JP2013220056A - Heater device for water tank - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a heater device for water tank, improved in safety while reducing its production cost.SOLUTION: The heater device is such that: as a heater case 16 is enclosed by a hollow pipe-shaped cover body 55, such a situation that, owing to the cover body 55, a finger tip comes into contact with the heater case 16 heated at elevated temperatures even if a heater 12 is unloaded by accident into the air during electric current energization is surely avoided; furthermore, as end covers 42 and 43 are detachably fitted onto the heater case 16 and the cover body 55 onto the end covers 42 and 43, even if either the end covers 42 and 43 constituting a heater cover 41 or the cover body 55 is defective, the situation can be dealt with by only detaching it (them) and replacing it (them) by non-defective alternatives.

Description

    The present invention relates to a water tank heater device in which the outside of a heater is covered with a heater cover.

    Conventionally, when aquarium fishes are bred in an aquarium, it is possible to use an aquarium heater device in which the outside of the heater is covered with a heater cover so that the aquarium fish does not come into direct contact with the heater whose surface has become hot. As such a water tank heater device, for example, one described in Patent Document 1 below is known.

JP-A-9-009821

  This is a cylindrical heater case in which both ends in the axial direction are closed and an enclosed storage space is formed, and is stored in the storage space of the heater case and generates heat when energized to generate water in the water tank. A heater having a heating wire for heating, a mounting ring detachably mounted by a plurality of (four) mounting screws on both outer sides in the axial direction of the heater case, and an axially central portion of the heater case. A cover member comprising a plurality of (six) metal thin rods extending in the axial direction and arranged so as to surround from the outside and having both axial ends fixed to the mounting ring and spaced apart in the circumferential direction. And a heater cover that covers the heater from the outside.

    However, in such a conventional aquarium heater device, the cover member surrounding the central portion in the axial direction of the heater case heated to a high temperature is composed of a plurality of thin metal rods separated in the circumferential direction. Therefore, a certain amount of gap is generated between these thin rods. Here, if the heater cover is accidentally held by hand while being energized and taken out into the air, there is a risk that if the fingertip enters the gap, the fingertip directly contacts the high-temperature heater case and burns. There was a problem that could not be excluded. In addition, if any of the mounting ring or thin rod that constitutes the heater cover is found to be defective by inspection at the final stage of manufacturing the water tank heater device, the entire heater cover is discarded as defective because it cannot be disassembled. As a result, there is also a problem that the yield deteriorates and the manufacturing cost increases.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a water tank heater device capable of improving safety while easily reducing manufacturing costs.

    The purpose of this is to form a cylindrical heater case in which a storage space is formed that is closed at both ends in the axial direction and sealed inside, and is stored in the storage space of the heater case and generates heat when energized. A heater having a heating wire for heating water, an end cover detachably attached to both outer sides of both axial ends of the heater case, and a loose fit so as to surround the axial central portion of the heater case from the outside Achieved by an aquarium heater device having a hollow pipe-shaped cover body made of metal with both end portions in the axial direction detachably attached to the end cover, and a heater cover covering the heater from the outside can do.

  In the present invention, since the central portion of the heater case in the axial direction is surrounded from the outside by the hollow pipe-shaped cover body, it is a case where the heater cover is mistakenly held by hand and taken out into the air during energization. However, the situation in which the fingertip contacts the heater case heated to a high temperature by the cover body is reliably prevented, and the safety can be effectively improved. Moreover, since the end cover is detachably attached to the heater case, and the cover body is detachably attached to the end cover, the end portion constituting the heater cover by inspection at the final stage of manufacture of the water tank heater device Even if it turns out that either the cover or the cover body is defective, it can be dealt with by simply removing the defective end cover and cover body and replacing it with a non-defective product, thus easily reducing manufacturing costs. Can be made.

  In addition, since the cover main body can dissipate the heat received from the heater into the water by heat transfer, the heat dissipation area increases and the temperature of the water in the water tank becomes more uniform. In addition, the production cost of the cover body can be reduced. Furthermore, if comprised as claimed in claim 3, the current interrupting member can come into contact with the water having an average water temperature in the water tank through the through hole of the one end side end cover. Abnormal operation can be reliably prevented. According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, each end cover can be quickly and easily attached to and removed from the outer end of the heater case in the axial direction. Furthermore, if comprised as described in Claim 5, the heat discharge | released from the heater can be efficiently transmitted to surrounding water.

1 is a schematic front sectional view showing Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is a partially broken front view of a heater and a heater cover. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line II in FIG. 2. It is II-II arrow sectional drawing of FIG.

Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
1 and 2, 11 is a water tank for breeding ornamental fish and the like, and a predetermined amount of water (fresh water, seawater) W is stored in the water tank 11. Reference numeral 12 denotes a heater for controlling the water temperature that is submerged in the water W of the water tank 11 and extends in the vertical direction. The heater 12 has a case body 13 that has a cylindrical shape with both axial ends open. For example, it is made of ceramic or quartz glass. Reference numeral 14 denotes a pair of caps made of an insulating material such as rubber and plastic. Flange portions 15 extending in the circumferential direction are formed on the outer circumferences of these caps 14, respectively. Then, the cap 14a on one side is fitted to one end of the case body 13, so that one end opening of the case body 13 is closed, and the cap 14b on the other side is fitted to the other end of the case body 13. As a result, the other end opening of the case body 13 is closed. Thus, the cylindrical case body 13 and the pair of caps 14 that close both ends in the axial direction of the case body 13 constitute a heater case 16 as a whole, but at this time, the inside of the heater case 16 is hermetically sealed. The stored storage space 17 is formed. In the present invention, the case main body 13 may be formed of a bottomed cylindrical shape having a bottom wall at the other end in the axial direction. Will be mated

  The storage space 17 is partitioned in the case body 13 by partition plates arranged at both axial ends thereof, and the storage space 17 between the partition plate and the cap 14 is filled with a sealing material made of silicon or the like. ing. Further, a strip-like separator 21 extending in the axial direction of the case body 13 is housed in the housing space 17 between these partition plates. 22 is a heating wire bent in a spiral, and the heating wire 22 is stored in the storage space 17 between the two partition plates described above, and both ends thereof are located at one end in the axial direction of the case body 13, The central portion in the longitudinal direction is folded at the other end of the separator 21. The heating wire 22 is composed of, for example, a nichrome wire or an iron chromium wire, and generates heat to heat the water W in the water tank 11 when energized. In addition, the storage space 17 around the heating wire 22 is filled with insulating sand. As a result, the heat released from the heating wire 22 is transmitted to the water W in the water tank 11 through the insulating sand. This insulating sand may be omitted.

  Reference numeral 25 denotes a connection cord. One end of the connection cord 25 is connected to the plug 26, and the other end is connected to both ends of the heating wire 22. As a result, the heating wire 22 is energized through the connection cord 25. can do. Reference numeral 27 denotes a current interrupting member housed in the housing space 17 on the axial side of the heating wire 22, and the current interrupting member 27 is composed of a thermal protector such as a thermostat or a thermal fuse. The current interrupting member 27 is interposed in the middle of the connection cord 25. As a result, the heater 12 is mistakenly taken out from the water tank 11 into the air while the heating wire 22 is energized, or the water tank When the water W flows out of the water tank 11 due to breakage of the water 11 and the heater 12 is exposed to the air, the heater 12 (current interrupting member 27) becomes abnormally hot due to the heat from the heating wire 22 of the current interrupting member 27 Is detected and the power supply to the heating wire 22 is cut off.

  Reference numeral 30 denotes a control unit installed away from the water tank 11, and the control unit 30 is provided with a setting dial 31 for setting the water temperature on the front surface. 32 is a power cord in which a plug 33 to be plugged into a commercial power outlet is attached at one end, and a receptacle 34 into which the plug 26 is plugged into the other end, and the control unit 30 is placed in the middle of the power cord 32. It is intervened. When the plug 33 is inserted into an outlet of a commercial power source and the plug 26 is inserted into an outlet 34, the energization control elements such as thyristors and triacs housed in the control unit 30 are connected to the heating wire 22. The energization is controlled and the temperature of the water W is adjusted. A water temperature detection unit 35 is submerged in the water W of the water tank 11. The water temperature detection unit 35 incorporates a water temperature detection sensor (not shown) constituted by, for example, a thermistor. The water temperature detection sensor of the water temperature detection unit 35 and a control circuit (not shown) built in the control unit 30 are connected to each other by a cord 36.

  When the setting signal from the setting dial 31 and the detection signal from the water temperature detection sensor of the water temperature detection unit 35 are input to the control circuit, the control circuit is set by the setting dial 31 with the temperature detected by the water temperature detection sensor. When the detected temperature is lower than the predetermined temperature, the control circuit operates the energization control element to energize the heating wire 22, while when the detected temperature exceeds the predetermined temperature, the energization is performed. The operation of the control element is stopped and the power supply to the heating wire 22 is cut off. As a whole, the control unit 30 and the water temperature detection unit 35 described above control the energization to the heating wire 22 based on the water temperature of the water W detected by the water temperature detection sensor, and control the water temperature of the water W to a predetermined temperature. Configure 39. In the present invention, the water temperature detection sensor may be stored in the storage space 17 on one axial side of the current interrupting member 27. Further, the control circuit and the energization control element described above are also in the vicinity of the water temperature detection sensor. It may be stored in the storage space 17.

  41 is a heater cover which is coaxial with the heater 12 and covers substantially the entire axial direction of the heater 12 from the outside, and this heater cover 41 covers the end covers 42, 43, respectively covering the outer sides of both ends of the heater case 16 in the axial direction. Here, one end side end cover 42 covering the outer side of the one axial end of the heater case 16 and the other end side end cover 43 covering the outer side of the other axial end of the heater case 16 are provided. The one end side and the other end side end covers 42 and 43 have a cylindrical shape coaxial with the heater case 16, and are made of plastic in order to easily and inexpensively produce a desired shape. The one end side and the other end side end covers 42, 43 are respectively formed with a plurality of rectangular through holes 44, 45 penetrating in the radial direction. As a result, water is passed through these through holes 44, 45. W can easily enter and exit from one end side and the other end side end covers 42 and 43.

  2, 3, and 4, the one end side end cover 42 and the other end side end cover 43 are both flat and semi-circular in section and include one end side split pieces 42 a and 42 b and the other end side split piece. Divided into 43a and 43b. Here, a plurality of fastening portions 48 and 49 projecting in the circumferential direction are integrally formed apart from each other in the circumferential direction on the outer periphery of both end portions (split end portions) in the circumferential direction of the one end side split piece 42a and the other end side split piece 43a. Yes. And when the circumferential direction both end surfaces of the said one end side division | segmentation pieces 42a and 42b contact | abut and become cylindrical, the front-end | tip part of the said fastening part 48 is in the through-hole 44 formed in the one end side division | segmentation piece 42b. When the one end side split pieces 42a and 42b are fastened to each other and the other end side split pieces 43a and 43b are in contact with each other in the circumferential direction to form a cylindrical shape, The front end is hooked into a through hole 45 formed in the other end side split piece 43b, and the other end side split pieces 43a and 43b are fastened to each other.

  Further, as described above, a circumferential groove 52 extending continuously in the circumferential direction is formed on the inner periphery of the one-end-side divided pieces 42a and 42b (one-end-side end cover 42) fastened so as to have a cylindrical shape. Yes. When the one end side end cover 42 is fitted to the outer side of the cap 14a, the flange portion 15 of the cap 14a is inserted into the circumferential groove 52, whereby the one end side end cover 42 is It is detachably attached to the cap 14a while the axial movement of the 14a is restricted (prevention of slipping). On the other hand, a circumferential groove 53 extending continuously in the circumferential direction is also formed on the inner periphery of the other end side split pieces 43a and 43b (the other end side end cover 43) fastened to have a cylindrical shape as described above. Has been. When the other end side end cover 43 is fitted to the outer side of the cap 14b, the flange portion 15 of the cap 14b is inserted into the circumferential groove 53, whereby the other end side end cover 43 is inserted. Is detachably attached to the cap 14b while the axial movement of the cap 14b is restricted (prevention of removal).

  As described above, the one end side and the other end side end covers 42 and 43 are divided into two by a plane including the central axis, and the one end divided pieces 42a and 42b divided into two and the other end divided pieces 43a and 43b are divided. Since the fastening portions 48 and 49 for fastening each other are provided on the one end side split piece 42a and the other end side split piece 43a, the one end side and the other end side end covers 42 and 43 are connected to the end of the heater case 16 in the axial direction. It can be quickly and easily attached to the outside of the part (here, both ends). In the present invention, similar to the later-described projection 57 and locking hole 58, the projection is provided on one of the one end-side divided pieces 42a, 42b or the other end-side divided pieces 43a, 43b, and the other projection is provided on the other. By forming an insertable through hole and inserting a protrusion into the through hole, the one end side split pieces 42a and 42b and the other end side split pieces 43a and 43b may be fastened. In the present invention, either one of the two division positions is connected to the one end side divided pieces 42a, 42b and the other end side divided pieces 43a, 43b so as to be openable and closable by a thin portion. When the pieces 42a and 42b and the other-end-side divided pieces 43a and 43b are closed, they may be fastened using a fastening portion.

  Here, as described above, when the current interrupting member 27 is stored in one axial end portion of the storage space 17, the one end side end cover 42 attached to one axial end portion of the heater case 16 is used as the current interrupting member. The through hole 44 described above is formed in the end cover 42 at the one end side where the current interrupting member 27 and the current blocking member 27 overlap. If the through hole 44 is formed in the one end side end cover 42 in such a position, the current interrupting member 27 can reach the water W having an average water temperature in the water tank 11 that enters and exits through the through hole 44 of the one end side end cover 42. As a result, the water W heated to the high temperature by the heating wire 22 is prevented from staying outside the current interrupting member 27 and the abnormal operation of the current interrupting member 27 is ensured. Can be prevented. As described above, when the water temperature detection sensor, the control circuit, and the energization control element are stored in the storage space 17, the end cover 42 on the one end side of the portion overlapping the water temperature detection sensor, the control circuit, and the energization control element is also provided. It is preferable to form the through hole 44.

  55 is a hollow pipe-like, in this case a cylindrical cover body, arranged so as to surround the axial center part of the heater case 16 from the outside, and since this cover body 55 is loosely fitted to the heater case 16, these A cylindrical space 56 having a certain thickness is formed between the cover body 55 and the heater case 16. Here, the cover body 55 is made of a metal having good thermal conductivity, for example, aluminum, aluminum alloy, magnesium alloy, steel, etc., and both axial ends thereof are one end side and the other end side end covers 42, 43. It is fitted and attached to the outside in the axial direction inner end. Here, a plurality of small protrusions 57 separated in the circumferential direction are formed on the outer periphery of the axial inner end overlapping the cover main body 55 of the one end side and the other end side end covers 42 and 43, while the cover main body One end side of the 55 and the other end side end covers 42 and 43 are overlapped with both ends in the axial direction, and a plurality of locking holes 58 for locking into which the projections 57 are inserted are separated in the circumferential direction (with the projections 57 and 57). The same number).

  Thus, when the both axial end portions of the cover main body 55 are fitted to the inner end portions in the axial direction of the one end side and the other end side end covers 42 and 43, the protrusions 57 are inserted into the corresponding locking holes 58. Thus, the cover main body 55 is detachably attached to the one end side and the other end side end covers 42 and 43. In the present invention, a screw is formed on the outer periphery of one of the one end side, the other end side end cover 42, 43 or the cover body 55, and a female screw is formed on the other inner periphery to be screwed with the male screw. Thus, the cover main body 55 may be detachably attached to the one end side and the other end side end covers 42 and 43. The one end side, the other end side end covers 42 and 43, and the cover main body 55 as a whole constitute the heater cover 41 that covers the heater 12 from the outside.

  As described above, in this embodiment, since the center part in the axial direction of the heater case 16 is surrounded from the outside by the hollow pipe-shaped cover body 55, the heater cover 41 is accidentally held in the air by hand during energization. Even when the cover body 55 is taken out, a situation in which the fingertip comes into contact with the heater case 16 heated to a high temperature by the cover body 55 is reliably prevented, and safety can be effectively improved. Moreover, the one end side and the other end side end covers 42 and 43 are detachably attached to the heater case 16, and the cover body 55 is detachably attached to the one end side and the other end side end covers 42 and 43. Even when one end side constituting the heater cover 41, the other end side end covers 42 and 43, and the cover main body 55 are found to be defective by the inspection at the final stage of manufacturing the water tank heater device, This can be dealt with by simply removing the defective one-end-side and other-end-side end covers 42 and 43 and the cover main body 55 and replacing them with non-defective products, and the manufacturing cost can be easily reduced.

  Here, the above-described cover body 55 is non-hole except for the locking hole 58, that is, a hole penetrating in the radial direction is not formed. Thus, if the cover body 55 is made non-porous and the plurality of through holes 44 and 45 are formed in the one end side and other end side end covers 42 and 43, the cover body 55 is received from the heater 12 through the water W. Heat can be dissipated into the water by heat transfer, increasing the heat dissipating area, making the temperature of the water W in the water tank 11 more uniform, and reducing the manufacturing cost of the cover body 55 Can do. In addition, a plurality of fins 62 extending in the radial direction toward the heater case 16 to the vicinity of the outer surface of the heater case 16 are formed on the inner periphery of the cover body 55, and these fins 62 are separated by an equal distance in the circumferential direction. Has been placed. In this way, if a plurality of circumferentially separated fins 62 extending toward the heater case 16 are formed on the inner periphery of the cover body 55, the heat released from the heater 12 is from the metal having good thermal conductivity from the water W. Is transmitted to the fins 62 of the cover body 55 and then efficiently transmitted from the outer surface of the cover body 55 to the surrounding water W, so that the temperature of the water W in the water tank 11 can be heated substantially uniformly. . The aforementioned fin 62 may be omitted.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described.
In order to attach the heater cover 41 to the heater 12 described above, first, the cover main body 55 is loosely fitted to the outside of the heater case 16 (case main body 13), and then the one end side split piece 42a constituting the one end side end cover 42. , 42b are brought close to each other and the flange portion 15 of the cap 14a is fitted into the circumferential groove 52, and the one end side divided pieces 42a, 42b are fastened to each other by the fastening portion 48, and one end portion in the axial direction of the heater case 16 One end side end cover 42 detachably attached to the other end side end cover 43 is formed while the other end side split pieces 43a and 43b are made close to each other so that the circumferential groove 53 has a flange of the cap 14b. The other end side split pieces 43a and 43b are fastened to each other by the fastening portion 49 while the portion 15 is fitted, and the other end side end cover 43 that is detachably attached to the cap 14b of the heater case 16 is formed. . At this time, the projections 57 of the end covers 42 and 43 at the one end side and the other end side are respectively inserted into the locking holes 58 of the cover body 55, and the cover body 55 is attached to and detached from the end covers 42 and 43 at the one end side and the other end side. Attach the heater cover 41 to the heater 12 as possible. Such a water tank heater device is inspected at the final stage of manufacture. At this time, one of the one end side, the other end side end covers 42 and 43, and the cover body 55 constituting the heater cover 41 is defective. Even if it becomes clear, it can be easily dealt with by simply removing the defective one-end side and other-end-side end covers 42 and 43 and the cover main body 55 and replacing them with non-defective products.

  Next, the heater 12 and the heater cover 41 covering the heater 12 are submerged in the water tank 11, and the heater 12 and the heater cover 41 are attached to the side wall of the water tank 11 so as to extend in the vertical direction using a kiss rubber 64. After that, the plug 26 is inserted into the outlet 34 and the plug 33 is inserted into the outlet of the commercial power supply so that the heating wire 22 can be energized. As a result, the setting signal from the setting dial 31 and the detection signal from the water temperature detection sensor of the water temperature detection unit 35 are input to the control circuit. At this time, the control circuit detects the temperature detected by the water temperature detection sensor and the setting dial. When the detected temperature is lower than the predetermined temperature, the control circuit operates the energization control element to energize the heating wire 22 when compared with the predetermined temperature set by 31.

  Here, when the heating wire 22 is energized as described above, the heating wire 22 generates heat and the water around the heater 12, more specifically, between the heater 12 and the heater cover 41 (space 56). W is heated, but the water W heated in this way and having risen in temperature rises in the space 56 and passes through the through-hole 44 formed in the one end side end cover 42. While diffusing around and raising the temperature of the water W, the water W flows into the space 56 through the through hole 45 formed in the other end side end cover 43. Further, at this time, heat is transferred from the water W having an increased temperature located in the space 56 to the fins 62 of the cover main body 55, and this heat flows to the outer surface of the cover main body 55 through the cover main body 55, By being transmitted from the surface to the surrounding water W, the water W is efficiently heated. When the temperature of the water W rises until the detected temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature, the operation of the energization control element is stopped and the energization to the heating wire 22 is interrupted. In this way, the temperature of the water W is controlled to a predetermined temperature. Here, even if the heater cover 41 that is energized for cleaning or the like is accidentally held by hand and removed from the water tank 11, the heater case 16 (case body 13) whose fingertips are heated to a high temperature by the cover body 55 is used. The situation of contact can be reliably prevented and safety can be effectively improved.

  The present invention can be applied to the industrial field of the water tank heater device in which the outside of the heater is covered with a heater cover.

11 ... Water tank 12 ... Heater
16… Heater case 17… Storage space
22 ... Heat wire 27 ... Current blocking member
41… Heater cover 42, 43… End cover
44, 45 ... Through hole 48, 49 ... Fastening part
55 ... Cover body 62 ... Fin W ... Water

Claims (5)

    A cylindrical heater case in which a storage space is formed that is closed at both ends in the axial direction and sealed inside, and the heat generated in the storage space of the heater case that generates heat when energized to heat water in the water tank A heater having a wire, an end cover detachably attached to both outer sides of both ends of the heater case in the axial direction, and both ends of the axial direction of the heater case so as to surround the axial center of the heater case from the outside. A water tank heater device comprising: a hollow pipe-shaped cover body made of metal detachably attached to the end cover, and a heater cover that covers the heater from the outside.     The aquarium heater device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of through holes are formed in each end cover, and the cover body is non-porous.     One end of the heater case attached to one end in the axial direction of the heater case when the current interrupting member that cuts off the power to the heating wire is stored at one end in the axial direction of the storage space. The water tank according to claim 2, wherein the part cover extends toward the center in the axial direction until it exceeds the current interrupting member, and the through hole is formed in one end side end cover of a portion overlapping the current interrupting member. Heater device.     4. The end cover according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the end cover is divided into two parts by a plane including a central axis, and a fastening part for fastening the two divided parts to each other is provided on the divided parts. Aquarium heater.     The aquarium heater device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a plurality of fins extending toward the heater case and spaced apart in the circumferential direction are formed on an inner periphery of the cover body.

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