TWI717393B - Tank with level display and compact assembly with such a tank - Google Patents

Abstract

A tank is disclosed with a tube running on the side wall thereof that is used as a level display and that can also be used as a discharge tube in this case. In the function thereof as a level display, the tube or the upper end segment thereof is fixed in a mounting so that the tube is approximately oriented upwards. In the function thereof as a discharge tube, the tube or the upper end segment thereof is released from the mounting and is bent downwards.

Description

Bucket tank with liquid level indicator and compact assembly with such tank

The present invention relates to a barrel with a visual liquid level indicator as in the preamble of the first item of the scope of patent application, and a compact assembly with such a barrel.

In the case of a tank in which hydraulic oil is contained, for example, the sight glasses are referred to as a visual level indicator inserted into the outer wall of the tank.

The compact assembly has a tank, and the pressure medium can be transported from the tank to the load port by means of a drive unit.

In the inventor’s printed data sheet "Modular standard power units Type ABSKG" (version: 11.14) with the number of RE 51013, an electro-hydraulic assembly with a barrel slot is disclosed. This type of observation glasses is inserted into the outer wall of the electro-hydraulic assembly in.

The disadvantage of this kind of visual liquid level indicator is that the observation glasses must always observe approximately vertically in order to be able to detect the level of hydraulic oil in the tank.

On the contrary, the object of the present invention is to provide a tank with a visual liquid level indicator and a corresponding compact assembly, which ensures that the liquid level can be recognized even from different viewing directions.

This goal is achieved by the feature of item 1 in the scope of patent application for the barrel and the feature of item 15 in the scope of patent application for the compact assembly.

The claimed tank has a visual level indicator. According to the present invention, the liquid level indicator includes a transparent tube having a first end section and a second end section, and the transparent tube is arranged outside the inner space of the barrel. The first end section is fixed to the barrel and connected to the lower area of the barrel. The lower zone is set below the minimum liquid level of the internal space. The second end section can be fixed at an angle above the first end section or, preferably, just above the first end section and above the maximum liquid level by means of or by means of a mounting member in the indicated position on the tank. Therefore, the ability to recognize the liquid level from different viewing directions is guaranteed, because the pipe protrudes from the outer wall of the tank at least in sections, or runs completely outside the outer wall of the tank. In the latter case, the tube may contact the outer wall of the tank or may be at a distance from the outer wall.

Preferably, the second end section can be fixed or fixed on the outer wall of the barrel in the indicated position.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in the scope of dependent patent applications.

The first end section can be connected to the lower area inside the barrel by means of a lower connecting piece, which is fixed to the bottom plate or the outer side of the outer wall of the barrel. The lower connector is, for example, a component that connects the first end section of the tube to the inside of the barrel and fixes the first end section to the bottom plate.

The pipe can be drawn laterally from the lower connecting piece arranged on the bottom plate of the barrel groove. The first end section of the tube can therefore be arranged next to the contact area of the barrel and still exhibit the minimum liquid level.

The lower connecting piece fixed to the outer side of the outer wall may include a channel extending upward at approximately 90 degrees, so that the first end section of the tube always runs vertically. Therefore, the readability when reading low liquid level is improved. If the outer wall of the barrel is vertical, the first end of the tube is parallel to the outer wall.

In the case of the first preferred embodiment, the mounting member is a groove in the outer wall of the barrel groove, and the second end section or tube can be inserted (preferably clamped) into the groove. Groove can be connected from below Pieces extend upward.

In the case of the second preferred embodiment, the mounting member is arranged at a distance and at a liquid level above the lower connecting member approximately corresponding to the length of the tube, wherein the second end section of the tube can be fixed or fixed to the mounting member.

If the mounting member has a covering section that extends above the upper end section in the indicated position and covers the upper end section, dirt falling into the pipe can be easily prevented by a technically simple arrangement.

The mounting member can be fixed to the outside of the outer wall of the barrel so that the second end section of the tube is oriented vertically in the indicated position. If the outer wall of the barrel is vertical, the second end of the tube is parallel to the outer wall.

Alternatively, in a technically simple arrangement, the mounting member may be a hole into which the second end section is inserted or introduced. Therefore, it is ensured that no dirty ambient air can enter the pipe and/or be sucked into the pipe if the liquid level drops.

In a technically simple arrangement, the second end section of the tube can be opened to the surrounding, so that the liquid level in the tube can rise and fall according to the liquid level in the tank.

In the case of an alternative preferred embodiment, the mounting member forms an upper connecting member by means of which the second end section is connected to the inside of the tank above the maximum liquid level in the indicated position. Therefore, ensure that no dirty ambient air can enter the pipe and/or be sucked in if the liquid level in the pipe drops.

In a technically simple arrangement, the upper connecting piece may be a hole into which the second end section can be inserted or introduced, or the upper connecting piece may be a component. In the latter case, the upper connecting member may include a channel down approximately 90 degrees so that in the indicated position, the second end section of the tube is oriented vertically. Therefore, the readability when reading high liquid levels is improved. If the outer wall of the barrel is vertical, the second end of the tube is parallel to the outer wall.

In the case of a particularly preferred development of the tub according to the present invention, the tube can also be used as a discharge device, and for this purpose can preferably be bent downward away from the outer wall of the tub. The second end section can be moved below the current filling level so that the contents of the tank (such as hydraulic oil) can flow out.

If a shut-off device, in particular a shut-off valve, is provided in the second end section of the tube for this purpose, it can be ensured that the discharge device is only opened when the second end section is arranged above the collection container.

Preferably, the shut-off device is configured so that it opens automatically when the second end section is inserted into the mounting piece, and is therefore set in the indicated position. Therefore, the rise and fall of the liquid level in the tube is possible, even if the operator should not remember to turn on the shut-off device for the operation of the tube as a liquid level indicator.

For practical reasons, it is preferable that the mounting member has a groove (such as a recess) by which the second end section of the tube can be grasped by the operator from behind, so as to release the end section from the mounting member.

For better recognition of the liquid level, it is better to illuminate the tube by means of LEDs.

In a development situation, the tank has a liquid level sensor, and the light color of the LED can be controlled by the liquid level sensor. The liquid level sensor may be a float switch or at least one light barrier, and the tube runs through the float switch or at least one light barrier in its indicating position. The light barrier can be formed by a diode and a photodiode.

In order to be able to adapt the liquid level sensor or its response characteristics to different liquid levels, it is preferable that the position of the light barrier can be adjusted parallel to the tube (maintained in its indicating position). If the tube (in its indicated position) is vertical, the position of the light barrier is vertically adjustable.

The compact assembly according to the present invention has a drive unit which includes an electric motor and a pump, wherein by means of the pump, the pump pressure medium can be sucked from the previously described tank. Therefore, it is ensured that the liquid level of the pressure medium of the compact assembly can be identified from different viewing directions.

If the outer wall of the barrel is cylindrical, the shape of the entire compact assembly can be cylindrical, thus giving a compact assembly in a particularly compact form.

Several exemplary embodiments of the tub according to the present invention and exemplary embodiments of the compact assembly according to the present invention are shown in the drawings. The present invention will now be described in detail using the figures of the drawings.

3: Lower connector

5: Liquid level

7: Tube

9: The first end section

11: Upper connector

13: second end section

15: Shut-off valve

17: Collection container

23: groove

24: Liquid level sensor

26: shell

27: LED

29: End pieces

33: Mounting parts

35: Groove

37: Diode

39: photodiode

42: bottom plate

48: Outer Wall

49: bracket

51: Rail

53: Controller

55: Liquid level signal

164: Ventilation Slot

T: barrel trough

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows a schematic side view of a tub according to the present invention according to a first exemplary embodiment, and Figure 2 shows a schematic side view of a tub according to the present invention according to a second exemplary embodiment, 3 shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the compact assembly according to the present invention, Figure 4 shows a perspective representation of a cross-section of the compact assembly from Figure 3, and Figure 5 shows a barrel according to the present invention according to a third exemplary embodiment The cross section of the trough section, and FIG. 6 shows a schematic representation of the tub trough according to the present invention according to the fourth exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic side view of a first exemplary embodiment of a tank T in which hydraulic oil with a level 5 is contained. The lower connector 3 is attached in the lower area of the outer wall 48 very close to the bottom plate 42 of the barrel T. This lower connecting piece connects the tube 7 (more precisely, its first end section 9) to the inside of the barrel T by means of an angled channel. The tube 7 runs vertically and parallel to the outer wall 48. In the indicated position shown in Fig. 1, the tube 7 functions as a standpipe. Therefore, the tube 7 acts as a visual liquid level indicator, which can read a wide angle range of approximately 180 degrees from the outside of the tank T.

The upper connecting piece 11 is attached to the outer wall 48 of the tub T above the liquid level 5. In the indicated position of the tube 7, the second end section 13 of the tube 7 is also connected to the upper connecting piece 11 so that the upper end section 13 is fluidly connected to the upper region of the barrel T by means of the angled passage of the upper connecting piece 11. This effectively prevents dirt from entering the pipe 7 from the ambient air and therefore into the hydraulic oil.

In the discharge position of the pipe 7, in which the second end section 13 of the pipe 7 is released from the upper connector 11 and bent downward, the pipe 7 is used as a discharge pipe.

Figure 2 shows a schematic side view of a second exemplary embodiment of a tub T according to the present invention, where the difference from the first exemplary embodiment is that the second end section 13 of the tube 7 includes a shut-off valve 15 (such as a ball valve) ). It can therefore be realized that when the tube 7 is used as a discharge tube, the tube 7 is only opened when its second end section 13 is arranged above the collection container 17. Figure 2 shows the discharge position of the tube 7 or its end section 13.

The tank T according to the present invention with a liquid level indicator combined with a drainage function is particularly advantageous for compact assemblies, such as machine tools. Here, the compact assembly is installed in the machine housing of the machine tool. The replacement period for hydraulic oil is, for example, approximately every 4 months. The discharge function according to the present invention can be combined extremely conveniently.

FIG. 3 shows the compact assembly according to the present invention, in which the barrel T is made of plastic and the vertical groove 23 for the tube 7 is integrated in the outer side of the outer wall 48. In this case, the groove 23 is designed so that the tube 7 can be pressed in due to its elastic properties. The end piece 29 containing the relevant shut-off valve 15 (see Figure 2) is installed at the second end section 13 above the pipe 7. The shut-off valve can be automatically or manually opened or closed, thereby clamping or snapping to the barrel T in.

Figure 4 shows a cross-section of the compact assembly of Figure 3 with the tube 7 removed from the groove 23 so that the shape of the groove 23 is visible. The groove has an approximately rectangular cross section with rounded corners. As the end piece 29 is also removed from the tank side mounting piece 33, it is also possible to identify the two for better gripping of the end piece 29 The mounting piece 33 between the grooves 35.

Fig. 5 shows a cross-section of the tube 7 inserted in the groove 23 of the third exemplary embodiment of the barrel T according to the present invention. The groove 23 has a cross section in the form of a circular arc or a circular cross section. In other words, the base of the groove 23 is in the form of a circular arc and has a diameter similar to that of the tube 7.

In the case of both the grooves 23 of FIGS. 4 and 5, the tube 7 can be pressed or clamped into the groove 23, and therefore remain until the end piece 29 is manually removed from the mounting piece 33 and the pipe 7 The groove 23 is pulled out in order to introduce the tube into its discharge position.

According to FIG. 6, an LED can be used to illuminate the tube 7 from the inside. The LED is controlled by the electronic controller 53 depending on the signal of the liquid level sensor 24. The tube 7 can therefore be irradiated, for example, for green for "liquid level very good", yellow for "liquid level warning" and red for "liquid level too low". LED can also only be used for better visual level recognition.

Fig. 6 shows a fourth exemplary embodiment of a tub T according to the present invention. In this case, the tube 7 is also used to automatically measure the liquid level by integrating a plurality of (three shown in the exemplary embodiment) light barriers in the visual liquid level indicator according to the present invention. Each light barrier includes a diode 37 and a photodiode 39. The light barrier penetrates the irradiation tube 7 and is mounted on a corresponding bracket 49, which is vertically replaceable on a guide rail parallel to the tube 7 (in its indicated position), so that the aforementioned liquid output by the controller 53 The position signal 55 (such as "liquid level too low" or "liquid level warning") can be set from the outside.

A bucket is disclosed. The bucket has a pipe running on its side wall. The pipe is used as a liquid level indicator and in this case can also be used as a discharge pipe. In the case where it is used as a level indicator, the tube or its upper end section is fixed in the mount so that the tube is oriented approximately upwards. In the case where it is used as a discharge pipe, the pipe or its upper end section is removed from the mount and bent downward.

3: Lower connector

5: Liquid level

7: Tube

9: The first end section

11: Upper connector

13: second end section

42: bottom plate

48: Outer Wall

T: barrel trough

Claims (15)

A bucket (T) with a visual liquid level indicator, characterized in that the liquid level indicator comprises a transparent tube (7), and the transparent tube (7) is arranged in an internal space of the bucket (T) There is a first end section (9) and a second end section (13) on the outside of the, wherein the first end section (9) is fixed to the barrel (T) and connected to the barrel (T) The lower area of the interior, and where the second end section (13) can be fixed in an indicated position by means of or by means of an upper connecting piece (11), a groove (23) or a mounting piece (33) Above the first end section (9). For example, the bucket (T) of item 1 of the scope of patent application, wherein the first end (9) section is connected to the lower area of the interior of the bucket (T) by means of a lower connecting piece (3), and wherein the The lower connecting piece (3) is fixed to a bottom plate (42) of the barrel (T) or an outer side surface of an outer wall (48) of the barrel (T). For example, the bucket (T) of item 1 or 2 of the scope of patent application, wherein the groove (23) is located in an outer surface of an outer wall (48) of the bucket (T), and the second end section (13) ) Or the tube (7) can be inserted into the groove (23). For example, the barrel groove (T) of item 2 of the scope of patent application, wherein the upper connecting piece (11) or the mounting piece (33) is arranged at a distance and arranged above the lower connecting piece (3) approximately corresponding to the pipe (7) At a liquid level of a length, and wherein the second end section (13) of the pipe (7) can be fixed or fastened to the upper connecting piece (11) or the mounting piece (33). For example, the barrel tank (T) of item 4 of the scope of patent application, wherein the upper connector (11) is fixed to the outer side surface of the outer wall (48) of the barrel tank (T), and is designed so that the tube (7) The second end section (13) of) is oriented approximately vertically in the indicating position. For example, the bucket (T) of item 5 of the scope of patent application, wherein in the indicating position, the second end section (13) is connected to the inside of the bucket (T) by means of the upper connecting piece (11) . For example, the barrel (T) of item 1 or 2 in the scope of patent application, wherein the tube (7) can be bent downward. For example, the barrel (T) of item 7 of the scope of patent application, wherein a shut-off device (15) is provided on the second end section (13) of the tube (7). For example, if the second end section (13) is inserted into the upper connecting piece (11) or the mounting piece (33), the shut-off device (15) automatically turn on. For example, the barrel groove (T) of item 7 of the scope of patent application, wherein the mounting member (33) has at least one groove (35), and the tube (7) can be grasped behind by the at least one groove (35) The second end section (13) in order to release the tube (7) from the mounting part (33). For example, the barrel (T) of item 1 or 2 in the scope of patent application, in which the tube (7) can be illuminated by means of an LED. For example, the barrel tank (T) of item 11 in the scope of patent application has a liquid level sensor (24), and the light color of the LED can be controlled by the liquid level sensor (24). For example, the barrel (T) of item 1 or 2 of the scope of patent application has a liquid level sensor (24), the liquid level sensor (24) includes at least one light barrier, and the tube (7) penetrates in its indicating position Run through the at least one light barrier. For example, the barrel (T) of item 13 in the scope of patent application, wherein the at least one light barrier wall can be adjusted parallel to the tube (7) in the indicating position of the tube (7). A compact assembly with a drive unit, the drive unit includes an electric motor and a pump, wherein the pressure medium can be removed from the barrel tank as in any one of the scope of the patent application (1 to 14) by means of the pump ( T) Aspirate.

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