JPH0747075Y2 - Air pot - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial field of application] The present invention relates to an air pot capable of pouring liquid such as hot water in a tank at any time via a pump mechanism.

[Prior Art] This type of air pot has a tank built into the case,
The water contained in this tank is boiled by a heater to keep it warm, for example, and this hot water can be poured out of the tank by a manual or electric pump mechanism. A display window is formed on the peripheral surface of the case, the liquid level in the tank can be known through this display window, and liquid level detection means for detecting the liquid level in the tank is incorporated. A display element such as a liquid crystal display or LED that displays the detection information of the detection means is arranged on the peripheral surface of the case, and the state of the liquid amount in the tank can be known based on the display by this display element. .

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

Since the liquid level in the tank is directly displayed on the display window, when the user of the air pot looks at this display window, he immediately recognizes that the liquid level is displayed on the display window. However, in contrast, in the display element of the liquid level detection means, even if the indication portion such as "full water" or "drainage" is given to the disposition portion of the display element, the direct display of the liquid level is performed. Since it is not a display, it is difficult to immediately recognize that it is a display regarding the liquid surface level, and therefore, there is a drawback that the function of the display element is not fully exhibited. In particular, when the liquid level in the tank drops below the vicinity of the lower end of the display window and is not accurately recognized, there is a risk of unexpected danger such as heating of the tank. This invention is intended to solve such a problem.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to solve such a problem, the present invention has a vertically long display window for directly displaying the liquid level in the tank, and at least when the liquid level in the tank drops below the vicinity of the lower end of the display window. And a liquid level detecting means for detecting the liquid level via a detection mechanism and displaying the detected information via a display element, wherein the display element of the liquid level detecting means only detects the liquid level. The display element is a dedicated display element for displaying the above information, and the dedicated display element is provided at least in a portion adjacent to the lower end portion of the display window.

[Action]

When the liquid level in the tank drops below the vicinity of the lower end of the display window, the liquid level is directly displayed through the display window, and the display element of the liquid level detection means is energized and lights. Here, since a dedicated display element for displaying only the liquid level detection information is provided adjacent to the lower end portion of the display window for directly displaying the liquid level in the tank, the display is made in correspondence with both. It becomes intuitive to see that the lighting of the element indicates that the liquid level in the tank has dropped to near the lower limit water level for safe use of the pot.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

A first embodiment is shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, in which reference numeral 1 is a main body of an electric pot, which is provided with a bottomed cylindrical tank 3 inside a case 2. An inner lid 4 is provided at the upper end of the case 2, and a replenishment port 4a is formed in the inner lid 4, and an opening / closing plug 5 is detachably fitted to the replenishment port 4a via a packing 5a. The tank 3 is mounted and held on a holding plate 6 which is horizontally installed on the inner bottom of the case 2, and has an integrally formed flange 9 having an arcuate cross section at the opening peripheral edge at the upper end. Grooves formed around the lower surface of the lid 4
10 is hermetically fitted with packing 11 via a pressing member
Pressed by 12. A flat heater 13 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the lower end of the tank 3 along the circumferential direction thereof.
This heater 13 receives a plug 1 via a thermostat 13a.
Power plug 1 that connects to 4 and is connected to this plug receptacle 14
It is electrically connected to the power supply via 4a. Further, on the side surface of the tank 3, the bush 15 is placed vertically and is made of rubber or the like.
The bushes 15 and 15 are fitted airtightly.
A transparent communication tube 15 is vertically connected between a and 15b.

On the upper surface side of the inner lid 4, an outer lid 16 having a hemispherical shape and a recess 16a at its top is rotatably provided via a pin 16b. The outer lid 16 and the inner lid 4 are integrally formed with projecting portions 17 and 18 that project laterally, and these are overlapped with each other and are locked via a hook 19 that can be operated externally. The feeding path is provided on the upper surface of one of the protruding portions 18.
20 is formed, a conduit 21 is connected to the base end portion of the feed passage 20, and the lower end of the conduit 21 faces the inner bottom portion of the tank 3. Further, the tip end side of the feeding passage 20 is opened to the outside through a feeding outlet 22.

An air pump mechanism 23 is incorporated in the outer lid 16, that is, a substrate 24 is horizontally provided on the lower surface of the outer lid 16, and a bellows 25 is attached to the upper surface of the substrate 24. This veloz 25 has a movable plate 26 at the upper end.
26 is urged upward by a spring 27 arranged inside the bellows 25. Push body 28 into recess 16a of outer lid 16
Is loosely fitted so as to be vertically movable, and interlocking pieces 29, 29 are integrally formed on both sides of the pushing body 28, and the lower ends of the interlocking pieces 29, 29 are through holes formed in the bottom plate 30 of the recess 16a. It faces the peripheral portion of the movable plate 26 through 31,31. An introducing hole 32 is formed in the center of the movable plate 26, and an annular packing 33 is fitted to the inner peripheral edge of the introducing hole 32. A cylindrical body 34 is slidably inserted into the bottom plate 30 of the recess 16a, and one end of the cylindrical body 34 is a push body
It is fixed to the inner surface of the plate through a screw 35, and has a contact plate 36 at the other end, and the contact plate 36 faces the introduction hole 32. A spring 37 having a smaller spring coefficient than the spring 27 arranged in the bellows 25 is provided between the contact plate 36 and the movable plate 26, and the elastic force of the spring 37 causes the contact plate 36 to move.
The pushing body 28 is urged upward together with 36, and a slight gap 38 is secured between the contact plate 36 and the introduction hole 32.

A ring-shaped projecting wall 40 is integrally provided on the upper surface of the opening / closing plug 5, and a packing 41 is attached to the projecting wall 40. The packing 24 is attached to and detached from the substrate 24 of the outer lid 16 and is airtight. Is in contact with. On the inner side of the projecting wall 40, through holes 42, 43 are provided in the substrate 24 and the opening / closing plug 5, respectively.

On the side surface of the case 2, a vertically elongated notch groove is formed so as to face the communication pipe 15.
44 are formed. A window frame 45 is attached to the outer surface of the case 2 so as to cover the cutout groove 44, and a display window 46 facing the cutout groove 44 is formed in the window frame 45.
There is a scale on the side edge of.

Communication pipe 1 below the communication pipe 15 and above the connection with the bush 15b
A detection mechanism 52 of the liquid level detection means 51 is attached along the peripheral surface of 5. The liquid level detection means 51 has a detection mechanism 52 and a capacitance change detection circuit 53, and the detection mechanism 52 and the detection circuit 53 are electrically coupled by a coaxial cable 54. The liquid level detection means 51 detects a change in capacitance between when the detection mechanism 52 is grounded via liquid and when it is grounded via air with the detection circuit 53, and is high when the liquid is no longer present. It is designed to output a level signal. Plug receiver 14
The input terminal of the full-wave rectification bridge 55 is connected between both terminals of the bridge 55, the smoothing circuit 59 including the capacitors 56 and 57 and the resistor 58 is connected to the output terminal of the bridge 55, and the smoothing circuit 59 further includes a zener diode 60. Are connected in parallel, which constitutes a DC power supply. Zener diode
The capacitance change detection circuit 53 is connected between both terminals of 60, and a display element 62 such as a liquid crystal or an LED is connected via an NPN transistor 61. The output signal from the detection circuit 53 is supplied to the base of the transistor 61.

As shown in FIG. 1, the display element 62 is arranged on the peripheral surface of the case 2 adjacent to the lower end of the display window 46 on the side of the display window 46.

Next, the operation will be described.

The liquid contained in the tank 3 is heated to, for example, a boiling state by the heater 13, and the state is maintained by the opening / closing operation of the thermostat 13a. When the pusher 28 is pressed to send the air in the bellows 25 into the tank 3, the upper surface of the liquid in the tank 3 is pressurized and the liquid is introduced into the conduit 21,
It is poured out through the feeding passage 20 and the feeding outlet 22. Then, as the liquid in the tank 3 is poured out in this way, the tank 3
The liquid level inside drops. The liquid level in the tank 3 is a communication pipe
The amount of liquid in the tank 3 can be known by displaying the liquid level from 15 through the display window 46 to the outside and thus visually observing the liquid level in the communication pipe 15.

The liquid level in the tank 3 is below the vicinity of the lower end of the display window,
In other words, if it falls below the position where the detection mechanism 52 is placed,
The capacitance change detection circuit 53 detects a decrease in capacitance and supplies a high-level signal to the base of the transistor 61, which turns on the transistor 61 and energizes the display element 62 to light it. It is informed that the liquid should be replenished in the tank 3. The liquid level in the tank 3 at this time is displayed on the lower end portion of the display window 46 through the communication pipe 15. The display element 62 is arranged adjacent to the lower end portion of the display window 46, so that the meaning of lighting of the display element 62 is that the liquid level has dropped below the vicinity of the lower end portion of the display window. In that case, it is possible to intuitively know, and thereby, it becomes possible to quickly replenish the liquid in the tank 3 and avoid overheating of the tank 3.

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment, in which a display element 62 similar to that of the first embodiment is arranged adjacent to the lower end portion of the display window 46 and on the lower side thereof.

FIG. 6 shows a third embodiment, in which lower and upper parts of the communicating pipe 15 are provided with detection mechanisms for liquid level detection means, respectively, and the display element 62a of the lower liquid level detection means is adjacent to the lower end portion of the display window 46. Then, the display element 62b of the upper liquid level detecting means is provided adjacent to the upper end portion of the display window 46 on the side thereof, respectively, and the full amount of the liquid in the tank is displayed on the upper display element 62b. And when the liquid level drops below the vicinity of the lower end of the display window, it is displayed by the lower display element 62a.

FIG. 7 shows a fourth embodiment in which display elements 62a and 62b similar to those of the third embodiment are provided on the lower side adjacent to the lower end portion of the display window 46 and on the upper side adjacent to the upper end portion. It is arranged in.

FIG. 8 shows a fifth embodiment, in which the liquid level detecting means are provided in multiple stages from the lower part to the upper part of the communicating pipe 15, and the display elements 62a, 62b ... Of these liquid level detecting means are provided on the display window 46. From the lower end portion to the side edge side of the upper end portion, the display windows 46 are adjacently arranged in series so as to be arranged in series, and the decrease of the liquid surface level in the tank is sequentially indicated by the display element 62a,
It is designed to be displayed at 62b ....

When the detection mechanism of the liquid level detection means is provided from the lower part to the upper part of the communication pipe as in the fifth embodiment, the detection mechanism hinders visual confirmation of the liquid level in the communication pipe. In such a case, for example, the conduit 21 shown in FIG. 2 is led out from the outer bottom surface of the tank 3 and rises along the outer surface of the tank 3 to be connected to the delivery passage 20.
A detection mechanism may be provided on the peripheral surface of 21. Also,
The detection mechanism of the liquid level detection means is not limited to the configuration for detecting the change in electrostatic capacitance to detect the liquid level, and as shown in FIG. 9, for example, an infrared diode or the like may be provided on one outer surface of the communicating tube 15. The light emitting element 52a is mounted on the other outer surface of the light emitting element 52a.
A light receiving element 52b such as a phototransistor facing each other is provided, and an opaque float 52c that floats on the liquid surface is accommodated in the communication tube 15, and the light emitting element 52a to the light receiving element 52b
It is possible to use a structure in which the level of the liquid surface is detected by blocking the light incident on the light source with the float 52c that descends with the liquid surface.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the opening / closing plug 5 fitted to the supply port 4a of the inner lid 4 can be used. May be integrally attached to the outer lid 16 to directly open and close the supply port 4a by the operation of the outer lid 16, or the position of the supply outlet 22 may be set near the middle stage of the case 2.

[Effect of device]

As described above, according to the present invention, the display element of the liquid level detection means, which is turned on when the liquid level in the tank drops below the vicinity of the lower end of the display window, directly determines the liquid level in the tank. Since it is provided adjacent to the lower end of the display window for displaying, the lighting of the display element is based on the correspondence between the two so that the liquid level in the tank can be safely used in the pot. It is intuitively understood that the water level has dropped to near the lower water level, and appropriate measures such as replenishing the liquid in the tank are taken to prevent unexpected danger such as overheating of the tank. Has the effect.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the same, FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a main part, FIG. 4 is an electric circuit diagram, and FIG. The front view showing the second embodiment of the invention, FIG. 6 is the front view of the same third embodiment,
FIG. 7 is a front view of the fourth embodiment, FIG. 8 is a front view of the fifth embodiment, and FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing a modification of the detection mechanism of the liquid level detection means. 3 ... Tank, 46 ... Display window, 51 ... Liquid level detection means, 52 ... Detection mechanism, 62 ... Display element.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Junichi Miyaguchi 1570-2570 Gosuda, Kamo City, Niigata Prefecture Within Toshiba Heat Appliance Co., Ltd. (56) Reference JP 62-129016 (JP, A) -30125 (JP, U) Actual opening 57-90016 (JP, U) Actual opening 56-142736 (JP, U) Actual opening 60-38432 (JP, Y2)

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A vertically long display window for directly displaying the liquid level in the tank, and a mechanism for detecting the liquid level at least when the liquid level in the tank drops below the vicinity of the lower end of the display window. And a liquid level detection means for displaying the detected information through a display element, wherein the display element of the liquid level detection means is a dedicated display for displaying information only for the liquid level detection. An air pot, which is an element and is provided with the dedicated display element at least in a portion adjacent to the lower end portion of the display window.