Tank liquid level measuring device

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a tank liquid level measuring device having a simple configuration wherein the operation of a water detection float can easily be confirmed. [Solution] A tank liquid level measuring device 1 comprising: a stem 11 that is positioned with a vertical orientation in a(n underground) tank 2; an oil detection float 12 that is guided by the stem and follows the level of a fuel oil; a water detection float 13 that is provided below the oil detection float, is guided by the stem, and follows the level of water; an operation confirmation member 14 that confirms the operation of the water detection float, between the lower surface of the water detection float and the lower end of the stem; a first wire 15 that, in order to pull the operation confirmation member upward, is attached at one end to the operation confirmation member and extends upward; and an adjustment means 22 that adjusts the tension of the first wire. A guidance assistance member 23 is attached to the lower end of a transceiver 20 that is provided to the stem, and the adjustment means can be attached to the guidance assistance member.

Description

Tank liquid level measuring device

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for measuring the liquid levels of fuel oil and water stored in tanks or the like buried underground.

[0002] The applicant has proposed a tank liquid level measuring device that can measure the fuel oil level in an underground tank buried underground and the amount of water accumulated at the bottom using a single liquid level detecting means (see Patent Document 1). In this device, water, which has a higher specific gravity than fuel oil, accumulates at the bottom of the underground tank, and a water detection float for detecting this water is located below an oil detection float for detecting fuel oil.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-4434

[0004] However, since the bottom of an underground tank is filled with not only fuel oil and water but also sludge, a type of sludge made up of rust and oil, if the water detection float becomes buried in the sludge, it will not function, making it impossible to determine the water level inside the underground tank. Furthermore, to check whether the water detection float is functioning properly, the liquid level detection means itself must be removed from the underground tank, a major undertaking. Furthermore, after removing the liquid level detection means, it was necessary to manually move the water detection float and check the change in the reading on the indicator.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a tank liquid level measuring device that has a simple configuration and can easily check the operation of a water detection float.

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a tank liquid level measuring device comprising: a stem arranged vertically within a tank; an oil detection float guided by the stem to follow the fuel oil liquid level; a water detection float arranged below the oil detection float and guided by the stem to follow the water liquid level; an operation confirmation member between the underside of the water detection float and the lower end of the stem to confirm the operation of the water detection float; a first wire having one end attached to the operation confirmation member and extending upward to pull the operation confirmation member upward; and an adjustment means for adjusting the tension of the first wire.

[0007] According to the present invention, by applying tension to the first wire using the adjustment means, the first wire does not become entangled with the oil detection float or the water detection float, and the operation of the water detection float can be stably confirmed.

[0008] In the tank liquid level measuring device, a guide support member is provided at the lower end of the transceiver arranged on the stem, and the adjustment means is attached to the guide support member, so that the first wire can be positioned parallel to the stem, allowing the operation confirmation member to move smoothly.

[0009] In addition, the adjustment means includes a first rod having a male thread formed on its outer surface and through which the first wire passes, and two nuts arranged vertically spaced apart on the guide support member, and the two nuts are adapted to thread into the male thread of the first rod, thereby enabling the tension of the first wire to be adjusted with a simple configuration.

[0010] Furthermore, the first wire protruding above the first rod is provided with a first crimping tool and a first hook at its upper end, and by engaging the first crimping tool with the end of the first rod, the tension of the first wire can be reliably adjusted.

[0011] In addition, by forming a stopper on the first wire that can abut against the lower end of the first rod, the upward movement of the first wire can be restricted, preventing the operation confirmation member from being pulled up more than necessary and damaging the first wire.

[0012] Furthermore, by providing a second wire that engages with the first hook piece and inserting the second hook piece provided on the second wire through the inside of a second rod located above the first rod, it is possible to prevent the second wire from becoming entangled in the transceiver.

[0013] In addition, by engaging the second wire that passes through the inside of the second rod with a locking piece formed on a wiring box located above the tank, the displacement of the water detection float that has been raised by the operation confirmation member can be confirmed on an indoor indicator or the like located at a position away from the tank.

[0014] As described above, according to the present invention, the operation of the water detection float can be easily confirmed with a simple configuration.

[0015] 5 is a schematic diagram showing an installation procedure for a tank liquid level measuring device according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing one embodiment of a tank liquid level measuring device according to the present invention. FIG. 7 is a partially cutaway front view of the tank liquid level measuring device of FIG. 2. FIG. 8 is a view showing an operation confirmation member provided in the tank liquid level measuring device of FIG. 2, where (a) is a perspective view and (b) is a plan view. FIG. 9 is a partially cutaway front view showing a wire tension adjusting means provided in the tank liquid level measuring device of FIG. 2. FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of the wire tension adjusting means of FIG. 5. FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the maintenance cap of FIG. 2. FIG. 12 is an explanatory view of the operation of the tank liquid level measuring device according to the present invention.

[0016] Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0017] FIG. 1 shows the installation procedure for the tank liquid level measuring device of the present invention. This tank liquid level measuring device 1 is placed vertically in an underground tank 2 installed at a gas station or the like, and an indoor display 3 is provided on the ground to display the measured values, etc., obtained by the tank liquid level measuring device 1.

[0018] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the tank liquid level measuring device 1 comprises a stem 11 made of a metal tube, an oil detection float 12 that is slidably attached to the stem 11 and moves vertically in accordance with the fuel oil level, a water detection float 13 that is slidably attached to the stem 11 below the oil detection float 12 and moves vertically in accordance with the water level, an operation confirmation member 14 that confirms the operation of the water detection float 13, and a transceiver 20 arranged inside the riser pipe 10.

[0019] The stem 11 is made of a non-magnetic metal in the shape of a pipe, and has sufficient rigidity to withstand the tension of the magnetostrictive wire housed therein and external forces.

[0020] The oil detection float 12 and the water detection float 13 are made of resin, stainless steel, or the like, and are configured as cylindrical bodies with an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the stem 11 and an air chamber inside.

[0021] A transceiver 20 including a sensor unit and riser rings 16 and 17 are provided inside the riser pipe 10, and the riser rings 16 and 17 maintain the stem 11 in a vertical position.

[0022] The maintenance cap 19 is integrated with the upper part of the riser pipe 10, and a level sensor cable (not shown) is inserted through the interior thereof, and the level sensor cable is led out to the indoor display 3 via a wiring box 21. An insertion hole 19a is drilled in the maintenance cap 19 to allow a second wire 31 to pass through, and the upper end of the second wire 31 can be hooked onto and locked onto a locking piece 21a of the wiring box 21.

[0023] An adjustment means 22 is provided at the lower end of the transceiver 20 to adjust the tension of the first wire 15 connected to the second wire 31. This adjustment means 22 will be described in detail below. The entire tank liquid level measuring device 1 is fixed to the underground tank 2 by connecting the flange portion 18 to another flange portion (not shown) provided on the top surface of the underground tank 2.

[0024] The operation confirmation member 14 is provided between the lower surface of the water detection float 13 and the lower end of the stem 11 in order to confirm the operation of the water detection float 13 .

[0025] As shown in Figure 4, the operation confirmation member 14 comprises a bottom portion 14a located at the lower end of the stem 11 (Figures 2 and 3), a holding portion 14b located on the upper surface of the bottom portion 14a and fitting the lower end of the stem 11, and an operating portion 14c that is rotatably supported on the bottom portion 14a while abutting against the underside of the water detection float 13 and is urged toward the bottom portion 14a by a torsion spring (elastic body) 14d.

[0026] The wire 15 (FIGS. 2 and 3) for pulling up the actuating part 14c is attached by passing through a hole 14o formed in the side of the end of the actuating part 14c (the end at the upper left in FIG. 4(a) and the lower end in FIG. 4(b)). By forming a V-shaped groove 14h provided near the hole 14o, when the water detection float 13 is lifted by the wire 15, the actuating part 14c smoothly follows the movement of the wire 15, and by limiting the range of motion of the wire 15, it is possible to prevent the wire 15 from wrapping around the back surface of the actuating part 14c.

[0027] An adjustment means 22 is provided to adjust the tension of the first wire 15. As shown in Figure 5, the adjustment means 22 is provided on a guide support member 23 attached to the lower end of the transceiver 20 inside the lower end of the riser pipe 10.

[0028] As shown in Figure 6, the adjustment means 22 comprises a first rod 24 having a male thread 24a formed on its outer surface and through which the first wire 15 passes, and nuts 25 and 26 fixed to the upper and lower surfaces of the guide support member 23, and the nuts 25 and 26 are threadedly engaged with the male thread 24a of the first rod 24.

[0029] The first wire 15 has a first crimping tool 28 and a first hook 29 at its upper end, and the first crimping tool 28 is engaged with the end of the first rod 24. The first wire 15 is provided with a stopper 34 (FIG. 5) that can come into contact with the lower end 24b of the first rod 24.

[0030] The second wire 31 is inserted through the inside of the second rod 35 and has a second crimping device 32 and a second hook piece 33 at its lower end, and the second hook piece 33 engages with the first hook piece 29, connecting the first wire 15 and the second wire 31.

[0031] The second wire 31 passes through the inside of the second rod 35 and is led out through the insertion hole 19a drilled in the maintenance cap 19, as shown in Figure 7, and the upper end 31a of the second wire 31 is engaged with the engaging piece 21a of the wiring box 21.

[0032] Next, a method of using the adjusting means 22 having the above-described configuration will be described.

[0033] 2 and 3, if the tension on the first wire 15 is loose, the first wire 15 may become entangled with the oil detection float 12 or the water detection float 13, which may interfere with normal liquid level measurement and with confirmation of the operation of the water detection float 13 by the operation confirmation member 14. Therefore, tension is applied to the first wire 15 to prevent it from becoming entangled with the oil detection float 12, etc.

[0034] To adjust the tension of the first wire 15, as shown in Figure 6, the first rod 24 is rotated relative to nuts 25, 26 fixed to the upper and lower surfaces of the guide support member 23, thereby moving the first wire 15 up and down. Because the first crimping tool 28 located at the upper end of the first wire 15 is locked by the upper end of the first rod 24, the first wire 15 does not move downward from the adjusted position, allowing for reliable tension adjustment. Furthermore, because the first wire 15 is positioned parallel to the stem 11 by the operation confirmation member 14 and the guide support member 23, the operation confirmation member 14 can be moved smoothly.

[0035] The first wire 15 is provided with a stopper 34 (FIG. 5) that can come into contact with the lower end 24b of the first rod 24, thereby restricting the upward movement of the first wire 15 and preventing the operation confirmation member 14 from being pulled up more than necessary and damaging the first wire 15. In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, the second hook 33 of the second wire 31 engaged with the first hook 29 of the first wire 15 passes through the inside of the second rod 35, preventing the second hook 33 from becoming entangled with the transceiver 20.

[0036] After adjusting the tension of the first wire 15 in the above manner, the operation of the water detection float 13 is confirmed using the operation confirmation member 14.

[0037] Figure 8(a) shows the state before operation confirmation by the operation confirmation member 14. In this state, the operating part 14c is biased downward by the torsion spring 14d (Figure 4), and the bottom surface of the operating part 14c is at the same vertical level as the bottom surface of the bottom part 14a.

[0038] When the first wire 15 is pulled up from the state shown in Fig. 8(a), the operating portion 14c of the operation confirmation member 14 rises as shown in Fig. 8(b), allowing the operation of the water detection float 13 to be confirmed. When the first wire 15 is further pulled up, the operating portion 14c can be finally raised to the state shown in Fig. 8(c). The upper end portion 31a of the second wire 31 connected to the pulled-up wire 15 can be hooked and held by the locking piece 21a of the distribution box 21 (Figs. 2 and 3).

[0039] In this way, with the tank liquid level measuring device 1 installed in the underground tank 2, it is possible to check whether the water detection float 13 is operating correctly by operating the second wire 31 and the first wire 15 above the tank liquid level measuring device 1 to move the operating part 14c. Furthermore, because the position of the water detection float 13 can be maintained, even if the indoor display 3 is installed in a location away from the underground tank 2, one person can check the position (change in numerical value) of the water detection float 13.

[0040] Furthermore, although not shown, in addition to the first wire 15 and the second wire 31, a water dipstick can also be arranged using the maintenance cap 19 and the riser pipe 10.

[0041] The illustrated embodiments are merely examples and are not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention.

[0042] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Tank liquid level measuring device 2 Underground tank 3 Indoor indicator 10 Riser pipe 11 Stem 12 Oil detection float 13 Water detection float 14 Operation confirmation member 15 First wire 16, 17 Riser ring 18 Flange portion 19 Maintenance cap 20 Transmitter / receiver 21 Wiring box 22 Adjustment means 23 Guide support member 24 First rod 25, 26 Nut 28 First crimping tool 29 First hook piece 31 Second wire 32 Second crimping tool 33 Second hook piece 34 Stopper 35 Second rod

Claims

1. A tank liquid level measuring device comprising: a stem arranged vertically within a tank; an oil detection float guided by the stem to follow the fuel oil level; a water detection float arranged below the oil detection float and guided by the stem to follow the water level; an operation confirmation member between the underside of the water detection float and the lower end of the stem to confirm the operation of the water detection float; a first wire having one end attached to the operation confirmation member and extending upward in order to pull the operation confirmation member upward; and an adjustment means for adjusting the tension of the first wire.

2. A tank liquid level measuring device as described in claim 1, further comprising a guide support member at the lower end of the transmitter / receiver disposed on the stem, and the adjustment means is attached to the guide support member.

3. The tank liquid level measuring device described in claim 2, characterized in that the adjustment means comprises a first rod having an external thread formed on its outer surface and through which the first wire passes, and two nuts arranged vertically spaced apart on the guide support member, the two nuts screwing into the external thread of the first rod.

4. A tank liquid level measuring device as described in claim 3, characterized in that the first wire protruding upward from the first rod has a first crimping device and a first hook piece at its upper end, and the first crimping device is engaged with the end of the first rod.

5. The tank liquid level measuring device according to claim 3, wherein the first wire is formed with a stopper capable of contacting the lower end of the first rod.

6. A tank liquid level measuring device as described in claim 5, characterized in that it is provided with a second wire which engages with the first hook, and the second hook provided on the second wire passes through the inside of a second rod located above the first rod.

7. A tank liquid level measuring device as described in claim 6, characterized in that the second wire passing through the inside of the second rod engages with a locking piece formed on a wiring box located above the tank.