JPH07218320A - Liquid contact member - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To certainly detect a liquid by a sensor regardless of the arranging posture of a liquid contact member while preventing the leak of the liquid from the water level detection sensor part of the liquid contact part by integrally molding a liquid contact main body and a light guide material from a synthetic resin. CONSTITUTION:A tank main body 20 consists of a container part 22 and a lid part 24 and the lid part 24 is fixed to the container 22 by a bolt or a small screw through a packing. The whole of the lid part 24 is integrated with the light guide material part of a water level detection sensor 30 and the lid part 24 is constituted of a light previous synthetic resin and a wedge-shaped protruding part 32 is formed to the rear surface thereof while a recessed part 34 is formed to the upper surface of the lid part 24 and an element unit 36 consisting of a light emission element and a light detection element is arranged therein. When the leading end of a light guide material comes into contact with a liquid, the light from the light emission element transmits through the leading end surface of the light guide material and is not detected by the light detection element. When the leading end of the light guide material does not come into contact with the liquid, the light from the light emitting element is reflected from the leading end surface of the light guide material to be detected by the photodetector element. Therefore, the level in a liquid contact member main body can be detected on the basis of the output of the photodetector element.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid contact member whose inner surface is in contact with a liquid, such as a tank, a pipe, and a joint, and more particularly to a liquid contact member equipped with a sensor for detecting an internal liquid.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A float type sensor for detecting the vertical movement of a float has been conventionally used as a sensor for detecting the liquid level of a tank or the like, but it is apt to cause a failure due to corrosion or adhesion of foreign matter. In addition, it is necessary to mount the sensor in the vertical direction with respect to the float movement direction, which limits the mounting position. Further, there is a problem that the liquid surface cannot be detected when the tank is tilted.

There is a system in which a pair of electrodes is arranged in the pipe to detect the presence or absence of water in the pipe and the continuity is checked, but there is an inconvenience such as the need for perfect insulation. .

A tank shown in FIG. 8 is known as a tank provided with another sensor for detecting the internal liquid surface level. In FIG. 8, a rod-shaped light guide member 12 made of glass or translucent synthetic resin is inserted in the upper part of the tank body 10. The tip of the light guide member 12 has a wedge shape with a crossing angle of 90 ° in cross section. A light emitting element 14 and a light receiving element 16 are provided at the rear end of the light guide member 12. The light guide material 12 has a smaller refractive index than water.

When there is no water inside the tank body 10, as shown in FIG. 8A, the light from the light emitting element 14 is reflected twice by the tip surface of the light guide member 12 and is reflected by the light receiving element 16. To reach. When the liquid level inside the tank body 10 reaches the tip of the light guide member, the light from the light emitting element 14 passes through the liquid as shown in FIG. 8B, and the light receiving element 16 receives the light. do not do.

Therefore, it can be detected from the amount of light received by the light receiving element 16 whether the liquid level inside the tank body 10 has reached the lower end of the light guide member 12.

[0007]

In the conventional tank with the liquid level detection sensor shown in FIG. 8, there is a risk of liquid leaking from the joint between the light guide member 12 and the tank body 10. Of course, the possibility of leakage can be reduced by interposing the packing, but after a long period of time, the packing deteriorates and the liquid easily leaks. In particular, since the light guide member 12 is a rod-shaped member having a relatively small diameter, it is easy to make the packing watertightly adhere to both the outer peripheral surface of the light guide member and the inner peripheral surface of the light guide member mounting hole of the tank body. is not.

[0008]

A liquid contact member according to claim 1 is
The liquid-contacting member main body has an inner surface in contact with the liquid, and a liquid detection sensor for detecting the liquid in the liquid-contacting member main body. The liquid detection sensor has a tip surface inside the liquid-contacting member main body. It has an exposed light guide material, a light emitting element which is provided at a rear portion of the light guide material and projects light toward the tip surface, and a light receiving element which receives reflected light from the tip surface. In the liquid contacting member, the liquid contacting member body and the light guide member are integrally molded of synthetic resin.

A liquid contact member according to a second aspect of the present invention is the liquid contact member according to the first aspect, wherein the liquid contact member body is a tank, a pipe or a joint.

[0010]

When the tip of the light guide member in the liquid contact member body is in contact with the liquid, the light from the light emitting element passes through the tip surface of the light guide member,
No light is received by the light receiving element. If the liquid is not in contact with the tip of the light guide member, the light from the light emitting element is reflected by the tip surface and is received by the light receiving element. Therefore, the level inside the liquid contact member body can be detected by the output of this light receiving element.

This sensor can reliably detect liquid regardless of the mounting posture.

The light guide member of this sensor is formed integrally with the liquid contact member body, and there is no possibility of liquid leaking between the light guide member and the liquid contact member body.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the internal liquid detection sensor can be installed in a watertight manner in the tank, the pipe or the pipe joint.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a hot water tank for a hot water cleaning apparatus according to an embodiment, FIG. 1 (a) is an overall sectional view, and FIG.

The tank body 20 includes a container portion 22 and a lid portion 24.
The lid portion 24 is made up of
It is fixed to 2 with bolts and screws. The lid 24 may be welded to the container 22 by ultrasonic welding or the like.

A heater 26 and a temperature sensor 2 are attached to the lid portion 24.
And 8 are attached. In addition, a water level detection sensor 30 is integrally provided on the lid portion 24.

The lid portion 24 is made of translucent synthetic resin, and a wedge-shaped convex portion 32 is formed on the lower surface thereof. Above the convex portion 32, a concave portion 34 is formed on the upper surface of the lid portion 24, and an element unit 36 including a light emitting element and a light receiving element is installed in the concave portion 34.

Incidentally, tap water is supplied to this tank,
The heated hot water is supplied to the hot water washing nozzle of the human buttocks provided on the toilet bowl.

The water level detection sensor 30 is for preventing empty heating, and when the sensor 30 does not detect water, the power supply to the heater 26 is cut off.

In the hot water tank of FIG. 1, the lid portion 24
Is integrated with the light guide material portion of the sensor 30,
As shown in FIG. 2, the collar portion 38 is integrally formed with the light guide material of the sensor around the sensor 30A, and even if the collar portion 38 is welded to the lid portion 24 or is watertightly fixed through the packing. good.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a main part of a tank of a hot water cleaning apparatus according to another embodiment.

In this embodiment, the light guide member 40 of the water level detecting sensor 30B is integrated with the lid portion 24 by insert molding when the lid portion 24 is molded. The tip of the light guide member 40 has a wedge shape.

In the tank shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the lid 24 is provided with a water level detection sensor, but the water level detection sensor may be provided above the container section 22.

FIG. 4 is a system diagram of a bubble bath (jet bath) device. A suction port 46 and a bubble jetting nozzle 48 are provided on the side wall surface of the bathtub 44, and the suction port 46 and the bubble jetting nozzle 48 are formed. It connects to the pump 50 by piping 52 and 54.

As shown in FIG. 5 which is a sectional view taken along the line VV in FIG. 4, a sensor 56 is integrally provided on the pipe 52. The pipe 52 is made of a translucent synthetic resin, and a wedge-shaped convex portion 58 is provided on the upper portion of the inner surface thereof. Further, the recess 60 is provided on the upper part of the outer surface of the pipe,
An element unit 62 having a light emitting element and a light receiving element is installed in the recess 60.

The sensor 56 can detect the water level in the pipe 52. When the sensor 56 does not detect water, the operation of the pump 50 is stopped, and idling is prevented.

When the water level detecting sensor is provided in the pipe, the water level detecting sensor 30B may be integrated with the pipe 64 by insert molding when forming the pipe 64, as shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment in which a water level detecting sensor is provided in the joint. The joint main body 70 is entirely made of translucent synthetic resin, and the water level detecting sensor 56 is provided on the upper surface thereof.
Is provided. Other symbols in FIG. 7 indicate the same parts as in FIG.

Even in the case of this joint 70, the sensor may be integrated with the joint body by insert molding as in the case of FIG.

In the tanks, pipes, and joints shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, there is no water leakage from the sensor portion, and the water level is surely maintained for a long period of time regardless of their installation postures. Can be detected by the detection sensor.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the tips of the convex portions 32 and 58 and the tip of the light guide member 40 are both wedge-shaped, but as shown in FIG. good. Reference numeral 90 in FIG. 9 indicates the tip of the light guide material.

The present invention can be applied to various liquid contact members other than tanks, pipes, and joints.

[0033]

As described above, the liquid contact member of the present invention does not leak liquid from the water level detecting sensor portion, and can reliably detect liquid for a long period of time regardless of the installation position of the liquid contact member. Can be detected with.

According to the second aspect, such an effect can be obtained in the tank, the pipe or the joint.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a tank according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part of the tank according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of the tank according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a system diagram of a bubble bath apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a pipe according to an embodiment.

6 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a joint according to an example.

FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a tank according to a conventional example.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a shape of a tip of a convex portion or a light guide member.

[Explanation of symbols]

 20 Tank Main Body 30, 30A, 30B, 56 Water Level Detection Sensor 32 Convex Part 34 Recessed Part 36 Element Unit 40 Light Guide Material

Front Page Continuation (72) Inventor Koichi Yabumoto 5-1-1 Koiemotocho, Tokoname City, Aichi Prefecture Inside Inax Co., Ltd.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A liquid contact member main body having an inner surface in contact with liquid, and a liquid detection sensor for detecting the liquid in the liquid contact member main body, wherein the liquid detection sensor has a tip surface of the liquid contact member. The light guide material exposed inside the member main body, a light emitting element which is provided at the rear part of the light guide material and projects light toward the tip surface, and receives light reflected from the tip surface. A liquid contact member having a light receiving element, wherein the liquid contact member body and the light guide member are integrally molded of synthetic resin. 2. The liquid contact member according to claim 1, wherein the liquid contact member body is a tank, a pipe or a joint.