JP3123016B2 - Drum can liquid level indicator - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid level indicator which makes it possible to externally recognize the liquid level of a liquid contained in a drum.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, drum can liquid level indicators that have been practically used include a direct float type, a weight measuring type, a capacitance measuring type, an ultrasonic level gauge, and the like. However, since the remaining amount of the drum can not be checked easily, none of them are widely used. Then, a fixed tank equipped with a liquid level gauge is installed to transfer the liquid from the drum or to drain the liquid by tilting the drum. In addition, since it is not possible to predict that the drum can is empty, it is necessary to replace it before it is completely empty, and to prevent material shortages in the process of using the contents of the drum can. Many of the contents are discarded as a result.

[0003] The reason why it is difficult to spread the indicator conventionally used in practice is as follows. . In the direct float type, since the scale connected to the float to display the liquid level is long, it is difficult to apply the scale depending on the place of use, and the scale of the scale is reversed, thus lacking direct visibility. . The weighing type cannot be easily installed on a large number of drums because of the high equipment cost. . Since the capacitance measurement method is based on electrical means, it cannot be applied to combustible materials and is expensive. . The high cost of the ultrasonic liquid level gauge has hindered its spread.

[0004] In order to solve such a problem and allow the remaining amount of liquid contained in the drum can to be easily checked, the structure is simple and compact, the handling is simple, and the cost is low. In addition, in general, the liquid stored in the drum can contains many combustible substances, that is, dangerous substances whose handling is regulated by the Fire Service Law. The meter is required to have inherently safety performance against combustible materials.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The basic technical problem of the present invention is that the structure is simple and compact, the handling is simple, and the cost is low. It is an object of the present invention to provide a drum can liquid level indicator which can be confirmed at the same time. Another technical object of the present invention is to provide a drum can liquid level indicator essentially having safety performance against combustibles in addition to the above.

[0006]

A liquid level indicator for a drum according to the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems is an indicator for displaying the liquid level of the drum to the outside. Insert the inner tube into the outer tube that inserts into the inside and the tip reaches the vicinity of the bottom of the can, and indicates the liquid level of the display liquid enclosed therein as the liquid level in the drum can. The lower end of the inner pipe is opened to the inner bottom of the outer pipe, and the upper end of the inner pipe is led out of the outer pipe to the outside and opened to the air chamber, and the insertion pipe is connected to the air chamber via a connection pipe. And
When the liquid level in the drum falls to the bottom, the liquid level of the display liquid in the outer pipe is pushed down to the lower part of the outer pipe. The gas required to flow the liquid level to the upper part of the outer tube is interposed.

In the above-mentioned drum can liquid level indicator, a piston-like valve is disposed on the liquid level of the display liquid in the inner pipe, and the air pressure applied from the air chamber side to the valve is transmitted to the display liquid. At the same time, it has a function of sealing an opening from the inside of the inner tube to the air chamber when the air pressure is reduced, or a floating ring made of a magnetic substance is floated on the surface of the display liquid between the outer tube and the inner tube. A detecting means for detecting the magnetism of the float is provided on the outer tube, the detecting means detects the liquid surface position of the display liquid, and furthermore, the chamber wall of the air chamber seals an opening from the air chamber to the inner pipe. The valve can be provided so that it can be opened and closed from the outside.

[0008] The drum can liquid level indicator having the above configuration is
Inserting the insertion tube into the air vent hole of the drum can, and using the outer tube along the outer surface of the drum can in a vertically installed state.When using the insertion tube, insert the tip of the insertion tube to the inner bottom of the drum can. Since the air in the insertion pipe is compressed by the inflow of the liquid in the drum and flows into the air chamber through the insertion pipe and the connection pipe, the pressure in the air chamber is increased. Is pushed down, the display liquid flows into the outer pipe from the lower end of the inner pipe, and pushes up the liquid level of the display liquid in the outer pipe. Therefore, the liquid level of the display liquid in the outer tube can be indicated as the liquid level in the drum.

When the liquid in the drum can is full, the liquid level of the display liquid reaches the upper limit in the outer tube, and when the pressure in the air chamber decreases due to the lowering of the liquid level in the drum can,
The liquid level of the display liquid is pushed down in the outer tube, and the display liquid gradually flows into the inner tube.

[0010] When a piston-like valve is disposed on the surface of the display liquid in the inner pipe, the air pressure applied from the air chamber side is transmitted to the display liquid through the valve, and the pressure inside the drum can is increased. When the pressure in the air chamber is reduced due to the lowering of the liquid level, the valve body seals the opening from the inner tube to the air chamber, so that the display liquid flows into the air chamber when the liquid level in the drum can drops. In addition, when the drum can is placed horizontally without using the liquid level indicator, the sealing of the opening by the valve body can prevent the display liquid from leaking into the air chamber through the opening. Furthermore, when the piston-shaped valve element is used, the display liquid does not come into contact with the outside air, so that the evaporation of the display liquid is reliably prevented from being reduced.

The liquid level of the display liquid which rises and falls in the outer tube due to the fluctuation of the liquid surface in the drum can be changed by making the outer tube transparent or translucent so that the inner liquid surface can be seen through. Although it can be visually observed directly from the outside, a change in the liquid level can be more clearly displayed by floating a ring-shaped float that is easily visible on the liquid level. Further, when a float that floats on the liquid surface of the display liquid between the outer tube and the inner tube is formed of a magnetic substance, detection means such as a magnetic sensor for detecting the magnetism of the float is provided outside the outer tube, and the detection is performed. The liquid level position of the display liquid can be detected by the means. In this case, the liquid level position can be extracted as an electric signal and used as a signal for liquid level display and various controls. Note that the detection of the liquid level of the display liquid in the outer tube is not limited to these means, and any detection means can be adopted.

On the other hand, if a sealing valve is provided in the chamber wall of the air chamber to seal an opening communicating from the air chamber into the inner pipe, the opening of the drum can level indicator during transportation, storage, etc. Can be reliably prevented from leaking.
The sealing valve is opened by an external operation prior to the start of use of the drum liquid level indicator, and is preferably closed again when the drum liquid level indicator is stored.

[0013] As described above, the drum can liquid level indicator having the above-described structure merely connects the outer tube, the inner tube, the insertion tube, and the like, and seals the display liquid therein. It is simple and compact, has no failure elements, is easy to handle, is inexpensive, allows you to easily check the remaining amount of liquid contained in the drum, and, in addition, essentially removes combustible materials. It can be provided with safety performance.

[0014]

1 to 4 show a first embodiment of a drum level indicator according to the present invention. This liquid level indicator is for displaying the liquid level of the liquid 3 in the drum 1 to the outside, and as shown in FIG. An insertion tube 10 having a tip reaching the vicinity of the bottom of the can 1 is provided. On the other hand, an outer tube 11 used in a vertically installed state along the outer surface of the drum 1
Inserts and fixes the inner tube 12 therein, and opens the lower end of the inner tube 12 to the inner bottom of the outer tube 11;
Of the air chamber 1 is drawn out of the outer tube 11 to the outside.
The insertion tube 10 is connected to the air chamber 14 via a connection tube 15.

The outer tube 11 is made of, for example, a transparent or translucent material such as a transparent synthetic resin or glass which can see through the inner liquid surface so that the liquid surface can be directly viewed from the outside. 1 to 4 can be formed.
As can be understood from FIG. 2, the display liquid 17 is sealed inside, and the liquid level of the display liquid 17 is used for indicating the liquid level of the liquid 3 in the drum 1. As the display liquid 17, in order to prevent weight loss due to evaporation, it is desirable to use a high boiling point, low viscosity and antifreeze liquid such as colored ethylene glycol.

Here, the inner tube 12 is made white and the display liquid 1
By disposing colors 7 in appropriate colors, the display of the liquid level in the drum 1 can be made clearer. The colors of the inner tube 12 and the display liquid 17 can be arbitrarily set, and if the liquid level of the display liquid 17 can be clearly recognized, the colors can be respectively set to appropriate colors.
Further, by indicating the liquid surface display scale of 10 divisions or 20 divisions on the outer surface of the inner tube 12, it is possible to more clearly grasp the liquid amount.

An annular float 19 is floated on the liquid surface of the display liquid 17 in the outer tube 11, whereby the display liquid 17 in the outer tube 11 is changed by the fluctuation of the liquid surface in the drum 1. Can be clearly displayed.

On the other hand, a piston-shaped valve element 18 is arranged above the liquid level of the display liquid 17 in the inner pipe 12 so as to float. The valve element 18 transmits the air pressure applied from the air chamber 14 side to the display liquid 17, and when the pressure in the air chamber 14 decreases due to a decrease in the liquid level in the drum 1, the valve element 18 moves the inner pipe 1.
An opening 14a communicating with the air chamber 14 from the inside is sealed to prevent the display liquid 17 from flowing into the air chamber 14 when the liquid level of the drum 1 drops. The valve element 18 can also be placed horizontally without using the liquid level indicator.
The sealing of the opening 14a prevents the display liquid 17 from leaking into the air chamber 14 through the opening 14a.
The inside of the display liquid 17 and the display liquid 17 are shut off to prevent the display liquid 17 from contacting with the outside air, thereby preventing the display liquid 17 from being evaporated and reduced.

In FIG. 1, a sealing valve 20 provided on the chamber wall of the air chamber 14 to seal the opening 14a communicating from the air chamber 14 to the inner pipe 12 is provided for transport and storage of the drum can liquid level indicator. The display liquid 17 from the opening 14a at the time or the like.
This is to prevent the leakage of water. This sealing valve 20
Are connected to the sealing lid 21 by screws or the like, and screwed to the chamber wall of the air chamber 14 to open the opening 14.
a is sealed with a sealing valve 20. Prior to the start of use of the liquid level indicator, the sealing valve 20 is removed, and the valve attaching / detaching hole is sealed with a sealing lid 21. However, it can be disposed at an appropriate position such as a chamber wall of the air chamber 14 so that it can be opened and closed from the outside. When the indicator is stored, it is desirable that the opening 14a be closed again by the sealing valve 20. Reference numeral 4 in the figure denotes an opening for inserting a fluid suction pipe (not shown) into the drum 1.

In order to make the liquid level in the drum 1 coincide with the liquid level in the outer pipe 11 when the insertion pipe 10 is inserted into the drum 1, the cross-sectional area of the liquid passage in the insertion pipe 10 must be adjusted. , Outer tube 1
Cross-sectional area of the space between the inner pipe 1 and the inner pipe 1
The cross-sectional area of the space in the drum 2 is formed to have the same cross-sectional area, that is, the insertion pipe 10 due to a change in the liquid level in the drum 1.
The amount of change in the liquid level within the inner tube, the amount of change in the level of the display liquid 17 in the inner tube 12, and the amount of change in the level of the display liquid 17 in the outer tube 11 are made to match as much as possible. In addition, it is necessary to open the upper portion of the outer tube 11 to the atmosphere through a vent. However, when the upper part of the outer tube 11 is opened to the atmosphere, when the liquid level indicator is placed horizontally for storage, transportation, or the like, the display liquid 17 leaks from the vent hole or the amount thereof decreases due to the outflow of the vapor. Become. Therefore, even if a vent hole is provided in the upper part of the outer tube 11, it is desirable to provide a stopper for closing the hole when storing, transporting or the like in order to prevent the display liquid from flowing out. Alternatively, instead of providing the ventilation holes, a relatively large air reservoir is provided at the upper part of the outer tube 11,
As compared with the air reservoir above the outer tube 11, the insertion tube 10, the outer tube 1
The space between the inner tube 12 and the inner tube 12 and the volume in the inner tube 12 may be made sufficiently small, that is, those tubes may be reduced in diameter.

If the volume of the air reservoir above the outer tube 11 is not sufficiently large compared to the volumes of the outer tube 11 and the inner tube 12, the liquid level in the outer tube 11 is indicated on the drum 1. Although the liquid level is not directly displayed, the remaining amount of the liquid in the drum can 1 can be displayed in a ratio with respect to the full state. The following description is based on the premise that the upper portion of the outer tube 11 is opened to the outside by a small hole.

In the liquid level indicator having the above-described structure, when the liquid 3 in the drum 1 is full as shown in FIG. Air chamber 14 through insertion tube 10 and connection tube 15
Since the pressure of the air chamber 14 rises by flowing into the inside, the liquid level of the display liquid 17 in the inner pipe 12 is depressed by that much, and at the same time, the display liquid 17 is moved from the lower end of the inner pipe 12 into the outer pipe 11. To raise the liquid level of the display liquid 17 in the outer tube 11 upward, thereby indicating that the liquid level of the display liquid 17 is full.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the liquid level in the drum 1 decreases, the pressure in the air chamber 14 decreases accordingly, and the liquid level of the display liquid 17 moves downward in the outer tube 11. The display liquid 17 is pushed down and gradually flows into the inner tube 12.
Therefore, the liquid level of the display liquid 17 in the outer tube 11 decreases by an amount corresponding to the decrease in the liquid level in the drum 1. FIG.
Is almost empty, that is, the liquid level in the drum can 1 is
2 shows a state in which it is lowered to the vicinity of the opening of the insertion tube 10 near the bottom.

The display liquid 17 in the outer tube 11
When the liquid level in the drum can 1 is closed, and the gas is sealed therein, the gas is in a compressed state when the liquid level in the drum 1 is higher, and the liquid level in the drum 1 is high. When the pressure drops, the gas pushes the liquid level of the display liquid 17 in the outer tube 11 downward.

As described above, the drum can liquid level indicator is:
Since the outer tube 11, the inner tube 12, the insertion tube 10, and the like are merely combined and the display liquid 17 is sealed therein, that is, the inner tube 12 is inserted and fixed inside the outer tube 11. The lower end of the inner pipe 12 is opened to the inner bottom of the outer pipe 11, and the upper end of the inner pipe 12 is led out of the outer pipe 11 to the outside, and is opened to the air chamber 14. Is connected to the insertion tube 10 through a simple and compact structure. Therefore, there is no failure element, the handling is simple, the cost is low, and the remaining amount of the liquid 3 contained in the drum 1 is reduced. You can check it easily. In addition, it can be essentially provided with safety performance against combustible materials.

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the drum can level indicator according to the present invention. This level indicator measures the level of the display liquid 17 on the outer tube 11 and the inner tube 12. In addition, a float 39 made of a magnetic substance is floated, and a magnetic sensor 40 as a detecting means for continuously detecting the liquid level by the magnetism of the float 39 is provided outside the outer tube 11. . With this configuration, the liquid level of the display liquid 17 can be linearly detected by the magnetic sensor 40 detecting the position of the float 39.

FIG. 6 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. This liquid level indicator is provided on the outside of the outer tube 11 as a means for detecting the position of the float 39 made of a magnetic substance. Of the fixed point detectors 50 are dispersed and arranged at arbitrary intervals (in the case of the drawing, upper, middle, and lower), whereby the position of the liquid surface can be captured at the contact point between the float 39 and the detector 50. .

As in the second and third embodiments, the float 3
9 by detecting the position of the drum 9 with an electric signal.
The position of the liquid level in the can be transmitted to a remote location.

Since the other constructions and operations of the second and third embodiments are substantially the same as those of the first embodiment, the same or corresponding parts have the same reference characters allotted, and will not be described. Is omitted.

[0030]

The drum can liquid level indicator of the present invention described in detail above is constructed by merely connecting the outer tube, the inner tube, the insertion tube, and the like, and sealing the display liquid inside. It is simple and compact, has no failure elements, is easy to handle, is inexpensive, can easily check the remaining amount of liquid contained in the drum, and, in addition, is essentially flammable. With safety performance against

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the structure of a first embodiment of a drum can liquid level indicator according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the liquid is full in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where a liquid is about half in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a state in which the liquid is almost empty in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a structure of a second embodiment of the drum can liquid level indicator according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the structure of a third embodiment of a drum can liquid level indicator according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Drum can 2 Air release hole 3 Liquid 10 Insertion pipe 11 Outer pipe 12 Inner pipe 14 Air chamber 14a Opening 15 Connection pipe 17 Display liquid 18 Valve element 19,39 Float 20 Sealing valve 21 Sealing lid 40 Magnetic detector 50 Fixed point detection vessel

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G01F 23/16 G01F 23/02

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. An indicator for displaying the liquid level of a drum can to the outside, comprising an insertion pipe inserted into the can from an air vent hole of the drum and reaching the vicinity of the bottom of the can. Insert the inner tube into the outer tube that indicates the liquid level of the sealed display liquid as the liquid level in the drum can, open the lower end of the inner tube to the inner bottom of the outer tube, and set the upper end of the inner tube to the above position. The liquid is drawn out from the outer tube to the outside and opened to the air chamber.The insertion tube is connected to the air chamber via a connection pipe. When the liquid level in the drum can falls to the bottom in the outer tube, The liquid level of the display liquid in the outer tube was pushed down to the lower portion of the outer tube, and a gas necessary for flowing the liquid level of the display liquid to the upper portion of the outer tube was interposed when the liquid level in the drum was higher. A drum can liquid level indicator. 2. The drum can level indicator according to claim 1, wherein a piston-like valve body is disposed on the liquid level of the display liquid in the inner pipe,
The valve body having a function of transmitting air pressure applied from the air chamber side to the display liquid and having a function of sealing an opening communicating with the air chamber from inside the inner pipe when the air pressure is reduced. Surface indicator. 3. The liquid level indicator of a drum can according to claim 1, wherein an annular float made of a magnetic substance is floated on the liquid level of the display liquid between the outer tube and the inner tube, and the magnetism of the float is reduced. A drum can liquid level indicator, wherein a detecting means for detecting is provided on an outer tube, and the liquid level position of the display liquid is detected by the detecting means. 4. A drum can level indicator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a sealing valve for sealing an opening from the air chamber to the inner pipe can be opened and closed on the chamber wall of the air chamber from outside. A liquid level indicator for a drum can provided on a drum.