Cooling water level detection device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooling water level detection device using a floater for detecting the level of cooling water in a reservoir tank for cooling water. The cooling water level detection device that can detect the level of cooling water in a reservoir tank for cooling water comprises: a floater which has a magnet, and which is disposed in the reservoir tank for cooling water so as to be movable in the height direction while being immersed in the cooling water; and a level detection connector which is provided in the reservoir tank for cooling water, and which is turned on / off by means of the magnet according to the height direction position of the floater. The horizontal length and / or the vertical length of the cross section of the floater is different.

Description

Coolant level detection device

[0001] The present invention relates to a coolant level detection device using a floater for detecting the level of coolant in a coolant reservoir tank.

[0002] A level sensor is used to detect the level of coolant within a coolant reservoir tank. Conventional level sensors can detect coolant levels within a range of approximately 4 to 6 mm, resulting in a low detectable level. This low detectable level makes them difficult to apply to coolant reservoir tanks, which have a long height.

[0003] The above-described information disclosed in the background technology of this invention is only intended to improve understanding of the background of the present invention, and therefore may include information that does not constitute prior art.

[0004] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a coolant level detection device having a floater that can easily change the minimum level detection length (depth) while maintaining the detectable range.

[0005] In addition, another problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a coolant level detection device having a plotter that can be miniaturized and reduce manufacturing costs.

[0006] A coolant level detection device configured to detect a level of coolant in a coolant reservoir tank according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a floater having a magnet and positioned in the coolant reservoir tank so as to be movable in the height direction while being immersed in the coolant; and a level detection connector installed in the coolant reservoir tank and configured to be turned on / off by the magnet depending on the height direction position of the floater. A cross-section of the floater is configured such that at least one of a horizontal length and a vertical length is different.

[0007] The above plotter may include an upper portion, a lower portion, and a middle portion connecting the upper portion and the lower portion. The upper portion, the lower portion, and the middle portion may be configured to have different cross-sectional sizes.

[0008] The above-mentioned middle portion may be configured to have a smaller cross-sectional size than the above-mentioned upper portion and the above-mentioned lower portion.

[0009] The above plotter may have a trapezoidal shape with an inclined angle.

[0010] The above level detection connector can be configured to operate on / off by changing the electrical resistance value according to the distance from the magnet.

[0011] The above magnet can be embedded within the plotter so as not to be exposed to the outside.

[0012] The above floater may include a guide structure for guiding movement in the height direction within the coolant reservoir tank.

[0013] The above guide structure may include a guide groove formed on a side of the plotter.

[0014] The above plotter may include a misassembly prevention structure to prevent misassembly.

[0015] The above misassembly prevention structure may include a protrusion protruding outward from the plotter.

[0016] The above protrusion may be provided on the upper part of the plotter.

[0017] A coolant level detection device according to another embodiment of the present invention may further include a stopper for limiting upward movement of the floater in the height direction.

[0018] The above stopper may include a protrusion provided on a baffle plate disposed within the coolant reservoir tank.

[0019] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the plotter can be configured to easily change the minimum level detection length (depth) while maintaining the detectable range. Furthermore, the plotter can be miniaturized and its manufacturing cost can be reduced.

[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a coolant reservoir tank to which a coolant level detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

[0021] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a coolant reservoir tank to which a coolant level detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

[0022] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a coolant reservoir tank to which a coolant level detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

[0023] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a floater and a level detection connector of a coolant level detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 5 is a drawing for explaining a magnet embedded inside a floater of a coolant level detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a coolant level detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention is turned on due to a decrease in the coolant level.

[0026] FIG. 7 is a drawing showing a state in which a coolant level detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention is turned off due to an increase in the coolant level.

[0027] FIG. 8 is a drawing for explaining that the level detection connector of the coolant level detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention is turned on / off by a change in the electric resistance value according to the position of the magnet embedded in the plotter.

[0028] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the function of a protrusion for preventing incorrect assembly of a floater of a coolant level detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] FIG. 10 is a drawing showing a state in which a floater of a coolant level detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention is assembled to a coolant reservoir tank by a guide structure.

[0030] FIG. 11 is a drawing for explaining the upper and lower flow range of the floater of the coolant level detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a floater of a coolant level detection device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a floater of a coolant level detection device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a floater of a coolant level detection device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] The embodiments of the present invention are provided to more fully explain the present invention to those skilled in the art. The following embodiments may be modified in various ways, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below. Rather, these embodiments are provided to more faithfully and completely explain the present disclosure and fully convey the spirit of the present invention to those skilled in the art.

[0035] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings so that a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains can easily carry out the present invention.

[0036] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a coolant level detection device (10) is installed in a coolant reservoir tank (100) to detect the level of coolant in the coolant reservoir tank (100), and includes a floater (11) and a level detection connector (12).

[0037] The floater (11) is positioned so as to be submerged in the coolant within the coolant reservoir tank (100), and is configured to move up and down due to changes in buoyancy according to the level of the coolant.

[0038] A reservoir tank (100) for cooling water may include two parts divided into upper and lower parts, and these two parts may be joined to each other in a state of fluid sealing.

[0039] The plotter (11) includes a magnet (13) embedded therein, and the level detection connector (12) is configured to switch the signal on / off state according to the position of the magnet (13). The magnet (13) embedded in the plotter (11) is illustrated by a dotted line in Fig. 5, and the switching of the on / off state of the level detection connector (12) will be described later.

[0040] The floater (11) can be installed in a state where its vertical movement is guided by a guide bulkhead within a coolant reservoir tank (100). The level detection connector (12) can be installed in the lower part of the coolant reservoir tank (11) without being exposed to the coolant, and is configured to turn a signal on / off by interaction with a magnet (13).

[0041] As illustrated in Fig. 3, the baffle plate (14) disposed within the cooling water reservoir tank (100) is provided with a stopper (15) for restricting upward movement of the floater (11). The stopper (15) may be a projection protruding toward the floater (11), and the floater (11) is configured to contact the stopper (15) when moving upward. This restricts the upward movement of the floater (11) and reduces joint noise caused by impact.

[0042] At this time, if the stopper (15) is formed to support the lower part (22) of the floater (11), it not only complicates the design of the reserve tank (100) but also increases the internal flow resistance of the reserve tank (100) for cooling water, so it is preferable that the stopper (15) be formed to contact the upper part (21) of the floater (11).

[0043] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the floater (11) is formed to extend in the vertical direction. The extension length of the floater (11) may be formed to be half or more than half the height of the coolant reservoir tank (100). On the other hand, the cross-section perpendicular to the extension direction of the floater (11) may be formed to be relatively small. The floater according to the prior art was formed to have a short length in the height direction, and when it is applied to a reservoir tank, there has been a problem that the shape of a reservoir tank with a long height or a deep depth must be excessively changed. The present invention can be easily applied to a coolant reservoir tank (100) with a long height or a deep depth by forming the floater (11) to be long in the height direction, and accordingly, even when the depth of the coolant reservoir tank (100) is deep, the change in the shape of the coolant reservoir tank (100) can be minimized. In addition, the minimum level detection length can be increased by increasing the length of the floater (11), and it can be easily applied to a long cooling water reservoir tank (100) in the height direction. Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the floater (11) includes an upper portion (21), a lower portion (22), and a middle portion (23) connecting the upper portion (21) and the lower portion (22). The upper portion (21) and the lower portion (22) can be formed to have a relatively large width compared to the middle portion (23).

[0044] The plotter (11) may have a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction that resembles a rectangle or square. The plotter (11) may have different horizontal and vertical lengths of the cross-section or may be configured to be the same.

[0045] In addition, the plotter (11) is configured so that the cross-sections perpendicular to the longitudinal direction are different in the upper part (21), the middle part (23), and the lower part (22). The plotter (11) is manufactured by adjusting the length of the middle part (23) differently while maintaining the shapes of the upper part (21) and the lower part (22) as they are through this structure, thereby easily adjusting the length in the height direction while using the guide structure as it is.

[0046] At this time, the floater (11) may be formed so that the cross-section of the middle portion (23) is smaller than the cross-section of the lower portion (22) among the cross-sections perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. In addition, in the present embodiment, the cross-section of the middle portion (23) is formed smaller than the cross-section of the upper portion (21). Accordingly, the floater (11) can minimize the flow resistance within the cooling water reservoir tank (100) through the space between the middle portion (23) and the guide groove (33), and can also reduce the cost during manufacturing by reducing its own volume.

[0047] As shown by the dotted line in Fig. 5, the magnet (13) is embedded in the floater (11). This prevents the magnet (13) from directly colliding with a part of the coolant reservoir tank (100) or foreign matter.

[0048] As shown in Fig. 5, the magnet (13) is located at the lower part (22) of the plotter (11). At this time, in order to improve the detection performance of the level detection connector (12) that detects the change in magnetic flux of the magnet (13), it is preferable that the magnet (13) be located at the lower part (22) of the plotter (11).

[0049] FIG. 6 illustrates a state in which the level detection connector (12) is turned on when the coolant level (OL) is low and the distance (A) between the bottom surface of the coolant reservoir tank (100) and the magnet (13) is less than a preset operating distance, for example, 4 mm. On the other hand, FIG. 7 illustrates a state in which the level detection connector (12) is turned off when the coolant level (OL) is high and the distance (A) between the bottom surface of the coolant reservoir tank (100) and the magnet (13) is greater than a preset operating distance. Through this, the required detection height can be implemented, and the minimum level can be detected while minimizing the increase in manufacturing cost by increasing the height size of the floater (11).

[0050] In an embodiment of the present invention, the level detection connector (12) is configured to perform an on / off operation according to a change in electrical resistance due to interaction with a magnet (13). Referring to FIG. 8, the level detection connector (12) includes a switch (25) that is turned on / off according to a distance from the magnet (13). When the coolant level is high and the distance from the magnet (13) is long, the switch (25) is turned off, so that the equivalent resistance between the two ends becomes equal to the electrical resistance of the resistance element (26). On the other hand, when the coolant level is low, the switch (25) is turned on by the magnet (13), so that the equivalent resistance between the two ends becomes equal to the equivalent resistance of the electrical resistances of the two resistance elements (26, 27) connected in parallel. For example, the two resistors (26, 27) can be set so that the electrical resistance at both ends is 7.3 kΩ when the switch (25) is on, and 24.7 kΩ when the switch (25) is off. In Fig. 8, symbol ① represents the current flow in the on state of the switch (25), and symbol ② represents the current flow in the off state of the switch (25). Accordingly, the level detection signal can be turned on when the level of the coolant is below the minimum level, and the level detection signal can be turned off when the level of the coolant is above the minimum level.

[0051] Referring to FIGS. 2, 4, and 9, the floater (11) may include a misassembly prevention structure for preventing misassembly, and the misassembly prevention structure may be a misassembly prevention protrusion (31) that protrudes laterally from the upper portion (21). For example, the misassembly prevention protrusion (31) may be configured in a form that allows it to pass through a specific portion of a coolant reservoir tank (100), thereby implementing a misassembly prevention function.

[0052] As illustrated in Fig. 9, it is preferable that the mis-assembly prevention protrusion (31) be formed on the upper side (21) of the floater (11). That is, the mis-assembly prevention protrusion (31) is formed on the end opposite to the magnet (13) inserted into the floater (11). If the floater (11) is formed symmetrically in the longitudinal direction, a problem may occur in which the magnet (13) is incorrectly inserted so that it faces upward during manufacturing. Therefore, by arranging the mis-assembly prevention protrusion (31) in the opposite direction to the magnet (13), mis-assembly can be reduced during the manufacturing process. In addition, by arranging the mis-assembly prevention protrusion (31) on the upper side (21), there is an advantage in that the floater (11) can be easily assembled into the reservoir tank (100). That is, the floater (11) of the present invention has a joint structure that is assembled in the vertical direction with respect to the reservoir tank (100), and by arranging a protrusion (31) for preventing misassembly on the upper part (21), the floater (11) can be mounted on the reservoir tank (100) for cooling water without being caught by other structures when assembling from above, which has the advantage of convenient assembly.

[0053] In addition, the misassembled protrusion (31) also functions to support the floater (11) so that the floater (11) maintains a predetermined distance from the inner bottom surface of the coolant reservoir tank (100). This prevents damage to the coolant reservoir tank (100), the floater (11), and the level detection connector (12) that may occur due to the floater (11) directly colliding with the bottom of the coolant reservoir tank (100).

[0054] As illustrated in Fig. 5, the mis-assembly prevention protrusion (31) may be formed to protrude vertically in the extension direction from one side of the upper portion (21) of the floater (11). At this time, it may be formed in the opposite direction to the insertion direction of the guide groove (33) formed in the upper portion (21). Accordingly, a space into which the mis-assembly prevention protrusion (31) can be inserted can be easily formed on one side of the guide protrusion (34) without the need to form a separate structure to support the mis-assembly prevention protrusion (31) inside the coolant reservoir tank (100), thereby increasing the degree of freedom in the design of the reserve tank (100).

[0055] Referring to Fig. 10, the floater (11) may include a guide structure for assembly, and the guide structure may be a guide groove (33) extending in the height direction on the side of the floater (11). A guide protrusion (34) provided in a reservoir tank (100) for cooling water may be inserted into the guide groove (33) of the floater (11), and the floater (11) is configured to be able to move in the height direction while the guide protrusion (34) is inserted into the guide groove (33). As a result, the floater (11) can be easily assembled and can move stably in the height direction according to changes in the level of the cooling water. The guide groove (33) may be provided in the upper part (21) and the lower part (22) of the floater (11).

[0056] Referring to Fig. 11, the plotter (11) can move in the height direction while being guided by a guide structure, thereby defining the height direction flow range (H) of the plotter (11). At this time, the uppermost movement limit of the plotter (11) may be a position at which it contacts the stopper (15) provided on the baffle plate (14) described above.

[0057] Figures 12 to 14 illustrate plotters according to other embodiments of the present invention. Hereinafter, plotters according to other embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 12 to 14, and descriptions of parts overlapping with the embodiments described above will be omitted.

[0058] Referring to Fig. 12, the floater (41) may have a hammer shape capable of unidirectional support. The floater (41) includes an upper portion (43), a lower portion (44), and a middle portion (45). At this time, the middle portion (45) is formed to have a smaller cross-section than the upper portion (43) and the lower portion (44). In addition, a guide groove (46) may be formed on the side surface of the lower portion (44).

[0059] Referring to Fig. 13, the plotter (51) may have a trapezoidal shape with an inclined angle. The plotter (51) may have a shape in which the cross-section gradually decreases from the top to the bottom. In this case, the plotter (51) may have a guide groove (52) on the side.

[0060] Referring to Fig. 14, the floater (61) may have a buoy shape. The floater (61) includes an upper portion (63), a lower portion (64), and a middle portion (65). At this time, the middle portion (65) is formed to have a smaller cross-section than the upper portion (63) and the lower portion (64). The upper portion (63) may have an approximately hexahedral shape, and the lower portion (64) may have an approximately cylindrical shape. In addition, a guide groove (66) may be formed on the side surfaces of the upper portion (63) and the lower portion (64).

[0061] The above description is only one embodiment for carrying out the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and as claimed in the following claims, it will be said that the technical spirit of the present invention exists to the extent that anyone with ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains can make various modifications without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0062] sign

[0063] 11: Plotter 12: Level detection connector

[0064] 13: Magnet 14: Baffle plate

[0065] 15: Stopper 31: Protrusion to prevent misassembly

[0066] 33: Guide groove 34: Guide protrusion

Claims

1. A coolant level detection device configured to detect the level of coolant in a coolant reservoir tank, A floater having a magnet and being positioned within the coolant reservoir tank so as to be movable in the height direction while being immersed in the coolant and extending in the height direction; and A coolant level detection device including a level detection connector installed in the coolant reservoir tank and configured to be turned on or off by the magnet depending on the height direction position of the floater.

2. In paragraph 1, The above plotter includes an upper part, a lower part, and a middle part connecting the upper part and the lower part, A coolant level detection device in which the upper part, the lower part, and the middle part are configured to have different cross-sectional sizes.

3. In paragraph 2, A cooling water level detection device in which the middle portion is configured to have a smaller cross-sectional size than the upper portion and the lower portion.

4. In paragraph 2, The above floater is a coolant level detection device having a trapezoidal shape with an inclined angle.

5. In paragraph 1, The above level detection connector is a coolant level detection device configured to operate on / off by changing the electric resistance value according to the distance from the magnet.

6. In paragraph 1, A coolant level detection device wherein the magnet is embedded within the floater so as not to be exposed to the outside.

7. In paragraph 1, The above floater is a coolant level detection device including a guide structure for guiding movement in the height direction within the coolant reservoir tank.

8. In paragraph 7, The above guide structure is a coolant level detection device including a guide groove formed on the side of the plotter.

9. In paragraph 1, The above-mentioned plotter is a coolant level detection device including a misassembly prevention structure to prevent misassembly.

10. In paragraph 9, The above misassembly prevention structure is a coolant level detection device including a protrusion protruding outward from the plotter.

11. In paragraph 10, The above projection is a coolant level detection device provided on the upper part of the above plotter.

12. In paragraph 1, A coolant level detection device further comprising a stopper for limiting upward movement of the plotter in the height direction.

13. In paragraph 12, The above stopper is a coolant level detection device including a protrusion provided on a baffle plate disposed within the coolant reservoir tank.

14. In paragraph 1, A coolant level detection device in which the cross-section of the above-mentioned plotter is configured such that at least one of the horizontal length and the vertical length is different.

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