【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、水まわり分野の中でも、特に浴室シャワーに属する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
トイレ、浴室、キッチンなど水まわりの水使用環境全般において、薬剤添加による水の改質により、殺菌、除菌、次亜塩素酸除去などの効果が得られる。これらの効果は防汚、美容などに応用されている。シャワー水に、数ｐｐｍの水溶性薬剤を多孔質膜を用いて水圧で徐放することが開示されている（例えば、特許文献１参照）。この技術を基にして、水道水に含まれる次亜塩素酸を除去するアスコルビン酸を薬剤として用い、髪や肌に優しい浄水シャワーというカテゴリーで上市されている。また、多孔質膜を用いない徐放装置が開示されている（例えば、特許文献２参照）。止水時に薬剤吐出口が遮蔽され、薬剤の漏れを防ぐ構造となっている。
【０００３】
【特許文献１】
特開平１０−２７６９２６
【特許文献２】
特開平１１−３００３３９
【０００４】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
本発明は流水中に薬剤を添加する薬剤添加装置に関し、薬剤放出を低濃度から高濃度まで広範囲にでき、さらに濃度が安定して出せることを課題とした。特許文献１では、薬剤を徐放する徐放膜や空気を排出する脱気膜が、安定的に薬剤を放出する基本要素となっている。これらはミクロンオーダーの多孔質膜であるため、目詰まりによる性能低下があり、濃度が安定しないという課題があった。したがって、ある期間使用すると交換する必要があった。また、特許文献２では、高濃度の薬剤を放出するのは難しかった。本発明は以上を鑑み、低濃度から高濃度までの吐水に対応でき、時間軸上で設定した濃度のばらつきが少ない吐水を目指すものである。
【０００５】
【課題を解決するための手段および作用・効果】
前記課題に対し、本発明は、薬剤容器と通水路を有する薬剤添加装置であって、前記通水路中に水流抵抗素子と、前記水流抵抗素子の上流側と下流側に薬剤容器と通水路を連通する孔がそれぞれ少なくとも１つ設けられ、前記通水路における前記水流抵抗素子部の断面積を可変としたことを特徴とする薬剤添加装置を提供する。
【０００６】
薬剤添加装置は、薬剤を収納する薬剤容器と、通水路を主要構成要素とする。通水路から孔を通じて水が薬剤容器に供給され、薬剤容器に収納された薬剤が、孔を通じて放出され、通水路の水と合流して吐水される。ここで水の供給側を上流、吐水側を下流とする。薬剤放出の原動力は、水路に設置される水流抵抗素子部が通水路の断面積を減少させて圧力損失を生じさせることで、水流抵抗素子の前後で圧力差が高まることで生まれる。この圧力差によって薬剤容器内に水の流れが生じる。水溶性薬剤の場合、容器内では飽和濃度に近く、孔から放出されて通水路で希釈される。水溶性薬剤の場合、飽和水溶液は数％から数十％の濃度になる。一例をあげれば塩で３０％、クエン酸で５０％程度である。３０万ｐｐｍ、５０万ｐｐｍの溶液を、容器からでた部分で希釈することになる。この際、水流抵抗素子の作用がキーとなり、希釈割合を自由に変化できる。水流抵抗素子部の断面積を小さくすると多量の薬剤が徐放され高濃度、逆に大きくすると低濃度の薬剤溶液が吐水される。水流抵抗素子部の断面積：孔面積＝１００：１であれば、薬剤の飽和溶液からの希釈割合は１／１００となる。水流抵抗素子部の断面積を更に１０倍大きくすれば、希釈割合は１／１０００となる。この差は、例えば薬剤がクエン酸のような酸の場合、ｐＨにして約３と約４のように約１の差となる。水流抵抗素子部の断面積を変える手段としては、カメラの絞りのように同心円状に開口面積を変える方法や、水流抵抗素子を水路に押し出し、押し出す水流抵抗素子の位置制御によって通水面積を変える方法などがある。たとえば水流抵抗素子と連結する押しボタンを設置し、強酸性水生成のときは押し、弱酸性水生成のときはもとに戻すことで水流抵抗素子面積を変え、使用者の選択を反映させることができる。薬剤添加の原動力が水圧差であるため、外部動力が必要なく簡易な水路系で薬剤混入が可能となる。
【０００７】
本発明の好ましい態様においては孔の孔径を１ｍｍ以上とする。水道水中にはカルシウムが含まれ、炭酸ガスと反応した後乾燥すると、炭酸カルシウムとなり、難溶性の汚れとなる。また、水道水中にはシリカも含まれており乾燥すると難溶性の汚れとなる。本発明の孔径は小さくても１ｍｍ以上の大きさとするため、水あかで閉塞しにくく、薬剤の濃度の経時変化が起こりにくい。孔の形状は、四角形や三角形などの多角形では頂点の部分に汚れがつきやすいため、丸型が好ましい。楕円形の場合は短径を孔径とする。孔の数は、水流抵抗素子の前後にそれぞれ１個あればよいが、それぞれ２個以上にすることも可能である。ただし、薬剤濃度に孔の総面積と水流抵抗素子部の断面積の比が影響するため、無制限に孔の個数を増やすことはできない。孔の部分の材質は、汚れがつきにくいフッ素樹脂など撥水性のものが好ましい。
【０００８】
本発明の好ましい態様においては、孔が薬剤容器の天蓋部に設けられ、止水時は薬剤容器以外の水路に残留する水を排出する。薬剤容器の上蓋に孔を設けるため、通水時はもとより、待機時も薬剤容器内は満水状態であり、孔部も水に浸って乾燥しないため、孔が閉塞するおそれが少なくなる。また待機時は通水路の残水を装置外に排出するため、薬剤容器からの薬剤の水路への拡散がなくなり、通水路の薬剤濃度が高まり薬剤が浪費されることがなくなる。孔が薬剤容器の天蓋部にあって、薬剤溶液は上方、重力と反対方向に出るため、孔を通る駆動力は、水流抵抗素子の上流と下流の圧力差のみとなる。止水時は水圧差０のため、溶液の拡散によってしか薬剤は漏れず、本発明ではその拡散を防止するため、止水時は水路から水を排出する。水路の水流抵抗素子上流側に空気弁を設け、水路内の圧力が下がると、弁の調圧機構で外気が空気弁を通って水路に入り、水路内の残留水を下流に押し出す。
【０００９】
本発明の好ましい態様においては、水流抵抗素子の下流側の孔に連結する配管を薬剤容器内に備える。水流抵抗素子の下流側の孔は、薬剤が放出される孔である。薬剤容器の大きさと薬剤の比重によるが、容器内の薬剤濃度は、容器下部ほど高くなり、上に行くほど濃度が低いことが試験からわかっている。溶けていない薬剤が水より比重が大きいと容器下部に存在するためである。容器上部の溶液を取り出すと、薬剤が減るにつれて、装置から吐水される薬剤濃度が下がった。対策として、薬剤が放出される孔にホースなどの配管をつけて、薬剤容器下部の溶液を取り出すと、薬剤の量に関わらず、薬剤濃度は安定していた。特に薬剤の補充頻度を減らすため、容器の体積を大きくするほど、この効果は顕著になる。
【００１０】
本発明の好ましい態様においては、薬剤容器内の空気を外に排出する脱気口を備える。薬剤容器に孔を設け、一方の孔から水が入り、他方から水が入った分だけ出るという場合、容器内に空気があると、空気の弾力性によって水を押す力が緩衝作用を受け、力が弱まる。このとき、薬剤溶出の駆動力である圧力差が低くなり、薬剤濃度が減少するので容器内に空気があるのは好ましくない。薬剤容器内に水が入るのと平行して薬剤容器上方部の脱気口から、空気を装置外に排出することで、安定した薬剤徐放を実現できる。
【００１１】
本発明の好ましい態様においては、脱気口の一部は疎水性膜からなり、着脱可能な構造とする。疎水性であれば脱気膜を水が通過できないため、水が外に漏れる心配がない。微少な孔のあいた疎水性膜なため、空気は通るが、孔周囲の疎水性物質は水に対する接触角が大きく、水は大きな圧力がかからない限り膜を通過することはできない。疎水性脱気膜としては、フッ素を添加して数ミクロンの厚さに圧延したポリエステル繊維などが挙げられる。さらに薬剤がなくなったときの補給口として利用することが可能となる。着脱可能な構造としたことで薬剤補給が容易になる。薬剤容器内は、水が満水となり内圧がかかるため、パッキンを用いて止水する構造をとる。一端面を脱気膜とした凸型ねじにパッキンをつけて、薬剤容器のねじ穴にねじ込む方式が簡単であり適している。
【００１２】
本発明の好ましい態様においては、薬剤容器内に撹拌用磁性体と、薬剤容器外に水流で回転する磁性体とを備える。薬剤容器の上蓋から薬剤をとり出す場合、問題になるのは容器内の薬剤濃度の不均一であり、この対応策として、薬剤容器内に撹拌用磁性体と、薬剤容器外に水流で回転する磁性体とを設置する。容器外の磁性体と容器内の攪拌用磁性体は磁力で引き合い、容器を隔てて作用し合うため容器に穴を開ける必要がない。撹拌手段として特別な外部動力を使わずに、装置に入ってくる水の運動エネルギーをそのまま薬剤の撹拌エネルギーに利用するため、効率的かつ簡便な薬剤容器内の撹拌が可能となる。
【００１３】
本発明の好ましい態様においては、薬剤容器の底部に翼車を備える。薬剤容器と外壁の間に水路をとり、薬剤容器に水流を受ける翼車を設けて、容器を回転させる。翼車は薬剤容器の中心軸から放射状に出ていることが好ましい。翼は好ましくは４枚以上にすることで、効率的に水流エネルギーを回転力に変換する。薬剤容器外の水路が、回転する薬剤容器の摩擦抵抗を下げ、回転運動をスムーズにする。
【００１４】
本発明の好ましい態様においては、孔の透水率を調節する手段を備える。透水率とは、孔の単位面積に、単位圧力がかかったときに孔を通過する水の量の通常の孔との比を表す。上記したように、ｐＨが約３と約４の水を水流抵抗素子部の断面積を変えることで生成したが、ｐＨが約３と約５の水をつくる場合は、面積比にして１００倍の面積差を必要とするため、有限な通水路内では実現するのが困難である。このような濃度のダイナミックレンジが大きい制御を行う場合に、孔に遮蔽物をおいて、孔と水流抵抗素子の通過水量を調節する。たとえば孔に網をかぶせて、水が通りにくくするという場合がこれにあたる。それにより透水率が１／１０に下がったら、前述したクエン酸の場合では、さらにｐＨにして１の差が生まれる。このように水流抵抗素子部の断面積、孔面積、孔の透水率をかえることで、薬剤濃度がレンジにして４，５桁まで大小可変できるようになる。
【００１５】
本発明の好ましい態様においては、薬剤がクエン酸又はアスコルビン酸である。本発明の浴室用シャワーへの応用を考えた場合、これらの薬剤は水溶性であるため、固体粉末の補充が可能となり、メンテナンスの面で有利となる。クエン酸は解離度が高く、また一分子内に３つのカルボキシル基を持ち、プロトン供給能が高いため水を酸性化する作用が、有機酸のなかで最も強い。アスコルビン酸（通称ビタミンＣ）は強い還元力を有し、水道水に含まれる次亜塩素酸イオンを無力化することで、カルキ臭をなくし、また髪のキューテクルを破壊しない水となる。本発明はこれら溶解性有機酸を薬剤として用い、頭皮、肌に優しいシャワー水を実現する。薬剤は粉末で補給し、前記脱気膜のついた蓋部から投入する。もちろん前記有機酸に加え、ミントなどの香り成分も一緒に加えて、さらに快適感を与えるシャワーにすることもできる。
【００１６】
【発明の実施の形態】
図１は、薬剤を薬剤容器上蓋に設置された孔から取り出す構成に加え、薬剤容器内の通水路構造を表すものである。孔１ａ、１ｂは、通水路に設置される水流抵抗素子２の上流側と下流側に設置される。水は入口４ａから薬剤添加装置内に入り、大部分の水は、水流抵抗素子２部を通過して、出口４ｂから出てくる。ごく少量の水が、上蓋６に開けられた孔１ａから薬剤容器５内に入り、入水量と同じ量の薬剤飽和溶液７が、薬剤管８を通り、孔１ｂから水路に混入してくる。孔を常に一定量の水が出入りするには、薬剤容器５内の空気を完全に排出する必要があり、その役割を脱気膜９が担う。図では、脱気膜９を薬剤補充口１０の一部に利用し、薬剤補充の際に取り外せる構造とした。薬剤容器５内に水が進入するにつれて脱気膜９から空気が装置外に排出される。最終的には、装置最上部に取り付けられた脱気膜９の下まで水が満たされる。微少孔からの水の流入はゆっくりなので、使用者が薬剤補充口１０から、水を薬剤容器５に入れるのが一番早い。通常のメンテナンスは薬剤の粉末補充のみで良く、前記水を使用者が入れる場合は、一番初めの装置使用開始時のみであり、あとは水で満たされた薬剤容器５内の薬剤量をモニターして適宜薬剤を補充する。通水が止まると、空気弁３の調圧機構で水路内に空気が入り、水路の残水を排出する。図中、薬剤容器５下部は薬剤の未溶解部分が堆積している様子を表す。
【００１７】
薬剤容器５は、５００ｍｌ以上の容量を想定している。容量については、大容量ほど薬剤の補充が少なくてすむが、容器内で薬剤の濃度が均一になりにくくなる。特に使用が進み、溶け残った固体形状の薬剤が少なくなってくると、容器内上層部は、薬剤固体がある下層部に比べて濃度が小さくなる。吐水する水に含まれる薬剤濃度を一定にするために、本発明では、薬剤容器５からの薬剤の取り出しに、容器内底辺部に開口する配管８を利用する。薬剤容器５の底辺付近はほぼ常に固体の薬剤が存在し、飽和溶液を形成しているため、配管８内を流れる溶液は、ほぼ一定濃度の薬剤液となる。
【００１８】
図２は、図１に示した構成の薬剤添加装置で、薬剤にクエン酸を用い、流量を変えた場合に出てくる水のｐＨを表すものである。試験装置は、小型の試作モデルで、薬剤容器５は内径３ｃｍ、高さ１０ｃｍ、通水路は幅１０ｍｍ×１０ｍｍであり、水路水流抵抗素子２が設置された部分は幅２ｍｍ×１０ｍｍの通水面積になっている。孔１ａ、１ｂは孔径３ｍｍであり、孔１ｂには、内径３ｍｍの薬剤管８が接続する。脱気膜９は、内径２５ｍｍの大きさで、フッ素が添加された耐薬品性の高い疎水性膜であり、通水に伴い空気を排出する作用をする。この試験装置にクエン酸をいれて通水したときのｐＨと、流量を変えた場合のｐＨ特性を調べた。結果は、図２に示すように、酸性水が生成され、かつ流量０．８Ｌ／ｍｉｎ以上では、流量によるｐＨ変動が極めて抑えられた吐水をみせた。これは流量がある一定以上になり水の流れが安定すると、入水した水が薬剤容器内外に分かれる割合が、ほぼ一定であることを示している。分配比を決定づけるのは、水流抵抗素子２の部分の通水路の断面積と、孔１ａの面積の相対比であり、両者の比を操作することでｐＨの値を変えることが可能である。
【００１９】
さらに図３は、本発明の吐水装置の時間的な薬剤濃度の安定性を示すものである。水栓金具にとりつけ、下流側にシャワーホースを接続する据え置きタイプの吐水装置で、１０００ｃｃの内容積を有するものを試作した。ここにクエン酸を充填し、流量７Ｌ／ｍｉｎで、連続通水した場合と、断続通水した場合の時間に対しての吐水ｐＨを記録した。断続の場合は、１分通水、１０分休止のくり返しである。通水路は幅２０ｍｍ×１０ｍｍであり、水流抵抗素子２が設置された部分の通水路は幅２０ｍｍ×４ｍｍとなっている。孔１ａ、１ｂは孔径３ｍｍであり、孔１ｂには、内径３ｍｍの薬剤管８が口を容器底部にあけて接続される。容器下部の濃度が飽和に近く、容器に入水してくる水で希釈の影響を受けない濃縮クエン酸を取り出し、吐水濃度を安定させるためである。図は連続通水、断続通水とも安定した濃度推移を示しており、本発明の構成によって、時間的に安定した濃度吐水が実現されることが示された。
【００２０】
図４は薬剤容器内を撹拌することで、薬剤の濃度勾配を均一化させる実施例を示す。装置構成の大部分は図１と同様であるが、撹拌手段として撹拌用磁性体１１と、薬剤容器外の底面に形成する水路部に、水流で回転する回転磁性体１２を設けたことが特徴である。両者は磁力で作用し合い、回転磁性体１２の回転運動が、そのまま撹拌用磁性体１１に伝達されるため、装置が簡便である。回転磁性体１２の最も単純な構成は、Ｎ極とＳ極を有する棒磁石であり、片側の極に入口４ａからの水が衝突することで、棒磁石が回転するというものである。
【００２１】
図５は、薬剤容器５自身が回転する構造の例である。薬剤容器５は、入水した水が翼車１３にあたり、翼車１３に連結する薬剤容器が一緒に回転する。回転がスムーズに作用するように、回転台１４を設け、翼車１３が水路管表面に接触することを防ぐ。さらに摩擦力を下げるため、薬剤容器５と周囲の内壁との間に通水路１５を設けた。撹拌効率をあげるため、薬剤容器５内に棒を設置して、回転に際し薬剤溶液が棒に衝突して乱れが生じやすくしてもよい。また図４、図５とも脱気膜は必要なく、薬剤容器５内の空気は、孔１ｂから排出される。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明における装置構成例１
【図２】薬剤添加性能の流量特性図
【図３】薬剤吐水濃度の時間推移図
【図４】本発明における装置構成例２
【図５】本発明における装置構成例３
【符号の説明】
１ａ、１ｂ… 孔
２ … 水流抵抗素子
３ … 空気弁
４ａ … 入口
４ｂ … 出口
５ … 薬剤容器
６ … 殺菌成分生成装置
７ … 薬剤飽和溶液
８ … 配管
９ … 脱気膜
１０ … 薬剤補充口
１１ … 撹拌用磁性体
１２ … 回転磁性体
１３ … 翼車
１４ … 回転台
１５ … 通水路[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention belongs to the bathroom shower in the field of plumbing.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general water use environments around water, such as toilets, bathrooms, and kitchens, effects such as sterilization, disinfection, and hypochlorous acid removal can be obtained by modifying water by adding chemicals. These effects are applied to antifouling, beauty, and the like. It has been disclosed that several ppm of a water-soluble drug is gradually released into shower water at a water pressure using a porous membrane (for example, see Patent Document 1). Based on this technology, ascorbic acid that removes hypochlorous acid contained in tap water is used as a drug, and is marketed under the category of a clean water shower that is gentle on hair and skin. Also, a sustained release device that does not use a porous membrane is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 2). When the water is stopped, the medicine discharge port is shielded to prevent leakage of the medicine.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-10-276926
[Patent Document 2]
JP-A-11-300399
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention relates to a drug addition device for adding a drug to running water, and has an object to release a drug in a wide range from a low concentration to a high concentration and to stably provide a concentration. In Patent Literature 1, a sustained release film that releases a drug slowly and a degassing film that discharges air are basic elements for stably releasing a drug. Since these are porous membranes on the order of microns, there is a problem that the performance is reduced due to clogging and the concentration is not stable. Therefore, when used for a certain period, it was necessary to replace it. Further, in Patent Document 2, it was difficult to release a high concentration of a drug. In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a water discharge that can cope with water discharge from a low concentration to a high concentration and has a small variation in concentration set on a time axis.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems and Functions / Effects]
In order to solve the above problem, the present invention is a drug addition device having a medicine container and a water passage, wherein a water flow resistance element in the water passage, a medicine container and a water passage on the upstream and downstream sides of the water flow resistance element. A drug adding device is provided, wherein at least one communicating hole is provided, and a cross-sectional area of the water flow resistance element portion in the water passage is variable.
[0006]
The drug addition device has a drug container for storing a drug and a water passage as main components. Water is supplied to the medicine container from the water passage through the hole, and the medicine contained in the medicine container is released through the hole and merges with the water in the water passage to be discharged. Here, the water supply side is defined as upstream, and the water discharge side is defined as downstream. The driving force for drug release is generated by an increase in the pressure difference between before and after the water flow resistance element, as the water flow resistance element section installed in the water channel reduces the cross-sectional area of the water flow path to generate pressure loss. This pressure difference causes a flow of water in the drug container. In the case of a water-soluble drug, the concentration is close to the saturation concentration in the container, and is released from the hole and diluted in the water passage. In the case of a water-soluble drug, a saturated aqueous solution has a concentration of several percent to several tens percent. For example, about 30% for salt and about 50% for citric acid. A solution of 300,000 ppm or 500,000 ppm is to be diluted at a portion of the container. At this time, the action of the water flow resistance element is key, and the dilution ratio can be freely changed. When the cross-sectional area of the water flow resistance element is reduced, a large amount of the drug is slowly released, and when the cross-sectional area is increased, a low-concentration drug solution is discharged. If the cross-sectional area of the water flow resistance element: pore area = 100: 1, the dilution ratio of the drug from the saturated solution is 1/100. If the cross-sectional area of the water flow resistance element is further increased by a factor of 10, the dilution ratio will be 1/1000. For example, when the drug is an acid such as citric acid, the difference is about 1 in pH, such as about 3 and about 4. As means for changing the cross-sectional area of the water flow resistance element, a method of changing the opening area concentrically like a diaphragm of a camera, or extruding a water flow resistance element into a water channel and changing the water flow area by controlling the position of the water flow resistance element to be pushed out There are methods. For example, by installing a push button that connects to the water flow resistance element and pressing it when generating strongly acidic water, returning it to the original state when generating weakly acidic water, changing the area of the water flow resistance element to reflect the user's selection Can be. Since the driving force of the drug addition is a water pressure difference, it is possible to mix the drug in a simple water channel system without requiring external power.
[0007]
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the hole diameter is 1 mm or more. Tap water contains calcium, and when it is dried after reacting with carbon dioxide, it becomes calcium carbonate and becomes a poorly soluble dirt. Tap water also contains silica, and when dried, it becomes a poorly soluble stain. Since the pore size of the present invention is at least 1 mm or more even when small, it is difficult for the pores to be clogged with water, and the concentration of the drug hardly changes with time. The shape of the hole is preferably a round shape in the case of a polygon such as a quadrangle or a triangle because dirt is easily attached to the apex. In the case of an elliptical shape, the minor diameter is defined as the hole diameter. The number of holes may be one before and after the flow resistance element, but may be two or more. However, since the ratio of the total area of the holes and the cross-sectional area of the water flow resistance element portion affects the drug concentration, the number of holes cannot be increased without limitation. The material of the hole portion is preferably a water-repellent material such as a fluorine resin which is hardly stained.
[0008]
In a preferred aspect of the present invention, a hole is provided in the canopy of the medicine container, and drains water remaining in a channel other than the medicine container when water is stopped. Since a hole is provided in the upper lid of the medicine container, the inside of the medicine container is full not only at the time of flowing water but also at the time of standby, and the hole is not immersed in water and dried, so that the risk of closing the hole is reduced. In addition, since the remaining water in the water passage is drained out of the apparatus during standby, the diffusion of the medicine from the medicine container into the water passage is eliminated, and the concentration of the medicine in the water passage is increased, so that the medicine is not wasted. Since the hole is in the canopy of the drug container and the drug solution exits upward and in the direction opposite to gravity, the driving force passing through the hole is only the pressure difference between the upstream and downstream of the water flow resistance element. At the time of water stoppage, there is no water pressure difference, so the drug leaks only by the diffusion of the solution. In the present invention, in order to prevent the diffusion, the water is discharged from the water channel at the time of water stoppage. An air valve is provided upstream of the water flow resistance element in the water channel, and when the pressure in the water channel decreases, outside air enters the water channel through the air valve by the pressure regulating mechanism of the valve, and pushes residual water in the water channel downstream.
[0009]
In a preferred aspect of the present invention, a pipe connected to a hole on the downstream side of the water flow resistance element is provided in the medicine container. The hole on the downstream side of the water flow resistance element is a hole from which the medicine is released. Tests have shown that, depending on the size of the drug container and the specific gravity of the drug, the drug concentration in the container is higher at the bottom of the container and lower at the top. If the undissolved drug has a specific gravity higher than that of water, it exists at the lower part of the container. When the solution at the top of the container was removed, the concentration of the drug discharged from the device decreased as the drug decreased. As a countermeasure, when a solution such as a hose was attached to the hole from which the medicine was released and the solution at the lower part of the medicine container was taken out, the medicine concentration was stable regardless of the amount of the medicine. In particular, as the volume of the container is increased in order to reduce the frequency of replenishment of the medicine, this effect becomes more remarkable.
[0010]
In a preferred aspect of the present invention, a deaeration port for discharging air in the medicine container to the outside is provided. In the case where a hole is provided in the medicine container and water enters from one hole and exits as much as water enters from the other, if there is air in the container, the force of pushing the water due to the elasticity of the air is buffered, Power weakens. At this time, it is not preferable that there is air in the container because the pressure difference, which is the driving force for drug elution, decreases and the drug concentration decreases. By discharging air out of the device from the deaeration port in the upper part of the medicine container in parallel with the water entering the medicine container, stable sustained release of the medicine can be realized.
[0011]
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a part of the deaeration port is made of a hydrophobic film and has a detachable structure. If hydrophobic, water cannot pass through the degassing membrane, so there is no risk of water leaking out. Since the membrane is a hydrophobic membrane with minute pores, air can pass through it, but the hydrophobic substance around the pores has a large contact angle with water, and water cannot pass through the membrane unless a large pressure is applied. Examples of the hydrophobic degassing film include polyester fibers rolled to a thickness of several microns by adding fluorine. Further, it can be used as a supply port when the medicine runs out. The detachable structure facilitates drug supply. Since the inside of the medicine container is full of water and an internal pressure is applied, the structure is such that water is stopped using packing. It is simple and suitable to use a method in which packing is attached to a convex screw whose one end surface has a degassing film and screwed into a screw hole of a drug container.
[0012]
In a preferred aspect of the present invention, a magnetic substance for stirring is provided in the medicine container, and a magnetic substance rotating by a water flow is provided outside the medicine container. When taking out the medicine from the top lid of the medicine container, the problem is that the concentration of the medicine in the container is not uniform. As a countermeasure, the medicine is rotated by a magnetic body for stirring in the medicine container and by a water flow outside the medicine container. Install a magnetic material. The magnetic material outside the container and the magnetic material for stirring in the container attract each other by magnetic force, and act by separating the container, so that it is not necessary to make a hole in the container. The kinetic energy of the water entering the apparatus is used as it is for the stirring energy of the medicine without using any special external power as the stirring means, so that efficient and simple stirring in the medicine container becomes possible.
[0013]
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an impeller is provided at the bottom of the medicine container. A water path is provided between the medicine container and the outer wall, and an impeller for receiving a water flow is provided in the medicine container to rotate the container. The impeller preferably projects radially from the central axis of the drug container. The number of blades is preferably four or more, so that the water flow energy can be efficiently converted into rotational force. A water path outside the medicine container lowers the frictional resistance of the rotating medicine container and makes the rotation smooth.
[0014]
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a means for adjusting the water permeability of the hole is provided. Water permeability refers to the ratio of the amount of water passing through a hole when a unit pressure is applied to a unit area of the hole to a normal hole. As described above, water with a pH of about 3 and about 4 was generated by changing the cross-sectional area of the water flow resistance element portion. However, when water with a pH of about 3 and about 5 was produced, the area ratio was 100 times. Therefore, it is difficult to realize it in a finite channel. In the case of performing such a control in which the dynamic range of the concentration is large, a shield is provided in the hole, and the amount of water passing through the hole and the water flow resistance element is adjusted. This is the case, for example, when a net is placed over a hole to make it difficult for water to pass through. As a result, if the water permeability is reduced to 1/10, in the case of citric acid described above, a difference of 1 is created in terms of the pH. By changing the cross-sectional area, the hole area, and the water permeability of the hole in the water flow resistance element, the drug concentration can be varied up to four or five digits in a range.
[0015]
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the drug is citric acid or ascorbic acid. Considering the application of the present invention to a bathroom shower, since these chemicals are water-soluble, solid powder can be replenished, which is advantageous in terms of maintenance. Citric acid has a high degree of dissociation, has three carboxyl groups in one molecule, and has a high proton supply ability, so that it has the strongest action of acidifying water among organic acids. Ascorbic acid (commonly known as vitamin C) has a strong reducing power, and neutralizes hypochlorite ions contained in tap water, thereby eliminating the smell of chlorine and turning into water that does not destroy the cuticle of hair. The present invention uses these soluble organic acids as drugs to realize shower water that is gentle on the scalp and skin. The medicine is replenished with powder, and is introduced from the lid provided with the degassing film. Of course, in addition to the organic acid, a scent component such as mint may be added together to make the shower more comfortable.
[0016]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 shows a water passage structure in a medicine container in addition to a structure in which a medicine is taken out from a hole provided in a medicine container upper lid. The holes 1a and 1b are installed upstream and downstream of the water flow resistance element 2 installed in the water passage. Water enters the drug addition device through the inlet 4a, and most of the water passes through the two flow resistance elements and exits through the outlet 4b. A very small amount of water enters the medicine container 5 through the hole 1a opened in the upper lid 6, and a medicine saturated solution 7 of the same amount as the amount of water enters through the medicine tube 8 and enters the water channel from the hole 1b. In order for a certain amount of water to always enter and leave the hole, it is necessary to completely exhaust the air in the medicine container 5, and the deaeration membrane 9 plays this role. In the drawing, the deaeration film 9 is used as a part of the medicine replenishing port 10 and has a structure that can be removed when replenishing the medicine. As water enters the medicine container 5, air is discharged from the degassing film 9 to the outside of the apparatus. Eventually, the water is filled below the degassing membrane 9 attached to the top of the apparatus. Since the inflow of water from the micropores is slow, it is the earliest that the user puts water into the medicine container 5 through the medicine replenishing port 10. Normal maintenance only requires powder replenishment of the drug. When the user puts in the water, it is only at the beginning of use of the device for the first time. After that, the amount of drug in the drug container 5 filled with water is monitored. And replenish the drug as appropriate. When the passage of water stops, air enters the water channel by the pressure regulating mechanism of the air valve 3 and discharges residual water in the water channel. In the figure, the lower part of the medicine container 5 shows a state in which an undissolved part of the medicine is deposited.
[0017]
The medicine container 5 is assumed to have a capacity of 500 ml or more. As for the capacity, the larger the capacity, the less the replenishment of the drug is required, but it is difficult to make the concentration of the drug uniform in the container. In particular, as use progresses and the amount of undissolved solid-state drug decreases, the upper layer in the container has a lower concentration than the lower layer in which drug solids are present. In order to make the concentration of the drug contained in the water to be discharged constant, in the present invention, the pipe 8 opened at the bottom of the container is used for taking out the drug from the drug container 5. Since a solid drug is almost always present near the bottom of the drug container 5 and forms a saturated solution, the solution flowing in the pipe 8 is a drug solution having a substantially constant concentration.
[0018]
FIG. 2 shows the pH of the water that comes out when the flow rate is changed using citric acid as the drug in the drug adding apparatus having the configuration shown in FIG. The test apparatus is a small prototype model. The medicine container 5 has an inner diameter of 3 cm, a height of 10 cm, a water passage having a width of 10 mm × 10 mm, and a portion provided with the water flow resistance element 2 having a width of 2 mm × 10 mm. It has become. The holes 1a and 1b have a hole diameter of 3 mm, and a drug tube 8 having an inner diameter of 3 mm is connected to the hole 1b. The degassing film 9 is a hydrophobic film with a high chemical resistance to which fluorine has been added and has a size of 25 mm in inner diameter, and has a function of discharging air as water passes. The pH characteristics when citric acid was put in the test apparatus and the water flow, and the pH characteristics when the flow rate was changed were examined. As a result, as shown in FIG. 2, when the flow rate was 0.8 L / min or more, acidic water was generated, and water discharge with extremely suppressed pH fluctuation due to the flow rate was observed. This indicates that when the flow rate becomes higher than a certain value and the flow of water becomes stable, the rate at which the incoming water is divided into and out of the medicine container is substantially constant. What determines the distribution ratio is the relative ratio between the cross-sectional area of the water passage in the portion of the water flow resistance element 2 and the area of the hole 1a, and the value of pH can be changed by manipulating the ratio between the two.
[0019]
Further, FIG. 3 shows the stability of the drug concentration over time of the water discharge device of the present invention. A stationary water spouting device attached to a faucet and connected to a shower hose on the downstream side, with a 1000 cc internal volume, was prototyped. This was filled with citric acid, and the water discharge pH was recorded at a flow rate of 7 L / min with respect to the time of continuous water flow and the time of intermittent water flow. In the case of intermittent operation, water is supplied for 1 minute, and 10 minutes are repeated. The water passage has a width of 20 mm × 10 mm, and the water passage in a portion where the water flow resistance element 2 is installed has a width of 20 mm × 4 mm. The holes 1a and 1b have a hole diameter of 3 mm, and a drug tube 8 having an inner diameter of 3 mm is connected to the hole 1b by opening a mouth to the bottom of the container. This is because the concentration at the lower part of the container is close to saturation, and concentrated citric acid which is not affected by dilution is taken out by water entering the container to stabilize the concentration of discharged water. The figure shows a stable concentration change in both continuous and intermittent water supply, and it is shown that the configuration of the present invention realizes concentration-independent water spouting with time.
[0020]
FIG. 4 shows an embodiment in which the inside of the medicine container is agitated to uniform the concentration gradient of the medicine. Most of the configuration of the apparatus is the same as that of FIG. 1, but it is characterized in that a stirring magnetic body 11 is provided as a stirring means, and a rotating magnetic body 12 which rotates by a water flow is provided in a channel formed on the bottom surface outside the medicine container. It is. The two act by magnetic force, and the rotational motion of the rotating magnetic body 12 is transmitted to the stirring magnetic body 11 as it is, so that the apparatus is simple. The simplest configuration of the rotating magnetic body 12 is a bar magnet having an N pole and an S pole, and the bar magnet rotates when water from the inlet 4a collides with one pole.
[0021]
FIG. 5 is an example of a structure in which the medicine container 5 itself rotates. In the medicine container 5, the water that has entered enters the impeller 13, and the medicine container connected to the impeller 13 rotates together. A turntable 14 is provided so that the rotation works smoothly, and the impeller 13 is prevented from contacting the surface of the water pipe. In order to further reduce the frictional force, a water passage 15 is provided between the medicine container 5 and the surrounding inner wall. In order to increase the stirring efficiency, a stick may be installed in the medicine container 5 so that the medicine solution collides with the stick during the rotation to easily cause disturbance. 4 and 5 do not require a deaeration film, and the air in the medicine container 5 is discharged from the hole 1b.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an example of a device configuration 1 according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flow rate characteristic diagram of a drug addition performance. FIG. 3 is a time transition diagram of a drug discharge concentration. FIG. 4 is a device configuration example 2 in the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a device configuration example 3 according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1a, 1b ... Hole 2 ... Water flow resistance element 3 ... Air valve 4a ... Inlet 4b ... Outlet 5 ... Drug container 6 ... Sterilizing component generator 7 ... Drug saturated solution 8 ... Pipe 9 ... Degassing film 10 ... Drug refilling port 11 ... Stirring magnetic body 12 Rotating magnetic body 13 Impeller 14 Turntable 15 Water passage
