JPH1014439A - Device for detecting unusual state of water vessel - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device for detecting an unusual state of a water vessel capable of exactly detecting the unusual state by arranging an input electrode apart from an output electrode and arranging a part of a connecting code above the water surface. SOLUTION: This device for detecting an unusual state of a water vessel has an output electrode 37 and input electrode 45 arranged by an arranging member 44 in a mutually remote state in water W and a signal output from the output electrode 37 is transmitted to the input electrode 45 through the water W. When the water W in the water vessel 11 flows out, generation of the unusual state is exactly judged by a judging circuit because no conduction between both the electrodes 37, 45 is recognized even if an alga, a waterweed, etc., are attach to the electrodes 37, 45. Moreover, the device is constituted so as the conduction to be always shut at this part by arranging a part of a code 51 for connecting both the electrodes to prevent the attachment of sea water to the code when the water flows out. The arranging member 44 is constituted by, e.g. a cramp 39 and rubber suckers 40, 47.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a detection device for detecting an abnormal state in an aquarium for rearing ornamental fish when the abnormal state occurs.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an existing abnormal state detecting device for an aquarium, there is, for example, one proposed by the present applicant in Japanese Patent Application No. 7-245136. This is a cylindrical sensor case having two windows formed on the outer periphery, which are separated from each other by half a circle, an output electrode provided on one window to output a signal, and a remaining electrode provided on the other window. An input electrode to which a signal from the output electrode is input, and these outputs are connected to the input electrode via a connection cord, and when there is no signal input to the input electrode, it is determined that an abnormal state has occurred in the water tank. And a determination circuit that performs the determination.

In this apparatus, after the sensor case is submerged in water and locked in a water tank, a signal is output from an output electrode, and it is determined whether the signal is transmitted through the water and input to an input electrode. By judging by the judgment circuit, abnormal condition in the water tank,
For example, it detects whether a large amount of water in the aquarium has flowed out due to an earthquake or the like, and if the above-mentioned abnormal state occurs, the water temperature control heater exposed in the air. The power supply to is forcibly stopped.

[0004]

However, in such an abnormal state detecting device for a water tank, both the output and input electrodes are arranged at a distance from the outer periphery of the sensor case. If the algae, aquatic plants, etc. adhered to the outer periphery of the sensor case, or if the water in the water tank was slightly sticky seawater, when the abnormal condition described above occurred, it would adhere to the algae, aquatic plants, etc. The output and the input electrode are electrically connected to each other due to the running water or the seawater sticking to the outer periphery of the sensor case, whereby a signal is continuously input from the output electrode to the input electrode, and the occurrence of an abnormal state cannot be detected. There is a problem that there is. If the occurrence of the abnormal state cannot be detected in this way, the heater being energized is in an empty state and is heated to a high temperature.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an abnormal state detecting device for a water tank that can reliably detect an abnormal state such as water flowing out of the water tank.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an output electrode for outputting a signal, an input electrode for receiving a signal from an output electrode that has transmitted water, and an output and an input that are submerged in water. An arrangement member for arranging the electrodes in a state of being separated from each other, and connecting the output electrode and the input electrode, and a connection cord partially located on the water surface, when there is no signal input to the input electrode, This can be achieved by providing a determination circuit for determining that an abnormal state has occurred in the water tank.

Now, it is assumed that the output and input electrodes are arranged apart from each other in water by an arrangement member. When a signal is output from the output electrode in this state, the signal is transmitted through the water and input to the input electrode. When a signal is input to the input electrode in this way, since water is present in the water tank, the determination circuit determines that the water tank is in the normal state. Next, for example, when an abnormal state occurs in which a large amount of water in the water tank flows out due to an earthquake or the like, the output submerged in water, at least one of the input electrodes is exposed to the air, so that the output electrode Is interrupted by the air, which is an insulating material, and is not input to the input electrode. As a result, the determination circuit determines that an abnormal state has occurred in the water tank, and, for example, stops energization of the heater that has been exposed to the air to prevent empty cooking, and outputs an abnormal signal to the alarm device. . At this time, even if the algae, water plants and the like that have prospered in the water are attached to the output and input electrodes, the output and input electrodes are arranged apart from each other. Conduction is rarely caused, and as a result, detection of an abnormal state is ensured.
Also, even in the case of seawater in which the water in the water tank is somewhat sticky, a part of the connection cord for connecting the output and input electrodes is positioned on the water surface before the outflow of water so that seawater does not adhere. Therefore, conduction is always interrupted at the site, and detection of an abnormal state is ensured. The detection device also functions when a heater is attached to the output or input electrode, and both the heater and the output or input electrode that are energized for cleaning are taken out of the air.

Further, according to the structure described in claim 2, an abnormal state in which the circulation of water is stopped can be detected. Further, according to the third aspect, the value of the signal sent to the determination circuit is twice as large as the value of the signal output from the input electrode, so that the ability to detect an abnormal state is improved.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2, reference numeral 11 denotes an aquarium for breeding ornamental fish and the like, and a predetermined amount of water (fresh water, seawater) W is stored in the aquarium 11. Reference numeral 12 denotes a water temperature control heater submerged in the bottom of the water tank 11, and a plug 14 is connected to a tip of a cord 13 extending from the heater 12 to the outside of the water tank 11.

Reference numeral 18 denotes a control unit which is set apart from the water tank 11. A water temperature setting device 20 for setting a water temperature, a heater energization indicator light 21, and a warning light 22 as an alarm device are provided in a case 19 of the control unit 18. Is provided. Reference numeral 23 denotes a power cord having a plug 24 inserted into a commercial power supply at one end, and an outlet 25 attached to the other end.A midway of the power cord 23 passes through the control unit 18 and passes therethrough. A triac 26 built in the control unit 18 is interposed in the power cord 23 of the part.
The triac 26 controls the power supplied to the heater 12 and adjusts the temperature of the water W when the plug 24 is plugged into a commercial power supply and the plug 14 is plugged into an outlet 25.

Reference numeral 28 denotes an input side unit submerged in water W. The input side unit 28 has a built-in water temperature detection sensor 29 composed of a thermistor. The input unit 28 and the control unit 18 are shielded from each other.
They are connected to each other by an input connection cord 30 composed of three core wires. The water temperature detection sensor 29 is connected to one core wire constituting the input connection cord 30, and is connected to a comparison circuit 32 built in the control unit 18.
Further, a control circuit 31 is connected to the comparison circuit 32, and the indicator light 21, the warning light 22, and the triac 26 are connected to the control circuit 31. As a result, when the setting signal from the water temperature setting device 20 and the detection signal from the water temperature detection sensor 29 are input to the comparison circuit 32, the comparison circuit 32 sets the temperature detected by the water temperature detection sensor 29 and the setting by the water temperature setting device 20. When the detected temperature is lower than the predetermined temperature, the control circuit 31 drives the triac 26 to supply a large power to the heater 12, and continuously turns on the indicator lamp 21. On the other hand, when the detected temperature exceeds the predetermined temperature, the energization of the heater 12 by the triac 26 is stopped, and the indicator lamp 21 is turned off.

Reference numeral 35 denotes an output unit submerged in the water W. The output unit 35 and the control unit
18 is connected by an output connection cord 36. Further, the output side unit 35 has an output electrode 37 in contact with water W, and the control unit 18
An oscillated AC signal is output from an AC oscillating circuit 38 incorporated in the controller. Reference numeral 39 denotes a clamp. The clamp 39 connects the output-side unit 35 and the cord 13 located underwater to each other above the heater 12. Numeral 40 is a kiss rubber for fixing the cord 13 to the inner wall of one end of the water tank 11.

Reference numeral 45 denotes water W provided on the input unit 28.
The input electrode 45 and the determination circuit 46 built in the control unit 18 are connected by the remaining one core wire constituting the input connection cord 30. Reference numeral 47 denotes a kiss rubber for fixing the input unit 28, that is, the input electrode 45 to the inner wall of the other end of the water tank 11 above the output electrode 37. The above-described clamp 39, kiss rubber 40 and kiss rubber 47 constitute an arrangement member 44 as a whole, and this arrangement member 44 arranges the output and input electrodes 37 and 45 in water with a large distance therebetween. And the determination circuit
46, when the AC signal output from the output electrode 37 is transmitted to the underwater and input to the input electrode 45, it is determined that the normal state exists, while the input electrode 45 or the output or input electrode
When both 37 and 45 are exposed in the air and the AC signal from output electrode 37 is no longer input to input electrode 45, it is determined that an abnormal state has occurred. The result determined in this way is output to the control circuit 31.At this time, the control circuit 31 turns off the warning light 22 in a normal state, and blinks the warning light 22 in an abnormal state. At the same time, the power supply to the heater 12 is stopped by the triac 26.

Reference numeral 50 denotes a well-known capacitively-coupled voltage doubler rectifier circuit provided in the middle of a core wire connecting the input electrode 45 and the determination circuit 46. The voltage doubler rectifier circuit 50 is an AC signal from the input electrode 45. Is amplified and rectified about twice and sent to the judgment circuit 46 to improve the ability to detect an abnormal state. Input connection code described above
30, the output connection cord 36 as a whole constitutes a connection cord 51 for connecting the output electrode 37 and the input electrode 45, and a part of the connection cord 51, that is, the vicinity of the control unit 18 is located on the water surface. . Reference numerals 53 and 54 denote clamps for bundling the cord 13, the output connection cords 36, and the output connection cords 36 and the input connection cords 30 above the water surface of the water W, respectively. The shape of the connection cord 51 is specified so that a part of the connection cord 51 is surely on the water surface.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. Now heater 12, submerged in water,
The output electrode 37 is locked to the inner wall of one end of the water tank 11 by the clamp 39 and the kiss rubber 40, while the input electrode 45 submerged in water is locked to the inner wall of the other end of the water tank 11 by the kiss rubber 47. Assume that 37 and 45 are arranged apart from each other in the water. In this state, the AC oscillation circuit
When an AC signal oscillated from 38 is output through the output electrode 37, the signal is transmitted through the water and input to the input electrode 45. When a signal is input to the input electrode 45 in this manner, since a predetermined amount of water W is present in the water tank 11, the determination circuit 46 determines that the water tank 11 is in a normal state, and the control circuit
31 turns off the warning light 22.

Next, for example, when an abnormal state occurs in which a large amount of water W in the water tank 11 flows out due to an earthquake or the like, only the input electrode 45 submerged in the water or both the output and input electrodes 37 and 45 are immersed. Is exposed in the air, and the output electrode
The signal from 37 is cut off by the air, which is an insulating material, and is not input to the input electrode 45. As a result, the determination circuit 46 determines that an abnormal state has occurred in the water tank 11, causes the control circuit 31 to blink the warning lamp 22, and stops the energization of the heater 12 by the triac 26. As a result, even if the heater 12 being energized is exposed to the air, the heater 12 is prevented from being cooked idly. At this time, even if algae, aquatic plants, and the like that have grown in the water adhere to the output electrode 37 or the input electrode 45, the output and the input electrodes 37 and 45 are arranged far apart as described above. And the like rarely cause the output and input electrodes 37 and 45 to conduct to each other, and as a result, the detection of an abnormal state is ensured. Even when the water W in the water tank 11 has a somewhat sticky seawater, a part of the connection cord 51 connecting the output and input electrodes 37 and 45 is positioned on the water surface before the outflow of the water W. Since seawater is prevented from adhering, conduction is always interrupted at the site, and detection of an abnormal state is ensured.

When the water tank 11 is to be cleaned, the output electrode 37 and the heater 12 are taken out of the water tank 11 together into the air. At this time, if the heater 12 is energized, the heater 12 May be in an empty cooked state. However, also in this case, no signal is input to the input electrode 45 in the same manner as described above, so that the determination circuit 46 determines that an abnormal state has occurred, and stops energizing the heater 12.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the water tank 11 is provided above the water tank 11.
A filter device 60 for filtering while circulating the water W inside is installed. The filter device 60 has a case 61, and the other end of the case 61 is provided with a water tank 11 through a pipe 62.
A pump 63 for sucking water W therein is housed. A plurality of weirs 64 are provided on one end side of the pump 63, and a filter 65 for filtering water W is arranged between these weirs 64. Then, the water W filtered by passing through the inside of the filter 65 gets over the weir 64 and returns to the water tank 11 again through the pipe 66 connected to one end of the case 61. 67 is a weir 64
The input unit 67 is provided with an input electrode 68 different from the input electrode 45. 69 is a judgment circuit different from the judgment circuit 46, and this judgment circuit 69 is built in the control unit 18,
The input unit is connected to the input unit 67, specifically, the input electrode 68 through an input connection cord. And the pump
When the water W in the water tank 11 is circulating due to the normal operation of the water 63, since the water W always passes over the weir 64, the output electrode
The AC signal output from 37 transmits underwater and the input electrode 68
The judgment circuit 69 is thus input to the filter device.
60 is determined to be in the normal state. On the other hand, when the pump 63 breaks down and the water W circulates, the water W flowing through the filter device 60 is cut off at the weir 64, and the AC signal from the output electrode 37 is applied to the input electrode. As a result, the determination circuit 69 determines that an abnormal state has occurred in the filter device 60. When the determination circuit 69 detects an abnormal state as described above, an air pump (not shown) is urgently operated to prevent the water W from becoming an oxygen-deficient state, and at the same time, the warning light 22 is blinked and an alarm is issued.

In the above-described embodiment, the AC oscillation circuit 38 and the determination circuit 46 are both built in the control unit 18 installed outside the water tank 11, but in the present invention,
The AC oscillation circuit 38 may be incorporated in the output unit 35 or the input unit 28, and the determination circuit 46 may be incorporated in the input unit 28. In the above-described embodiment, the heater 12
Is independent of the control unit 18, but in the present invention, the heater 12 may be always connected to the control unit 18 via a connection cord. Further, in the above embodiment, the water temperature detection sensor 29 is connected to the input side unit.
Although incorporated in 28, in the present invention, the heater 12 may be incorporated in a state separated from the heating wire, or may be incorporated in the output unit 35.

[0020]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to reliably detect an abnormal state in which water in a water tank flows out.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway front view showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram thereof.

FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway front view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 ... Water tank 37 ... Output electrode 44 ... Placement member 45 ... Input electrode 46 ... Judgment circuit 50 ... Voltage doubler rectification circuit 51 ... Connection cord 60 ... Filter device 64 ... Weir 65 ... Filter 68 ... Input electrode 69 ... Judgment circuit W ... Water

Claims (3)

[Claims] An output electrode for outputting a signal, an input electrode for receiving a signal from an output electrode that has transmitted water, and an output and input electrode submerged in water are arranged in a state of being separated from each other. When the arrangement member is connected to the output electrode and the input electrode, and the connection cord partially located on the water surface and the signal input to the input electrode is lost, it is determined that an abnormal state has occurred in the water tank. An abnormal state detection device for an aquarium, comprising a determination circuit. 2. A filter device is provided above the water tank so that water sucked from the water tank is filtered by passing over a weir while passing through the filter and then returned to the water tank. An input electrode different from the electrode is submerged in the water of the filter device, and when there is no signal input to the other input electrode, another determination circuit for determining that an abnormal condition has occurred in the filter device is provided. The abnormal state detecting device for an aquarium according to claim 1, wherein an abnormal state in which the circulation of water is stopped is detected by the input electrode and the determination circuit. 3. An abnormal state detecting device for an aquarium according to claim 1, wherein a voltage doubler rectifier circuit is interposed between said input electrode and said judging circuit to improve an abnormal state detecting ability.