Sight glass

Abstract

The present invention provides a sight glass that can suppress the accumulation of liquid in the main unit, even when the main unit is installed so that the direction perpendicular to the transparent window is the horizontal direction. [Solution] The sight glass 1 connecting two pipes has at least one transparent window 2 that allows the flow path 100 formed inside to be viewed from the outside. The sight glass 1 comprises a main body 10 in which the flow path 100 is formed inside, and a transparent member 20 attached to an opening 14 formed in the main body 10 and constituting the transparent window 2. The diameter L2 of the opening 14 is approximately the same as the diameter D1 of the inlet 11 and outlet 13 of the main body 10, or is less than or equal to the diameter D1 of the inlet 11 and outlet 13. When the main body 10 is installed so that the direction perpendicular to the transparent window 2 is the horizontal direction, the flow path 100 formed in the main body 10 has a lower end portion 120 that is formed in a straight line from the inlet 11 to the outlet 13.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a sight glass.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a sight glass having two pipes connected and a transparent window through which a flow path formed inside can be visually recognized from the outside is known (for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). The transparent window formed in such a sight glass is large with respect to the flow path, and the visibility inside the flow path is good.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document1

Patent Document2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the conventional sight glass, since the transparent window is large with respect to the flow path, when the sight glass is installed so that the transparent window can be visually recognized from the horizontal direction as disclosed in Patent Document 2, a liquid pool has occurred in the lower part of the flow path in the portion where the transparent window is formed. Since such a liquid pool may hinder the sanitation and temperature rising property of the liquid flowing through the pipe, there has been a demand for a sight glass that can suppress the occurrence of a liquid pool regardless of the mounting method.

[0005] The present invention provides a sight glass capable of suppressing the occurrence of a liquid pool in the main body even when the main body is installed such that the direction perpendicular to the transparent window becomes the horizontal direction.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The present invention is A sight glass that connects two pipes and has at least one transparent window that allows the flow path formed inside to be viewed from the outside, A main body in which the aforementioned flow path is formed, A transparent member is attached to an opening formed in the main body and constitutes the transparent window, The diameter of the opening is approximately the same as the diameter of the inlet and outlet of the main body, or less than or equal to the diameter of the inlet and outlet. When the main body is installed such that the direction perpendicular to the transparent window is the horizontal direction, the flow path formed in the main body is formed with its lower end in a straight line from the inlet to the outlet. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, even when the main unit is installed so that the direction perpendicular to the transparent window is the horizontal direction, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of liquid accumulation in the main unit. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] A perspective view of a sight glass in one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a plan view of the sight glass, seen from a direction perpendicular to the transparent window. [Figure 3] This is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in Figure 2. [Figure 4] This is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in Figure 2. [Figure 5] (a) shows a sight glass in which the main body is installed so that the direction perpendicular to the transparent window is the vertical direction, and (b) shows a sight glass in which the main body is installed so that the direction perpendicular to the transparent window is the horizontal direction. [Figure 6] This is a plan view of the comparative example sight glass, seen from a direction perpendicular to the transparent window. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The following describes a sight glass, which is one embodiment of the present invention, with reference to the attached drawings.

[0010] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the sight glass 1 is connected between two pipes (not shown) and has a transparent window 2 that allows the flow path 100 formed inside to be viewed from the outside. When a fluid such as a liquid flows through the flow path 100 of the sight glass 1, the flow state of the fluid in the flow path 100 can be visually confirmed through the transparent window 2.

[0011] The sight glass 1 comprises a main body 10 with a flow channel 100 formed inside, a transparent member 20 that constitutes a transparent window 2 that allows the flow channel 100 to be viewed from the outside, and a holding member 30 that holds the transparent member 20 relative to the main body 10. In this embodiment, two transparent members 20 are provided facing each other, and the holding member 30 is attached to each transparent member 20.

[0012] The main body 10 has an inlet 11 connected to the upstream piping, an outlet 13 connected to the downstream piping, and an intermediate section 12 provided between the inlet 11 and the outlet 13. In this embodiment, the inlet 11, the intermediate section 12, and the outlet 13 are provided integrally in a straight line. Furthermore, the flow path cross-sections perpendicular to the flow direction of the inlet 11 and the outlet 13 are substantially circular in shape, and their cross-sectional areas are substantially the same.

[0013] The transparent member 20 has a roughly disc shape and is made of, for example, glass. Two roughly circular openings 14 are provided in the middle section 12 of the main body 10, facing each other, and the transparent member 20 is attached to each opening 14 via a sealing material 41 such as an O-ring. Since two transparent members 20, which form the transparent windows 2, are provided facing each other, the inside of the flow path 100 is easily visible.

[0014] The retaining member 30 includes a clamp that holds the transparent member 20, which is fitted into the opening 14 of the main body 10, from around the opening 14. The retaining member 30 holds the transparent member 20 so that it does not fall out of the opening 14.

[0015] Next, we will describe the detailed structure of sight glass 1.

[0016] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, around the opening 14 of the main body 10, there are provided a protrusion 15 that protrudes annularly outward in the opening direction (opposite side to the flow path 100), and a step 16 provided at the end of the protrusion 15 on the inner side in the opening direction (flow path 100 side). The protrusion 15 has a length approximately equal to the thickness of the transparent member 20 in the opening direction. The transparent member 20 is inserted into the inner peripheral side of the annular protrusion 15 and is supported by the step 16 via the sealing material 41, thereby being fitted into the opening 14 and attached to the main body 10. Since the protrusion 15 and the step 16 that support the transparent member 20 are integrally provided on the main body 10, the number of parts can be reduced compared to the case where a separate member for supporting the transparent member 20 is provided in the vicinity of the opening 14.

[0017] The distance L1 between the opposing surfaces of the two transparent members 20 is substantially the same as the diameter D1 of the inflow portion 11 and the outflow portion 13. For example, assuming that the main body 10 is installed such that the direction perpendicular to the transparent window 2 is the vertical direction in order to make the transparent window 2 visible from the vertical direction (see (a) of FIG. 5), the lower end portion 110 of the flow path 100 is formed linearly from the inflow portion 11 to the outflow portion 13. That is, since no recess is formed in the lower end portion 110 of the flow path 100, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a liquid accumulation in the intermediate portion 12 of the main body 10.

[0018] Furthermore, the diameter L2 of the opening 14 formed in the main body 10 is substantially the same as the diameter D1 of the inflow portion 11 and the outflow portion 13. For example, assuming that the main body 10 is installed such that the direction perpendicular to the transparent window 2 is the horizontal direction in order to make the transparent window 2 visible from the horizontal direction (see (b) of FIG. 5), the lower end portion 120 of the flow path 100 is formed linearly from the inflow portion 11 to the outflow portion 13. That is, since no recess is formed in the lower end portion 120 of the flow path 100, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a liquid accumulation in the intermediate portion 12 of the main body 10.

[0019] Although not shown in the diagram, the diameter L2 of the opening 14 may be less than or equal to the diameter D1 of the inlet 11 and outlet 13. Even with such a configuration, no recess is formed at the lower end 120 of the flow path 100, thus preventing liquid from accumulating in the middle section 12 of the main body 10.

[0020] Here, the advantages of making the diameter L2 of the opening 14 approximately the same as the diameter D1 of the inlet 11 and outlet 13, or making the diameter L2 of the opening 14 less than or equal to the diameter D1 of the inlet 11 and outlet 13, will be explained using the comparative example sight glass 1A shown in Figure 6. Note that the sight glass 1A is configured such that no liquid accumulation occurs when the main body 10 is installed so that the direction perpendicular to the transparent window 2 is the vertical direction, that is, the distance L1 between the opposing surfaces of the two transparent members 20 is approximately the same as the diameter D1 of the inlet 11 and outlet 13.

[0021] In the sight glass 1A shown in Figure 6, the diameter L3 of the opening 14 is larger than the diameter D1 of the inlet 11 and outlet 13. In the sight glass 1A, assuming that the main body 10 is installed so that the direction perpendicular to the transparent window 2 is the horizontal direction in order to make the transparent window 2 visible from the horizontal direction, a recess is formed at the lower end 120 of the flow path 100 in the middle part 12 of the main body 10, and liquid accumulates in this recess.

[0022] When connecting the sight glass 1A between two pipes, the main body 10 must be installed so that the transparent window 2 is visible from above and below in order to suppress the occurrence of liquid accumulation. Depending on the installation location of the sight glass 1A, visibility of the flow path 100 may be better if the transparent window 2 is visible from the horizontal direction. However, if the main body 10 is installed so that the transparent window 2 is visible from the horizontal direction, liquid accumulation occurs in the comparative example sight glass 1A. Furthermore, if visibility of the flow path 100 is better if the transparent window 2 is visible from the horizontal direction, installing the main body 10 so that the transparent window 2 is visible from above and below in order to suppress the occurrence of liquid accumulation will worsen the visibility of the flow path 100. In addition, if an object falls from above the transparent window 2, there is a risk of damage to the transparent member 20. Thus, in the comparative example sight glass 1A, it can be difficult to achieve both the suppression of liquid accumulation and the visibility of the flow path 100.

[0023] On the other hand, in the aforementioned sight glass 1, the occurrence of liquid accumulation can be suppressed in both cases: when the main body 10 is installed so that the direction perpendicular to the transparent window 2 is the vertical direction, and when the main body 10 is installed so that the direction perpendicular to the transparent window 2 is the horizontal direction. Therefore, it is possible to achieve both the suppression of liquid accumulation and good visibility of the flow path 100.

[0024] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. It is clear to those skilled in the art that various modifications or alterations can be conceived within the scope of the claims, and these are also understood to naturally fall within the technical scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the components of the above embodiment may be combined in any way without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0025] For example, in the embodiment described above, a sight glass 1 with two transparent windows 2 was described, but it is not limited to this, and a sight glass 1 with only one transparent window 2 may also be provided.

[0026] This specification includes at least the following: The components and other elements corresponding to those in the embodiments described above are shown in parentheses as examples, but are not limited thereto.

[0027] (1) A sight glass (sight glass 1) that connects two pipes and has at least one transparent window (transparent window 2) that allows the flow path (flow path 100) formed inside to be seen from the outside, A main body (main body 10) in which the aforementioned flow path is formed inside, The main body is fitted into an opening (opening 14) and comprises a transparent member (transparent member 20) that constitutes the transparent window, The diameter of the opening (diameter L2) is approximately the same as the diameter (diameter D1) of the inlet (inlet 11) and outlet (outlet 13) of the main body, or is less than or equal to the diameter of the inlet and outlet. When the main body is installed such that the direction perpendicular to the transparent window is the horizontal direction, the flow path formed in the main body has a lower end (lower end 120) that is formed in a straight line from the inlet to the outlet. Sight glass.

[0028] According to (1), the diameter of the opening is approximately the same as the diameter of the inlet and outlet, or less than or equal to the diameter of the inlet and outlet. Furthermore, when the main body is installed so that the direction perpendicular to the transparent window is the horizontal direction, the flow path formed in the main body is formed with the lower end in a straight line from the inlet to the outlet. With such a configuration, even when the main body is installed so that the direction perpendicular to the transparent window is the horizontal direction, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of liquid accumulation in the main body.

[0029] (2) The sight glass described in (1), When the main body is installed such that the direction perpendicular to the transparent window is the vertical direction, the flow path formed in the main body has its lower end (lower end 110) formed in a straight line from the inlet to the outlet. Sight glass.

[0030] According to (2), even when the main unit is installed so that the direction perpendicular to the transparent window is the up and down direction, it is possible to suppress the accumulation of liquid in the main unit.

[0031] (3) The sight glass described in (2), The main body has two openings facing each other, The distance (distance L1) between the transparent members attached to the two openings is approximately the same as the diameters of the inlet and outlet. Sight glass.

[0032] According to (3), the main body is provided with two openings, and a transparent member is attached to each opening, so the flow path is easily visible. Furthermore, even when the main body is installed so that the direction perpendicular to the transparent window is the vertical direction, the distance between the two transparent members is approximately the same as the diameter of the inlet and outlet, so the accumulation of liquid in the transparent window area can be suppressed.

[0033] (4) A sight glass as described in any of (1) to (3), The main body is integrally provided with a projection (projection 15) that protrudes annularly outward in the direction of the opening, into which the transparent member is fitted. Sight glass.

[0034] According to (4), since a projection that has the function of supporting the transparent member is formed on the main body, the number of parts can be reduced compared to the case in which a separate support member for supporting the transparent member is provided on the main body. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0035] 1. Sight Glass 2 Transparent windows 10 Main Unit 11 Inlet 13 Outlet 14 Opening 15 Protrusion 20 Transparent components 100 channels 110 Lower end 120 Lower end

Claims

1. A sight glass that connects two pipes and has at least one transparent window that allows the flow path formed inside to be viewed from the outside, A main body in which the aforementioned flow path is formed, A transparent member is attached to an opening formed in the main body and constitutes the transparent window, The diameter of the opening is approximately the same as the diameter of the inlet and outlet of the main body, or less than or equal to the diameter of the inlet and outlet. When the main body is installed such that the direction perpendicular to the transparent window is the horizontal direction, the flow path formed in the main body is formed with its lower end in a straight line from the inlet to the outlet. Sight glass.

2. A sight glass according to claim 1, When the main body is installed such that the direction perpendicular to the transparent window is the vertical direction, the flow path formed in the main body is formed with its lower end in a straight line from the inlet to the outlet. Sight glass.

3. A sight glass according to claim 2, The main body has two openings facing each other. The distance between the transparent members attached to the two openings is approximately the same as the diameters of the inlet and outlet sections. Sight glass.

4. A sight glass according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The main body is integrally provided with a projection that protrudes annularly outward in the direction of the opening, into which the transparent member is fitted. Sight glass.

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