CN108025933B - Hydrogen water generator - Google Patents

Abstract

Prior art is compared in this application, improves the hydrogen concentration of the water that is realized by the hydrogen water generation device who soaks in the aquatic use. A hydrogen water generator is characterized by comprising: a water passage which can be immersed in water and communicates an inlet and an outlet of the water; a pump section that causes the water passage to generate water flow; an electrolysis unit disposed in the water passage; and a power supply unit that supplies power to the pump unit and the electrolysis unit, wherein the electrolysis unit has a plurality of porous electrode plates arranged at a constant interval, and the pump unit generates a water flow toward the plate surfaces of the porous electrode plates.

Description

Hydrogen water generator

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a hydrogen water generator used by being immersed in water.

Background

Conventionally, as an apparatus using electrolytic water, apparatuses described in patent documents 1 and 2 have been known.

Patent document 1 discloses a reduced water producing apparatus in which a pair of plate-like electrodes are attached to the inner bottom surface of a dish-like container, and a dc power supply for supplying power to these plate-like electrodes is disposed in a space provided below the container. The lid of the container is provided with flow holes at positions corresponding to the upper portions of the plate-shaped electrodes, and hydrogen generated in one plate-shaped electrode flows out through one flow hole and oxygen generated in the other plate-shaped electrode flows out through the other flow hole. This prevents recombination of hydrogen and oxygen generated at each plate electrode, and reduces water and air.

Patent document 2 discloses a bath water electrolytic sterilizer in which an electrolytic chamber is provided in a container for immersion in water. In the electrolytic bath water sterilizer, an inlet for water to flow into an electrolytic chamber is formed on the lower surface of a container for immersion in water, an outlet for water to flow out from the electrolytic chamber is formed on the upper surface of the container for immersion in water, a plurality of electrolytic plates having a plurality of anode plate and cathode plate groups are arranged in parallel in the transverse direction in the electrolytic chamber, and an upward passage for bath water is formed between the electrolytic electrode plates. Thus, the water flowing into the immersion container from the inlet port flows out from the outlet port through the upward passage between the electrolysis electrode plates.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese Utility model No. 3155538

Patent document 2: japanese laid-open patent publication No. 11-342390

Disclosure of Invention

In recent years, "hydrogen water" containing a large amount of hydrogen has attracted attention, and apparatuses for electrolyzing water to generate hydrogen water have been sold. Such an apparatus for generating hydrogen water can be realized by a configuration similar to that of patent document 2, but has room for improvement in terms of the amount of hydrogen dissolved. That is, even if the hydrogen concentration of water above the apparatus is in a saturated state, it is difficult to maintain a sufficient hydrogen concentration in water from an area distant from the apparatus.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to increase the hydrogen concentration of water in a hydrogen water generator used by being immersed in water, compared with the conventional hydrogen water generator.

One aspect of the present invention is a hydrogen water generator including: a housing having a water passage which can be immersed in water and communicates an inlet port and an outlet port of the water; a pump section that causes the water passage to generate water flow; an electrolysis unit disposed in the water passage; and a power supply unit that supplies power to the pump unit and the electrolysis unit, wherein the electrolysis unit has a plurality of porous electrode plates arranged at a constant interval, and the pump unit generates a water flow toward the plate surfaces of the porous electrode plates.

The hydrogen water generator configured as described above is immersed in water, generates a water flow in a water passage between an inlet and an outlet by a pump unit, and electrolyzes the water flowing through the water passage by an electrolysis unit disposed in the water passage. At this time, the pump section generates a water flow toward the plate surface of the porous electrode plate constituting the electrolysis section and arranged at a constant interval. That is, by applying the pressure of the water flow to the plate surface of the porous electrode plate, there is an effect that bubbles of hydrogen and oxygen generated by electrolysis on the surface of the porous electrode plate are pulled into the water flow so as to be pushed open at the moment of electrolysis, and bubbles of hydrogen contained in the water flowing out from the outlet of the hydrogen generator are micro-bubbled, and it is also expected that hydrogen is dissolved in the state of molecular level hydrogen, nano bubbles, and micro bubbles.

In an alternative aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hydrogen water generator including: and a control unit that reverses the polarity of the porous electrode plate every predetermined time during electrolysis.

In the hydrogen water production apparatus configured as described above, the porous electrode plate functioning as the cathode is switched to the cathode every predetermined time and the porous electrode plate functioning as the anode is switched to the anode every predetermined time, so that the scale deposition is substantially equalized for each porous electrode plate, and the scale deposited on the porous electrode plate switched to the anode is redissolved in water to remove the scale, so that the reduction in the electrolysis efficiency due to the scale adhesion can be suppressed.

In an alternative aspect of the present invention, the control unit reverses the polarity during operation of the pump unit.

With this configuration, a temporary short circuit between the porous electrode plates caused by the electrolyzed water existing between the porous electrode plates having a capacity to switch the polarity can be avoided, and the circuit for supplying power to the porous electrode plates, switching the electrodes, and the like can be secured.

In an alternative aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hydrogen water generator including: and a control unit for controlling the pump unit to vary the flow rate of the water flow during electrolysis.

With this configuration, the bubble diameter of the hydrogen bubbles released from the surface of the porous electrode plate can be changed.

In an alternative aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hydrogen water generator including: and a means for releasing the bubbles which are generated by adhesion to the porous electrode plate and are difficult to be peeled off in the operating state of the pump section by repeatedly switching and controlling the pump section to the control section for a relatively long time operating state in which water flow is generated and a relatively short time stopped state in which water flow is not generated during electrolysis.

With this configuration, bubbles that have reached the diameter of bubbles that should be originally peeled off by the water flow but remain attached to the porous electrode plate in this manner and are difficult to peel off can be peeled off, and reduction in electrolysis efficiency due to the covering of the surface of the porous electrode plate with bubbles can be suppressed.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the hydrogen water generating apparatus further includes a sharp charge collecting portion formed at a periphery of the bubble flow hole formed in the porous electrode plate.

With this structure, although the solubility in water is relatively high, many hydrogen bubbles that can be recognized by the user can be generated.

In an alternative aspect of the present invention, the porous electrode plate has a polygonal cross-sectional shape having a corner portion facing a tip end of the water flow, and a partition portion partitioning between the bubble flow holes of the porous electrode plate is provided.

In the hydrogen water generating device configured as described above, the partition portion has an inclined surface that spans the water flow generated by the pump portion toward the bubble flow holes on both sides between the bubble flow holes of the porous electrode plate, and therefore the foam release property of the surface of the porous electrode plate is improved. Further, since the surface-sandwiching corner portions between the bubble flow holes of the porous electrode plate are configured as discontinuous surfaces, bubbles generated on one surface and bubbles generated on the other surface are difficult to be combined, bubbles released from the porous electrode plate are more finely foamed, and hydrogen dissolution in a molecular level hydrogen, nano-bubbles, or micro-bubble state can also be expected. Further, since the porous electrode plates have the corner portions facing the water flow between the bubble passage holes, the water flow sequentially flowing through the bubble passage holes of the plurality of porous electrode plates is smooth, and the water potential can be maintained until the water flows through the bubble passage hole of the porous electrode plate farthest from the pump portion. Further, since the corner surface tension is small, the bubble releasing property of the corner portion between the bubble flow holes of the porous electrode plate which is in direct contact with the water flow is improved.

In an alternative aspect of the present invention, the bubble flow holes of the plurality of porous electrode plates are provided in substantially different positional relationships between adjacent porous electrode plates.

In the hydrogen water generating apparatus having such a configuration, since the positions of the bubble flow holes formed in the plurality of porous electrode plates are different from each other, the water flow passing through the bubble flow holes flows along the porous electrode plates to the corners between the porous electrode plates, and the bubble separation performance of the entire surface of the porous electrode plates can be improved, and the water replacement efficiency between the plurality of porous electrode plates can be improved.

Further, alternative embodiments of the present invention are described below.

(1) The water flow discharged from the pump is pressurized at the gaps between the porous electrode plates, and the hydrogen generated at the porous electrode plates is dissolved in the water flow under the pressurization.

(2) An electrode cover having insulation properties on the upper portion of the porous electrode plate is disposed in the electrolysis unit, and bubble flow holes are provided at the following positions: and the positions of the bubble flow holes formed in the porous electrode plate facing the electrode cover are substantially different from each other.

(3) And a light emitting unit that emits light in a direction intersecting the water flow flowing out of the outlet.

The hydrogen water generating apparatus described above includes various embodiments that are implemented in a state of being incorporated in another device or implemented together with another method. The present technology can be realized as a hydrogen water generation system including the hydrogen water generation device.

Effects of the invention

According to the present invention, the hydrogen concentration of water produced by a hydrogen water generator used by being immersed in water can be increased as compared with the conventional hydrogen water generator.

According to the hydrogen water generating apparatus of the second aspect of the present invention, since the air bubble flow holes of the porous electrode plate have a shape inclined with respect to the water flow generated by the pump section, the foam release property of the surface of the porous electrode plate is improved. Further, since the surface-sandwiching corner portions between the bubble flow holes of the porous electrode plate are configured as discontinuous surfaces, bubbles generated on one surface and bubbles generated on the other surface are difficult to be combined, bubbles released from the porous electrode plate are more finely foamed, and hydrogen dissolution in a molecular level hydrogen, nano-bubbles, or micro-bubble state can also be expected. Further, since the porous electrode plates have the corner portions facing the water flow between the bubble passage holes, the water flow sequentially flowing through the bubble passage holes of the plurality of porous electrode plates is smooth, and the water potential can be maintained until the water flows through the bubble passage hole of the porous electrode plate farthest from the pump portion. Further, since the corner surface tension is small, the bubble releasing property of the corner portion between the bubble flow holes of the porous electrode plate which is in direct contact with the water flow is improved.

According to the hydrogen water generating apparatus of the third aspect of the present invention, since the positions of the bubble flow holes formed in each of the plurality of porous electrode plates are different from each other, the water flow passing through the bubble flow holes flows along the porous electrode plates up to the corners between the porous electrode plates, and the bubble separation performance of the entire surfaces of the porous electrode plates can be improved, and the water replacement efficiency between the plurality of porous electrode plates can be improved.

According to the hydrogen water generating apparatus of the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the water stream discharged from the pump is pressurized at the gaps between the plurality of porous electrode plates, hydrogen generated at the porous electrode plates is dissolved in the water stream under the pressurization, and therefore, more hydrogen can be dissolved in the water.

According to the hydrogen water generating apparatus of the fifth aspect of the present invention, the electrolytic unit is provided with the electrode cover having insulation properties on the upper portion of the porous electrode plate, and the bubble flow holes are provided at positions substantially different from the bubble flow holes formed in the porous electrode plate facing the electrode cover, so that the user is prevented from touching the electrode plate, and the short circuit between the porous electrode plates having different polarities can be prevented even if the conductor piece such as the hairpin falls onto the electrolytic unit.

Furthermore, according to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for generating hydrogen water, comprising: and a light emitting means for emitting light in a direction intersecting the water flow flowing out from the outlet, so that the water flow containing the fine bubbles containing hydrogen flowing out from the outlet can be visually observed by scattering of the light, and a user can know the diffusion state of the hydrogen water.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of a hydrogen water generator according to a first embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of the hydrogen water generating apparatus according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 3 is a view showing a state where the upper case is removed and exposed in the lower case.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the upper case after the protective case is detached from the upper case.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the inner surface of the upper case as viewed from below.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing a section a-a shown in fig. 1.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the electrolytic unit.

FIG. 8 is a bottom view, a sectional view B-B, and an enlarged view of a section B-B of the electrolytic section.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing a state of pressure between porous electrode plates of the electrolysis section.

Fig. 10 is a diagram showing a flow of processing executed by the control unit of the hydrogen water generating apparatus.

Fig. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example in which the dew condensation is restricted above the porous electrode plate.

Fig. 12 is a diagram illustrating a hydrogen water generating apparatus according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a view illustrating a detailed shape of a porous electrode plate made of a metal mesh plate.

Fig. 14 is a view for explaining the flow of bubbles generated on the surface of a porous electrode plate made of a metal mesh plate.

Fig. 15 is a diagram illustrating a hydrogen water generating apparatus according to a third embodiment.

Fig. 16 is a diagram illustrating a hydrogen water generating apparatus according to a fourth embodiment.

Fig. 17 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of a hydrogen water generator.

Fig. 18 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of a hydrogen water generator.

Fig. 19 is a sectional view showing the structure of the upper half of the hydrogen water generator.

Fig. 20 is an explanatory view showing a state where the small conductor pieces are dropped on the laminated electrode body.

Fig. 21 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the hydrogen water generator.

Fig. 22 is a flow of a main process executed in the control unit.

Fig. 23 is a flow of the stop process executed in the control unit.

Fig. 24 is a flow of pump stop processing executed in the control unit.

Fig. 25 is a flow of the polarity inversion process executed in the control section.

Fig. 26 is a flow of the end processing executed in the control unit.

Fig. 27 is a timing chart of various signals sent from the control unit.

Fig. 28 is a timing chart of various signals sent from the control unit.

Fig. 29 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a hydrogen water generator according to a modification.

FIG. 30 is an explanatory view showing the structure of the electrolytic cell storage recess.

Detailed Description

The present invention is explained below in the following order.

(1) A first embodiment;

(2) a second embodiment;

(3) a third embodiment;

(4) a fourth embodiment;

(5) a modification of the fourth embodiment;

(6) and (6) summarizing.

(1) First embodiment

Fig. 1 and 2 are perspective views showing an external configuration of a hydrogen water generator, fig. 3 is a view showing a state where an upper case is removed and exposed in a lower case, fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the upper case after a protective case is removed from the upper case, fig. 5 is a perspective view showing an inner surface of the upper case as viewed from below, fig. 6 is a sectional view showing a section a-a shown in fig. 1, fig. 7 is a perspective view of an electrolysis part, and fig. 8 is a bottom view of the electrolysis part, a sectional view B-B, and an enlarged view of a section B-B.

In the hydrogen water generating apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, the pump section 20, the electrolysis section 30, and the power supply section 40 are accommodated in the casing 10 in a container that can be immersed in water stored in a bath or the like, and the electrolysis section 30 is configured such that a plurality of porous electrode plates are arranged with a constant interval therebetween, and the water flow from the pump section 20 is directed to the plate surfaces of the porous electrode plates. This improves the microbubble property of hydrogen contained in water and can produce hydrogen water in which the bubble growth of hydrogen in water is reduced, as compared with the conventional art.

A specific embodiment of the hydrogen water generating apparatus 100 shown in the drawings will be described below.

The casing 10 is formed in a watertight structure using a watertight material such as a synthetic resin, and joints of the members are sealed with a sealing material or the like so that water does not enter the casing 10 except for a water passage 13 through which water flows from the inlet 11 to the outlet 12. In the example shown in fig. 1, 2, etc., the upper casing 10a and the lower casing 10b are vertically combined to make the inside watertight, and a protective member 10c having a rib structure is attached to the upper surface of the upper casing 10 a.

The protective member 10c has a base 10c1 extending so as to cover the upper surface of the upper case 10a and a rib 10c2 standing on the upper surface of the base, and has an opening 10c3 at a portion facing the electrolytic cell 30 exposed on the upper surface of the upper case 10a and an opening 10c4 at a portion facing the operation switch 15 provided on the upper surface of the upper case 10 a. Ribs 10c2 are provided so as to extend above opening 10c3, and are arranged in parallel at a certain interval in the longitudinal direction of electrolytic unit 30 to such an extent that human fingers do not pass through them, so that water flowing out of electrolytic unit 30 can be ejected upward from the upper surface of hydrogen water generating apparatus 100 while preventing contact between the user's fingers and electrolytic unit 30.

Almost all of the electrical components of the hydrogen water generator 100 are disposed in the watertight part of the case 10, but the porous electrode plates 31 to 33 constituting the electrolysis unit 30 are disposed outside the watertight part, specifically, in the water passage 13.

The pump section 20 is attached to the water passage 13, and the internal water passage 21 of the pump section 20 constitutes a part of the water passage 13. When the pump unit 20 is operated, a pump pressure is applied to the water in the internal water passage 21, and the water in the entire water passage 13 flows through the water passage 13 by the pump pressure, and the water is sucked from the inlet 11 and discharged from the outlet 12. In the present embodiment, the built-in pump section is exemplified, but the pump section may be provided outside the casing 10, or may be connected to an external pump section by a pipe or the like, and a pump pressure may be applied to the water in the water passage 13.

The inlet 11 is opened in a recess provided at a corner of a side surface and a lower surface of the casing 10, and the outlet 12 is provided on an upper surface of the casing 10. The inlet 11 and the outlet 12 are not provided at positions along the lower surface of the casing 10, and thus a foot member for separating the lower surface of the casing 10 from the inner bottom surface of the container by a predetermined distance is not required. By providing the outlet 12 on the upper surface of the case 10, the water flow ejected from the hydrogen water generator 100 can be entrained with the bubbles that have grown and have escaped from the electrolytic unit 30 and risen in the electrolytic unit 30. A filter 14 for preventing the entry of dust, scale, hair, etc. is provided at the inlet 11 to prevent the clogging and contamination of the water passage 13.

In addition, an operation switch 15 and an illumination operation confirmation LED16(Light Emitting Diode) are provided on the upper surface of the housing 10. When the operation switch 15 is operated, various operation inputs such as power on/off of the hydrogen water generating apparatus 100, on/off of a display of the illumination operation confirmation LED16 described later, and switching of a display color can be performed. A charging terminal 17 of the power supply unit 40 configured to be able to store electric power is provided on a side surface of the case 10, and the charging terminal 17 can be connected to a commercial AC power supply via an AC adapter or the like to charge the power supply unit 40.

A cover member, not shown, for covering the charging terminal 17 is attached to the hydrogen water generating device 100, and the charging terminal 17 is covered by attaching the cover member, so that the short circuit and the leakage of the charging terminal 17 are prevented when the hydrogen water generating device 100 is immersed in water.

A control charging board 18 as a control main body of the electrically controlled hydrogen water generating apparatus 100 is fixed to a watertight part of the casing 10. A plurality of wires extend from the control charging board 18 and are connected to the pump unit 20, the electrolysis unit 30, the power supply unit 40, the operation switch 15, and the illumination operation confirmation LED16, respectively. Only the wiring between the electrolytic unit 30 and the control charging substrate 18 is shown in the drawing.

The wiring connected to the electrolytic unit 30 is not directly connected to the electrolytic unit 30 in the water passage 13, but is connected to the tips of the conductor bars 34,35 connected to the porous electrode plates 31 to 33. The conductor bars 34,35 protrude through the through-holes 13a in the wall surface of the water passage 13 in watertight parts. The porous electrode plates 31,33 are connected to one of the conductor bars (for example, the conductor bar 34), and the through hole of the one conductor bar is formed in the porous electrode plate 32. On the other hand, the porous electrode plate 32 is connected to the other conductor bar (for example, the conductor bar 35), and the insertion hole of the other conductor bar is formed in the porous electrode plates 31 and 33. The through hole 13a in the wall surface of the water passage 13 and the conductor bars 34,35 are sealed with a sealing material or the like. In the example shown in fig. 5, bolts are screwed to the tips of the conductor bars 34,35 exposed in the watertight part through the through-hole 13a, and a sealing material such as an O-ring is interposed between the bolts and the wall surface of the water passage 13, thereby sealing the through-hole 13 a.

The water passage 13 has a pressure chamber 13b which gradually widens as approaching the outlet 12 near the outlet 12, and a plurality of porous electrode plates 31 to 33 which constitute the electrolytic unit 30, and the water passage 13 which has a wide opening near the pressure chamber 13b is arranged so as to close substantially the entire flow path cross section of the water passage 13. Thus, the water flowing through the water passage 13 reaches the outlet 12 through the bubble flow holes 31a to 33a of the porous electrode plates 31 to 33 without fail. Further, by forming the outlet opening of the pressure chamber 13b to have a larger cross-sectional area than the water passage 13 near the pump section 20, the supply port for supplying hydrogen water into a water accumulation container such as a bath is enlarged, and diffusion of hydrogen water supplied from the hydrogen water generating device 100 into the container is promoted. The shape of the pressure chamber 13b is not limited to the funnel-like widened shape, and various shapes can be adopted as long as the electrolytic unit 30 is applied with a uniform water pressure and diffusion of the hydrogen water from the outlet 12 can be promoted.

The porous electrode plates 31 to 33 are formed in a plate shape from a conductive metal material such as gold plating or platinum titanium, and are provided with a plurality of bubble flow holes 31a to 33a that penetrate the plate surface from the front to the back. The porous electrode plates 31 to 33 are fixed in the water passage 13 in a state of keeping a certain interval without contacting each other, and power is supplied from the power supply unit 40 to the porous electrode plates 31 to 33 through the wiring and the conductor bars 34 and 35. The air bubble flow holes 31a to 33a are formed uniformly across the entire surface of the porous electrode plates 31 to 33.

The porous electrode plates 31 to 33 are each applied with a voltage so that a potential difference is generated between adjacent plates, for example, a low voltage is applied to the porous electrode plate 32 when a high voltage is applied to the porous electrode plates 31 and 33, and a high voltage is applied to the porous electrode plate 32 when a low voltage is applied to the porous electrode plates 31 and 33. As a result, electrolysis proceeds between the surfaces of the porous electrode plates 31 to 33 facing the adjacent plates, and hydrogen (and oxygen) is generated in the vicinity of the plate surfaces of the porous electrode plates 31 to 33.

The porous electrode plates 31 to 33 close wide openings of the pressure chamber 13b, and the pump section 20 applies a pump pressure to the water passage 13. By this pump pressure, the water flowing through the water passage 13 to reach the pressure chamber 13b diffuses over the entire flow passage cross section along the widening shape to generate a water flow toward the plate surfaces of the porous electrode plates 31 to 33, and by applying the pressure of the water flow to the plate surfaces of the porous electrode plates 31 to 33 blocking the outflow port 12 of the water passage 13, there is an effect that bubbles of hydrogen and oxygen generated by electrolysis on the surfaces of the porous electrode plates are pulled into the water flow so as to be pushed open at the moment of electrolysis, and bubbles of hydrogen contained in the water flowing out from the outflow port of the hydrogen water generator 100 are micro-bubbled. Further, not only the hydrogen bubbles visible to the eye are formed into microbubbles, but also hydrogen bubbles having a size invisible to the eye and the effect of dissolving hydrogen before the bubbles grow in the water flow, for example, an effect of pulling hydrogen into the water flow at a molecular level immediately after electrolysis, and an effect of pulling hydrogen into the water flow as nanobubbles or microbubbles are expected. As shown by the shade in fig. 9, in the pressure chamber 13b, particularly in the gaps between the porous electrode plates on the upstream side, the water is pressurized by the resistance of the bubble flow holes of the porous electrode plates arranged on the downstream side, so that hydrogen is more forcibly dissolved in the water, and the dissolved hydrogen concentration is increased. In fig. 9, the electrolytic unit 30 having five porous electrode plates 31,32, 33-1, and 33-2 is shown as an example of providing more porous electrode plates, but it is needless to say that the number of the porous electrode plates may be three, four, or five or more. Further, since the pressure chamber 13b is provided and the porous electrode plates 31 to 33 are provided so as to close the outlets and the outlets 12 thereof, a substantially uniform water pressure is applied to the entire surface of the porous electrode plate 31, water flows into the plurality of bubble flow holes 31a over the entire surface of the porous electrode plate 31, and water flows out of the plurality of bubble flow holes 33a over the entire surface of the porous electrode plate 33. Thus, the flow of water is generally distributed through the bubble flow holes 31a to 33a formed in the entire plate surfaces of the porous electrode plates 31 to 33, and water is less likely to remain in the vicinity of the plate surfaces in the entire plate surface directions of the porous electrode plates 31 to 33. That is, the efficiency of water replacement in the water passage 13 is improved in the vicinity of the plate surfaces of the porous electrode plates 31 to 33.

As shown in FIG. 8, the bubble flow holes 31a to 33a of the porous electrode plates 31 to 33 may be formed in different positional relationships between adjacent porous electrode plates. That is, in a plan view, the bubble flow holes 31a of the porous electrode plate 31 and the bubble flow holes 32a of the porous electrode plate 32 are formed in a partially overlapping positional relationship or a partially overlapping position, and the bubble flow holes 32a of the porous electrode plate 32 and the bubble flow holes 33a of the porous electrode plate 33 are also formed in a partially overlapping positional relationship or a partially overlapping position.

When the bubble flow holes 31a to 33a are formed in different positional relationships between the adjacent porous electrode plates 31 to 33 in this way, water passing through the porous electrode plates 31 to 33 flows in a zigzag manner, and therefore, the water flows along the porous electrode plates to the corners between the porous electrode plates 31 to 33, and the bubble release property can be improved over the entire surfaces of the porous electrode plates. That is, the residence time of hydrogen (and oxygen) bubbles on the surface of the electrolytic plate is shortened, and the surface of the electrolytic plate is hardly covered with bubbles. This improves the electrolytic efficiency, makes it difficult for bubbles to grow on the surface of the electrolytic plate, and allows hydrogen (and oxygen) released from the surface of the electrolytic plate to be micro-bubbled, and hydrogen dissolution in the molecular level hydrogen, nano-bubbles, and micro-bubbles can be expected. As a result, the hydrogen dissolution amount of the water discharged from the hydrogen water generator 100 can be increased, and the hydrogen dissolution amount of the water in a wide range in the container can be increased.

Fig. 10 is a diagram illustrating a flow of processing executed by the control unit 50 of the hydrogen water generating apparatus 100. The processing shown in the figure is started by starting power supply from the power supply unit 40 to the control unit 50. The control unit 50 is constituted by a control circuit such as a microcomputer mounted on the control charging board 18 as the control main body.

In the processing shown in fig. 10, the control unit 50 first determines whether or not an operation start operation input (e.g., a long press for 2 seconds or more) instructing the start of operation via the operation switch 15 is accepted (S1), and when the operation start operation input is accepted (S1: yes), the operation start processing of the hydrogen water generating apparatus 100 is executed (S2), and when the operation start operation input is not accepted (S1: no), the determination of step S1 is periodically repeated until the operation start operation input is accepted.

The operation start processing (S2) is mainly to start power supply to the porous electrode plates 31 to 33 and to start power supply to the pump section 20. The porous electrode plates 31 to 33 are supplied with power, and for example, when the porous electrode plates 31 and 33 are positive electrode plates to which a high voltage is supplied, the porous electrode plate 32 is a negative electrode plate to which a low voltage is supplied, and when the porous electrode plates 31 and 33 are negative electrode plates to which a low voltage is supplied, the porous electrode plate 32 is a positive electrode plate to which a high voltage is supplied. In the present embodiment, the former is referred to as a positive electrolysis mode, and the latter is referred to as a reverse electrolysis mode. In the present embodiment, the positive electrolysis mode and the reverse electrolysis mode are switched at regular intervals (mode duration). When the power supply is started, the pump section 20 applies a pump pressure to the water passage 13 to cause the water passage 13 to generate a flow of water.

Then, the control unit 50 determines the elapse of the mode duration (for example, 29 seconds or the like) (S3). The controller 50 measures the continuous feeding time to the porous electrode plates 31 to 33 in an arbitrary pattern, and if the continuous feeding time exceeds the pattern duration (S3: Yes), the positive/negative reversal electrolysis mode (S4), and if the continuous feeding time does not exceed the pattern duration (S3: No), the process proceeds to step S5 by skipping step S4. Between the mode switching, an energization stop time (for example, 1 second) is set to stop energization to the porous electrode plates 31 to 33 for a short time.

By reversing the electrolysis polarity at regular intervals by switching the electrolysis mode in this manner, the calcium carbonate scale adhering to the surface of the porous electrode plate serving as the cathode is dissolved, and the water flow generated by the pump section 20 is discharged. This can maintain the electrolytic performance of the porous electrode plates 31 to 33 and prolong the life.

Then, the control unit 50 determines the elapse of the automatic operation time (S5). The control unit 50 counts the operation duration elapsed from the start of the operation at step S2, and stops the operation (S6) when the operation duration exceeds the automatic operation time (yes at S5), and proceeds to the determination at step S7 when the operation duration does not exceed the automatic operation time (no at S5). In this way, the hydrogen water generating apparatus 100 is configured to automatically stop the operation when a certain time (for example, 15 minutes) has elapsed after the start of the operation.

In step S7, it is determined whether or not an operation stop operation (e.g., a long press for 2 seconds or longer) for stopping the operation is performed on the operation switch 15, and if the operation stop operation is performed (S7: yes), the operation is stopped (S6), and if the operation stop operation is not performed (S7: no), the processing of steps S3 to S is repeatedly executed.

In operation, the operation display of lighting the lighting operation confirmation LED16 can be performed, and when a multi-color LED is provided as the lighting operation confirmation LED16, the light emission color can be switched to emit light at a constant cycle. The timing of switching the emission color may be, for example, the timing of switching the mode described above. Specifically, it is conceivable that, for example, when the illumination operation confirmation LED16 is turned on in the red color in the positive electrolysis mode, the illumination operation confirmation LED16 is turned off during the energization stop period, and then the illumination operation confirmation LED16 is turned on in the blue color or the like at the same time when the negative electrolysis mode is switched. Further, the light color may be switched when a predetermined operation input (for example, a pressing operation for less than 2 seconds) is performed to the operation switch 15.

As described above, by controlling the electrolysis section 30, the pump section 20, and the illumination operation confirmation LED16, it is possible to prevent calcium carbonate from adhering to the porous electrode plates 31 to 33, maintain high electrolysis performance, and prolong the service life of the device. Further, the lighting of the LED16 is confirmed by the lighting operation, and the atmosphere having a visual interest as decorative lighting in the container can be created according to the operation condition of the user.

In the first embodiment, the pressure chamber 13b is closed at its wide opening by three of the porous electrode plates 31 to 33 and five of the porous electrode plates 31 to 33-2, so that the gaps between the porous electrode plates and the inside of the pressure chamber 13b are in a pressurized atmosphere to improve the dissolution of hydrogen into water, but for example, the internal pressure of the pressure chamber 13b may be increased by restricting the flow path at the downstream side of the porous electrode plates, i.e., above the porous electrode plates.

Specifically, as shown in fig. 11 (a), an electrolytic unit cover 30a covering the upper part of the electrolytic unit 30 may be provided, a plurality of release holes 30b may be formed in the top surface part of the electrolytic unit cover 30a, and an electromagnetic valve 30c electrically connected to the control charging board 18 for opening and closing some of the controls for the release holes 30b may be disposed.

In this case, when the electromagnetic valve 30c is opened, the flow path restriction of the water passage 13 is performed in the gap between the porous electrode plates as in the case shown in fig. 9, and hydrogen is dissolved in water with a predetermined efficiency, but when the control electromagnetic valve 30c is closed by the control charging substrate 18, the inside of the pressure chamber 13b, particularly the inside space portion of the electrolysis unit cover 30a corresponding to the downstream side of the electrolysis unit 30, can be made to be a pressurized atmosphere as indicated by the shade, and the dissolution efficiency of hydrogen into water can be further improved.

Further, the electrical system such as the electromagnetic valve 30c is not necessarily required, and as shown in fig. 11 (b), a needle plate 30e in which a needle 30d is arranged at a position facing the release hole 30b bored in the electrolytic cell cover body 30a may be disposed, and a needle lifting screw 30f provided at a position operable by a user may be rotated to manually move the needle 30d in and out of the release hole 30b to regulate the flow path.

With this configuration, the needle 30d can be inserted into the release hole 30b, and the pressure chamber 13b, particularly the space inside the electrolysis unit cover 30a corresponding to the downstream side of the electrolysis unit 30, can be pressurized, whereby the efficiency of dissolving hydrogen into water can be further improved.

In the first embodiment, the pump unit 20 is described as operating with a constant water supply amount, but the water supply amount of the pump unit 20 may be changed or the flow rate in the water passage 13 (pressure chamber 13b) may be adjusted.

In the above example, the flow rate of water flowing through the narrow electrode plate gap in the electrolysis section 30 is high, and for example, hydrogen bubbles generated on the surface of the cathode plate are rapidly peeled off in a state of being small immediately after generation, and are efficiently dissolved in water.

When the amount of water supplied by the pump unit 20 is reduced, the flow velocity of water in the gap between the electrode plates is reduced, bubbles of hydrogen generated on the surface of the cathode plate are not immediately peeled off, and as time passes, the accumulated hydrogen grows larger, and the hydrogen is peeled off from the surface of the cathode plate at a time when the resistance received by the water flow is larger than the adhesion of the bubbles to the surface of the cathode plate.

The large hydrogen bubbles that are released into the bath then quickly reach the hot water surface, spreading in the bathroom.

In this case, the more minute hydrogen bubbles, the more efficient the dissolution of hydrogen in the hot water in the bath is, but the more direct health-promoting action can be expected because the hydrogen diffused in the bath enters the body through the breath of the user while the user is in the bath.

That is, the hydrogen water generating apparatus of the first embodiment is representative, and the hydrogen water generating apparatus described in the present specification may be provided with the bubble diameter adjusting means (bubble diameter adjusting section) constituted by the pump section 20 and the control section (for example, the control of the charging board 18) that controls the water supply amount of the pump section 20, thereby being able to selectively enjoy the health promoting effect of both the effect of the hot water bath by the high-concentration hydrogen water and the effect of the hydrogen diffused in the bathroom.

(2) Second embodiment:

the hydrogen water generating apparatus of the present embodiment has the same configuration as the hydrogen water generating apparatus 100 of the first embodiment except for the configuration of the electrolysis unit, and therefore the configuration other than the electrolysis unit will be described using the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment.

Fig. 12 is a diagram illustrating a hydrogen water generating apparatus according to the present embodiment.

A plurality of porous electrode plates 231 to 233 (the porous electrode plates 232 and 233 are not exposed in the drawing) are disposed at regular intervals in the electrolytic section 30. The porous electrode plates 231 to 233 are fixed in the water passage 13 in a state of being spaced apart from each other so as not to contact each other, and power is supplied to the porous electrode plates 231 to 233 from the power supply unit 40 through the wiring and the conductor bars 34 and 35, similarly to the first embodiment.

On the other hand, in the porous electrode plates 231 to 233 of the present embodiment, the partition portions between the bubble flow holes partitioning the porous electrode plates 231 to 233 have polygonal cross-sectional shapes having corner portions facing the tip of the water flow generated by the pump portion 20. That is, the surfaces of the porous electrode plates 231 to 233 formed toward the bubble flow passage hole sandwiching corner portions on both sides of the partition portion are inclined surfaces inclined in a direction in which the water flow generated by the pump portion 20 is spread toward the respective bubble flow passage holes. The water flow flowing along the inclined surface improves the bubble separation performance of the bubbles generated on the surfaces of the porous electrode plates 231-233. Further, since the surfaces between the bubble flow holes of the porous electrode plates 231 to 233 are configured as discontinuous surfaces with the corner portions interposed therebetween, bubbles generated on one surface and bubbles generated on the other surface are hardly combined, bubbles released from the porous electrode plates 231 to 233 are more finely foamed, and dissolution of hydrogen in the state of molecular level hydrogen, nano bubbles, or micro bubbles can be expected. Further, the porous electrode plates 231 to 233 passing between the bubble flow holes have corners facing the water flow, and the water flow flowing through the bubble flow holes of the porous electrode plates 231 to 233 is smooth, and the water potential can be maintained until the water flows through the bubble flow holes of the porous electrode plate 233 farthest from the pump section 20. Further, since the corner surface tension is small, the bubble release property of the bubbles generated at the corner between the bubble flow holes of the porous electrode plates 231 to 233 which are in direct contact with the water flow is improved. Such a metal mesh plate has a polygonal cross-sectional shape having a corner portion facing the water flow generated in the pump section 20, and is described below as an example of the porous electrode plates 231 to 233 formed on the plate surface between the bubble circulation holes.

FIG. 13 is a view illustrating the detailed shape of the porous electrode plates 231 to 233 made of a metal mesh plate. The porous electrode plates 231 to 233 according to the present embodiment are formed of a metal mesh plate in which a crack is formed in a metal thin plate, and the metal thin plate is elongated in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the crack to form a diamond mesh. The perforated electrode plates 231 to 233 made of a metal mesh plate are mesh members in which the scribe lines W are arranged in a cross shape, and openings surrounded by the scribe lines W are air bubble flow holes 231a to 233a through which water flows. The bubble circulation holes 231a to 233a are rhombic, the first diagonal line L1 is longer than the second diagonal line L2, and the angles of the tops H1, H2 on the first diagonal line L1 are smaller than the angles of the tops H3, H4 on the second diagonal line L2.

As described above, the metal mesh plate is manufactured by arranging a plurality of dotted line-shaped cracks formed by intermittently putting cracks in the metal sheet in parallel, extending the metal sheet in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the cracks, and forming the crack portions into a diamond mesh shape, and the connecting portion X between the cracks of the dotted line-shaped cracks is located in the middle of the cracks of the adjacent dotted line-shaped cracks.

When the metal thin plate with the cracks formed therein is elongated in the direction in which the dotted line-shaped cracks are arranged, the linear portions between the dotted line shapes are bent so as to rotate about the longitudinal direction of the linear portions. Therefore, the area scribe line W having a substantially square cross section and constituting the mesh of the metal mesh plate has a square inclined surface inclined with respect to the surface direction of the porous electrode plates 231 to 233. In the present embodiment, the inclination angle θ with respect to the surface direction of the porous electrode plates 231 to 233 is substantially 45 °, and the square-shaped inclined surface is substantially uniformly inclined with respect to the plate surface of the porous electrode plates 231 to 233.

In the porous electrode plates 231 to 233 thus formed, the division lines W between the bubble flow holes have a polygonal cross-sectional shape having corners facing the water flow generated in the pump section 20, and the division lines W have a square inclined surface inclined with respect to the water flow, as shown in fig. 14. Therefore, the bubble releasing property of the bubbles generated on the surfaces of the porous electrode plates 231 to 233 is improved. Further, since the scribe line W is configured as a discontinuous separate surface with a corner portion interposed toward one side of the water flow generated by the pump section 20, bubbles generated on one surface and bubbles generated on the other surface are hardly combined, bubbles released from the porous electrode plates 231 to 233 are more finely foamed, and dissolution of hydrogen in the state of molecular level hydrogen, nano bubbles, or micro bubbles can be expected. Further, since the top end of the corner portion of the scribe line W is oriented toward the water flow, the potential of the water flow flowing through the bubble flow holes of the porous electrode plates 231 to 233 is less likely to be blocked by the scribe line W, and a certain water potential can be maintained until the water flows through the bubble flow holes of the porous electrode plate 233 farthest from the pump portion 20. Further, the angular surface tension of the scribe line W is small, and the bubble release property of bubbles generated at the corner is improved. The corner tip of the segment line W also functions as a charge concentrating portion. This charge concentrating portion is explained later in the fourth embodiment. That is, it can be also explained that, in the case where the expanded metal sheet is used as the porous electrode plate, the charge concentration portion is formed also at the periphery of the bubble flow hole in the porous electrode plate.

(3) The third embodiment:

the hydrogen water generating apparatus of the present embodiment has the same configuration as the hydrogen water generating apparatus 100 of the first embodiment except for the shape of the water passage, and the configuration other than the water passage will be described using the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment. Fig. 15 is a diagram illustrating a hydrogen water generating apparatus according to the present embodiment.

The water passage 313 of the present embodiment has a pressure chamber 313b which gradually widens as it approaches the outlet 12 near the outlet 12, and a plurality of porous electrode plates 31 to 33 constituting the electrolytic unit 30, and the water passage 313 which opens widely in the pressure chamber 313b is arranged so as to close substantially the entire flow path cross section of the water passage 313 in the first embodiment. As in the first embodiment, the shape of the pressure chamber 313b is not limited to the funnel-like widening shape, and various shapes can be adopted as long as the electrolytic unit 30 is applied with a uniform water pressure and diffusion of the hydrogen water from the outlet 12 into the container can be promoted.

A cylindrical water channel 313c that penetrates the side surface of the pressure chamber 313b and constitutes a part of a water passage communicating with the pump unit 20 extends to the vicinity of the center of the pressure chamber 313b, and the distal end of the cylindrical water channel 313c opens to a reduced diameter portion 313d of the pressure chamber 313 b. That is, the water flowing in through the cylindrical water channel 313c is sprayed toward the reduced diameter portion 313d of the pressure chamber. In the pressure chamber 313b, the reduced diameter portion 313d side is closed, and the enlarged diameter portion 313e side is opened toward the outlet 12, but the enlarged diameter portion 313e is disposed so that the electrolytic section 30 closes the flow path. Therefore, the water discharged from the cylindrical water channel 313c collides with the reduced diameter portion 313d of the pressure chamber 313b to become a water flow flowing along the wall surface of the pressure chamber 313b toward the enlarged diameter portion 313e, and merges at the back side of the opening of the cylindrical water channel 313c, thereby forming a substantially uniform water flow over the entire cross section of the water channel of the pressure chamber 313b in the vicinity of the enlarged diameter portion 313 e. This makes it possible to realize a structure in which substantially the same water pressure is applied to the entire surfaces of the porous electrode plates 31 to 33 of the electrolytic unit 30 disposed in the vicinity of the diameter-enlarged portion 313 e.

In the example shown in fig. 15, flow rectifying pieces 313f1 to 313f4 are provided to improve the uniformity of the water flow in the entire cross section of the water channel of the pressure chamber 313b in the vicinity of the enlarged diameter portion 313 e. That is, the rectifying pieces 313f1 to 313f4 are erected so as to partition the bottom surface of the pressure chamber 313 b. The water flow discharged from the cylindrical water channel 313c is divided by the rectifying pieces 313f1 to 313f4 so that the water flow distributed in accordance with the division ratio flows into each division, and the divided water flow collides with the reduced diameter portion 313d for each division and rises toward the porous electrolytic plates 31 to 33 along the wall surface of the pressure chamber 313 b. This improves the uniformity of the water flow in the vicinity of the enlarged diameter portion 313e over the entire cross section of the water channel of the pressure chamber 313b, and improves the uniformity of the water pressure applied to the porous electrode plates 31 to 33 of the electrolytic unit 30.

The distal end of the cylindrical water channel 313c may be open to the other side wall of the pressure chamber 313b other than the reduced diameter portion 313d, and for example, it may be ejected toward a slope surface constituting a funnel shape, or ejected toward the wall surface by setting a new collision wall surface upright. That is, if the porous electrode plates are not directly oriented toward the electrolytic unit 30 but oriented in various directions, a structure in which substantially the same water pressure is applied to the entire surfaces of the porous electrode plates 31 to 33 can be realized.

Even with the structure in which water is ejected in the other direction than the porous electrode plates 31 to 33, the pressure of the water flow can be applied to the plate surfaces of the porous electrode plates 31 to 33 that block the outflow port 12 of the water passage 13, whereby bubbles of hydrogen and oxygen generated by electrolysis on the surfaces of the porous electrode plates 31 to 33 are pulled into the water flow so as to be pushed open at the moment of electrolysis, and bubbles of hydrogen contained in the water flowing out from the outflow port 12 of the hydrogen water generator 300 can be formed into microbubbles, or hydrogen dissolution in the state of molecular level hydrogen, nanobubbles, and microbubbles can be expected.

(4) Fourth embodiment

Next, a hydrogen water generating apparatus according to a fourth embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 16 to 28.

As shown in fig. 16 (a), the hydrogen water generating apparatus 400 according to the fourth embodiment is an apparatus for supplying hydrogen-electrolyzed water into a bath, which is disposed at the bottom of the bath, like the hydrogen water generating apparatus 100 and the like.

As shown in fig. 16 (b), the hydrogen water generating device 400 houses a watertight hydrogen water generating main body 410, which is configured to house the water passage 13, the control charging board 18, the pump unit 20, the electrolysis unit 30, the power supply unit 40, and the like, inside a cosmetic case 405 having an elliptical shape in an external view, and having no corners.

Fig. 17 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of the hydrogen water generating device 400. As shown in fig. 17, the hydrogen water generating device 400 includes a cosmetic case 405 including a grip plate 401, an upper cosmetic cover 402, and a lower cosmetic cover 403, and a hydrogen water generating body 410 which is a main body of hydrogen water generation.

The cosmetic case body 405, which is a combined body of the grip plate 401, the upper cosmetic cover 402, and the lower cosmetic cover 403, is configured to be placed on a tray-shaped charging stand 406 that charges the power supply unit 40 in the hydrogen water generating main body 410, in addition to being used for generating hydrogen water in the bath tub.

The charging stand 406 has a peripheral wall 406b erected on the periphery of a charging stand base plate 406a having an upper opening box shape, i.e., a substantially rectangular shape, and has a tray-shaped interior, and at one corner portion thereof, an energizing connection portion 406c for supplying power to the power supply portion 40 in the hydrogen water generating main body portion 410 placed on the upper portion is formed in a convex shape.

Reference numeral 406d denotes a current-carrying terminal provided to protrude from the current-carrying connection portion 406c, the current-carrying terminal 406d is connected to a current-carrying wire 410e (shown by a broken line) via a transformer circuit board disposed inside the charging stand 406, and a plug (not shown) connectable to a socket is connected to a terminal of the current-carrying wire 410 e.

As will be described later, when the hydrogen water generating device 400 is immersed in the bath, a gap space (hereinafter referred to as an immersion space) which is an outer side of the hydrogen water generating main body 410 is formed inside the cosmetic case body 405. Therefore, although a little water remains in the hydrogen water generator 400 immediately after being taken out from the bath, the charging stand 406 is formed in a tray shape with the peripheral wall 406b standing up, and therefore, even when the hydrogen water generator 400 is placed on the charging stand 406 immediately after being taken out from the bath, the remaining water in the hydrogen water generator 400 does not accumulate in the peripheral wall 406b and wets the surroundings.

The current-carrying connection portion 406c and the current-carrying terminal 406d are formed at positions higher than the peripheral wall 406 b. Therefore, even when a large amount of water is accumulated in charging stand 406, the water amount overflows before reaching current-carrying terminal 406d, and therefore, current-carrying terminal 406d can be prevented from flooding.

By placing the hydrogen water generating device 400 on the charging stand 406 having such a configuration, power is supplied to the power supply unit 40 in the hydrogen water generating main body 410, hydrogen is generated by electrolysis in the hydrogen water generating device 400 using the power, and hydrogen is released into bath water in a bath tub outside the hydrogen water generating device 400, thereby dissolving hydrogen in the bath water.

As shown in fig. 16 and 17, the gripping plate 401 is a hollow plate-shaped member having a shape in which the central portion in the major axis direction of the ellipse in a plan view is slightly curved in an upward convex shape in the minor axis direction, and the narrow portion functions as a gripping portion when the hydrogen water generating device 400 is transported or the like.

As shown in fig. 16 (b), the grip plate 401 is disposed on the upper cover 402, and a missing discharge port 401a having a substantially semicircular arc shape is formed between the grip plate and the upper cover 402. The missing discharge port 401a is a portion functioning as the discharge port 12, and discharges the electrolyzed hydrogen water or the bubbles discharged from the hydrogen water generation main body 410.

Further, a plurality of air holes 401b are formed in the top portion on the front surface side of the grip plate 401, and when the hydrogen water generating device 400 sinks into the bath, water is gradually immersed into the hollow grip plate 401, and the buoyancy is gradually reduced, so that the hydrogen water generating device 400 sinks under the water surface.

On the back surface side of the grip plate 401, that is, on a portion facing the electrolysis unit 30 of the hydrogen water generating main body 410 described later, a flow dividing portion 401c for dividing the water flow and the air bubbles discharged from the electrolysis unit 30 to the two missing discharge ports 401a is formed.

Fig. 19 is a cross-sectional view showing the upper half of the hydrogen water generator 400 cut at the position B-B in fig. 16 (B). As is apparent from fig. 19, the back surface of the grip plate 401 is formed in a slope shape inclined upward from a center portion protruding downward toward both ends in the short axis direction, and the hydrogen electrolysis water ejected from the electrolysis unit 30 is branched off at the center portion toward both sides in the short axis direction together with the air bubbles, flows along the slope starting from the branching portion 401c on the back surface of the grip plate 401, and is discharged from the deletion discharge port 401a with a slight directivity due to the water flow.

As shown in fig. 17, the upper cosmetic cover 402 is a hollow cosmetic cover of a substantially truncated hemispherical shape in an external view of substantially the half portion of the hydrogen water generating main body portion 410, and has a rectangular exposure opening 402a formed in the top surface thereof to expose the electrolytic portion 30 of the hydrogen water generating main body portion 410 in a facing manner, and a plurality of circular holes 402b to expose the illumination operation confirmation LED16 and the operation switch 15 similarly disposed in the hydrogen water generating main body portion 410.

The lower cosmetic cover 403 is a cosmetic cover that houses the lower half of the hydrogen water generating main body portion 410, and is formed in a box shape that is open at the top, and the entire shape is substantially rectangular, and the entire curved four corners are formed in a substantially oblong shape.

A rectangular bottom opening 403a that exposes the bottom of the hydrogen water generating main body 410 is provided in the bottom of the lower cosmetic case 403, and a water intake opening 403b that faces the inlet 11 provided in the bottom of the hydrogen water generating main body 410 and a power receiving opening 403c that faces the charging terminal 17 similarly provided in the bottom of the hydrogen water generating main body 410 are formed in the periphery thereof.

Further, slits 421 for allowing air and hot water to flow into and out of the cosmetic case 405 when the hydrogen water generator 400 is lowered in the bath tub or pulled up from the bath tub are formed in the lower portion of the side wall of the lower cosmetic cover 403 and the top peripheral edge of the upper cosmetic cover 402.

As described above, the hydrogen water generating device 400 of the present embodiment is formed such that hot water enters the submerged space (for example, the submerged space indicated by reference numeral 430 in fig. 19) when immersed in the bath, and is configured such that the hot water enters the submerged space from the slits 421 to reduce buoyancy, and the hydrogen water generating device 400 is lowered to the water surface, in the same manner as the plurality of air holes 401b formed in the top portion on the front surface side of the grip plate 401.

The slits 421 are formed in an opening shape and an area such that hot water gradually flows into the immersion space and air gradually escapes from the immersion space, so that the hydrogen water generating device 400 does not suddenly drop and collide with the bottom of the bath even when the user lets go of his/her hand in the water before the hydrogen water generating device 400 is placed in the bath at the bottom.

The hydrogen water generating main body section 410 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped member having substantially the same configuration as the hydrogen water generating apparatus 100 and functioning as a hydrogen water generating main body, and if the appearance characteristics are described with reference to fig. 17, a substantially rectangular electrolytic section 30 in a plan view is disposed at a substantially central portion of the upper surface thereof, and four illumination operation confirmation LEDs 16 and an operation switch 15 are provided outside the long sides of the electrolytic section 30.

The illumination operation confirmation LED16 is exposed from the circular hole 402b of the upper cosmetic cover 402 and emits light upward at a predetermined irradiation angle, but as shown in fig. 19, the illumination operation confirmation LED16 is disposed at a position where the light emitted from the illumination operation confirmation LED16 intersects with the bubble or water flow emitted from the missing emission port 401a in a direction along the slope of the flow dividing portion 401 c.

Therefore, the light emitted from the lighting operation confirmation LED16 is visually recognized by the user in a state of being scattered by the water flow containing hydrogen bubbles, and the user can confirm the generation state and diffusion of the water flow containing hydrogen microbubbles by visually recognizing the scattering state of the light.

In addition, since light scattered by the water flow containing air bubbles changes in a whirling manner in the bath, a fantasy atmosphere can be created in the bath, and the user can relax and provide a comfortable bathing time. That is, the lighting operation confirmation LED16 functions as a light emitting unit (light emitting unit) that emits light in a direction intersecting the water flow flowing out of the outflow port.

Returning to the description of fig. 17, at the bottom of the hydrogen water generating main body 410, an inlet port 11 for filtering water supplied into the hydrogen water generating main body 410 by a filter 14 and taking the water, and a charging terminal 17 for receiving power via contact with the power receiving connection portion 406c of the lower cosmetic cover 403 via the power receiving opening 403c of the lower cosmetic cover 403 when the hydrogen water generating device 400 is placed on the charging stand 406 are disposed.

As shown in fig. 18, the internal structure of the hydrogen water generating main body section 410 includes a function section 422 for controlling the charging board 18, the pump section 20, and the power supply section 40, an upper case 410a and a lower case 410b for housing the function section 422, and an electrolysis section 30.

The functional unit 422 is substantially the same as the above-described hydrogen water generating device 100, and therefore, although the description is simplified, the pump unit 20 is driven by power obtained from the power supply unit 40 and power is supplied to the electrolysis unit 30 with a predetermined polarity based on the control for controlling the charging board 18. Further, a water passage 13 through which water flows via the pump section 20 is provided.

The lower case 410b is a substantially lower half case for housing the functional unit, and is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in plan view, and has a box shape with an upper opening.

The upper portion of the lower case 410b is placed and fixed in a sealed state with the functional unit 422 being accommodated in the upper case 410a of an inverted box shape opened at the lower side. That is, the lower case 410b and the upper case 410a are sealed and joined to each other via the packing 423 disposed on the peripheral edge portions.

Therefore, even if the hydrogen water generating device 400 is lowered in the bath tub, the bath water does not intrude into the lower case 410b and the upper case 410 a.

An electrolytic part accommodating recess 424 is formed in a substantially central portion of the top surface of the upper case 410 a. In the electrolysis section accommodation recess 424, the opening 425 of the water passage 13 extending from the pump section 20 opens upward, and the electrolysis section 30 is accommodated above the opening 425 of the water passage 13. At this time, a pressure chamber 13b forming a terminal of the water passage is formed below the electrolytic unit 30.

The left and right portions of the electrolysis unit housing recess 424 of the upper case 410a are configured such that, when the upper case 410a is disposed on the functional unit 422, the conductor bars 34 and 35 standing on the charging substrate 18 for supplying electricity to the electrolysis unit 30 are vertically provided in a watertight manner. The conductor bars 34 and 35 are electrically connected to the electrolysis unit 30 at their peripheral surfaces, and the lower end portions are connected to the charging control board 18 disposed in the functional unit 422, so that power can be supplied from the power supply unit 40 to the electrolysis unit 30 via the conductor bars 34 and 35. That is, the electrolysis unit 30 is electrically connected to the power supply unit 40 and is configured to be capable of electrolysis by being electrically connected from the power supply unit 40. In the figure, the reference numerals 34a and 35a denote holding members for alternately setting a plurality of porous electrode plates, which will be described later, to different polarities in a contact or non-contact state with respect to the conductor bars 34 and 35.

The electrolysis unit 30 has a laminated electrode body 426 formed by stacking five porous electrode plates 31,32,33,33-1,33-2 at regular intervals, and applies a voltage to the adjacent porous electrode plates so as to have a high potential and a low potential different from each other, thereby electrolyzing bath water between the opposing plate surfaces and generating hydrogen and oxygen in the vicinity of the plate surfaces.

Specifically, bubbles of hydrogen and oxygen generated by electrolysis on the surfaces of the porous electrode plates 31,32, 33-1, and 33-2 are flushed with the water flow of the pressure water from the pump unit 20 in a fine state, and become dissolved hydrogen in which the fine hydrogen is dissolved.

In particular, in the present invention, the bubble diameter can be adjusted by adjusting the flow rate of the water flow from the pump unit 20 as described above, so that the time until the bubbles, which gradually grow by electrolysis, are flushed out in the water.

When the bubble diameter is adjusted in this way, if the bubble diameter is formed large, the hydrogen can be released from the water and released into the air early, and conversely, if the bubble diameter is formed small, the hydrogen bubble state can be maintained in the bath water for a long time.

Therefore, by adjusting the flow rate of the water flow from the pump unit 20 to adjust the size of the hydrogen bubble diameter, hydrogen water suitable for the purpose of use of the hydrogen water generating apparatus can be obtained.

Incidentally, although the bubbles receive resistance due to the water flow in a state of adhering to the electrode plate and are peeled off when the peeling force due to the resistance exceeds the adhesion force to the electrode plate, the small bubbles can be released in water by generating the peeling force exceeding the adhesion force when the bubbles are small or the large bubbles can be released in water by generating the peeling force exceeding the adhesion force when the surface area becomes large as the bubbles grow larger with time by changing the flow rate, and the bubble diameter of the hydrogen gas to be released can be freely adjusted.

In addition, in the case where the flow rate of the water flow is high, the hydrogen bubbles generated on the plate surface of the cathode plate when the water flow flows in a zigzag state between the electrode plates arranged to face each other can be made fine by the shearing force due to the injection function of the water flow generated at the edge portion (edge portion) of the porous plate, and can be effectively dissolved in the water.

Further, a substantially rectangular plate-shaped electrode cover 427 made of an insulator such as resin is disposed above the laminated electrode body 426. The electrode cover 427 has a function of protecting the user from directly contacting the electrodes when the user mistakenly inserts his/her hands and feet through the defect discharge port 401a shown in fig. 16 (b), and has a function of regularly forming a plurality of holes 427a in the same manner as the porous electrode plates so as not to hinder the discharge of the hydrogen electrolysis water or air bubbles generated in the laminated electrode body 426.

In particular, the plurality of holes 427a formed in the electrode cover 427 are arranged in different positional relationships with respect to the uppermost porous electrode plate 31, similarly to the positional relationships of the holes of the opposing porous electrode plates.

Therefore, as shown in fig. 20 (a), in the case where there is no electrode cover 427, for example, when the conductive small piece 428 falls on the laminated electrode body 426, there is a possibility that the small piece contacts two opposing porous electrode plates having different polarities, respectively, and a short circuit occurs, but as shown in fig. 20 (b), when the hydrogen water generating device 400 of the present embodiment is provided with the electrode cover 427, even if the small piece 428 contacts the porous electrode plate 31, the other electrode cover 427 is not energized and has no conductivity, and therefore a short circuit does not occur, and higher safety can be ensured.

As a feature of the laminated electrode body 426 of the hydrogen water generating device 400 of the present embodiment, as shown in the enlarged view of fig. 20 (b), a sharp charge concentration portion 432 is formed at the periphery of the bubble flow hole 431 of each porous electrode plate. In the enlarged view of fig. 20 (b), the charge concentrating portions 432 are shown in an exaggerated schematic manner for easy understanding of the structure, and their sizes and numbers are not necessarily correct in relation to the thickness of each porous electrode plate and the like.

In the present embodiment, each porous electrode plate has a platinum plating layer 433b formed on the surface of a titanium substrate 433a, and the titanium substrate having platinum plating formed thereon is punched to form a hole, thereby forming a porous electrode plate having a bubble flow hole 431.

Therefore, the charge concentration portion 432 is formed in an edge shape at the peripheral edge of the formed bubble flow hole 431 by a punch press which penetrates the platinum-plated titanium substrate at the time of the punching.

The charge collecting portion 432 has a function of generating hydrogen bubbles having a bubble diameter that can be visually recognized by a user when the hydrogen water generating apparatus 400 is used.

In general, if the water to be electrolyzed in the electrolytic bath forms an electrolytic hydrogen water containing hydrogen, the smaller the hydrogen bubbles, the higher the dissolution efficiency, and thus it is preferable.

However, when bubbles all having extremely small diameters such as nano bubbles are generated, there are problems as follows: the user of the hydrogen water generating apparatus 400 cannot visually recognize the actual bubble generation, and it is difficult to obtain a feeling of reality when the electrolytic hydrogen water is put into the bath.

Then, in the hydrogen water generating apparatus 400, the sharp charge collecting portion 432 is provided at the periphery of the bubble flow hole 431, and the electrolysis is partially promoted by collecting the charges at the charge collecting portion 432, thereby generating hydrogen bubbles that can be visually recognized in a cloudy state.

With this configuration, although the solubility in water is relatively high, a large number of bubbles of hydrogen gas can be generated which can be visually recognized by the user, and the user can be given a feeling of bathing with the electrolyzed hydrogen water while exhibiting the effect of hydrogen generation.

The charge collecting portions 432 are formed by punching a titanium substrate plated with platinum, but if the charge collecting portions 432 are provided in a sharp shape, a plate obtained by plating the titanium substrate subjected to punching with platinum may be used as each porous electrode plate. However, if the plating treatment is performed after the perforation, the edge portion formed in a sharp shape becomes dull, and the generation efficiency of the hydrogen bubbles that can be visually recognized in a cloudy state may be lowered, which is to be noted.

In the present embodiment, the charge collecting portion 432 is formed by punching, but the forming method is not necessarily limited to punching, and any known method can be applied as long as the charge collecting portion 432 is formed in a sharp shape.

Therefore, as shown in the enlarged view of fig. 20 (b), the charge collecting portions 432 are formed only on one side surface of the hole portion peripheral edge of each porous electrode plate, but it is needless to say that the charge collecting portions 432 may be provided on both side surfaces of the hole portion peripheral edge.

Next, an electrical configuration of the hydrogen water generating apparatus 400 according to the present embodiment will be described. First, for ease of understanding, several characteristic functions of the hydrogen water generating apparatus 400 are mentioned.

As functions to be written in particular, the hydrogen water generating apparatus 400 has a function of releasing bubbles which are difficult to be peeled, a function of reversing polarity, and a function of preventing short-circuiting.

First, the function of releasing bubbles that are difficult to peel off is a function of releasing bubbles that are generated on the surface of the electrode and that spread the water flow from the missing discharge port 401 a.

As described above, in the hydrogen water generating apparatus 400, the pump section 20 generates a water flow toward the plate surfaces of the porous electrode plates 31,32, 33-1, and 33-2 constituting the laminated electrode body 426, and hydrogen bubbles generated on the surfaces of the porous electrode plates are efficiently peeled off and diffused into the bath.

However, the present inventors have conducted extensive studies over the years and have newly found that hydrogen bubbles which are difficult to be peeled from the electrode surface are generated at a predetermined ratio by mixing with most of hydrogen bubbles which are easily peeled (hereinafter, also referred to as peeling-easy bubbles) generated on the electrode plate surface.

Most of the bubbles are easy to be peeled off, and easily peeled off and diffused from the electrode surface by the stable water flow generated by the pump section 20, but the bubbles are difficult to be peeled off by the constant flow of the water flow.

Therefore, the bubbles which are difficult to be peeled off and are generated at a constant rate with the lapse of time occupy a large area on the electrode surface with the lapse of time of electrolysis, which causes a decrease in the electrolysis efficiency.

In the hydrogen water generating apparatus 400 of the present embodiment, the control unit controls the pump unit 20 to change the flow rate of the water flow during electrolysis, and the flow resistance of the bubbles that are difficult to detach is changed to promote detachment, thereby realizing the function of releasing the bubbles that are difficult to detach.

More specifically, during electrolysis, the pump unit 20 is repeatedly switched and controlled by the control unit between a relatively long-time operation state in which water flow is generated and a relatively short-time stop state in which water flow is not generated, and is operated intermittently.

In this way, by executing a peeling cycle including an operating state and a stopped state during electrolysis by the control section via the pump section, when the operation state is resumed after the stopped state, bubbles which were difficult to peel before can be peeled off from the electrode surface, and an effective area for electrolysis in the surface of each porous electrode plate can be secured, thereby maintaining the electrolysis efficiency.

The presence of bubbles that are difficult to separate is not necessarily a complete obstacle for the hydrogen water generating device 400, and there are bubbles that exhibit extremely excellent effects after being separated from the electrode surface.

The bubbles difficult to be peeled after the release are bubbles which once were not easily peeled from the electrode surface, that is, bubbles adhering to the electrode surface for a long time, and therefore the bubble diameter is larger than that of the bubbles easy to be peeled.

Therefore, the floating water obtains relatively large buoyancy after being released, rapidly reaches the water surface, and diffuses in the gas phase in the bathroom. The diffused hydrogen enters the body directly through the lungs by the user's breath, and the effect of the hydrogen water generated in the bath is not only expected but also expected to be more effective in the oxidation-reduction reaction.

In addition, many of the bubbles which are easy to be peeled are so-called nanobubbles, and it is difficult for the user to visually recognize the hydrogen bubbles, and the bubbles which are difficult to be peeled have a larger diameter than the bubbles which are easy to be peeled, so that the user can visually recognize the generation of hydrogen, and the effect of the oxidation-reduction reaction by hydrogen is further promoted from the mental side.

That is, it can be understood that the hydrogen water generating apparatus 400 of the present embodiment includes the separation-difficult bubble releasing means (separation-difficult bubble releasing portion) that repeats the separation cycle and periodically or aperiodically performs the reactivation of the pump portion 20 in order to intentionally collect and release large bubbles due to the separation-difficult bubbles.

The time ratio between the operating state and the stopped state of the pump section 20 constituting the peeling cycle is not particularly limited as long as the stopped state is short and long relative to the operating state. The time of one cycle of the peeling cycle is not particularly limited.

In order to understand the structure, the time of one cycle of the peeling cycle can be set to 30 to 120 seconds, and the time distribution between the operating state and the stop state can be set to 57 to 59.5:3 to 0.5. More specifically, the time of one cycle of the peeling cycle is set to 30 to 120 seconds, preferably 45 to 90 seconds, the time of the stopped state is set to 0.5 to 3 seconds, and the remaining time obtained by subtracting the time of the stopped state from the time of one cycle of the peeling cycle is set to the operating time.

The polarity reversing function is a function for preventing mineral components such as calcium dissolved in electrolyzed water, and particularly metal ions present in a cationic state in water from adhering as scale during electrolysis.

In particular, in the hydrogen water generating apparatus 400 according to the present embodiment, the polarity is inverted every predetermined period of the separation cycle.

Therefore, the porous electrode plate functioning as the cathode is switched to the anode every predetermined time, and the porous electrode plate functioning as the anode is switched to the cathode every predetermined time, so that the deposition of the scale is substantially equalized for each porous electrode plate, and the scale deposited on the porous electrode plate switched to the anode is redissolved in water to be removed, so that the reduction of the electrolysis efficiency due to the scale adhesion can be suppressed.

The short-circuit prevention function is a function for preventing a short circuit between electrodes accompanying the reversal of polarity, and protecting a circuit or the like that switches the electrodes.

As described above, the laminated electrode body 426 is configured by arranging a plurality of (five) porous electrode plates 31,32, 33-1,33-2 in a facing manner with a constant interval maintained, and electrolysis is performed by alternately applying positive and negative voltages to the respective porous electrode plates.

Here, focusing on any one of the pair of opposing porous electrode plates to which positive and negative electrodes are applied among these porous electrode plates, when the power supply to the porous electrode plates is stopped, it is considered that the potential difference between the porous electrode plates is eliminated by conduction through the water existing during the time, but actually, a state where a corresponding potential difference is held between the respective porous electrode plates becomes clear by the research of the present inventors.

This is because the electrolyzed water has a capacitance if it is present between the porous electrode plates, and this is an idea that the present inventors have further analyzed a new phenomenon.

If the electrodes are switched in this state and power is supplied, the state is substantially the same as the short-circuited state, and the circuit or the like for switching the electrodes may be damaged. In particular, in the case of a circuit in which switching is realized by a semiconductor element such as an FET, there is a problem that the possibility of inducing a failure is increased.

In the hydrogen water generating apparatus 400 of the present embodiment, when the polarity is switched, the supply of electric power to the porous electrode plates is first stopped, fresh water that has not been subjected to electrolysis is further supplied from the pump unit 20, and the polarity is switched after a lapse of a predetermined time (hereinafter also referred to as a water flow replacement time) of about 0.3 to 2 seconds, during which the water between the porous electrode plates is replaced with the fresh water.

With this configuration, the capacitance between the porous electrode plates can be reduced, and the potential difference between the porous electrode plates can be eliminated to such an extent that it is invisible, so that a substantial short-circuit state at the time of polarity switching can be prevented or allowed, and damage to a circuit or the like for switching the electrodes can be suppressed.

In addition, the polarity switching timing is preferably in a state in which the pump section is difficult to detach and has few bubbles immediately after the pump section is reactivated, from the viewpoint of protecting the circuit.

In this respect, in the hydrogen water generating apparatus 400, since the polarity is inverted every predetermined period of the peeling cycle, it is easy to measure the timing at which the polarity is switched immediately after the peeling cycle is started, and the circuit can be reliably protected. Since the flow rate may not be sufficiently stabilized immediately after the pump section 20 is re-operated, a time (hereinafter also referred to as a water flow stabilization time) of about 0.3 to 2 seconds may be set to stand by until the flow rate of the water flow is stabilized before the power supply to each porous electrode plate is stopped at the time of polarity switching.

Next, with reference to fig. 21, an electrical configuration of the hydrogen water generating apparatus 400 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the description of these functions. In the hydrogen water generating apparatus 400 of the present embodiment, the polarity switching is performed in five cycles per peeling cycle with the peeling cycle set to 60 seconds of the on state time 58 seconds and the off state time 2 seconds, the water flow stabilization time is set to 0.5 seconds, and the water flow replacement time is set to 0.5 seconds, and the electrolysis is automatically terminated in about 15 minutes which is fifteen times of the peeling cycle, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

Fig. 21 is an explanatory diagram showing an electrical configuration of the hydrogen water generator 400. The control unit 440 configured on the control charging board 18 includes a CPU441, a ROM442, a RAM443, an EEPROM444, an RTC446, and the like as its configuration, and is capable of executing programs necessary for the operation of the hydrogen water generating device 400.

Specifically, the ROM442 stores programs and the like necessary for the processing of the CPU441, and the RAM443 functions as a temporary storage area when executing the programs and the like.

For example, in a predetermined area of the ROM442, in addition to a program for realizing the processing, a value of an operating state time (58 seconds), which is a time for maintaining the pump unit 20 in an operating state, a value of a stopping state time (2 seconds), which is a time for maintaining the pump unit 20 in a stopping state, a value of a water flow stabilization time (0.5 seconds), a value of a water flow replacement time (0.5 seconds), a value of a switching interval time (0.1 seconds), a value of an energization resume standby time (0.1 seconds), and the like are stored. The values in parentheses in this paragraph are the set values in the present embodiment, and can of course be changed as appropriate in accordance with the specification and the like.

In addition, for example, a "polarity inversion flag" indicating a timing of whether or not to invert the polarity, "a" polarity switching counter "for counting the number of cycles of the peeling cycle for polarity switching," a "cycle number counter" for counting the number of cycles of the peeling cycle for ending electrolysis, "an" interruption flag "referred to when the switch 15 is pressed long to interrupt electrolysis during the operation of the hydrogen water generating device 400, and the like are stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 443.

The EEPROM444 stores which conductor bar is an anode at the time of interruption of electrolysis (in the present embodiment, which anode signal is generated in two anode signals described later), or stores the number of cycles at that time. The EEPROM444 functions as a power-supply-less storage unit that stores power after power supply is cut off, is referred to by the CPU441 at the time of restart, selects the polarity at the time of restart in accordance with the polarity at the time of interruption and the number of cycles, and changes the number of peeling cycles executed.

A RTC (Real Time Clock) indicated by a reference numeral 446 is a Clock for generating a Clock pulse serving as a reference for executing a stop process described later. The CPU441 executes a stop process in response to an interrupt process of a clock pulse generated every predetermined period (for example, 2 msec) from the RTC446 even in a state where the process is being executed.

The control unit 440 is connected to the operation switch 15, the LED16, the pump unit 20, the power supply unit 40, the first conductor bar 34, and the second conductor bar 35, and is configured to be referred to or control driving in accordance with the execution state of a program in the control unit 440.

For example, the control unit 440 transmits a pump unit operation signal to the pump unit 20. The pump unit 20 operates in accordance with the state of the pump unit operation signal, and is configured such that the pump unit 20 operates in a state (open state) in which the pump unit operation signal is transmitted, and the pump unit 20 stops in a state (off state) in which the pump unit operation signal is not transmitted.

The control unit 440 includes a polarity switching circuit 445. The polarity switching circuit 445 receives the first stub anode signal, the second stub anode signal, and the voltage application signal from the CPU441, and supplies electric power from the power supply unit 40 to the first stub 34 and the second stub 35, or switches the polarity of the positive polarity and the negative polarity of the first stub 34 and the second stub 35. Specifically, the polarity switching circuit 445, which receives the first stub anode signal, applies a voltage such that the first stub 34 is an anode and the second stub 35 is a cathode, and when receiving the second stub cathode signal, applies a voltage such that the first stub 34 is a cathode and the second stub 35 is an anode. The polarity switching circuit 445 that has received the voltage application signal supplies power to each of the conductor bars in accordance with the received anode signal.

The processing executed by the control unit 440 will be described below with reference to fig. 22 to 26. Fig. 22 shows a flow of main processing executed by the CPU441 of the control unit 440, and fig. 23 to 26 show flows of processing in the respective subroutines.

As shown in fig. 22, in the main process, the CPU441 first determines whether or not the operation switch 15 is turned on (pressed) (step S11). If it is determined that the operation switch 15 is not turned on (no in step S11), the CPU441 returns the process to step S11 again. On the other hand, when determining that the operation switch 15 has been actuated (YES in step S11), the CPU441 proceeds to step S12.

The CPU441 executes the startup-time processing in step S12. In the present startup processing, the CPU441 refers to the EEPROM444 and reads the type of anode signal transmitted at the previous end and the electrode switching count value. Here, it is assumed that the previous termination is not caused by the interrupt and the termination is completed in a state where the second stub anode signal is transmitted, and in the present startup processing, the CPU441 determines to transmit the first stub anode signal. In the present startup processing, various count values and flag values of the RAM443 are reset. When the CPU441 has stored the interrupt flag in the on state when referring to the EEPROM444, the CPU441 writes the electrode switching counter value read from the EEPROM444 to a predetermined address on the RAM443 and determines to send the read type of anode signal in the present startup processing.

Then, the CPU441 performs the first-time pump driving process in step S13. The first-time pump driving process is a process for forming a water flow between the porous electrode plates before the start of electrolysis (for example, before 1 to 3 seconds of the energization start process described below), and sends a pump section operation signal to set the pump section 20 in an operation state.

Then, the CPU441 executes the energization start processing in step S14. In the energization start processing, the CPU441 transmits the anode signal and the voltage application signal of the type determined by the start-time processing of step S12 to the polarity switching circuit 445, thereby applying a voltage with a predetermined polarity between the first conductor bar 34 and the second conductor bar 35, that is, between the respective porous electrode plates.

Then, the CPU441 executes pump driving processing, and starts timing (step S15). In the present pump driving process, the CPU441 sends a pump section operation signal to the pump section 20 to set the pump section 20 to an operating state. In the case where the pump section operation signal has already been sent in step S13, the sending of the pump section operation signal is continued in this manner.

Then, the CPU441 determines in step S16 whether or not the polarity inversion flag is on, with reference to the predetermined address of the RAM 443. Here, if it is determined that the polarity inversion flag is not on (S16: no), the CPU441 moves the process to step S19. On the other hand, when determining that the polarity inversion flag is on (S16: yes), the CPU441 moves the process to step S17.

In step S17, the CPU441 performs polarity inversion processing. This polarity inversion process is a process of switching the polarity of the voltage applied to the first conductor bar 34 and the second conductor bar 35, and will be described later with reference to fig. 25.

Then, the CPU441 sets the value of the polarity inversion flag stored at a predetermined address of the RAM443 to off (step S18), and the process proceeds to step S19.

In step S19, the CPU441 refers to the timer started in step S15 to determine whether or not the operating state time (58 seconds in the present embodiment) has elapsed. Here, in a case where it is determined that the operating state time has not elapsed (step S19: no), the CPU441 returns the process to step S19. On the other hand, when determining that the operating state time has elapsed (step S19: YES), the CPU441 moves the process to step S20.

In step S20, the CPU441 increments the counter for electrode switching stored at a predetermined address of the RAM443 by 1, and increments the cycle number counter by 1.

Then, the CPU441 refers to the predetermined address of the RAM443 to determine whether or not the value of the cycle counter is 15 (step S21). If it is determined that the value of the cycle counter is 15 (yes in step S21), CPU441 executes an end process (step S22) to end the execution of the series of programs (or to return to the start of the main program process). On the other hand, when determining that the value of the cycle number counter is not 15 (no in step S21), the CPU441 executes the pump stop process (step S23) and returns the process to step S15 again. The completion processing of step S22 and the pump stop processing of step S23 will be described later with reference to fig. 24 and 26.

Next, the stop processing will be described with reference to fig. 23. The CPU441 may interrupt the processing execution stop processing even in a state where the processing is being executed. The following stop processing is executed based on a clock pulse generated from the RTC446 every predetermined period (for example, 2 msec).

In the stop processing, the CPU441 determines whether or not the operation switch 15 is in the long press state (step S31). If it is determined that the operation switch 15 is not in the long press state (no in step S31), the CPU441 returns the process to the address before the branch. On the other hand, when determining that the operation switch 15 is in the long-press state (yes in step S31), the CPU441 moves the process to step S32.

In step S32, the CPU441 refers to the predetermined address of the RAM443 and performs writing to set the value of the interrupt flag to on.

Then, the CPU441 executes an end process (described later) in step S33, and performs writing to turn off the value of the interrupt flag by referring again to the predetermined address of the RAM443, thereby ending the execution of the series of programs (or returning to the start of the main process).

Next, the pump stop process executed in step S23 of the main process will be described with reference to fig. 24.

In the pump stop process, the CPU441 stops the pump unit 20 by stopping the sending of the pump unit operation signal to the pump unit 20 (step S41).

Next, the CPU441 determines whether or not a stop state time (2 seconds in the present embodiment) has elapsed since the stop of the delivery of the pump section operation signal (step S42). Here, when determining that the stop state time has not elapsed (no in step S42), the CPU441 returns the process to step S42 again. On the other hand, when determining that the stopped state time has elapsed (step S42: YES), the CPU441 refers to the predetermined address of the RAM443 and determines whether or not the value of the electrode-switching timer is 5 (step S43).

Here, when it is determined that the value of the electrode switching counter is 5 (yes in step S43), the value of the polarity inversion flag is set to on with reference to the predetermined address of the RAM443, the value of the polarity switching count value is reset (step S44), and the process returns to the address before branching. On the other hand, when it is determined in step S43 that the value of the electrode switching counter is not 5 (NO in step S43), the CPU441 returns the process to the address before the branch.

The polarity inversion process executed in step S17 of the main process will be described below with reference to fig. 25.

In the polarity inversion process, the CPU441 determines whether or not the water flow stabilization time (0.5 second in the present embodiment) has elapsed from the time when the time counting was started in step S15 (step S51). Here, in a case where it is determined that the water flow stabilization time has not elapsed (step S51: no), the CPU441 returns the process to step S51. On the other hand, when determining that the water flow stabilization time has elapsed (step S51: YES), the CPU441 proceeds to step S52.

In step S52, the CPU441 stops the transmission of the voltage application signal to the polarity switching circuit 445 and performs the processing of stopping the energization (step S52).

Then, the CPU441 determines whether or not the time (1 second in the present embodiment) of the sum of the water flow stabilization time and the water flow replacement time (0.5 second in the present embodiment) has elapsed from the start of the time counting. In the case where it is determined here that the time of the above-described sum has not elapsed (step S53: no), the CPU441 returns the process to step S53. On the other hand, when determining that the sum time has elapsed (YES in step S53), the CPU441 stops the anode signal being sent (step S54).

Then, the CPU441 determines whether or not the time of the sum of the water flow stabilization time, the water flow replacement time, and the switching interval time (0.1 second in the present embodiment) has elapsed from the time measurement (step S55). In the case where it is determined here that the time of the above-described sum has not elapsed (step S55: no), the CPU441 moves the process here to step S55. On the other hand, when it is determined that the sum time has elapsed (yes in step S55), the CPU441 starts to send an anode signal of a type different from the previously sent anode signal, that is, when the previously sent anode signal is the first stub anode signal, the sending of the second stub anode signal is started, and when the previously sent anode signal is the second stub anode signal, the sending of the first stub anode signal is started (step S56), and the process proceeds to step S57.

In step S57, the CPU441 determines whether or not the time of the sum of the water flow stabilization time, the water flow replacement time, the switching interval time, and the energization turn-on standby time (0.1 second in the present embodiment) has elapsed from the time measurement. In the case where it is determined here that the time of the above-described sum has not elapsed (step S57: no), the CPU441 returns the process here to step S57. On the other hand, when determining that the sum time has elapsed (step S57: YES), the CPU441 moves the process to step S58.

In step S58, the CPU441 sends a voltage application signal to the polarity switching circuit 445 to start the energization process, and returns the process to the address before branching.

Next, the end processing executed in step S22 of the main processing and step S33 of the stop processing will be described with reference to fig. 26.

In the end processing, the CPU441 determines whether or not the value of the interrupt flag is on, with reference to a predetermined address of the RAM443 (step S61). If it is determined that the interrupt flag is on (yes in step S61), the CPU441 stops the voltage application signal to the polarity switching circuit 445 and performs a process of stopping the energization (step S62), and then the process proceeds to step S66. On the other hand, when determining that the interrupt flag is not on (step S61: NO), the CPU441 moves the process to step S63.

In step S63, the CPU441 determines whether or not the time is 0.1 second before the stop time, that is, whether or not the time is 59.9 seconds from the start of the timer count in the present embodiment. If it is determined here that it is not 0.1 second before the stop time (no in step S63), the CPU441 returns the process to step S63 again. On the other hand, when determining that the stop time is 0.1 seconds before (yes in step S63), the CPU441 moves the process to step S64.

In step S64, the CPU441 stops the voltage application signal to the polarity switching circuit 445 and performs a process of stopping the energization.

Then, the CPU441 determines whether or not it is the stop time (step S65). If it is determined here that it is not the stop time (no in step S65), the CPU441 returns the process to step S65 again. On the other hand, when determining that the time is the stop time (YES in step S65), the CPU441 moves the process to step S66.

In step S66, the CPU441 stops the anode signal supplied to the polarity switching circuit 445 and the pump section operation signal supplied to the pump section 20.

Then, the CPU441 writes the type of anode signal transmitted from the EEPROM444 at a predetermined address, the value of the electrode switching counter, the value of the interrupt flag, and the like (step S67), and returns the process to the address before branching.

Next, the operation of the hydrogen water generating apparatus 400 having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to fig. 27 and 28. Fig. 27 is a timing chart showing states of various signals sent from the operation switch 15 and the control unit 440(CPU441) of the hydrogen water generating apparatus 400, and fig. 28 is a timing chart showing a part of time shown in fig. 27 in an enlarged view.

As shown in fig. 27, the hydrogen water generating apparatus 400 generates hydrogen by electrolyzing electrolyzed water by executing various processes for about 15 minutes (about 900 seconds) in response to the pressing operation of the operation switch 15 by the user.

The hydrogen water generating device 400 executes various processes by regarding one cycle of a separation cycle including an operation state time (on time) and a stop state time (off time) of the pump section operation signal as a dummy operation clock signal. For example, the polarity of each porous electrode plate (each conductor bar) is switched every five cycles, that is, every about 5 minutes, and the electrolytic treatment is automatically completed in fifteen cycles, that is, about 15 minutes, of the peeling cycle.

Next, the operation of the hydrogen water generating device 400 will be described for each main event with reference to various signals and the like.

Fig. 28 is an enlarged left view showing a timing diagram at the time of starting the hydrogen water generating device 400, an enlarged middle view showing a timing diagram at the time of stopping the pump unit 20, and an enlarged right view showing a timing diagram at the time of the polarity switching operation.

As is apparent from the left enlarged view of fig. 28, when the operation switch 15 is pressed by the user, the control section 440 performs the first-time pump driving process (step S13) to start the generation of the water flow about 2 seconds before the electrolysis.

Then, the controller 440 transmits the anode signal determined to be sent by the start-time processing (step S12), and in this case, the first conductor bar anode signal together with the voltage application signal through the execution of the energization start processing (step S14), and starts the supply of electric power to each porous electrode plate having the first conductor bar 34 as the anode and the second conductor bar 35 as the cathode. Further, the time counting by step S15 is started.

Then, as shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 28, when determining that the operation state time (58 seconds) has elapsed since the start of the counting (YES in step S19), the control unit 440 executes a pump stop process (step S41) to stop the transmission of the pump unit operation signal and stop the operation of the pump unit 20.

After the stop state lasts about 2 seconds, the control unit 440 executes the pump driving process (step S15) to set the pump unit 20 to the operating state again.

Here, at the timing of the reactivation of the pump section 20 shown by the black arrow in the figure, the bubbles that are difficult to be peeled are peeled from the surface of the porous electrode plate. That is, the control unit 440 functions as a separation-difficult bubble releasing means (separation-difficult bubble releasing portion) for releasing separation-difficult bubbles adhering to and growing on the porous electrode plate by performing the stop and restart of the pump unit 20 during the operation as described above.

Then, referring to the right enlarged view of fig. 28 about 300 seconds shown in fig. 27, when it is determined that the operation state time has elapsed since the time measurement in step S15 (58 seconds: here, 240 seconds +58 seconds, which is the four cycles of the peeling cycle, is 298 seconds) (yes in step S19), the pump stop process is executed (step S41), the transmission of the pump section operation signal is stopped, and the operation of the pump section 20 is stopped.

The value of the electrode switching counter stored in the RAM443 is "5" by the execution of step S20, the polarity inversion flag is turned on during the pump stop process (step S44), the peeling cycle of the sixth cycle is entered, and the pump unit 20 is put into the operating state at step S15, and then the polarity inversion process is performed (step S17). That is, the polarity inversion processing is configured to be performed during the operation of the pump unit 20.

Therefore, a temporary short circuit state between the porous electrode plates when polarity switching is performed due to capacitance of electrolyzed water existing between the porous electrode plates can be avoided, and a circuit for supplying power to the porous electrode plates, switching, and the like can be secured.

Further, the polarity reversing process is executed after waiting for the amount of the water flow stabilization time (0.5 second) and the water flow replacement time (0.5 second) after the reactivation of the pump section 20, so that the short-circuit state can be more reliably avoided.

(5) Modification of the fourth embodiment:

next, a modification of the hydrogen water generating apparatus 400 according to the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 29 and 30.

The hydrogen water generating apparatus according to this modification has substantially the same configuration as the hydrogen water generating apparatus 400, but differs from the hydrogen water generating apparatus 400 in that it has a configuration for improving the flow of water between the porous electrode plates 31 to 33-2 constituting the laminated electrode body 426 in the pressure chamber 13b (in the electrolysis unit housing recess 424).

Specifically, as a characteristic point of the hydrogen water generator of the present modification, a water flow regulating plate is erected on the bottom surface of the electrolytic unit housing recess 424 of the upper case 410a, a non-porous region is formed in a porous electrode plate (porous electrode plate 33-2 in the present embodiment) facing the opening 425, and a stopper piece is disposed in a part of a bubble flow through hole formed in the porous electrode plate.

Fig. 29 is a perspective view of the hydrogen water generating main body 410 of the hydrogen water generating apparatus according to the present modification, showing a state in which the electrolysis unit 30 is disassembled. For convenience of explanation, the electrode cover 427 and other parts are not shown.

As shown in the lower drawing of fig. 29, an L-shaped water flow regulating plate 511, a second water flow regulating plate 512, a third water flow regulating plate 513, and a fourth water flow regulating plate 514 are erected on a bottom surface 510 of the electrolytic unit housing recess 424 formed in the upper case 410a and having a substantially rectangular shape in plan view.

As shown in fig. 30 (a), the opening 425 is formed in the bottom surface 510 of the electrolytic cell housing recess 424 at a substantially central position of an upper left region defined by an auxiliary line x1 bisecting the electrolytic cell housing recess 424 in a substantially rectangular shape in the longitudinal direction and an auxiliary line y1 bisecting the electrolytic cell housing recess 424 in the short direction in a similar manner, that is, at a position biased in the longitudinal direction and the short direction on the bottom surface 510. In the following description, of the pair of long side walls constituting the rectangular electrolytic cell housing recess 424, the long side wall closer to the opening 425 is referred to as a proximal-long side wall 530n, the long side wall farther away is referred to as a distal-long side wall 530f, and of the same pair of short side walls, the short side wall closer to the opening 425 is referred to as a proximal-short side wall 531n, and the short side wall farther away is referred to as a distal-short side wall 531 f.

The L-shaped water flow regulating plate 511 includes a first water flow regulating plate 515 arranged to extend on an auxiliary line y1 with a length P1 therebetween, and a fifth water flow regulating plate 516 extending in an L shape from an end of the first water flow regulating plate 515.

The first water flow regulating plate 515 is a member for regulating the flow of water in the vicinity of the opening 425 and for regulating the flow, and is erected at a position intersecting the auxiliary line x2 extending in the lateral direction of the transverse opening 425, for example, such that the midpoint in the extending direction of the first water flow regulating plate 515 is located on or near the auxiliary line x 2. The length P1 is P/3 < P1. ltoreq.P/4.5, more preferably substantially P/4, with respect to the length P of the long side of the electrolytic cell housing recess 424.

The fifth water flow regulating plate 516 is a water flow regulating plate extending in an L-shape from the end on the far-side short side wall 531f side to the far-side long side wall 530f among the both end portions of the first water flow regulating plate 515, and has a function of regulating the flow of the water ejected from the opening 425 from the near-side short side wall 531n along the far-side long side wall 530 f. In the present embodiment, the fifth water flow regulating plate 516 is configured such that one end is connected to the first water flow regulating plate 515 and the other end is connected to the distal long side wall 530f, but a slight gap may be provided between the fifth water flow regulating plate and the first water flow regulating plate 515 or between the fifth water flow regulating plate and the distal long side wall 530 f. That is, the gap may be formed to such an extent that a vortex described later can be formed in a region surrounded by the first water flow regulating plate 515, the fifth water flow regulating plate 516, the distal long side wall 530f, and the proximal short side wall 531n (hereinafter referred to as a third vortex forming region).

The second water flow regulating plate 512 is a water flow regulating plate arranged so as to extend across the length P2 on the auxiliary line y2 closest to the long side wall 530n among the auxiliary lines y2, y1, and y3 that substantially divide the length M in the short side direction of the electrolytic cell housing recess 424. The length P2 is P/3 < P2. ltoreq.P/4.5, more preferably substantially P/4, with respect to the length P in the longitudinal direction of the electrolytic cell housing recess 424.

The third water flow regulating plate 513 is arranged to extend through the length P3 on the auxiliary line y3 closest to the long side wall 530f, similarly to the second water flow regulating plate 512. The length P3 is P/3 < P3. ltoreq.P/4.5, more preferably substantially P/4, with respect to the length P in the longitudinal direction of the electrolytic cell housing recess 424.

Both of the second water flow regulating plate 512 and the third water flow regulating plate 513 are members for regulating the water flow in the substantially central portion of the electrolytic section accommodating recess 424, and are disposed at positions intersecting the auxiliary line x1, for example, the midpoint in the extending direction of the second water flow regulating plate 512 and the third water flow regulating plate 513 is located on or near the auxiliary line x 1.

The fourth water flow regulating plate 514 is a water flow regulating plate for regulating the flow of water at a position distant from the opening 425 and is arranged to extend on the auxiliary line y1 via the length P4. The length P4 is P/3 < P4. ltoreq.P/4.5, more preferably substantially P/4, with respect to the length P in the longitudinal direction of the electrolytic cell housing recess 424.

The fourth water flow regulating plate 514 is disposed at a position intersecting the auxiliary line x3 closest to the distal short side wall 531f when the length P in the longitudinal direction of the electrolytic cell housing recess 424 is four times, and for example, the midpoint of the fourth water flow regulating plate 514 in the extending direction is located on or near the auxiliary line x 3.

The first water flow restricting plate 515, the second water flow restricting plate 512, the third water flow restricting plate 513, and the fourth water flow restricting plate 514 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction.

Specifically, the first water flow regulating plate 515 is disposed at an interval d1 from the near-position short side wall 531n, the second water flow regulating plate 512 is disposed at an interval d2a from the first water flow regulating plate 515, the third water flow regulating plate 513 is disposed at an interval d2b from the first water flow regulating plate 515, the fourth water flow regulating plate 514 is disposed at an interval d3a and an interval d3b from the second water flow regulating plate 512 and the third water flow regulating plate 513, and is disposed at an interval d4 from the far-position short side wall 531 f.

The distance d1 to d4 is not particularly limited as long as it is shorter than the length P1 to P4. With respect to the longitudinal length P of the electrolytic cell storage recess 424, P ═ d1+ P1+ d2a + P2+ d3a + P4+ d4(P ═ d1+ P1+ d2b + P3+ d3b + P4+ d4) holds.

The heights of the first water flow regulating plate 515, the second water flow regulating plate 512, the third water flow regulating plate 513, the fourth water flow regulating plate 514, and the fifth water flow regulating plate 516 erected on the bottom surface 510 are not particularly limited if a vortex described later can be formed, but may be 0.5 to 1 times the height of the pressure chamber 13b, which is the distance between the porous electrode plate (in the present embodiment, the porous electrode plate 33-2) constituting the lowermost layer of the laminated electrode body 426 and the bottom surface 510.

On the other hand, as shown in fig. 29, among the porous electrode plates 31 to 33-2 constituting the laminated electrode body 426, a non-porous region 517 (shown by a broken line in the figure) in which no bubble flow hole 431 is formed in the position facing the opening 425 in the porous electrode plate 33-2 in the lowermost layer.

In particular, in the present modification, the bubble circulation holes 431 are regularly formed by performing the staggered punching process, more specifically, the punching process at 45 ° staggered or 60 ° staggered, on the platinum-plated titanium substrate, and the non-porous regions 517 are formed by attaching the blocking pieces 518 that block the bubble circulation holes 431 to the bubble circulation holes 431 facing the openings 425. The non-porous region 517 is not limited to the case where the bubble flow holes 431 formed by blocking are formed, and the non-porous region 517 may be formed by not forming the bubble flow holes 431 at a position facing the opening 425.

Further, in the porous electrode plate 32 and the porous electrode plate 33-1 of the present modification, the blocking pieces 518 for blocking the bubble flow holes 431 are attached and arranged to some of the bubble flow holes 431 regularly perforated in a staggered pattern.

As described above, the hydrogen water generating apparatus according to the present modification has the following features (1) and (2) for simplicity.

(1) In the porous electrode plate in the lowermost layer, a non-porous region 517 is formed at a position facing the opening 425.

(2) An opening 425 is formed at a position biased in the longitudinal direction and the short side direction in the bottom surface 510 of the substantially rectangular electrolytic unit housing recess 424 in a plan view, a lower space (pressure chamber) formed between the bottom surface 510 and the electrolytic unit 30 mounted in the electrolytic unit housing recess 424 is provided with first to fourth water flow regulating plates erected from the bottom surface 510 and extending in the longitudinal direction by a length of substantially 1/3-1/4.5 in the longitudinal direction, the first water flow regulating plate 515 is arranged at a substantially central portion in the short side direction crossing the opening 425, the second water flow regulating plate 512 and the third water flow regulating plate 513 are arranged at positions of substantially 1/4 and substantially 3/4 in the quarter short side direction, the fourth water flow regulating plate 514 is arranged at a substantially central portion in the short side direction, and the opening is formed from the end portion or the vicinity of the end portion of the first water flow regulating plate 515, the fifth water flow restricting plate 516 is erected in a substantially L-shape up to or near the long side wall 530f which is a long side wall distant from the opening 425.

Further, in the hydrogen water generator of the present modification, by providing the structure of (1), the velocity vector of the water flow in the horizontal direction (the direction in which the space spreads) in the space formed between the porous electrode plate 33-1 and the porous electrode plate 33-2 can be made approximately uniform.

That is, when the bubble flow holes 431 are formed at the position of the porous electrode plate 33-2 facing the opening 425 without providing the non-porous region 517, the water flow jetted from the opening 425 to the pressure chamber 13b directly enters the space formed between the porous electrode plate 33-1 and the porous electrode plate 33-2 through the bubble flow holes 431, collides with the porous electrode plate 33-1, and spreads in the horizontal direction, and thus, the flow is biased.

On the other hand, by providing the non-porous region 517 as in this modification, the water jet from the opening 425 is prevented from directly flowing into the space formed between the porous electrode plate 33-1 and the porous electrode plate 33-2, and the flow is once buffered in the pressure chamber 13b, so that the flow bias in the space formed between the porous electrode plate 33-1 and the porous electrode plate 33-2 is suppressed, and the velocity vector of the water flow in the space can be made approximately uniform.

Further, in the hydrogen water generator of the present modification example, by providing the configuration of (2), the vortex can be positively formed in the pressure chamber 13b, and the water flow to the laminated electrode body 426 can be uniformized.

Here, referring to fig. 30 (b), the formation of the vortex is described, first, the water flow F3 in the water jet from the opening 425 is split by the first water flow restricting plate 515 into the water flow F1 directed toward the distal short side wall 531F from the opening 425 and the water flow F2 directed toward the proximal short side wall 531 n.

The water flow F1 is divided by the second water flow restricting plate 512 and the third water flow restricting plate 513 into a water flow F1a flowing between the proximal long side wall 530n and the second water flow restricting plate 512, a water flow F1b flowing between the second water flow restricting plate 512 and the third water flow restricting plate 513, and a water flow F1c flowing between the third water flow restricting plate 513 and the distal long side wall 530F.

The water flow F1b is further divided by the fourth water flow restricting plate 514 into a water flow F1b1 directed toward the region between the fourth water flow restricting plate 514 and the proximal long side wall 530n (hereinafter referred to as a first vortex forming region) and a water flow F1b2 directed toward the region between the fourth water flow restricting plate 514 and the distal long side wall 530F (hereinafter referred to as a second vortex forming region).

In the first vortex formation region, the water flow F1a and the water flow F1b1 merge and collide with each other, and form a turbulent flow, thereby forming a vortex.

In the second vortex formation region, the water flow F1b2 and the water flow F1c merge and collide with each other, and a turbulent flow is formed, and a vortex is also formed therein. The vortex shown in fig. 30 (b) is only schematically illustrated as a formed vortex, and the size, number, shape, and winding direction thereof are not necessarily correct.

When the water flow F2 hits the proximal short side wall 531n, it flows along the proximal short side wall 531n toward the distal long side wall 530F, and then starts flowing along the distal long side wall 530F.

The water flow F2 that starts flowing along the distal long side wall 530F toward the distal short side wall 531F collides with the fifth water flow restricting plate 516. That is, the water flow F2 along the far-side wall 530F is divided by the fifth water flow regulating plate 516, changes its direction along the fifth water flow regulating plate 516, and further becomes a water flow along the first water flow regulating plate 515, and interacts with the newly flowing water flow F2 in the third vortex forming region to form a complicated flow and form a vortex.

As described above, in the hydrogen water generator according to the present modification, the water flow regulating plates function as a rectifying unit (rectifying unit), a partitioning unit (partitioning unit), a flow dividing unit (flow dividing unit), and a vortex forming unit (vortex forming unit), and a plurality of vortices are actively formed in the pressure chamber 13b by the presence of the water flow regulating plates, thereby making the water flow toward the laminated electrode body 426 uniform.

In addition, according to the hydrogen water generating apparatus having the above-described configuration, even when the opening 425 is provided at a position on the bottom surface 510 biased in the longitudinal direction and the short direction, the water flow containing the hydrogen bubbles can be discharged substantially uniformly from the upper portion of the electrolysis unit 30.

Further, in the case of discharging a water flow containing hydrogen bubbles that can be visually recognized by the user, by providing such a configuration, the user can be given the impression that hydrogen is widely diffused in the bath compared to the case where the visible hydrogen bubbles are discharged in an offset state, and the redox reaction effect by the hydrogen bubbles and the hydrogen water can be promoted psychologically.

(5) To summarize:

according to the embodiments described above, a hydrogen water generating apparatus can be realized, including: a housing 10 having a water passage 313, the water passage 313 being capable of being immersed in water and communicating an inlet 11 and an outlet 12 of the water; a pump section 20 housed in the casing 10 and generating a water flow in the water passage 313; an electrolysis unit 30 disposed in the water passage 313; and a power supply unit 40 which is housed in the casing 10 and supplies power to the pump unit 20 and the electrolysis unit 30, wherein the electrolysis unit 30 has a plurality of porous electrode plates 31 to 33 arranged at a constant interval, and the pump unit 20 generates a water flow toward the plate surfaces of the porous electrode plates 31 to 33.

The hydrogen water generating apparatus configured as described above is immersed in water, generates a water flow in the water passage 313 between the inlet 11 and the outlet 12 of the casing 10 by the pump unit 20, and electrolyzes the water flowing through the water passage 313 by the electrolysis unit 30 disposed in the water passage 313. At this time, the pump section 20 generates a water flow toward the plate surfaces of the porous electrode plates 31 to 33 disposed at a constant interval, which constitute the electrolytic section 30. As described above, by applying the pressure of the water flow to the plate surfaces of the porous electrode plates 31 to 33, there is an effect that bubbles of hydrogen and oxygen generated by electrolysis on the surfaces of the porous electrode plates 31 to 33 are pulled into the water flow so as to be pushed open at the moment of electrolysis, and bubbles of hydrogen contained in the water flowing out from the outlet of the hydrogen water generating apparatus are micro-bubbled, or hydrogen dissolution in a molecular level hydrogen, nano-bubbles, or micro-bubbles state can also be expected.

In the porous electrode plates 231 to 233, the dividing line W that divides the bubble flow holes of the porous electrode plates 231 to 233 has a polygonal cross-sectional shape having a corner portion that becomes a tip of a water flow generated in the pump section 20.

In the hydrogen water generator having such a configuration, the dashed-line W has an inclined surface that opens the water flow generated by the pump unit 20 toward the bubble flow holes on both sides between the bubble flow holes of the porous electrode plates 231 to 233, and therefore the bubble release property of the surfaces of the porous electrode plates 231 to 233 is improved. Further, since the surfaces between the bubble flow holes of the porous electrode plates 231 to 233 are configured to have the corner portions sandwiched therebetween as separate surfaces, bubbles generated on one surface do not combine with bubbles generated on the other surface, and bubbles released from the porous electrode plates 231 to 233 are more finely foamed, and it is also possible to expect hydrogen dissolution in the state of molecular level hydrogen, nano bubbles, or micro bubbles. Further, the porous electrode plates 231 to 233 between the bubble flow holes have corners facing the water flow, so that the water flow flowing through the bubble flow holes of the porous electrode plates 231 to 233 is smooth, and the water potential can be maintained until the water flows through the bubble flow holes of the porous electrode plates 231 to 233 farthest from the pump section 20. Further, since the corner surface tension is small, the bubble release property of the bubbles generated at the corner between the bubble flow holes of the porous electrode plates 231 to 233 which are in direct contact with the water flow is improved.

The bubble flow holes 31a to 33a of the plurality of porous electrode plates 31 to 33 are provided in substantially different positional relationships between adjacent porous electrode plates.

In the hydrogen water generator having such a configuration, since the positions of the bubble flow holes 31a to 33a formed in the respective porous electrode plates 31 to 33 are different from each other, the water flowing through the bubble flow holes 31a to 33a flows along the porous electrode plates to the corners between the porous electrode plates, thereby improving the bubble separation performance in the entire surfaces of the porous electrode plates and the water replacement efficiency between the porous electrode plates.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and includes a structure in which the respective structures disclosed in the above embodiments are replaced with or changed and combined with each other, and the like. The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but relates to the matters recited in the claims and equivalents thereof.

For example, in the above embodiment, the power supply unit 40 is configured to be able to store power, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the power supply unit 40 may be configured to be connected to a commercial power supply lamp to obtain power from the outside.

Description of the marks

10 case, 10a upper case, 10b lower case, 10c protective member, 10c1 base, 10c2 rib, 10c3 opening, 10c4 opening, 11 inlet, 12 outlet, 13 water passage, 13a through hole, 13b pressure chamber, 14 filter, 15 operation switch, 16 lighting action confirmation LED, 17 charging terminal, 18 charging substrate, 20 pump, 21 internal water passage, 30 electrolysis part, 31 porous electrode plate, 31-33 porous electrode plate, 31 a-33 a bubble circulation hole, 32 porous electrode plate, 33 porous electrode plate, 34 conductor bar, 35 conductor bar, 40 power supply part, 50 control part, 100 hydrogen water generation device, 231-233 porous electrode plate, 231 a-233 a bubble circulation hole, 232 porous electrode plate, 233 porous electrode plate, 313 water passage, 313b pressure chamber, 313c cylindrical water passage, 313d part, 313e diameter expansion part, 313f 1-313 f4 rectifying piece, Charge collection portion 432, control portion 440, H1 top, H2 top, H3 top, H4 top, L1 first diagonal, L2 second diagonal, W-section line, X-connection.

Claims (9)

1. A hydrogen water generator is characterized by comprising:

a water passage which can be immersed in water and communicates an inlet and an outlet of the water;

a pump section that causes the water passage to generate water flow;

an electrolysis unit disposed in the water passage; and

a power supply section that supplies power to the pump section and the electrolysis section,

the electrolytic part is provided with a plurality of porous electrode plates which are arranged at certain intervals,

the porous electrode plate is formed with a plurality of bubble circulation holes,

the bubble flow holes of the plurality of porous electrode plates are arranged substantially differently from the adjacent porous electrode plates,

the pump section generates a water flow toward the plate surface of the porous electrode plate so that the water passing through the bubble passage holes of the porous electrode plate flows in a zigzag shape,

a sharp charge concentration portion is formed at the periphery of the bubble flow-through hole formed in the porous electrode plate,

the porous electrode plate is formed by punching the surface of a titanium substrate plated with platinum,

in the porous electrode plate, a partition portion defining between the bubble flow holes of the porous electrode plate has a polygonal cross-sectional shape having a corner portion facing the tip of the water flow.

2. The hydrogen water generating apparatus according to claim 1,

the electrolysis part is arranged in the electrolysis part accommodating concave part to enable the water flow to face the plate surface,

a water flow restricting plate for generating a vortex is provided in a space formed between the bottom of the electrolysis part accommodating recess and the electrolysis part,

the water flow regulating plate is erected on the bottom surface of the electrolytic unit accommodating recess, and has a height of 0.5 to 1 times the distance between the bottom surface and the porous electrode plate constituting the lowermost layer of the laminated electrode body.

3. The hydrogen water generating apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,

the electrolysis apparatus is provided with a control unit that reverses the polarity of the porous electrode plate every predetermined time during electrolysis.

4. The hydrogen water generating apparatus according to claim 3,

the control unit reverses the polarity during operation of the pump unit.

5. The hydrogen water generating apparatus according to claim 4,

the electrolysis apparatus is provided with a control unit that controls the pump unit to vary the flow rate of the water flow during electrolysis.

6. The hydrogen water generating apparatus according to claim 5,

the device comprises the following units: and a means for releasing the bubbles which are generated by adhesion to the porous electrode plate and are difficult to be peeled off in the operating state of the pump section by repeatedly switching and controlling the pump section to a control section which operates for a relatively long time to generate a water flow and to a control section which stops for a relatively short time to prevent the water flow from being generated during electrolysis.

7. The hydrogen water generating device according to claim 6,

the water stream ejected from the pump section is pressurized at the gaps between the porous electrode plates, and thereby hydrogen generated at the porous electrode plates is dissolved in the water stream under the pressurization.

8. The hydrogen water generating device according to claim 6,

an electrode cover having insulation properties on the upper portion of the porous electrode plate is disposed in the electrolysis unit, and bubble flow holes are provided at the following positions: and the positions of the bubble flow holes formed in the porous electrode plate facing the electrode cover are substantially different from each other.

9. The hydrogen water generating device according to claim 6,

and a light emitting unit that emits light in a direction intersecting the water flow flowing out of the outlet.

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