JPS6310367B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a float switch device installed in a water tank or a hot water tank.

Generally, in a closed type water tank or hot water tank, the state of the water in the tank is detected to drive a water supply pump, or to control energization of a heater installed in the tank, for example. There are various means for detecting these water conditions, but one of the simplest means is to use a float to control a switch.

Figure 3 shows an example of this; 1 in the figure is a tank;
Reference numeral 2 denotes a base plate, and 3 a float, the operating rod 4 of which is inserted through a guide hole 5 of the base plate 2 and guided above the base plate 2. Reference numeral 6 denotes a switch, the actuating piece of which is located opposite the top of the actuating rod 4. 7 is a water pipe, and 8 is a water outlet pipe.

In this device, a float 3 moves up and down in accordance with fluctuations in the water level, and when the water level is at a set level, a switch 6 is controlled to open and close, thereby operating a pump or the like to carry out water conveyance or water discharge operations.

By the way, there is no problem when the water level in the tank 1 is low, but there is a drawback that when the tank 1 is filled with water and pressurized water flows in by a pump or the like, the water in the tank 1 leaks out from the guide hole 5. Furthermore, if the float 3 continues to be positioned almost upward, some water will enter the guide hole 5, and the actuating rod 4 will be glued and fixed inside the guide hole 5, and then the water level When there is a fluctuation in the float 3, the float 3 does not operate normally and the switch 6 does not respond.

The present invention has been made in consideration of such problems, and a first object thereof is to prevent water leakage from a guide hole of a float operating rod in a closed tank. A second purpose is to prevent the actuating rod from being fixed in the guide hole.

In order to achieve this object, the present invention provides a float in a closed tank, an operating rod of the float is connected to a switch through a guide hole in the top plate of the closed tank, and a switch is connected to the top of the float. A sealing member is provided to seal the guide hole during operation. Further, an elastic annular edge is provided on the upper part of the hole sealing member.

With this configuration, when the float moves up, the actuating rod guide hole is closed, and even if pressure water flows into the closed tank, the water in the closed tank will not leak through the guide hole, and the switch will not be activated. Alternatively, accidents such as short circuits in other electrical parts can be prevented. In addition, when there is a pressure fluctuation in the closed tank at the position where the float moves up, the elastic annular edge bends and moves the actuating rod up and down, so the actuating rod moves inside the guide hole using the water in the guide hole as a medium. There is no adhesion and stable float switch operation is possible at all times.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. This embodiment is a hot water tank in a sanitary cleaning device, and 9 is a tank body which is configured in a sealed manner with a substrate 10 provided on the upper part.
A heater 11, a temperature sensor 12, and a water conduit 13 are provided in the tank body 9, and a float 14 is also inserted therein. The heater 11, the temperature sensor 12, and the water conduit 13 have their upper ends connected to the substrate 10.
The float 14 has an upwardly protruding operating rod 15 inserted into a guide hole 16 formed in the base plate 10 and guided above the base plate 10. An operating rod 15 is mounted on the top of the float 14.
A sealing member 17 made of rubber or elastic synthetic resin is provided so as to surround the base of the hole.
This sealing member 17 has an elastic annular edge 18 that is opened in the shape of a flap at the upper outer edge. Of course, this sealing member 17 is formed to have an outer diameter larger than the diameter of the guide hole 16 of the substrate 10. An annular groove 19 is formed in the portion of the actuating rod 15 of the float 14 that protrudes upward from the base plate 10, and a guide hole 16 is formed in this groove 19.
A plate-shaped retaining washer 20 with a larger outer diameter
It is fastened. A switch 21 inserted into the energizing circuit of the heater 11 is provided on the upper part of the board 10, and its operating piece 22 corresponds to the top of the operating rod 16 of the float 14. The switch 21 is closed and the heater 11 is energized. The substrate 10
The water outlet 23 is provided with a vacuum break valve 24, and the water outlet 23 is provided with a vacuum break valve 24.
5 is connected. 26 in the figure is the tank body 9
27 is a drain, and 28 is a temperature fuse provided at the upper end of the heater 11. These thermostat 26 and temperature fuse 28 are each inserted into the electrical circuit of the heater 11. function as a safety element. The water pipe 13 is connected to a pump (not shown) for supplying purified water, and the water outlet pipe 25 is connected to a nozzle (not shown).

This hot water tank operates as follows. Water is supplied to the tank main body 9 by a pump, and the tank main body 9
When the float 14 is almost filled with cleaning water, the float 14 moves upward, and its operating rod 15 closes the switch 21, which energizes the heater 11 to heat the cleaning water. The cleaning water heated by the inflow pressure from the pump is sent to a nozzle and is sprayed onto the part of the human body to be cleaned.

The reason why the float 14 and switch 21 are provided in this hot water tank is for safety.
That is, when the heater 11 is started after constructing a hot water tank or draining water to prevent freezing in winter, the heater 11 generates heat when the water supply from the pump is insufficient.
Since the output is as high as 850W to improve the temperature rise, the temperature instantly reaches about 200°C, which causes heat loss to the sensor 12 and makes subsequent temperature detection inaccurate. Moreover, the tank body becomes empty, which is not preferable. At this time, the thermostat 26 is set to operate at 53° C., but it cannot respond to the instantaneous overheating of the heater 11 because heat transfer is slow. When the amount of washing water in the tank body 12 is insufficient, the float 14 descends downward and the switch 21 is opened to cut off the power to the heater 11, ensuring that sufficient water is supplied to the tank body 9. The safety function is to close the switch 21 in the state where the switch 21 is closed and cause the heater 11 to generate heat.

In a normal state, the float 16 is located at the top of the tank body 9 due to almost full flushing water, and presses the sealing member 17 against the lower hole edge of the guide hole 16. Therefore, even if water is supplied into the main tank 9 from the pump and the water pressure in the main tank 9 becomes high, the cleaning water in the main tank 9 will flow through the guide hole 16.
I don't go outside anymore.

In addition, when water is suddenly supplied to the empty tank body 9 at the time of startup, water may be spouted out from the guide hole 16 when the float 14 is not fully raised. Since the retaining washer 20 corresponds to the upper part of the guide hole 16, the spouting water hits the retaining washer 20 and falls downward, and the switch 21
There has never been an accident such as an electrical short circuit. Further, while the float 16 is moving upward, there is a slight change in the amount of cleaning water in the tank body 9 due to usage, and this change is transmitted to the float 16. At this time, the sealing member 17 of the float 16 has an elastic annular edge 1 at the top.
8, the elastic annular edge 18 is deflected, and the float 16 and the actuating rod 16 are constantly moved up and down in response to changes in the amount of water. This means that since the actuating rod 15 moves within the guide hole 16, even if some water is present in the guide hole 16, the actuating rod 15 moves using this water as a medium.
5 is prevented from adhering to the inner wall of the guide hole 16. Therefore, accidents such as the float 14 becoming stuck and the switch 21 becoming uncontrollable are completely eliminated.

The above embodiments relate to a float switch of a hot water tank of a sanitary washing and steaming device, but the present invention
The present invention is not limited to the hot water tank described above, but can also be applied to other closed tanks.

As explained above, since the float switch device of the present invention has an elastic annular edge on the upper part of the sealing member, it is possible to reliably prevent water leakage from the guide hole of the actuating rod of the float, and also prevent the actuating rod from touching the inner wall of the guide hole. This prevents adhesion and allows safe and reliable switch operation.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a hot water tank in which the present invention is implemented, Figs. 2a and b are perspective views of a float and a sealing member used in the same hot water tank, and Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a tank showing a conventional example. It is a diagram. 9... Tank body, 10... Board, 13... Water pipe, 14... Float, 15... Operating rod, 16
... Guide hole, 17 ... Sealing member, 18 ... Elastic annular edge, 20 ... Retention washer, 21 ...
Switch.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1: a closed tank, a float provided in the closed tank, and an operating rod that projects above the float and is guided through a guide hole in the top plate of the closed tank; The switch is opened and closed by the actuation rod, and the sealing member is fixed to the float through insertion of the actuation rod. The sealing member has an elastic annular edge on the inner surface of the upper plate of the tank. A float switch device in which the elastic annular edge of the sealing member comes into contact with the inner surface of the tank top plate to seal the guide hole when the float moves upward.