JP2000343081A - Toilet bowl sterilization device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a user to easily detect the time for exchange of electrodes by the consumption of the electrodes by providing the above device with electrode state detecting means for detecting the abnormality of the electrodes in accordance with the energizing state to the electrodes. SOLUTION: This toilet bowl sterilization device has at least a pair of the electrodes 5 which are disposed to face each other in parallel apart a prescribed spacing and consists of metals (silver, etc.), at least either of which elutes sterilizable metal ions (silver ions, etc.). The abnormality is detected by passing constant current to the electrodes 5 and monitoring the voltage between the electrodes 5. Namely, the voltage is monitored and is kept stored in a control means 1 at every number of use times, for example, every 100 times, of the toilet bowl sterilization device. When the electrodes consume and the areas of the electrodes 5 decrease successively, the gentle voltage increase is observed according to the number of use times. When the electrodes 5 are completely consumed, the voltage increase does not appear any more. The consumption of the electrodes 5 is decided from this phenomenon and the exchange of the electrodes 5 is carried out. When the abnormality is detected, the abnormality is announced by a buzzer 13.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toilet disinfection device provided with a disinfecting metal ion supply means having an electrode made of a metal that elutes disinfecting metal ions in a flush water path to a toilet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When tap water, well water and medium water supplied are directly used as toilet flush water for flush toilets, slime and slime gradually adhere to the toilet due to propagation of various bacteria, and odors are generated. Will occur.

[0003] Several methods are known to address this problem by generating and supplying a component having sterilizing power to toilet flush water.

For example, a toilet flush water supply passage for a flush toilet, an ion generator having a silver electrode plate for mixing silver ions in the toilet flush water supply passage, and an open / close valve provided in the toilet flush water supply passage. There is also known a sterilizing and purifying apparatus for toilet flushing water, which is provided with a power supply device that closes in conjunction with a valve opening operation and supplies power to a silver electrode plate. (Japanese Utility Model 7-17391)

In these inventions, at least one pair of at least one pair of which is opposed to each other in parallel at a predetermined interval, at least one of which is made of a metal that elutes bactericidal metal ions, is electrolyzed by applying a current to the toilet flush water. A component having bactericidal power was produced and supplied.

[0006]

However, if this toilet bowl sterilizing apparatus is used for a long time, the electrode will eventually dissipate since the electrode will elute germicidal metal ions. Therefore, when the electrodes have been consumed, it has been necessary to replace the electrode plates and the electrolytic cell. However, in such a toilet sterilizing apparatus, no means is conventionally provided for detecting an abnormality in the state of the electrode, that is, an abnormality during electrolysis due to electrode exhaustion. Therefore, in order to know that the user needs to replace the electrode plate, etc., the electrolysis performance must be measured by measuring the concentration of the generated bactericidal metal ions, or the electrolytic cell must be disassembled. In addition, there is a problem that workability at the time of maintenance and inspection is lacking. Also, if you continue to use the toilet sterilization device in the state where electrolysis is not possible, there is no elution of bactericidal metal ions, so due to the propagation of various bacteria, water scales and slime gradually adhere to the toilet, There was a problem that odor was generated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible for a user to easily detect the time to replace an electrode due to exhaustion of the electrode. It is intended to provide a device.

[0008]

Means for Solving the Problems and Action / Effect In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, at least one of at least one pair which is opposed in parallel at a predetermined interval elutes bactericidal metal ions. In a toilet sterilization apparatus provided with a bactericidal metal ion supply unit having a metal electrode in a flush water path to a toilet, an electrode state detection unit for detecting an abnormality of the electrode based on a current supply state to the electrode is provided. It is characterized by the following.

Thus, when used for a long period of time, even if the electrodes are worn out and disappear or the electrodes are short-circuited and the disinfection of the bactericidal metal ions is not performed, the abnormality can be immediately recognized.

[0010] Further, by detecting an abnormality of the electrode based on the state of current supply to the electrode, the electrode itself can have two functions of an electrode state detecting means and a bactericidal metal ion supply function. There is no need to provide a state detecting means, so that the structure can be simplified, and a low-cost, compact, and easy-to-install structure can be provided.

Further, if the electrode state detecting means detects an abnormality of the electrode, a notifying means for notifying the occurrence of the abnormality is provided, so that the user can know the occurrence of the abnormality and perform an electrode replacement work or the like. It can be done promptly.

In the electrode state detection function, a constant current is applied to the electrode and the voltage is monitored to detect a worn state of the electrode or to monitor a current value when a constant voltage is applied to the electrode. By doing so, it is possible to detect the consumption state of the electrode.

As described above, when a constant voltage is applied between the electrodes, the current flowing between the electrodes during electrolysis decreases when the electrodes are exhausted, and when the constant current flows between the electrodes, the voltage between the electrodes decreases during the electrolysis. The control unit detects the wear state of the electrode plate by using the phenomenon that the electrode plate rises, so that the wear of the electrode plate can be accurately known.

As a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, there can be cited one in which at least one of the materials of the electrodes in the above configuration is silver.

As the bactericidal metal ions, copper ions and zinc ions are known in addition to the silver ions. Among these, silver ions exhibit a bactericidal effect at the lowest concentration. Therefore, when silver is used for the electrode and silver ions are eluted, the present sterilizing apparatus can be made compact or have a long life as compared with the case where other sterilizing metals are used.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, an example in which the sterilizing apparatus of the present invention is mainly applied to toilet flushing is shown. However, the same effect can be exerted when used in all other sterilizing apparatuses such as a water purifier and a bathtub.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a toilet bowl sterilizing apparatus according to the present invention. To the low tank 7 connected to the flush toilet 11, a toilet flush water supply pipe 6 is connected. The ball tap 2 is provided in the low tank 7. The electrode 5 and the water level sensor 1 are brought below the water level when the low tank 7 is stored by the connection cable 3 electrically connected to the control means 1.
2 is connected to a bactericidal metal ion supply means 4. In addition, a buzzer 13 is provided to notify an abnormality used when an abnormality is detected.

Further, the bactericidal metal ion supply means 4 may be connected only by the connection cable 3, but other means such as a cable for auxiliary support may be provided.

Next, the operation will be described. Low tank 7
The water stored in the flush toilet 8 is pulled up by rotating the flush cock 8 and the on-off valve 10 for flushing which is connected to the tip of the flush chain 8 is operated.
Flow into 1. When the water level inside the low tank 7 drops, the ball tap 2 is opened, and tap water from the water supply pipe flows through the ball tap 2. On the other hand, the control means 1 detects the opening of the cleaning on-off valve 10 with a decrease in the water level by the water detection function of the water level sensor 15 attached to the bactericidal metal ion supply means 4, and returns the water level of the electrode 5 by returning the water level again. The bactericidal metal ions are eluted by the electrolytic dissolution, and the toilet flush water containing the bactericidal metal ions is stored in the low tank 7.

Here, how the abnormality determination is made will be described. FIG. 2 shows a temporal change of the voltage with respect to the number of times of using the sterilizing apparatus when a constant current is applied to the electrode 5 and the voltage between the electrodes is monitored to detect an abnormality. Here, when the initial voltage and the voltage after long-term use are compared, the electrode 5 is consumed and the electrode area is reduced after long-term use, or the inter-electrode distance increases, so that the inter-electrode resistance increases after long-term use. A voltage rise occurs. This can easily be estimated from the property that the resistance between the electrodes increases in proportion to the distance between the electrodes and inversely proportional to the area of the electrodes. Utilizing this property,
The voltage is monitored every time the toilet sterilizer is used, for example, every 100 times, and stored in the control device. Here, the influence on the voltage of the increase in the inter-electrode distance due to the decrease in the electrode thickness differs depending on the initial inter-electrode distance. That is, if the initial interelectrode distance is large, the effect of a voltage rise due to an increase in interelectrode distance due to a decrease in electrode thickness is small. However, the electrodes are consumed irrespective of whether the initial distance between the electrodes is large or small, and when the electrode area is reduced, a smooth voltage rise is observed according to the number of times of use. When the electrodes are consumed and disappear, the rise in the voltage levels out. From this phenomenon, electrode wear is determined, and the electrode is replaced. In the case where the electrodes are replaced before the electrodes are completely consumed, the electrodes are replaced when the inter-electrode voltage after long-term use becomes, for example, 1.5 times or 2 times the initial inter-electrode voltage. Such a method may be used. Also, a short circuit between the electrodes can be detected by recognizing a voltage of 0V.

Next, FIG. 3 shows a time-dependent change of the current value in the number of times of use of the sterilizing apparatus when the consumption state of the electrode is detected by monitoring the current value when a constant voltage is applied to the electrode. When a constant voltage is applied to the electrodes, the electrodes are consumed and the electrode area is reduced, or if the distance between the electrodes is increased, the resistance between the electrodes is increased, so that the flowing current value is reduced. Utilizing this property, the current is monitored every time the toilet sterilizer is used, for example, every 100 times, and stored in the control device. Depending on the initial distance between the electrodes and the initial electrode thickness, when the electrodes are consumed, a smooth decrease in the current flowing in proportion to the number of uses is observed. When the electrodes are consumed and disappear, the current value does not decrease. From this phenomenon, electrode wear is determined, and the electrode is replaced. When the electrode is replaced before the electrode is completely consumed, the electrode may be replaced when the current value after long-term use becomes, for example, 1/2 or 1/3 times the initial current value. A method may be used. Further, when an excessive current value flows when a voltage is applied, a short circuit between the electrodes can be recognized.

Further, the control means 1 has a function of starting and stopping energization of the electrode 5 after a predetermined time.

On the other hand, the polarity of the electrode 5 (that is, the anode and the cathode) is periodically inverted by the control means 1 to prevent the scale such as calcium carbonate from adhering to the cathode side. At this time, the electrodes 5 are consumed as the silver ions are supplied. Therefore, the time when the electrodes are the anode and the time when the electrodes are the cathode are made equal so that the pair of electrodes 5 can be consumed evenly. Thus, the electrode 5 can be completely used up to the end.

It is sufficient that at least one of the pair of electrodes 5 is silver. When an electrode other than silver is used, silver ions can be supplied by switching the polarity of the silver electrode side to the anode by the control means 1. A plurality of pairs of electrodes, at least one of which is silver, may be provided.

Next, the silver ion concentration and the current required for exhibiting the effects of the present invention will be described. The concentration of silver ions contained in toilet flush water is preferably at least 50 μg / liter, which is generally said to exert a bactericidal effect. If the silver ion concentration becomes excessive, blackening due to silver oxide or metallic silver deposits may occur on the bowl surface or the trap portion of the toilet 11, and therefore it is preferably maintained at 300 μg / liter or less.

The amount of water stored in the low tank 7 is generally 15
When the current is passed through the electrode 5 at a current of only 0.05 A for 54 seconds at this time, the electrolysis efficiency (the ratio of the amount of electricity used to generate silver ions to the amount of electricity flowing through the electrode 5) Is assumed to be 100% and the Faraday constant is set to 96500, the silver ion (atomic weight 107.9) concentration in the low tank 7 due to elution from the anode side of the pair of electrodes 5 is about 201 μg / liter as shown in the following equation. Become. (0.05 × 54 × 107.9 / 96500/15) = 2.01 × 10 −4 g / liter = 201 μg / liter Electrolytic efficiency was determined by designing the electrode (electrode area, distance between electrodes, voltage,
It depends on the quality of the toilet flush water (electrical conductivity, chloride ion concentration, pH, etc.). However, according to experiments conducted by the applicant of the present invention, any condition within the range of Japanese tap water has been confirmed. In, 50-100%
Therefore, the generated silver ion concentration is 100 to 201.
It is expected to be in μg / liter and falls within the preferred silver ion concentration range.

Since silver elutes from the silver electrode (at least one of the electrodes 5 on the side of silver) as silver ions,
Silver electrodes gradually wear out. However, when the silver ion concentration is 100 μg / liter, the volume of the low tank is 15 liters, and the number of times of use is 20 times a day, the weight of silver consumed per day is only 0.03 g which is the product of these, By using only 110 g of silver electrode, it can be used for 10 years without replacing the silver electrode.

Further, it is possible to provide a small and lightweight sterilizer by reducing the weight of silver used for the silver electrode. In this case, the replacement life of the silver electrode will come within 10 years. However, unlike the case of providing the toilet flush water supply channel, there is no need for piping work by a specialized water supply contractor or the like, and Opening the top lid, taking out the sterilizing metal ion supply means 4 of the present sterilizing apparatus, and replacing the silver electrode are all very easy.

The supply of silver ions to the toilet flush water is as follows:
The effect of the present invention can be exhibited even when the cleaning is not performed at every toilet flush. That is, even if the toilet flush water containing silver ions is supplied to the toilet 11 only several times a day (preferably 2 to 4 times) at the time of flushing the toilet, it is possible to prevent generation of water residue, slime adhesion and odor. be able to.

Although silver ions are used as the germicidal metal ions in this embodiment, copper, zinc, or an alloy of these and silver may be used for the electrodes.

The shape of the electrodes in the present invention is not limited to a quadrangle, but may be any shape such as a triangle or a circle as long as at least one pair is opposed in parallel at a predetermined interval.

As described above, according to the present invention, the flush toilet is provided with a function of preventing the generation of scale, slime, and odor, and the provision of the electrode state detecting means can prevent abnormalities such as electrode replacement time and short-circuit between electrodes. Because we can recognize,
A sterilizer capable of stably supplying all these functions can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of a sterilization apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a change over time of the voltage between electrodes with the number of times of use of the sterilization apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a temporal change of a current value flowing between electrodes when the sterilizing apparatus is used.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: Control means 2: Ball tap 3: Connection cable 4: Sterilizable metal ion supply means 5: Electrode 6: Water supply pipe for toilet flushing 7: Low tank 8: Cleaning cock 9: Ball chain 10: On-off valve for cleaning 11: Large flush Toilet bowl 12: Water level sensor 13: Buzzer

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) C02F 1/50 540 C02F 1/50 540B 550 550C 550L 550D 560 560F E03D 9/02 E03D 9/02 (72) Inventor Shuji Nishiyama 2-1-1 Nakajima, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka F-term (reference) 2D038 AA00 4D061 DA03 DB01 EA02 EB01 EB05 EB14 EB31 EB37 EB38 EB39 GA04 GA30 GB30 GC01 GC16

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A germicidal metal ion supply means having an electrode made of a metal at least one of which is opposed to each other in parallel at a predetermined interval and at least one of which dissolves germicidal metal ions, is provided in a flush water path to a toilet bowl. A toilet disinfection device comprising: a toilet disinfection device provided with an electrode state detecting means for detecting an abnormality of the electrode based on a current supply state to the electrode. 2. The toilet bowl disinfection device according to claim 1, further comprising a notifying means for notifying the occurrence of the abnormality when the electrode state detecting means detects an abnormality of the electrode. 3. The toilet bowl sterilizer according to claim 1, wherein the electrode state detecting function detects a worn state of the electrode by applying a constant current to the electrode and monitoring a voltage value thereof. 4. The toilet bowl disinfection device according to claim 1, wherein the electrode state detection function applies a constant voltage to the electrode, and detects a worn state of the electrode by monitoring a current value thereof. . 5. The toilet bowl sterilizer according to claim 1, wherein the electrode is silver.