 9, and surely closes the through hole 16a.

Therefore, for example, an operator manually presses the pressing plate 17
Is pushed until the piston 15 contacts the lower stopper 11. Then, after the piston 15 comes into contact with the lower stopper 11, the operator removes his / her hand from the pressing plate 17,
With the through hole 16a closed by the plate 19, the piston 15 can be automatically raised by the biasing force of the spring 20 until it comes into contact with the upper stopper 13. Therefore, a worker can easily generate a predetermined negative pressure in the case 9 of the cylinder 8, the pipe 7 and the like only by pushing the pressing plate 17 until the piston 15 contacts the lower stopper 11.

(2) In the above embodiment, the piston 15
An O-ring or the like may be fitted to the outer periphery of the inner peripheral surface 9b of the case 9 to more reliably seal the outer periphery of the piston 15. At this time, the piston 15 moves the inner peripheral surface 9
When sliding along b, this O-ring can reliably remove the engine oil adhering to the inner peripheral surface 9b.

(3) In the above embodiment, only the reference scale S0 may be formed on the outer peripheral surface of the case 9. Further, each graduation S may be configured to show how many liters of engine oil 5 is stored in the oil pan 4.

(4) In the above embodiment, the case 9 as a whole is formed transparent, but only the liquid amount display portion 18 may be formed transparent. (5) In the above embodiment, the pipe 7 made of metal is used as the hollow body, but it may be made of a flexible tube or the like.

(6) In the above embodiment, the piston 15
The support shaft 16 and the support shaft 16 may be integrally formed. (7) In the above embodiment, the lower stopper 11 and the upper stopper 13 are annularly formed on the entire circumference of the inner peripheral surface of the cap 12 and the inner peripheral surface 9b of the case 9. This may be formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cap 12 and a part of the inner peripheral surface 9b of the case 9.

(8) In the above embodiment, the lower stopper, which serves as a regulating member for regulating the sliding range of the piston 15, is formed on the inner peripheral surface 9b of the case 9, but its forming position is determined based on the amount of oil introduced. You may change suitably. Of course, the lower stopper 11 may be the bottom surface 9a of the case 9. Similarly, as for the upper stopper 13, the bottom of the cap 12 may be used as the upper stopper 13.

(9) In the above embodiment, the piston 15
It is not necessary to provide the regulating member for regulating the sliding range of the inside of the cylinder 8, and for example, an annular lower stopper 11 may be formed on the upper surface of the cap 12 as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. In this case, the upper stopper 13 is the bottom 1 of the cap 12.
2a.

(10) In the above embodiment, the invention of claim 1 for always generating a constant negative pressure is not limited to the one in which a liquid such as oil is introduced into the cylinder 8. . For example, it can be applied to a type in which the pipe 7 as an introduction pipe is made transparent and the magnitude of negative pressure is adjusted to measure the liquid amount on the transparent pipe 7. Further, it is also applied to a type in which a liquid detection sensor is provided in the cylinder 8 or the pipe 7 and the liquid introduced by negative pressure is detected by the liquid detection sensor without using a transparent material for the liquid amount display portion. be able to. (11) In the above embodiment, other liquids other than the engine oil 5 may be measured.

[0038]

As described above in detail, according to the first aspect of the invention, a constant negative pressure can be constantly generated, and there is an excellent effect that accurate measurement can be performed. In addition, the second purpose is that there is an excellent effect that the liquid sucked into the liquid detection device can be surely removed and accurate measurement can be performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing an engine in an embodiment embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the inside of an oil pan in one embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a cylinder in one embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a cylinder in another example.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing an engine in a conventional example.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing an oil pan in a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

5 ... Engine oil as liquid, 7 ... Pipe as introduction pipe, 8 ... Cylinder, 11 ... Lower stopper as regulating member, 13 ... Upper stopper as regulating member, 15 ...
Piston, 16 ... Spindle as an operating member, 18 ... Liquid amount display section.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A base end of an introduction pipe is connected to a cylinder, a piston is arranged in the cylinder, and the piston is slid on the piston to make the inside of the cylinder a negative pressure state. A liquid amount detecting device, which is connected to an operating member for introducing liquid from a portion into a cylinder in which a piston slides, and which is provided with a regulating member for regulating the sliding range of the piston in the cylinder. 2. A distal end opening of the introducing pipe, wherein a base end of the introducing pipe is connected to a cylinder, a piston is arranged in the cylinder, and the piston is slid on the piston to make a negative pressure inside the cylinder. A liquid is formed by connecting an operating member that introduces liquid into the cylinder in which the piston slides, and using the cylinder part in the sliding range of the piston as the liquid amount display part, and the liquid amount display part made of at least a transparent material. Quantity detection device.