JP2849946B2 - Vacuum pump bearing room lubricating oil level detection device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vacuum pump bearing chamber lubricating oil level detecting device for detecting a liquid level of lubricating oil stored in a bearing chamber of a vacuum pump. .

(Prior art)

Conventionally, lubricating oil supplied to a bearing portion of a vacuum pump is stored in a bearing chamber provided on a side of a casing of the vacuum pump. Although the amount of the lubricating oil decreases as it is used, it is necessary for the safe operation of the vacuum pump to keep the amount of the oil at a certain level or more even when the lubricating oil is most reduced.

Conventionally, a liquid level gauge is used to monitor the amount of lubricating oil in a bearing chamber. The cover of this liquid level gauge is made of a transparent material, and has a structure in which the liquid level of the lubricating oil can be visually checked from the outside.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However. In the liquid level gauge having the above structure, when the cover made of a transparent material is contaminated, or in an environment where the liquid level of the lubricating oil is invisible or difficult to see, the liquid level of the lubricating oil is equal to or less than a certain level. Could not be confirmed, resulting in shortage of lubricating oil and burning of the bearing.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and eliminates the above-mentioned disadvantages.In any environment, it is possible to confirm whether or not the liquid level of the lubricating oil in the bearing chamber is equal to or lower than a predetermined level. An object of the present invention is to provide a lubricating oil level detecting device for a vacuum pump bearing room, which can prevent a shortage of lubricating oil.

[Means for solving the problem]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim (1) is a vacuum pump which surrounds a bearing of a vacuum pump and is provided in a vacuum pump casing in an airtight state to detect a liquid level of lubricating oil stored in the bearing chamber. In the bearing chamber lubricating oil level detecting device, a liquid level detecting chamber in which the lubricating oil in the bearing chamber can freely flow in and out of the bearing chamber is provided in the bearing chamber cover forming the bearing chamber in an airtight state. A float with a built-in permanent magnet floating on the lubricating oil level in the chamber is arranged in
A reed switch that is activated by the magnetic field of the float permanent magnet when the lubricating oil level falls below the set value is provided outside the liquid level detection chamber. It is characterized in that a detecting means for detecting that it has been lowered is provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the vacuum pump bearing chamber lubricating oil level detecting device according to the first aspect, the liquid level detecting chamber cover forming the liquid level detecting chamber is provided with a lubricating oil level in the room. It is characterized in that all or part of the level is formed of a transparent material so that the level can be viewed from the outside.

[Action]

According to the invention described in claim (1), the liquid level detecting chamber through which the lubricating oil in the bearing chamber can freely flow in and out is provided in the bearing chamber cover forming the bearing chamber in an airtight manner on the side of the bearing chamber as described above. In the liquid level detection chamber, a float with a built-in permanent magnet floating on the lubricating oil level in the chamber is arranged, and outside the liquid level detecting chamber, when the lubricating oil level falls below a set value, the float becomes permanent. Since the reed switch that operates by the magnetic field of the magnet is provided,
It is possible to remotely detect that the lubricating oil level in the bearing chamber has fallen below the set value. In vacuum pumps,
It is necessary to improve the pump performance by completely sealing the bearing chamber and isolating it from the outside of the pump.However, in this case, the liquid level detection chamber is airtightly mounted on the bearing chamber cover that is provided in the pump casing in an airtight state and forms the bearing chamber. Since it is provided in the state, the inside of the pump casing, the bearing chamber, and the liquid level detection chamber can be completely isolated from the outside of the pump. Therefore, even if the liquid level detection chamber is provided, the performance of the vacuum pump is not reduced and reliably. It can be confirmed whether the liquid level of the lubricating oil in the bearing chamber is equal to or lower than a predetermined level.

According to the invention described in claim (2), the liquid level detection chamber cover forming the liquid level detection chamber is entirely or partially formed of a transparent material so that the lubricating oil level in the chamber can be visually observed from the outside. With this configuration, the liquid level of the lubricating oil can be visually detected.

〔Example〕

 Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a view showing the structure of a lubricating oil level detecting device according to the present invention. The present lubricating oil level detecting device will be described by taking a vacuum pump as an example of a rotating machine. The bearing 5 is fixed to the side of the pump casing 8 and fitted in the bearing casing 7, and the main shaft 6 of the vacuum pump is rotatably supported on the bearing 5. A bearing chamber cover is fixed to the side surface of the pump casing 8 in a sealed state with an O-ring 11 interposed therebetween to form a bearing chamber 9. Lubricating oil 10 is stored in the bearing chamber 9 and
The splash of the lubricating oil 10 is sprayed on the bearing 5 by a splasher 12 fixed to the end of the bearing, thereby lubricating.

A hole 13 is provided in the bearing cover 4 at a position where the liquid level of the lubricating oil 10 in the bearing chamber 9 can be visually checked.
A liquid level detecting cover 15 is fixed in a hermetically sealed state with an O-ring 14 interposed therebetween so as to cover the hole 13, thereby forming a liquid level detecting chamber 16. If the liquid level detection cover 15 is made of a transparent material, the liquid level of the lubricating oil 10 can be visually checked from the outside.

The float 2 containing a permanent magnet floats on the liquid level of the lubricating oil 10 from the liquid level detection chamber 16. A reed switch 3 which is operated by the magnetic field of the permanent magnet of the float 2 is provided in a portion of the liquid level detecting cover 15 which corresponds to a lower portion of the liquid level detecting chamber 16. The liquid level detection cover 15 is made of a non-magnetic material such as resin or glass, and the magnetic field of the permanent magnet of the float 2 is transmitted through the liquid level detection cover 15. Since the float 2 is floating on the liquid surface of the lubricating oil 10, the float 2 also moves up and down due to the vertical fluctuation of the liquid surface level. Therefore,
The strength of the magnetic field of the permanent magnet of the float 2 that reaches the reed switch 3 through the liquid level detection cover 15 also fluctuates due to the vertical fluctuation of the liquid level, and when the liquid level reaches a predetermined level or less, the reed switch 3 is activated. Operate.

The lubricating oil level detecting device having the above configuration operates as follows. As the lubricating oil 10 inside the bearing chamber 9 decreases, the liquid level of the same decreases, and at the same time, the liquid level of the liquid level detecting chamber 16 also decreases. Thereby, the float 2 floating on the liquid level also descends, and when the liquid level falls below a predetermined value,
The distance between the float 2 and the reed switch 3 becomes shorter, the magnetic field of the permanent magnet of the float 2 reaching the reed switch 3 becomes stronger than a predetermined value, and the reed switch 3 operates. Although not shown, by connecting this electrical contact to a detection means such as an alarm lamp or an alarm, it is possible to know that the amount of the lubricating oil 10 in the bearing chamber 9 has fallen below a predetermined value.

When the lubricating oil level detecting device is structured as described above, the level detecting cover 15 is attached to the bearing chamber cover 4 by the O-ring 14.
The liquid level detection chamber 16 is fixed in a hermetically sealed state, and is completely shut off from the outside.
Float 2 indicates that the liquid level of 10 has fallen below the specified value.
Reed switch 3 by the magnetic field generated from the permanent magnet
Is operated and transmitted to the outside, so that it has an extremely excellent structure as a lubricating oil level detecting device of a vacuum pump in which airtightness is particularly important.

By making the liquid level detecting cover 15 made of a transparent material, the liquid level of the lubricating oil 10 in the liquid level detecting chamber 16, that is, the lubricating oil 10 can be visually checked.

The operation of the reed switch 3 automatically drives the lubricating oil supply device so that the lubricating oil supply device supplies lubricating oil into the bearing chamber 9. May be satisfied.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the invention described in claim (1), the liquid level detection chamber through which the lubricating oil in the bearing chamber can freely flow in and out of the bearing chamber is provided on the bearing chamber cover forming the bearing chamber. Provided in an airtight state, a float with a built-in permanent magnet floating on the lubricating oil level in the chamber was placed in the liquid level detecting chamber, and the lubricating oil level dropped below the set value outside the liquid level detecting chamber Since the configuration in which the reed switch operated by the magnetic field of the permanent magnet of the hour float is provided is employed, the following excellent effects can be obtained.

(1) By the operation of the reed switch, it is possible to remotely detect that the lubricating oil level in the bearing chamber has fallen below the set value.

(2) In a vacuum pump, it is necessary to improve the pump performance by completely sealing the bearing chamber and isolating it from the outside of the pump. In the present invention, since the liquid level detection chamber is provided in the bearing chamber cover forming the bearing chamber in an airtight state in the pump casing in an airtight state, the inside of the pump casing, the bearing chamber, and the liquid level detection chamber are completely connected to the outside of the pump. Therefore, it is possible to confirm whether or not the liquid level of the lubricating oil in the bearing chamber is equal to or lower than a predetermined set level without lowering the performance of the vacuum pump even if the liquid level detecting chamber is provided.

Further, according to the invention of claim (2), all or a part of the liquid level detection chamber cover forming the liquid level detection chamber is formed of a transparent material. In addition to the effects of (1) and (2), an effect that the liquid level of the lubricating oil can be visually detected can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing a structure of a vacuum pump bearing chamber lubricating oil level detecting device of the present invention. In the figure, 2 ... Float, 3 ... Reed switch, 4 ...
Bearing chamber cover, 5: Bearing, 6: Main shaft, 7: Bearing casing, 8: Pump casing, 9: Bearing chamber, 10
…… Lubricant, 11… O-ring, 12… Splasher,
13 ... hole, 14 ... O-ring, 15 ... liquid level detection cover, 16
…… A liquid level detection chamber.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-55-33903 (JP, A) JP-A-2-229996 (JP, A) JP-A-2-208198 (JP, A) JP-A 53-33 113944 (JP, A) Japanese Utility Model Showa 60-35993 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Application Hei 2-37332 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) F16N 29/00 F16C 33 / 66

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A vacuum pump bearing room lubricating oil level detecting device which surrounds a bearing of a vacuum pump and is provided in a vacuum-tight manner in a vacuum pump casing and detects a liquid level of lubricating oil stored in the bearing chamber. A liquid level detection chamber through which the lubricating oil in the bearing chamber can freely flow in and out is provided on the side of the chamber in a hermetically sealed state in a bearing chamber cover forming the bearing chamber. A float having a built-in floating permanent magnet is arranged, and a reed switch which is activated by the magnetic field of the permanent magnet of the float is provided outside the liquid level detection chamber when the lubricating oil level falls below a set value, A device for detecting a lubricating oil level in a vacuum pump bearing room, comprising detecting means for detecting that the level of the lubricating oil has dropped below a set value by operation of the reed switch. 2. A liquid level detecting device for a vacuum pump bearing chamber according to claim 1, wherein the liquid level detecting chamber cover forming the liquid level detecting chamber visually checks the level of the lubricating oil level in the chamber from the outside. A device for detecting a lubricating oil level in a vacuum pump bearing chamber, wherein all or a part of the lubricating oil level is formed of a transparent material.