Water level detection unit for air conditioner drainage device

Abstract

To provide a water level detection unit for air conditioner drainage device.SOLUTION: A water level detection unit for air conditioner drainage device comprises a mount board, a fixed seat and a swing arm. The fixed seat has a low-water-level Hall element and a high-water-level Hall element. The swing arm is mounted on the fixed seat swingably through a shaft, and has a float at a bottom part thereof. The float, while keeping floating on water, causes the swing arm to swing between a low water level and a high water level as water level moves up and down. The swing arm also has one or more magnets. When the swing arm swings, magnetic force of the one or more magnets is detected in the vicinity of the low-water-level Hall element or high-water-level Hall element.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a water level detection technology for air conditioning and drainage devices, and more particularly to a water level detection unit for air conditioning and drainage devices.

Background Art

[0002] In the well-known water level detection technology, the water pump protection device of the clothes steamer disclosed by Patent Document 1 has a chamber of the housing with a floating ball type magnetic induction structure and has a magnetic induction switch outside the housing, and the technical feature is to detect the water level by making the floating ball that moves with the rise and fall of the water level correspond to different magnetic induction switches.

[0003] The invention described in Patent Document 1 can be applied to an object with a small chamber such as a clothes steamer, but cannot be applied to an air conditioning and drainage device. Specifically, in the invention described in Patent Document 1, the air conditioning and drainage device has a relatively large water storage tank and it is necessary to install a drainage pump having blades. When a magnetic induction structure by a magnet is formed on the float, since the float moves away from the wall surface of the water storage tank, it is difficult for the magnetic induction structure outside the water storage tank to react to the magnetic force.

[0004] The fine movement structure of the drainage device disclosed by Patent Document 2 touches a microswitch by operating three rods via a float. Specifically, if a backward pressing force is gradually generated by the three rods, the stability when touching the microswitch can be improved. In Patent Document 2, the operating ranges of the water collecting box and the float are below the substrate. Parts that do not need to be arranged underwater, such as a motor, three rods, a microswitch, and an electronic circuit, are above the substrate.

[0005] Patent Document 2 was a water detection technology for air conditioning and drainage devices. However, the detection method of the microswitch and the structure for implementing it are relatively complex, and only the opening and closing operations of the microswitch can be detected, so the detection effect is limited.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] The main object of the present invention is to provide a water level detection unit for an air conditioning and drainage device that can achieve a simplified structure and bring a highly reliable magnetic sensing effect to the air conditioning and drainage device.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a water level detection unit for an air conditioning and drainage device that can detect two or more locations and has a detection effect superior to that of the prior art.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0009] To solve the above problems, the water level detection unit for an air conditioning and drainage device according to the present invention includes a mounting board, a fixed pedestal, a shaft, and a swing arm. The mounting board is installed inside the air conditioning and drainage device. The fixed pedestal is mounted above the mounting board and has a low water level Hall element and a high water level Hall element. The shaft is mounted on the fixed pedestal. The swing arm is mounted on the shaft so as to be swingable and extends from above the mounting board to below the mounting board. The swing arm has a float at the bottom. The float is located below the mounting board. The float maintains a floating state on the water surface and swings the swing arm between the low water level and the high water level as the water level rises and falls. The swing arm further has one or more magnets. When the swing arm is located at the low water level, the magnetic force of one or more magnets is detected near the low water level Hall element. When the swing arm is located at the high water level, the magnetic force of one or more magnets is detected near the high water level Hall element. Since the high water level Hall element and the low water level Hall element are spaced apart from each other, the magnetic force of the same magnet cannot be detected simultaneously. One or more magnets do not come into direct contact with the low water level Hall element and the high water level Hall element. Either the mounting board or the fixing pedestal has a stopper. When the swing arm is located at the low water level, the stopper abuts against the swing arm and at the same time does not make the swing arm perpendicular to the water surface, but maintains an inclination angle on the swing arm.

[0010] Due to the above-described structural features, the present invention can achieve a simplified structure compared to the prior art and bring a highly reliable magnetic force sensing effect to the air conditioning and drainage device. In addition, the present invention can detect two or more locations, and the detection effect is superior to the prior art.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

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Figure 8

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0012] Hereinafter, the water level detection unit for the air conditioning and drainage device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0013] (First Embodiment) This will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. The water level detection unit 10 for the air conditioning and drainage device according to the first embodiment of the present invention is mounted on the air conditioning and drainage device 90 and is composed of a mounting board 11, a fixed pedestal 21, a shaft 31, and a swing arm 41.

[0014] The mounting board 11 is installed inside the air conditioning and drainage device 90. The air conditioning and drainage device 90 has a water collection box 91 inside. The water collection box 91 is located below the mounting board 11.

[0015] The fixed pedestal 21 is mounted above the mounting board 11 and has a low water level Hall element 22 and a high water level Hall element 24.

[0016] The shaft 31 is mounted on the fixed pedestal 21.

[0017] The swing arm 41 is mounted on the shaft 31 so as to be swingable and extends from above the mounting board 11 to below the mounting board 11. The swing arm 41 has a float 49 at the bottom. The float 49 is located below the mounting board. After maintaining the state of floating on the water, the float 49 swings the swing arm 41 between the low water level LP and the high water level HP as the water level rises and falls. In the first embodiment, the mounting board 11 has a middle perforation that becomes the cavity part 12. The swing arm 41 penetrates the cavity part 12. The first embodiment is not limited to forming the cavity part 12 by providing a perforation in the mounting board 11, and the cavity part 12 can also be formed by recessing a part of the mounting board 11 inward.

[0018] The swing arm 41 further has two magnets 45. In the first embodiment, in order to arrange two magnets 45 on the swing arm 41, the swing arm 41 separately has clips 42 on opposite sides. The two magnets 45 are separately arranged on the two clips 42. When the swing arm 41 is located at the low water level LP, the magnetic force of one magnet 45 is detected near the low water level hall element 22. When the swing arm 41 is located at the high water level HP, the magnetic force of another magnet 45 is detected near the high water level hall element 24. Since the high water level hall element 24 and the low water level hall element 22 are spaced apart from each other, the magnetic force of the same magnet 45 cannot be detected simultaneously.

[0019] The fixed pedestal 21 has a stopper 28. When the swing arm 41 is located at the low water level LP, the stopper 28 contacts the swing arm 41 and at the same time does not make the swing arm 41 perpendicular to the water surface, but maintains an inclination angle for the swing arm 41. Due to the above-described structural features, when the float 49 floats as the water level rises, the swing arm 41 swings upward while maintaining its original inclined state. That is, since the swing arm 41 does not swing in another direction, it is possible to suppress malfunction such that the swing arm 41 perpendicular to the water surface is difficult to swing upward or does not swing upward.

[0020] In the first embodiment, the fixed pedestal 21 has a control circuit board 29 inside. Since the high water level Hall element 24 and the low water level Hall element 22 are arranged on the control circuit board 29 inside the fixed pedestal 21, they do not come into direct contact with the two magnets 45. The present invention is not limited to the first embodiment, and it is not always necessary to arrange the control circuit board 29 on the fixed pedestal 21 as long as it can respond to actual needs.

[0021] Specifically, the high water level Hall element 24 and the low water level Hall element 22 separately detect the high water level and the low water level states. When trying to detect an overflow state, an overflow Hall element 26 may be added to the control circuit board 29. When the water level rises and the water is about to overflow, the float 49 swings the swing arm 41 as the water level rises and falls. The swing arm 41 swings to the overflow water level OP as the float 49 operates. On the other hand, the magnetic force of one magnet 45 is detected near the overflow Hall element 26. Since the overflow Hall element 26, the high water level Hall element 24, and the low water level Hall element 22 are spaced apart from each other, they do not detect the magnetic force of the same magnet 45 at the same time. In order to avoid the float 49 colliding with the bottom of the mounting board 11 when the swing arm 41 is located at the overflow water level OP, a concave portion 14 with an opening facing downward may be formed on the mounting board 11. Due to the above-described structural features, when the swing arm 41 is located at the overflow water level OP, a part of the float 49 is accommodated in the concave portion 14 or abuts against the inner wall of the concave portion 14. This will be described with reference to FIG. 2. The low water level Hall element 22 and the overflow Hall element 26 are located on one side of the swing arm 41. The high water level hall element 24 is located on the other side of the swing arm 41.

[0022] The above is the description of the structure of the first embodiment. Subsequently, the operation state of the first embodiment will be described.

[0023] This will be described with reference to FIG. 3. When the water level detection unit 10 for the air conditioning and drainage device is used in the air conditioning and drainage device 90, first, the water level detection unit 10 according to the present invention is installed in the air conditioning and drainage device 90, and the water collection box 91 is arranged below the mounting board 11. The drainage pump 92 is arranged on the mounting board 11 to pump the water in the water collection box 91 and discharge it to the outside.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 2, when there is no water in the water collection box 91 or the water in the water collection box 91 is at a low water level, the float 49 maintains a state of floating on the water surface and then operates the swing arm 41 to position it at the low water level LP. The swing arm 41 located at the low water level LP abuts against the stopper 28. One magnet 45 has its magnetic force detected near the low water level hall element 22. The control circuit board 29 stops the drainage operation of the drainage pump 92.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 4, when the water level in the water collection box 91 rises and the swing arm 41 reaches the high water level HP along with the operation of the float 49, the other magnet 45 has its magnetic force detected near the high water level hall element 24. The control circuit board 29 operates the drainage pump 92 to proceed with the drainage operation.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 5, when the drainage pump 92 (FIG. 3) fails or for some other reason, the water in the water collection box 91 cannot be smoothly discharged and the water level continues to rise, the swing arm 41 swings upward and is positioned at the overflow water level OP. Since one magnet 45 has its magnetic force detected near the overflow hall element 26, the control circuit board 29 can operate according to the corresponding warning measures or the set functions. That is, even if the magnetic force of another magnet 45 is detected by the high water level hall element 24 at this time, since the overflow hole element 26 reacts to the magnetic force, the control circuit board 29 can be made to determine measures.

[0027] Under normal operating conditions, the swing arm 41 operates between the low water level LP and the high water level HP as the water level rises and falls. When the water level rises under abnormal conditions and the swing arm 41 is positioned at the overflow water level OP, a part of the float 49 is accommodated in the concave portion 14 and abuts against the inner wall at the top of the concave portion 14.

[0028] Summarizing the above-described content, as shown in FIGS. 2, 4, and 5, since the overflow hole element 26, the high water level hall element 24, and the low water level hall element 22 do not simultaneously detect the magnetic force of the same magnet 45, not only can the states of the low water level, the high water level, and the overflow water level be accurately detected, but also a highly reliable detection result can be provided to the control circuit board 29, and appropriate measures can be determined.

[0029] Further, in the present invention, since it is a technical feature that the magnet 45 is arranged on the swing arm 41 and the low water level hall element 22, the high water level hall element 24, and the overflow hole element 26 are made to detect the magnetic force by swinging the swing arm 41, simplification of the structure can be realized compared with the prior art, and a highly reliable magnetic force sensing effect can be brought to the air conditioning and drainage device. Further, in the present invention, since two or more positions can be detected depending on the relationship between the space in which the swing arm 41 swings with respect to the fixed pedestal 21 and the arrangement of the low water level hall element 22, the high water level hall element 24, and the overflow hole element 26, the detection effect is superior to that of the prior art.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 6, when the overflow detection function is not required, it is only necessary to arrange the low water level hall element 22 and the high water level hall element 24.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 7, the shaft 31 is not limited to being located at the tip of the swing arm 41, and may be arranged at a position above the middle of the swing arm 41. As long as the above-described operation can be performed smoothly.

[0032] (Second Embodiment) FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a water level detection unit 10' for an air conditioner and drainage device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The differences from the first embodiment are as follows.

[0033] In contrast to the first embodiment in which the stopper 28 is arranged on the fixed pedestal 21, the stopper 28' is constituted by the edge of the cavity portion 12' of the mounting board 11'. When the swing arm 41' is located at the low water level LP', the stopper 28' abuts against the swing arm 41'.

[0034] In the second embodiment, the swing arm 41' has only one clipper 42'. On the other hand, the number of magnets 45' is one. As shown in FIG. 8, the low water level hall element 22', the high water level hall element 24', and the overflow water level hall element 26' are located on the same side of the swing arm 41'.

[0035] Summarizing the above-described content, the low water level hall element 22', the high water level hall element 24', and the overflow water level hall element 26' are located on the same side of the swing arm 41'. That is, since they may be arranged on another same side, it not only has manufacturing convenience, but also can reduce the number and cost of the magnets 45'.

[0036] Since the other structures and achieved effects of the second embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment, detailed description is omitted.

[0037] As described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be implemented in various forms without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0038] 10, 10’: Water level detection unit for air conditioner and drainage device 11, 11’: Mounting board 12, 12’: Hollow part 14: Concave part 21: Fixed pedestal 22, 22’: Low water level Hall element 24, 24’: High water level Hall element 26, 26’: Overflow water Hall element 28, 28’: Stopper 29: Control circuit board 31: Shaft 41, 41’: Swing arm 42, 42’: Clipper 45, 45’: Magnet 49: Float 90: Air conditioner and drainage device 91: Water collection box 92: Drainage pump HP: High water level LP, LP’: Low water level OP: Overflow water level

Claims

1. Equipped with a mounting board, a fixed base, a shaft and a swing arm, The mounting board is mounted in an air conditioning and drainage device, the fixed base is mounted above the mounting board and has a low water level Hall element and a high water level Hall element; The shaft is mounted on a fixed base, the swing arm is attached to the shaft so as to be able to swing, and is disposed so as to extend from above the mounting board to below the mounting board; The swing arm has a float at its bottom, the float is located below the mounting board, and while maintaining a floating state on the water, the swing arm is swung between a low water level and a high water level as the water level rises and falls; The swing arm further comprises one or more magnets. When the swing arm is located at the low water level, the one or more magnets have a magnetic force sensed near the low water level Hall element, and when the swing arm is located at the high water level, the one or more magnets have a magnetic force sensed near the high water level Hall element; The high water level Hall element and the low water level Hall element are spaced apart from each other so that they do not detect the magnetic force of the same magnet at the same time, the one or more magnets are not in direct contact with the low level Hall element and the high level Hall element; Either the mounting board or the fixed base has a stopper, A water level detection unit for an air conditioning / drainage system, characterized in that when the swing arm is positioned at the low water level, the stopper abuts against the swing arm and at the same time prevents the swing arm from being perpendicular to the water surface, but maintains the inclination angle of the swing arm.

2. The water level detection unit for an air-conditioning and drainage system according to claim 1 , wherein the stopper is disposed on the fixed base.

3. The mounting board has a hollow portion, and a peripheral portion of the hollow portion serves as the stopper; 2. The water level detection unit for an air-conditioning and drainage system according to claim 1, wherein the swing arm penetrates through the hollow portion.

4. The swing arm further has two clippers, the two clippers are disposed on opposite sides of the swing arm, the number of the magnets is two, and the two magnets are disposed separately on the two clippers, A water level detection unit for an air conditioning and drainage system as described in claim 1, characterized in that when the swing arm is located at the low water level, the magnetic force of one of the magnets is detected near the low water level Hall element, and when the swing arm is located at the high water level, the magnetic force of another of the magnets is detected near the high water level Hall element.

5. The swing arm has a clipper on one side, the number of the magnets is one, and the magnet is disposed on the clipper, A water level detection unit for an air conditioning / drainage system as described in claim 1, characterized in that when the swing arm is located at the low water level, the magnetic force of the magnet is detected near the low water level Hall element, and when the swing arm is located at the high water level, the magnetic force of the magnet is detected near the high water level Hall element.

6. It also has a flooded Hall element, The float swings the swing arm between a low water level, a high water level, and an overflow level as the water level rises and falls.

2. The water level detection unit for an air conditioning and drainage system according to claim 1, wherein when the swing arm is located at the overflow level, the magnetic force of one or more of the magnets is detected near the overflow hall element.

7. The mounting board has a concave portion with an opening facing downward, 7. The water level detection unit for an air-conditioning / drainage system according to claim 6, wherein a portion of the float is accommodated in the recessed portion when the swing arm is located at the overflow level.

8. The water level detection unit for an air conditioning / drainage system as described in claim 1, characterized in that the fixed base has a control circuit board inside, and the low water level Hall element and the high water level Hall element are arranged on the control circuit board inside the fixed base.

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