JPH11344372A - Sensor device for saturated salt water forming machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a sensor which controls a water level and which automatically detects the amount of salt when salt and water are put into a container so as to form a saturated salt water, which precisely replenishes salt, which controls the supply of water so as to raise or lower the water level by following the increase or decrease in salt and which does not supply water more than required. SOLUTION: Water W in a prescribed amount is added to salt S, in a prescribed amount, which is put into a container 1, and a saturated salt water is formed. At this time, a salt level detecting sensor which detects the level of a salt face ST at the inside of the container 1 and which issues a salt charging signal when the level is lowered to the lower limit level is installed. A water level detecting sensor which detects the upper limit level and the lower limit level of the water W inside the container 1 and which can maintain the water level between the upper limit level and the lower limit level is installed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention belongs to the technical field of a saturated saline solution generator for generating a saturated saline solution (electrolyte solution) used in an electrolyzed water generator, and more specifically, The present invention relates to a sensor device capable of maintaining and controlling the amounts of water and salt supplied to a saturated saline solution generator at predetermined levels.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a saturated saline solution used in an electrolyzed water generator capable of producing electrolyzed water by electrolysis, for example, as shown in FIG. 1 of JP-A-8-323355, sodium chloride is used. It is generated by supplying tap water etc. through a conduit into the charged tank, and the upper and lower water levels of the saturated saline solution are detected by sensors provided in the tank, respectively. The valve is opened to supply water such as tap water, so that a predetermined level is constantly maintained.

[0003]

However, the amount of salt introduced into the tank gradually decreases as the tap water is replenished. Is reduced, and there is a problem that a saturated saline solution cannot be generated and a diluted saline solution is generated.

[0004] Further, if the level of tap water is maintained at the initial level even though the amount of salt is reduced, the amount of tap water becomes too large, and algae and the like are generated, which affects the production of saturated saline. there were.

[0005] The above problem can be solved by checking the amount of salt in the tank at appropriate time intervals, and replenishing the amount when the amount becomes low to maintain a constant level. However, since this is done only by the staff or the manager, there is a case where the input of the salt may not be properly performed due to human reasons for forgetting or making a mistake, and improvement is desired. I was

Accordingly, a technical problem of the present invention is to automatically detect not only the water level but also the amount of sodium chloride when the salt and water are charged into the container to generate a saturated saline solution. The purpose of the present invention is to make it possible to supply salt more accurately and to control the water supply so that the water level rises and falls in accordance with the increase and decrease of the salt so that more water than necessary is not supplied.

[0007]

Means taken by the present invention to solve the above-mentioned technical problems are as follows.

[0008] A saturated salt water generator for adding a predetermined amount of water to a predetermined amount of salt charged into a container to generate a saturated salt solution,

(1) A structure in which the inside of the above container is always in contact with the upper surface of the salt put in the container to detect the level, and when the level of the salt surface falls to the lower limit level, a salt input signal is issued. The upper and lower levels of the water level in the container are detected based on the salt level detection sensor and the level of the salt level detected by the salt level detection sensor, and the water level is constantly adjusted to these upper and lower levels. Provide a water level detection sensor that can be maintained in between. (Claim 1)

(2) A salt level detection sensor and a water level level detection sensor are integrally formed, and the integrated sensor body is suspended inside the container by using a suspension string configured to be able to be wound up and down by a driving unit. On the other hand, when the salt level detection sensor detects the salt level by driving the drive unit in the lowering direction, the lowering drive of the drive unit is stopped and the detection of the salt level by the salt level detection sensor is turned off. The driving unit is configured to be driven to lower again, and when the lowering of the suspension string by the driving unit reaches the lower limit level, a salt input signal is issued. (Claim 2)

(3) The water level detection sensor is composed of two float sensors, one for detecting the upper limit and the other for detecting the lower limit, and the salt level detection sensor is movable up and down and relatively on the bottom surface in contact with the salt surface. It should be configured using a holder having a contact surface with a large area and a float sensor having the same structure as the water level detection sensor integrally held by the holder. (Claim 3)

(4) When the lid presence / absence detection sensor detects that the upper lid of the container has been removed, the driving unit winds and drives the suspension string to lift the sensor body. (Claim 4)

According to the means of claim 1 described in the above (1), the levels of salt and water in the container are detected by a salt level detecting sensor and a water level detecting sensor, respectively, and the level of the salt is equal to or lower than the set level. When the salt level is lowered, a salt input signal is issued, so that salt can be accurately replenished, and the upper and lower levels of the water level are determined based on the salt level detected by the salt level detection sensor. By raising and lowering the water surface proportionately, it is possible to always create a fixed amount of water layer on the upper surface side of the salt accumulated in the container, and since the amount of water in this layer does not change, the container It is possible to maintain a state in which a necessary amount of water is always supplied to the salt in the container, and algae are not generated in the water, and a saturated salt solution is generated in a stable state. Possible To

According to the means according to claim 2 described in the above (2), when the amount of salt in the container gradually decreases due to dissolution, the sensor body follows and descends due to the lowering drive of the drive unit, and the water level is lowered. Level is also reduced proportionally,
By maintaining a constant amount of water layer above the salt surface, it is possible to reliably generate a saturated saline solution without generating algae and the like in the water, and the sensor body is suspended by a hanging string. Since it is suspended, it does not lose its average due to dissolution of salt and tilts, so that salt level detection by the salt level detection sensor and water level detection by the water level detection sensor can always be performed accurately. In addition, when the dissolution of the salt proceeds and the lowering of the sensor body by the drive unit reaches the lower limit level, that is, when the amount of the salt falls below the minimum value required for saturation, the salt input signal is output. This makes it possible to generate a saturated saline solution in a stable state in order to prompt the injection of salt.

According to the means according to claim 3 described in the above (3), the salt level sensor and the respective sensors for upper limit detection and lower limit detection, which constitute the water level level sensor,
Both are configured using the same structure of float sensor, which simplifies the overall configuration of the sensor device and enables cost reduction, while the holder that holds the float sensor for the salt level directly detects the salt level. Since the contact surface has a relatively large area, the contact surface evenly touches the semi-dissolved salt surface and does not sink deeply into the salt surface. This makes it possible to detect the level almost correctly even on the salt surface where is advanced.

According to the means according to claim 4 described in the above (4), when receiving the salt input signal, when removing the upper lid of the container and inputting the salt, the driving unit winds up the suspension string. Since the sensor body is lifted, the sensor body does not become embedded in the introduced salt, and the salt level and water level are continuously detected and the salt level and water level are optimized. While maintaining the state, it is possible to produce saturated saline again in a stable state.

As described above, the above (1) to (1)
By solving the above technical problem by means of (4),
The problem of the conventional technique can be solved.

[0018]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sensor device for a saturated salt water generator according to the present invention; FIG. It is a partial cross-sectional front view illustrating the configuration,
In the figure, 1 is a container for storing a salt S and water W to generate a saturated salt solution, 1A is a salt inlet provided on the upper surface of the container 1, 2 is an upper lid attached to the inlet 1A, 3 is tap water. Introduction pipe,
Reference numerals 4 and 5 denote a main valve and a solenoid valve provided in the middle of the introduction pipe 3, and 6
Is a hose nipple for connecting between an introduction hose 6A connected to the introduction pipe 3 and a water supply hose 6B for supplying water to the inside of the container 1, and 6Y and 6X (see FIG. 3) indicate nipple connection ports.

1T is a storage tank or the like (not shown) for passing a saturated saline solution generated in the container 1 through a filtration filter 1R using ceramic stone or the like and a hose 1H.
Show the pump to send to.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 generally designates a motor chamber provided on the upper surface of the container 1, FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view thereof, and FIG. 3 is a line AA in FIG. Sectional view along
FIG. 4 shows a gear transmission mechanism provided in the motor chamber 10. In these drawings, the reference numeral 11 generally designates the above-mentioned structure constituted by combining a plurality of gears. 11M is a forward / reverse rotatable motor serving as a drive source, and 11A is a drive gear thereof.

The gear transmission mechanism 11 includes the motor 1
A total of five interlocking gears 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 that are interlockingly rotated using a 1M driving gear 11A as a driving source, and respective gear shafts 12A, 13A, 14 of these gears 12-16.
Transmission gears 12B, 13 attached to A, 15A, 16A
B, 14B, 15B, 16B,
In the axial direction of the gear shaft 14A of the third interlocking gear 14,
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a thread winding reel shaft 18 is continuously provided, and a final interlocking gear 16 which is decelerated and rotated by the meshing of the gear trains 12 to 15 is opposed to the gear 16. A magnet 16T for exciting and closing each of the detection lead switches 16X and 16Y for the upper and lower thread windings provided at intervals on both sides is provided.

Reference numeral 19 denotes a suspension string made of a thin and durable thread or a wire wound on the reel portion 18R of the thread winding reel shaft 18 at the upper end 19H side.
This hanging string 1 suspended in the container 1 through the hole 10A
At the lower end of the sensor body 9, a sensor body generally indicated by reference numeral 21 in FIG.
Is configured to move up and down in the container 1 by the forward and reverse rotation of the motor 11M, that is, the hoisting rotation and the lowering rotation.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the sensor body 21 and FIG.
7 is a front sectional view thereof, and FIG. 7 is a plan sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 5. In these drawings, reference numeral 22 denotes a lower end portion of the above-described hanging string 19 at the center of the upper surface. Float mounting board provided with hanging hooks 23 to be mounted, float shafts 24, 27 and 29 having upper ends 24A, 27A and 29A screwed into screw holes 22A, 22B and 22C of float mounting board 22, respectively, and 25 , 28 and 30 are the respective float shafts 2
The floats for detecting the salt level, detecting the lower limit of the water level, and detecting the upper limit of the water level, which are mounted on the lower end sides 24B, 27B, 29B of the 4, 27, 29, respectively, so as to be vertically movable, are shown.

24N, 27N and 29N are tightening nuts of the float shafts 24, 27 and 29, 27M and 29M are spacers, and 24X, 27X and 29X are floats 25 and 29N.
Retaining rings for preventing falling off of 28 and 30, 24S, 27S, 2
9S is a reed switch for each of the floats 25, 28, 30 provided inside each of the float shafts 24, 27, 29.
24R, 27R, 29R are the lead wires, 25M, 28
M and 30M indicate reed switch ON / OFF magnets attached to these floats 25, 28 and 30, respectively.

Further, in the drawing, reference numeral 26 designates a substantially cylindrical shape as a whole so that the salt level detecting float 25 can be fitted therein, and is fitted into the upper edge portion and the inner edge of the intermediate portion. A float holder provided with stoppers 26A ... for holding the float 25 and stoppers 26B ... is shown.

26E is a support plate connected to one side of the bottom of the holder 26, 26H is a guide tube protruding from the upper surface of the tip of the support plate 26E, 31 is the upper end 31A of the screw hole 22D of the float mounting plate 22. The lower end portion 31B of the guide shaft 31 is screwed into the
6H, is slidably fitted into the housing 6H, and serves as a mechanism for preventing rotation of the float holder 26 and guiding up and down. The bottom surface of the support plate 26E has a relatively large area. Surface 26T.

The above-mentioned floats 25, 28, and 30 are all commercially available with the same structure, so that the manufacturing cost can be reduced. At the time of use, the motor 11M first lowers the reel shaft 18 by the lowering rotation of the reel shaft 18 to lower the container 1 in the downward direction, and the bottom surface contact surface 26T of the float holder 26 as shown in FIG. When the float 25 is pushed up in contact with the surface ST, the float 25 moves upward to turn on the salt level detection reed switch 24S, and the lowering rotation of the motor 11M is stopped.

The floats 28 and 30 for detecting the lower and upper limits of the water level detect the lower and upper limits of the water W with reference to the position where the lowering is stopped. When the float 27 for detecting the lower limit turns on the reed switch 27S and the reed switch 27S is turned on, the above-described solenoid valve 5 opens to supply tap water into the container 1, while
When the water level WT rises and the float 30 for detecting the upper limit turns on its reed switch 29S, the electromagnetic valve 5 is closed to stop water supply.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 20 denotes a sensor for detecting the presence or absence of a lid provided on one side of the motor chamber 10, and this sensor detects that the upper lid 2 has been removed as shown by the phantom line in FIG. 20 detects that the motor 11M is
When the magnet 16T of the interlocking gear 16 which is decelerated and rotated in accordance with this winding rotation turns on the above-described thread winding upper limit detecting lead switch 16X, the winding body 8 is wound up and rotated to pull the float body 21 upwardly in the container 1.
The motor 11M is stopped.

In the above-mentioned motor 11M, the salt 25 is dissolved and the salt surface ST is lowered. As a result, the float 25 is lowered and the salt surface detecting reed switch 24 is moved.
When S is turned OFF, the contact surface 2
6T is in contact with the salt surface ST and the reed switch 24S
Is turned on until the sensor body 21 is turned on. Further, when the lowering of the salt surface ST proceeds to reach the lower limit set value, the magnet 16T of the interlocking gear 16 is used to detect the lower limit of the thread winding. Reed switch 16
When Y is turned on, the lowering rotation of the motor 11M is stopped, and the display lamp 44 (see FIG. 8) is configured to display an instruction to insert salt or to give an instruction by voice.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating the electrical configuration of the sensor device for a saturated saline solution generator according to the present invention. The central portion of the control section is composed of a CPU 40 and a memory 41 storing various system programs. An interface circuit 43 is connected to a bus 42 connecting the motor 11M and the above-described motor 11M and various reed switches 16X, 16X.
Y, 24S, 27S, and 29S, a sensor 20 for detecting the presence or absence of a lid, and a display lamp 44 for instructing salt injection are connected, and each is controlled according to a program stored in a memory 41. I have.

Next, the operation according to the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In this flowchart, the control processing relating to the motor 11M and the water level detection processing based on the two floats 28 and 30 are collectively described as one flow for convenience.

At the start of the motor control section shown in step S1, the sensor 20 first determines whether or not the upper cover 2 has been removed in step S2, and when it is closed, the process proceeds to step S3 to lower the motor 11M. After rotating, the sensor body 21 descends, and the process proceeds to the next step S4.

In step S4, it is determined whether or not the contact surface 26T is in contact with the salt surface ST based on the descent of the sensor body 21, that is, whether or not the salt surface detecting reed switch 24S is turned on. Goes to step S13 to turn off the salt feeding signal (a state in which no signal is emitted), and then goes to step S7. If it is not turned on, the process goes to the next step S5 and leads to the thread winding lower limit detection lead switch 16
It is determined whether or not Y is turned on, that is, whether or not the amount of the supplied salt S has reached the lower limit.

If the determination in step S5 is NO, the process returns to step S3 to continue the lowering of the motor 11M. If the determination is YES, the process proceeds to step S6, where the salt input signal is output. After the display lamp 44 is turned on and the display lamp 44 is turned on, the process proceeds to step S7 to stop the lowering of the motor 11M, and proceeds to the water level detecting section start process in step S14. It is assumed that the operation of supplying S is started.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S2 that the upper lid 2 is open, the process proceeds to step S9, in which the motor 11M is wound up and rotated, and the sensor body 21 is pulled up to enable the introduction of salt S. This winding rotation is performed in the next step S10 by the reed switch 1 for detecting the upper limit of the thread winding.
When 6X is turned on, the operation is stopped in step S11, and thereafter, the process returns to step S1 described above.

In the water level detection section start process in step S14, it is first determined whether or not the water level lower limit detection reed switch 27S has been turned on by water supply.
In the case of (empty water), the process proceeds to step S16 to open the solenoid valve 5 to supply water. This water supply is continued until the water level upper limit detection reed switch 29S is turned on in the next step S17, and when the water level reaches the upper limit. After proceeding to step S18 to close the electromagnetic valve 5, the process proceeds to step S1 described above. If YES (full) is determined in step S15, the process directly proceeds to the device step S1.

[0038]

The sensor device for a saturated salt water generator according to the present invention is as described above. When a salt and water are charged into a container to generate a saturated salt solution, control of the water level and At the same time, the amount of the supplied salt can be detected and the replenishment can be accurately performed, and the amount of the salt and the water can be maintained in a well-balanced state, so that the saturated salt solution can be generated in a stable state. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional front view for explaining the whole of a saturated saline solution producing apparatus provided with a sensor device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating an internal structure of a motor chamber provided in the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front sectional view of an interlocking speed reduction mechanism using gears.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a sensor body used in the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a front sectional view of the sensor body shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a plan sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of a sensor device according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating processing means according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 S Salt ST ST Salt surface W Water 1 Container 2 Top lid 3 Water introduction pipe 5 Solenoid valve 11M Motor 16X Pin winding upper limit detection lead switch 16Y Pin winding lower limit detection lead switch 19 Hanging string 20 Lid detection sensor 21 Sensor body 24S Salt level detection reed switch 27S Water level lower limit detection reed switch 29S Water level upper limit detection reed switch 25,28,30 Float 26 Float holder 26T Contact surface

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Masato Suzuki 1-6-2 Shintoda, Hamamatsu-shi, Shizuoka Amano Co., Ltd.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A saturated salt water generator for generating a saturated salt solution by adding a predetermined amount of water to a predetermined amount of salt charged in a container, wherein the saturated salt water generator is provided inside the container. A salt level detecting sensor configured to constantly contact the upper surface of the inserted salt and detect the level, and to emit a salt input signal when the level of the salt surface drops to the lower limit level, and the salt level detecting sensor detects the salt level. A water level detection sensor that can detect the upper and lower levels of the water level in the container based on the level of the salt level and maintain the water level between the upper and lower levels at all times. A sensor device for a saturated saline solution generator, characterized in that: 2. A salt level detecting sensor and a water level detecting sensor are integrally formed, and the integrated sensor body is suspended inside a container by using a suspending string configured to be able to be wound up and down by a driving unit. On the other hand, when the drive section is driven in the lowering direction and the salt level detection sensor detects the salt level, the lowering drive of the drive section is stopped and the detection of the salt level by the salt level detection sensor is turned off.
Wherein the drive unit is driven to lower again, and when the lowering of the suspension string by the drive unit reaches the lower limit level, a salt input signal is issued. 2. The sensor device for a saturated saline solution generator according to 1. 3. The water level detection sensor is constituted by two float sensors for upper limit detection and lower limit detection, and the salt level detection sensor is vertically movable.
In addition, a holder having a contact surface of a relatively large area on a bottom surface portion in contact with the salt surface, and a float sensor having the same structure as the water level detection sensor integrally held by the holder, are provided. Claim 1 or 2
The sensor device for a saturated salt solution generator according to the above. 4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the lid detects that the upper lid of the container has been removed, the driving unit winds and drives the suspension string to lift the sensor body. Sensor device for saturated saline water generator.