JPS6314075Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] This invention relates to a device that detects water leaks from automobile engine water pumps using a simple method, and is a simple water leak detector that does not work effectively when water leaks are larger than the limit. Regarding.

An automobile engine is equipped with a water pump for circulating engine cooling water, and the pump is driven by the engine through a gear.

Referring to FIG. 1, a pump vane 2 is attached to the shaft 1.
is fitted, and this vane 2 rotates within the pump chamber 3 to supply water. The pump chamber 3 is normally filled with cooling water. The A side of the shaft 1 is rotatably supported by a ball bearing 4, and a gear (not shown) for transmitting engine rotation is attached to the end (on the right side in the figure) of the shaft 1. A mechanical seal 7 is provided in a gap 6 between the pump casing 5 and the vane 2 surrounding the shaft 1 to prevent the cooling water in the pump chamber 3 from leaking into the space 8 around the shaft 1. On the other hand, an oil seal 9 is disposed on the bearing 4 side of the shaft 1 to prevent lubricating oil from leaking into the space 8 from the bearing 4 and gear (not shown).

However, in actual operation, cooling water and/or lubricating oil may infiltrate into the space 8 and become a drain due to wear and tear of the mechanical seal 7 and/or oil seal or other conditions. In particular, if water accumulates and passes through the oil seal 9 and reaches the bearing 4, there is a risk that the life of the bearing will be shortened.

Conventionally, a drain hole 10 communicating with the outside world from the space 8 has been provided to drain water and/or oil accumulated in the space 8. However, this drain hole 10 has a small diameter due to its installation position, so
Blockage may occur due to rust, dust and/or oil, etc. When the drain hole 10 is blocked, the space 8 is filled with drain, which causes water to enter the bearing 4, which may shorten the life of the bearing.

If the water leaking from the mechanical seal 7 is a small amount, it will flow out from the drain hole and will not cause any problems in actual operation, but if the amount of water leaking becomes large or the outlet of the drain hole 10 is clogged. If this occurs and the amount of water leaking from the pump's mechanical seal is greater than the amount of water flowing out from the drain hole, the water cannot be completely drained from the drain hole, leading to a shortened bearing life.

Therefore, it is necessary to detect whether the water leakage exceeds the limit, but conventionally there is no device that can easily detect this, and the development of one has been desired.

The purpose of this invention is to meet the above request.
An outer cylinder made of transparent plastic and installed in communication with the drain hole, an inner cylinder disposed at intervals inside the outer cylinder, and a bottomed isolation part between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder. , a detection agent made of a substance that changes color when it comes into contact with water charged at the inner bottom of this isolation part, an overflow pipe that penetrates the outer cylinder from the middle part of the inner cylinder and is open to the outside world, and an upper part of the overflow pipe. It is composed of a plurality of small holes that communicate the inside of the bored inner cylinder and the isolation part, and a drain pipe that communicates with the drain discharge hole and has a lower end open inside the inner cylinder, so that water leakage is larger than the limit. To provide a simple water pump water leak detector that can easily detect water leaks when water leaks.

Next, this invention will be described by way of examples with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 2, a pump vane 22 is fitted onto the shaft 21, and a pump chamber 23 filled with cooling water.
The vane 22 rotates within. The a side (right side in the figure) of the shaft 21 is rotatably supported by a bearing 24, and a gear (not shown) for transmitting engine rotation is attached to the end (right side in the figure) of the shaft 21.
A mechanical seal 27 is provided in a gap 26 between the pump casing 25 and the vane 23 surrounding the shaft 21 to prevent water in the pump chamber 23 from leaking into the space 28 around the shaft 21. An oil seal 29 is arranged on the bearing 24 side of the shaft 21 to prevent lubricating oil from leaking into the space 28. A drain hole 30 communicating between the inside of the space 28 and the outside world is connected to the pump casing 25.
It is drilled in. The above structure is the same as the conventional structure shown in FIG.

In this invention, a hollow hose holder 31 is fixed to the outlet of the drain hole 30, and a simple water leak detector 3 is connected to the hose 32 connected to this holder 31.
3 is connected to the drain hole 30. Water leak detector 3
3 has an outer cylinder 34 made of transparent plastic and an inner cylinder 35 arranged concentrically at intervals therein,
Isolation part 36 separated by outer cylinder 34 and inner cylinder 35
The bottom part is closed by an annular member 37. A drain pipe 39 is inserted into the inner cylinder 35 through the upper member 38 and communicates with the drain hole 30 via the hose 32 and the hose holder 31. The isolation part 3 opens in the middle part of the inner cylinder 35.
6 and the overflow pipe 4 passing through the outer cylinder 34.
0 is installed, and this pipe 40 opens in a place where it will not be blocked by external dust or the like. Further, a plurality of small holes 41 are bored in the upper part of the inner cylinder 35 to communicate with the isolation part 36 from inside the inner cylinder 35. A detection agent 42 made of a substance that changes color when it comes into contact with moisture, such as silica gel, is placed in the bottom of the isolation section 36, and its upper surface is covered with a water-soluble partition wall 43 to prevent the detection agent 42 from changing color due to atmospheric moisture. be done.

Next, the effects of this invention will be explained.
In FIG. 2, when water leaks from the periphery of the mechanical seal 27 into the space 28, the water passes through the drain hole 30, the hose 32, and the drain pipe 39, and the water leaks into the inner pipe 3.
5 is discharged to the outside world from the lower end. When the engine is being driven, dust or the like may adhere to the lower end of the inner cylinder 35, resulting in poor drainage conditions or even blockage of this portion. In that case, the inner cylinder 35
Water accumulates inside and the water level rises, but if the amount of water leaking is relatively small, the water will be discharged from the overflow pipe 40 and no particular problem will occur. However, if the amount of water leaking further increases, the overflow pipe 40 will no longer be able to drain all the water, and the water level will rise. If this state continues, the space 28 will be filled with water,
This will cause various engine troubles such as reduced bearing life. When the water level in the inner cylinder 35 rises and reaches the small hole 41, the water enters the isolation part 36, dissolves the partition wall 43, comes into contact with the detection agent 42, and the detection agent 42
The water will change color, indicating that water leakage has exceeded the limit. Based on this display, it is determined whether or not it is necessary to use a means to recover drainage from water leakage, or whether or not it is necessary to repair the mechanical seal 27. This discoloration of the detection agent 42 can be easily identified since the outer cylinder is made of a transparent plastic material.

According to this invention, as mentioned above, it is possible to use a simple device to detect whether water pump leakage is insufficiently drained or whether the amount of water has exceeded the limit, thereby preventing engine troubles caused by water leakage. It can be prevented.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view of the area around the drain hole of a conventional water pump, and FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of the area around the drain hole of a water pump equipped with the water pump simple water leak detector of the present invention. 25: Pump casing, 27: Mechanical seal, 30: Drain hole, 31: Hose holder, 3
2: Hose, 33: Water leak detector, 34: Outer cylinder,
35: Inner cylinder, 36: Isolation part, 37: Annular member, 3
8: upper member, 39: drain pipe, 40: overflow pipe, 41: small hole, 42: detection agent, 43: partition wall.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] An outer cylinder 34 made of transparent plastic is installed in communication with a drain discharge hole 30 around a water pump shaft of an automobile engine, an inner cylinder 35 is arranged concentrically at intervals inside the outer cylinder, and the outer cylinder A bottomed isolation part 36 between the cylinder and the inner cylinder, a detection agent 42 made of a substance that changes color when it comes into contact with water charged at the bottom of the isolation part, and a middle part of the inner cylinder to the outer cylinder. an overflow pipe 40 that penetrates through and is open to the outside world, a plurality of small holes that are bored in the inner cylinder at a position above the overflow pipe that communicate the inside of the inner cylinder and the isolation part, and the drain discharge hole. A drain pipe 3 that communicates with the inner cylinder and has a lower end open.
9, and is characterized in that it can easily detect water leakage from a mechanical seal of a water pump.