JP6346650B2 - Liquid level indicator - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid amount indicator that displays the amount of liquid, and particularly relates to the technical field of a structure that displays a liquid amount based on the height of a liquid surface.

  For example, since the coolant discharged from the machine tool contains chips, the coolant containing the chips is caused to flow into the coolant filtering device, and the chips are separated from the coolant and collected (for example, Patent Document 1).

  The device of Patent Document 1 includes a tank in which coolant containing chips is stored, and a tracking mechanism that follows the liquid level of the coolant is provided in the tank. The follow-up mechanism includes a slide frame formed along the wall surface of the liquid storage part of the tank, a receiving part disposed in the slide frame so as to be movable in the vertical direction, and a float installed in the receiving part. ing. When the float moves up and down due to the liquid level fluctuation of the coolant in the tank, the receiving portion is configured to move up and down in the slide frame following this.

JP2013-163249A

  By the way, for example, there is a demand for accurately confirming the amount of coolant in the tank of the coolant filtering device visually from the outside. If it is only necessary to know whether or not the amount of coolant is greater than or equal to a predetermined amount, a known sensor that detects the liquid level and outputs an ON / OFF signal may be provided. When performing the filtration process, it is necessary to accurately grasp the state of the coolant level in the tank, and not only whether the coolant level is above the specified level, but also whether it is decreasing or increasing. There is also a demand for keeping track of abnormalities in order to prevent them from occurring.

  Therefore, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is conceivable to use a liquid amount indicator that uses a float that moves up and down depending on the height of the liquid surface. However, there is a flow in the coolant in the tank, and the liquid level may be wavy, and the force against floating due to such a coolant flow includes not only the vertical direction but also the horizontal component. Therefore, there is a case in which the horizontal component causes a force that can be squeezed to the receiving part of Patent Document 1 so that it does not move up and down smoothly in the slide frame. As a result, the amount of coolant tends to decrease or There is a risk that it is difficult to accurately grasp whether or not there is an increasing tendency from the outside of the tank.

  On the other hand, for example, if a guide member that is long in the vertical direction is provided to guide the receiving portion continuously over a wide range in the vertical direction, a horizontal force acts on the float due to the flow of the coolant. However, it is considered that the receiving part can be surely guided in the vertical direction, but such a guide member is required to be accurate, so chips and sludge are clogged, and malfunction is likely to occur. Since the effect cannot be obtained unless it is long in the vertical direction, there is a problem that the cost is increased.

  The present invention has been made in view of this point, and an object of the present invention is to be able to accurately display the amount of liquid in which a flow is generated at low cost.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, the instruction detection member is guided in the vertical direction by the slit provided in the base plate, and is also guided in the vertical direction by the frame member disposed on the upper side thereof.

  A first aspect of the present invention is a liquid volume indicator that displays the amount of liquid in a tank, a base plate that is fixed to the tank and is disposed above a communication hole formed in the tank and has a slit, A float that floats on the liquid, is fixed to the float, is inserted through the slit, extends upward from the base plate, and has an indicator on the upper side, and projects upward with respect to the base plate And a frame member having a display unit for displaying the amount of liquid corresponding to the height of the indicating unit, and the slit is formed so as to guide the vertical intermediate portion of the indicating detection member in the vertical direction. The frame member is provided with a guide portion for vertically guiding a portion above the slit in the instruction detecting member.

  According to this configuration, since the float moves up and down as the amount of liquid increases or decreases, the instruction detection member fixed to the float moves up and down in conjunction with the float. As a result, the indication portion of the indication detection member moves up and down and the indication portion indicates the display portion of the frame member, so that the amount of liquid in the tank can be visually recognized from the outside.

  When the instruction detection member moves up and down, the instruction detection member is guided in the vertical direction by the peripheral edge portion of the slit of the base plate, and the portion away from the upper side is guided in the vertical direction by the guide portion of the frame member. In other words, since at least two locations apart from each other in the vertical direction of the instruction detection member are guided, for example, even if a flow occurs in the liquid in the tank and a horizontal force acts on the float, the instruction detection member Moves up and down smoothly. This makes it possible to accurately grasp whether or not the amount of liquid is greater than a predetermined amount at a low cost without providing an expensive guide member that is long in the vertical direction, and the amount of liquid tends to decrease or increase It is also possible to accurately grasp whether or not there is a tendency.

  According to a second invention, in the first invention, the instruction detection member has a main body portion in which a first plate portion and a second plate portion that are long in the vertical direction are integrated, and the first plate portion and the first plate portion The two plate portions extend in a direction crossing each other, and the slit is inserted through the first plate portion and the first slit for guiding the first plate portion, and the second plate portion is inserted through the slit. It has the 2nd slit which guides a 2nd board part, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  According to this configuration, the first plate portion and the second plate portion of the main body portion of the indication detection member extend in the direction intersecting each other, and are guided by the first slit and the second slit of the base plate, respectively. The detection member is restricted from displacement in at least two horizontal directions.

  According to a third invention, in the first or second invention, the guide portion of the frame member has an opening portion that is long in the up-down direction, and a portion above the slit in the instruction detection member is a portion of the opening portion. It is characterized by being guided in the vertical direction by an edge portion extending in the vertical direction.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to reliably guide the upper portion of the instruction detection member in the vertical direction with a simple configuration in which the opening is formed in the frame member.

  In a fourth aspect based on the third aspect, a concave portion that is recessed in the horizontal direction is formed in a portion above the slit in the indication detection member, and an edge that extends in the vertical direction of the opening portion is formed in the concave portion. The part is inserted, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  According to this configuration, when the edge of the opening is inserted into the concave portion of the instruction detection member, the horizontal displacement of the upper portion of the instruction detection member is suppressed, and the upper portion of the instruction detection member Will be guided vertically.

  According to a fifth invention, in any one of the first to fourth inventions, the guide portion of the frame member has a side plate portion extending in the vertical direction, and the portion above the slit in the instruction detection member is It is characterized by being guided in the vertical direction by sliding contact with the side plate portion.

  According to this configuration, the upper part of the instruction detection member is prevented from being displaced in the horizontal direction by the upper part of the instruction detection member being in sliding contact with the side plate portion of the frame member. This part is guided in the vertical direction.

  According to a sixth invention, in any one of the first to fifth inventions, the frame member has a first side plate portion and a second side plate portion extending in a vertical direction, and the first side plate portion and the second side plate. Each part is provided with a first switch mounting portion and a second switch mounting portion to which a proximity switch for detecting whether or not a portion above the slit in the instruction detection member is in close proximity is attached. It is characterized by being.

  That is, by detecting the instruction detection member with the proximity switch, the liquid amount can be electrically notified to the outside. At this time, for example, when it is desired to notify the liquid amount in two stages, it is necessary to provide two proximity switches arranged in the vertical direction. However, it may be difficult to reduce the vertical interval due to restrictions such as the size of the proximity switch. In this case, there is a restriction on the position of the proximity switch.

  According to the present invention, the proximity switch is attached to the first switch attachment portion of the first side plate portion of the frame member, and another proximity switch is attached to the second switch attachment portion of the second side plate portion. Therefore, since it becomes possible to attach a proximity switch to each of different side plate portions, the two proximity switches are arranged apart from each other in the horizontal direction. Thereby, it becomes difficult to receive restrictions such as the size of the proximity switch, and the vertical distance between the proximity switches can be easily reduced.

  According to the first invention, the indication detection member fixed to the float is guided in the vertical direction by the slit provided in the base plate, and is also guided in the vertical direction by the frame member disposed on the upper side thereof. Therefore, the amount of the liquid in which the flow is generated can be accurately displayed at a low cost.

  According to the second invention, the first plate portion and the second plate portion of the main body portion of the instruction detection member extend in a direction intersecting each other, and are guided by the first slit and the second slit of the base plate, respectively. As a result, the displacement of the instruction detection member in at least two horizontal directions is restricted, so that the instruction detection member can be moved up and down more smoothly, and the amount of liquid in which the flow is generated can be more accurately determined. Can be displayed.

  According to the third aspect of the invention, the upper portion of the instruction detection member can be guided in the vertical direction by the edge portion extending in the vertical direction of the opening formed in the frame member, so that the configuration can be simplified. .

  According to the fourth aspect of the invention, since the edge of the opening of the frame member is inserted into the recess formed in the instruction detection member, the instruction detection member can be moved up and down more smoothly.

  According to the fifth aspect of the invention, since the upper portion of the instruction detection member is brought into sliding contact with the side plate portion of the frame member, the horizontal displacement of the upper portion of the instruction detection member is suppressed and the instruction detection member is It can be moved up and down more smoothly.

  According to the sixth invention, the proximity switch can be attached to the first switch attachment portion of the first side plate portion of the frame member, and another proximity switch can be attached to the second switch attachment portion of the second side plate portion. The distance between the proximity switches in the vertical direction can be easily reduced.

It is a front view of the liquid level indicator which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a right view of a liquid quantity indicator. It is a left view of a liquid quantity indicator. It is a top view of a liquid quantity indicator. It is a bottom view of a liquid quantity indicator. It is a top view of an installation part. It is a front view of an instruction | indication detection member. It is a top view of an instruction | indication detection member. It is a front view of a frame member. It is a right view of a frame member. It is a left view of a frame member. It is a rear view of a frame member.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the following description of the preferred embodiment is merely illustrative in nature, and is not intended to limit the present invention, its application, or its use.

  FIG. 1 is a front view of a liquid amount indicator 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a right side view of the liquid amount indicator 1, and FIG. FIG. The liquid level indicator 1 is for displaying the amount of coolant (liquid) in the tank 100 of the coolant filtering device for filtering the coolant containing chips discharged from the machine tool (not shown) so as to be visible from the outside. It is. The coolant filtering device is conventionally well-known, and is configured to separate and collect the chips from the coolant while conveying the coolant containing the chips in a predetermined direction. This coolant filtration device has a tank 100 in which coolant is stored. A communication hole 101 a communicating with the inside is formed in the upper wall portion 101 of the tank 100 so that the liquid amount indicator 1 can detect the amount of coolant through the communication hole 101 a of the upper wall portion 101. It is configured. 1-3, only the upper wall part 101 of the tank 100 is shown in cross section.

  The liquid amount indicator 1 includes an installation unit 2 fixed to the tank 100, a frame member 3 fixed to the upper side of the installation unit 2, a float 4 disposed in the tank 100, an instruction detection member 5, and a float. 4 has a fixing member 6 for fixing to the instruction detection member 5, and an upper proximity switch SW1 and a lower proximity switch SW2. In the description of this embodiment, as shown in each drawing, the horizontal direction and the front-rear direction of the liquid amount indicator 1 are temporarily defined, but the direction in the actual use state is not limited.

(Configuration of installation part)
The installation portion 2 includes a substantially rectangular upper plate portion (base plate) 20, a front plate portion 21 extending downward from the front edge portion of the upper plate portion 20, and a rear plate extending downward from the rear edge portion of the upper plate portion 20. Part 22, right plate part 23 extending downward from the right edge part of upper plate part 20, and left plate part 24 extending downward from the left edge part of upper plate part 20, and configured in a hollow shape. ing. The installation portion 2 is formed by bending a single plate made of, for example, stainless steel.

  The front plate portion 21, the rear plate portion 22, the right plate portion 23, and the left plate portion 24 extend substantially in the vertical direction. Flanges 21 a, 22 a, 23 a, and 24 a extending outward of the installation unit 2 are formed at the lower ends of the front plate portion 21, the rear plate portion 22, the right plate portion 23, and the left plate portion 24. The flanges 21 a, 22 a, 23 a, and 24 a are formed so as to extend along the upper wall portion 101 of the tank 100, and are fixed to the upper wall portion 101.

  The upper plate portion 20 extends substantially horizontally and is disposed immediately above the communication hole 101 a of the upper wall portion 101 of the tank 100. As shown in FIG. 6, a substantially circular insertion hole 20 a through which the fixing member 6 is inserted is formed at a substantially central portion of the upper plate portion 20. Further, the upper plate portion 20 is formed with a slit 20d in the vicinity of the insertion hole 20a. The slit 20d is for guiding the vertical intermediate portion of the instruction detection member 5 in the vertical direction, and includes a first slit 20b formed in a portion away from the insertion hole 20a in the upper plate portion 20 on the left side, It has the 2nd slit 20c formed in the part away from the penetration hole 20a in the board part 20 to the back side. The first slit 20b extends in the front-rear direction. The second slit 20c extends in the left-right direction. The rear end portion of the first slit 20b is continuous with the left end portion of the second slit 20c to form a slit 20d having a shape close to an L shape in plan view. The direction in which the first slit 20b extends and the direction in which the second slit 20c extends are substantially orthogonal.

(Structure of floating and fixing members)
The float 4 is made of a hollow member and floats on the coolant. The buoyancy of the float 4 is set to be larger than the force that raises the instruction detection member 5 and the fixing member 6 against the gravity of the instruction detection member 5 and the fixing member 6. The size of the float 4 is set smaller than the inner shape of the installation part 2 as shown in FIG. A connecting portion 4a to which the fixing member 6 is connected is provided on the upper portion of the float 4 so as to protrude upward.

  The fixing member 6 is made of a round bar, and extends in the vertical direction. The lower end portion of the fixing member 6 is connected to the connecting portion 4 a in a state where the lower end portion is inserted into the connecting portion 4 a of the float 4. An intermediate portion in the vertical direction of the fixing member 6 is inserted into the insertion hole 20 a of the upper plate portion 20. The cross section of the portion of the fixing member 6 that is inserted through the insertion hole 20a has a substantially circular shape that is slightly smaller than the insertion hole 20a. Thereby, the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate portion in the vertical direction of the fixing member 6 is guided in the vertical direction by the peripheral portion while being in sliding contact with the peripheral portion of the insertion hole 20a. The sliding resistance at this time is small.

  Further, the upper end portion of the fixing member 6 protrudes upward from the insertion hole 20 a, and this upper end portion is connected to the instruction detection member 5. That is, the instruction detection member 5 is fixed to the float 4 via the fixing member 6. The length of the fixing member 6 can be changed according to the depth of the tank 100.

(Configuration of frame member)
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the frame member 3 includes a frame main body 31 that is fixed so as to protrude upward with respect to the upper plate portion 20 of the installation portion 2, and an upper end cover member 32. . As shown in FIGS. 9 to 12, the frame main body 31 has a shape that is open to the top and bottom and the right side as a whole, and includes a front side plate portion 33, a left side plate portion (second side plate portion) 34 that extends in the vertical direction, and A rear side plate portion (first side plate portion) 35 is provided. The front side plate portion 33 is a portion constituting the front wall of the frame body 31 and extends in the left-right direction. The left side plate portion 34 is a portion constituting the left wall of the frame main body 31 and extends from the right end portion of the front side plate portion 33 to the rear side. The rear side plate portion 35 is a portion constituting the rear wall of the frame body 31 and extends from the rear end portion of the left side plate portion 34 to the right side. The front side plate portion 33, the left side plate portion 34, and the rear side plate portion 35 are formed by bending a single plate material made of, for example, stainless steel.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the horizontal dimension of the front side plate portion 33 is set shorter than the horizontal dimension of the front plate portion 21 of the installation portion 2. Further, the dimension in the front-rear direction of the left side plate part 34 is set shorter than the dimension in the front-rear direction of the left plate part 24 of the installation part 2. Further, the lateral dimension of the rear side plate portion 35 is set shorter than the lateral dimension of the rear plate portion 22 of the installation part 2.

  As shown in FIG. 9, an opening 33 a that is long in the vertical direction is formed at the center in the left-right direction of the front plate portion 33. The opening 33 a is continuous from the vicinity of the lower end portion of the front side plate portion 33 to the upper end portion, and is opened upward at the upper end portion of the front side plate portion 33. The left and right edges of the opening 33a extend linearly in the vertical direction. As shown in FIG. 10, a mounting plate portion 33 d extending to the front side is formed at the lower end portion of the front side plate portion 33. The mounting plate portion 33d is fixed to the upper plate portion 20 of the installation portion 2 by a fastening member such as a rivet.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a scale (display unit) 33 b is provided on the left side of the front surface of the front plate portion 33 so as to follow the left edge portion of the opening 33 a. The scale 33b is for displaying the amount of coolant corresponding to the height of the left side instruction portion 53c described later. Further, on the right side of the front surface of the front plate portion 33, liquid level display portions 33c, 33c, and 33c are provided at the right edge portion of the opening portion 33a. The lowermost liquid level display 33c is “LL”, and is used to display a state where the amount of coolant is extremely small. The liquid level display portion 33c located in the middle is “L”, and is for displaying that the amount of coolant is small. The liquid level display portion 33c located at the top is “H”, and is for displaying that the amount of coolant is sufficient. Furthermore, an arrow 33e for indicating a standard water level is provided on the right side of the front surface of the front plate portion 33, and the position of the arrow 33e can be set to an arbitrary position. One or both of the scale 33b and the liquid level display part 33c may be omitted.

  Note that the front surface of the front side plate portion 33 may be colored. For example, in FIG. 1, the region below “LL” and the region above “H” are colored red so that it is easy to grasp that the amount of liquid is abnormal. Further, by coloring the region between “LL” and “L” yellow, it is easy to grasp that the amount of the attention liquid. Further, by coloring the region between “H” and “L” in green, it is easy to grasp that the amount is normal.

  Although details will be described later, the front side plate portion 33 guides the upper portion of the instruction detection member 5 above the slit 20d in the vertical direction in a state where the instruction detection member 5 is inserted into the slit 20d of the installation portion 2. It has become. That is, the front side plate portion 33 is a guide portion of the present invention.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 11, the left side plate portion 34 is formed with a left proximity switch mounting hole (second switch mounting portion) 34a that is long in the vertical direction. The left proximity switch mounting hole 34a is for mounting the lower proximity switch SW2. The lower proximity switch SW2 is attached to the left side plate portion 34 so as to sandwich the edge portion of the left side proximity switch mounting hole 34a in the thickness direction of the left side plate portion 34. The height of the lower proximity switch SW2 can be changed steplessly within the formation range of the left proximity switch mounting hole 34a.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the rear plate portion 35 is formed with a rear proximity switch mounting hole (first switch mounting portion) 35a that is long in the vertical direction. The rear proximity switch mounting hole 35a is for mounting the upper proximity switch SW1 (shown in FIG. 2 and the like). The upper proximity switch SW1 is attached to the rear plate portion 35 so as to sandwich the edge of the rear proximity switch attachment hole 35a in the thickness direction of the rear plate portion 35. The height of the upper proximity switch SW1 can be changed steplessly within the formation range of the rear proximity switch mounting hole 35a.

  As shown in FIG. 11, a mounting plate 35 b extending rearward is formed at the lower end of the rear plate 35. The attachment plate portion 35b is fixed to the upper plate portion 20 of the installation portion 2 by a fastening member such as a rivet.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the upper end cover member 32 includes a top plate portion 32 a that covers the upper end open portion of the frame body 31, a front plate portion 32 b that extends downward from the front edge portion of the top plate portion 32 a, A right plate portion 32c extending downward from the right edge portion of the plate portion 32a, a left plate portion 32d extending downward from the left edge portion of the top plate portion 32a, and a rear plate portion extending downward from the rear edge portion of the top plate portion 32a 32e. The upper end cover member 32 is formed by bending a single plate made of, for example, stainless steel.

  The front plate portion 32b, the left plate portion 32d, and the rear plate portion 32e are formed along the upper outer surface of the frame body 31, and the front plate portion 33, the left plate portion 34, and the rear plate of the frame body 31, respectively. It is fixed to the portion 35 by a fastening member such as a rivet.

(Configuration of instruction detection member)
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the instruction detection member 5 is integrated with a main body portion 50 in which a first plate portion 51 and a second plate portion 52 that are long in the vertical direction are integrated, and an upper end portion of the main body portion 50. And a molded upper end plate portion 53. The main body 50 and the upper end plate 53 are formed by bending a single plate made of, for example, stainless steel.

  In plan view, the first plate portion 51 of the main body portion 50 extends in the front-rear direction, and the second plate portion 52 extends from the rear end portion of the first plate portion 51 to the right side. Accordingly, the first plate portion 51 and the second plate portion 52 extend in directions intersecting each other. The first plate portion 51 is inserted into the first slit 20b of the installation portion 2, and the second plate portion 52 is inserted into the second slit 20c of the installation portion 2. The 2 plate part 52 protrudes above the 1st slit 20b and the 2nd slit 20c in the state penetrated by the 1st slit 20b and the 2nd slit 20c.

  An intermediate portion in the vertical direction of the first plate portion 51 and the second plate portion 52 is movable in the vertical direction in the first slit 20b and the second slit 20c. At this time, the first slit 20b and the second slit It is guided in the vertical direction by the peripheral portion of 20c. The thicknesses of the first plate portion 51 and the second plate portion 52 are set slightly narrower than the widths of the first slit 20b and the second slit 20c, respectively. The movement in the vertical direction is performed smoothly.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the upper end plate portion 53 is formed so as to protrude from the upper end portion of the main body portion 50 to the front side. As shown in FIG. 8, an insertion hole 53 a through which the upper end portion of the fixing member 6 is inserted is formed on the proximal end side of the upper end plate portion 53. As shown in FIG. 1 and the like, the two nuts N and N are screwed into the upper end portion of the fixing member 6, and the upper end plate portion 53 is sandwiched by the nuts N and N so that the upper end portion of the fixing member 6 becomes the upper end plate portion 53. Fixed to. Therefore, the instruction detection member 5 is fixed to the float 4 via the fixing member 6.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the distal end side of the upper end plate portion 53 is formed so as to protrude forward from the opening 33 a of the front plate portion 33 of the frame member 3. As shown in FIG. 8, a right-side instruction portion 53 b that extends substantially horizontally to the right side and a left-side instruction portion 53 c that extends substantially horizontally to the left side are formed at a portion of the upper end plate portion 53 that is in front of the opening 33 a. Yes. The right side instruction unit 53b instructs the liquid level display units 33c, 33c, and 33c, and the left side instruction unit 53c instructs the scale 33b.

  On the left side of the upper end plate portion 53, a concave portion 53d that is recessed in the horizontal direction toward the right side is formed. The left edge of the opening 33 a of the front plate 33 of the frame member 3 is inserted into the recess 53 d. The inner surface of the recess 53d is formed so as to extend along the left edge of the opening 33a, and when the instruction detection member 5 moves in the vertical direction, the left edge of the opening 33a moves up and down in the recess 53d. Accordingly, the portion of the instruction detection member 5 above the slit 20d is guided in the vertical direction by the left edge of the opening 33a.

  Further, on the right side of the upper end plate portion 53, a concave portion 53e that is recessed in the horizontal direction toward the left side is formed. The right edge of the opening 33a of the front plate 33 of the frame member 3 is inserted into the recess 53e. The inner surface of the recess 53e is formed so as to extend along the right edge of the opening 33a. When the instruction detection member 5 moves in the vertical direction, the right edge of the opening 33a moves up and down in the recess 53e. Accordingly, the portion of the instruction detection member 5 above the slit 20d is guided in the vertical direction by the right edge of the opening 33a. The left recess 53d is deeper than the right recess 53e, but either may be deeper or the same depth. One of the left concave portion 53d and the right concave portion 53e may be omitted, but it is preferable to provide the two concave portions 53d and 53e because the indication detecting member 5 can be stabilized.

  Further, the rear edge portions of the right side instruction portion 53 b and the left side indication portion 53 c in the upper end plate portion 53 are positioned so as to contact the front surface of the front side plate portion 33 of the frame member 3. Therefore, when the instruction detection member 5 moves in the vertical direction, the rear edge portions of the right instruction portion 53b and the left instruction portion 53c, which are portions above the slit 20d in the instruction detection member 5, are in sliding contact with the front surface of the front plate portion 33. Thus, it is guided in the vertical direction.

  In addition, the length of the main body 50 of the instruction detection member 5 can be changed according to the depth of the tank 100.

(Configuration of proximity switch)
The upper proximity switch SW1 and the lower proximity switch SW2 are for detecting whether or not a portion of the instruction detection member 5 above the slit 20d is in a state of being close to the switches SW1 and SW2. Specifically, the upper proximity switch SW1 is disposed so as to be located on the rear side of the main body portion 50 of the instruction detection member 5, and is positioned so that the detection portion faces the second plate portion 52 of the main body portion 50. It has been. Therefore, the upper proximity switch SW1 detects whether or not the second plate portion 52 of the main body 50 is in a state of approaching the switch SW1. The lower proximity switch SW <b> 2 is disposed on the left side of the main body portion 50 of the instruction detection member 5, and the detection portion is positioned so as to face the first plate portion 51 of the main body portion 50. . Accordingly, the lower proximity switch SW2 detects whether or not the first plate portion 51 of the main body 50 is in a state of approaching the switch SW2.

  Here, when the upper proximity switch SW1 and the lower proximity switch SW2 are arranged side by side in the vertical direction as described above, if the upper proximity switch SW1 and the lower proximity switch SW2 are installed side by side only on the left side plate portion 34, In some cases, it is difficult to reduce the vertical interval due to restrictions such as the size of the proximity switches SW1 and SW2. In this case, the arrangement positions of the proximity switches SW1 and SW2 are limited.

  On the other hand, in this embodiment, the upper proximity switch SW1 and the lower proximity switch SW2 are attached to the rear plate portion 35 and the left plate portion 34, respectively. Therefore, it is difficult to be restricted by the arrangement, and the distance between the proximity switches SW1 and SW2 in the vertical direction can be easily reduced.

  The upper proximity switch SW1 is disposed at the same height as the liquid level display portion 33c located in the middle. Further, the lower proximity switch SW2 is disposed at the same height as the liquid level display portion 33c located at the bottom. The upper proximity switch SW1 and the lower proximity switch SW2 are connected to a control device (not shown) and are turned on when the first plate portion 51 and the second plate portion 52 are in close proximity to each other. It turns OFF when the part 51 and the 2nd board part 52 exist in the separated state. When the control device detects that the upper proximity switch SW1 is in the OFF state, the control device notifies that the amount of coolant is “L” or more by the notification means, and the lower proximity switch SW2 is in the OFF state. When this is detected, the notification means notifies that the amount of coolant is less than “L”. Examples of the notification means include a buzzer, a speaker, and a light emitter.

(Effect of embodiment)
When the installation part 2 of the liquid amount indicator 1 configured as described above is fixed to the upper wall part 101 of the tank 100, the float 4 receives buoyancy from the coolant in the tank 100, and the buoyancy is via the fixing member 6. The information is transmitted to the instruction detecting member 5, and the instruction detecting member 5, that is, the right indicating portion 53b and the left indicating portion 53c have a height corresponding to the amount of coolant. By reading the scale 33b indicated by the left side instruction unit 53c, it becomes possible to grasp the amount of coolant, and the right side instruction unit 53b allows the coolant level to be selected from among abnormal liquid volume, caution liquid volume, and normal liquid volume. It becomes possible to grasp at a glance whether it is.

  When the amount of coolant in the tank 100 increases or decreases, the float 4 moves up and down, and the float 4 also moves up and down when a flow is generated in the coolant in the tank 100. When the float 4 moves up and down, the instruction detection member 5 moves up and down. At this time, the first plate portion 51 and the second plate portion 52 of the instruction detection member 5 are guided in the vertical direction by the first slit 20b and the second slit 20c, and further, the upper end plate portion 53 of the instruction detection member 5 is the frame member. 3 is guided in the vertical direction by the left edge of the opening 33 a of the front plate portion 33, and is also guided in the vertical direction by the front surface of the front plate portion 33. That is, since at least two locations apart from each other in the vertical direction of the instruction detection member 5 are guided, for example, even if a flow occurs in the liquid in the tank 100 and a horizontal force acts on the float 4, the instruction is detected. The detection member 5 moves up and down smoothly. As a result, it is possible to accurately determine whether or not the amount of coolant is greater than or equal to a predetermined amount at a low cost without providing an expensive guide member long in the vertical direction, and the amount of coolant tends to decrease or increase. It is possible to accurately grasp whether or not there is.

  Moreover, since the 1st board part 51 and the 2nd board part 52 are extended in the direction which mutually cross | intersects, and the 1st slit 20b and the 2nd slit 20c are penetrated, the instruction | indication detection member 5 is the horizontal direction of 2 directions. Displacement will be regulated. Further, since the upper end plate portion 53 of the instruction detection member 5 is inserted into the concave portion 53d with the left side edge of the opening portion 33a of the front side plate portion 33 of the frame member 3, thereby Displacement is suppressed. Further, the rear edge portions of the right side instruction portion 53b and the left side indication portion 53c are in sliding contact with the front surface of the front plate portion 33, so that the displacement of the indication detection member 5 to the rear side of the upper end plate portion 53 is suppressed. Thus, since the horizontal displacement can be suppressed in each part of the instruction detection member 5, the instruction detection member 5 can be moved up and down more smoothly.

(Other embodiments)
The above-described embodiment is merely an example in all respects and should not be interpreted in a limited manner. Further, all modifications and changes belonging to the equivalent scope of the claims are within the scope of the present invention.

  In the description of the above embodiment, the amount of coolant is displayed by the liquid amount indicator 1, but the present invention is not limited to this and can be applied to the case of displaying the amount of various liquids.

  As described above, the liquid amount indicator according to the present invention can be used, for example, when displaying the amount of coolant stored in the tank.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Liquid quantity indicator 2 Installation part 3 Frame member 4 Floating 5 Instruction detection member 20 Upper board part (base board)
20b 1st slit 20c 2nd slit 20d Slit 33 Front side board part (guide part)
33a Opening 33b Scale (display part)
33c Liquid level indicator 34 Left side plate (second side plate)
34a Left proximity switch mounting hole (second switch mounting part)
35 Rear side plate (first side plate)
35a Rear proximity switch mounting hole (first switch mounting part)
51 1st board part 52 2nd board part 53b Right side instruction | indication part 53c Left side instruction | indication part 53d Recessed part 100 Tank 101a Communication hole SW1 Upper side proximity switch SW2 Lower side proximity switch

Claims (6)

In the liquid level indicator that displays the amount of liquid in the tank,
A base plate fixed to the tank and disposed above the communication hole formed in the tank and having a slit;
Floating above the liquid,
An instruction detection member fixed to the float, inserted through the slit and extending upward from the base plate, and having an instruction part on the upper side;
A frame member having a display unit that is fixed so as to protrude upward with respect to the base plate and displays the amount of liquid corresponding to the height of the instruction unit;
The slit is formed so as to guide the vertical intermediate portion of the instruction detection member in the vertical direction,
The liquid amount indicator, wherein the frame member is provided with a guide portion for vertically guiding a portion above the slit in the instruction detecting member. The liquid amount indicator according to claim 1,
The instruction detection member has a main body portion in which a first plate portion and a second plate portion that are long in the vertical direction are integrated, and the first plate portion and the second plate portion extend in a direction crossing each other. And
The slit has a first slit through which the first plate portion is inserted and guides the first plate portion, and a second slit through which the second plate portion is inserted and guides the second plate portion. A liquid level indicator characterized by having The liquid amount indicator according to claim 1 or 2,
The guide portion of the frame member has an opening that is long in the vertical direction,
The liquid amount indicator, wherein a portion of the instruction detection member above the slit is guided in the vertical direction by an edge portion extending in the vertical direction of the opening. The liquid amount indicator according to claim 3,
A concave portion that is recessed in the horizontal direction is formed in a portion above the slit in the instruction detection member,
The liquid amount indicator characterized by the above-mentioned. The edge part extended in the up-down direction of the said opening is inserted in the said recessed part. In the liquid level indicator according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The guide part of the frame member has a side plate part extending in the vertical direction,
The liquid amount indicator, wherein a portion of the instruction detection member above the slit is guided in a vertical direction by being in sliding contact with the side plate portion. In the liquid level indicator according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The frame member has a first side plate portion and a second side plate portion extending in the vertical direction,
A first switch mounting portion is attached to the first side plate portion and the second side plate portion, respectively, to which proximity switches for detecting whether or not a portion above the slit in the instruction detection member is in proximity. And a second switch mounting portion is provided.

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