EP4685298A1

EP4685298A1 - Water discharge device

Info

Publication number: EP4685298A1
Application number: EP23897088.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Noritoshi OTA; Naokazu Onishi
Original assignee: Lixil Corp
Current assignee: Lixil Corp
Priority date: 2023-03-20
Filing date: 2023-03-20
Publication date: 2026-01-28
Also published as: CN118339349A; WO2024116427A1; CN118339349B; JPWO2024116427A1

Abstract

A water discharge device includes a foamer 5. The foamer 5 includes: a flow inlet; an agitation part 46 that generates foam by agitating a fluid in which tap water, a liquid containing a foaming component, and air that flow in through the flow inlet are mixed; and a flow outlet 44 through which the foam is discharged. The foamer 5 is configured such that the agitation part 46 is filled with tap water after the foam is discharged.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a water discharge device capable of discharging foam.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, a foamer is known to generate and discharge foam by agitating, in an agitation part, a gas-liquid mixture fluid obtained by mixing compressed air into mixed water, which is a mixture of a liquid containing a foaming component and water. Such a foamer includes porous bodies arranged in multiple stages along a flow path for the gas-liquid mixture fluid (see Patent Literatures 1 and 2, for example).

RELATED-ART LITERATURE

PATENT LITERATURE

Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2015-47236
Patent Literature 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2013-17948

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

TECHNICAL PROBLEM

With a foamer as described above, occurrence of limescale in the foamer, especially when hard water is used, is an issue. When limescale occurs in the foamer, the porous bodies may become clogged, which may reduce the homogeneity and flow rate of the generated foam.
The present disclosure has been made in view of such an issue, and a purpose thereof is to provide a water discharge device that can suppress the occurrence of limescale in the foamer.

SOLUTION TO PROBLEM

To solve the abovementioned issue, a water discharge device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a foamer. The foamer includes: a flow inlet; an agitation part that generates foam by agitating a fluid in which tap water, a liquid containing a foaming component, and air that flow in through the flow inlet are mixed; and a flow outlet through which the foam is discharged. The foamer is configured such that the agitation part is filled with tap water after the foam is discharged.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[Fig. 1] Fig. 1 is an external perspective view of a water discharge device according to an embodiment.
[Fig. 2] Fig. 2 is an external perspective view of a portion of the inside of the water discharge device.
[Fig. 3] Fig. 3 is a block diagram that shows an illustrative configuration of a water passage system and an electrical circuit system of the water discharge device.
[Fig. 4] Fig. 4 is an external perspective view of a foamer.
[Fig. 5] Fig. 5 is a sectional perspective view of the foamer.
[Fig. 6] Fig. 6 is a diagram that illustrates a configuration of a pipe connected to the foamer.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In the following, the present invention will be described based on a preferred embodiment with reference to the drawings. The configurations described below are intended for illustration for understanding of the present disclosure, and the scope of the present disclosure is defined only by the scope of the claims attached herein. Like reference characters denote like or corresponding constituting elements and members in each drawing, and repetitive description will be omitted as appropriate. Also, the dimensions of a member may be appropriately enlarged or reduced in each drawing in order to facilitate understanding. Further, in each drawing, part of a member less important in describing the embodiment may be omitted.
A water discharge device 1 according to the present embodiment discharges foam generated by mixing compressed air into mixed water, which is a mixture of a liquid containing a foaming component and water. The water discharge device 1 is mainly installed and used in a bathroom.
Fig. 1 is now referred to. A water discharge device 1 has a case 10 of rectangular parallelepiped shape that houses piping and various components. To a water supply inlet 11 of the water discharge device 1, a hose 81 extending from a water supply device 80 is connected, and water is supplied from the water supply device 80. The water supply device 80 has, for example, a temperature control function, a flow rate control function, and a function for switching between passing water and stopping water.
To a discharge outlet 12 of the water discharge device 1, a hose 82 of a shower head 83 is connected. The water discharge device 1 discharges one of water or foam through the discharge outlet 12, and the one of water or foam is discharged through the hose 82 and the shower head 83 to the outside. The water discharge device 1 may be connected to a device other than the shower head 83. Also, the water discharge device 1 may directly discharge one of water or foam to the outside. The water discharge device 1 may be configured to include a component for discharging, such as the shower head 83. The water discharge device 1 may have all or some of the functions of the water supply device 80.
In the water discharge device 1, a liquid replenishment container 2 is detachably connected to replenish a liquid containing a foaming component. As shown in Fig. 1, the liquid replenishment container 2 partially protrudes from the upper surface of the case 10 that covers the outside of the water discharge device 1. By adopting such a structure of the liquid replenishment container 2 partially protruding from the case 10, the device can be made more compact, compared to the case where a liquid tank is built into the case 10. In addition, by adopting the structure of the liquid replenishment container 2 partially protruding, the remaining amount of liquid in the liquid replenishment container 2 can be easily checked.
The attachment and detachment of the liquid replenishment container 2 can be easily performed by holding an upper part of the liquid replenishment container 2. By making the liquid replenishment container 2 easily replaceable, it is possible to realize a way of enjoying changing the type of liquid according to the mood of the day.
On the front of the case 10, an operation button 13, which can be operated by the user, and an indicator 14, which can be viewed by the user, are provided. The indicator 14 is constituted by a component such as an LED or a liquid crystal display. The size of the case 10 is, for example, about 15 cm in height, 20 cm in width, and 5 cm in depth. The size of the case 10 is not limited thereto. The indicator 14 may indicate the remaining amount of liquid in the liquid replenishment container 2. The remaining amount of liquid may be detected using a weight sensor or a water level detection sensor.
Figs. 2 and 3 are now referred to. The water discharge device 1 includes a switcher 3, a liquid aspirator 4, a foamer 5, a compressor 6, a container mounting unit 7, a control circuit unit 8, and a power supply 9, for example. The container mounting unit 7 is configured such that the liquid replenishment container 2 can be attached thereto. To the downstream side of the water supply inlet 11 is connected a check valve 90, and the check valve 90 and the switcher 3 are connected by a flow path 110. The check valve 90 prevents backflow of water from the flow path 110 to the water supply inlet 11 side.
The switcher 3 switches passing water through a flow path 111 and a flow path 112 in two directions, which branch off from the flow path 110. One flow path 111 is connected to the foamer 5. A check valve 91 provided in the flow path 111 prevents backflow from the foamer 5 side to the switcher 3 side. The foamer allows the water from the flow path 111 to pass therethrough and flow into a flow path 115. The flow path 115 is connected to the discharge outlet 12.
In the other flow path 112, a flow regulator 93 and a check valve 94 are provided. The flow path 112 is connected to the liquid aspirator 4. The flow regulator 93 is constituted by a constant flow valve, a pressure reducing valve, or the like. The flow regulator 93 adjusts the flow rate on the downstream side to about 1 liter per minute, for example. The check valve 94 prevents backflow from the liquid aspirator 4 side to the switcher 3 side.
The liquid aspirator 4 is, for example, an ejector. The liquid aspirator 4 aspirates the liquid replenished from the liquid replenishment container 2 to mix it with the water flowing in from the flow path 112 and then flows the mixture into a flow path 113 on the downstream side. The liquid replenishment container 2 and the liquid aspirator 4 are connected by a flow path 114. In the flow path 114, a check valve 95 is provided to prevent backflow from the liquid aspirator 4 side to the liquid replenishment container 2 side.
In addition to the flow path 111 described above, the flow path 113 is also connected to the foamer 5. Through the flow path 113, the mixed water, which is a mixture of the liquid containing a foaming component and water, is supplied to the foamer 5. The foamer 5 generates foam by mixing compressed air from the compressor 6 with the mixed water supplied from the flow path 113 and flows the foam into the flow path 115. The compressor 6 sends compressed air to the foamer 5 through a flow path 116 for air. In the flow path 116, a check valve 96 is provided to prevent backflow from the foamer 5 side to the compressor 6 side. The foamer 5 forms fine bubbles, so that the water discharge device 1 is capable of discharging fine foam.
The control circuit unit 8 receives power supply from the power supply 9 and operates the switcher 3 and the compressor 6, for example. The power supply 9 is one of various batteries, such as a lithium-ion battery. The power supply 9 may be constituted by a power supply circuit for using electricity supplied from a household power supply. The control circuit unit 8 receives operation input from the operation button 13 connected thereto and operates the switcher 3 and the compressor 6, for example. The control circuit unit 8 also allows the indicator 14 to indicate information, such as the operating state of the water discharge device 1 or the remaining amount of the power supply 9.
The water discharge device 1 can switch between a mode of discharging water through the discharge outlet 12 (water discharge mode) and a mode of discharging foam through the discharge outlet 12, according to the operation on the operation button 13. In the mode of discharging water, the water supplied from the water supply inlet 11 is made to flow through the flow paths 111 and 115 by the switcher 3 and discharged through the discharge outlet 12, without foam being generated. In the mode of discharging foam (foam discharge mode), on the other hand, the water supplied from the water supply inlet 11 is made to flow through the flow paths 112, 113, and 115 by the switcher 3, and foam is formed and discharged through the discharge outlet 12.
With reference to Fig. 4, the foamer 5 will be described. The foamer 5 generates foam by agitating, in an agitation part, a fluid flowing in from a flow inlet and discharges the foam through a flow outlet.
The foamer 5 includes a foamer body 40, a mixed liquid inlet 41, an air inlet 42, a tap water inlet 43, and a flow outlet 44. The foamer body 40 has a substantially circular cylindrical shape. The mixed liquid inlet 41, air inlet 42, and tap water inlet 43 are provided in a lower portion of the foamer body 40. The flow outlet 44 is provided at the upper end of the foamer body 40.
The flow path 113 is connected to the mixed liquid inlet 41, and mixed water obtained by mixing a liquid containing a foaming component and water flows from the liquid aspirator 4 into the mixed liquid inlet 41. The flow path 116 is connected to the air inlet 42, and compressed air from the compressor 6 flows into the air inlet 42. The flow path 111 is connected to the tap water inlet 43, and tap water from the water supply inlet 11 flows into the tap water inlet 43. The flow path 115 is connected to the flow outlet 44. The tap water or foam that flows out through the flow outlet 44 is sent to the discharge outlet 12 through the flow path 115 and discharged through the discharge outlet 12.
With reference to Fig. 5, the internal structure of the foamer 5 will be described. The foamer body 40 has a hollow substantially circular cylindrical shape and has an opening at one end (lower end). The lower end of the foamer body 40 is watertightly sealed by a lid 49. The shape of the foamer body 40 is not particularly limited and may be a hollow substantially polygonal cylindrical shape. In the internal space of the foamer body 40, a mixing part 45 and an agitation part 46, which is located downstream of (positionally, vertically above) the mixing part 45, are provided.
The mixing part 45 is a space where fluids from the mixed liquid inlet 41, air inlet 42, and tap water inlet 43 flow in. In the foam discharge mode, the mixed water from the mixed liquid inlet 41 and the compressed air from the air inlet 42 are mixed in the mixing part 45 to form a gas-liquid mixture fluid, which flows into the agitation part 46. In the water discharge mode, the tap water from the tap water inlet 43 passes through the mixing part 45 and the agitation part 46 as it is (without foam being generated) and is discharged through the flow outlet 44.
The agitation part 46 is located above (vertically above) the mixing part 45. The agitation part 46 includes multiple porous bodies arranged along the direction of the fluid flow. More specifically, the agitation part 46 includes a pre-agitation section A where the fluid that has passed through the mixing part 45 flows in, and an agitation section B located downstream of the pre-agitation section A. In the pre-agitation section A, multiple pre-agitation porous bodies 47 having a relatively large porosity are provided. In the agitation section B located downstream of the pre-agitation section A, multiple agitation porous bodies 48 having a relatively small porosity are provided.
The "porous bodies" used in the present invention include porous members such as ceramic materials and sintered metal materials, woven or non-woven fabrics of metal or resin fibers, and meshes made of metal or resin wire rods (e.g., wire meshes).
In the agitation part 46 configured as described above, a gas-liquid mixture fluid, which flows in from the mixing part 45 and is in a roughly agitated state, is agitated by flow turbulence (rotating flow with non-uniform numerous vortices) generated when the gas-liquid mixture fluid passes through the pre-agitation porous bodies 47 with a relatively large porosity provided in the pre-agitation section A, which promotes homogenization and fining. Then, the gas-liquid mixture fluid of which the homogenization and fining has been promoted in the pre-agitation section A is further agitated by flow turbulence generated when the gas-liquid mixture fluid passes through the agitation porous bodies 48 with a relatively small porosity provided in the agitation section B, forming a fine and homogeneous foam fluid (foamed fluid) corresponding to the porosity of the agitation porous bodies 48 provided in the agitation section B. By sequentially agitating the gas-liquid mixture fluid in the pre-agitation section A where the pre-agitation porous bodies 47 with a relatively large porosity are provided and in the agitation section B where the agitation porous bodies 48 with a relatively small porosity are provided, pressure loss due to amplification of unnecessary flow turbulence can be suppressed, and a decrease in the limiting flow rate can also be prevented. Therefore, a fine and homogeneous foam fluid can be efficiently generated. Details of such an agitation part with multi-stage porous bodies are disclosed in the aforementioned Patent Literature 2.
In the water discharge device 1 according to the present embodiment, since porous bodies are used in the foamer 5, occurrence of limescale may cause negative effects. Limescale is a chalky deposit. A main component of limescale is lime (calcium carbonate) precipitated from water. In particular, since hard water contains hydrogencarbonate of calcium or magnesium and other salts, it is likely to generate limescale. When limescale occurs in the foamer 5, the porous bodies may become clogged, which may reduce the homogeneity and flow rate of the generated foam.
Accordingly, in the water discharge device 1 according to the present embodiment, the foamer 5 is disposed such that the flow outlet 44 is located above (vertically above) the agitation part 46. By disposing the foamer 5 in this way, even if the water in a pipe downstream of the foamer 5 is discharged after use of the water discharge device 1, due to handling of the shower head 83 provided downstream of the water discharge device 1, for example, the state where the agitation part 46 is filled with the fluid is always kept in the foamer 5. This can prevent a situation where the porous bodies are exposed to air, so that a situation where limescale, which is likely to occur due to the concentration of mineral and silica components in water, occurs in the porous bodies can also be prevented in advance. Note that "the state of being filled with the fluid is always kept" means that the state of being filled with the fluid is kept both during and after use of the water discharge device 1.
In the water discharge device 1 according to the present embodiment, in the foamer 5, the flow path through which the gas-liquid mixture fluid, which is a mixture of mixed water and compressed air, passes and the flow path through which the tap water passes are the same (both pass through the agitation part 46). Generally, after the foam discharge mode is used to wash the body in a bathroom, the water discharge mode is used to rinse the foam off, so that the foamer 5 is filled with water (tap water) after the foam is discharged. Thus, by using the same flow path both in the foam discharge mode and the water discharge mode, the inside of the foamer 5 can be washed with tap water, so that clogging of the porous bodies by metallic soap can be suppressed.
In the embodiment described above, the foamer 5 is disposed such that the flow outlet 44 is located above the agitation part 46. However, another arrangement is also possible as long as the configuration allows trapping the fluid in the foamer 5. Fig. 6 shows a modification in which the foamer 5 is disposed horizontally. To the flow outlet 44 of the foamer 5, a pipe constituting the flow path 115 is connected. In this example of Fig. 6, the flow outlet 44 is not located above the agitation part. In such an arrangement, as shown in Fig. 6, the piping is arranged such that at least part of the pipe connected to the flow outlet 44 of the foamer 5 is located above the agitation part. In the example of Fig. 6, the pipe extending from the flow outlet 44 once extends upward above the foamer 5 and then extends downward. Even when the piping is arranged in this manner, the state where the agitation part 46 is filled with the fluid is always kept, so that a situation where limescale occurs in the porous bodies can be prevented in advance.
The present invention has been described with reference to an embodiment. The embodiment is intended to be illustrative only, and it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes could be developed within the scope of claims of the present invention and that such modifications and changes also fall within the scope of claims of the present invention. Therefore, the description in the present specification and the drawings should be regarded as illustrative rather than limitative.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention is applicable to water discharge devices capable of discharging foam.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

1 water discharge device, 2 liquid replenishment container, 3 switcher, 4 liquid aspirator, 5 foamer, 6 compressor, 7 container mounting unit, 10 case, 11 water supply inlet, 12 discharge outlet, 40 foamer body, 41 mixed liquid inlet, 42 air inlet, 43 tap water inlet, 44 flow outlet, 45 mixing part, 46 agitation part, 47 pre-agitation porous body, 48 agitation porous body

Claims

A water discharge device comprising a foamer,
the foamer comprising: a flow inlet; an agitation part that generates foam by agitating a fluid in which tap water, a liquid containing a foaming component, and air that flow in through the flow inlet are mixed; and a flow outlet through which the foam is discharged,

wherein the foamer is configured such that the agitation part is filled with the tap water after the foam is discharged.
The water discharge device according to Claim 1, wherein the foamer is disposed such that the flow outlet is located above the agitation part.
The water discharge device according to Claim 1, further comprising a pipe connected to the flow outlet,
wherein the pipe is provided such that at least part of the pipe is located above the agitation part.
The water discharge device according to any one of Claims 1 through 3,

wherein the foamer comprises a foamer body having an internal space, and

wherein, in the internal space, a mixing part where the fluid from the flow inlet flows in and the agitation part located downstream of the mixing part are provided.
The water discharge device according to any one of Claims 1 through 4, wherein the flow inlet includes a mixed water inlet through which mixed water as a mixture of a liquid containing a foaming component and water flows in, an air inlet through which compressed air flows in, and a water inlet through which tap water flows in.
The water discharge device according to Claim 5, wherein, in the foamer, a flow path through which a gas-liquid mixture fluid obtained by mixing the mixed water and the compressed air passes and a flow path through which the tap water passes are the same.
The water discharge device according to any one of Claims 1 through 6, wherein the agitation part comprises a plurality of porous bodies arranged along the direction of the flow of the fluid.