JPH0442538Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] Industrial application field This invention relates to a liquid shortage detection device for a liquid pressure-feeding pipeline system, and more specifically, to a liquid supply source such as a tank for various liquids such as mineral water and other beverages and detergents. When the liquid from the liquid supply source is used up during liquid pumping, this condition is immediately detected in a liquid pumping piping system configured to store the liquid in a pump and forcefully transfer the liquid to a required dispenser using a pump. The present invention relates to a liquid shortage detection device whose content is to stop the drive of the pump.

Prior art Beverages such as mineral water and youth, various liquids such as fuel oil and detergents are stored in advance in a tank, and the liquid is led out from the tank through a pipe, and the liquid is injected into various liquids by a pump. 2. Description of the Related Art A liquid pumping line system for pumping a liquid to a dispenser (hereinafter referred to as a "dispenser") is generally known. For example, regarding a carbonated beverage dispenser, as shown in FIG. 3, a mineral pack 10 filled with mineral water (hereinafter referred to as "liquid") to facilitate replacement is detachably attached to one end of a tube body 12. The other end of the pipe body 12 is connected to the supply valve 1.
4, it is communicatively connected to a carbonator (none of which is shown) provided in the dispenser.

A pump 16, a check valve 18, and a pressure switch SW that responds to the pressure in the pipe body are inserted in series between the mineral pack 10 and the supply valve 14, and these series of members Therefore, a liquid pumping pipeline system is constructed in which the liquid in the pack 10 is pumped by the pump 16 and is supplied to the carbonator by opening the supply valve 14. An example of the electric control circuit that controls driving and stopping of the pump 16 is shown in the fourth example.
As shown in the figure. For the power supply bus R phase and T phase of this circuit,
The normally closed contacts a-b of the pressure switch SW, the normally closed contacts X-b of the relay X, and the drive motor 20 of the pump 16 are connected in series. The normally closed contacts a-b of the pressure switch SW are designed to open in response to a predetermined pressure value of the liquid in the tube body 12. Further, the push button switch PB and the timer TM, which are connected in series, and the normally open contact TM-a that cooperates with the relay X and the timer TM are connected in parallel to the normally closed contact X-b and the pump motor 20. . Note that the symbol L indicates a warning lamp that lights up when the liquid in the mineral pack 10 runs out.

In this circuit, contacts a-b of pressure switch SW
When the motor 20 is closed, the motor 20 rotates and the pump 16
When the mineral pack 10 is driven, the liquid in the mineral pack 10 is forced through the tube body 12 by opening the supply valve 14 and is supplied to the dispenser. Further, even if the supply valve 14 is closed, the pump 16 is still driven to pump the liquid.
The internal pressure increases further upstream, and contacts a and b of the pressure switch SW open to stop the rotation of the motor 20. When the supply valve 14 is then opened again, the pressure in the pipe body 12 decreases, the contacts a-b, which were in the open state, close, and the pump 16 resumes pumping the liquid.

Further, detection of the exhaustion of the liquid in the mineral pack 10, that is, control of detection of the presence or absence of liquid is performed by a timer TM shown in FIG. That is, each time a liquid is consumed in the dispenser, a timer is activated.
The TM is energized and begins counting a set time period, which is set to be longer than the time required to replenish the carbonator.
When the liquid in the mineral pack 10 is used up, the pressure in the tube body 12 decreases even though the pump 16 is being driven, and the contacts a and b of the pressure switch SW remain closed. The motor 20 continues to idle. After that, the timer is set with the required time difference.
TM times up and its normally open contact TM-a closes, thereby energizing the relay X, and opens the normally closed contact X-b to stop the rotation of the motor 20. At the same time, the lamp L lights up to warn that the mineral pack 10 is out of liquid.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention In the liquid pressure-feeding pipeline system according to the prior art, as described above, the timer TM indirectly detects the lack of liquid in the mineral pack 10. Therefore, even though there is no liquid to be pumped into the pipe body 12 due to the liquid in the pack 10 running out, the pump motor 20 continues to operate idly until the set time limit of the timer TM expires.

When the pump motor 20 is operated idly with no load in this way, an overcurrent flows through the motor windings, which generates heat and deteriorates the insulation of the windings, which not only causes failure but also causes noise. There is. In addition, in order to prevent failures, it is necessary to select a highly durable motor that has a high tolerance for dry running, which has the drawback of increasing the manufacturing cost of the liquid pressure-feeding line system including the motor.

Furthermore, as mentioned above, the operating time of the Timer TM must be set to be longer than the time required to replenish liquid to the carbonator, and therefore the set time must be changed for each dispenser, requiring adjustment of the control circuit. There was a problem that took a lot of time.

Purpose of the invention This invention was devised in order to suitably solve the above-mentioned problems. It is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid shortage detection device that can immediately detect this and stop the operation of a pump motor.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to suitably solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a system in which liquid from a liquid supply source is pumped, and the liquid is supplied to a required dispenser by opening a supply valve. In the constructed liquid pressure feeding pipeline system, the liquid pressure feeding pipeline system is inserted into the liquid pressure feeding pipeline system, is normally separated from the drive side of the pump, and is connected to the drive side of the pump in response to the first pressure in the pipeline system. a first pressure sensing means having a switching contact that can be switched to the first pressure sensing means; the first pressure sensing means is inserted in series with the first pressure sensing means into the liquid pressure-feeding piping system, and is normally in a closed state; and a second pressure sensing means having a contact that stops driving the pump by opening in response to a second pressure higher than the first pressure, during pumping of liquid by driving the pump,
When the liquid in the liquid supply source is exhausted and the pressure in the pipeline system is lower than the first pressure, the first pressure is increased.
The switching contact of the pressure sensing means is separated from the driving side of the pump to stop driving the pump.

Embodiments Next, a preferred embodiment of the liquid shortage detection device for a liquid pressure-feeding pipeline system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the same members already shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 are indicated by the same reference numerals, and detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.

Similar to the pipe system shown in FIG. 3, the liquid pressure feeding pipe system shown in FIG.
2, and by opening the supply valve 14, the liquid is transferred to the carbonator (not shown) of the carbonated water dispenser.
It is designed to supply In this liquid pressure-feeding pipeline system, there is a first pressure detection means _SW1 having switching contacts shown in the control circuit of FIG. 2, and a second pressure detection means SW1 having contacts a and b shown in the control circuit of FIG.
pressure sensing means SW ₂ are inserted in series, with each contact facing into the tube body 12. FIG. 2 shows an example of an electric control circuit that operates the liquid shortage detection device according to the present embodiment.
Contacts a-b of the second pressure detection means SW ₂ and contacts c- switched to one of the first pressure detection means SW ₁
d and a lamp L that indicates when the mineral pack 10 is out of liquid are connected in series. Further, the normally open type push button switch PB and the drive motor 20 of the pump 16 connected in series are connected to the contacts c-d.
and the lamp L, and at the midpoint e between the push button switch PB and the motor 20, the first
By switching the switching contact of the pressure detection means _SW1 , the contacts ce and e are brought into conduction.

Note that the first pressure sensing means SW ₁ is preferably a pressure switch and operates at a relatively low first pressure (for example, 1.5 Kg/cm ² DIFF 1.0 Kg/cm ² ),
The contact point is switched from the c-d side to the c-e side. Further, contacts a-b of the second pressure detection means SW ₂ are connected to a relatively high second pressure (for example,
3.5Kg/cm ² DIFF 1.5Kg/cm ² ) to open the contacts a and b. Therefore, the switching contact of the first pressure sensing means SW ₁ is always disconnected from the drive connection side of the pump 16, as shown in FIG. 2, and responds to the first pressure in the pipeline system. The connection can be switched to the drive connection side of the pump 16. Further, contacts a-b of the second pressure detection means _SW2 are always in a closed state, and open in response to a second pressure higher than the first pressure in the pipeline system, and 16 is stopped.

Next, the operation of the liquid shortage detection device according to this embodiment configured as described above will be explained. First, when the mineral pack 10 filled with liquid is attached to the tube body 12, the pump motor 20 is stopped and no pressure is applied to the tube body 12.
As shown in FIG. 2, the contacts of the first pressure sensing means _SW1 are switched to the c-d side, and the contacts a-b of the second pressure sensing means _SW2 are closed. When the normally open type push button switch PB is pressed here, the motor 20 rotates, the pump 16 is driven, and the liquid in the mineral pack 10 is pumped into the tube body 12. Then, by opening the supply valve 14, the liquid is supplied under pressure to a carbonator of a dispenser (not shown). In addition, when the supply valve 14 is closed and the liquid is not poured out, the pump 16
is still being driven, so that the pressure in the tube 12 gradually begins to rise until it reaches said first pressure value. As a result, the contact of the first pressure detection means _SW1 is switched from the c-d side to the ce side, and the lamp L is turned off. Under this pressure, the second pressure sensing means SW ₂ does not operate and contacts a-b remain closed. Therefore, even if the contacts of push button switch PB are opened, contacts a-b and contacts c-e
An electric path is formed through the motor 20 and the motor 20 continues to rotate, so that the pressure in the tube body 12 further increases.
and when the pressure reaches the second pressure value,
Contacts a-b open to stop the motor 20 from rotating. Note that even if the motor 20 stops, the pressure inside the tube body 12 is maintained at the second pressure by the check valve 18.

When the dispenser performs a beverage dispensing operation and the supply valve 14 is opened, liquid is supplied to the carbonator and the pressure inside the pipe is reduced. When the normal return pressure value of the second pressure detection means SW ₂ reaches 2Kg/cm ² (within the range from 3.5Kg/cm ² to 1.5Kg/cm ² ), the contact a-
b is closed and the motor 20 is restarted (note that the pressure value of 2 kg/cm ² is higher than the working pressure of the first pressure detection means SW ₁ , so the contact remains switched to the ce side. be). Furthermore, even if the pressure inside the pipe increases, since the supply valve 14 is open, it will not exceed 3.5Kg/cm ² , and therefore the contacts a and b of the second pressure detection means SW ₂ must be opened again. There isn't. Liquid is therefore continuously supplied to the carbonator.

Furthermore, when the dispenser finishes dispensing the beverage and closes the supply valve 14, the pressure inside the pipe increases to 3.5
Kg/cm ² or more, the second pressure detection means SW ₂
Contacts a and b open, and the motor 20 stops.

In this manner, each time a beverage is dispensed from the dispenser, the liquid in the mineral pack 10 is supplied under pressure to the carbonator, and the liquid level in the pack 10 gradually decreases. When the liquid is completely exhausted from the mineral pack 10 during operation of the dispenser, the pump 16 sucks air into the pipe body 10.
The pressure inside 2 suddenly decreased to 0.5Kg/cm ² (1.5Kg/
cm ² -1.0Kg/cm ² ), the contact point of the first pressure detection means SW ₁ is switched from the ce side to the cd side. As a result, the lamp L lights up to display a warning that the mineral pack 10 is out of liquid, and the operation of the motor 20 is stopped. That is, when the liquid in the mineral pack 10 is used up, this condition is detected and the motor 20 immediately stops.

Next, by replacing the mineral pack 10 with a new mineral pack 10 and resetting it by pressing the push button switch PB as described above, the liquid in the pack 10 is again forced into the tube body 12.
Supplied to the carbonator of the dispenser.

Note that the liquid shortage detection device for the liquid pressure pipeline system according to the present invention is configured separately from the dispenser body and can be controlled independently, so it can be connected to the liquid supply port of various existing dispensers. can be used. For example, if you connect a liquid pressure pipe system equipped with the liquid outage detection device according to the present invention to a carbonated beverage dispenser that has conventionally used tap water, you can create carbonated beverages that do not contain limescale and have a more refreshing taste. It becomes possible to supply beverages.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, a liquid shortage detection device is described which is incorporated into a liquid pressure-feeding pipeline system connected to a carbonated beverage dispenser, but the present invention is not limited to this, and can be used for other purposes such as drinking water such as mineral water, etc. It can be suitably used in all liquid pressure delivery pipe systems in which liquids such as liquid fuel, detergent liquid, dyes, etc. are stored in a tank and then supplied under pressure to a required dispenser using a pump.

Effects of the Invention As explained above, according to the liquid-out detection device for a liquid pressure-feeding pipeline system according to the present invention, it is possible to immediately detect that there is no liquid in the liquid supply source, stop the motor, and run the motor dry. Because it can prevent
In addition to reducing failures of the pump and motor, there is no need to select a model that can withstand long periods of idle operation, and at the same time, generation of noise due to idle operation can be prevented. Furthermore, this liquid shortage detection device
It has a simple structure and can be manufactured at low cost.
Furthermore, there are advantages such as no need for individual time settings using a timer, which was conventionally done.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing one embodiment of a liquid shortage detection device for a liquid pressure pipeline system according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an electrical control circuit diagram of the liquid shortage detection device shown in FIG. 1,
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a conventionally used liquid pressure-feeding pipeline system, and FIG. 4 is an electrical control circuit diagram of the liquid pressure-feeding pipeline system shown in FIG. 3. 10... Mineral pack, 12... Tube body, 14
... Supply valve, 16 ... Pump, 18 ... Check valve,
20...Motor, _SW1 ...First pressure detection means,
SW ₂ ...Second pressure detection means.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] In a liquid pressurizing pipeline system configured to forcefully feed liquid from a liquid supply source 10 by a pump 16 and supply the liquid to a required dispenser by opening a supply valve 14, this liquid pressurizing A switching contact (c- d, c-
e) a first pressure sensing means SW ₁ having a first pressure sensing means SW 1;
The pump 16 is inserted in series with SW ₁ , is normally closed, and opens in response to a second pressure higher than the first pressure of the pipe system.
a second pressure detection means SW ₂ having contacts (a-b) for stopping the drive of the pump 16;
When the liquid in the liquid supply source 10 is exhausted and the pressure in the pipeline system decreases below the first pressure,
Switching contact of first pressure sensing means SW ₁ (c-d, c
-e) is disconnected from the drive connection side of the pump 16 to stop driving the pump 16. A liquid shortage detection device for a liquid pressure-feeding pipeline system, characterized in that it is configured as follows.