JPS6318895Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an electrode type liquid level sensor disposed in a water pipe for cooling an engine of a ship or the like.

Generally, a marine engine pumps seawater using a pump that operates in conjunction with the engine, circulates this seawater through piping, uses it as cooling water for the engine, and then drains it. An electrode-type liquid level sensor is installed inside this cooling water pipe, and is used when the liquid level drops due to a shortage of cooling water due to failure of the pump or failure to supply cooling water due to forgetting to operate the water pump. , is configured to be detected by the above-mentioned sensor and to issue a warning using, for example, a display.

This type of general liquid level detection device will be explained using FIGS. 1 to 3.

Reference numeral 1 denotes an electrode-type liquid level sensor for detecting the amount of engine cooling water in, for example, a ship, and the electrode-type liquid level sensor 1 is attached to a water pipe 2 for cooling the ship's engine. Further, a pair of electrodes 3 and 4 are formed on the sensor 1 with a step difference in the vertical direction, and the electrodes 3 and 4 are arranged so as to be exposed inside the cooling water pipe 2,
An insulator 5 is interposed between each electrode 3 and 4,
Electrodes 3 and 4 are electrically insulated. Further, output terminals 6 and 7 connected to the pair of electrodes 3 and 4, respectively, are formed projecting from a portion of the sensor 1 that projects outside of the water pipe 2.

Therefore, when a specified amount of cooling water flows in the water pipe 2 and the liquid level reaches the position of the electrode 3, conduction occurs through the cooling water flowing through the water pipe 2, and the liquid level of the cooling water in the water pipe 2 increases. When the electrode 3 is not reached, the gap between the electrode 3 and the electrode 4 becomes open, and a non-conductive state is maintained.

Thereby, the two detection states are taken out as output signals from the output terminals 6 and 7, and the liquid level is detected and a warning is given by a display device (not shown) or the like.

By the way, in the above configuration, since the flow direction of the cooling water circulating in the water pipe 2 is constant,
As shown in FIG. 2, there is a drawback in that water scale and the like tend to adhere mainly to the side of the sensor 1 that does not directly receive the flow of cooling water. If this limescale etc. adheres to the electrodes 3 and 4 of the sensor 1, the water pipe 2
Even when there is no water inside the engine, electrical conduction will occur between electrodes 3 and 4 through this limescale, etc., and if you do not give a warning when you should have been warned and continue to run the engine, the engine will overheat, and even worse. Not only can seizing occur and require expensive parts to be replaced, but the ship's engine may stop at sea, which is an extremely dangerous situation.

The main reason for the adhesion of limescale, etc. is that the water flowing in the water pipe 2 forms a vortex behind the electrode type liquid level sensor 1, as shown in Figure 3, and the water flow between this vortex and the sensor 1 is It is extremely weak, stagnant, and prone to attracting water scale.

In this invention, an impeller is installed between the two electrodes of the electrode type liquid level sensor, and by attaching this rotatably, when there is water flow in the water pipe, the impeller rotates due to the force, and this rotation causes the electrode type liquid level sensor to rotate. It activates the movement of water around the liquid level sensor, mainly behind it, and prevents water scale from adhering to it.

In addition, the sliding movement of the impeller and its support shaft is intended to make it more difficult for limescale to adhere, and to remove it quickly if it does.

Figures 4A to 4C show an embodiment of the electrode-type liquid level sensor according to the present invention. Figure 4A is a plan view of the sensor, and Figures 4B and 4C are views of the connection to the cooling water pipe. They are a front view and a sectional view showing an attached state.

In the figure, reference numeral 8 denotes an electrode type liquid level sensor, which is disposed inside the cooling water pipe 9.The sensor 8 has a structure in which a pair of electrodes 10 and 11 are exposed with a step in the vertical direction. There are output terminals 13 and 14 which are connected to the electrode 10 on one side and to the electrode 11 on the other side with an insulator 12 in between, and are formed in a protruding manner. An insulating blade 15 is supported and held using a cylindrical portion of the electrode 10 and the insulator 12 having the same diameter as a support shaft. In the above configuration, when the liquid level of the flowing water in the water pipe 9 reaches the electrode 10, the electrode 10 and the electrode 11 are brought into conduction, and when the liquid level does not reach the electrode 10, the electrode 10 and the electrode 11 remain open,
These two detection states are taken out as outputs from the output terminals 13 and 14, and a warning is given on a display or the like (not shown). When there is water flow in the water pipe 9 and the liquid level reaches the impeller 15, this impeller 1
5 rotates in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 4A due to the resistance of the water flow, and this rotation increases the movement of water around the electrode type liquid level sensor 8, making it difficult for water scale to build up.

Furthermore, due to the sliding movement of the impeller 15 and its support shaft, and the electrode 11 whose upper surface is in contact with the lower surface of the impeller 15, it becomes more difficult for water scale to adhere to the electrode type liquid level sensor 8, and even if it does, it can be easily rubbed off. It will be done.

As a result of the above, it is possible to obtain an effect that water scale is difficult to adhere to, and even if it adheres, it is removed by the rotation of the impeller 15, and an electrode-type liquid level sensor 8 with almost no malfunction due to water scale etc. can be constructed. .

5A to 5C show other embodiments of the present invention; FIG. 5A is a plan view of the electrode type liquid level sensor;
Figures B and C are views of the electrode type liquid level sensor installed in the engine cooling water pipe; Figure 5B is a front view;
Figure C is a cross-sectional view. Note that since the basic configuration and operation are almost the same as those of the above-mentioned embodiment, the explanation will focus on improvements to this invention.

In this case, the impeller 15a moves upward due to the resistance of the water flow in a direction inclined to the cylinder, with the cylindrical part of the same diameter formed by one electrode 10 and the insulator 12 of the electrode type liquid level sensor 8 as a supporting shaft. It has spiral-shaped wings that receive the force of movement,
The impeller 15a is supported and held by an electrode 10 portion serving as a support shaft and an insulator 12 portion so as to be rotatable and vertically movable.

Note that an impeller 1 is attached to the tip of the electrode 10 that serves as a support shaft.
A retaining structure is used to prevent 5a from falling out.

According to the above configuration, when there is a water flow in the water pipe 9, the impeller 15a receives resistance from the water flow, and when the impeller 15a tries to rotate, the impeller 15a has a spiral shape that is at an angle obliquely upward with respect to the direction of the water flow. Therefore, it receives an upward thrust, rotates at a height and speed that corresponds to the amount and speed of the water flow, and moves up and down depending on the amount and speed of the water flow, so the movement of water around the electrode type liquid level sensor 8. At the same time, the sliding movement of the spindle and the impeller 15a due to the vertical movement and rotation of the impeller 15a makes it more difficult for water scale to adhere, and in the range where the impeller 15a moves up and down, the adhered water scale quickly disappears. It gets rubbed off. In this embodiment, since the impeller 15a moves up and down, there is an advantage that the sliding movement between the support shaft and the impeller 15a can be utilized over a wider range. Similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the effect is that the rotation of the impeller 15a activates the movement of water around the electrode type liquid level sensor 8, and at the same time, the sliding movement of the impeller 15a and its support shaft It is possible to provide an electrode-type liquid level sensor 8 that is difficult to attract limescale and the like, and can be removed even if it adheres, and is almost free from malfunctions due to limescale and the like.

In the case of the embodiment of the present invention, the electrode type liquid level sensor uses a pair of electrodes with different lengths in the height direction; It doesn't matter.

In addition, in all of the embodiments of the present invention, an electrode-type liquid level sensor is attached to a water pipe for cooling the engine of a ship, etc., to detect the amount of water in the pipe, but the present invention is not limited to this. Rather, the point is that any pipe in which a conductive liquid flows can be used, and the present invention can also be used in this case.

Therefore, the present invention provides a rotatable impeller between two electrodes that stirs at least the liquid downstream of the electrode.
It is possible to prevent limescale and the like from adhering to the electrodes, prevent malfunctions such as erroneous conduction between two electrodes through this adhesion, and provide a more reliable electrode-type liquid level sensor.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a sectional view showing the state of use of the conventional device, Fig. 2 is a front view showing a change in the state of use of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the state of the main parts of Figs. 1 and 2. 4A to 4C show an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4A is a plan view of the device of the present invention, and FIG. 4B is a diagram of FIG. 4A.
FIG. 4C is a sectional view of FIG. 4B, FIGS. 5A to C show other embodiments of the present invention, and FIG. 5A is a plan view of the present device; Figure 5B is a front view showing the state of use of Figure 5A, and Figure 5C is the front view of Figure 5A.
Figure B is a cross-sectional view of Figure B; 8... Electrode type liquid level sensor, 9... Cooling piping, 10, 11... Electrode, 12... Insulator, 1
3, 14... Output terminal, 15, 15a... Impeller.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] An electrode-type liquid level sensor configured to expose a pair of electrodes in a pipe, interpose an electrical insulator between the electrodes, and convert the liquid level of the fluid in the pipe into an electrical signal for detection, An electrode-type liquid level sensor, characterized in that an impeller is provided in the energization path of the two electrodes to stir the fluid in the piping at least on the downstream side of the electrodes.