Liquid supply device

Abstract

To provide a liquid supply device that can accurately control the supply amount of liquid. [Solution] The liquid supply device 10 comprises a liquid storage section 12 for storing liquid A, a liquid supply pipe 13 extending from the liquid storage section 12, a pump 14 interposed in the liquid supply pipe 13, a check valve 15 provided downstream of the pump 14 in the liquid supply pipe 13, and an integrated flow meter 16 provided upstream of the pump 14 in the liquid supply pipe 13.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a liquid supply device and a liquid supply method.

Background Art

[0002] When producing unhardened concrete, additives such as a dispersant may be added to and kneaded with a kneaded product of cement, aggregate, and water. Usually, such an additive is supplied from an additive supply pipe extending from an additive storage tank, and the supply amount thereof is controlled by a flow meter provided in the additive supply pipe (for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid supply device capable of accurately controlling the supply amount of a liquid.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The present invention is a liquid supply device including a liquid storage unit for storing a liquid, a liquid supply pipe extending from the liquid storage unit, a pump interposed in the liquid supply pipe, a check valve provided on the downstream side of the pump in the liquid supply pipe, and an integrated flow meter provided on the upstream side of the pump in the liquid supply pipe.

[0006] The present invention relates to a method for supplying a liquid from a liquid supply pipe, which is equipped with a pump and has a check valve downstream of the pump, wherein the cumulative flow rate of the liquid is measured upstream of the pump in the liquid supply pipe. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, although a check valve is provided downstream of the pump in the liquid supply pipe, the amount of liquid supplied can be accurately controlled by measuring the cumulative flow rate of the liquid upstream of the pump. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This diagram shows the configuration of a civil engineering additive supply device according to an embodiment. [Figure 2A] This graph shows the relationship between the cumulative flow rate of the civil engineering additive measured by the cumulative flow meter and the discharge amount of the civil engineering additive discharged from the check valve when using the civil engineering additive supply device of the example. [Figure 2B] This graph shows the relationship between the cumulative flow rate of the civil engineering additive measured by a flow meter and the discharge volume of the civil engineering additive discharged from the check valve when using the comparative example civil engineering additive supply device. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The embodiments will be described below.

[0010] Figure 1 shows a civil engineering additive supply device 10 (liquid substance supply device) according to an embodiment. This civil engineering additive supply device 10 is mainly used to supply civil engineering additives A (liquid substances), such as dispersants, when preparing cement milk outdoors.

[0011] The civil engineering additive supply device 10 according to this embodiment includes a control unit 11 for controlling the operation of the device, an IBC container 12 (liquid storage unit) for storing civil engineering additive A, an additive supply pipe 13 (liquid supply pipe) for supplying the civil engineering additive A, and a pump 14 interposed in the additive supply pipe 13 for causing the civil engineering additive A in the additive supply pipe 13 to flow from the upstream side to the downstream side.

[0012] The control unit 11 has a casing 111. The casing 111 houses a power system 112 including a circuit breaker and a timer 113. The power system 112 is electrically connected to a power connector (not shown) provided in the casing 111. One end of a power cable is electrically connected to this power connector, and the other end of the power cable is electrically connected to an external power source (not shown). The timer 113 is electrically connected to the power system 112 within the casing 111. The timer is also electrically connected to a power supply connector (not shown) provided in the casing 111, and a power supply cable extending from the pump 14 is electrically connected to this power supply connector. Therefore, the power system 112 supplies power to the pump 14 via the timer 113, and the timer 113 controls the pump 14 by turning it on and off. The casing 111 may also house other instruments and the like.

[0013] A piping connector C1 for connecting the additive supply pipe 13 is provided at the bottom of the IBC container 12.

[0014] The additive supply pipe 13 has an upstream piping section 131 located upstream of the pump 14 and a downstream piping section 132 located downstream of the pump 14. The upstream piping section 131 is configured by connecting a container connection section 131a, a flow meter installation section 131b, and a pump connection section 131c in that order from the upstream side. Of these, the flow meter installation section 131b is housed in the casing 111 of the control unit 11. Pipe connectors C2 and C3 are provided at the upstream and downstream ends of the flow meter installation section 131b, respectively, and each of these pipe connectors C2 and C3 is attached to the casing 111 so as to communicate with the outside. A gear pump such as a Viking pump can preferably be used as the pump 14.

[0015] The container connection section 131a has its upstream end connected to the IBC container 12 via a pipe connector C1, and its downstream end connected to the flow meter installation section 131b via a pipe connector C2 exposed outside the casing 111 of the control unit 11. The pump connection section 131c has its upstream end connected to the flow meter installation section 131b via a pipe connector C3 exposed outside the casing 111 of the control unit 11, and is also connected to the inlet connection section 141 of the pump 14. The downstream piping section 132 has its upstream end connected to the outlet connection section 142 of the pump 14. The container connection section 131a and pump connection section 131c of the upstream piping section 131 and the downstream piping section 132 are preferably made of flexible pipes such as rubber hoses from the viewpoint of ease of routing at the construction site. In the case of flexible pipes, their inner diameter is preferably 25 mm or more from the viewpoint of pumping performance and preferably 50 mm or less from the viewpoint of transportability. Furthermore, the total length of the container connection section 131a and pump connection section 131c of the upstream piping section 131, and the flexible pipe of the downstream piping section 132, is preferably 2m or more from the viewpoint of workability, preferably 30m or less, and more preferably 15m or less from the viewpoint of transportability.

[0016] The additive supply pipe 13, configured as described above, has its upstream end connected to the IBC container 12, and its downstream end extending from the IBC container 12 is positioned above the upper opening of the agitator 21 to which the additive is supplied. A check valve 15 is provided at the discharge port of the downstream end of the downstream piping portion 132 of the additive supply pipe 13, which is positioned above the upper opening of the agitator 21, to restrict the backflow of the civil engineering additive A in the additive supply pipe 13.

[0017] In the additive supply pipe 13, a flow meter installation section 131b housed in the casing 111 of the control unit 11 is provided with an integrated flow meter 16 for measuring the integrated flow rate of the civil engineering additive A flowing through the additive supply pipe 13. The integrated flow meter 16 is electrically connected to the power system 112 within the casing 111. The integrated flow meter 16 may be either a non-contact type that measures the integrated flow rate of the civil engineering additive A without contact with it, or a contact type that measures the integrated flow rate by contacting the civil engineering additive A. From the viewpoint of ease of installation of the integrated flow meter 16, the flow meter installation section 131b is preferably made of a rigid pipe such as a steel pipe.

[0018] The additive supply pipe 13 includes a flow meter installation part 131b where an integrated flow meter 16 is provided. The flow meter installation part 131b is housed in the casing 111 of the control unit 11. Pipe connectors C2 and C3 are provided at the upstream and downstream ends of the flow meter installation part 131b respectively, and a unit of the control unit 11 is configured such that each of these pipe connectors C2 and C3 is attached to the casing 111 so as to communicate with the outside. Therefore, when assembling the device at the construction site, only the pipe connection at the container connection part 131a between the unit of the control unit 11 and the IBC container 12, the pipe connection at the pump connection part 131c between the unit of the control unit 11 and the pump 14, the pipe connection of the downstream pipe part 132 where the check valve 15 is provided to the pump 14, as well as the electrical connection between the unit of the control unit 11 and the pump 14 and the electrical connection between the unit of the control unit 11 and the external power source need to be carried out. Also, when disassembling the device, only the reverse operation needs to be carried out. Therefore, excellent workability can be obtained in the assembly and disassembly of the device. In addition, since the number of parts of the device is small and the types of parts are grouped, excellent transportability can be obtained in transporting the device to another construction site.

[0019] As described above, in the civil engineering additive supply device 10 according to the embodiment, the pump 14 is interposed in the additive supply pipe 13, the check valve 15 is provided on the downstream side of the pump 14 in the additive supply pipe 13, and the integrated flow meter 16 is provided on the upstream side of the pump 14 in the additive supply pipe 13.

[0020] In the civil engineering additive supply device 10 according to the embodiment, when power is supplied from the power system 112 to the pump 14 via the timer 113 to operate it, the civil engineering additive A stored in the IBC container 12 flows into the container connection portion 131a of the upstream piping portion 131 of the additive supply pipe 13 and flows from the upstream side to the downstream side. Next, the civil engineering additive A flows into the subsequent flow meter installation portion 131b and flows from the upstream side to the downstream side. At this time, the integrated flow rate of the civil engineering additive A is measured by the integrated flow meter 16. Next, the civil engineering additive A flows into the subsequent pump connection portion 131c and flows from the upstream side to the downstream side. Subsequently, the civil engineering additive A flows into the downstream piping portion 132 of the additive supply pipe 13 via the pump 14 and flows from the upstream side to the downstream side. Then, the civil engineering additive A is discharged from the check valve 15 provided at the downstream end of the downstream piping portion 132 into the gas phase and supplied to the agitator 21. When the pump 14 is stopped, the flow of the civil engineering additive A also stops, the check valve 15 closes, and the supply of the civil engineering additive A to the agitator 21 also stops.

[0021] According to the civil engineering additive supply device 10 according to the embodiment, although the check valve 15 is provided on the downstream side of the pump 14 in the additive supply pipe 13, by measuring the integrated flow rate of the civil engineering additive A on the upstream side of the pump 14, the supply amount of the civil engineering additive A can be accurately managed. Specifically, for example, if the time until the integrated flow rate measured by the integrated flow meter 16 reaches a predetermined amount of the civil engineering additive A from the operation of the pump 14 is measured in advance, by setting that time with the timer 113 and controlling the operation of the pump 14, the supply amount of the civil engineering additive A can be accurately managed.

[0022] This point can be explained as follows: The downstream piping section 132 of the additive supply pipe 13, downstream of the pump 14, is closed because a check valve 15 is installed there. As a result, after the pump 14 stops, the pressure of the civil engineering additive A gradually increases slightly in the downstream piping section 132, and when the cumulative flow rate is measured in the downstream piping section 132, a measurement value higher than the actual cumulative flow rate is obtained. In contrast, the flow meter installation section 131b of the additive supply pipe 13, upstream of the pump 14, is open and connected to the IBC container 12. As a result, the pressure of the civil engineering additive A does not increase in the flow meter installation section 131b after the pump 14 stops, and when the cumulative flow rate is measured in the flow meter installation section 131b, a more accurate measurement value is obtained.

[0023] In the above embodiment, the focus was on a civil engineering additive supply device 10 that supplies civil engineering additives A such as dispersants, but the invention is not limited to this, and may also be a liquid material supply device that supplies fluid liquids in other technical fields.

[0024] Furthermore, although the above embodiment involves storing the civil engineering additive A in the IBC container 12, the configuration is not limited to this. For example, depending on the scale of the construction site, the civil engineering additive A may be stored in a bucket as a container.

[0025] Furthermore, although the above embodiment provides a configuration in which the civil engineering additive A is supplied to the agitator 21, the configuration is not limited to this, and the other end of the additive supply pipe 13 may be positioned above the upper opening of the mixer 22, which is located above the agitator 21, to supply the civil engineering additive A to the mixer 22. [Examples]

[0026] (Additive supply device for civil engineering) <Examples> As an example, a civil engineering additive supply device 10 with the same configuration as shown in Figure 1 was prepared. Braided hoses were used for the container connection part 131a and pump connection part 131c of the upstream piping section 131 of the additive supply pipe 13, and for the downstream piping section 132, while a steel pipe was used for the flow meter installation section 131b. A non-contact type clamp-on flow sensor (FD-H series, manufactured by Keyence Corporation) was used as the cumulative flow meter 16.

[0027] <Comparative Example> As a comparative example, a device was prepared with the same configuration as the embodiment, except that the downstream end of the container connection part 131a was connected to the inlet connection part 141 of the pump 14, the outlet connection part 142 of the pump 14 was connected to the upstream piping connector C2 provided on the control unit 11 with a braided hose, and the upstream end of the downstream piping part 132 was connected to the downstream piping connector C3 provided on the control unit 11, in other words, the control unit 11 and the pump 14 were swapped and an integrated flow meter 16 was provided on the downstream side of the pump 14.

[0028] (Test methods and results) In the example, a concrete pile construction thickener (Viscotop 1000CP, manufactured by Kao Corporation), a civil engineering additive A, was placed in an IBC container 12. The pump 14 was operated with the timer 113 set to 10 seconds, 20 seconds, 30 seconds, and 60 seconds, and the relationship between the cumulative flow rate of civil engineering additive A measured by the cumulative flow meter 16 and the discharge amount of civil engineering additive A discharged from the check valve 15 was determined. The results are shown in Figure 2A.

[0029] Similarly, for the comparative example, the relationship between the cumulative flow rate of civil engineering additive A measured by the cumulative flow meter 16 and the discharge amount of civil engineering additive A discharged from the check valve 15 was determined when the pump 14 was operated with the timer 113 set to 14 seconds, 15 seconds, 26 seconds, and 29 seconds, respectively. The results are shown in Figure 2B.

[0030] As shown in Figure 2A, in the embodiment, the cumulative flow rate of civil engineering additive A measured by the cumulative flow meter 16 is in close agreement with the actual discharge amount of civil engineering additive A discharged from the check valve 15, indicating that accurate measurements of the cumulative flow rate can be obtained. On the other hand, as shown in Figure 2B, in the comparative example, the cumulative flow rate of civil engineering additive A measured by the cumulative flow meter 16 is greater than the actual discharge amount of civil engineering additive A discharged from the check valve 15, indicating that the measurement accuracy of the cumulative flow rate is low. [Industrial applicability]

[0031] The present invention is useful in the technical field of liquid supply devices and liquid supply methods. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0032] A Civil Engineering Additive C1~C3 Piping Connectors 10. Civil Engineering Additive Supply Device (Liquid Material Supply Device) 11 Control Unit 111 Casing 112 Power system 113 Timer 12 IBC container (liquid storage section) 13. Additive supply pipe (liquid supply pipe) 131 Upstream piping section 131a Container connection section 131b Flowmeter installation part 131c Pump connection 132 Downstream piping section 14 pumps 141 Inlet side connection 142 Outlet side connection 15. Check valve 16 Integrating flow meter 21 Agitators 22 Mixer

Claims

1. A liquid storage section for storing liquids, A liquid supply pipe extending from the liquid storage section, A pump interposed in the aforementioned liquid supply pipe, A check valve provided downstream of the pump in the liquid supply pipe, A cumulative flow meter is provided upstream of the pump in the liquid supply pipe, A liquid supply device equipped with [a specific feature / feature].

2. In the liquid supply device described in claim 1, The liquid supply pipe includes a flow meter installation section where the cumulative flow meter is installed. A liquid supply device comprising a unit in which the flow meter installation section is housed in a casing, pipe connectors are provided at the upstream and downstream ends of the flow meter installation section, and each of the pipe connectors is attached to the casing so as to communicate with the outside.

3. In the liquid supply device described in claim 2, A liquid supply device in which a power system for supplying power to the pump is housed in the casing.

4. In the liquid supply device described in claim 2, A liquid supply device comprising a casing containing a timer for controlling the pump's on / off state.

5. In the liquid supply device described in claim 1, A liquid supply device in which the aforementioned liquid is a civil engineering additive.

6. A method for supplying a liquid from a liquid supply pipe having a pump interposed therebetween and a check valve provided downstream of the pump, wherein the cumulative flow rate of the liquid is measured upstream of the pump in the liquid supply pipe.

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