Liquid level detection device, liquid storage device and electronic pedestal pan

Abstract

The utility model discloses a liquid level detection device, a liquid storage device and an electronic toilet, the liquid level detection device is used for detecting the liquid level of the liquid storage device, and the liquid level detection device is characterized by comprising a floating element which moves up and down along with the change of the liquid level; the guide rod is fixedly connected to the floating element, so that the guide rod can move along with the up-and-down movement of the floating element; the guide mechanism is fixedly arranged on the liquid storage device and provided with a guide part used for guiding the displacement direction of the guide rod, and the guide part is located above the highest liquid level of the liquid storage device; and the liquid level signal transmission switch is used for receiving a trigger signal of the guide rod, and when the guide rod reaches a preset position along with the change of the liquid level, the on-off state of the liquid level signal transmission switch can be triggered to change. The working stability of the liquid level detection device can be improved, and the service life of the liquid level detection device can be prolonged.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of liquid level detection, in particular to a liquid level detection device, a liquid storage device and an electronic toilet. Background Art

[0002] In today's European market environment, electronic toilets are important products for improving the quality of home life. Their design and manufacturing must strictly comply with the EN1717 European safety standard, which sets clear and strict requirements for the overflow protection mechanism of the product. In order to meet this high standard, manufacturers usually build an independent water tank into the sanitary cleaning system of the electronic toilet, which is specifically used to store clean water. This design is intended to ensure that the water source used for human cleaning is both hygienic and safe, but it also places higher requirements on the liquid level control technology inside the water tank.

[0003] At present, the common liquid level detection technologies in the market mainly include two solutions: probe-type detection and float switch-type detection. Although the probe-type liquid level detection technology is widely used, due to the long-term exposure of the probe in water, electrochemical corrosion is very likely to occur, resulting in unstable or even failure of the detection signal, affecting the accuracy of liquid level judgment. On the other hand, although the float switch solution has a simple structure, scale is easily attached to the surface of the float in areas with high water hardness, which may cause the movement of the float to be obstructed or stuck over time, and also cause liquid level control failure. The limitations of the above two solutions may cause the water tank to be overfilled under certain conditions and fail to trigger the overflow protection in time, eventually causing water to overflow from the overflow port, which not only damages the bathroom environment, but also may cause safety hazards and bring unnecessary economic losses to users.

[0004] The existence of the above problems makes water tank liquid level control a major hidden danger in the design of electronic toilets. In view of this, developing a new liquid level detection technology that can not only meet strict regulatory requirements, but also overcome the defects of existing technologies and have high reliability and durability has become a technical problem that the electronic toilet industry needs to solve urgently. Summary of the invention

[0005] The utility model provides a liquid level detection device, a liquid storage device and an electronic toilet, which overcome the deficiencies of the prior art described in the background technology.

[0006] The technical solution of the utility model is:

[0007] A liquid level detection device, used for detecting the liquid level of a liquid storage device, characterized by comprising:

[0008] A floating element that moves up and down as the liquid level changes;

[0009] A guide rod is fixedly connected to the floating element so that the guide rod can be displaced following the up-and-down movement of the floating element;

[0010] A guiding mechanism is fixedly arranged in the liquid storage device and has a guiding portion for guiding the displacement direction of the guide rod. The guiding portion is located above the highest liquid level of the liquid storage device;

[0011] A liquid level signal transmission switch is used to receive the trigger signal of the guide rod. When the guide rod reaches a preset position with the change of the liquid level, it can trigger the on-off state of the liquid level signal transmission switch to change.

[0012] Preferably, the guiding portion is a vertically arranged guiding hole, and the guide rod is slidably arranged in the guiding hole in a clearance fit manner and can move up and down along the guiding hole.

[0013] Preferably, the guiding mechanism further has a limiting cavity for limiting the displacement position of the guide rod. The guide rod passes through the guiding hole and enters the limiting cavity. The extreme position of the upward displacement of the guide rod is that the guide rod abuts against the top surface of the limiting cavity, and the extreme position of the downward displacement of the guide rod is that the guide rod is hooked on the bottom surface of the limiting cavity.

[0014] Preferably, the liquid level signal transmission switch is a magnetic control switch, and a magnet for triggering the magnetic control switch is arranged on the guide rod, so that when the guide rod reaches a preset position with the change of the liquid level, the magnet can trigger the magnetic control switch; or, the liquid level signal transmission switch is a contact switch, and the contact points of the contact switch are arranged on the movement path of the guide rod, so that when the guide rod is displaced with the change of the liquid level, it can contact or separate from the contact points.

[0015] Preferably, a limiting boss that can be abutted by the guide rod is arranged beside the contact switch. The limiting boss is arranged in the preset triggering stroke of the contact points of the contact switch, so that after the guide rod triggers the contact points of the contact switch, it abuts against the limiting boss.

[0016] Preferably, the number of the magnetic control switches is N, and the N magnetic control switches are arranged along the height direction, and the magnet can trigger the N magnetic control switches in sequence according to the liquid level height.

[0017] Preferably, the number of the magnetic control switches is M, and the M magnetic control switches are arranged horizontally. Correspondingly, the number of the magnets, guide rods, and floating elements is M, and the M magnetic control switches can be triggered by the corresponding M magnets according to the liquid level height; or, the number of the contact switches is M, and the M contact switches are arranged horizontally. Correspondingly, the number of the guide rods and floating elements is M, and the M contact switches can be mechanically triggered by the corresponding M guide rods according to the liquid level height.

[0018] The present application further provides a liquid storage device, characterized in that it includes an inlet control valve, the liquid level detection device as described above, and a control board electrically connected to the inlet control valve and the liquid level signal transmission switch. The control board receives signals from the liquid level signal transmission switch and controls the inlet control valve based on these signals.

[0019] Preferably, it further includes a vertical partition, which divides the internal space of the liquid storage device into a first chamber and a second chamber. The bottoms of the first chamber and the second chamber are connected. The liquid inlet of the liquid storage device is arranged at the upper part of the first chamber, and the liquid level detection device is arranged in the second chamber.

[0020] The present application further provides an electronic toilet, characterized in that it includes a water pump, a heating component, a nozzle component, and the liquid storage device as described above. The water pump extracts the stored water in the liquid storage device into the heating component and then sprays it out through the nozzle component to clean a local part of the human body.

[0021] Compared with the prior art, the technical solution of the present utility model has the following beneficial effects:

[0022] 1. Since the guiding part for guiding the displacement direction of the guide rod does not directly contact the liquid in the liquid storage device, the movement of the guide rod has high reliability and durability. Taking the application of an electronic toilet as an example, this solution eliminates the risk of scale jamming of the float switch due to long-term immersion in water, and also avoids the electrochemical corrosion phenomenon that may occur to the probe in the long-term energized operation in water in the electrode probe method, thus significantly improving the working stability and service life of the liquid level detection device.

[0023] 2. Through the ingenious combination of the guiding hole and the limiting cavity, the present utility model realizes the precise control of the movement trajectory of the guide rod by means of physical limitation, which not only simplifies the mechanical structure, but also improves the overall stability and reliability, and reduces the complexity of assembly and maintenance.

[0024] 3. By ingeniously integrating the magnetic induction principle of the magnetic control switch, a non-contact sensing process for converting liquid level changes into electrical signals is realized. This strategy not only further improves the isolation degree and anti-interference ability of the detection system, but also significantly reduces the failure rate caused by physical wear, enhances the environmental adaptability, and ensures the high efficiency and accuracy of signal transmission.

[0025] 4. By adding a limiting boss in the design, this solution accurately limits the stroke of the guide rod triggering the contact switch contact, effectively preventing the contact from accelerating aging due to long-term being at the working limit position, reducing contact wear and fatigue, extending the service life of the switch contact, and thus ensuring the long-term stable operation and reliable triggering of the liquid level detection system.

[0026] 5. A vertical partition is set up to form an effective physical barrier to prevent water from splashing onto the liquid level detection device, effectively blocking the potential impact on the liquid level detection device and further improving the environmental adaptability and working reliability. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] Figure 1 The figure is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a liquid storage device exemplarily shown in the present invention;

[0028] Figure 2 A schematic cross-sectional structure diagram of a liquid storage device (initial position) shown in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 3 A schematic cross-sectional structure diagram of a liquid storage device shown in Embodiment 1 of the present invention (the liquid level reaches the highest);

[0030] Figure 4 A schematic cross-sectional structure diagram of a liquid storage device shown in Embodiment 2 of the present invention (the liquid level reaches the highest);

[0031] Figure 5 A schematic cross-sectional structure diagram of a liquid storage device (initial position) shown in Embodiment 3 of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 6 A schematic cross-sectional structure diagram of a liquid storage device shown in Embodiment 3 of the present invention (the liquid level reaches the highest);

[0033] Figure 7 This is a schematic structural diagram of a contact switch of a liquid storage device shown in Embodiment 3 of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0035] like Figure 1-3 As shown, the liquid level detection device of the present application scheme is used to detect the liquid level of the liquid storage device 100, including a floating element 40, a guide rod 50, a guide mechanism and a liquid level signal transmission switch. Among them, the floating element 40 is generally made of lightweight, corrosion-resistant materials, and can be a float, a buoy, etc. Of course, other suitable forms can also be selected according to the actual application scenario. The floating element 40 is directly placed inside the liquid storage device 100, and uses the principle of buoyancy to float up and down as the liquid level rises or falls. Therefore, the floating element 40 can intuitively reflect the actual changes in the liquid level in the liquid storage device 100, providing a direct physical basis for subsequent signal triggering.

[0036] The guide rod 50 is connected to the floating element 40 in a fixed connection manner. The connection method can be threaded connection, welding, snap fixation, etc. Of course, an integrated structure can also be adopted during design, and the specific selection is determined according to actual application requirements and manufacturing convenience. The guide rod 50 is synchronously displaced as the floating element 40 moves up and down, converting the physical change of the liquid level into mechanical displacement, ensuring that when the liquid level changes, the guide rod 50 can smoothly and stably transmit the displacement information of the floating element 40.

[0037] The main function of the guiding mechanism is to ensure that the displacement of the guide rod 50 proceeds smoothly along a predetermined direction, avoiding deviation or jamming. It is fixedly arranged in the liquid storage device 100. For this purpose, the guiding mechanism is provided with a guiding portion for guiding the displacement direction of the guide rod. The guiding portion can be a guiding hole, a guiding groove, a guide rail, etc. It matches the diameter or cross-sectional shape of the guide rod 50 and is located above the highest liquid level L of the liquid storage device. Therefore, the guiding portion does not directly contact the liquid in the liquid storage device, thereby ensuring the high reliability and durability of the movement of the guide rod 50.

[0038] The liquid level signal transmission switch is installed at an appropriate position of the liquid storage device, receives the mechanical signal transmitted by the displacement of the guide rod 50, and converts it into an electrical signal. When the liquid level change causes the guide rod 50 to move to a preset position, the liquid level signal transmission switch can be triggered by physical contact or magnetic induction, etc., so that its on-off state changes, thereby triggering the subsequent control circuit. The types of this switch are diverse and can be Hall switches, microswitches, photoelectric switches, etc. The specific selection is determined according to application requirements and environmental conditions.

[0039] In the solution of this application, since the guiding portion does not directly contact the liquid in the liquid storage device, the movement of the guide rod 50 has high reliability and durability. Taking the application of an electronic toilet as an example, this solution eliminates the risk of scaling and jamming of the float switch in the prior art due to long-term immersion in water, and also avoids the electrochemical corrosion phenomenon that may occur when the probe is energized for a long time in water in the electrode probe method, thereby significantly improving the working stability and service life of the liquid level detection device.

[0040] In specific implementation, in order to optimize the overall layout and improve the installation convenience, the liquid level detection device is also provided with a fixing bracket 60. The fixing bracket 60 is fixed inside the liquid storage device 100, and the guiding mechanism and the liquid level signal transmission switch are integrated or attached to the fixing bracket 60, providing a stable placement platform for the guiding mechanism and the liquid level signal transmission switch. In actual application, the guiding mechanism can be selected to be integrally formed or separately formed with the fixing bracket 60.

[0041] In the specific implementation manner of the present utility model, the guiding mechanism not only ensures the accuracy and stability of the movement of the guide rod, but also improves the reliability and durability of the entire liquid level detection device through a reasonable structural layout. Specifically, asFigure 2 As shown, the guide portion can be a vertically arranged guide hole 61, which is precisely machined to ensure that the clearance fit with the guide rod 50 reaches an ideal state. The guide rod 50 is inserted into the guide hole 61 through a carefully calculated tolerance size, and can achieve smooth and unobstructed up and down movement along the guide hole 61.

[0042] In addition to the guide hole 61, the guide mechanism also integrates a limit cavity 62, which plays a key role in controlling the range of motion of the guide rod. The limit cavity 62 serves as the upper and lower boundaries of the movement of the guide rod 50, ensuring that the guide rod 50 can stop moving accurately when the predetermined liquid level is reached. When the guide rod 50 rises to the limit with the liquid level, its top will press against the top surface of the limit cavity 62 to form a physical barrier. Similarly, when the liquid level drops to the lowest point, the guide rod 50 will be hooked to the bottom surface of the limit cavity 62. The addition of the limit cavity 62 not only provides a clear boundary for the movement of the guide rod 50, but also increases the stability of the system through the physical limit mechanism, avoids mechanical collisions caused by excessive displacement, and thus improves the safety and reliability of the entire liquid level detection device. Since the guide part will not directly contact the liquid, the guide hole and the limit cavity will not directly contact the liquid, thereby avoiding the problem of poor movement of the guide rod caused by scaling and corrosion. Embodiment 1

[0043] The liquid level detection device of this embodiment cleverly utilizes the principle of magnetic interaction to achieve efficient and accurate liquid level control. Figure 2-3 As shown, the liquid level signal transmission switch is a magnetically controlled switch 70 , and a magnet 51 for triggering the magnetically controlled switch is provided on the guide rod 50 , so that when the guide rod 50 reaches a preset position as the liquid level changes, the magnet 51 can trigger the magnetically controlled switch 70 .

[0044] If multiple liquid levels need to be detected, the number of magnetic control switches 70 is M, and the M magnetic control switches 70 are arranged in the horizontal direction. Accordingly, the number of the magnets 51, the guide rods 50, and the floating elements 40 is M, thereby ensuring that when the liquid level fluctuates, the M magnets 51 can be accurately connected one by one along the sequence of the M magnetic control switches 70 distributed in the horizontal direction, thereby converting the liquid level change into an electrical signal. Figure 2 As shown, in the initial position, the floating elements 40 are all hung on the bottom surface of the limiting cavity 62 under the action of gravity; Figure 3 As shown, as the liquid level rises, the floating element 40 at the low position moves upward until its corresponding guide rod 50 abuts against the top surface of the limit cavity 62, at which time the magnet on the guide rod 50 triggers the magnetic control switch 70 to detect the low liquid level. The liquid level continues to rise, and the floating element 40 at the high position moves upward until its corresponding guide rod 50 abuts against the top surface of the limit cavity 62, at which time the magnet on the guide rod 50 triggers the magnetic control switch 70 to detect the high liquid level.

[0045] This non-contact detection method greatly reduces mechanical wear and enhances the stability and durability of the system during long-term operation. The precise alignment of each magnet with the magnetic control switch not only improves the accuracy of liquid level detection but also provides a more refined control solution for systems requiring multi-level liquid level management through segmented monitoring. It is particularly suitable for industrial or civil applications with strict requirements for liquid level changes, such as water treatment plants and chemical storage tanks, effectively avoiding the risks of overflow or dryness caused by abnormal liquid levels. Embodiment 2

[0046] In this embodiment, the magnetic control switch 70 is also used as the liquid level signal transmission switch, but the arrangement of the magnetic control switches changes to a vertical distribution along the height direction, and the number is N. The magnets 51 provided on the guide rod 50 contact the magnetic control switches 70 one by one as the liquid level changes vertically, realizing sequential triggering from low to high or from high to low. As Figure 4 shown, 4 magnetic control switches 70 are arranged along the height direction. As the liquid level continuously rises, the floating element 40 can drive the magnets 51 on the guide rod 50 to sequentially trigger these 4 magnetic control switches 70, realizing liquid level detection at 4 heights.

[0047] This vertical arrangement simplifies the logic of liquid level height judgment. The activation of each magnetic control switch directly corresponds to a specific liquid level height, which is beneficial to simplifying the design of the control system, improving the intuitiveness and response speed of detection. Through the one-to-one pairing of the magnet and the magnetic control switch, the system can accurately identify and feedback the specific position of the current liquid level according to the continuous change of the liquid level. Embodiment 3

[0048] In this embodiment, a contact switch 80 is instead used as the liquid level signal transmission switch to achieve precise real-time monitoring of the liquid level through mechanical contact. As shown in the figure, in the specific design, a specific position (such as the top) of the guide rod 50 directly interacts with the contact 81 of the contact switch 80. This direct physical contact ensures the immediacy of detection. As Figure 7 , to solve the problem of wear of the contact 81 that may be caused by long-term contact, a limiting boss 82 is specially added. The limiting boss 82 is set in the preset triggering stroke of the contact 81 of the contact switch to ensure that the guide rod 50 can stop moving in time after triggering the contact 81, avoiding excessive collision and preventing the contact 81 from accelerating aging due to being in the working limit position for a long time, effectively extending the service life of the contact and improving the overall reliability and economy of the system. Among them, the contact 81 of the contact switch 80 can be directly set at the top of the limiting cavity 62, and the limiting boss 82 can be convexly provided downward from the top surface of the limiting cavity.

[0049] Similar to the first embodiment, if it is necessary to detect multiple liquid levels, correspondingly, the number of the contact switches 80 is M, and the M contact switches 80 are arranged horizontally. Correspondingly, the number of the guide rods 50 and the floating elements 40 is M, and the M contact switches 80 are in one-to-one correspondence with the guide rods 50 and the floating elements 40. Each liquid level interval has a dedicated contact for monitoring, realizing multi-level liquid level management. As Figure 5 shown, in the initial position, the floating elements 40 are all hung on the bottom surface of the limiting cavity 62 under the action of gravity; as Figure 6 shown, as the liquid level rises, the floating element 40 at the lower position moves upward until its corresponding guide rod 50 abuts against the contact 81 of the contact switch 80 and further abuts against the limiting boss 82. At this time, the contact switch 80 is triggered to realize the detection of the lower liquid level. As the liquid level continues to rise, the floating element 40 at the upper position moves upward until its corresponding guide rod 50 abuts against the contact 81 of the contact switch 80 and further abuts against the limiting boss 82. At this time, the contact switch 80 is triggered to realize the detection of the upper liquid level.

[0050] Another solution of the present application provides a liquid storage device 100, which includes an inlet control valve, the above-mentioned liquid level detection device, and a control board electrically connected to the inlet control valve and the liquid level signal transmission switch. The control board receives the signal from the liquid level signal transmission switch and controls the inlet control valve based on this signal. In the specific structural setting, as Figure 1 shown, the liquid storage device 100 further includes a vertical partition 10, which divides the internal space of the liquid storage device into a first chamber 20 and a second chamber 30. The bottoms of the first chamber 20 and the second chamber 30 are communicated. The liquid inlet 21 of the liquid storage device is arranged at the upper part of the first chamber 20, and the liquid level detection device is arranged in the second chamber 30. Thus, an effective physical barrier can be formed to prevent the water splash from hitting the liquid level detection device, effectively blocking the potential impact on the liquid level detection device, and improving the environmental adaptability and working reliability.

[0051] Meanwhile, another solution of the present application provides an electronic toilet, which integrates a variety of advanced technologies and user-friendly designs to form a set of efficient, convenient and safe bathroom solutions. In the European market, due to its special safety standards, its electronic toilet generally includes a water pump, a heating component, a nozzle component and a water tank. The water tank in the solution of the present application adopts the above-mentioned liquid storage device. Among them, the heating component is responsible for heating the cleaning water to a temperature suitable for human use, ensuring the comfort of users during use; the nozzle component uses advanced nozzle technology, which can flexibly adjust the spraying angle, strength and mode to realize accurate, gentle and effective cleaning of the human body part; in actual use, the water pump is used to pump the stored water in the water tank into the heating component and then sprayed by the nozzle component to the human body part for cleaning.

[0052] The preferred embodiments of the present utility model have been shown and described above. It should be understood that the present utility model is not limited to the forms disclosed herein, should not be regarded as excluding other embodiments, but can be used in various other combinations, modifications and environments, and can be changed within the scope of the inventive concept herein through the above teachings or the techniques or knowledge in the relevant field. Any changes and modifications made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present utility model shall fall within the protection scope of the appended claims of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A liquid level detection device for detecting the liquid level of a liquid storage device, characterized in that: include: A floating element that moves up and down as the liquid level changes; A guide rod, fixedly connected to the floating element, so that the guide rod can move along with the up and down movement of the floating element; A guide mechanism, fixedly disposed on the liquid storage device, having a guide portion for guiding the displacement direction of the guide rod, wherein the guide portion is located above the highest liquid level of the liquid storage device; The liquid level signal transmission switch is used to receive the trigger signal of the guide rod. When the guide rod reaches a preset position as the liquid level changes, it can trigger the opening and closing state of the liquid level signal transmission switch to change.

2. A liquid level detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The guide portion is a vertically arranged guide hole, and the guide rod is slidably arranged in the guide hole in a clearance-fitting manner and can move up and down along the guide hole.

3. A liquid level detection device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The guide mechanism also has a limiting cavity for limiting the displacement position of the guide rod. The guide rod passes through the guide hole into the limiting cavity. The limit position of the guide rod's upward displacement is that the guide rod is against the top surface of the limiting cavity. The limit position of the guide rod's downward displacement is that the guide rod is hung on the bottom surface of the limiting cavity.

4. A liquid level detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The liquid level signal transmission switch is a magnetically controlled switch, and a magnet for triggering the magnetically controlled switch is provided on the guide rod, so that when the guide rod reaches a preset position as the liquid level changes, the magnet can trigger the magnetically controlled switch; or, the liquid level signal transmission switch is a contact switch, and the contacts of the contact switch are arranged on the movement path of the guide rod, so that the guide rod can contact or separate from the contacts when it is displaced as the liquid level changes.

5. A liquid level detection device according to claim 4, characterized in that: A limit boss which can be pushed against by the guide rod is arranged beside the contact switch, and the limit boss is arranged in a preset triggering stroke of the contact point of the contact switch so that the guide rod pushes against the limit boss after triggering the contact point of the contact switch.

6. A liquid level detection device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The number of the magnetically controlled switches is N, and the N magnetically controlled switches are arranged along the height direction. The magnet can trigger the N magnetically controlled switches in sequence according to the height of the liquid level.

7. A liquid level detection device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The number of the magnetically controlled switches is M, and the M magnetically controlled switches are arranged in the transverse direction. Accordingly, the number of the magnets, guide rods, and floating elements is M, and the M magnetically controlled switches can be triggered by the corresponding M magnets according to the liquid level; or, the number of the contact switches is M, and the M contact switches are arranged in the transverse direction. Accordingly, the number of the guide rods and floating elements is M, and the M contact switches can be mechanically triggered by the corresponding M guide rods according to the liquid level.

8. A liquid storage device, characterized in that: It includes a liquid inlet control valve, a liquid level detection device as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, and a control board electrically connected to the liquid inlet control valve and a liquid level signal transmission switch, wherein the control board receives a signal from the liquid level signal transmission switch and controls the liquid inlet control valve based on the signal.

9. A liquid storage device according to claim 8, characterized in that: It also includes a vertical partition, which divides the internal space of the liquid storage device into a first chamber and a second chamber. The first chamber and the second chamber are connected at the bottom. The liquid inlet of the liquid storage device is arranged at the upper part of the first chamber, and the liquid level detection device is arranged in the second chamber.

10. An electronic toilet, characterized in that: It comprises a water pump, a heating component, a nozzle component and a liquid storage device as described in any one of claims 8 to 9, wherein the water pump draws the water stored in the liquid storage device into the heating component and then the water is sprayed out by the nozzle component to a part of the human body for cleaning.

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