JP4145342B1 - Kerosene tank residual oil amount display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a residual oil amount display device for a kerosene tank in which a user can easily attach or remove a sensor unit for detecting the position of an indicator of a cup type oil amount meter to a cup type oil amount meter of a kerosene tank.
A kerosene tank residual oil amount display device (10) includes a sensor unit (12) for detecting the position of an indicator (26) of a cup-type oil meter (20) in a kerosene tank (16), and a residual oil according to the output of the sensor unit (12). A residual oil amount display unit 14 for displaying the amount. The sensor unit 12 covers the case 22 of the oil meter 20 and does not transmit light, the light projecting LEDs 1 to 5 provided inside the cover cover 18, and the light projecting LEDs 1 to And cadmium sulfide cells CdS1 to CdS5 having a cylindrical portion 30 for receiving the light 17 of 5. According to the kerosene tank residual oil amount display device 10, the sensor unit 12 can detect the position of the indicator 26 and check the position indoors with the display lamps L 1 to L 5 of the residual oil amount display unit 14. .
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a residual oil amount display device for a kerosene tank.

Conventionally, as a home tank for home use, a polyethylene container for storing kerosene or the like, a poly tank has been used. However, the plastic tank used at home is a container of about 10 liters to 20 liters, and it is troublesome because it needs to be replenished frequently when kerosene is consumed in large quantities for heating such as in winter. . Therefore, in recent years, kerosene tanks having a capacity of 100 liters to 200 liters or more have become widespread.
Since the kerosene tank is made of a metal casing and the residual amount of kerosene cannot be visually observed from the outside, the residual amount of kerosene in the kerosene tank is the upper part of the kerosene tank ( Or, it was confirmed with a cup-type oil meter provided in the plane.

The cup-type oil meter is composed of a float that floats on the upper surface of kerosene, an operating rod that moves up and down according to the position of the float, and a disk-shaped indicator formed at the top end of the operating rod. is there. The indicator moves up and down according to the water level of kerosene in the kerosene tank. When the kerosene in the kerosene tank is consumed and reduced, the position of the indicator is also lowered.
The indicator is covered with a transparent case, and a predetermined scale is displayed on the case. The user visually confirms the scale of the case indicated by the indicator, and confirms the amount of residual oil in the kerosene tank.

However, since the kerosene tank is installed outdoors, when checking the amount of residual oil, there is an inconvenience that it is necessary to go to the place where the kerosene tank is installed and check it.
In the heavy snow region, if the kerosene tank installed outdoors is buried due to snowfall, the position of the indicator cannot be easily confirmed.

In order to solve the above-described problem, a kerosene tank remaining amount display device that can easily check the amount of remaining oil in a kerosene tank indoors has been provided (for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 9-20390 A

  The remaining amount display device for a kerosene tank in Patent Document 1 is a sensor that electrically detects the vertical position of a float in a kerosene tank that is installed outdoors, and is installed indoors. And a display means for visually displaying the residual oil state. The sensor is attached to the upper side of a guide member that guides the operating rod, and detects the vertical movement of the operating rod. The operating rod has a pair of upper and lower engaging protrusions, and a potentiometer detector as a sensor is disposed between the engaging protrusions. The potentiometer detector moves up and down as the operating rod moves up and down. Since the position of the potentiometer detector is output to the remaining amount indicator through a cable connected to the potentiometer, the user can check the amount of remaining oil in the kerosene tank indoors.

However, when the sensor related to the kerosene tank remaining amount display device of Patent Document 1 is attached to the kerosene tank, it is necessary to attach a potentiometer detector to the operating rod and attach the potentiometer to the guide member. From the viewpoint of preventing rainwater intrusion accidents into the kerosene tank, these attachment operations can only be performed by a person having considerable expertise, and the user cannot easily attach them.
In addition, the cup-type oil level meter is fixed to the kerosene tank body with the screw provided on the oil level meter, but if the screw corroded, it was necessary to replace it with a new oil level meter. . However, it has been difficult to perform an oil meter replacement operation with a potentiometer or the like attached.
Also, the transparent case that covers the indicator deteriorates when exposed to direct sunlight, wind and rain for a long time, and its transparency decreases, making it difficult to visually check the indicator inside, and the amount of residual oil in kerosene There was a problem that could not be confirmed accurately. Furthermore, the deterioration causes a crack (crack) in the case main body, and water may flow into the kerosene tank through the gap, which causes a problem that the kerosene tank itself must be replaced.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks, the present invention provides a kerosene tank in which a user can easily attach or remove a sensor unit for detecting the position of an indicator of a cup-type oil meter to or from a cup-type oil meter of the kerosene tank. An object of the present invention is to provide a residual oil amount display device.

A kerosene tank residual oil amount display device according to the present invention is a cup type that is attached to cover a case of a cup type oil meter of a kerosene tank and covers the case, and has a diameter larger than that of the case that does not transmit light. said cup having a coating covers and the light detecting means having a cylindrical portion for receiving light of the light generating means and said light generation means be those provided on the inside of the covering cover provided on the inside of the coating cover A sensor unit for detecting the position of the indicator of the mold oil meter, and a residual oil amount display unit for displaying the residual oil amount according to the output of the sensor unit, and the opening of the clothing cover is kerosene by a fixing means The tank is detachably attached to the tank .

  According to the kerosene tank residual oil amount display device of the present invention, the position of the indicator of the oil amount meter of the kerosene tank can be confirmed indoors. Thereby, the inconvenience of the user who goes out outdoors and confirms an oil meter can be eliminated.

  The residual oil amount display device for a kerosene tank according to the present invention detects the position of the indicator of the cup-type oil meter simply by placing the sensor portion on the case of the cup-type oil meter of the kerosene tank. Therefore, even those who do not have specialized knowledge about kerosene tanks or specialized techniques for installation can easily install them. In addition, since the cover that forms the sensor part covers the cup type oil meter case, the cup type oil meter case is not exposed to harsh environments such as direct sunlight, wind and rain, Deterioration of the cup type oil meter case can be prevented.

  In the kerosene tank residual oil amount display device of the present invention, the sensor section is provided outside the kerosene tank. Unlike conventional kerosene tank residual oil amount display devices, a sensor is not mounted inside the kerosene tank, so that an oil level meter required for mounting the sensor is not required. Moreover, the oil meter replacement work accompanying the deterioration of the oil meter can be easily performed.

  The present invention realizes that the installation to the kerosene tank is simple and the residual oil amount of the kerosene tank can be easily confirmed indoors.

A kerosene tank residual oil amount display device of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a residual oil amount display device for a kerosene tank according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an operation state of the sensor unit of the residual oil amount display device for the kerosene tank according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of a residual oil amount display device for a kerosene tank according to the present invention.
The kerosene tank residual oil amount display device 10 of the present invention comprises a sensor unit 12 and a residual oil amount display unit 14. The sensor unit 12 is attached to a kerosene tank 16 installed outdoors, and the residual oil amount display unit 14 is installed indoors. It is assumed that the sensor unit 12 and the residual oil amount display unit 14 are connected by a thin harness 15.
The sensor unit 12 includes a clothing cover 18 and light emitting diodes (Light Emitting Diodes) 1 to 5 (hereinafter referred to as “light emitting LEDs 1 to 5”) as light generating means attached to one side surface of the clothing cover 18. ), A light detection means for receiving the light 17 emitted from the light projecting LEDs 1 to 5, and comprising cadmium sulfide cells CdS1 to CdS5 attached to the side surface opposite to the one side surface.

The clothing cover 18 is of a cup type having an opening, and has a diameter larger than that of the case 22 that covers the cup type oil meter 20 of the kerosene tank 16. The oil amount meter 20 of the kerosene tank 16 is provided on the plane of the kerosene tank 16 and indicates the remaining amount of kerosene stored in the kerosene tank 16.
The oil amount meter 20 has an operating rod 24 and a disk-shaped indicator 26 provided at the upper end thereof. The operating rod 24 and the indicator 24 move up and down on the plane of the kerosene tank 16 according to the amount of kerosene residual oil. The oil amount meter 20 is covered with a case 22, and the case 22 is marked with a scale indicating a residual oil amount (not shown). The user can check the amount of residual oil by viewing the scale indicated by the indicator 26. The clothing cover 18 is attached so as to cover the case 22. The opening of the clothing cover 18 (the contact portion between the clothing cover 18 and the kerosene tank 16) is fixed on the plane of the kerosene tank 16 by a fixing means such as a magnet 28 or a screw.

  The clothing cover 18 has a certain thickness and is formed in a color that does not allow direct sunlight to pass through, for example, black or brown. As a result, the resistance values of the cadmium sulfide cells CdS1 to CdS1 to 5 change according to only the amount of the light 17 received from the light projecting LEDs 1 to 5.

  The cadmium sulfide cells CdS1 to CdS1 to CdS1 to CdS1 to CdS1 to CdS1 to CdS1 to CdS1 are arranged at positions facing the light projecting LEDs 1 to 5 across the oil amount meter 20 (or indicator 26). In a state where light can be received. The light emitting LEDs 1 to 5 and the cadmium sulfide cells CdS1 to CdS1 to CdS1 to CdS5 are arranged in a row (five in FIG. 1) in the vertical direction of the side surface of the clothing cover 18.

The cell portion 29 of the cadmium sulfide cells CdS1 to CdS1 to 5 is provided with a cylindrical portion 30 for receiving the light 17. By providing the cylindrical portion 30 in the cell portion 29, the cadmium sulfide cells CdS1 to CdS1 to C5 can have strong directivity. As the cylindrical member forming the cylindrical portion 30, the same inner diameter as that of the cell portion 29 is used. For example, a plastic cylinder is cut into a predetermined length, and the cylinder is attached to the cell portion 29 as a cylinder portion 30. The length A of the cylindrical portion 30 is preferably 10 mm to 15 mm from the cell portion 29.
In FIG. 1, five cadmium sulfide cells CdS and five light emitting LEDs are attached, but the number is not limited to this.

Next, the amount of light received by the cadmium sulfide cell CdS will be described with reference to FIGS. In particular, the case where the light 17 projected from the light emitting LEDs 1 to 5 passes through the indicator 26 (FIG. 2A) and the case where it passes through the operating rod 24 (FIG. 2B) will be described.
The amount of light received by the cadmium sulfide cell CdS when the light 17 emitted from the light emitting LEDs 1 to 5 passes through the indicator 26 (FIG. 2 (a)) passes through the operating rod 24 (FIG. 2 ( Less than the amount of light received in b)). This is because the indicator 26 is formed in a disc shape and has a predetermined thickness, so that the amount of light 17 projected from the light projecting LEDs 1 to 5 is larger than the thin rod-shaped operating rod 24. . In this case, the region between the indicator 26 and the cadmium sulfide cell CdS in FIG. 2A becomes darker than the region between the operating rod 24 and the cadmium sulfide cell CdS in FIG. 2B, and the cadmium sulfide cell. The resistance value of CdS increases. Note that when the cylindrical portion 30 is not provided in the cadmium sulfide cell CdS, the resistance value of the cadmium sulfide cell CdS does not increase. That is, the residual oil amount display device 10 in the kerosene tank cannot detect the position of the indicator 26.

Next, operation | movement of the residual oil amount display apparatus of the kerosene tank of this invention is demonstrated based on FIG.
The residual oil amount display unit 14 is connected to the sensor unit 12 via the connection coupler 32 and displays the residual oil amount according to the output of the sensor unit 12.
In FIG. 1, when the indicator 26 is in a position where the light projecting LED 5 blocks the light 17 to be projected, it is full, and the display lamp L5 of the residual oil amount display unit 14 is turned on. Further, when the indicator 26 is located at a position that blocks the light 17 projected by the light projecting LED 1, the residual oil amount is small, and the display lamp L <b> 1 of the residual oil amount display unit 14 is turned on. As the amount of residual oil in the kerosene tank 16 decreases and the position of the indicator 26 decreases, the lamps light up in the order of display lamps L5 to L1.

  The light projecting LEDs 1 to 5 emit light simultaneously when a voltage is applied in the forward direction. For example, let us consider a case where the residual oil amount of kerosene decreases from when the tank is full and the indicator 26 is in a position that blocks the light 17 projected from the light projecting LED 4 (FIG. 1). When light is emitted from the LED1, LED2, LED3, LED4, and LED5, the light 17 received by the cadmium sulfide cells CdS1, CdS2, CdS3, and CdS5 is bright, but the light 17 received by the cadmium sulfide cell CdS4 is the indicator. 26 is dark because it is blocked. Since the light 17 received by the cadmium sulfide cells CdS1, CdS2, CdS3, and CdS5 is bright, its resistance value decreases. In this case, the voltage drop of the cadmium sulfide cells CdS1, CdS2, CdS3, and CdS5 is low, and no current flows through the bases of the transistors Tr1, Tr2, Tr3, and Tr5. The transistors Tr1, Tr2, Tr3, Tr5 are turned off, and the display lamps L1, L2, L3, L5 are not lit. On the other hand, since the light 17 received by the cadmium sulfide cell CdS4 is dark, its resistance value increases. In this case, the voltage drop of the cadmium sulfide cell CdS4 increases, and a current flows through the base of Tr4. Tr4 is turned on, and the display lamp L4 is lit.

While the remaining amount of kerosene further decreases and the indicator 26 moves from the position of the LED 4 for light projection to the position of the LED 3, the resistance values of all the cadmium sulfide cells CdS1 to CdS5 decrease. However, since the transistor Tr4 is in the on state before that, even if the resistance value of the cadmium sulfide cell CdS4 decreases, the transistor Tr4 does not reach the off state, and the indicator 26 extends from the position of the light projecting LED 4 to the position of the LED 3. While moving, the display lamp L4 is turned on. When the indicator 26 moves to the position of the light projecting LED 3, the resistance value of the cadmium sulfide cell CdS3 increases, Tr3 is turned on, and the display lamp L3 is turned on. At this time, the voltage drop of the resistor R1 increases and the transistor Tr4 is turned off, so that the display lamp L4 is turned off.
As described above, according to the residual oil amount display device 10 for a kerosene tank of the present invention, the position of the indicator 26 can be confirmed indoors.
In the present embodiment, the display lamps L1 to L5 are light emitting diodes LED. Further, the circuit diagram of the residual oil amount display unit 14 is not limited to that shown in FIG.

  The light generating means in the residual oil amount display device 10 of the kerosene tank of the present invention is not limited to the light emitting diode LED, but may be any device that generates light. The light detection means is not limited to the cadmium sulfide cell CdS, and any device that detects light may be used. For example, a laser beam generator and a laser beam receiver may be used.

It is a block diagram of the residual oil amount display apparatus of the kerosene tank of this invention. It is a figure which shows the operation state of the sensor part of the residual oil amount display apparatus of the kerosene tank of this invention. It is a circuit diagram of the residual oil amount display apparatus of the kerosene tank of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Residual oil amount display apparatus of kerosene tank 12 Sensor part 14 Residual oil amount display part 16 Kerosene tank 17 Light 18 Clothing cover 20 Cup type oil amount meter 22 Case 26 Indicator 30 Tube part LED1-5
CdS1 to 5

Claims (1)

A cup-type covering cover with a diameter larger than that of the case that covers the case of the cup-type oil meter of the kerosene tank and is attached so as to cover the case, and light generation provided inside the covering cover sensor for detecting the position of the indicator of the cup-shaped oil meter and a light sensing means having a cylindrical portion for be those provided means and the inner side of the covering cover for receiving the light of said light generating means And
A residual oil amount display unit that displays the residual oil amount according to the output of the sensor unit ,
A residual oil amount display device for a kerosene tank, wherein the opening of the clothing cover is detachably attached to the kerosene tank by a fixing means .

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