JPH0241540Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Technical field] The present invention relates to a water level sensor that detects the level of a liquid such as drinking water and sterilizes the liquid, and specifically relates to a water level sensing device operated by air. This invention relates to a water level sensor that is integrated with a sterilizer that generates metal ions such as silver in the lower part of the main body.

[Background technology]

If drinking water is stored in a tank for a long time, bacteria that are harmful to the human body will grow, making it unfit for drinking. In order to prevent this, the inventor first placed a positive electrode made of metals such as silver and copper in drinking water, and applied a DC voltage to this positive electrode and the surrounding negative electrode. He developed a sterilizer that elutes metal ions and filed a patent application as Japanese Patent Application No. 59-220758.

By the way, sensors that detect the water level by contacting the water inside are often used in drinking water tanks, but if the above sterilizer is used in a tank equipped with this type of water level sensor, the electrolytic action of the sterilizer may The generated substances tend to adhere to the sensing part of the underwater sensor. In particular, when the drinking water in the tank is alkaline ionized water, calcium adheres to the sensing part of the sensor, causing poor water level sensing, and this is a major obstacle in using the water level sensor and sterilizer together.

Furthermore, it has been pointed out that the above-mentioned sterilizer and water level sensor are each attached to the tank separately, so it takes time and effort to assemble them.

[Purpose of invention]

The present invention was devised to solve the above problems, and its main purpose is to provide a new water level sensor that holds a sterilizer in one piece and is free from the risk of sensing failure due to the electrolytic action of the sterilizer. It is in.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a water level sensor which allows a sterilizer to be automatically placed at a desired position in the water at the same time as the water level sensor is set at a predetermined position in a tank.

[Summary of the idea]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has a bottom opening of the air-operated water level sensor which is submerged below the water surface and which controls opening and closing of the switch using air pressure that varies depending on the water level in the tank. A positive electrode made of a metal such as silver or copper and a negative electrode made of stainless steel are placed facing each other with a predetermined distance apart, and a DC voltage is applied to these electrodes to release metal ions with sterilizing power such as silver ions into a tank. It is designed to elute into drinking water.

[Example of idea]

An embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the water level sensor of the present invention includes a hollow cylindrical body 1 constituting a water level sensing section, and a
a switch member 3 connected to via an air passage 2
and a sterilizing metal ion generator 4 such as silver or copper which is integrally attached to the lower opening side 1b of the hollow cylindrical body 1.

The hollow cylindrical body 1 is open at the lower end and has a through hole formed at the upper end to connect the air passage 2, and the lower end opening 1b is inserted into a liquid such as a water tank or a water supply pipe, and the upper end is opened outside. The bulging portion 1c is adapted to be engaged with the mounting opening edge 6 of a tank or the like.

The switch member 3 integrally holds a casing 9 whose internal space is divided into two by a diaphragm 8 at the lower part of the cover 7, and is partitioned by a lower plate 9a and the diaphragm 8 on one side (lower side in the figure) inside the casing 9. An air chamber 10 is provided. A through hole for connecting the air passage 2 to the hollow cylindrical body 1 is formed in the casing lower plate 9a constituting one wall of the air chamber 10.

The diaphragm 8 is made of a flexible thin plate, and a part thereof is bent so that the outer peripheral edge is airtightly sandwiched between the upper plate 9b and the lower plate 9a of the casing 9, and the air chamber 1
The diaphragm 8 is assembled so as to move up and down according to the atmospheric pressure of 0, and a protrusion 11 is integrally formed at the center of the upper surface of the diaphragm 8.

On the other hand, an opening 12 is provided in the upper plate 9b of the casing 9 at a position corresponding to the projection 11 of the diaphragm 8 to allow the projection 11 to move up and down. In order to stabilize the vertical movement of the diaphragm 8, a retainer plate 13 preferably made of a thin aluminum plate may be placed on the upper surface of the diaphragm as shown in the figure.

Reference numeral 14 designates a limit switch, a reed switch, and other known switch mechanisms installed inside the cover 7 of the switch member 3;
The tip of the movable contact piece 14a faces the opening 12 of the casing upper plate 9b, and the movable contact piece 1
4a opens and closes the electric circuit of the switch mechanism 14, and outputs a signal from the terminal 14b.

Thus, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a flanged nipple 15 having an air passage 2 is inserted into the hollow cylindrical body 1 from the air chamber 10 of the switch member 3 via the insulating packing 16, and the passage 1 is provided at the tip of the nipple 15.
Hollow cylindrical body 1 is screwed on with nut 17 inserted through 7'.
and the switch member 3 are integrally connected.

A positive electrode 1 made of silver, copper, or other sterilizing metal is placed on the lower open end side of the hollow cylindrical body 1 of the water level sensor.
8 and a negative electrode 19 made of metal such as stainless steel.
A sterilizer 4 is integrally or removably provided, which is arranged to face each other and generates metal ions such as silver by applying a DC voltage between the electrodes.

In the illustrated embodiment, the positive electrode 18 is supported at the tip of a rod-shaped holder 20 screwed onto the nut 17.
It is arranged so as to protrude below the hollow cylindrical body 1.

21 is the electric wire 21' on the positive side of the power supply (figure omitted)
If the bolt connecting the upper and lower plates 1b and 1a of the casing is used as the anode terminal as shown in the figure, the casing 9,
The nipple 15, nut 17, and holder 20 are made of conductive metal material. It is desirable that the outer periphery of the holder 20 be covered with an insulator 22 such as a heat-shrinkable vinyl pipe.

The cathode 19 is preferably a cylinder made of stainless steel, and vertically extending metal arms 19' are fixed at several places on the cylinder (two symmetrical places in the figure), so that the cathode 19 made of stainless steel and the positive electrode 19 are fixed. Electrode 18
The tip of the arm 19' is engaged with the upper surface of the hollow cylindrical body 1 of the water level sensor at a position facing the water level sensor. A terminal 23 is provided at the upper end of the arm 19' to be connected to the negative electrode side of the power source via a wiring 23'. In the figure, the negative terminal 23 is projected outside the hollow cylinder 1, but as shown in Fig. 2, the arm tip is attached to the hollow cylinder 1.
It may be bent inside and one terminal fixed to the tip. In this case, since the terminal 23 is protected inside the hollow cylindrical body 1, there are no problems such as deformation or breakage during shipping or transportation. In this case, however, it is necessary to make the arm 19' and the lead-out portion of the wiring 23' airtight to prevent air leakage.

In order to prevent the arm 19' of the negative electrode 19 from rotating around the hollow cylindrical body 1, as shown in FIG.
4, and the arm 19' of the cathode is engaged with this groove 24 to stop its movement.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the hollow cylinder 1 of the water level sensor and the air chamber 10 of the switch member 3 are connected to a hollow nipple 1
5, the present invention is not limited to this, and as shown in FIG.
Fix the hollow hose connection fittings 25 and 26 to a′,
The air passage 2 may be formed by connecting both of these hose connection fittings 25 and 26 with a hose 27. This embodiment has the advantage that the switch member 3 of the water level sensor can be installed at a location away from the water level sensing section, for example in a control room.

Next, the operation of the present invention will be explained.

The water level sensor of the present invention is widely used to detect the level of liquid in water tanks, alkaline ionized water generator water storage tanks, water supply pipes, and other liquids, regardless of whether they are stationary or flowing. First, open end side 1b of hollow cylindrical body 1 with sterilizer attached.
can be installed facing the liquid surface. When the water level L inside the hollow cylindrical body 1 increases, the air in the upper part of the hollow cylindrical body 1 is compressed by the water surface, and the air flows from the passage 17' of the nut 17 to the air passage 2.
flows into the air chamber 10 of the switch member 3 through
The pressure in the air chamber 10 increases, pushing the diaphragm 8 upward. As a result, the protrusion of the diaphragm 8 operates the movable contact piece 14a of the switch mechanism 14, and the switch mechanism 14 outputs a signal. On the other hand, when the water level falls, the air pressure in the hollow cylinder 1 decreases and the air chamber 10
Air flows into the hollow cylindrical body 1, the diaphragm 8 returns to its original position, and the switch is switched.

This signal can be used as a control signal for a water supply pump, an electrolyzer for an ion water generator, a sterilizing metal ion generator, etc.

On the other hand, when a DC voltage is applied to the electrodes of the metal ion generator 4, bactericidal metal ions such as silver and copper are eluted into the liquid and germs in the liquid are sterilized. Of course, it is also possible to link water level detection and voltage application to the sterilizer.

[Effect of idea]

As described above, this invention has an air-operated water level sensor equipped with a sterilizing metal ion generator, so it can rationally solve the conventional problems such as poor sensing of the water level sensor caused by electrolytic products. be done.

In addition, the sterilizer is integrally connected to the bottom of the water level sensor, so just by setting the water level sensor in a predetermined position, the sterilizer will be automatically placed in the predetermined position in the liquid, making assembly and maintenance easier. It becomes extremely easy.

Furthermore, since the negative electrode is coupled to the water level sensor itself, the container such as the water tank does not necessarily have to be made of metal as in the past, and can instead be made of plastic. Therefore, it also has the effect of improving productivity and reducing costs.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a water level sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a modification of the attachment of the negative electrode terminal, Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the - line in Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a modification of the air passage. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Hollow cylindrical body, 2...Air path, 2...Switch member, 4...Bactericidal metal ion generator, 8...
...Diaphragm, 10...Air chamber, 14...Switch mechanism, 14a...Movable contact piece, 15...Nipple, 16...Insulating packing, 18...Positive electrode,
20...Holder, 25, 26...Hose connection fitting, 27...Hose.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] (1) The upper end side of the hollow cylindrical body 1, which is attached by inserting the lower end opening side into the liquid surface, is divided by a diaphragm 8 into an air chamber 10, and the air chamber is activated by pressure fluctuations in the air chamber. The air chamber 10 of the switch member 3 equipped with a switch mechanism 14 that opens and closes by the operation of a diaphragm 8 is communicated with the air passage 2, and a metal such as silver or copper is connected to the open end side of the hollow cylindrical body 1. Alternatively, a water level sensor equipped with a sterilizer characterized in that a metal ion generator 4 is integrally held, in which a positive electrode 18 made of an alloy and a negative electrode 19 made of stainless steel or the like are arranged facing each other with a predetermined interval between them. (2) The water level sensor according to claim 1, in which the upper end of the hollow cylindrical body 1 and the air chamber 10 of the switch member 3 are integrally connected by a nipple 5 through which the air passage 2 is inserted. (3) The water level sensor according to claim 1, wherein the air passage 2 that communicates the upper end of the hollow cylindrical body 1 with the air chamber 10 of the switch member 3 is constituted by an elongated hose.