JPH11182420A - Automatic drainage system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an economical automatic drainage system. SOLUTION: When a liquid level in a liquid storage tank 4 goes up to the specified normal drainage starting level L2, a valve gear 20 interposed in a piping system of a siphon type drain pipe 12 is opened into operation. In succession, the liquid level in the tank 4 goes up to the specified forced drainage starting level L1, a forced drainage means 7 starts its operation. After the liquid is filled up in the drainage pipe 12, this forced drainage means 7 comes to a stop. Supposing the liquid level in the tank 4 goes down up to the specified normal drainage stop level L3, the valve gear 20 is closed of operation. When the liquid level in the tank 4 goes up to the specified normal drainage starting level L2 again, the valve gear 20 is reopened into operation, and thereby gravitational drainage continues until the liquid level in the tank 4 goes down up to the normal drainage stop level L3 by a siphon action in the drainage pipe 12. Subsequently, the gravitational drainage due to this siphon action is repeated by operational control alone of the valve gear 20.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic drainage device, and more particularly to a device for automatically discharging a liquid flowing into a liquid storage tank from the liquid storage tank. The device according to the present invention is suitable for use as, for example, a device for automatically draining drain generated when an air conditioner operates to the outside.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, the drain of an air conditioner has been drained to the outside by gravity through a drain pipe which penetrates a wall and has a downward slope. According to this method, when installing an air conditioner in a room not facing the outer wall, etc., it is necessary to extend the drain pipe to the room facing the outer wall by extending the drain pipe for a long time. There were problems such as spoiling.

On the other hand, at the time of new construction, there is a method in which a drain pipe is buried in a wall between rooms in advance, and a drain pipe of an air conditioner is connected to the drain pipe to drain water. However, this method is costly. There are drawbacks that are bulky and lack practicality.

Recently, the drain of the air conditioner is temporarily stored in a tank, and when the water level reaches a certain level, the pump is started by rotating the motor based on the detection of the water level by a water level sensor, and the drain is once pumped to the ceiling. A method of draining water by gravity through a drain pipe having a downward slope has also been proposed.

However, there is a limit to the space above and below the ceiling, and there are usually various obstacles there.
It is not easy to pipe down the ceiling with a down slope.

Accordingly, once the drain of the air conditioner is stored in the tank, the pump is started by rotating the motor in response to the signal of the water level sensor when the water level at which the drainage starts is reached, and the pump is started until the water level sensor detects the drainage stop water level. A method of forcibly draining water through pipes extending from the ceiling to the ceiling is also conceivable.

However, in this method, unless the backflow control means is provided, when the pump stops, the drain remaining in the pipe flows back into the tank by gravity. For this reason, there are problems such as a large energy loss and noise when the drain flows backward.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and a problem to be solved is that the liquid returns to the liquid storage tank even when the operation of the forced drainage device is stopped. An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic drainage device which is free and economical.

[0009]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automatic drainage device according to the present invention, comprising: a storage tank; and a siphon for discharging the liquid in the storage tank. A liquid drainage pipe, forced drainage means for forcibly discharging the liquid in the liquid storage tank through the liquid drainage pipe, a valve device interposed in a piping system of the liquid drainage pipe, and the liquid storage tank When the liquid level in the tank rises to a predetermined normal drainage start liquid level, the valve device is opened, and a predetermined forced drainage in which the liquid level in the storage tank is higher than the normal drainage start liquid level is performed. When the liquid level rises to the start liquid level, the forced drainage means is started, and after the liquid is filled in the drainage pipe, the forced drainage means is stopped, so that the liquid level in the liquid storage tank is a predetermined normal level. The valve device and the forcible drainage means so as to close the valve device when the liquid level drops to the drain stop liquid level. A control circuit for controlling those equipped with.

[0010] According to the automatic drainage device according to the present invention, when the liquid level in the storage tank rises, first, the valve device automatically operates by the operation of the control circuit. The opening operation is performed, and then the forced drainage means is automatically started. Thereby, the liquid in the liquid storage tank starts to be forcibly discharged through the drain pipe.

When the drain pipe is filled with liquid and the siphon action by the drain pipe is started, there is no need for forced drainage by power, so that the operation of the forced drain means is no longer necessary. Eventually, as a result of spontaneous drainage by the siphon action of the drain pipe, when the liquid level in the storage tank drops to the normal drain stop liquid level, the valve device automatically closes and the siphon action is performed. Drainage is stopped. At this time, since the valve device hermetically closes the drain pipe, the drain pipe is maintained in a state where the liquid is filled therein.

When the liquid flows into the liquid storage tank and the liquid level in the liquid storage tank rises again and reaches the normal liquid discharge start liquid level, the valve device automatically opens. Then, since the inside of the drain pipe was still filled with the liquid, drainage by the siphon action of the drain pipe was spontaneously started, and the liquid level in the storage tank was reduced to the normal level. Spontaneous drainage by the siphon action continues until the liquid level drops to the drain stop level.
After that, this is repeated.

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the liquid does not return to the liquid storage tank even when the operation of the forcible liquid discharging means is stopped. Further, once the forced drainage means is activated and the drain pipe is filled with liquid,
The operation of the forced drainage means is no longer necessary, and thereafter, the discharge of the liquid is controlled only by the opening / closing operation of the valve device. Therefore, it is economical.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the automatic drainage device according to the first aspect, the control circuit is configured to control the normal drainage start liquid level, the forced drainage start liquid level and the forced drainage start liquid level. A liquid level detecting means for detecting a normal drain stop liquid level and a forced drain stop liquid level at which the forced drain means is stopped, and the valve device based on each of the liquid levels detected by the liquid level detecting means And a control means for controlling the forced drainage means.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the automatic drainage device according to the second aspect, the set position of the liquid level by the liquid level detecting means is adjustable. With this configuration, the position of the liquid level can be freely set according to the length, diameter, and the like of the drainage pipe, so that the automatic drainage device can perform a desired operation, which is convenient.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the automatic drainage device according to the second or third aspect, an electrode type liquid level sensor is used as the liquid level detecting means. The use of the electrode type liquid level sensor is preferable because the set position of the liquid level can be easily adjusted by changing the vertical position of the electrode.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

When the air conditioner is operated, drain is generated. The present embodiment is an example in which the automatic drainage device of the present invention is used as a drain drainer for discharging the drain outside the room.

In FIG. 1, a drain hose 3 extending downward from the air conditioner 2 is connected to a drain tank 4 constituting the drain drainer 1 from above. For this reason, the drain generated when the air conditioner 2 is operated flows into the drain tank 4 through the drain hose 3 by gravity.

[0020] As shown in FIG.
Is provided with the drain tank 4 as a liquid storage tank inside a casing 5, and is attached to, for example, an indoor wall similarly to the air conditioner 2 (see FIG. 1). Inside the casing 5, for example, a centrifugal pump 7 driven by an electric motor 6 is disposed as means for forcibly discharging the drain in the drain tank 4.
The suction port 7a of the pump 7 is detachably connected to a pump mounting part 4a formed at the lowermost part of the drain tank 4.

The drain drainer 1 is provided with an electrode type water level sensor 8 as an example of a means for detecting the water level in the drain tank 4. The water level sensor 8 includes a first electrode 9 for detecting a forced drain start water level L1, a second electrode 10 for detecting a normal drain start water level L2, a forced drain stop water level and a normal drain stop water level L3. Third electrode 18 for detecting
And a fourth electrode 21 for flowing a current through the drain. These electrodes 9, 10, 18, 21 are inserted downward from the upper outside of the drain tank 4 to the inside thereof, and the first electrode 9, the second electrode 10, and the third electrode 18, the fourth electrodes 21 are arranged in this order such that their lower ends 9a, 10a, 18a, 21a are sequentially lower.

When the water level rises and the lower ends 21a and 10a of the fourth electrode 21 and the second electrode 10 contact the drain, the water level sensor 8 detects the normal drainage start water level L2. A detection signal is issued, and when the lower end 9a of the first electrode 9 contacts the drain, a detection signal of the forced drainage start water level L1 is issued, and thereafter, the water level falls and the first electrode 9 and The second electrode 10
When the lower end 18a of the third electrode 18 stops contacting the drain in addition to the lower ends 9a and 10a, the detection signal of the forced drainage stop water level and the normal drainage stop water level L2 is issued. ing.

An electrode for detecting the forced drain stop water level by separately setting the forced drain stop water level and the normal drain stop water level, for example, so that the forced drain stop water level is located above. However, in the illustrated example, in order to simplify the configuration by reducing the number of electrodes, their water levels are set to the same level, and the third electrode 18
The forced drainage stop water level and the normal drainage stop water level are both detected.

The drainage device 1 includes a microcomputer or the like that automatically controls the operation of the drainage pump 7 and a solenoid valve 20 described later based on the water levels L1, L2, and L3 detected by the water level sensor 8. Control means 11 is provided. The control means 11, together with the water level sensor 8, constitutes a control circuit 19 for controlling the operation of the drain pump 7 and the solenoid valve 20.
1, when the water level rises and the water level sensor 8 detects the normal drainage start water level L2, the solenoid valve 20 is opened, and then the water level sensor 8 detects the forced drainage start water level L1. When the pump driving motor 6 is operated and the water level drops and the water level sensor 8 detects the drainage stop water level L3 (the forced drainage stop water level and the normal drainage stop water level), the pump drive motor 6 is turned on. The motor 6 is stopped and the solenoid valve 20 is closed.

Drainage from the drain tank 4 is performed through a flexible drainage tube 12 as a drainage pipe. In the middle of the drain tube 12, the electromagnetic valve 20, which is automatically opened and closed by the control means 11, is interposed as an airtight valve device.

The drain tube 12 is connected to a discharge port 7b at the bottom of the drain pump 7 connected to the bottom of the drain tank 4. The drain tube 1
2 is, as shown in FIG. 1, once extended above the drain tank 4, pulled out of the building through the ceiling, and then extended downward, for example, toward the drain 13. It is.

Here, the downward outer end 14 of the drain tube 12 is located below the forced drainage stop water level L2 in the drain tank 4. This is because, once the drainage pump 7 is operated and forced drainage is performed, the drainage tube 12 functions as a siphon to achieve natural drainage that does not require power. Preferably, below the drain tank 4, more preferably, 1 m or more below the drain tank 4,
Preferably, the outer end 14 of the drain tube 12 is located.

In order for the drain tube 12 to function as a siphon, another condition must be satisfied. Before the forced drainage action by the drainage pump 7 stops, the drainage tube 1
2 is filled with drain. Therefore, before the water level in the drain tank 4 is lowered by the operation of the drain pump 7 to reach the forced drainage stop water level L3, the drain starts flowing from the outer end portion 14 of the drain tube 12. In addition, the forced drain start water level L1 and the forced drain stop water level L3 are set.

More specifically, when the liquid level in the drain tank 4 rises and reaches the forced drainage start water level L1, the drainage tube 12 has the same height as the forced drainage start water level L1. The drain is filled up to the point (point A in FIG. 2). When the drainage pump 7 is operated from this state, a drain is sent through the drainage tube 12, and the drainage starts to flow out from the outer end 14 of the drainage tube 12. Then, from the point A, the outer end 14
The forced drainage is performed such that the volume in the drain tank 4 from the forced drainage start water level L1 to the forced drainage stop water level L3 is larger than the volume in the drainage tube 12 up to. The start water level L1 and the forced drainage stop water level L3 are set.

Here, it is not necessary to continue driving the drainage pump 7 after the drainage tube 12 has effectively exerted a siphon action. Therefore, from the viewpoint of economy, the drainage tube 12 is not required. The drainage stop water level L3 may be set to a high level so that the drainage pump 7 stops as soon as possible when the drain is filled inside and the drainage starts to flow from the outer end portion 14. However, in the illustrated example, as described above, in order to reduce the number of electrodes and simplify the configuration, the forced drainage stop water level is set to the same level L as the normal drainage stop water level.
3, the third electrode 18 detects both the forced drainage stop water level and the normal drainage stop water level.

Further, if the forced drainage stop water level is set at a sufficiently low position as in the illustrated example, the following advantages can be obtained. That is, the length of the drainage tube 12 from the point A to the outer end portion 14 varies depending on the size of the building in which the drainage drainage is provided, the location of the drainage drainage in a room, and the like. Becomes Further, the diameter of the drainage tube 12 can be appropriately selected. For this reason, the drainage tube 12 from the point A to the outer end 14
The inner volume is determined each time according to the installation environment of the drainage device. In this regard, it is preferable to set the forced drainage stop water level to a sufficiently low position in advance, as in the illustrated example, since the condition of the siphon action is easily adjusted even when the drainage tube 12 is long.

In this embodiment, the drain tank 4
The above-mentioned electrode type water level sensor 8 is employed as a means for detecting the water level in the water tank.
1, L2, and L3 can be adjusted. Therefore, the liquid level detecting means is not limited to the electrode type, and any liquid level detecting means may be used as long as the setting of the detected water level can be freely changed.

In the electrode type water level sensor 8, FIG.
As shown in (1), it is also possible to add a single electrode 15 to issue a full-water warning when the drain exceeds the forced drainage start water level L1 due to an abnormality in the device. Further, in this case, the air conditioner 2
May be forcibly stopped.

As another feature, the drain tank 4
Is provided with a drain cap 16 at its lower portion for draining without drain. Before the start of the season, the drain cap 16 is opened and the drain tank 4 is emptied.

It is preferable to protect the drain tank 4, the drain pump 7 and the pump driving motor 6 around with a heat insulating material 17 for preventing dew condensation.

If the drain tube 12 is formed by connecting unit tubes of an appropriate length with a joint, piping work is easy and the length can be freely extended or shortened. It is possible and suitable.

The drainage device 1 according to the present embodiment configured as described above operates as follows.

When the air conditioner 2 is operated from an initial state where there is no drain in the drain tube 12, the drain flows into the drain tank 4 through the drain hose 3 by gravity. When the water level in the drain tank 4 rises and reaches the normal drainage start water level L2, the control means 11
Opens the solenoid valve 20, which has been closed, based on the signal from the water level sensor 8. Next, the water level in the drain tank 4 is changed to the forced drainage start water level L1.
Is reached, the control means 11 rotates the pump driving motor 6 based on a signal from the water level sensor 8. Thereby, the drain pump 7 is started, and the drain in the drain tank 4 is forcibly discharged through the drain tube 12.

When the water level in the drain tank 4 drops to reach the drain stop water level L 3, the control means 11 stops the pump driving motor 6 based on a signal from the water level sensor 8. At the same time, the solenoid valve 20 is closed. At this time, the solenoid valve 20 closes the drain tube 12 in an airtight manner, so that the drain tube 12 is maintained in a state of being filled with drain.

When the water level in the drain tank 4 rises again due to the inflow of the drain and reaches the normal drainage start liquid level L2, the control means 11 closes based on the signal from the water level sensor 8 until then. The solenoid valve 20 which has been operated is opened again. Then, since the drain tube 12 is still filled with the drain, the drainage by the siphon action of the drain tube 12 is naturally started, and the water level in the drain tank 4 becomes the normal drainage. Until the stop liquid level L3 is reached, spontaneous drainage by the siphon action continues. Thereafter, this is repeated, and the water level of the drain repeatedly moves up and down between the normal drainage stop water level L3 and the normal drainage start water level L2.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, even if the operation of the drain pump 7 is stopped, the drain does not return to the drain tank 4. Further, once the drainage pump 7 is operated from the initial state and the liquid is filled in the drainage tube 12, the operation of the drainage pump 7 is no longer necessary, and thereafter, the liquid is opened only by opening and closing the valve device. Is controlled. Therefore, in addition to being economical, the life of the drainage pump 7 and the pump driving motor 6 is long, and there is no problem of noise due to their operation.

If the amount of drain generated from the air conditioner 2 is abnormally large and the amount of drain flowing into the drain tank 4 exceeds the amount of drainage due to the siphon action of the drain tube 12, the water level of the drain becomes Although the water level rises above the normal drainage start water level L2, at this time, the drainage pump 7 operates when the water level of the drain rises to the forced drainage start water level L1, and the drainage amount becomes larger than the drainage amount due to the siphon action. There is no problem because the drain can be forced to drain.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an installation example of a drainage drain according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a drain drainer shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 4 Drain tank (liquid storage tank) 7 Drain pump (forced drainage means) 8 Electrode type water level sensor (liquid level detection means) 11 Microcomputer (control means) 12 Drain tube (drain pipe) 19 Control circuit 20 Solenoid valve ( Valve device) L1 forced drain start liquid level L2 normal drain start liquid level L3 forced drain stop liquid level, normal drain stop liquid level

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A liquid storage tank, a siphon-type drain pipe for discharging liquid in the liquid storage tank, and a forced drainage forcibly discharging the liquid in the liquid storage tank through the drain pipe. Means,
A valve device interposed in a piping system of the drainage pipe, and opening the valve device when a liquid level in the storage tank rises to a predetermined normal drainage start liquid level; When the liquid level in the liquid rises to a predetermined forced drainage start liquid level higher than the normal drainage start liquid level, the forced drainage means is started, and after the liquid is filled in the drainage pipe, The valve device and the forced drainage unit are configured to stop the forced drainage unit and to close the valve unit when the liquid level in the storage tank falls to a predetermined normal drainage stop liquid level. An automatic drainage device, comprising: 2. The control circuit according to claim 1, wherein said normal drain start level, said forced drain start level, said normal drain stop level, and a forced drain stop level at which said forced drain is stopped. The liquid level detecting means for detecting the liquid level, and control means for controlling the valve device and the forced drainage means based on the respective liquid levels detected by the liquid level detecting means, Automatic drainage device as described. 3. The automatic drainage device according to claim 2, wherein a set position of each of said liquid levels by said liquid level detecting means is adjustable. 4. The automatic liquid discharging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein an electrode type liquid level sensor is used as said liquid level detecting means.