JPH0544785B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an improvement in an electrolyte specific gravity/liquid level detection device for detecting a decrease in electrolyte specific gravity and liquid level of a storage battery.

Conventionally, in order to make the electrolyte specific gravity/liquid level detection device more compact, as shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 149827/1982, gas generated by electrolysis is transferred from the detection electrode at the specific gravity and liquid level. A gas phase is formed by accumulating the float in the detection part at the tip of the detection electrode, and the contact between the detection electrode and the electrolyte is broken in the gas phase, and the detection current flowing through the detection electrode is turned on and off to perform detection. An electrolyte specific gravity/liquid level detection device (hereinafter referred to as a gas type specific gravity/liquid level detection device) has been proposed, which is a method of electrically detecting contact and separation of an electrode and an electrolytic solution.

However, in such a gas-type specific gravity/liquid level detection device, as the float becomes more compact, the float no longer rises even if the specific gravity and liquid level return to above specified values after gas accumulates at the detection part at the tip of the detection electrode. There was a drawback. This is a very serious drawback as the function of re-detecting specific gravity and liquid level above the specified values is lost. The reason for this is that the surface tension at the gas phase interface due to the gas acts through the adhesive force between the float and the liquid, and becomes a force that prevents the float from rising.
This force is stronger than the buoyant force of the float. Therefore, in order to maintain the re-detection function of specific gravity and liquid level above the specified values, it is necessary to reduce the influence of the surface tension of the gas phase interface on the float. One possible method for this is to effectively utilize the buoyancy of the gas by releasing the gas from between the float and the guide section of the float.

In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a specific structure for making a gas type specific gravity/liquid level detection device more compact.

That is, the present invention includes a detection electrode whose portion other than the tip detection portion is covered with an insulating material, and a lower end outer periphery of the insulating material is used as a guide portion, and this guide portion is mounted so as to be movable up and down. The electrolyte specific gravity of a storage battery has a float that moves at the liquid level, and a float that moves at the liquid level.
In the liquid level detection device, a notch is formed in at least one of the guide part or the float, and the notch is closed only when the float sinks to the lowest end, and when the float does not sink to the lowest end. The notch is opened to form a gas release path at the top of the float, and the normally open port at the bottom of the float is used as an inlet for electrolyte, with a gas release path at the top and an electrolyte flow at the bottom inside the float. By creating a structure that forms a tubular space with an inlet, gas is accumulated around the tip detection part of the detection electrode only when the float has sunk to the lowest possible end, and the float is 0.5 to 2.0 below the lowest end. mm
When the gas rises, the gas flows upward through the notch.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically explained using the drawings.

Fig. 1 shows an example of a conventional gas type specific gravity/liquid level detection device and its operating state, and Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of the present invention and its operating state. In each figure, a indicates specific gravity. , when the liquid level is above the specified value,
b indicates the state when the specific gravity is below the specified value, and c indicates the state immediately after the specific gravity and liquid level have exceeded the specified value after gas has been accumulated. Further, in FIGS. 1 and 2, 1 is a detection electrode, and the parts other than the tip detection part 1' are covered with an insulating material made of synthetic resin or the like. In addition, since the insulating material 2 works as a guide part of the float mentioned later, the insulating material 2 is called the guide part 2 hereafter. 3 is a float, which is attached to the outer periphery of the lower end of the guide part 2 so as to be able to move up and down, and when it sinks, the detection electrode 1
The gas generated by electrolysis is collected and the detection electrode 1
A gas phase is formed in the tip detection portion 1' of the electrode 1, which acts to break the contact between the detection electrode 1 and the electrolyte. 4 is a notch formed in the float 3, and 5 is a guide portion 2.
The notches 4 and 5 are arranged to correspond to each other. The notches 4 and 5 are closed as shown in FIG. 2b when the float 3 has descended to the lowest possible position. 6 is a gas phase due to generated gas, and 7 is an electrolytic solution.

In the conventional gas-type specific gravity/liquid level detection device and the embodiment of the present invention, when the detection electrode 1 is connected to the terminal of a storage battery, etc., when the specific gravity and liquid level are above the specified values, the And as shown in Figure 2 a,
The float 3 floats to a state where the tip detection portion 1' of the detection electrode 1 is exposed in the electrolyte 7. In this state, the tip detection part 1' of the detection electrode 1 and the electrolyte 7 are in contact with each other, and a detection current flows through the detection electrode 1.
Indicates that the specific gravity and liquid level are above the specified values. Further, in this state, gas is generated from the tip detection portion 1' of the detection electrode 1 due to electrolysis, but most of this gas is emitted upward.

Thereafter, when the specific gravity falls below the specified value, the float 3 sinks and gas accumulates around the tip detection part 1' of the detection electrode 1, as shown in FIG. form. In this state, the contact between the tip detection part 1' of the detection electrode 1 and the electrolyte 7 is broken by the gas phase 6, and the detection current no longer flows through the detection electrode 1, indicating that the specific gravity has fallen below the specified value. .

After that, when the specific gravity returns to the specified value or more, the float 3 starts to rise, but in the conventional float, as shown in Figure 1c, the volume of the gas phase 6 does not change, so the gas phase 6 and the electrolyte 7 The interfacial area gradually increases. The surface tension that tries to reduce this interfacial area acts on the float 3 through the adhesive force due to wetting, and the float 3 is pulled downward. Therefore, if the buoyancy of float 3 is not sufficient, float 3
cannot rise, resulting in a drawback that no detection current flows through the detection electrode 1 even though the specific gravity and liquid level are above the specified values. On the other hand, in the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG.
mm, the gas (gas phase 6) can escape upward through the gas release path using the notch 4 of the float 3 and the notch 5 of the guide part 2, and therefore the gas The buoyancy of float 3
As a result, the influence of surface tension on the float 3 becomes smaller, and the float 3 can easily rise, returning to the state shown in Figure 2 a, indicating that the specific gravity and liquid level are above the specified values. .

In the embodiment of the present invention shown in Fig. 2, the detection current is detected by gas when the specific gravity and liquid level are below the specified values.
It is assumed that the float will easily rise by 0.5 to 2.0 mm when the specific gravity and liquid level reach the specified values or higher after being turned off. It is desirable to minimize the effects of surface tension. To do this, the lower end of the detection electrode must be positioned at least 1.0 mm above the lowest end of the float when the float has sunk to the lowest end, and the horizontal cross-sectional area of the gas reservoir of the float must be kept within a range of 3 mm above the lowest end of the float. It is desirable to increase it toward or above. In other words, if the part where the float and the gas phase interface are in contact is located above the lowest end of the float, and the horizontal cross-sectional area of the gas reservoir of the float is constant or increases as it goes upward, then the surface tension of the gas phase interface at the bottom of the float will increase. When the cross-sectional area is constant, it does not hinder the float from rising, and when the cross-sectional area increases upward, it assists the float from rising.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the present invention, in which a cutout portion 5 is formed in the guide portion 2, and the width of the cutout portion 5 is made smaller as it goes downward. The float 3 is provided with a protrusion 8 for closing the lower end of the notch 5 of the guide section 2. Therefore, when the float 3 descends to the lowest end, the notch 5 is closed by the protrusion 8, and when the float 3 rises from the lowest end, the notch 5 is opened. Further, this embodiment also operates in the same manner as the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, and the same effects can be obtained.

4 and 5 show another embodiment of the present invention, in which a notch 4 is formed in the float 3, and the width of the notch 4 is made smaller as it goes upward. In addition, a protrusion 9 is provided on the guide portion 2 for closing the upper end of the cutout portion 4 of the float 3. Therefore, when the float 3 descends to the lowest end, the notch 4 is closed by the protrusion 9, and when the float 3 rises from the lowest end, the notch 4 is opened. Further, this embodiment also operates in the same manner as the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, and the same effects can be obtained.

As described above, according to the present invention, the float and the like in a gas type specific gravity/liquid level detection device can be made more compact without impairing the re-detection function of specific gravity and liquid level above specified values.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a conventional specific gravity/liquid level detection device of this type and its operating state, Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention and its operating state, and Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a bottom view showing another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line A--A in FIG. 4. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Detection electrode, 2... Tip detection part, 3... Float, 4, 5... Notch part, 6... Gas phase.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A detection electrode covered with an insulating material except for the tip detection part, and a lower end outer periphery of the insulating material is used as a guide part and is attached to this guide part so as to be movable up and down, and when lowered, the detection electrode generates electricity. Detection of electrolyte specific gravity and liquid level of a storage battery, which has a float that moves at the specific gravity and liquid level that operates to cover the tip detection part of the detection electrode with the gas phase, and a float that moves at the specific gravity and liquid level level. In the device, a notch is formed in at least one of the guide part or the float, the notch is closed only when the float sinks to the lowest end, and the notch closes when the float does not sink to the lowest end. The part is opened to form a gas discharge path at the top of the float, and the normally open port at the bottom of the float is used as an inlet for electrolyte, and the float is provided with a gas discharge path at the top and an electrolyte inlet at the bottom. A storage battery electrolyte specific gravity and liquid level detection device that has a structure that forms a tubular space. 2. Position the lower end of the detection electrode at least 1.0 mm above the lowest end of the float when the float has sunk to the lowest end, and keep the horizontal cross-sectional area of the gas reservoir of the float constant within a range of 3 mm above the lowest end of the float. The electrolyte specific gravity and liquid level detection device for a storage battery according to claim 1, wherein the electrolyte specific gravity and liquid level of a storage battery are increased upwardly.