Out-of-liquid sensor, and liquid supply device using same

• US 6,819,250 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2002
• Issued: 11/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Diversey Incorporated (Sealed Air)
• Original Assignee: JohnsonDiversey, Inc
• Inventors: Nishioka, Yuji
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Blount, Eric
• Application Number:
  US10/320,224
• Publication Number:
  US 20030141467A1
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 340/608, 340/606, 340/612, 340/618, 340/611, 340/619, 340/620, 250/577, 732/93, 732/94, 733/02, 733/03, 733/07, 733/06, 73/17.3, 73/17.4, 732/90.R, 732/91
• US Class Current: 340/608
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2205/503 of gas in a liquid flow, e.g. gas bubbles
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/1253 by using two or more rollers as squeezing elements, the rollers moving on an arc of a circle during squeezing
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/10 Other safety measures
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 13/0086 with photo-electric detection

Abstract

The present invention provides a highly universal out-of-liquid sensor that allows an out-of-liquid condition to be accurately detected for a long time, and provides a liquid supply device using the same. The out-of-liquid sensor 1, that is mounted in a liquid supply route for supplying a liquid to a predetermined location and forms a part of the liquid supply route, comprises a light-transmissive tubular body 2, the opening at one end of which is formed into a connecting section 4 capable of communicating with an upstream piping 16 of the liquid supply route, and the opening at the other end of which is formed into a connecting section 5 capable of communicating with a downstream piping 16′ of the liquid supply route, and in which an internal bore section 6 communicating between the two connecting sections 4 and 5 is formed in the liquid-transmitting channel; and also comprises a photosensor 3 mounted on the tubular body 2, the detector 11 of the photosensor 3 being constructed to sense, through the light-transmissive wall surface of the tubular body 2, the presence or absence of a liquid flowing through the internal bore section 6.

Claims

1. An out-of-liquid sensor which is mounted in a liquid supply route for supplying a liquid to a predetermined location, and which forms a part of the liquid supply route, comprising:

a light-transmissive tubular body, the opening at one end of which is formed into a connecting section including connecting means, capable of communicating with an upstream piping of the liquid supply route, and the opening at the other end of which is formed into a connecting section including connecting means, capable of communicating with a downstream piping of the liquid supply route, and an internal bore section communicating between the two connecting sections formed in the liquid-transmitting channel; and

a photosensor mounted on the tubular body;

wherein the detector of the photosensor is constructed to sense, through the light-transmissive wall surface of the tubular body, the presence or absence of a liquid flowing through the internal bore section.

2. The out-of-liquid sensor according to claim 1, wherein the photosensor is a transmissive photosensor, and the light-emitting section and light-receiving section thereof are embedded on the opposite sides of the internal bore section of the tubular body.

5. A liquid supply device for supplying liquid to a predetermined location, comprising:

liquid delivery means for drawing a liquid from one end and discharging the liquid at the other end;

a liquid suction piping, one end of which is connected to a liquid supply source, and the other end of which is connected to the suction side of the liquid delivery means; and

a liquid discharge piping, one end of which is connected to the discharge side of the liquid delivery means, and the other end of which is connected to the predetermined location;

wherein the out-of-liquid sensor according to claim 1 or 2 is mounted in the liquid suction route extending from the liquid supply source to the suction side of the liquid delivery means via the liquid suction piping, or in the liquid discharge route extending from the discharge side of the liquid delivery means to the predetermined location via the liquid discharge piping; and

predetermined warning means is set to be activated when the photosensor in the out-of-liquid sensor detects an absence of liquid in the internal bore section of the tubular body.

3. An out-of-liquid sensor which is mounted on the lid of a liquid-filled container prepared as a liquid supply source for supplying a liquid to a predetermined location, and which forms a part of a liquid supply route extending from the liquid supply source, comprising:

a light-transmissive tubular body, the opening at one end of which is formed into a connecting section including connecting means, capable of communicating with a liquid suction piping for engaging an opening formed in the lid of the liquid-filled container and drawing out the liquid in the container, and the opening at the other end of which is formed into a connecting section including connecting means, capable of communicating with a downstream piping of the liquid supply route, and an internal bore section communicating between the two connecting sections formed in the liquid-transmitting channel; and

a photosensor mounted on the tubular body;

wherein the detector of the photo sensor is constructed to sense, through the light-transmissive wall surface of the tubular body, whether there is a liquid flowing through the internal bore section.

4. The out-of-liquid sensor according to claim 3, wherein the photosensor is a transmissive photosensor, and the light-emitting section and light-receiving section thereof are embedded on the opposite sides of the internal bore section of the tubular body.

6. A liquid supply device for supplying liquid to a predetermined location, comprising:

liquid delivery means for drawing a liquid from one end and discharging the liquid at the other end;

a liquid suction piping, one end of which is connected to a liquid-filled container prepared as a liquid supply source, and the other end of which is connected to the suction side of the liquid delivery means; and

a liquid discharge piping, one end of which is connected to the discharge side of the liquid delivery means, and the other end of which is connected to the predetermined location;

wherein the out-of-liquid sensor according to claim 3 or 4 is mounted on the lid of the liquid-filled container; and

predetermined warning means is set to be activated when the photosensor in the out-of-liquid sensor detects an absence of liquid in the internal bore section of the tubular body.