JPH05823B2 - - 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 float is used to collect the gas phase in the detection part at the tip of the detection electrode, and in this gas phase, the contact between the detection electrode and the electrolyte is broken, 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 of the gas phase interface due to the gas acts through the adhesion force between the float and the liquid, and becomes a force that prevents the float from rising, and this force becomes 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 shorten the distance between the float and the gas phase interface.

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 which is attached to the outer periphery of the lower end of the insulating material so as to be able to move up and down, and collects gas generated from the detection electrode when descending to form a gas phase. , a specific gravity which operates to cover the tip detection part of the detection electrode in the gas phase.
In an electrolyte specific gravity/liquid level detection device for a storage battery having a float that moves at the liquid level, a cylindrical body having a notch in the peripheral wall is integrated with the lower end of the insulating material and a tip detection portion of the detection electrode is provided. The notch portion of the cylindrical body is opened and closed by the movement of the float to control the accumulation and release of gas generated from the detection electrode around the detection electrode, and the float is By adopting a structure in which the lowermost end of the float is located above the lower end of the cylindrical body even when the float is moved to the lowest position, the point where the detection electrode contacts the gas phase interface caused by the gas during gas accumulation is placed at the lower end of the insulating material. By positioning the float in a cylindrical body formed integrally and surrounding the detection electrode, and by making the float cover only the notch provided in the cylindrical body where the float and the gas phase interface come into contact, the gas The distance between the phase interface and the float is shortened.

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

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, in which 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. Reference numeral 3 denotes a float, which is attached to the outer periphery of the lower end of the insulating material 2 so as to be able to move up and down. When it descends, it collects gas generated by electrolysis from the detection electrode 1 and forms a gas phase at the tip detection part 1' of the detection electrode 1. However, it acts to break the contact between the detection electrode 1 and the electrolyte. Further, even when the float 3 is moved to the lowest position, the lowest end of the float 3 is positioned above the lower end of a cylindrical body, which will be described later. Reference numeral 4 denotes a cylindrical body made of synthetic resin or the like with a notch 5 formed in the peripheral wall, and is formed integrally with the lower end of the insulating material 2 so as to surround the tip detection portion 1' of the detection electrode 1.

Next, the operation of this embodiment of the present invention will be explained using FIGS. 2 and 3. In addition, Fig. 2 shows the operating state of the embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 3 shows the operating state of a conventional gas-type specific gravity/liquid level detection device of this type. In each figure, a indicates specific gravity and liquid level. is above the specified value, b is when the specific gravity is below the specified value, and c is the state immediately after the specific gravity and liquid level have exceeded the specified value after gas has been accumulated. Further, in FIGS. 2 and 3, the same reference numerals as in FIG. 1 are the same working members, 6 is a gas phase, and 7 is an electrolytic solution.

In the conventional gas type specific gravity/liquid level detection device and the embodiment of the present invention, if 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, and as shown in Figure 3a,
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 descends as shown in FIG. 2b and 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 type, as shown in Figure 3c, the volume of the gas phase 6 does not change, so the gas phase 6 and the electrolyte The interfacial area of 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 the disadvantage 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. Since the distance is only the distance of Show that something is true.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the present invention, in which the notch 5 formed in the peripheral wall of the cylindrical body 4 in the embodiment of FIG. This embodiment is formed at a symmetrical position with respect to a line, and operates in the same manner as the embodiment shown in FIG. In this embodiment of the present invention, when the size of the cylindrical body 4 or the notch 5 becomes smaller, as shown in the figure, after the specific gravity and the liquid level exceed the specified values and the float 3 rises, the detection electrode The gas phase 6 formed around the tip detection part 1' of the detection electrode 1 is deformed into a shape symmetrical to the vertical center line of the cylindrical body 4, and no gas is released from the vicinity of the tip detection part 1' of the detection electrode 1. Sometimes things happen. This drawback can be solved by forming the notch 5 in the cylindrical body 4 at an asymmetric position with respect to the vertical center line of the cylindrical body 4, as in the embodiment shown in FIG. This problem can be solved by concentrating the deformation of the gas phase 6 on one side due to the opening of the notch 5, thereby facilitating the release of gas.

5 and 6 show other embodiments of the present invention. In the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 5, the lower end of the detection electrode 1 is positioned above the lower end of the cylindrical body 4. , the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG.
The lower end of the detection electrode 1 in the embodiment shown in the figure is connected to the cylindrical body 4.
It is positioned 0.1 to 2.0 mm below the lower end. Both embodiments operate in the same manner as the embodiment of FIG. 1, but in the embodiment of FIG.
When the size of the notch 5 of the cylindrical body 4 becomes smaller, as shown in the figure, after the specific gravity and liquid level exceed the specified values and the float 3 rises, the gas phase 6 formed in the detection part becomes Although the notch 5 is deformed as it is released, gas may still not be released from around the tip detection section 1' of the detection electrode 1. However, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the gas phase 6 is deformed as the notch 5 is released due to the rise of the float 3, and this deformation causes the interface of the gas phase 5 to come into contact with the lower end of the detection electrode 1. By doing so, the shape of the gas phase 6 is further deformed, and even if the size of the notch 5 of the cylindrical body 4 is small, gas release from around the tip detection part 1' of the detection electrode 1 is facilitated. be able to.

In addition, the amount of protrusion of the detection electrode 1 from the lower end of the cylindrical body 4 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 is 0.1 as described above.
~2.0mm is desirable. For example, if it is less than 0.1 mm, there is no protruding effect, and if it exceeds 2.0 mm, the detection electrode may protrude from the gas phase even when the specific gravity is below the specified value.

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 perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention seen from below, FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of the operation of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a conventional example of this type. 4, 5, and 6 are schematic longitudinal cross-sectional views of main parts showing other embodiments of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Detection electrode, 2...Tip detection part, 3...Float, 4...Cylindrical body, 5...Notch part, 6...
…gas phase.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A detection electrode whose portion other than the tip detection portion is covered with an insulating material, and which is attached to the outer periphery of the lower end of the insulating material so as to be movable up and down, and collects gas generated from the detection electrode when descending to form a gas phase. In the electrolyte specific gravity/liquid level detection device for a storage battery, the electrolyte specific gravity/liquid level detection device for a storage battery has a float that moves at the specific gravity/liquid level and operates so as to cover the tip detection portion of the detection electrode in the gas phase. A cylindrical body having a section is formed integrally with the lower end of the insulating material and surrounding the tip detection section of the detection electrode, and a cutout section of the cylindrical body is opened and closed by movement of the float to open and close the cutout section of the detection electrode. A storage battery electrolyte specific gravity/liquid level detection device that has a structure that controls the accumulation and release of gas generated around the detection electrode. 2. The electrolyte specific gravity and liquid level detection device for a storage battery according to claim 1, which has a structure in which the lowest end of the float is located above the lower end of the cylindrical body even when the float moves to the lowest position. 3. A storage battery electrolyte specific gravity/liquid level detection device according to claim 1 or 2, which has a structure in which the notch is disposed at an asymmetric position with respect to the vertical center line of the cylindrical body. . 4. The electrolyte specific gravity and liquid level detection device for a storage battery according to any one of claims 1, 2, and 3, having a structure in which the lower end of the detection electrode is located 0.1 to 2.0 mm below the lower end of the cylindrical body.