Liquid quality checking device and liquid storage tank provided with the device

• US 9,046,502 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2012
• Issued: 06/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Company Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Company Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Chikamune, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin, Laura
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shah, Samir M
• Application Number:
  US13/984,993
• Publication Number:
  US 20130312497A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,212 Days
• Field of Search: 73/530.1, 73/541.7
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/52 using colour charts
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/293 with colour charts, graduated scales or turrets
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/78 producing a change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/00 Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/28 Oils , i.e. hydrocarbon liquids edible oils or edible fats G01N33/03

Abstract

A deterioration checking device (2) includes a sight glass (3) through which deterioration of a biofuel stored in a fuel tank is observable as a change in the color of the biofuel, and first and second benchmark sections (4a, 4b) each of which three color samples (11a, 11b, 11c) corresponding to different degrees of deterioration of the biofuel are arranged along the sight glass (3). Deterioration is determined by observing the color samples (11a, 11b, 11c) through the biofuel in the sight glass (3). The arrangement of the color samples (11a, 11b, 11c) of the first benchmark section (4a) and that of the color samples (11a, 11b and 11c) of the second benchmark section (4b) are reversed to each other, so as to cope with the lowering of the liquid level of the biofuel and the rising of the liquid level of a water layer.

Claims

1. A liquid quality checking device comprising:

an observation window that is attachable onto a liquid storage tank and extends in a vertical direction along which a liquid level of a liquid stored in the liquid storage tank changes, the observation window permitting a change in quality of the liquid to be observed as a change in color of the liquid; and

first and second benchmark sections that are placed close to the observation window, each of said first and second benchmark sections having a plurality of color samples, corresponding to a plurality of different quality degrees of the liquid, arranged along the observation window;

wherein

in the first benchmark section, the color samples are arranged along the observation window in order of specific stages through which deterioration of the liquid quality progresses, and

in the second benchmark section, the color samples are arranged along the observation window in order reverse to the order of the color samples of the first benchmark section.

2. The liquid quality checking device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of color samples are formed by filling transparent capsules with liquids at the plurality of different quality degrees.

3. A liquid storage tank provided with the liquid quality checking device according to claim 2.

4. The liquid storage tank according to claim 3, wherein a vertical position of the liquid quality checking device is set so that a lower end of the observation window is located above an allowable highest position that a liquid level of a contaminant forming a layer under the liquid in the liquid storage tank can lower.

5. A liquid storage tank provided with the liquid quality checking device according to claim 1.

6. The liquid storage tank according to claim 5, wherein a vertical position of the liquid quality checking device is set so that a lower end of the observation window is located above an allowable highest position that a liquid level of a contaminant forming a layer under the liquid in the liquid storage tank can lower.