JPH11337112A - Storage and liquid level detecting device for liquid storage vessel - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To contrive space saving simultaneously with the reduction of number of parts by a method wherein a detecting mechanism is used in common to detect the storage of a liquid storage vessel into a main body as well as the level of liquid through an operating body and a detecting switch. SOLUTION: A storage and liquid level detecting device is constituted of a cartridge tank 4 (water storage vessel), a float 13 for detecting the position of level of liquid in the cartridge tank 4, a magnet 14 moved together with the float 13 and a detecting switch 8 for detecting the magnet 14 provided in the side of a storage unit. According to this constitution, when the cartridge tank 4 is stored into the storage unit, the magnet 14 of the storage and liquid level detecting device closes the detecting switch 8 (lead switch) by a magnetic field to obtain the condition of ON whereby the starting of operation of a humidifier becomes possible. On the other hand, when the level of condensed water, stored in the cartridge tank 4, is approached to the full of water, the float 13 is floated by the buoyancy of the same and the magnet 14 is also floated together with the float 13 whereby the magnetic field is eliminated in the side of the detecting switch 8 and the same switch 8 becomes the condition of OFF thereby stopping the operation of the humidifier.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cartridge tank (water storage container) for storing condensed water of a dehumidifier, and more particularly to a cartridge tank storage and liquid level detecting device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a dehumidifier, it is necessary to collect condensed water collected indoors in a water storage container and periodically discharge the condensed water.
When the water reservoir becomes full, the operation is automatically stopped, and when the water in the water reservoir is discharged, the operation is restarted.

[0003] The water storage container is a cartridge tank which can be easily attached to and detached from the main body. A lid is provided in a storage section for accommodating the cartridge tank, and the cartridge tank is attached and detached by opening the lid. Further, when the lid is opened, the operation of the pump is stopped upon detecting that the lid is opened, in order to pump up the collected condensed water by the pump and store it in the water storage container.

When the lid is opened and the cartridge tank is taken out of the main body, no water is stored in the water storage container. To stop the dehumidifying operation, the presence or absence of the cartridge tank and the water level in the cartridge tank are determined in order to stop the dehumidifying operation. Need to detect.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 5-126359 discloses a dehumidifier, which detects a full state by raising a float lever to which a float is attached when a water receiving section (water reservoir) is full. The magnet acts on the full water detection switch to stop operation, and when the water receiving part is separated during operation, the operation is stopped because the separation detection magnet separates from the separation detection switch, and the dehumidified water is carelessly prepared. What prevents flooding is disclosed.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION However, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
In JP-A-126359, since a detection switch for detecting the fullness of the water receiving portion and a detection switch for detecting the separation of the water receiving portion are separately provided, the required space becomes large and the detection mechanism becomes complicated. The problem had arisen.

Further, the float for detecting the water level in the cartridge tank is stuck to the surface of the housing portion and cannot move, or the dust cannot adhere to the float to operate, so that the accurate water level cannot be detected. There was a risk of water overflowing from the room and getting the room wet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a common mechanism for detecting whether or not a cartridge tank is housed in a main body and detecting a liquid level of the cartridge tank. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a dehumidifier that can prevent malfunction of a cartridge tank and can reliably stop the operation of the dehumidifier even when an overflow occurs due to a malfunction.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A storage and liquid level detecting device according to the present invention solves the above-mentioned problems. A storage device comprising: a liquid container; an operating body that moves with the liquid level in the storage container; and sensing means for sensing the storage of the liquid storage container and the liquid level by operation of the operating body. This is a storage and liquid level detection device for a liquid container.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the operating body comprises a float and a sensed portion which is located below the float and moves integrally with the float. 2. The storage container storage and liquid level detection device according to claim 1, further comprising a sensing switch disposed on the storage unit side to detect an operation of the sensed unit.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the liquid storage container includes a lid, and a guide pipe integrally connected to the lid and holding the operating body vertically movable. 2. A storage and liquid level detection device for a liquid storage container according to 2.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the sensing switch is disposed below the bottom surface of the liquid storage container on the side of the storage section. This is a storage and storage device for a liquid storage container.

The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that the liquid storage container has a lid provided with an opening / closing valve, and the float is provided below the opening / closing valve. And a liquid level detecting device for storing a liquid container.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, an adhesion preventing material is provided between the float and the holder to prevent adhesion between the float surface and the holder surface. The storage and liquid level detection device for a liquid storage container according to any one of the above.

The invention according to claim 7 is provided with an overflow detecting means for detecting that the liquid stored in the storage container overflows.
A storage and liquid level detection device for a liquid storage container according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the storage container storage and liquid level detecting device according to the seventh aspect, further comprising a receiving portion for receiving the overflowed liquid.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, a discharge hole formed in the bottom surface of the receiving portion, an inclined surface formed so that liquid flows toward the discharge hole in the bottom surface of the receiving portion, and flows out from the discharge hole. The liquid storage container storage and liquid level detecting device according to claim 8, comprising a liquid reservoir for storing water, and detecting that liquid has accumulated in the liquid reservoir by the overflow detecting means. is there.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which a cartridge tank (liquid storage container) storage and liquid level detecting device according to the present invention is applied to a dehumidifier will be described below.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are schematic sectional views showing the periphery of a cartridge tank and its storage and liquid level detecting device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram in which a storage and a liquid level detection device are attached to a cartridge tank. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram in which the storage and liquid level detection device is attached to the lid of the cartridge tank.

FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view of the storage and liquid level detecting device. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a device for detecting overflow water from a cartridge tank. FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional view of a float of the storage and liquid level detection device. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view of a case with a built-in magnet of the storage and liquid level detecting device. 9 and 10 are schematic cross-sectional views of a pedestal and a base of the water detecting device for overflow water.
FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of the entire configuration of the dehumidifier.

In the dehumidifier shown in FIG.
No. 3 has a zeolite (hygroscopic agent) supported on the surface or inside of a honeycomb rotor in which a single-wave molded body is wound on a flat sheet. Zeolite has no deliquescent phenomenon and has a crystalline and stable pore structure. It has little deterioration due to moisture adsorption and has a long-term stable moisture absorbing action.

The air 42 to be dehumidified is sucked by the dehumidifying fan 46, removes coarse dust by the filter 41, passes through the condenser 36, and cools the warm and wet regenerated air inside the condenser as will be described later. Condensate moisture. The dehumidified air 42 that has passed through the condenser 36 passes through the dehumidification rotor 43 and is absorbed by a desiccant to become dry air 48. After being recovered by the heat recovery heat exchanger 44, the heat is released into the room.

In order to regenerate the desiccant of the dehumidifying rotor 43 which has absorbed moisture, the regenerating air is heated to 200 ° C. to 250 ° C. by a heating unit 47 which is a regenerating heater.
3 is blown by the regeneration fan 45. The heated regeneration air receives moisture from the desiccant of the dehumidifying rotor 43 and becomes warm and moist air, which is cooled by the condenser 34 to condense the moisture and is discharged. Condensed water (condensed water) 49 is guided to the water receiving tank 11. The water receiving tank 11 is provided with a float switch (not shown) for detecting a water level. When a predetermined water level is detected, the provided water pump 10 is operated, and the condensed water 49 is stored in the cartridge tank 4 via the water pumping tube 37. .

The dehumidifying rotor 43 is rotated by a drive motor (not shown), and the dehumidifying section 5 through which the dehumidified air 42 passes.
The regenerating section 51 through which the heated hot air passes is rotating little by little, and is regenerated even if it absorbs moisture, so that it can be used continuously.

Next, a description will be given of the structure of a cartridge tank which is detachably stored in the dehumidifier having the above structure and stores condensed water, and the structure of the storage portion.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 10, 1 is a main body of the dehumidifier, 2 is a top plate, 3 is a lid for taking out a cartridge tank, 4 is a cartridge tank for storing condensed water, and 5 is a main body 1 , A tank guide plate forming a storage portion of the cartridge tank 4, a receiving portion (receiving portion) 7 forming a storage portion bottom portion and receiving the bottom portion of the cartridge tank 4, and 8 a receiving portion 7 A proximity switch provided on the back surface, 9 is a storage and liquid level detecting device for the cartridge tank 4, 11 is a water receiving tank, 10 is a water pump for pumping condensed water accumulated in the water receiving tank 11, and 12 is a back surface side of the receiving stand 7. And a water detection device.

On the right side of the top plate 2 of the main body 1, a tank take-out lid 3 and a storage portion for the cartridge tank are formed. The lid 3 on the upper surface of the storage portion for the cartridge tank is opened, and the cartridge tank 4 is inserted and stored. Under the cartridge tank 4, there is a receiving stand 7, which is fixed to the bottom plate 5. Further, a tank guide plate 6 serving as a guide when the cartridge tank 4 is inserted is provided in a storage portion facing the side surface of the cartridge tank 4.

As shown in FIG. 6, the pedestal 7 is provided with walls erected on the four sides around the pedestal 7 so that overflow water overflowing from the cartridge tank 4 can be temporarily stored therein. Is formed with a drain hole 21 (discharge hole), and formed on the bottom surface of the receiving base 7 with a downward slope leading from the periphery of the hole 21 toward the hole 21 to facilitate discharge of overflow water flowing into the receiving base 7. I have to.

The proximity switch 8 is located on the back side of the receiving table 7 at a position below the storage and liquid level detecting device 9.
And a water detecting device 12 for detecting overflow water from the cartridge tank 4.

In order to prevent water leakage from the bottom plate 5, holes for screws for fixing other parts are not drilled in the horizontal surface of the bottom plate 5 serving as a base of the bottom surface of the main body 1. If necessary, a convex portion is formed so that a hole is made in the horizontal direction of the convex portion or a hole that does not vertically penetrate the boss. In addition, assuming a case, in order to store overflow water from the drain hole 21 of the receiving stand 7 and detect water, a rib 22 is formed at a slightly higher position immediately below the drain hole 21 and enclosed. , And the water receiving portion 23.

As shown in FIG. 5, the storage and liquid level detecting device 9 for the cartridge tank has a structure in which the float 13 and the magnet 14 are spaced apart from each other, with the float 13 facing upward and the magnet 14 facing downward. With the pipe 16 in between, it is fixed by the connecting rod 15 and moves together.

As shown in FIG. 7, the float 13 has an elliptical shape and is made of an NBR hard foam having a specific gravity of 0.3, and a through hole 17 through which a connecting rod 16 passes is formed at the center. There are ribs 18 protruding from four sides of the outer surface.

As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG.
Reference numeral 4 denotes a ferrite magnetic material having a specific gravity of 8 and a shape covered with a resin built-in magnet case 19.

The resin-made magnet built-in case 19 is divided into upper and lower parts, and comprises an upper magnet receiver 20 and a lower magnet holder 24. The magnet receiver 20 has a function of fixing the connecting pipe 16 to the connecting rod 15 and a function of housing the magnet 14. On the other hand, the magnet retainer 24 covers the side surface of the magnet receiver 20 in which the magnet 14 is housed, and has side ribs 25 protruding outside the four side surfaces, and bottom ribs 26 protruding at three bottom positions.

Next, a method of assembling the storage and liquid level detecting device 9 shown in FIG. 2 will be described. First, the through hole 17 of the float 13 is subjected to a head processing 15a of the end of the connecting rod 15.
The connecting pipe 16 is fitted into the connecting rod 15, the magnet receiver 20 is inserted into the connecting rod 15 and the connecting pipe 16, the connecting rod presser 27 is inserted, and the speed nut 28 is used to insert the magnet receiver 20. Is fixed. Furthermore, magnet receiver 2
0, the magnet 14 is fitted, and the magnet holder 24 is fitted into the magnet receiver 20 to be assembled.

The cartridge tank 4 is made of a translucent or transparent resin material by blow molding. As shown in FIG. Guide rib 3
0 is formed, and the upper opening is provided with a screw process to which the lid 31 is screwed. A guide rib 34 (see FIG. 2) formed on the inner surface of the guide pipe 29 and the float 13
The rib 18 formed on the surface (see FIG. 7)
This is for reducing the frictional resistance between the guide pipe 3 and the guide pipe 29, and may be formed on any one of them.

The lid 31 shown in FIG.
2 is formed therein, and a thread for the guide pipe 29 is formed inside the thread of the cartridge tank 4.

The lid 31 is assembled with the storage and liquid level detecting device 9 by inserting guide ribs 34 on four sides inside the pipe having a large diameter and a notch 35 on the lower side of the thin pipe.
The assembled storage and liquid level detecting device 9 described above is inserted into the guide pipe 29 with the float 13 facing upward, and screwed into the lid 31. Then, this is inserted into the cartridge tank 4 and screwed together with the inside of the guide rib 30 on the bottom surface of the cartridge tank 4 to be completed.

In the above configuration, the operation of storing the cartridge tank and the operation of the liquid level detecting device 9 will be described. The cartridge tank 4 is removed from the housing portion of the main body 1, the water stored in the cartridge tank 4 is drained, the tank removal cover 3 of the main body 1 is opened, and the cartridge tank 4 having the storage and liquid level detecting device 9 built therein is opened. When the cartridge is stored in the storage section, the magnet 14 of the storage and liquid level detection device 9 is located on the bottom surface of the cartridge tank 4 so that the contact of the reed switch of the proximity switch 8 is closed and turned on, and the cartridge tank 4 is stored. It is confirmed that the operation has been started. When the cartridge tank 4 is taken out, the magnetic field disappears, so that the contact of the reed switch of the proximity switch 8 is opened, the state is turned off, and the operation is stopped.

A reflector is provided in place of the magnet 14, and a lamp such as an LED and an optical sensor such as a CdS cell for detecting light of the lamp reflected by the reflector are used in place of the proximity switch 8. You may.

When the cartridge tank 4 is housed in the main body and the operation of the dehumidifier is started, the water condensed in the condenser 36 is temporarily stored in the water receiving tank 11 and passed through the water pumping pipe 10 via the water pumping pipe 37. Water supply port 38 on the back of lid 3
Then, the on / off valve 32 of the lid 31 is pushed, water is injected from the water supply port 38, falls on the float 13, and is stored in the cartridge tank 4.

If the operation is continued for a long time, the water is gradually accumulated in the cartridge tank 4, and when the water level rises and becomes almost full, the float 13 starts to float, and when the float 13 reaches the full point of FIG. Since the magnet 14 disposed below the storage and liquid level detecting device 9 is separated from the bottom surface of the cartridge tank 4 by the buoyancy of the 13, the magnetic field is thereby eliminated, and the contact point of the reed switch of the proximity switch 8 on the back surface of the cradle 7 is changed. Open, turn off and stop the operation of the dehumidifier.

The magnet holder 24 of the magnet built-in case 19 of the storage and liquid level detecting device 9 is formed with bottom ribs 26 protruding from three sides of the bottom surface, so that the bottom surface of the magnet holder 24 and the bottom surface of the cartridge tank 4 The phenomenon in which a film of water is formed between the two so that they do not adhere and separate from each other is eliminated. Similarly, by forming the rib 39 protruding from the inner surface of the guide pipe 29 on the larger diameter side, the float 13
Adhesion between the surface and the inner surface of the guide pipe 29 can also be eliminated, and a water film is formed.
The phenomenon that the inner surface of the substrate 9 is not closely separated from the inner surface of the substrate 9 is eliminated.
The same effect can be obtained by forming the ribs 18 on the surface of the float 13.

In the event that water is supplied to the cartridge tank 4,
Foreign matter such as dust adheres to the float 13 and the float 1
There is also a case where the operation is continued without the surface 3 rising. In this case, the water overflowing from the cartridge tank 4 accumulates in the receiving stand 7, and the water that has escaped from the drain hole 21 accumulated in the receiving stand 7 accumulates in the water receiver 23 of the bottom plate 5.

When the water accumulated on the bottom plate 5 is detected by the water detecting device 12 attached to the back surface of the cradle 7, the operation of the dehumidifier is forcibly stopped. The water detection device 12
Has two electrodes protruding from its bottom surface,
The electrodes are short-circuited with water to detect water. When water leaks from other than the cartridge tank 4,
Even if water leaks from the water supply port side for supplying water to the cartridge tank 4, since the receiving tray 7 is formed larger than the bottom surface of the cartridge tank 4, it can be detected by the above-described method, and water can be detected outside the device. Overflow can be prevented. In addition, with the operation of the water detection device 12, an alarm or L
Water leakage may be notified by lighting or blinking of the ED.

The application of the present invention is not limited to the dehumidifier as described above, but can be widely used for a drain water storage container of an air conditioner, a general liquid storage container, and the like.
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

[0047]

According to the first and second aspects of the present invention, since the presence or absence of the storage container in the main body and the liquid level can be detected by the operating body and the sensing switch, the space can be saved.
At the same time, the number of parts can be reduced.

According to the third aspect, since the operating body can be easily taken out by removing the lid, inspection and repair of the operating body are easy,
Further, if the lid is forgotten, since the operating body is not stored in the liquid storage container, the housing of the liquid storage container is not sensed, and it is possible to prevent the lid from being left behind and operating the main body. Further, the operating body can be reliably moved in the vertical direction by the guide pipe, and the accuracy of liquid level detection is improved.

According to the fourth aspect, when the liquid storage container is stored in the storage portion in an empty state, the operating body is at the lowest position in the liquid storage container due to its own weight, and this position is detected by the sensing switch. Thus, the storage of the liquid storage container in the main body can be detected.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the on-off valve is provided on the lid of the liquid storage container, and the float is provided below the on-off valve, so that the liquid flowing into the liquid storage container is placed on the float. Since the liquid drops and falls into the liquid storage container and the liquid does not drop directly onto the liquid surface, the sound of the liquid falling can be reduced.

According to the sixth aspect, the operation of the float is ensured by the adhesion preventing material, and accurate storage and liquid level detection can be performed.

According to the seventh aspect, even if the main body overflows due to a malfunction, the operation can be stopped.

According to the eighth aspect, since the overflow is detected by receiving the overflowed liquid from the liquid storage container by the receiving portion, the overflow can be immediately detected before the liquid flows out of the main body.

According to the ninth aspect, even if a small amount of liquid flows out at the beginning of the overflow, the liquid can be concentrated and guided by the inclined surface and the overflow can be detected by the overflow detecting means very early. it can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a dehumidifier according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view around a cartridge tank according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a cartridge tank according to an embodiment of the present invention, a storage thereof, and a liquid level detecting device.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view in which a storage and a liquid level detection device are connected to a lid of the cartridge tank according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of a float and a magnet of the storage and liquid level detecting device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the overflow water detecting device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the float according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the magnet-containing case according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the pedestal according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a water pool of the bottom plate according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of the entire configuration of the dehumidifier according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body 2 Top plate 3 Lid 4 Cartridge tank (water storage container) 5 Bottom plate 6 Tank guide plate 7 Receiving stand 8 Proximity switch 9 Storage and liquid level detecting device 10 Pumping pump 11 Water receiving tank 12 Water detecting device 13 Float 14 Magnet 15 Contact Rod 16 Connecting pipe 17 Through hole 18 Float rib 19 Case with built-in magnet 20 Magnet receiver 21 Drain hole 22 Bottom plate rib 23 Water receiver 24 Magnet holding 25 Magnet holding side rib 26 Magnet holding bottom rib 27 Contact rod holding 29 Guide pipe 30 Guide rib

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A storage container removably housed in a housing portion of a main body, an operating body that moves with a liquid level in the storage container, and the storage container operated by the operating body. And a liquid level detecting device for detecting the liquid level. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operating body comprises a float, and a sensing portion which is located below the float and moves integrally with the float, and the sensing means is provided on the storage portion side. 2. The storage container storage and liquid level detection device according to claim 1, further comprising a sensing switch for sensing an operation of the sensed portion. 3. The liquid storage container according to claim 1, further comprising a lid of the liquid storage container, and a guide pipe integrally connected to the lid and holding the operating body vertically movable. Storage and liquid level detection device. 4. The storage and storage of a liquid storage container according to claim 1, wherein the sensing switch is disposed below a bottom surface of the liquid storage container on the storage unit side. Liquid level detection device. 5. The liquid storage according to claim 1, wherein an opening / closing valve is provided on a lid of the liquid storage container, and the float is provided below the opening / closing valve. Container storage and liquid level detection device. 6. Between the float and the holder,
6. The storage and liquid level detecting device for a liquid storage container according to claim 1, further comprising an adhesion preventing material for preventing adhesion between the float surface and the holder surface. 7. The storage container according to claim 1, further comprising overflow detection means for detecting overflow of the liquid stored in the storage container. And a liquid level detecting device. 8. The storage and liquid level detecting device according to claim 7, further comprising a receiving portion for receiving the overflowed liquid. 9. A discharge hole formed in the bottom surface of the receiving portion, an inclined surface formed so that liquid flows toward the discharge hole on the bottom surface of the receiving portion, and a liquid reservoir for storing water flowing out from the discharge hole. The storage container storage and liquid level detecting device according to claim 8, wherein the overflow detecting means detects that the liquid is stored in the liquid reservoir.