JPH08238043A - Apparatus for controlling water temperature of admiration aquarium - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To forcibly break the electric supply to a heater e.g. in the case of the disappearance of water in an admiration aquarium. CONSTITUTION: This water-temperature controlling apparatus is provided with an electric heater 3 to heat the water in an admiration aquarium 2, an integrated water and temperature sensor 4 placed in the water in the aquarium 2 to detect the temperature and the existence of the water and a controller 5 to control the temperature of the water at a prescribed level by controlling the electric supply to the electric heater 3 based on the detected water temperature transmitted from the water-temperature sensor part of the integrated sensor and forcibly break the electric supply to the electric heater 3 when the existence of water is not detected by the water sensor part of the integrated sensor.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a water temperature control device having an improved controller for controlling the water temperature of an ornamental water tank for accommodating ornamental fish, water plants, etc. together with water and a temperature sensor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an ornamental aquarium for accommodating ornamental fish and aquatic plants has a water temperature controller (control device) for controlling the temperature of the stored water to a temperature suitable for growing fish and aquatic plants. ing.

Conventionally, this type of water temperature controller has a heater for heating the stored water when energized and a water temperature sensor for detecting the water temperature of the stored water, and compares the detected water temperature value detected by the water temperature sensor with a preset value. Then, energization to the heater is controlled so as to eliminate the deviation, and the water temperature is controlled to be constant at a predetermined value.

[0004]

However, in such a conventional water temperature controller, the water tank is damaged due to a large earthquake or some other reason, the water tank disappears due to a fall, or the heater is thrown out of the water tank. Even if the heater is burned, the heater is still energized and heats, so there is a risk of burning or burning the combustible material around the heater.

When the user puts only the heater into the water tank and forgets to put the temperature sensor into the water tank, the temperature sensor does not detect the water temperature of the stored water in the water tank and the outside temperature is not detected. To detect. Therefore, the stored water in the aquarium is
Since the temperature is controlled based on the outside temperature detected by the temperature sensor, when the outside temperature is low such as in winter, the heater is continuously energized for a long time to overheat the stored water in the water tank. May kill expensive ornamental fish and aquatic plants.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in consideration of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to forcibly cut off the energization of the heater when the stored water in the ornamental water tank disappears. It is to provide a highly safe water temperature control device for an ornamental water tank.

[0007]

A water temperature control device for an ornamental water tank according to a first aspect of the invention comprises an electric heater for heating the water stored in the ornamental water tank and the water stored in the water stored in the water tank. A water temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the water, a water sensor for detecting the presence or absence of water, and controlling the energization of the electric heater based on the water temperature detection value from the water temperature sensor to control the temperature of the stored water to a predetermined value. On the other hand, the controller forcibly shuts off the power supply to the electric heater when the moisture sensor does not detect moisture.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the moisture sensor is provided integrally with the water temperature sensor.

[0009]

Since the invention of claim 1 has a moisture sensor for detecting the presence or absence of water storage in the ornamental water tank, the water storage in the water tank disappears due to a fall of the water tank due to an earthquake or the like, or the heater is used as the water tank. When it is discharged to the outside, the moisture sensor detects the disappearance of the moisture, and the controller forcibly shuts off the power supply to the heater based on the detection.

This makes it possible to prevent burning or burning of combustible materials around the heater.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the moisture sensor is provided integrally with the temperature sensor. Therefore, by inserting the temperature sensor into the water tank, it is possible to simultaneously introduce the moisture sensor into the water tank. It is possible to prevent forgetting to put only one into the aquarium.

Further, if the user forgets to put the temperature sensor into the water tank, the water sensor integrated with the temperature sensor is not put into the stored water in the water tank, so that the water sensor detects no water. . For this reason, the energization of the heater is forcibly cut off, so that it is possible to prevent the water temperature from being overheated by the heater and killing the expensive ornamental fish and the aquarium.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a water temperature control device for an ornamental water tank according to the present invention. This water temperature control device 1 is an ornamental device for accommodating ornamental fish, aquatic plants and the like (not shown) in a reservoir. The heater 3 and the moisture / temperature integrated sensor 4 which are put into the water tank 2 of the above, and the thermo controller 5 which is electrically connected to the heater 3 and the moisture / temperature integrated sensor 4 and is installed outside the water tank 2. Have.

The heater 3 is constructed by enclosing a heating heater (not shown) which generates heat when energized in a hermetically sealed case in a watertight manner, and is placed on the inner bottom of the water tank 2, for example. The water / temperature integrated sensor 4 is a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the stored water in the water tank 2 and a water sensor for detecting the presence / absence of water, which is integrally provided on the inner wall surface below the water surface in the water tank 2. Fixed by.

The moisture / temperature integrated sensor 4 is, for example, as shown in FIG. 3 (A), a main body case 7 of a temperature sensor 6 containing a temperature sensor element (not shown) such as a thermistor.
In addition, a pair of electrodes 8a and 8b for detecting moisture are opposed and fixed. The pair of electrodes 8a and 8b for detecting moisture detects the presence or absence of moisture by detecting a change in resistance or capacitance when the electrode is submerged in the stored water or when the electrode is above the water surface and in a waterless position. The detection signal is detected and transmitted to the thermo controller 5 via the cable 9.

A pair of electrodes 8a and 8b for detecting water content are provided.
May be replaced with a pair of arc-plate-shaped electrodes 10a and 10b for moisture detection of the moisture / temperature integrated sensor 4a shown in FIG. 3 (B). The pair of electrodes 10a and 10b are, for example, watertightly built in the main body sensor 7a of the temperature sensor 6a with a required gap, and the capacitance is changed according to the vertical movement of the water surface in the water tank 2 to detect water. To do.

In another moisture / temperature integrated sensor 4b shown in FIG. 3C, the reed switch 11 is built in the main body case 7b of the temperature sensor 6b which has a temperature sensor element (not shown), and the main body case 7b. A magnet float 12 consisting of a magnet ring floating above the stored water is loosely fitted around the outer periphery of the reed to freely move up and down, and the contact of the reed switch is turned on and off according to the up and down movement of the stored water in the magnetic float 12 to detect the presence or absence of water. It is supposed to do.

As shown in FIG. 1, the thermo controller 5 includes a control circuit 5a electrically connected to the heater 3 and a water / water controller.
It has a temperature detection circuit 5b and a moisture detection circuit 5c which are electrically connected to the temperature integrated sensor 4, respectively.

The temperature detection circuit 5b reads the temperature detection value detected by the temperature sensor section of the moisture / temperature integrated sensor 4, compares it with the set temperature, and turns off when the temperature detection value reaches the set value. A signal is given to the control circuit 5a when the signal has not arrived yet.

When the control circuit 5a receives the ON signal, it energizes the heater 3, and when it receives the OFF signal, the energization of the heater 3 is cut off, and the temperature of the stored water becomes substantially constant at the set temperature. To control it. The control circuit 5
a is not limited to this on / off control, and may be PWM (pulse width) control, for example.

Then, the water tank 2 is damaged due to some reason such as an earthquake, or the stored water in the water tank 2 disappears due to a fall or the like, or the water level is lowered below the mounting position of the moisture / temperature sensor integrated unit 4, or When the moisture / temperature integrated sensor 4 is thrown out of the water tank 2, the pair of electrodes 8a, 8b, 10 for moisture detection of the moisture / temperature integrated sensor 4 is detected.
The resistance and capacitance of a and 10b change, or the contact of the reed switch 11 changes to off. When these changes are read by the water content detection circuit 5c, it is determined that there is no water content and a no water content signal is given to the control circuit 5a.

As a result, the control circuit 5a forcibly shuts off the power supply to the heater 3.

Therefore, in the unlikely event that the stored water in the water tank 2 disappears or the stored water level drops extremely, the energization of the heater 3 is forcibly cut off, so that the objects around the heater 3 are not burned. It is possible to prevent burnout and enhance safety.

Further, the moisture / temperature integrated sensor 4, 4a,
4b has a water sensor for detecting the presence or absence of water and a temperature sensor for detecting the water temperature, so that the water tank 2
If you forget to put only the heater 3 into the stored water and put the water / temperature integrated sensor 4 into the water tank 2, the water / temperature integrated sensors 4, 4a, 4b will have no water. Is detected and the power to the heater 3 is forcibly cut off, so that it is possible to reliably prevent the stored water from being overheated to kill expensive fish and aquatic plants as in the conventional example.

Moreover, since the moisture / temperature integrated sensor has the moisture sensor and the temperature sensor integrated, it is possible to prevent forgetting to put only one of them into the water tank 2.

[0027]

As described above, the present invention forcibly shuts off the power supply to the heater in the event that the stored water disappears or the stored water level is extremely lowered due to the fall of the water tank or the like. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the objects around the heater from being burnt out or burned out, and it is possible to enhance safety.

Further, since the moisture / temperature integrated sensor integrates a moisture sensor for detecting the presence or absence of moisture and a temperature sensor for detecting the water temperature, in the unlikely event that only the heater is put in the water stored in the water tank,・ If you forget to put the temperature integrated sensor into the bath water, the moisture sensor of the moisture integrated temperature sensor detects the absence of water and forcibly shuts off the power to the heater. It is possible to reliably prevent the expensive fish and aquatic plants from being killed by overheating the stored water as described above.

Moreover, since the moisture / temperature integrated sensor has the moisture sensor and the temperature sensor integrated, it is possible to prevent forgetting to put only one of them into the water tank.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing a part of an embodiment of a water temperature control device for an ornamental water tank of the present invention in a block diagram.

FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram showing a part of FIG. 1 in appearance.

3A to 3C are front views showing various configurations of the moisture / temperature integrated sensor shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Water temperature control device for ornamental water tank 2 Water tank 3 Heater 4,4a, 4b Moisture / temperature integrated sensor 5 Controller 6, 6a, 6b Temperature thermostat 8a, 8b, 10a, 10b Pair of electrodes for moisture detection 11 For moisture detection Reed switch 12 magnet float

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An electric heater for heating water stored in an ornamental water tank, a water temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the water stored in the water tank, and a moisture sensor for detecting the presence or absence of water. While controlling the energization to the electric heater based on the water temperature detection value from the water temperature sensor to control the temperature of the stored water to a predetermined value, energize the electric heater when moisture is not detected by the moisture sensor. A water temperature control device for an ornamental water tank, comprising: a controller for forcibly shutting off. 2. The water temperature control device for an ornamental water tank according to claim 1, wherein the water temperature sensor is provided integrally with the water temperature sensor.