JPS62257023A - Mounting structure of liquid level meter - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To accurately detect a liquid level without generating an error, by a method wherein the lower part of a liquid level meter is supported by the support member extending from a vent tube and the lower end thereof is supported on the bottom surface of a container. CONSTITUTION:The lower part of a liquid level meter 10 is supported by the support member 8 extending from the vent tube 5 mounted on a fuel tank 1 and the lower end thereof is supported on the bottom surface 11 of the fuel tank 1. If the fuel tank 1 contracts or expands by the change in temp., the lower member 3 forming the bottom surface 11 rises or falls and a liquid level rises or falls and, in matching relation to this, the liquid level meter 10 also moves upward or downward. At this time, because the lower part of the liquid level meter 10 is supported by the support member 8 so as not to generate deflection to a horizontal direction, the liquid level meter 10 smoothly moves up and down. Therefore, even if the fuel tank contracts or expands, the liquid level can be accurately detected without generating an error.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Object of the Invention (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to the structure of mounting a liquid level meter to a liquid storage container provided in a vehicle, industrial machine/appliance, or the like.

(Prior Art) Hitherto, various structures have been known as liquid level monitors 1 for detecting the liquid level of petroleum, water, various chemicals, etc. stored in containers such as tanks. Among them, for example, there is a liquid level instruction particularly described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 60-253922.

As shown in FIG. 8, this liquid level 3150 is determined by the casing 54, the core 56 inserted therein, the coil 57 wound around the core 56, and the casing 54.
4 and a conductor ring 58 that is loosely fitted around the outer periphery of the conductor ring 58 so as to be movable up and down.

The casing 54 has a fuel tank 51 in its upper part.
The conductor ring 58 is attached to a float 59 so as to float on the fuel 53 along the periphery of the casing 54.

In this liquid level meter 50, the conductor ring 58 moves up and down in response to changes in the liquid level due to increases and decreases in the fuel 53 in the fuel tank 51, so the inductance of the coil 57 changes, and the change in inductance is The liquid level can be detected with high accuracy via a meter or the like.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, the internal pressure of the fuel tank 51 increases from normal pressure to a higher pressure due to a rise in temperature, for example.
As shown by the point Sr1 line, the lower member 5 of the fuel tank 51
When fuel 53 swells downward, even if the amount of fuel 53 stored is constant, the liquid level decreases as shown by the two-dot chain line. At the same time, the upper part (452) of the fuel tank 51 also swells as shown by the two-dot chain line, and the level at which the liquid level gauge 50 fixed to the upper member 52 is mounted is also higher than at normal pressure.

Therefore, there is a problem in that an error occurs in the liquid level detected by the liquid level H450.

The same problem as described above occurs even when the internal pressure of the fuel tank 51 drops from normal pressure to a lower pressure.

Therefore, the inventors of the present invention studied how to install the liquid level 5150 to minimize the above-mentioned error, and found that the lower end of the liquid level gauge 50 was supported on the bottom of the fuel tank 51. We have devised the fact that the fuel tank 1 should be installed in the fuel tank 51 so that the liquid level gauge 50 also moves up and down in accordance with the relative up and down movement of the bottom surface of the lower part 47155 with respect to the component material 52. However, the liquid level it
How to support the lower part of fuel tank 51 on fuel tank 51 remained an unresolved problem.

Therefore, as a result of further intensive research, it was found that a vent tube can be effectively used in a fuel tank having a structure in which a vent tube is attached, and the present invention was completed.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a structure for attaching a liquid level meter to a liquid storage container so that the liquid level detection error can be reduced even if the liquid storage container equipped with a vent tube expands or contracts. Our goal is to provide the following.

Structure of the Invention (Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a method in which a lower part of the liquid level 11 is connected to a support member extending from the vent tube in a liquid storage container equipped with a vent tube. A technical means is adopted in which the lower end of the liquid level S4 is supported on the bottom surface of the liquid storage container.

(Function) Since the bottom surface of the liquid storage container supports the liquid level, the expansion or compression of the liquid storage container causes the bottom surface to become relative to the upper member of the liquid storage container. When it moves up and down, the liquid level gauge moves up and down along with the up and down movement.

At this time, the lower part of the liquid level meter is supported by a support member extending from the vent tube so as not to wobble in the horizontal direction, so that the liquid level δ1 moves up and down smoothly.

(First Embodiment) Next, a first embodiment in which the present invention is embodied in a vehicle fuel tank will be described based on FIGS. 1 and 7.

A fuel tank 1, which is a storage container for storing fuel such as liquid gasoline or diesel oil, is a substantially flat structure in which a metal upper member 2 forming the upper part and a lower member 3 forming the lower part are welded together. It is a closed type container with a flange 4 at the center of its side surface, which is the joint of the upper and lower members 2.3.
is prominent all around.

As a part of the upper member 2, a mounting hole 23 is provided as a part of the upper member 2, having a circular attachment hole 23b and a circular insertion hole 23a smaller than the attachment opening 23b.

The above-mentioned mounting (the upper part of a bellows member, which will be described later) is attached to the pro 23b, and the above-mentioned mounting is performed by attaching a covered cylindrical protector 7 to the plate 23 so as to cover the pro 23b from above. It is worn.

The insertion hole 23a is provided with a vent tube 5 for fuel discharge.
is inserted, and its upper end is gripped by a gripping member 61. Note that the gripping member 6 is attached to the plate 23 by fixing the upper member 2 to the plate 23 by, for example, welding or the like.
This seals the space between the vent tube 5 and the insertion hole 23a.

A support member 8 is attached to the lower part of the vent tube 5 inserted into the fuel tank 1 to support the lower part of a liquid level meter 10 for detecting the liquid level of the fuel tank.

This support member 8 has a plate-like main body portion 8a that is bent in the middle.
and the main body part 8 for inserting the vent tube 5.
It is formed from a short cylindrical fixing part 8b formed at the base end of a, and a bottom member 25 formed in a dish shape at the distal end (
(See Figure 7).

The fixing part 8b is inserted into the vent tube 5 and then fixed to the lower part of the vent tube 5 by fixing means 9 such as screws, and the bottom member 25 is assembled on the liquid level side 10 and fixed to the lower part of the vent tube 5. It is supported on the bottom surface 11 of the portion vi3. The main body portion 8a is made of an elastic synthetic resin, and when the bottom surface 11 moves up and down, it allows the bottom member 25 to move up and down in accordance with the up and down movement.

The liquid level meter 10 uses a cylindrical casing 12 having an enlarged diameter portion 12a at the top, the bottom member 25 is fitted to the lower end of the casing 12, and the bellows member 1 is fitted to the upper end of the cylindrical casing 12.
8 are joined.

A flange portion 18 is provided on the outer periphery of the upper part 18a of the bellows member 18.
The flange portion 18X of the mounting plate 23 is fixed to the peripheral edge of the opening 23b.

The bellows member 18 is integrally formed with the casing 12 from synthetic resin by a molding method such as injection blow molding, and when attached to the plate 23, the casing 12 is urged downward. It is compressed to

Inside the casing 12 is a rod-shaped core 15 made of ferrite.
is inserted, and a coil 16 is wound around this core 15. The coil 16 is formed of a densely wound part 13 wound tightly within the enlarged diameter part 12 and a loosely wound part 14 wound loosely below the enlarged diameter part 12a, and both of them are continuously electrically conductive. It is now possible to do so.

A lead wire 19 extends upward from the densely wound portion 13 and the loosely wound portion 14 and is drawn out from a lead wire drawer lower a formed in the center of the protector 7. A sealing member 26 seals between the lead wire 19 and the drawer lower a.

A conductive ring 22 made of aluminum, conductive resin, or the like having a low specific gravity is loosely fitted to the outer periphery of the casing 12 below the enlarged diameter portion 12a so as to be movable up and down. It is designed to be electromagnetically coupled to the coarsely wound portion 14.

A donut-shaped float 20 made of foamed resin or the like is attached to the conductor ring 22, allowing the conductor ring 22 to float on the fuel.

Next, the functions and effects of this embodiment configured as described above will be explained.

First, the vent tube 5 is attached to the insertion hole 2 of the plate 23.
3a, and is fixed to the plate 23 by the gripping member 6, and at the same time seals between the insertion hole 23a and the vent dupe 5.

Next, the liquid level g110 at which the bottom member 25 is removed is
is attached to the plate 23 via the bellows member 18, and then the protector 7 is attached to the plate 23. After one lead wire is passed through the lead wire drawer lower a, the drawer lower a is closed by the sealing member 26.

The proximal end of the support member 8 with which the bottom member 25 is integrally formed is fixed to the lower part of the vent tube 5.

In this way, the mounting C temporary 23 in which the vent tube 5 and the liquid level gauge 10 are set is attached to the opening 23b of the upper member 2.
be fixed to the periphery of the Then, the vent tube 5 and the liquid level gauge 10 are attached to predetermined positions within the fuel tank 1, and at the same time, the fuel tank 1 is sealed to become a closed container.

Therefore, in this embodiment, it is easy to attach the liquid level meter 10 and the like. Also, for large seal areas, install port 2.
3b, there are fewer sealing points, and furthermore, the sealing performance of the fuel tank 1 is good, and the number of parts required for sealing can be reduced.

Next, when the pressure of the fuel tank 1 increases due to a rise in temperature when the fuel tank 1 is in use, and the upper member 2 and lower member 3 of the fuel tank 1 swell in the vertical direction as shown by the two-dot chain line, the capacity of the fuel tank increases. Even if the fuel level remains constant, the liquid level in the fuel tank decreases as shown by the two-dot chain line.

At this time, the upper part of the liquid level meter 10 is urged downward by the bellows member 18 and the lower part is urged downward by the support member 8, and since the bottom member 25 is directly supported on the bottom surface 11, the lower member 3 When the liquid level gauge 10 swells downward, the liquid level gauge 10 also immediately moves downward. At this time, the support member 8 smoothly lowers the liquid level Xi 10 without restricting the downward movement of the liquid level meter 10, and prevents it from wobbling in the horizontal direction.

Therefore, the liquid level of the fuel '!:IL detected by the liquid level ';iiO has almost no error by /v.

Also, the lower part of the liquid level gauge 10 is connected to the bottom surface 11 of the fuel tank 1.
There is no need to specially process the bottom surface 11 for positioning.

Since the tip of the support portion 448 and the bottom member 25 of the liquid level meter 10 can be formed so as to bring the tip of the support portion 448 closer to the bottom surface 11, the conductor ring 22 can be moved closer to the bottom surface 11.
It is possible to lower the liquid level to nearly 1, and as a result, the detection range of the liquid level can be expanded.

Since the lead wire 19 is drawn out through the inside of the bellows member 18, the lead wire 19 does not become entangled with the bellows member.

The above-mentioned functions and effects are exhibited in the same manner as described above even when the fuel tank 1 contracts. Further, one member on the back of the upper member 2 or the lower member 3 is fixed, and only the bottom surface 11 of the lower member 3 or the mounting plate 23 of the upper member moves up and down as the fuel tank 1 expands or contracts. In this case, the same actions and effects as described above are exhibited.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment in which the mounting structure of the present invention is embodied in a different manner will be described based on FIG. 2.

In this embodiment, support members are extended in the lateral direction from the upper and lower parts of the venticop, respectively, and the liquid level gauge is supported by these support members.

To explain the main part of the structure, the base end of an elongated support member 28 extending substantially laterally is loosely fitted into the upper part of the vent dupe 5 in the fuel tank 1, and the distal end of the support member 28 is at the level of the liquid level. It is fixed to a total of ten enlarged diameter portions 12a by fixing means 9 such as screws.

Installation [A coil spring 21 is inserted into the vent tube 5 between the plate 23 and the support member 28, and presses the support member 28 and further the liquid level guide 10 downward,
The lower end of the liquid level gauge 10 is constantly on the bottom surface 1 of the lower member 3.
1.

A base end portion of a support member 8 extending laterally also to the lower portion of the vent tube 5 in the fuel tank 1 is fixed by fixing means 9. The tip of the support member 8 is connected to a liquid level gauge 1.
The liquid level gauge 10 is engaged with an annular groove 7 provided at the lower part of the liquid level gauge 10 to support the liquid level gauge 10 so as to be movable up and down.

The other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

Even in the second embodiment configured as described above, when the fuel tank 1 expands or contracts, the liquid level guide 10 smoothly moves up and down as the bottom surface 11 moves up and down. This is the same as the first embodiment.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, but includes, for example:
It can also be implemented in the following manner.

(1) As long as the lower part of the support member 8 can support the lower part of the liquid level meter 10 in a vertically movable manner, the position of the support member 8 to be attached to the vent tube 5 is not particularly limited, but the attachment or positioning is easy. For this reason, the lower part of the vent tube 5 is preferable.

(2) The main body portion 8a of the support member 8 may be made of various elastic materials such as synthetic resin and metal.

(3) As shown in FIG. 3, in the bellows member 18,
Spring bearing members 29 and 30 are provided at the upper part of the enlarged diameter portion 12a and the upper part of the bellows member 18, respectively, and the coil spring 24 can be interposed between them. The liquid level gauge 10 is positively urged downward by the coil spring 24.

(4) As shown in FIG. 4, a cap member 27 is attached to the enlarged diameter portion 12a, and a diaphragm 31 is provided between the outside of the cap member 27 and the opening 23b for attaching the plate 23. The upper part of the surface level meter 10 can be supported by a plate 23. In this case, the diaphragm 31 can also be attached near the bottom of the enlarged diameter portion 12a.

(5) As shown in FIG. 5, the support member 28 is fixed to the upper part of the vent tube 5, and the enlarged diameter part 12a of the liquid level gauge 10 is loosely attached to the tip of the support member 28, and the expanded diameter part 12a is loosely expanded ( By providing a coil spring 21 between the flange portion 12x formed at the lower part of the bottom portion 12a and the support member 28, the liquid level guide 10 can be urged downward.

In some cases, as shown in FIG.
1 can also be omitted.

(6) In addition to the fuel tank 1 equipped with the vent tube 5, the liquid level meter 10 of the present invention can be installed in various liquid storage containers, such as a water storage tank, a drug tank, etc.

(7) A supply port for supplying liquid can be provided at an appropriate location of these liquid storage containers 1, and this supply port can be sealed tightly.

Effects of the Invention As detailed above, the present invention has the lower part of the liquid level meter supported by a support member extending from the vent tube attached to the liquid storage container, and the lower end of the liquid level meter supported by the support member extending from the vent tube attached to the liquid storage container. Since it is supported on the bottom surface of the container, even if the liquid storage container contracts or expands due to temperature changes, the liquid level can be accurately detected with almost no error, which is an excellent effect.

Further, there is no need to specially process the bottom of the liquid storage container in order to position the lower end of the liquid level meter, and the detection range of the liquid level can be expanded.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the first embodiment, Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the second embodiment, Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing another aspect of the upper structure of the liquid level meter, and Fig. 4. 5 is a sectional view showing another aspect of the upper structure, FIG. 6 is a sectional view roughly showing another aspect of the upper structure, and FIG. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the support member, and FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the prior art. Liquid storage container 1, vent dupe 5, support member 8, liquid level gauge 10, bottom surface 11, core 15, casing 12
, coil 16, conductor ring 22, bottom member 25

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Liquid storage container (1) equipped with a vent tube (5)
), the lower part of the liquid level meter (10) is supported by the support member (8) extending from the vent tube (5), and the lower end of the liquid level meter (10) is connected to the liquid storage container (1). A mounting structure for a liquid level meter, characterized in that it is supported on the bottom surface (11) of the liquid level meter. 2. The mounting structure for a liquid level meter according to claim 1, wherein the support member (8) is formed integrally with the bottom member (25) of the liquid level meter (10) at its tip. 3. The liquid according to claim 1, wherein the support member (8) is made of an elastic body, and a tip thereof is biased against the bottom surface (11) of the liquid storage container (1). Mounting structure of surface level meter. 4. The liquid level meter (10) includes a casing (12) containing a core (15) around which a coil (16) is wound, and a conductive ring (22) loosely fitted around the outer periphery of the casing (12). ) A mounting structure for a liquid level meter according to claim 1, comprising: