Water level detection unit for air conditioning and drainage systems

Abstract

We provide water level detection units for air conditioning and drainage systems. [Solution] The water level detection unit for air conditioning and drainage systems comprises a mounting board, a fixed base and a swing arm. The fixed base has a low water level Hall element and a high water level Hall element. The swing arm is mounted on the fixed base so that it can swing via a shaft and has a float at its bottom. The float maintains a floating state above the water 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 comprises one or more magnets. When the swing arm swings, the magnetic force of the one or more magnets is detected near the low water level Hall element or the high water level Hall element.

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] In known water level detection technologies, the water pump protection device for a clothes steamer disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a housing chamber that has a float-type magnetic induction structure, a magnetic induction switch on the outside of the housing, and a float that moves with the rise and fall of the water level is associated with different magnetic induction switches to detect the water level.

[0003] The invention described in Patent Document 1 can be applied to objects with small chambers such as clothing steamers, but cannot be applied to air conditioning and drainage devices. More specifically, the invention described in Patent Document 1 has an air conditioning / drainage system in which the water storage tank is relatively large, and it is necessary to install a drainage pump having blades. When a magnetic induction structure using a magnet is formed on a float, the float is separated from the wall of the water tank, so that the magnetic induction structure on the outside of the water tank has difficulty reacting to magnetic force.

[0004] The micro-motion structure of a drainage device disclosed in Patent Document 2 touches a microswitch by operating three rods via a float. In detail, by gradually generating the pushing force with three rods, the stability when touching the micro switch can be improved. In US Pat. No. 5,399,636, the working area of ​​the water collection box and float is below the base plate. Components that do not need to be placed below the water surface, such as the motor, three rods, microswitches and electronic circuitry, are above the board.

[0005] Patent Document 2 was a water detection technology for air conditioning and drainage equipment, but the microswitch detection method and the structure implementing it are relatively complicated, and only the opening and closing operation of the microswitch can be detected, so the detection effect is limited. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] China Utility Model Patent CN 201802603 U Publication [Patent Document 2] Taiwan Patent No. I661624 Summary of the Invention [Problem 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 / drainage system that has a simplified structure and can provide a highly reliable magnetic sensing effect to the air conditioning / drainage system.

[0008] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a water level detection unit for an air conditioning / drainage system that is not only capable of detecting two or more locations, but also has a detection effect that exceeds that of the prior art. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to solve the above problems, the water level detection unit for an air-conditioning / drainage system according to the present invention comprises a mounting board, a fixed base, a shaft and a swing arm. The mounting board is installed in the air-conditioning / drainage system. 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 mounted on the shaft so that it can swing, 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 remains afloat on the water and swings the swing arm between low and high water levels as the water level rises and falls. The swing arm further includes one or more magnets. When the swing arm is at the low water level, one or more magnets have a magnetic force sensed adjacent the low water level Hall element. When the swing arm is at the high water level, one or more magnets have a magnetic force sensed adjacent the high water level Hall element. The high level Hall element and the low level Hall element are spaced apart from each other so that they do not sense the magnetic force of the same magnet at the same time. The one or more magnets do not directly contact the low level Hall element and the high level Hall element. Either the mounting board or the fixed base has a stopper. When the swing arm is located at a 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, and keeps the swing arm at an inclination angle.

[0010] Due to the above-mentioned structural features, the present invention realizes a simpler structure than the prior art, and can provide a highly reliable magnetic force sensing effect to the air-conditioning and drainage device. Furthermore, the present invention not only allows detection of two or more locations, but also has a detection effect that exceeds that of the prior art. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a water level detection unit for an air-conditioning / drainage system according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a water level detection unit for an air-conditioning / drainage system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] 1 is a perspective view showing a process of mounting a water level detection unit for an air-conditioning and drainage system according to a first embodiment of the present invention to an air-conditioning and drainage system. FIG. [Figure 4] 1 is a front cross-sectional view showing an operating state of a water level detection unit for an air-conditioning / drainage system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Diagram 5]4 is another cross-sectional view showing the operating state of the water level detection unit for an air-conditioning / drainage system according to the first embodiment of the present invention, as seen from the front. FIG. [Figure 6] 1A to 1C are cross-sectional views seen from the front of a water level detection unit for an air-conditioning / drainage system according to a first embodiment of the present invention, showing different numbers of Hall elements. [Figure 7] 4A to 4C are sectional views seen from the front showing states in which a shaft is disposed at different positions on a swing arm in a water level detection unit for an air-conditioning / drainage system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a water level detection unit for an air-conditioning / drainage system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] Hereinafter, a water level detection unit for an air-conditioning / drainage system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0013] (First embodiment) The water level detection unit 10 for an air-conditioning / drainage system according to the first embodiment of the present invention is mounted on an air-conditioning / drainage system 90, and comprises a mounting board 11, a fixed base 21, a shaft 31 and a swing arm 41.

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

[0015] The fixed base 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 attached to the fixed base 21 .

[0017] The swing arm 41 is attached to the shaft 31 so as to be able to swing, 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. A float 49 is located below the mounting board. The float 49 maintains a floating state on the water and swings the swing arm 41 between a low water level LP and a high water level HP as the water level rises and falls. In the first embodiment, the mounting board 11 has a hollow area 12 formed by a hole in the middle. The swing arm 41 passes through the hollow portion 12 . The first embodiment is not limited to forming the hollow area 12 by providing holes in the mounting board 11, but the hollow area 12 may 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 has separate clippers 42 on opposite sides. The two magnets 45 are disposed separately in the two clippers 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 . The high water level Hall element 24 and the low water level Hall element 22 are spaced apart from each other so that they do not sense the magnetic force of the same magnet 45 at the same time.

[0019] The fixed base 21 has a stopper 28 . When the swing arm 41 is located at the low water level LP, the stopper 28 abuts against the swing arm 41 and at the same time prevents the swing arm 41 from being perpendicular to the water surface, and keeps the swing arm 41 at an inclination angle. Due to the structural features described above, when the float 49 rises with the rise in the water level, the swing arm 41 swings upward while maintaining its original inclined state. In other words, since the swing arm 41 does not swing in another direction, it is possible to suppress malfunctions such as the swing arm 41 perpendicular to the water surface having difficulty swinging upwards or not swinging upwards at all.

[0020] In the first embodiment, the fixed base 21 has a control circuit board 29 therein. The high water level Hall element 24 and the low water level Hall element 22 are disposed on the control circuit board 29 inside the fixed base 21 and therefore 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 place the control circuit board 29 on the fixed base 21 as long as it meets actual needs.

[0021] Specifically, high level Hall element 24 and low level Hall element 22 separately sense high and low water conditions. If it is desired to detect an overflow condition, an overflow hall element 26 may be added to the control circuit board 29. When the water level rises and is about to overflow, the float 49 swings the swing arm 41 in accordance with the rise and fall of the water level. The swing arm 41 swings to the overflow level OP in accordance with the operation of the float 49. In contrast, the magnetic force of one magnet 45 is sensed near the flood Hall element 26. The flood Hall element 26, the high level Hall element 24 and the low level Hall element 22 are spaced apart from one another so that they do not sense the magnetic force of the same magnet 45 at the same time. In order to prevent the float 49 from colliding with the bottom of the mounting board 11 when the swing arm 41 is located at the overflow level OP, the mounting board 11 may be formed with a concave portion 14 with an opening facing downward. Due to the above-mentioned structural features, when the swing arm 41 is positioned at the overflow level OP, a portion of the float 49 is housed in the recessed portion 14 or abuts against the inner wall of the recessed portion 14 . 2, the low 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 another side of the swing arm 41 .

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

[0023] 3, when using the water level detection unit 10 for an air-conditioning and drainage system in the air-conditioning and drainage system 90, the water level detection unit 10 for an air-conditioning and drainage system according to the present invention is first mounted in the air-conditioning and drainage system 90, and the water collection box 91 is disposed below the mounting board 11. A drainage pump 92 is disposed on the mounting board 11 to draw water from 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 when the water in the water collection box 91 is at a low water level, the float 49 remains floating on the water surface and the swing arm 41 is actuated to position the float 49 at the low water level LP. The swing arm 41, which is positioned at the low water level LP, abuts against the stopper 28. The magnetic force of one magnet 45 is detected near the low water level hall element 22. The control circuit board 29 causes the drain pump 92 to stop the draining operation.

[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 with the operation of the float 49, the magnetic force of another magnet 45 is detected near the high water level Hall element 24. The control circuit board 29 operates the drain pump 92 to proceed with the draining process.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 5, when the drainage pump 92 (FIG. 3) fails or is not able to smoothly discharge the water in the water collection box 91 due to another reason, causing the water level to continuously rise, the swing arm 41 swings upward and is positioned at the overflow level OP. A magnet 45 is provided so that the magnetic force can be sensed near the flood hall element 26 so that the control circuit board 29 can take corresponding warning measures or operate according to the set functions. In other words, even if the magnetic force of another magnet 45 is detected by the high water level hall element 24 at this time, the overflow hall element 26 will react to the magnetic force, allowing the control circuit board 29 to determine what action to take.

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

[0028] To summarize the above, as shown in Figures 2, 4 and 5, the overflow hall element 26, the high water level hall element 24 and the low water level hall element 22 do not detect the magnetic force of the same magnet 45 at the same time, so that not only can they accurately detect the low water level, high water level and overflow level states, but they can also provide the control circuit board 29 with reliable detection results and enable it to determine appropriate measures.

[0029] In addition, the present invention has a technical feature in that a magnet 45 is placed on the swing arm 41 and the low water level hall element 22, the high water level hall element 24 and the overflow hall element 26 are made to detect magnetic force by swinging the swing arm 41, thereby realizing a simpler structure than the prior art and providing a highly reliable magnetic force sensing effect to the air conditioning and drainage system. In addition, the present invention can detect two or more locations by adjusting the space in which the swing arm 41 swings relative to the fixed base 21 and the relative positions of the low water level Hall element 22, the high water level Hall element 24 and the overflow Hall element 26, thereby providing a detection effect that exceeds that of the prior art.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 6, if flood detection is not required, only a low level Hall element 22 and a high level Hall element 24 need to be provided.

[0031] 7, the shaft 31 is not limited to being positioned at the tip of the swing arm 41, but may be located at a position above the middle of the swing arm 41. It is sufficient that the above-mentioned operation is performed smoothly.

[0032] Second embodiment 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a water level detection unit 10' for an air-conditioning / drainage system according to a 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 disposed on the fixed base 21, the stopper 28' is formed from the peripheral portion of the hollow portion 12' of the mounting board 11'. When the swing arm 41' is positioned 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'. In contrast, the magnets 45' are singular in number. As shown in FIG. 8, the low level Hall element 22', the high level Hall element 24' and the overflow level Hall element 26' are located on the same side of the swing arm 41'.

[0035] To summarize the above, the low level Hall element 22', the high level Hall element 24' and the overflow level Hall element 26' are located on the same side of the swing arm 41'. That is, since the magnets 45' may be disposed on the same side as another magnet, not only is there convenience in manufacturing, but the number and cost of the magnets 45' can be reduced.

[0036] Other structures and effects achieved by the second embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment, so detailed description thereof will be omitted.

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

[0038] 10, 10': Water level detection unit for air conditioning and drainage equipment 11, 11': Mounting board 12, 12': Cavity part 14: Concave area 21: Fixed base 22, 22': Low water level Hall element 24, 24': High water level Hall element 26, 26': Flooded 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 conditioning / drainage equipment 91: Water collection box 92:Drainage pump HP: High water level LP, LP': Low water level OP: Overflow 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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