JPH0641139Y2 - Water level indicator - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial field of application) The present invention relates to a water level indicator which can be recognized later by contacting with water.

(Prior art) Conventionally, to confirm the water level in rivers, lakes, groundwater, agricultural water, sewers, drains, etc., or to grasp the inundation damage status of stored items in the event of a typhoon or in a warehouse, etc. For the purpose of confirming contaminants, etc., a water level gauge with a rod-shaped body is used.

(Problems that the device is trying to solve) In the case of the above simple water level gauge, the water level at the time of observation can be confirmed, but the time when it is not observed, for example, the water level reached at night cannot be known. .

Such a drawback can be obtained by knowing the past ever-changing water level by using various electric devices for measuring the water level. However, since such a device is expensive, it cannot be used anywhere, and there is a problem that the use place is limited.

Therefore, there is a demand for a simple and inexpensive device that can easily know not only the water level at the time of observation but also the water level at the time when it is not observed.

The present inventors have completed the present invention as a result of various researches on the method of confirming the water level during non-observation that should meet the above demands.

(Means for Solving the Problems) That is, the present invention is a water swelling method in which a large number of water contact lines having an appropriate interval on an arbitrary rigid substrate surface are peeled, dropped or collapsed by contacting with water. A water level indicator for confirming the water level in a water area, which is characterized by being formed from a water-soluble resin.

(Preferred Embodiment) Next, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings which schematically show one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a view showing a part of the external appearance of the water level indicator 10 of the present invention. The water level indicator 10 of the present invention is a water resistant material such as an arbitrary rigid material such as wood, metal, or synthetic resin molding. Of a water-soluble material, preferably a rod-shaped body as a base material 1, and a large number of water contact lines 2 having appropriate intervals are provided on the surface thereof. When the water contact line 2 comes into contact with water, it peels off, It is characterized by being formed from a water-swellable resin that falls off or disintegrates.

That is, conventionally, a water level gauge such as that shown in the first drawing is publicly known, but with such a water level gauge, the water level at the time of observation can be confirmed, but in the past, that is, at the time of non-observation before the time of observation. The highest water level was not known. On the other hand, in the present invention, the water contact line 2 is formed of a water-swelling resin that has a different visual sensation from the line of the non-water contact part due to the water contact, so that the maximum water level reached during non-observation is set. It can be clearly confirmed.

In particular, by giving appropriate intervals to a large number of water contacting lines 2, the maximum water level during non-observation can be clearly confirmed. That is, when the water contact line 2 does not have an interval, that is, when the water contact line 2 is continuous, the contacted water reaches a position higher than the actual water contact position due to the capillary phenomenon and the permeation action, so that the maximum water level is reached. This is because the confirmation becomes unclear.

Generally, the water contact line 2 as described above is preferably provided in a straight line perpendicular to the length direction of the rod-shaped substrate 1. The line 2 may have any width, and the narrower the width, the better the display capability. It is precise, but may be wider if precision is not required. For example, a thin wire of about 0.5 mm to a strip of several cm is possible. Further, the water contact lines 2 may be arranged at any intervals as long as water does not penetrate between the lines 2, and generally, for example, an interval of several mm to several cm.

The water contact line 2 of the water level indicator 10 of the present invention has a different visual sensation upon contact with water.
However, in such a case, the object of the present invention may not be sufficiently achieved. In such a case, in order to prevent rainwater, night dew, etc. from coming into contact with the water contacting line 2, the base material 1 is made of a transparent material into a cylindrical or hollow prismatic shape, and the water contacting line 2 is provided inside thereof. By providing the above, the above problem can be easily solved. As long as such an action is achieved, the base material 1 has a pipe shape,
It may have any shape such as a prismatic shape or a flat plate shape, and in the example shown in the first illustration, a rain shield or the like may be provided on the top of the display body.

In the present invention, the material forming the water contact line is a water-swelling resin having a chemically or physically cross-linked portion, and examples thereof include powders such as agar and gelatin, starch-sodium polyacrylate graft product, starch- Chemistry of water-soluble resins such as polyacrylonitrile grafted product, cellulose-polyacrylic acid grafted product, vinyl alcohol-sodium acrylate copolymer, vinyl alcohol-sodium methacrylic acid copolymer, sodium polyacrylate, sodium salt of carboxymethyl cellulose, polyethylene oxide It is a physical bridge and a physical restraint.

Since such a water-swellable resin has a large water absorbency due to water contact, by forming a water contact line from these materials and a dye, etc., when this water contact line comes into contact with water, it is contained in the water contact line. Easily released water-soluble dyes, etc.
These materials significantly swell due to water absorption, and the water contact line can be easily peeled off from the base material and fall off.

Particularly preferred is a polymer in which a hydrophobic polymer chain or copolymer chain is bound to a polymer or copolymer having a hydrophilic group in the form of a block copolymer or a graft copolymer.

A particularly suitable water-swellable resin is (hydrophobic segment)-
It has a bonding form of (hydrophilic segment)-(hydrophobic segment), and a typical example thereof is (polystyrene)-(polybutadiene)-, as shown in Examples below.
It is obtained by adding thioglycolic acid, maleic anhydride, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid or the like to the double bond of the block copolymer of (polystyrene) or by addition-polymerizing it, and then neutralizing it with an alkali. In addition, a water-swellable resin having this binding type and a method for producing the same are described in JP-A-54-135836 disclosed by the present applicant.

By forming the water contact line from the water-swellable resin and the colorant etc. as described above, the formed water contact line swells due to water contact, peels off and falls off. It gives a different visual sensation from that of, and the maximum water level during non-observation can be easily confirmed later.

Further, the water level indicator of the present invention is intended to recognize the water contact position when it is not observed, and in order to make the confirmation clear, a colorant such as a dye or a pigment is added together with the water swelling resin as described above. Preference is given to using.

Further, the color of the colorant is preferably a color which can be clearly distinguished from the color of the substrate, and colorants of all colors such as white, blue, green, brown and black can be used. As the colorant, known colorants such as water-soluble dyes, oil-soluble dyes, disperse dyes, organic pigments and inorganic pigments can be used.

Examples of dyes include azo series such as monoazo, polyazo, and metal complex salt azo, anthraquinone series, indigo / thioindigo series, phthalocyanine series, triphenylmethane series, xanthene series, dioxazine series, methine series, naphthalimide series, perinone series. Etc. The organic pigments include phthalocyanine-based, azo-based, condensed azo-based, anthraquinone-based, perinone-perylene-based, indigo-thioindigo-based, isoindolinone-based, azomethineazo-based, dioxazine-based, quinacridone-based, aniline black-based, tri-based. Phenylmethane-based, xanthene-based, carbon black, etc., and inorganic pigment-based materials include titanium oxide-based, iron oxide-based, iron hydroxide-based, chromium oxide-based, spinel-type fired pigments, lead chromate-based, chromate bar. Million series, dark blue series, etc.

In addition to the water-swellable resin and the colorant as described above, a material which is not hydrophilic, for example, a hydrophobic synthetic resin or a plasticizer is also used in order to improve the adhesion of the water contact line to the substrate. I can.

Examples of such hydrophobic synthetic resins include homo- or copolymers of acrylic acid esters and methacrylic acid esters, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, ethylene-vinyl acetate-
Vinyl alcohol copolymer, butyral resin, polyvinyl acetate, vinyl chloride resin, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyamide, polyester, polyurethane, alkyd resin, fibrin acetate, fibrin acetate butyrate, shrack,
Examples of the rubber-like substance such as rosin ester are natural rubber, recycled rubber, chlorinated rubber, cyclized rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, butadiene-nitrile rubber, isoprene rubber, chloroprene rubber, ethylene-propylene rubber, butyl rubber, acrylic rubber, Known examples include urethane rubber and silicone rubber, and these copolymers include random copolymers, AB type and ABA type block copolymers, and the like.

As a plasticizer, dibutyl phthalate, dioctyl furarate, dioctyl adipate, dioctyl sebacate,
Conventionally known ones such as tricresyl phosphate and process oil can be used.

Further, in order to further increase the hydrophilicity of the water contact line, a surfactant can be used in combination, and such surfactants include polyethylene glycol alkyl ethers, polyethylene glycol alkylaryl ethers, polyethylene glycol higher fatty acid esters, sorbitan. Higher fatty acid ester, polyethylene glycol-polypropylene glycol-
Nonionic activators such as polyethylene glycol block copolymer, polyethylene glycol higher aliphatic amine,
Sulfates, phosphates, higher fatty acids, alkyl sulfonic acids, alkylaryl sulfonic acids, alkyl sulfates, ammonium salts of acids of alkyl phosphates, alkali metal salts, mono- or polyamine salts, alkanolamine salts, morpholine salts Such as anionic activators, higher aliphatic primary, secondary, tertiary amines and quaternary ammonium salts and their salts, such as hydrochlorides, acetates, higher fatty acid salts such as stearic acid, oleic acid, etc. A sexually active agent.

The water contact line of the water level indicator of the present invention is made by applying or sticking the hydrophilic substance as described above to the substrate together with other substances as necessary. The base material is selected according to the purpose of use and has, for example, a thin plate shape, a thick plate shape, a columnar shape, a rod shape, a pipe shape, or the like, and may be a part of an existing building. .

As the material of the rigid base material, any material may be used as long as it has water resistance. For example, as a plastic molded article,
Vinyl chloride resin, styrene resin, acrylonitrile-
Styrene resin, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene resin, polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, polycarbonate, polyester, unsaturated polyester,
Examples thereof include molded articles such as polyvinyl acetal, acetyl cellulose, and phenol resin, and other molded articles such as wood, stone, concrete, and asphalt, and structures.

The water contact line is preferably formed by preparing a coating agent or paint from the water-swellable resin as described above. The method for preparing these coating agents and paints is the same as the conventional method for preparing coating agents and paints. However, the original purpose of the water contact line is to contact with water to change its visual feeling, for example, the water contact line absorbs water, swells, peels off, falls off, and collapses to change the visual feeling. Therefore, the physical strength of the coating film is not required as in the case of a normal coating material or paint. When the water-swellable resin does not have a film-forming ability or a sticking ability or is low, or when it is desired to control the performance after contact with water, the hydrophobic synthetic resin or rubber-like substance as described above is used. Is preferably used in an amount that does not excessively reduce the hydrophilicity of the water contact line.

Further, in the case of a coating material or a paint, addition of a hydrophobic synthetic resin or a rubber-like substance improves the suitability for coating such as adjusting the viscosity. The water-swelling resin is obtained as a coating material in advance during synthesis, or the water-swelling resin is used together with a medium such as a synthetic resin, a rubber-like substance, an additive and an organic solvent in a homogenizer, a high speed mixer, a ball mill, a mixing roll, a kneader, and a kneader. Dissolution or dispersion is performed by using a known device used in the production of coating materials, paints, etc., such as an extruder. In forming the water contact line, the coating material and the paint medium are also a solution or dispersion type using a solvent and a solid type, a water-swellable resin is also a liquid, a solvent dissolving type,
There are solvent fine dispersion type and powder type, and there are various methods such as coating and volatilizing and drying the solvent, hot-melting, and sticking with an adhesive. Select the above device.

When using other substances in the water-swellable resin, especially when using a synthetic resin, a rubber-like substance, the content of the water-swellable resin is 100 to 10 wt%, preferably 100 to 30 wt% Is. These also vary depending on the performance required for the water contact line and the materials used, especially the properties of the water-swellable resin.

(Operation / Effect) According to the present invention as described above, since the water contact line of the water level indicator of the present invention is made of a water-swelling resin whose visual feeling is changed by the water contact, the water level of the present invention If you use the display, without using any complicated and expensive observation equipment,
The maximum water level during non-observation can be easily confirmed at any time.

Further, since such a water contact line is provided on the rigid base material by adding a rubber-like substance, a coloring agent, etc. to the water-swelling resin as needed, the water level indicator of the present invention can be easily and You can always supply the required amount at a low cost.

In addition, the material and shape of the base material of the water level indicator of the present invention can be arbitrarily selected and created, and can be installed at any place or on an object, such as rivers, lakes, groundwater, agricultural water, sewers, It can be effectively used for grasping the water depth and water level of drains, etc. and grasping the inundation status of warehouses, unmanned structures, etc.

(Examples) Next, the present invention will be specifically described with reference to Examples. In the text, parts and% are based on weight.

Example 1 Thioglycolic acid was added to 90% of the double bonds of a block copolymer (polystyrene component content 30%) having a bond form of (polystyrene)-(polybutadiene)-(polystyrene) and neutralized with caustic soda. A water-swellable resin that was made water-swellable (swelling degree about 50 times) was prepared.

400 parts of 80 parts of the water-swellable resin dispersed in a toluene-cyclohexane-dioxane mixed solvent, 100 parts of a toluene solution of butyl rubber (solid content 20%) and 5 parts of a blue oil-soluble dye (phthalocyanine solvent blue) A blue coating composition was made by stirring and mixing using a homogenizer.

Separately, a screen was prepared so that a 3 mm coated portion and a 2 mm non-coated portion had vertical stripes. Length 1m,
The above blue coating composition was screen-coated on an acrylic plate having a width of 30 cm and a thickness of 2 mm to form a water contact line. 130 after predrying at 50 ° C
It was dried at ℃ for 30 minutes.

The above-mentioned colored acrylic plate was cut into a thin rod shape having a width of 2 cm and a length of 1 m so that the water contacting line was in the horizontal direction to obtain a water level indicator of the present invention as shown in the first illustration. This was set in water with a depth of 50 cm. The water contact line below the water surface swelled in 20 minutes and expanded in the lateral direction, and the water contact line separated from the acrylic plate surface in 10 to 20 minutes. Next, when the water level indicator submerged in water is pulled up, the water contact line below the water surface falls off, and the water contact line above the water surface remains, so the position of the water contact portion is clear. Confirmed. In this way, rivers, lakes,
The water level of agricultural water was measured.

Example 2 Two water level indicators of the above Example 1 were attached to each other with a 1 mm spacer so that the water contact lines face each other, to obtain another water level indicator of the present invention. This is suitable for long-term confirmation of the maximum water level because the water contact line does not change due to precipitation even when installed in rivers.

Example 3 Polyethylene glycol (PEG) -tolylene diisocyanate (TDI) -polybutadiene (PB) bonding type water-swellable resin (ratio of PEG / TDI / PB is 82/15/3 by weight, swelling degree is about 13 times) ) 90 parts, acrylic rubber 10 parts and red azo pigment (C.
5 parts of I. Pigment Red 112) was decomposed and dispersed in 300 parts of a mixed solvent of butyl acetate and butanol of 60/40 to prepare a red coating solution.

Using the same screen as used in Example 1, length 1 m,
The film was screen-coated on a polyester film having a width of 30 cm. After preliminary drying at 50 ° C., it was dried at 130 ° C. for 30 minutes to form a water contact line.

Then, the colored polyester film is cut into a thin ribbon having a width of 2 cm and a length of 1 m so that the water contacting line is in the lateral direction, and a double-sided adhesive tape is attached to the back surface of the present invention as shown in FIG. It was used as a water level indicator. This was attached to a plastic rod and set in water with a depth of 30 cm. The water contact line below the water surface swelled in about 30 minutes, and the water contact line peeled off from the polyester film in about 30 minutes. When the water level indicator submerged in water is pulled up, the water contact line below the water surface falls off, and the water contact line above the water surface remains, so the position of the water contact portion is clearly confirmed. Was done.

In addition, the above water level indicator was attached to the grain bags stored in the grain warehouse, and measures were taken to identify contamination during flooding such as flooding.

In place of the water-swellable resin of Examples 1 and 2, a water-swellable resin (swelling degree about 400 times) obtained by crosslinking a mixture of acrylic acid and sodium acrylate, polyvinyl alcohol (saponification degree 88 %), Gelatin powder, starch powder, agar powder, polyethylene glycol-polypropylene glycol-polyethylene glycol (polyethylene glycol 80%), polyethylene glycol distearate,
Using polyethylene glycol nonyl phenyl ether and bentonite, a water level indicator could be made in the same manner.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing the appearance of a water level indicator of the present invention. 1; Base material, 2; Water contact line, 10; Water level indicator

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Shigeru Sakamoto 3336 Hara-shi, Ageo-shi, Saitama (56) References: 61-63106 (JP, U) 59-23630 (JP, U) 50-7629 (JP, B1)

Claims (2)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A large number of water contact lines having an appropriate space on the surface of an arbitrary rigid substrate are formed from a water-swellable resin which peels, falls off or disintegrates when contacted with water. A water level indicator to confirm the water level of the water area to be operated. 2. A water-swellable resin (hydrophobic segment)-
The water level indicator according to claim (1), which is a block copolymer or graft copolymer having a (hydrophilic segment)-(hydrophobic segment) bonding form.