JPS5812379Y2 - Electrolyte level detector for storage batteries - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] The present invention relates to an improvement of an electrolyte level detector used in a storage battery.

This type of liquid level detector issues an alarm when the electrolyte in the storage battery decreases and the liquid level falls below a certain level, and shuts off the charging circuit to prevent abnormal liquid loss and prevent deterioration of the storage battery. are doing.

However, conventional liquid level detectors cannot continuously detect the height of the liquid level. For example, when monitoring the liquid level from a distance, it is difficult to understand the process of liquid reduction and maintenance The disadvantage is that it is difficult to remove.

Further, even when detecting a constant liquid level height, the error is as large as about ±1 mm, making it difficult to indicate an accurate liquid level.

In the present invention, a light source, such as a light emitting diode, is installed at the upper end of a float floating on the electrolyte surface of a storage battery, and a light receiving section corresponding to the light source emits a narrow beam of focused light from the light source that moves in response to fluctuations in the liquid level. By using a light receiving element that can receive light and continuously detect the position of the focused light, the above-mentioned drawbacks of the conventional method are solved.

The electrolyte level of a normal storage battery fluctuates depending on the electrolyte temperature or state of charge, and some electrolyte is electrolyzed.
As it becomes acid and hydrogen gas and scatters, the liquid level gradually decreases.

The present invention detects fluctuations in the liquid level using a float floating on the electrolyte surface and converts the position of the float into an electrical signal for monitoring.

As a method for this conversion, a light source such as a light emitting diode is provided at the upper end of the float, and approximately 1 rn! Generates rL-width red light.

As the light-receiving part of this red light, a light-receiving element is placed vertically parallel to the float, and its resistance changes in proportion to the change in the position of light incidence, and by applying a constant voltage to this element, the light is detected. , which obtains an output voltage proportional to fluctuations in the liquid level.

With this configuration, the electrolyte level height was measured and the error range was approximately ±0.2 rrrm.

Examples thereof will be described below based on the drawings.

In Fig. 1, 1 is a float 3 button equipped with a light emitting diode 2 at the upper end that generates approximately 1 - light inside and receives focused light from this light source, and when the light receiving position changes, the output is proportional to it. It is a light-impermeable container equipped with a light receiving element 4 made of a photoconductive cell for displacement detection that changes voltage, and provided to prevent light from entering the light receiving element 4 from the outside.

Reference numeral 5 designates a guide that restricts the direction of the float 3 so that it faces vertically and parallel to the light-receiving element 4, and reference numeral 6 designates a splash-proof tube provided to prevent the float 3 from being blown by silicic acid and hydrogen gas with acid mist attached thereto.

Further, 7 is a lid of a storage battery to which the container 1 is attached.

FIG. 2 shows details of the light receiving element 4.

In the figure, 8 is a metal film resistor, 9 is a photoconductive cell made of cadmium sulfide, etc., and the part irradiated with light is short-circuited, and is insulated when no light is incident. 10 is a photoconductive cell. It is an electrode.

When narrow focused light corresponding to the cell width enters the photoconductive cell 9 of this light-receiving element, the incident part becomes short-circuited, so a constant voltage is applied to the resistor 8 in advance to apply a voltage to the cell 9. By setting the electrode 1 depending on the position of the incident light,
Since the voltage generated at 0 varies, the position of the light emitting part, 1
The position of the refloat can be detected.

FIG. 3 shows the results of measurement under the conditions that a button was pressed on the bottom of the tank, the input voltage to the light receiving section was IOV, and the current flowing to the light emitting diode was 50 mA.

In this way, the liquid level height detector according to the present invention can continuously and accurately optically detect the liquid level, convert it into an electrical signal, and display it, making it suitable for monitoring the liquid level of storage batteries. This method has the advantage that the specific gravity of the electrolyte can be detected electrically by changing the size of the float.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an electrolyte level detector according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a light-receiving element, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the characteristics of the light-receiving element according to the present invention. 1... Container, 2... Light emitting diode,
3... Float, 4... Light receiving element, 5
...Guide, 6...Splash-proof cylinder, 7...
...Storage battery lid, 9...Photoconductive cell.

Claims (3)

[Scope of utility model registration request] (1) An opaque container coupled to the battery case lid, a float movable up and down inside the container and equipped with a light source at its upper end, and a light source located vertically in the container parallel to the float. An electrolyte level detector for a storage battery, comprising a light-receiving element that receives a width-varying focused light beam from an electrolyte and continuously detects the position of the focused light beam. (2) The electrolyte level detector for a storage battery according to claim 1, wherein the light source is a light emitting diode and the light receiving element is a photoconductive cell for displacement detection. (3) The electrolyte level detector for a storage battery according to claim 2, wherein a constant voltage is applied to the photoconductive cell.