JPS6014820Y2 - antifreeze device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an anti-freeze device for water taps, water heaters, solar collectors, etc., and more particularly to an anti-freeze device that automatically senses water temperature and operates.

Traditionally, measures to prevent water pipes from freezing include wrapping insulation around water pipes or constantly running a small amount of water from the faucet, and measures to prevent water heaters from freezing include:
The method used is to remove water from the drain.

Furthermore, in solar collectors and the like, since the heat collector is exposed outdoors, it is necessary to use structural materials that elastically follow the increase in volume even if the water in the heat collecting part freezes.
Freezing is prevented by using a heating medium other than water salt or by forcing water circulation inside the system.

However, this type of method has drawbacks such as requiring special processing on the equipment side, requiring a large amount of cost, and requiring special operations.

The present invention was developed to solve these conventional problems, and its purpose is to automatically prevent freezing with a simple structure without the need for special processing on the equipment side. We are here to provide you with anti-freeze equipment.

This invention provides a water drainage mechanism between the equipment side and the water pipe,
A valve is installed in this water removal mechanism to open and close the ice removal port.
This valve is linked to an operating member made of a shape memory alloy that operates by sensing changes in water temperature, and opens the valve when the water temperature falls below a predetermined value to prevent freezing.

Here, shape memory alloys are materials that, after being deformed, return to their pre-deformed shape when a temperature change is applied, such as by heating.
In other words, it is a general term for alloys that remember their original shape, and T
1Ni, Cu, AI, CuAlNi.

AuCd, Fe5Pt, InTl, NiA1.
This phenomenon occurs in CuZn, CuZnAl, and other alloys.

The cause of such shape memory is now generally understood as the phenomenon of martensitic transformation.

This is because martensite grows continuously as the temperature decreases, and conversely contracts as the temperature increases.
This is due to a transformation called thermoelastic martensitic transformation that can be reversibly transferred, and martensite, which is formed by twin deformation that occurs and grows due to temperature drop or stress, has good consistency with the parent phase when heated. Therefore, it is absorbed into the matrix and disappears due to reverse metamorphosis.

In other words, the cause of the deformation at low temperatures is eliminated by heating, so the original shape is restored, and this is thought to be the cause of the memorability.

Therefore, the shape memory phenomenon can basically be understood by the mechanism described above, and combinations of various metals can be found by searching for compositions and heat treatment conditions that cause thermoelastic martensitic transformation due to twin deformation.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

A freeze prevention device 1 according to the present invention is installed between a water pipe 2 and a faucet 3 or water heater 4, as shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b.

As shown in FIG. 2, this anti-freezing device 1 includes a horizontal cylinder part 5a connected to a water pipe 2, and a vertical cylinder part 5b communicating with the longitudinal center of the horizontal cylinder part 5a and protruding downward. A main body 5 formed in the shape of a shape, a safety valve 6 provided on the horizontal cylindrical portion 5a, a cap 7 attached to the lower end of the vertical cylindrical portion 5b and having a drain lower a, a valve 8 for opening and closing the drain lower a, a valve 8, a bias spring 10 for the valve 8, and the like.
It enters the vertical cylinder part 5b through the water draining lower a of the cap 7.
It is designed to be discharged to the outside.

A knob 6a of the safety valve 6 is provided outside the horizontal tube portion 5a, and by operating the knob 6a, the effective opening area of the communication hole 11 is adjusted, and the amount of water discharged from the drain lower a is adjusted. It has become.

The valve 8 is disposed within the vertical cylinder portion 5b, and its upper end is connected to the communication hole 1.
The valve body 8b at the lower end of the valve stem 8a opens and closes the drain lower a by vertical movement of the valve stem 8a guided by the valve stem 8a.

A slit 12 is provided on the upper end circumferential surface of the valve stem 8a, and water from the horizontal tube portion 5a side flows into the vertical tube portion 5b side through this slit 12.

This valve 8 receives an upward biasing force from an actuating spring 9 disposed within a guide portion 13 formed between the vertical cylinder portion 5b and the drain lower portion of the cap 7. , is biased downward by a bias spring 10 provided around the valve stem 8a.

The operating spring 9 is made of a reversible shape memory alloy such as CuZnA1, and expands when the water temperature approaches freezing temperature, pushes up the valve 8 against the biasing force of the bias spring 10, opens it, and drains water from the drain lower a. When the water temperature rises, the valve 8 is contracted to allow the valve 8 to close due to the biasing force of the bias spring 10.

Note that since the actuating spring 9 is made of a reversible shape memory alloy as described above, it is not necessarily necessary to bias the valve 8 in the closing direction, but the dominating spring 10 is used to actuate the valve 8. This is to make it accurate.

In other words, in shape memory alloys, the Ms (martensite start) point and the As (austenite start) point are different, and the resulting hysteresis causes operational problems.
becomes.

For this reason, the bias spring 10 biases the valve 8 in the closing direction to reduce the amount of displacement caused by temperature, thereby minimizing hysteresis.

Next, the effect will be explained.

When the water is at normal temperature, the actuating spring 9 senses its temperature and contracts, so the valve 8 is closed.

When the water temperature drops to near freezing temperature, the operating spring 9
begins to expand, and the valve 8 opens against the biasing force of the bias spring 10.

Thereby, water is drained from the drain lower a.

This drainage causes the water in the pipe to constantly flow, thereby preventing it from freezing.

Note that the amount of water discharged from the drain lower a is adjusted by the safety valve 6.

When the water temperature rises, the actuating spring 9 contracts again and the biasing force of the bias spring 10 closes the valve 8.

At this time, water flows into the vertical tube portion 5b through the slit 12 of the valve stem 8a, so water pressure is also applied to the head of the valve stem 8a.

Therefore, the valve sealing force is increased by this water pressure, and the sealed state is ensured.

According to the embodiment described above, the operating spring detects the water temperature and automatically opens and closes the valve, so no special operation is required.

Therefore, there is no possibility of freezing due to forgetting to operate the water, and since the valve is opened to drain water only when the water temperature reaches around the freezing temperature, the amount of water drained can be kept to a minimum.

In addition, since the antifreeze device is installed between the equipment side and the water pipe side, there is no need to perform any special processing on the equipment side, unlike conventional methods, and it is extremely easy to install and can be used with existing equipment. Furthermore, since the structure is simple, it is robust and inexpensive, and its operation is reliable and parts can be easily replaced.

Note that the safety valve 6 is normally closed to prevent accidental water leakage, and may be left open only in winter when the temperature reaches freezing water.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the present invention, in which the valve 8 is arranged laterally.

That is, the main body 15 has the horizontal cylinder part 1 having the same structure as the horizontal cylinder part 5a.
5a, and a water drain port 1 provided parallel to this horizontal cylinder portion 15a.
7a, and a cylindrical portion 15b that communicates with the cylindrical portion 7a.
a and 15b are communicated through a communication hole 21.

The valve 8 is disposed within the cylindrical portion 15b, and the opening at the right end of the cylindrical portion 15b in the drawing is closed by a sealing plate 14.

Around this valve 8, an actuation spring 19 made of a shape memory alloy that operates to bias the valve 8 in the opening direction and a bias spring 10 that biases the valve 8 in the closing direction are attached to the valve stem 8a, respectively. It is provided.

The operating spring 19 is held at both ends by an adjustment screw 14a screwed into the valve body 8b and the sealing plate 14, and contracts when the water temperature approaches the freezing temperature, resisting the biasing force of the bias spring 10. valve 8 is opened.

The basic positional relationship of the operating spring 19 is adjusted by the adjusting screw 14a.

According to the embodiment described above, the same effects as those of the previous embodiment can be expected, and the basic positional relationship of the actuation spring can be easily adjusted using the adjustment screw, so that the valve operation becomes more accurate.

FIG. 4 shows still another embodiment of the present invention, which will be described below.

The main body 25 is composed of a horizontal cylinder part 25a having the same structure as the horizontal cylinder parts 15a and 15a, and a cylinder part 25b arranged parallel to the horizontal cylinder part 25a, and a valve receiving part is formed in the middle part of the cylinder part 25b. In addition, a water drain port 27a is communicated with the outlet side of the valve receiving portion.

A valve 18 is disposed within the cylindrical portion 25b, and the valve body 18b is located in the middle of the valve stem 18a.
8 is biased in the opening direction by an actuation spring 9 made of a shape memory alloy, and biased in the closing direction by a bias spring 10.

The actuating spring 9 expands when the water temperature approaches freezing temperature to open the valve 18 against the biasing force of the bias spring 10.

The basic positional relationship of the operating spring 9 is adjusted by an adjustment screw 14a, and the biasing force of the bias spring 10 is adjusted by an adjustment screw 14b.

According to the embodiment described above, the same effects as those of the two embodiments described above can be expected, and since both the operating spring and the bias spring can be used in a state where they exert a pushing action, the valve can be easily assembled.

Furthermore, if the actuation spring is made of a shape memory alloy that shrinks when the temperature approaches freezing, the positional relationship between the actuation spring and the bias spring can be reversed.

In each of the embodiments described above, a case has been described in which the actuating springs 9 and 19 are made of a reversible shape memory alloy. A similar effect can be expected when used as a return spring.

When the actuating spring is made of T1Ni, corrosion resistance can be improved.

The present invention has been described above based on preferred embodiments, but according to the present invention, there is no need for special processing on the equipment side, and freezing can be automatically prevented with a simple structure.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1A and 1B are schematic diagrams showing examples of specific mounting positions of the device according to the present invention, FIG. FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view showing still another embodiment of the present invention. 1... Antifreeze device, 2... Water pipe,
3... faucet, 4... water heater, 6...
... Safety valve, 7a, 17a, 27a ... Water drain port, 8 ... Valve, 9, 19 ... Shape memory alloy operating spring, 10 ... ...Bias spring.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claim for Utility Model Registration] 1. A water draining mechanism having a water draining port is interposed between a water pipe and a device that uses water such as a faucet or water heater, and a water draining A valve that opens and closes the mouth and an operating member made of a shape memory alloy that operates by sensing changes in water temperature are provided, and the valve is linked to the operating member so that the valve opens when the water temperature falls below a predetermined value. An antifreeze device characterized by: 2. The anti-freeze device according to claim 1, wherein the water drain mechanism is provided with a safety valve that adjusts the amount of water discharged from the water drain port.