JPH0894416A - Device for detection of residual quantity of kerosene and for detection of mixing of water - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To perform the detection of the residual quantity of kerosene filled into a large-sized kerosene tank of an outdoor installation type and the detection of mixed water, when water is mixed with the kerosene, automatically by using one device. CONSTITUTION: Kerosene charged into a container part 28 via an inflow part 3 is supplied to the side of a burning apparatus via an outflow port 4. When water is mixed with the kerosene charged into the container part 28, the water whose specific gravity is larger than that of the kerosene stagnates at the bottom part of the container part. Since a float 25 is formed in advance at a specific gravity which is intermediate between that of the kerosene (specific gravity: about 0.8) and that of the water, the stagnant water rises as it increases. A reed switch 24 is arranged inside a guide rod 23. When the float 25 rises so as to be brought close to the reed switch 24, the reed switch 24 is turned on due to the magnetic force of a magnet 27 installed at the float 25, and a signal that the water has been mixed is issued. On the other hand, a residual-quantity detection part 1 which is connected via a passage detects the oil pressure of the kerosene, it actuates the reed switch 24 simultaneously when the oil pressure is lowered down to a prescribed value due to a reduction in a residual quantity inside a tank, and it issues a signal reproting a reduction in the residual quantity of the kerosene.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for detecting the amount of a liquid filled in a container and detecting the mixture of other liquids when the liquid is mixed, and particularly in an outdoor-installed tank. The present invention relates to a device for detecting a reduced state of filled kerosene and detecting water mixed in kerosene.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Gas, electricity, etc. are also used as heating energy mainly used in winter, but kerosene, which is cheaper in operating cost than these, is widely used. Particularly in a cold region where a large amount of energy is consumed for heating, a heating device using kerosene is often used. Most kerosene-burning type heating systems used in warm regions have a built-in kerosene tank, but kerosene-burning type heating systems in cold regions, which require higher combustion energy, require large outdoor units. In most cases, the kerosene tank is installed and kerosene is supplied to the indoor heating device through the pipe.

[0003]

In the case of an outdoor installation type, there is an advantage that a large one can be installed because there are few restrictions on the installation space, but on the other hand, there are the following problems, and its solution is desired. .

First, it is necessary to detect the remaining amount of kerosene in the tank in order to prevent sudden stoppage of the operation of the heating device due to running out of kerosene. Regarding this point, a transparent part is formed in a part of the tank so that you can visually check the kerosene liquid level in the tank and check the remaining amount of kerosene. There is the inconvenience that you have to go out one by one in the cold outdoors with snow to check.

Next, in the outdoor type tank, when filling kerosene, there is a high possibility that some of the snow accumulated near the filling hole will mix in, or some of water droplets will mix in. It is virtually impossible to completely prevent the contamination of this water. Since water has a larger specific gravity than kerosene, the mixed water will be collected at the bottom of the tank.
On the other hand, many pipes for supplying kerosene are connected to the bottom of the tank in order to supply the entire amount of kerosene in the tank. For this reason, the water accumulated at the bottom of the tank is sent to the combustion device through the pipe when the mixing amount is relatively small, which causes inconvenience such as abnormal combustion or combustion stop of the combustion device.

Regarding the detection of the remaining amount of kerosene among the above problems, when the remaining amount of kerosene in the tank reaches a predetermined value, an alarm is issued by a combustion device or an alarm means installed indoors separately from the combustion device. Alternatively, there is provided a device for notifying a decrease in the remaining amount in the tank by a transmission means such as actuating a recording means that indicates a decrease in the remaining amount recorded in advance. Many of the devices that detect a decrease in the remaining amount detect the pressure of kerosene in the tank (corresponding to the water pressure in the case of water / hereinafter referred to as "hydraulic pressure"), and the hydraulic pressure that decreases as the remaining amount of kerosene decreases. It is configured to issue the alarm or the like when the value drops to a preset value. However, these devices have a structure that they are pre-installed in individual tanks, and it is actually impossible to install them in a tank that does not have such a device.

Next, as a device for detecting the mixture of water, a transparent container which communicates with the inside of the tank is connected to the bottom of the tank, and water having a large specific gravity flows into the container after removing kerosene. An inflow condition that can be visually recognized from the outside, or a float with a specific gravity between water and kerosene (for example, a specific gravity of about 0.9) is enclosed in the container, and water is mixed when the float is moved up and down. Are provided for detecting the. When the inside of the container is only kerosene, the float has a larger specific gravity, so that the float is at the bottom of the container, and the inflow of water causes the float to rise due to the water having a large specific gravity. Therefore, whether the water is mixed or not can be detected more easily by raising and lowering the float. If kerosene mixed with water is supplied to the combustion device, it may cause abnormal combustion as described above or, in some cases, a failure of the combustion device, and thus must be detected in advance. However, since any of the above-mentioned devices is configured to directly visually check the container, it is necessary to periodically check the presence or absence of water contamination, and further, it is necessary to go out of the door each time the visual check is made.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is an apparatus constructed in view of the above-mentioned problems, and detects the remaining amount of liquid in a tank, particularly kerosene, and the presence / absence of water in the tank. It is a device that can perform both, and the means for detecting the remaining amount of liquid in the tank and the means for detecting mixed water are integrated, and both means are configured to communicate by a common liquid passage. Among them, the means for detecting the remaining liquid amount has a diaphragm, especially a switch system which is opened and closed by the hydraulic pressure of kerosene in the tank through a metal diaphragm, while the means for detecting the mixing of water is a container part into which water flows. It is characterized in that it has a float that can be moved up and down in the container portion, and a switch system that opens and closes by the lifting operation of the float.

[0009]

By the common passage, the liquid in the tank is supplied to both the liquid remaining amount detecting means and the water mixing detecting means, whereby the liquid remaining amount detecting means causes a pressure drop when the liquid remaining amount becomes a predetermined amount or less. The switch system is closed and emits a signal. On the other hand, the liquid also flows into the water mixing detection means, and when water is mixed, the float rises due to the water in the container, and the switch system is closed to generate a signal.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.

First, referring to FIG. 1, an outline of an apparatus according to the present invention will be described. This apparatus is a residual quantity detection unit 1 for detecting the residual quantity of liquid (hereinafter, referred to as “kerosene”) in a tank. And a water mixing detection unit 2 that detects mixing of other mixed liquid (hereinafter, “water” will be described as an example). Further, the water mixing detection unit 2 is provided with an inflow unit 3 into which kerosene in the tank flows, and an outflow unit 4 from which kerosene that has passed through the water mixing detection unit 2 flows out to the combustion device side. Of these, the passage 3 of the inflow part 3
The a is branched and communicates with the remaining amount detecting unit 1 as a passage 3b. The entire apparatus including the remaining amount detecting unit 1 and the water mixing detecting unit 2 is hereinafter referred to as a "kerosene remaining amount and mixing water detecting device", and is indicated by a symbol E.

In the above apparatus, first, the structure of the remaining amount detecting portion 1 will be described mainly with reference to FIG. Remaining amount detector 1
Is composed of a connecting portion 5 connected to the water mixing detecting portion 2, a hydraulic pressure operating portion 6 operated by hydraulic pressure, and a signal transmitting portion 7 which emits an electric signal in response to the operation of the hydraulic operating portion 6. Of these, the connecting portion 5 is composed of a cap nut 8, and one end of the cap nut 8 is connected to the passage 3b side of the water mixing detection unit 2 so that the entire remaining amount detection unit 1 is integrated with the water mixing detection unit 2. Is configured.

The hydraulic operating portion 6 is sandwiched between a first casing 9 that is directly connected to the cap nut 8, a second casing 10 that fits into the first casing 9, and the first and second casings 9 and 10. A diaphragm 11, a pressing plate 12, and an actuating rod 13 whose one end is connected to the diaphragm 11 through a central opening of the pressing plate 12, and the cansig space via the diaphragm 11 is a kerosene space 14 filled with kerosene. , Open atmosphere 1
It is airtightly separated into 5 and 5. As the diaphragm 11, a metal, particularly a thin film of stainless steel such as SUS304, is preferable in terms of corrosion resistance.

Next, the signal transmitting portion 7 is arranged on the reversing spring 16 which is in contact with one end of the actuating rod 13 on the hydraulic operating portion 6 side, the magnet 18 provided at the tip of the reversing spring 16 and the extension line of the ascending / descending path of the magnet 18. The reed switch 19, the adjusting spring 20 for adjusting the operating state of the reversing spring 16, the signal output end 21, and the like are included.

In the above-mentioned remaining amount detecting portion 1, kerosene in the tank is filled in the kerosene space 14 of the hydraulic operating portion 6 through the passages 3a and 3b of the water mixing detecting portion 2 and the connecting portion 5,
Normally, the diaphragm 11 is pushed toward the atmosphere space 15 by the hydraulic pressure of kerosene in the tank.
The reversing spring 16 is pressed by the operating rod 13 which is interlocked with. It should be noted that the reversing spring 16 may employ either a structure in which the magnet 18 is pre-biased so as to approach the reed switch 19 side, or a structure in which it is pre-biased so as to be separated from the reed switch 19 side. In the case of a structure in which the reed switch 19 side is pre-biased so as to approach the reed switch 19 side in advance, the reversing spring 16 resists its own elasticity by the pressing force of the actuating rod 13 and the magnet 18 causes the reed switch 19 to move.
Is separated from the.

As the amount of kerosene in the tank decreases, the hydraulic pressure applied to the diaphragm 11 decreases, whereby the diaphragm 11 returns to the kerosene space 14 side by its own restoring force, and the inversion is caused by the displacement of the actuating rod 13 corresponding to this operation. The spring 16 returns to the pre-biased state to bring the magnet 18 close to the reed switch 19. As a result, the reed switch that has been OFF until now is turned ON.
Further, when the reversing spring is biased in the opposite direction, the operation of the magnet 18 is reversed. Therefore, the reed switch is turned on when the oil pressure is high, and turned off when the oil pressure is lowered due to the decrease in the remaining amount. Further, in any case, by adjusting the adjusting screw 20, the operation timing of the reversing spring 16 with respect to the hydraulic pressure can be adjusted.

As described above, the kerosene for operating the remaining amount detecting section 1 also flows into the water mixing detecting section 2 at the same time, and the presence or absence of water in the kerosene is monitored together with the detection of the hydraulic pressure. The configuration and operation of the water contamination detector 2 will be described below.

In FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, reference numeral 22 is a main body of the water contamination detection part, and the inflow part 3 with respect to the main body 22.
Further, the outflow portion 4 is provided, and the remaining amount detection portion 1 is integrally connected via the connection portion 5. Reference numeral 23 is a guide rod provided substantially vertically in the center of the main body 22. The inside thereof is hollow, and the reed switch 24 is arranged at a predetermined height in the hollow portion. This reed switch 2
The arrangement height of No. 4 is determined according to the height of the water surface of the mixed water described later.

Reference numeral 25 is an annular float, which is inserted through the guide rod 23 and is prevented from falling off from the guide rod 25 by a stopper 26 provided at the lower end of the guide rod 23. Reference numeral 27 denotes a magnet provided on the float 25, and is provided so as to be positioned on the inner peripheral surface of the upper portion of the float 25 in the illustrated configuration. The specific gravity of the entire float including the magnet 27 is set to about 0.9. By the way, the specific gravity of kerosene is about 0.8, and water is 1 as a matter of course.

Reference numeral 28 denotes a container portion attached to the water contamination detecting portion main body 22 by a detachable means such as screwing. By attaching the container portion 28, the guide rod 23 and the float 25 are The container 28 is hermetically sealed. As will be described later, the mixed water flows into and accumulates in the container portion, so that the container portion 28 is preferably formed of a transparent body so that the accumulated water can be visually recognized from the outside. However, it is not an essential requirement of the present invention to form the container portion 28 with a transparent body because the retention of water is automatically detected and a signal is emitted.

In the above construction, kerosene flows into the container portion 28 from the tank side through the passage 3a and is supplied to the combustion device through the passage 4a and the outflow portion 4. As described above, part of the kerosene from the tank is also supplied to the remaining amount detecting unit 1 via the passage 3b. The container portion 28 is always filled with kerosene, but the specific gravity of the float 25 including the magnet 27 is about 0.9, and the specific gravity of kerosene is about 0.8.
As shown in FIG. 3, the float 25 is normally located at the lowermost end of the guide rod 23 and is locked by the stopper 26.

When the kerosene flowing into the water mixing detector 2 is mixed with water, the mixed water has a specific gravity larger than that of kerosene and therefore stays at the bottom of the container portion 28, and only kerosene flows out from the outflow portion 4. Will be done. As a result, when the mixed water subsequently flows into the water mixing detection unit 2, the level of the mixed water in the container unit 28 gradually rises. Since the specific gravity of the float 25 is smaller than that of water, the interface of kerosene and water also rises as the amount of mixed water that accumulates rises, and the float 25 rises as the interface rises.
When the rising position of the float approaches the installation height of the reed switch 24, the magnetic force of the magnet 27 acts on the reed switch 24 via the guide rod 23, and the reed switch 2
Turn 4 on. This signal is used to take measures such as issuing an alarm for water contamination and shutting off the kerosene supply route.

After taking a predetermined measure against water contamination such as stopping the combustion device, the valves (neither shown) installed on the inflow section 3 side and the outflow section 4 side of the water contamination detection section 2 are temporarily closed. In this state, the container portion 28 is connected to the water contamination detection portion main body 22.
And dispose of the mixed water accumulated inside.

FIG. 4 shows an example of use of the kerosene remaining amount and mixed water detection device E shown above.

Reference numeral 29 is a tank filled with kerosene for outdoor installation, the apparatus E is installed at the bottom of the tank 29, and the kerosene exiting the apparatus passes through the kerosene supply pipe 30 and is discharged indoors. Kerosene combustion devices 31a, 31b such as heating devices,
31c. Reference numeral 32 is a strainer provided in the kerosene supply pipe 30, and 33 is an electromagnetic valve also provided in the pipe 30.

Reference numeral 34 is a control device for issuing various command signals based on the signal from the kerosene remaining amount and the mixed water detection device E, and 35.
Is an alarm device connected to the control device 34. In this configuration, when the tank 29 is sufficiently filled with kerosene and there is no or a small amount of mixed water, the kerosene remaining amount and mixed water detection device E does not emit any signal, and the combustion devices 31a to 31c. Are operated appropriately. When the kerosene remaining amount reaches a preset amount, the kerosene remaining amount / mixed water detection device E outputs a signal by the operation of the remaining amount detection unit 1. Based on this signal, the control device activates the alarm device 35 to warn that the amount of kerosene remaining in the tank 29 has decreased. Note that the remaining amount detection unit 1 is set to operate when the remaining amount of kerosene in the tank 29 does not extremely decrease, for example, when the remaining amount becomes 1/5 of the tank capacity, and after the alarm device 35 is activated. It is desirable to prevent such a situation that the combustion devices 31a to 31c are stopped due to running out of fuel in a short time. Therefore, the alarm device 35 also turns on the alarm lamp or uses a pre-recorded audio tape, for example, "The amount of kerosene in the tank has reached 1/5. Fill kerosene early." It is advisable to specifically inform that the remaining amount of kerosene has decreased by a real voice such as ".

On the other hand, when the water mixture detector 2 outputs a signal when the mixture water reaches a predetermined value, a signal is also issued, and the control device receives the signal and performs the following control, for example. That is, the control device 34, which receives the signal from the remaining amount of kerosene and the water mixing detector 2 of the mixed water detecting device E, activates the alarm device 35 to warn of the water contamination, and activates the solenoid valve 33 to operate the same valve. The supply of kerosene is automatically stopped by closing 33. In this case, if the solenoid valve 33 is operated at the same time as the alarm is issued, the combustion devices 31a to 31c are also stopped, which is not appropriate. Therefore, using the audio tape that was recorded in advance as in the case above, for example, "Water is mixed in kerosene. 10 minutes from now, the fuel supply will be stopped. Please drain water." It is desirable to give specific instructions such as In this case, the timer 36 is activated at the same time as the alarm is issued, and the solenoid valve is activated 10 minutes after the alarm is issued. When water is mixed, if left unattended, abnormal combustion of the combustion device may occur, or it may cause a failure of the combustion device, so that damage may be greater than when the device is stopped due to running out of fuel. Therefore, it is better to stop not only the alarm but also the kerosene supply automatically by the operation of the solenoid valve 33.

The present invention has been described above by taking the kerosene remaining amount detection and the water mixing detection in the kerosene as an example. However, the adjustment of the reversing spring 16 in the remaining amount detecting part 1 and the specific gravity of the float 25 of the water mixing detecting part 2 are changed. It can also be applied to liquids other than kerosene by such methods as

[0029]

As described in detail in each of the above embodiments,
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is economical because it is possible to automatically perform both the remaining amount of the liquid in the tank, particularly the amount of kerosene and the water mixed in the kerosene with a single device, and at the same time with each of these detections. It is possible to significantly reduce labor without having to go to the tank installation location.

Further, since the device itself has an independent structure, and there is no need to make any special modification on the tank side,
It can be connected to almost all tanks including those currently in use, and has a very wide range of applications.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an apparatus for detecting the remaining amount of kerosene and the mixing of water according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an internal structure of a remaining amount detection unit, and FIG.
2 is a sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a structure of a water contamination detection unit and is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a kerosene supply system diagram showing an application example of the apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Remaining amount detection part 2 Water mixing detection part 3 Inflow part 4 Outflow part 5 Connection part 6 Hydraulic operation part 7 Signal transmission part 11 Diaphragm 13 Actuation rod 14 Kerosene space 15 Atmosphere space 16 Inversion spring 18 Magnet 19 Reed switch 22 Water mixing detection Main body 23 Guide rod 24 Reed switch 25 Float 27 Magnet 28 Container part 29 Kerosene outdoor tank 30 Kerosene supply pipe 34 Control device 35 Alarm device E Kerosene remaining amount and water contamination detection device

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A device for detecting kerosene filled in a tank and water mixed in the kerosene, comprising a water mixing detector,
It is composed of a water mixing detection unit and a remaining amount detection unit that shares the kerosene flow path with the water mixing detection unit.The remaining amount detection unit is operated by the oil pressure of kerosene and sends a signal by the operation. Alternatively, it has a means for stopping the signal being transmitted, and the water contamination detection unit has a float that moves up and down in response to the elevation of the interface between the mixed water and kerosene, and a means that emits a signal in response to the elevation of the float. A device for detecting the remaining amount of kerosene and mixing of water, which is characterized by having. 2. The water mixing detection unit includes a main body having a kerosene inflow portion and an outflow portion formed therein, a guide rod attached to the main body and arranged substantially vertically, and a predetermined height in the guide rod. The reed switch fixedly placed on the main body, a float provided with a magnet, and a container portion detachably attached to the main body and accommodating the float and the guide rod, and the float is inserted into the guide rod. It is arranged so that it can be moved up and down along the guide bar, and its specific gravity is determined so that the float is located almost at the interface between the kerosene and the mixed water in the container part, so that the reed switch can be opened and closed by moving the float up and down. The device for detecting the remaining amount of kerosene and the mixture of water according to claim 1, which is configured. 3. The remaining amount detecting portion is a connecting portion configured to connect the inflow portion of the water mixing detecting portion with a passage, a hydraulic operating portion partitioned by a diaphragm into a kerosene space and an atmosphere open space, and a diaphragm. The device for detecting the remaining amount of kerosene and the mixing of water according to claim 1, further comprising a signal transmission unit that transmits or stops a signal in conjunction with the operation. 4. The signal transmitting unit includes an inversion spring that performs an inversion operation via an actuation rod connected to a diaphragm, a magnet provided in the inversion spring, and a reed switch that emits a signal when the magnet is in proximity. The device for detecting the remaining amount of kerosene and the mixture of water according to claim 3.