JPH0620184A - Detecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the reliability of the detection precision of a detecting device to be floated alone on a fluid. CONSTITUTION:The detecting device 20 is used for detecting the property (temperature, stored volume, extent of contamination) of hot water in a bathtub and outputting its result. The detecting device 20 is provided with an electronic controller 32 connected to sensors and a posture holding mechanism 50 to keep always the posture of the detecting device 20 in a stationary posture in the inside of a case 26 in addition to the sensors such as a light emitting machine 28, a stored volume detecting sensor 34, a temperature detecting sensor 36, and a contamination detecting sensor 38, etc. As far as the detecting device 20 is kept in the stationary posture by this posture holding mechanism 50, the detecting part 40, 42, 44 of each sensor is submerged steadily below a floating plane H, and the light emitting part 30 of the light emitting machine 28 is exposed from the floating plane H.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a detection device for detecting the properties of a fluid, and more particularly to a detection device used by floating on the fluid alone.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a device that floats on a fluid and detects the amount of the liquid is well known, and is used in a tank of a flush toilet. By the way, in recent years, in order to realize a comfortable living environment, a hot water supply system for supplying not only water but also hot water to each of the spouts of a kitchen, a washroom, a bath or the like has been put into practical use. At this time, instead of simply supplying hot water,
Various controls including adjustment of the temperature level are performed. In such a hot water supply system, in order to further increase the added value, it is desired to detect various properties of fluid (hot water) in a bathtub or a think tank and reflect them in various controls around water.

[0003]

Since the detector used in the tank of the flush toilet is usually connected to the tank by a rod or the like, it restricts the movement of the bather in the case of a bathtub, for example. Therefore, the detector used in the tank of the flush toilet cannot be directly applied to the detector in the hot water supply system.

Therefore, if a detection device is provided with a sensor for detecting properties such as temperature and dirt of hot water and an output device for outputting sensor output to an external receiving device in a non-contact manner, it can be floated alone in hot water for use. It is possible to do so. However,
This is not enough in an environment where it is floated alone in hot water in a bathtub. That is, if the sensor element of the sensor is exposed from the surface of the hot water while floating in the hot water, the detection device must be turned over so that the sensor element is submerged in the hot water, which is complicated. In addition, even when turned upside down in this way, the sensor element may be exposed again from the molten metal surface due to waves generated on the molten metal surface. Therefore, the property of hot water may not be accurately detected by the sensor, and its reliability is low.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to improve the reliability of a detection device which is floated alone in a fluid and used to detect the properties of the fluid with a simple structure.

[0006]

Means for Solving the Problems The means adopted by the present invention in order to achieve such an object is a detecting device which is used by floating alone on a fluid and detects the property of the fluid. A detecting device for detecting, and an output device for outputting the detected fluid property to an external receiving device in a non-contact manner,
The posture is maintained by keeping the posture of the device by constantly submerging the surface of a predetermined area of a part of the device casing under the floating plane by the moment generated by gravity acting on the center of gravity of the device and buoyancy acting on the buoyancy. It is a gist of the present invention to provide a detection site of the detection device on the surface of the device housing submerged under the floating plane.

[0007]

In the detecting device having the above-described structure, even if the surface of the device housing provided with the detection portion of the detecting device is exposed on the floating plane, the posture maintaining mechanism always keeps the surface of the device housing submerged under the floating plane. Let As a result, the detection site of the detection equipment is
Since it is always submerged under the floating plane, the properties of the fluid can always be detected directly from the fluid. Then, the detection result is output to an external receiving device via the output device. Thus, in submerging the surface of the device casing under the floating plane, only the moment generated by gravity acting on the center of gravity of the device and buoyancy acting on the buoyancy is used.

In this case, the detection part of the detection device for detecting the liquid amount of the fluid is provided vertically downward on the surface of the apparatus casing submerged under the floating plane by the posture holding mechanism, so that the detection part stores the fluid in the tank. It is possible to detect the liquid amount by this detection portion while always facing the bottom surface of the.

Further, the output portion of the output device for outputting the liquid property is provided vertically upward on the surface of the apparatus casing exposed on the floating plane by the attitude holding mechanism, so that the detection result of the fluid property is always vertically upward. Output. Therefore, if an external receiving device is installed on the ceiling, which is an extension of the output direction of the detection result, the output can be received without being influenced by the rotation of the detection device about the vertical line.

[0010]

Next, an embodiment in which the detecting device according to the present invention is applied to a detecting device in a hot water supply system for a bathroom will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a hot water supply system, and FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a detection device 20 of the embodiment.

First, the outline of the hot water supply system will be briefly described. As shown in FIG. 1, the hot water supply system 10 includes a property adjusting device 14 that adjusts the property of hot water in the bathtub 12,
The control device 16 for controlling the property adjusting device 14 is provided. In the bathtub 12, a detecting device 20 for detecting the property of the hot water in the bathtub is floated alone on the hot water, and the ceiling receives the detection result output from the detecting device 20 and controls it. A receiving device 18 for outputting to 16 is provided.

The property adjusting device 14 is for adjusting the properties of the hot water in the bathtub 12, such as the temperature, the storage amount, and the degree of contamination, and keeps these properties constant by discharging the hot water whose temperature is adjusted. For example, if the actual temperature of hot water in the bathtub 12 or the amount of stored water is different from the set adjustment value, this is adjusted to the adjustment value by discharging hot water or water. Further, if the pollution has progressed beyond the adjusted value, the hot water in the bathtub 12 is discharged by opening and closing a drain plug (not shown) and new hot water is discharged to improve the pollution. In addition, such a property adjusting device 14
The property adjustment by means of is performed by a control signal from the control device 16, but since it is not directly related to the gist of the present invention, its description is omitted.

The detection device 20 is for detecting the above-mentioned properties (temperature, storage amount, pollution level) of the hot water in the bathtub 12 and outputting the result to the receiving device 18, and has the following configuration. Prepare As shown in FIG. 2, the detection device 20 includes a case-shaped case 26 in which a lid 22 and a container 24 are assembled in a watertight manner, and optical communication is performed on the surface of the lid 22 with the receiving device 18. Light emitting device 2 for performing (transmission)
8 (see FIG. 3) is waterproofed, exposed, and provided in a watertight manner. A power button (not shown) for turning the power on and off is also used for the lid 2 of the detection device 20.
It is provided in 2.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the detecting device 20 includes, inside a case 26, the light emitting device 28, various detecting devices described later, and an electronic control device 32 connected to these devices.
A battery (not shown), which is the drive source, and a posture holding mechanism 50 described later are built in.

As a detection device for detecting the property in the bathtub 12, a storage amount detection sensor 34 for detecting the storage amount of hot water, a temperature detection sensor 36 for detecting the temperature of the hot water, and a pollution detection sensor 38 for detecting the degree of pollution of the hot water. And are provided in the case 26. Each of the above-described detection devices is provided in a watertight manner by exposing the detection part to waterproof and then exposing from the surface of the housing body 24 in the case 26.

Of these, the storage amount detection sensor 34 and the pollution detection sensor 38 are located at the bottom of the container 24 with their detection portions 40 and 42 facing vertically downward. On the other hand, the temperature detection sensor 36 has the detection portion 44 in the lateral direction and the housing 2
Located on the side of 4. In addition, when the detection device 20 is floated on the hot water in the bathtub 12, the detection part of each detection sensor is constantly submerged under the floating plane H by the posture holding mechanism 50 described later.

The storage amount detection sensor 34 is composed of an ultrasonic or optical reflection type distance sensor that determines the distance from the bottom surface of the bathtub 12 based on the reflection state of light or ultrasonic waves emitted by itself. Then, the electronic control unit 32 that receives the detection result (distance) input from this sensor calculates the storage amount of hot water in the bathtub 12 based on the detection result and the opening shape of the bathtub 12 that has already been determined. It The temperature detection sensor 36 is a well-known temperature sensor using a semiconductor, and directly detects the temperature of hot water. The contamination detection sensor 38 is for obtaining the degree of contamination of hot water, and is composed of an optical reflection type sensor that outputs the reflection state of light emitted by itself to the electronic control unit 32. Then, the degree of pollution of the hot water is obtained by the electronic control unit 32 which receives the detection result input from the reflective sensor. That is, the detection output from the pollution detection sensor 38 and the storage amount obtained from the detection result of the storage amount detection sensor 34 in the case where the degree of contamination of the hot water in the bathtub 12 is allowed are made to correspond to each other, and when the pollution measurement is performed. The actual output from both sensors determines the pollution level.

The electronic control unit 32 converts the detection result of each property of the hot water into a control signal and receives the control signal by optical communication through the light emitting device 28 in addition to the calculation of the storage amount and the degree of pollution described above. Output to the device 18 in a non-contact manner. In addition,
Since the state of optical communication by the electronic control unit 32 and the light emitting device 28 and the configuration thereof are well known, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Next, the posture holding mechanism 50 that holds the posture of the detection device 20 in a steady posture when it is floated on the hot water in the bathtub 12 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 4, which shows the end face and the inside of the detection device 20 by breaking the detection device 20 in the lateral direction, the posture maintaining mechanism 50 includes a side wall 5 standing upright from the inner peripheral wall of the container 24.
A column-shaped weight 60 is housed in a weight housing space 58 formed by 2, 54 and an inner peripheral wall 56 provided between both side walls. The weight storage space 58 is located at a substantially central portion in the longitudinal direction of the detection device 20 (see FIG. 3), and both ends thereof are surrounded by end face walls (not shown). Therefore,
The weight 60 is provided between the side wall 52 and the side wall 54 to accommodate the storage body 24.
Although it is rollable along the peripheral wall and the inner peripheral wall 56 facing the peripheral wall, the movement of the detection device 20 along the longitudinal direction is restricted.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 which is an end view of the fracture surface, the storage body 2 facing the weight storage space 58.
A V-shaped depression 62 into which the weight 60 slightly falls is formed in the bottom portion of the inner peripheral wall of No. 4 along the longitudinal direction of the detection device 20. On the other hand, the inner peripheral wall 56 faces the recess 62.
A ridge 64 is formed on the. That is, the detection device 2
As shown in FIG. 5, when the lid 22 is on the upper side as shown in FIG. 5, the weight 60 has fallen into the depression 62, so that the detection device 20 is stabilized with the illustrated posture as a steady posture.

The weight of the weight 60 is such that when the detector 20 is floated on the water surface in the posture shown in FIG. 5, the surface indicated by the alternate long and short dash line in the drawing becomes the floating plane H, so that the lid 22 is exposed from this floating plane. It is determined in consideration of the volume of the detection device 20, the buoyancy acting, and the like. In addition, if it floats on the water surface in the posture shown, the center of gravity G0 of the detection device 20 and the center of gravity F0 of the detection device 20 are on the same vertical line. When the detection device 20 is held in this steady posture by the posture holding mechanism 50, as described above, the detection portions 40 of the storage amount detection sensor 34, the temperature detection sensor 36, and the pollution detection sensor 38, 44 and 42 are constantly submerged under the floating plane H.

Next, how the detection device 20 returns to the above-mentioned steady posture will be described. As shown in FIG. 6 (a),
When the detection device 20 is floated in the bathtub 12 so that the detection portion of each detection sensor is exposed from the floating plane H, the weight 60
Due to the ridge 64 of the inner peripheral wall 56, the ridge 64 cannot stay at the position shown by the chain double-dashed line in the figure, but moves to the left and right of the ridge 64. For example, as shown in the drawing, it rolls in the weight storage space 58 in the direction of arrow A. Then, the weight 60
Of the center of gravity G0 of the detection device 20 and the detection device 20
Even if the center of gravity F0 of the detection unit 20 is on the same vertical line, the center of gravity G0 of the detection device 20 moves as the weight 60 rolls, as shown in the figure, so that the center of gravity G0 and the center of gravity F0 move horizontally. It will shift. As a result, a moment is generated between the gravity G acting on the center of gravity G0 and the buoyancy F acting on the center of buoyancy F0, which causes the detection device 20 to start rotating along the arrow A in the figure.

As shown in FIG. 6 (b), the weight 60 rolls until it reaches the side wall 54, but even in this state, the center of gravity G0 and the center of gravity F0 are still displaced in the horizontal direction. Therefore, due to the gravity G acting on the center of gravity G0 and the buoyancy F acting on the center of buoyancy F0, a moment is applied to the detection device 20 to continuously rotate the detection device 20 along the arrow A in the figure. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the detection device 20 continues to rotate until the weight 60 falls into the depression 62 and the center of gravity G0 and the center of gravity F0 are located on the same vertical line. Then, the detection device 20 stably floats in the bathtub 12 in a steady posture in which the detection portion of each detection sensor is submerged under the floating plane H.

As described above, the detection device 20 of this embodiment allows the posture holding mechanism 50 to operate even if the detection portions of the detection sensors for detecting the property of the hot water in the bathtub 12 are exposed from the floating plane H. The detection part of each detection sensor is forcibly always submerged under the floating plane H. Therefore, according to the detection device 20 of the present embodiment, the property of the hot water in the bathtub 12 can be directly detected from the hot water itself by the detection portion of each detection sensor that is always submerged under the floating plane H, so that the detection accuracy is high. It can be improved and its reliability can be improved. Moreover, as described above, the moment generated by gravity and buoyancy which inevitably act when floating in the hot water to submerge the detection portion of each detection sensor under the floating plane H is used, and thus the detection accuracy can be easily obtained. The reliability can be improved.

Further, when the detection device 20 is floated in the bathtub 12 and used for detecting the property of the hot water, it is not necessary to turn the detection device 20 over so that the detection parts of the respective detection sensors are submerged. Can be improved.

Furthermore, according to the detection device 20 of this embodiment,
The following effects can be achieved. Since the storage amount detection sensor 34 for detecting the storage amount of hot water is provided so that the detection portion 40 is constantly submerged in the floating plane H and faces vertically downward, the detection portion 40 always faces the bottom surface of the bathtub 12. The storage amount detection sensor 34 is composed of an ultrasonic or optical reflection type distance sensor. Therefore, the storage amount of the bathtub 12 is determined in advance as the detection result (distance to the bottom of the bathtub) from the storage amount detection sensor 34.
2 and the shape of the opening, and no special auxiliary equipment other than the storage amount detection sensor 34 is required. Specifically, if the detection portion 40 of the storage amount detection sensor 34 is not vertically downward even if it is below the floating plane, for example, if it is in the horizontal direction, a scale describing the storage amount is provided on the inner wall of the bathtub 12. The storage amount must be detected by an optical detection device that reads this. In other words, an auxiliary device called a scale must be used together with the detection device. However, as described above, in the detection device 20 of the present invention, the storage amount can be accurately detected only by the reflection type distance sensor, so that the configuration thereof can be simplified.

Along with the forced submersion of the detection portion of each of the detection sensors into the floating plane H, the light emitting portion 30 of the light emitting device 28 is exposed from the floating plane H at all times. As a result, the property of the hot water in the bathtub 12 is determined by the receiving device 18
It is possible to improve the reliability when transmitting to the.

Moreover, since the light emitting portion 30 of the light emitting device 28 is oriented vertically upward, the detection result of the property of the hot water is always output vertically upward. Therefore, the receiving device 18 may be installed on the ceiling, which is an extension of the output direction of the detection result.
As described above, when the light emitting portion 30 of the light emitting device 28 is exposed to the floating plane H but not vertically upward, for example, in the horizontal direction, the detection result of the detection device 20 is rotated around the vertical line. Since the output direction changes, the receiving device 1
Unless a large number of 8 are installed on the four wall surfaces of the bathtub 12, the detection result from the detection device 20 cannot be received at all times. In addition, depending on the degree of rotation of the detection device 20, the receiving devices installed in all directions may not be able to receive the detection result. However, as described above, in the detection device 20 of the present invention, the detection result from the detection device 20 is not affected by the rotation of the detection device 20 about the vertical line only by installing one receiving device 18 on the ceiling. Can be received at all times. As a result, it is possible to surely simplify the configuration associated with the reduction in the number of the receiving devices 18 installed and improve the reliability of transmitting and receiving the output result.

The properties (temperature, storage amount, pollution level) of the hot water obtained by the detection device 20 through the storage amount detection sensor 34, the temperature detection sensor 36, and the pollution detection sensor 38 are stored in the bathtub 12 by the property adjusting device 14. It is used as a parameter in the above-mentioned property adjustment control of hot water (temperature control, storage amount control, pollution improvement control). Therefore, according to the hot water supply system using the detection device 20 of the present embodiment, the temperature and storage amount of the hot water in the bathtub 12 can be finely and accurately adjusted based on the high reliability of detecting the property of the hot water. , Can surely improve pollution.

In the detection device 20 of this embodiment, the ridge 64 is provided on the inner peripheral wall 56 of the weight storage space 58.
The detection device 20 exposes the detection site of each detection sensor from the floating plane H and causes the weight 60 to roll when floated in the bathtub 12. Therefore, it is possible to surely cause the detection device 20 to return to the steady posture in which the detection portion of each detection sensor is submerged, and to further improve the reliability of the detection accuracy of the property of the hot water.

Since the depression 62 is provided at the bottom of the inner peripheral wall of the storage body 24 in the weight storage space 58, if the detection device 20 floats in the bathtub 12 in a steady posture in which the detection portions of the respective detection sensors are submerged, the weight 60 is provided. Can be made to fall into this depression 62, and the posture of the detection apparatus 20 can be made more stable. That is, even if the water surface of the bathtub 12 is ruffled, the detection device 2
It is possible to prevent 0 from being turned upside down, and even if it is turned upside down, the detection site of each detection sensor can be quickly submerged in the floating plane H as described above.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the scope of the present invention. Of course.

For example, although the case where the fluid whose property is to be detected is the hot water in the bathtub 12 has been described in the present embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this and can be applied to various fluids. Also, as the property to be detected,
Although the temperature, the amount of liquid (amount of storage), and the degree of pollution have been described above, various properties such as the concentration of the dissolved component dissolved in the fluid and the pH value of the fluid can be detected. According to this structure, it is possible to perform various finer and more accurate control by always using the detection result obtained by directly detecting these properties from the fluid as a parameter for control such as increase / decrease of dissolved component and pH value management. .

The shape of the detecting device 20 is not limited to the semicylindrical shape, but may be a hollow hemispherical shape or the like. Further, in the above embodiment, the columnar weight 21 is separately prepared and used, but a dry battery serving as a power source of the detection device 20 may be used instead of the weight 21.

Further, in the present embodiment, the detection device for simultaneously detecting the three properties of hot water (temperature, storage amount, pollution level) is used, but it is also possible to detect only one property. In this case, as shown in FIG. 7, for example, a floating detection device 20A having a storage amount detection sensor 34 and a light emitting device 28 at both ends may be used. Then, as shown in the figure, in consideration of the submersion of the storage amount detection sensor 34 in the floating plane H and the exposure of the light emitting portion 30 of the light emitting device 28 from the floating plane H, resin is provided around the storage amount detection sensor 34. It suffices if they are filled and fixed, which simplifies the structure.

[0037]

As described above in detail, the detection device of the present invention forcibly always keeps the surface of the device casing of the detection device, even if the surface of the device casing provided with the detection portion is exposed from the floating plane. Submerge in a floating plane. Therefore, according to the detection device of the present invention, since the property of the fluid can be directly detected from the fluid itself by the detection part of the detection device which is always submerged under the floating plane, the detection accuracy is improved and its reliability is improved. You can Moreover, since only the moment generated by the gravity and the buoyant force which inevitably acts when floating on the fluid is used, the reliability of the detection accuracy can be easily improved.

In this case, since the detection portion of the detection device for detecting the liquid amount of the fluid is provided vertically downward on the surface of the apparatus casing which is always submerged under the floating plane, the detection portion is located on the bottom surface of the tank for storing the fluid. Always face each other. Therefore, a reflection type distance sensor that determines the distance to the object to be detected based on the reflection state of the signal generated by itself can be used as the detection device of the present device that detects the liquid amount. However, even if the detection site is below the floating plane but not vertically downward, for example, in the horizontal direction,
It is necessary to provide a scale on the inner wall of the fluid storage tank to indicate the amount of liquid and to detect the amount of liquid by a detection device that reads the scale. As a result, according to the detection device of the present invention, the liquid amount of the fluid can be accurately detected only by the detection device using the reflection type distance sensor, so that the configuration can be simplified.

Further, since the output portion of the output device for outputting the liquid property is provided vertically upward on the surface of the apparatus casing which is always exposed on the floating plane, the detection result of the fluid property is always output vertically upward. . Therefore, if an external receiving device is installed on the ceiling, which is an extension of the output direction of the detection result, its output can always be received regardless of the rotation of the detection device about the vertical line. However, even if the output direction of the output portion is not vertically upward even on the floating plane, for example, in the case of a horizontal direction, the output direction of the detection result is accompanied by the rotation of the detection device about the vertical line. Because it changes
Unless a large number of external receiving devices are installed on all sides, the detection results from the detection device cannot be received at all times. Further, depending on the degree of rotation of the detection device, the reception devices installed in all directions may not be able to receive the detection result. As a result, according to the detection device of the present invention, the detection result from this device can be constantly received by installing only one external receiving device on the ceiling, which is an extension of the output direction of the detection result. It is possible to simplify the configuration associated with the reduction in the number and to improve the reliability of transmitting and receiving the output result.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a bathroom hot water supply system to which a detection device 20 according to an embodiment is applied.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the detection device 20 according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an internal configuration and an electrical configuration of a detection device 20.

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view for explaining the internal structure of the detection device 20 by breaking it.

5 is an end view of the fracture surface of the detection device 20, and is an explanatory diagram for explaining a posture in which the detection device 20 is stably floating.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining how the posture of the detection device 20 is returned.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of a detection device 20A according to a modification.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 ... Hot water supply system 12 ... Bathtub 14 ... Property adjusting device 16 ... Control device 18 ... Receiving device 20 ... Detecting device 28 ... Light emitting device 30 ... Light emitting part 32 ... Electronic control device 34 ... Storage amount detecting sensor 36 ... Detecting sensor 38 ... Pollution Detection sensor 40 ... Detection part 42 ... Detection part 44 ... Detection part 50 ... Posture holding mechanism 60 ... Weight 20A ... Detection device F0 ... Floating center F ... Buoyancy G0 ... Center of gravity G ... Gravity H ... Floating plane

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A detection device which is used by floating alone on a fluid and detects the property of the fluid, the detection device for detecting the property of the fluid, and the detected fluid property to an external receiving device. Due to the moment generated by the non-contact output device, the gravity acting on the center of gravity of the device and the buoyancy acting on the buoyancy, the surface of a part of the device housing is constantly submerged under the floating plane. And a posture holding mechanism for holding the posture of the device, wherein the detection part of the detection device is provided on the surface of the device casing submerged under the floating plane. 2. The detection device is a detection device for detecting the liquid amount of a fluid, and the detection part of the detection device is provided on the surface of the device casing submerged under the floating plane by the posture holding mechanism to detect the detection amount. The detection device according to claim 1, wherein the portion is oriented vertically downward. 3. The output device according to claim 1, wherein the output device is provided on an apparatus housing surface exposed on a floating plane by the posture holding mechanism, and an output portion for outputting the liquid property is directed vertically upward. The detection device according to any one of the above.