阅读说明：本技术 液位检测装置单元 (Liquid level detection device unit ) 是由 加藤慎平 中岛真太郎 于 2020-01-09 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种液位检测装置单元,包括：液位检测装置,其被构造为检测液箱中所储存的液体的液位；和固定部件,其将所述液位检测装置固定至所述液箱的内部。液位检测装置包括装置主体、至少一个端子以及检测线,至少一个端子电连接至装置主体的壳体中的检测单元,检测线的一端电连接至从壳体露出的端子的露出部。至少一个贯通开口设置于固定部件的装接面,以面对端子的露出部并且防止液体停留在端子与检测线之间的连接部中。(A liquid level detection device unit comprising: a liquid level detection device configured to detect a liquid level of liquid stored in the liquid tank; and a fixing member that fixes the liquid level detection device to the inside of the liquid tank. The liquid level detection device includes a device body, at least one terminal electrically connected to a detection unit in a housing of the device body, and a detection wire having one end electrically connected to an exposed portion of the terminal exposed from the housing. At least one through opening is provided to the attachment face of the fixed member to face the exposed portion of the terminal and prevent liquid from staying in the connection portion between the terminal and the detection line.)

1. A liquid level detection device unit comprising:

a liquid level detection device configured to detect a liquid level of a liquid stored in the liquid tank; and

a fixing member that fixes the liquid level detection device to the inside of the liquid tank,

wherein the liquid level detection device includes a device body, at least one terminal electrically connected to a detection unit in a housing of the device body, and a detection wire having one end electrically connected to an exposed portion of the terminal exposed from the housing, and

wherein at least one through opening is provided on an attachment face of the fixing member to face the exposed portion of the terminal and prevent liquid from staying in a connection portion between the terminal and the detection wire.

2. The liquid level detection device unit according to claim 1,

wherein the at least one terminal comprises a plurality of terminals,

wherein the at least one through opening comprises a plurality of through openings, and

wherein the plurality of through openings are provided on the attachment surface of the fixing member so as to face the exposed portions of the plurality of terminals, respectively.

3. The liquid level detection device unit according to claim 2,

wherein, on the attachment surface of the fixing member including at least one of the plurality of through openings, a groove extending in a vertical direction in the liquid tank is provided.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a liquid level detection device unit.

Background

As a device for detecting the level height of liquid stored in a container (liquid tank), there is a liquid level detection module (liquid level detection device unit) in which a liquid level detector (liquid level detection device) is fixed to the container by a fixing member.

In the liquid level detection module, the liquid level detector is integrally fixed to a distal end portion of a fixing member such as a bracket plate held by a cover body. The liquid level detector is inserted into the container through an opening formed in the container and is thus assembled to the container (see, for example, patent document 1).

In the liquid level detector, a detection element (such as a hall IC) configured to detect the rotation angle of the magnet holder is accommodated in a support shaft of the housing. The detection element is electrically connected to the measurement unit outside the container via a lead (detection line) electrically connected to an exposed portion of the terminal exposed from the housing.

In the liquid level detection module, the housing is clamped by a clamp portion and a bracket main body portion of a bracket plate formed of a metal material in a plate shape having a longitudinal direction to hold the liquid level detector by the bracket plate. Therefore, the housing of the liquid level detector and the bracket main body portion of the bracket plate are attached in close proximity.

[ patent document 1] JP-A-2013-178141

The level detector is used in a liquid stored in a container, and is exposed to the atmosphere when the amount of the liquid decreases. In the exposed state, condensed moisture and liquid containing moisture in the container may stay between the housing and the bracket main body portion in close proximity due to surface tension. Therefore, the staying moisture adheres to the connection portion between the terminal exposed from the housing and the wire.

In a state of being exposed in the atmosphere, when condensed moisture adheres to a portion between the metal bracket plate and the liquid level detector, current flows between the terminal of the liquid level detector and the bracket plate due to the conductivity of the moisture. As a result, galvanic corrosion caused by a potential difference between the terminal and the material of the bracket plate, or galvanic corrosion caused by leakage of operating current may aggravate galvanic corrosion of the connection between the terminal and the wire.

Disclosure of Invention

One or more embodiments provide a liquid level detection device unit that prevents electrical corrosion at a connection portion between a terminal and a detection line in a liquid level detection device attached to a fixed member.

In the aspect (1), a liquid level detection device unit includes: a liquid level detection device configured to detect a liquid level of liquid stored in the liquid tank; and a fixing member that fixes the liquid level detection device to the inside of the liquid tank. The liquid level detection device includes a device body, at least one terminal electrically connected to a detection unit in a housing of the device body, and a detection wire having one end electrically connected to an exposed portion of the terminal exposed from the housing. At least one through opening is provided to the attachment face of the fixed member to face the exposed portion of the terminal and prevent liquid from staying in the connection portion between the terminal and the detection line.

According to the aspect (1), the through opening facing the exposed portion of the terminal exposed from the housing is provided to the attachment surface of the fixing member to which the liquid level detection device is attached. Therefore, a predetermined space in which moisture is less likely to accumulate due to surface tension is defined near a connecting portion between the terminal and the inspection line, which is exposed from the housing attached in close proximity to the attachment surface of the fixed member.

Therefore, the moisture condensed in the container and the liquid containing the moisture are less likely to stay between the attachment face of the fixing member and the connection portion between the terminal and the detection line, which are in close proximity. As a result, the galvanic corrosion of the connection portion between the terminal and the detection line is not deteriorated by galvanic corrosion caused by a potential difference between the materials of the terminal and the fixed member or galvanic corrosion caused by current leakage during operation of the liquid level detection apparatus.

In aspect (2), the at least one terminal may include a plurality of terminals. The at least one through opening may comprise a plurality of through openings. A plurality of through openings may be provided to the attachment face of the fixing member to face the exposed portions of the plurality of terminals, respectively.

According to the aspect (2), a plurality of through openings are provided to the attachment face of the fixing member so as to face the exposed portions of the plurality of terminals, respectively. Therefore, compared to a case where one through opening is provided in the attachment surface of the fixing member so as to face the exposed portions of the plurality of terminals, it is possible to prevent the strength of the fixing member from being reduced.

In the aspect (3), a groove extending in a vertical direction in the liquid tank may be provided on the attachment surface of the fixing member including at least one of the plurality of through openings.

According to the aspect (3), the groove extending in the vertical direction in the liquid tank is provided to the attachment surface of the fixing member including the through opening. Therefore, the water droplets adhering to the attachment face of the fixing member in the vicinity of the through opening are quickly drained downward along the groove extending in the vertical direction and are prevented from staying in the vicinity of the through opening.

According to the present invention, the liquid level detection device unit prevents electrical corrosion at the connection portion between the detection line and the terminal in the liquid level detection device attached to the fixed member.

The invention has been described briefly above. The details of the present invention will become more apparent by reading the embodiments of the present invention described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is an overall perspective view of a liquid level detection device unit.

Fig. 2 is a rear perspective view of the liquid level detection apparatus shown in fig. 1 in a state of being detached from a fixing member.

Fig. 3 is an overall perspective view of the fixing member shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a front view of a main part of the liquid level detection device unit shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line V-V of fig. 4 and an enlarged sectional view of a main portion.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI of fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of a liquid level detection device unit according to a reference example, which is a sectional view corresponding to section VI-VI of fig. 4.

List of reference marks

10: liquid level detection device

20: device body

21: sensor casing (casing)

24: detection line

27: hall IC (detection unit)

28: terminal with a terminal body

29: connection unit

50: fixing member

51: main body part

52: groove

57: through opening

100: liquid level detection device unit

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is an overall perspective view of a liquid level detection device unit 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a rear perspective view of the liquid level detection apparatus 10 shown in fig. 1 in a state of being detached from the fixing member 50. Fig. 3 is an overall perspective view of the fixing member 50 shown in fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a front view of a main portion of the liquid level detection device unit 100 shown in fig. 1. Fig. 5 and 6 are sectional views taken along lines V-V and VI-VI of fig. 4.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the liquid level detection device unit 100 according to the present embodiment includes a liquid level detection device 10 and a fixing member 50, the fixing member 50 being configured to fix the liquid level detection device 10 to a fuel tank (container).

The liquid level detection device unit 100 is inserted into a fuel tank placed on a vehicle such as an automobile through an opening provided in the top of the fuel tank. The liquid level detection device 10 attached to the tip end portion of the fixed member 50 detects the liquid level of the fuel (liquid) stored in the fuel tank.

The liquid level detection device 10 according to the present embodiment includes a device body 20, a magnet holder 70, a float arm 91, and a float 93. The apparatus main body 20 includes a sensor housing (casing) 21, a sensor unit 22, and a holding member 23 (see fig. 5).

As shown in fig. 4 to 6, the sensor unit 22 and the holding member 23 are assembled to the sensor housing 21. In the sensor unit 22, a hall IC 27 including the hall element 25 and three terminals 28 electrically connected to the lead wires 26 of the hall IC 27 are molded and integrated by an insulating molding member. One ends of the detection wires 24 held by the holding members 23 are electrically connected to exposed portions 29 of the respective terminals 28 exposed from the sensor housing 21, and these detection wires 24 are led out from the upper portion of the sensor housing 21.

One end of each inspection wire 24 is electrically connected to the exposed portion 29 by inserting the core wire 24a into a hole formed in the exposed portion 29 of the terminal 28 and then soldering with solder 60. Therefore, the exposed portions 29 of the respective terminals 28 are arranged inside the openings 30 that penetrate the sensor housing 21 in the front-rear direction (the left-right direction in fig. 5), and the exposed portions 29 are exposed in the front-rear direction of the sensor housing 21, enabling welding.

One end of the float arm 91 is connected to the magnet holder 70. The other end of the float arm 91 is a free end, and the float 93 is fixed to the free end. The magnet holder 70 is formed in a cylindrical shape including a ring-shaped magnet 75 therein. The magnet holder 70 is mounted on the front surface side (left side in fig. 5) of the sensor housing 21 and is rotatably held.

In the liquid level detection device 10, the float arm 91 swings in accordance with the movement of the float 93 following the liquid surface, and the magnet holder 70 to which the float arm 91 is connected rotates relative to the device main body 20. Then, the hall IC 27 provided in the sensor housing 21 of the apparatus main body 20 detects a change in the magnetic flux of the magnet 75 of the magnet holder 70, and the detection result thereof is transmitted to a measurement unit (not shown) via the detection line 24. The measuring unit measures the liquid level based on the detection result from the hall IC 27, and issues a warning if necessary. For example, the measuring unit issues a warning such as a fuel deficiency in the fuel tank.

The fixing member 50 shown in fig. 2 and 3 is formed of a strip-plate-like (elongated rectangular) metal plate or the like. The upper end fixing portion 53 of the main body portion 51 extending in the longitudinal direction is held by a lid body (not shown) that closes the opening of the fuel tank. The apparatus main body 20 of the liquid level detection apparatus 10 is attached to the main body portion 51 of the fixing member 50 from above.

The body portion 51 of the fixing member 50 includes a locking projection 58 and a guide portion 59, which project forward from both sides in the short-side direction of the body portion 51, respectively. The two pairs of guide portions 59 are disposed at positions facing each other in the left-right direction with an interval therebetween. The guide portion 59 includes plate-shaped wall portions 54 arranged in parallel with each other and lock piece portions 55 protruding from edge portions of the wall portions 54 in directions approaching each other.

The apparatus body 20 of the liquid level detection apparatus 10 is mounted between the guide portions 59 facing each other by sliding from the upper side to the lower side in the insertion direction a (downward direction in fig. 5) extending downward. The locking projections 58 are formed on the front side in the insertion direction a at positions below the respective guide portions 59, and are arranged at intervals. Locking holes 58a are formed in the respective locking projections 58. When the fixing member 50 to which the liquid level detection device 10 is attached is inserted into the opening of the fuel tank, the lock projection 58 can contact the peripheral edge portion of the opening before the liquid level detection device 10, and thus the liquid level detection device 10 can be protected.

The attachment surface (the surface facing the rear surface of the mounted sensor housing 21) of the main body portion 51 of the fixing member 50 to which the liquid level detection device 10 is attached is provided with a through opening 57, and the through opening 57 faces the exposed portion 29 of the terminal 28 exposed to the opening 30 of the sensor housing 21.

According to the present embodiment, the three through openings 57 are provided side by side in the short side direction of the main body portion 51 so as to face the exposed portions 29 of the three terminals 28, respectively.

Although the through opening 57 of the present embodiment is formed in a substantially rectangular shape corresponding to the opening shape of the opening 30, the shape of the through opening 57 is not limited thereto. Needless to say, the through opening of the present invention can be formed in various shapes such as a circle, an ellipse, and a polygon as long as the opening shape thereof can partition and form a predetermined space in which moisture is less likely to accumulate near the connection between the terminal 28 and the inspection line 24 due to surface tension, thereby preventing liquid from staying at the connection between the terminal 28 and the inspection line 24. The present invention may have only one through opening provided to face the exposed portions 29 of the plurality of terminals 28.

Further, a recess 52 extending in the vertical direction in the fuel tank is provided to the attachment face of the main body portion 51 of the fixing member 50. The recess 52 is provided along the length direction of the main body portion 51 to include a middle through opening 57 of three through openings 57 arranged in the short side direction. The groove 52 extends from the longitudinal intermediate portion toward the lower end portion of the main body portion 51. Thus, in the device body 20 mounted to the fixing member 50, a long space extending in the vertical direction in the fuel tank is defined between the rear surface of the sensor housing 21 and the attachment face of the main body portion 51.

As shown in fig. 2, the apparatus main body 20 includes slide protrusions 32 on both side portions of the sensor housing 21. The slide projection 32 has a thickness slightly smaller than a gap between the main body portion 51 and the lock piece portion 55 of the guide portion 59. The dimension between the end faces of the sliding projections 32 is slightly smaller than the interval between the inner surfaces of the wall portions 54 of the guide portions 59. In the sensor housing 21, a stopper portion 33 larger than the outer shape of the cross section of the slide projection 32 is formed at an end portion on the rear side in the insertion direction a of the slide projection 32. The apparatus main body 20 includes a plurality of abutment surface portions 34 that slightly protrude on the rear surface of the sensor housing 21.

Further, a pair of hook portions 41 is formed in a lower portion of the sensor housing 21 on the front side in the insertion direction a between the guide portions 59. The hook portions 41 extend downward at intervals from each other. A claw portion 42 protruding outward is formed at the tip of the hook portion 41. The interval between the distal ends of the claw portions 42 of the hook portions 41 is larger than the interval between the locking projections 58 of the fixing member 50.

In order to attach the apparatus body 20 of the liquid level detection apparatus 10 to the fixing member 50, the hook portion 41 is directed downward, and the apparatus body 20 is brought close to the fixing member 50 from above in a state where the rear surface of the apparatus body 20 faces the body portion 51 side of the fixing member 50. Then, the apparatus main body 20 is inserted between the guide portions 59 with its rear surface along the attachment surface of the main body 51, and the slide protrusions 32 on both side portions of the sensor housing 21 are inserted between the main body 51 and the lock piece portions 55 of the guide portions 59.

Thereafter, the device body 20 is pushed further downward. In this way, the claw portion 42 of the hook portion 41 contacts the lock projection 58 of the fixing member 50, and the hook portion 41 is elastically deformed inward in the width direction of the sensor housing 21. When the device body 20 is pushed down until the stopper portion 33 at the upper end of the slide projection 32 abuts against the guide portion 59, the hook portion 41 elastically deformed due to the engagement between the pawl portion 42 of the hook portion 41 and the locking hole 58a of the locking projection 58 is restored outward in the width direction of the sensor housing 21, and the pawl portion 42 is locked in the locking hole 58a of the locking projection 58.

Thereby, the slide protrusions 32 on both side portions of the sensor housing 21 are locked by the guide portions 59 of the fixing member 50, the hook portions 41 of the sensor housing 21 are locked to the locking protrusions 58 and prevented from coming off, and the apparatus body 20 is firmly mounted to the fixing member 50. In a state where the sensor housing 21 is attached to the fixing member 50, the plurality of abutment surface portions 34 on the rear surface abut against the main body portion 51. Thereby, the apparatus main body 20 is fixed to the fixing member 50 in a stable state without shaking.

As described above, according to the liquid level detection device unit 100 of the present embodiment, the through opening 57 of the exposed portion 29 exposed from the sensor housing 21 facing the terminal 28 is provided to the attachment surface of the main body portion 51 of the fixing member 50 to which the liquid level detection device 10 is attached. Therefore, a predetermined space in which moisture is less likely to accumulate due to surface tension is defined near the connecting portion between the terminal 28 and the inspection wire 24 exposed from the sensor housing 21 attached in close proximity to the attachment face of the main body portion 51 of the fixed member 50, as shown in fig. 5 and 6.

Therefore, the moisture condensed in the fuel tank and the fuel containing the moisture are less likely to stay between the attachment surface of the main body portion 51 of the fixing member 50 in close proximity and the connection portion between the terminal 28 and the sensing wire 24. As a result, the galvanic corrosion of the connection between the terminal 28 and the detection wire 24 is not deteriorated by galvanic corrosion caused by a potential difference between the terminal 28 and the material of the fixed member 50 or galvanic corrosion caused by current leakage during the operation of the liquid level detection apparatus 10.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of a liquid level detection device unit 500 according to a reference example, which is a sectional view corresponding to the section VI-VI of fig. 4.

The liquid level detection device unit 500 shown in fig. 7 includes the liquid level detection device 10 and a fixing member 550 configured to fix the liquid level detection device 10 to the fuel tank.

The attachment face of the main body portion 551 of the fixing member 550 is not provided with the through opening 57 as in the main body portion 51 of the fixing member 50 according to the above-described embodiment. Therefore, as shown in fig. 7, the water droplet 80 may stay on the attaching face of the main body portion 551 in close proximity to the rear surface of the sensor housing 21 due to surface tension. Subsequently, the staying water droplets 80 adhere to the connection portion between the terminal 28 and the detection wire 24 exposed from the sensor housing 21. As described above, when the water droplet 80 is attached between the fixing member 550 and the terminal 28 of the liquid level detection apparatus 10, a current flows between the terminal 28 and the fixing member 550 due to the conductivity of moisture. As a result, in the liquid level detection device unit 500 according to the reference example, electrical corrosion may occur in the connection portion between the terminal 28 and the detection wire 24 in the liquid level detection device 10.

In the liquid level detection device unit 100 according to the present embodiment, a plurality of (three in the embodiment) through openings 57 are provided to the attachment face of the main body portion 51 of the fixing member 50 so as to face the exposed portions 29 of the plurality of (three in the embodiment) terminals 28, respectively. Therefore, compared to the case where one through opening is provided in the attachment surface of the main body portion 51 of the fixing member 50 so as to face the exposed portions 29 of the plurality of terminals 28, it is possible to prevent the strength of the fixing member 50 from being reduced.

Further, in the liquid level detection device unit 100 according to the present embodiment, the recessed groove 52 extending in the vertical direction in the fuel tank is provided to the attachment surface of the main body portion 51 including the at least one through opening 57. Therefore, the water droplets adhering to the attachment face of the main body portion 51 in the vicinity of the through opening 57 are quickly discharged downward along the groove 52 extending in the vertical direction and are prevented from staying in the vicinity of the through opening 57.

As described above, according to the liquid level detection device unit 100 of the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of electrical corrosion at the connection portion between the terminal 28 and the detection line 24 in the liquid level detection device 10, which liquid level detection device 10 is attached to the fixed member 50.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and modifications, improvements, and the like can be appropriately made. In addition, the materials, shapes, sizes, numbers, arrangement positions, and the like of the respective constituent parts in the above-described embodiments are optional as long as the present invention can be implemented, and are not limited.

For example, although in the liquid level detection device 10 mounted to the fixed member 50, the float arm 91 swings in accordance with the movement of the float 93 following the liquid surface, and the magnet holder 70 to which the float arm 91 is connected rotates relative to the device main body 20, and then the hall IC 27 provided in the sensor housing 21 of the device main body 20 detects a change in the magnetic flux of the magnet 75 of the magnet holder 70, the liquid level detection device is not limited to this type, and various types of liquid level detection devices can be used.

The features of the above-described embodiment of the liquid level detection apparatus unit according to the present invention will be briefly summarized in the following [1] to [3 ].

[1] A liquid level detection device unit (100) comprising:

a liquid level detection device (10) configured to detect a liquid level of a liquid stored in the liquid tank;

a fixing member (50) that fixes the liquid level detection device to the inside of the liquid tank,

wherein, liquid level detection device includes: a device main body (20); at least one terminal (28) electrically connected to a detection unit (hall IC 27) in a case (sensor case 21) of the apparatus main body; and a detection wire (24) one end of which is electrically connected to an exposed portion (29) of the terminal exposed from the housing, and

wherein at least one through opening (57) is provided to the attachment face of the fixed member to face the exposed portion of the terminal and prevent liquid from staying in the connection portion between the terminal and the detection line.

[2] The liquid level detection device unit (100) according to [1],

wherein the at least one terminal (28) comprises a plurality of terminals (28),

wherein the at least one through opening (57) comprises a plurality of through openings (57), and

wherein the plurality of through openings (57) are provided to the attachment face of the fixing member (50) so as to face the exposed portions (29) of the plurality of terminals (28), respectively.

[3] The liquid level detection device unit (100) according to [2],

wherein a recess (52) extending in a vertical direction in the tank is provided on the attachment surface of the fixing member (50) comprising at least one through opening (57) of the plurality of through openings (57).