JPH10136814A - Carbon dioxide feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To early detect consumption due to electrolytical corrosion of a spring, to prevent the progress of the corrosion and to surely inform a uses of the occurrence of corrosion. SOLUTION: When water is infiltrated into a closed space 21 by any trouble or the like in case of exchanging an anode member 20, a spring 22 is electrolytically corroded from its top end side (the other terminal side) by a current flowing between the spring 22 and the anode member 20 but when contact resistance between the spring 22 and the anode member 20 is increased by such corrosion and the value of current flowing through a connecting cord 23 is reduced, a cut-off means detecting the current value detects this reduction and cuts off the current to flow through the connecting cord 23.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a supply device for supplying carbon dioxide to water in an aquarium used for raising ornamental fish.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, it has been widely practiced to breed ornamental fish in an aquarium, and at the same time, it is also important to appropriately grow aquatic plants in the aquarium. Here, in order to perform photosynthesis, aquatic plants need to have an appropriate amount of carbon dioxide dissolved in the water.Therefore, a carbon dioxide supply device is installed in the water tank so that the amount of carbon dioxide dissolved in the water in the water tank can be reduced. Attempts have been made to keep the amount at an appropriate level.

Conventionally, as such a carbon dioxide supply device, for example, a cathode member immersed in water of a water tank and a carbon member immersed in water of a water tank at a position separated from the cathode member, An anode member that generates carbon dioxide when a current flows between the cathode member, a holder fitted to one end of the anode member, and housed in a sealed space formed between the anode member and the holder, It is known that one end is connected to a connection cord penetrating the holder, and the other end is pressed against the anode member, and a spring for guiding a constant current from the connection cord to the anode member is provided.

[0004]

However, in such a conventional carbon dioxide supply device, water may enter the enclosed space due to exhaustion of the anode member, inaccuracies in replacing the anode member, and the like. In such a case, if the voltage value at the boundary between the spring and the anode member is equal to or higher than the voltage value that causes electrolysis, the current flowing between them causes the spring to be electrolyzed and consumed from the front end (the other end). Eclipse). If such wear is left as it is, the spring will be consumed to such an extent that it cannot be used. Therefore, there is a problem that the entire supply device must be discarded and replaced with a new supply device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a carbon dioxide supply device capable of detecting wear of a spring due to electrolytic corrosion at an early stage, preventing the progress of the wear, and reliably informing the user of the occurrence of wear. Aim.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a cathode member immersed in water of a water tank and a carbon member immersed in water of a water tank at a position separated from the cathode member and made of carbon. An anode member that generates carbon dioxide when a current flows between the members, a holder fitted to one end of the anode member, and housed in a sealed space formed between the anode member and the holder. A carbon dioxide supply device comprising: a spring connected to a connection cord penetrating the holder, the other end being pressed against the anode member to guide a constant current from the connection cord to the anode member. By detecting a current value flowing through the connecting cord, and providing a cut-off means for cutting off the current flowing through the connection cord when the current value becomes smaller than the reference value due to wear of the spring. It can be.

When water enters the enclosed space due to exhaustion of the anode member, inconvenience in replacing the anode member, or the like, the spring is electrolyzed by a current flowing at the boundary between the spring and the anode member, and is consumed from the tip (the other end) side. (Electrolytic corrosion) may occur, but when the spring is shortened due to such wear, the contact pressure is reduced or the contact resistance increases due to oxidation of the tip of the spring, and the current value flowing through the connection cord is reduced. . Then, when the current value is less than the reference value, the interrupting means that has detected the current value determines that the spring has slightly consumed, and interrupts the current flowing through the connection cord, thereby preventing the progress of the consumption of the spring. At the same time, the occurrence of the wear is notified to the user early and surely.

[0008] Further, according to the structure described in claim 2, intrusion of water into the closed space can be effectively prevented. Further, since the anode member is made of relatively fragile carbon, if a local current flows through a part of the anode member, the anode member may be broken from the site. In such a case, the anode becomes short. The life is shortened. However, according to the third aspect of the present invention, since the current flows only in the other end portion (tip portion) of the anode member facing the current-carrying segment, the anode member has one end. The anode member does not fall off or break at the side portion, thereby extending the life of the anode member. Then, when the other end that is energized is consumed and the anode member is shortened, the connection between the connection cord and the segment is switched from the segment located on the other end to the segment located on one end in accordance with this. The segment that is energized and functions as a cathode always faces the other end of the anode member that has been worn and shortened. Such switching is performed a plurality of times successively until most of the anode member is consumed, whereby the supply of carbon dioxide is continued for a long time.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1, 2 and 3, reference numeral 11 denotes an aquarium used when rearing ornamental fish.
Aquatic plants M grow in the underwater. Here, in order to grow such aquatic plants M appropriately, it is necessary to keep the amount of carbon dioxide dissolved in the water W in the water tank 11 at an appropriate amount. The electrode unit 13 of the device 12 is arranged.

The electrode unit 13 has a cathode member 16 made of stainless steel or the like having a bottomed cylindrical shape.
16 is immersed in the water W of the water tank 11 such that the bottom wall is at the upper end. A holder 17 is inserted into and fixed to one end (upper end) of the cathode member 16. The holder 17 includes a molded cylindrical first holder 18 having a bottom and a first holder 18.
And a second holder 19 having a substantially cylindrical shape with a bottom and made of rubber. Reference numeral 20 denotes a columnar anode member made of carbon immersed in water W of the water tank 11 similarly to the cathode member 16, and this anode member 20 extends substantially parallel to the cathode member 16, and here is coaxial within the cathode member 16. As a result, the anode member 20 is separated from the cathode member 16 by a predetermined distance. One end (upper end) of the anode member 20 is fitted to the second holder 19, thereby forming a closed space 21 between the inner surface of the second holder 19 and one end of the anode member 20. You. Reference numeral 22 denotes a metal spring stored in a compressed state in the closed space 21. One end of the spring 22 abuts on the bottom wall of the second holder 19, while the other end of the spring 22 is It is in contact with one end face. As a result, even if the insertion position of the anode member 20 with respect to the holder 17 is slightly deviated,
The contact between the spring 22 and the anode member 20 is always maintained.
Reference numeral 23 denotes a connection cord whose one end penetrates the bottom wall of the cathode member 16 and the holder 17.
Is connected to one end of the spring 22. As a result, a constant current is guided to the anode member 20 through the connection cord 23. Reference numeral 24 denotes silicon grease sealed in the closed space 21. This silicon grease 24 is
This effectively prevents water W from entering the sealed space 21 between the anode member 20 and the anode member 20, thereby preventing the spring 22 from being consumed by electrolytic corrosion.

The cathode member 16 is composed of a plurality of ring-shaped segments 25 arranged in the longitudinal direction of the cathode member 16, here in the axial direction.
An insulating material 26 is interposed between the segments 25, so that the segments 25
They are insulated from each other. Reference numeral 27 denotes a plurality of through-holes formed in each segment 25. These through-holes 27 allow water W to flow between the inside and the outside of the cathode member 16.
Reference numeral 28 denotes a switch with a timer embedded in the first holder 18.
One end of a connection cord 29 having one end penetrating the bottom wall of the first holder 18 and the first holder 18 is connected. 30 is segment 25
The connection cords 30 connect the segment 25 and the switch 28 with the timer, respectively. The switch with timer 28 connects the connection cord 29 to the segment 25 (connection cord 30) every time a predetermined time elapses, that is, every time the anode member 20 at the portion facing each segment 25 is consumed. The segments 25 are sequentially switched from the segment 25 located on the other end side (the distal end side) to the segment 25 located on the one end side (the proximal end side).

The other ends of the connection cords 23 and 29 are connected to a control unit 35 arranged at a position separated from the water tank 11.
An indicator light 37 that lights when exhaustion of the 22 is detected and a variable volume 38 that controls a current value guided to the anode member 20 are provided. A power cord 40 extends from the control unit 35, and a plug 41 that is inserted into a commercial power outlet is attached to the end of the power cord 40.

The control unit 35 has a constant current drive circuit 46. The constant current drive circuit 46 supplies a constant current of a value set by the variable volume 38 to a current detection circuit 47 and an anode member via a connection cord 23. 20 to supply electricity between the anode member 20 and the cathode member 16. At this time, the current detection circuit
47 is the current flowing through the connection cord 23, in other words, the anode member
The current flowing between 20 and cathode member 16 is detected, and the detection result is output to comparison circuit 48. Further, a reference current from the constant current drive circuit 46 is input to the comparison circuit 48, whereby the comparison circuit 48 detects the detection result (the value of the current flowing through the connection code 23) from the current detection circuit 47 and the reference current. At this time, when the detection result from the current detection circuit 47 becomes less than the reference current due to the consumption of the spring 22, a cutoff signal is output to the current detection circuit 47 to output the anode member.
The current supplied to 20, ie, the current flowing through the connection cord 23 is cut off to reliably prevent the consumption of the spring 22, and to notify the user without fail. At this time, the comparison circuit 48 outputs an abnormal signal to the indicator light 37 via the drive circuit 50, and turns on the indicator light 37 to provide an auxiliary warning. The above-described current detection circuit 47 and comparison circuit 48 detect the current value flowing through the connection cord 23 as a whole, and when the current value falls below the reference value due to the consumption of the spring 22, the current flowing through the connection cord 23 is detected. The blocking means 51 for blocking is configured.

Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described. Now, it is assumed that the plug 41 is inserted into the socket of the commercial power supply and the power is supplied to the supply device 12. At this time, the constant current drive circuit 46 supplies the constant current of the value set by the variable volume 38 to the anode member via the connection cord 23.
Then, electricity is supplied between the anode member 20 and the cathode member 16. As a result, the water W in the water tank 11 is electrolyzed, and oxygen (active oxygen) is generated around the anode member 20, but a part of the active oxygen is combined with the anode member 20 made of carbon to form a carbon dioxide. It becomes carbon and dissolves in water W. Thereby, the waterweed M
The water W is continuously replenished with water for growing the water W. The amount of replenishment can be adjusted to an appropriate amount according to the consumption of the water plant M by rotating the variable volume 38. At the start of the supply of carbon dioxide, the current flows in the anode member 20 only at the other end (tip) facing the segment 25 located at the most tip side (the other end) during energization. Therefore, the anode member 20 does not break at a portion on one side from the other end portion, whereby the life of the anode member 20 can be extended. And
When the current-carrying other end is consumed and the anode member 20 is shortened, the switch 28 with the timer moves the connection between the connection cord 29 and the segment 25 (connection cord 30) to the other end. The segment 25 is sequentially switched from the segment 25 to the segment 25 located on one end side, and the segment 25, which is energized and functions as a cathode, is always opposed to the other end of the anode member 20 which has been worn and shortened. Here, such switching is performed a plurality of times until most of the anode member 20 is consumed, whereby the supply of carbon dioxide is continued for a long time. In this way, when the carbon component of the anode member 20 becomes less than the predetermined amount and reaches the end of its life, the end of the life of the anode member 20 is replaced with a new anode member 20, and the anode member 20 is used again.

Here, when replacing the anode member 20 as described above, there is a problem. For example, the anode member 20 is slightly inclined and inserted into the holder 17 to generate a slight gap between them. Alternatively, if a small gap is generated between the anode member 20 and the holder 17 due to local depletion of the one end (base end) of the anode member 20 for some reason, In some cases, water W may enter the closed space 21 through the gap. At this time, if a voltage equal to or higher than a voltage value that causes electrolysis due to contact resistance acts on the boundary between the spring 22 and the anode member 20, the spring W that partially functions as an anode through the water W partially The spring 22 is electrolyzed by the current flowing between the anode member 20 functioning as a cathode and is consumed (erosion) from the tip (the other end) side. As a result, the spring 22 is gradually shortened and the contact pressure is reduced. The contact resistance increases as the tip (the other end) of the spring 22 falls or oxidizes, and the value of the current flowing through the connection cord 23 decreases. And the spring
When the tip end (the other end) of 22 is slightly consumed and the current value becomes less than the reference value, the detection result (the value of the current flowing through the connection cord 23) from the current detection circuit 47 is compared with the reference current. The comparing circuit 48 determines that the spring 22 is slightly consumed, and outputs a cutoff signal to the current detecting circuit 47.
As a result, the current detection circuit 47 interrupts the current flowing through the connection cord 23 to prevent the wear of the spring 22 from progressing, and notifies the user of the wear of the spring 22 early and reliably by interrupting the current. As a result, it is possible to reliably prevent a situation in which the spring 22 is consumed to such an extent that it cannot withstand use without the user's knowledge. Further, at this time, the comparison circuit 48 outputs an abnormal signal to the indicator light 37 via the drive circuit 50, and turns on the indicator light 37 to provide an auxiliary warning that the spring 22 has been consumed. When the user notices the consumption of the spring 22 by the current interruption and the lighting of the indicator light 37 as described above, the user discharges the water W from the sealed space 21 and inserts the anode member 20 into the holder 17 in a normal state. And seal between them. Then, insert the plug 41 into the outlet of the commercial power
, The current detection circuit 47 is reset and the current supply is restarted. At this time, if the user has not performed the above-described repair work, the current is interrupted many times until the repair work is performed.
The wear of the spring 22 is reliably prevented and an alarm is issued.

In the above-described embodiment, the detection current (connection code) detected by the current detection circuit 47 is output to the comparison circuit 48.
23) and the reference current from the constant current drive circuit 46. According to the present invention, the detection current detected by the current detection circuit is converted into a voltage and guided to the comparison circuit. A reference voltage obtained by converting a constant current from the drive circuit into a voltage may be led to a comparison circuit.
In the above-described embodiment, the current detection circuit 47 is reset by turning on the power. In the present invention, a manual reset button is provided in the current detection circuit, and the reset is performed by pressing the reset button. You may do so. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the cathode member 16 has a cylindrical shape and the anode member 20 has a columnar shape. However, in the present invention, these cathode and anode members may have a strip shape. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the switching timing of the segment 25 is determined by the timer of the switch 28.
The amount of gas generated by the segment 25 may be detected by a sensor, and the switching of the segment 25 may be performed when the amount of generated gas decreases to a predetermined amount or less due to consumption of the anode member. Further, in the present invention, the cathode member
Short-circuit detecting means for detecting a short circuit between the anode member 16 and the anode member 20 is installed. When the short-circuit detecting means detects a short circuit between the cathode and the anode members 16 and 20, the power supply is shut off, a warning by an indicator lamp, etc. is performed. It may be.

[0017]

As described above, according to the present invention, the wear of the spring due to electrolytic corrosion is detected at an early stage, the progress of the wear is prevented, and the occurrence of the wear is reliably notified to the user. it can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall schematic front view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front sectional view near a cathode and an anode member.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a circuit of a control unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 ... Water tank 12 ... Carbon dioxide supply device 16 ... Cathode member 17 ... Holder 20 ... Anode member 21 ... Sealed space 22 ... Spring 23 ... Connection cord 24 ... Silicon grease 25 ... Segment 51 ... Shutoff means W ... Water M ... Water plant

Claims (3)

[Claims] A cathode member immersed in water of a water tank; and a cathode member immersed in water of a water tank at a position separated from the cathode member;
An anode member that is formed of carbon and generates carbon dioxide when a current flows between the cathode member, a holder fitted to one end of the anode member, and is formed between the anode member and the holder. While being connected to a connection cord that passes through the holder,
In a carbon dioxide supply device including a spring that guides a constant current from the connection cord to the anode member by the other end being pressed against the anode member, a current value flowing through the connection cord is detected, A carbon dioxide supply device provided with a cutoff means for cutting off a current flowing through a connection cord when the current value becomes less than a reference value. 2. The carbon dioxide supply device according to claim 1, wherein silicon grease is sealed in the closed space to prevent water from entering the closed space. 3. The cathode member and the anode member are arranged substantially parallel to each other, and the cathode member is composed of a plurality of segments arranged in a longitudinal direction and insulated from each other, and a current flows between the cathode member and the anode member. 2. The carbon dioxide supply device according to claim 1, wherein the segments are sequentially switched from the other end to the one end as time passes.