JP2006336337A - Transportation instrument of additive-containing stream - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a transportation instrument of an additive containing stream capable of using the additive as it is and being slowly discharged. <P>SOLUTION: In the transportation instrument of an additive containing stream, a suction hole 12 is bored in an external wall 13 of a storage vessel 11 of an additive, it is so constituted that the additive in the vessel 11 is sucked in a current from the suction hole 12 by suction pressure caused by the current passing through the outside (a shower head section inside space 29b) with a high speed and that the additive is mixed with the current to be transported. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention is attached to a shower, a currant, or a flow channel upstream thereof, and includes a skin / hair additive-containing water flow that is suitably applied to body washing in a bathroom, a washroom, a shower room, and the like. Related to transport equipment.

  In recent years, at home, tap water is not used as it is, but is often used after being treated by a water purifier or the like. Examples of the water purifier include a type attached to a faucet portion of a water supply, a type installed under a sink and attached in the middle of a water pipe, and a type attached to a head portion of a shower.

  As a type to be attached to the head portion of the shower, it is known that a filter is built in the shower head and water is passed through the shower head to remove harmful substances such as chlorine and dust. As the shape of the filter, there has been proposed a filter that purifies by passing water from the inside to the outside of the cylinder (prior art [1]).

  Furthermore, recently, from the viewpoint of realizing a better effect on the skin, there has also been proposed a new moisturizing agent added to water from which chlorine or the like has been removed as described above (see, for example, Patent Document 2). (Prior art [2]). In this prior art [2], a cartridge filled with a dechlorinating agent and a moisturizing agent is attached to a shower head, and water is first passed through a dechlorinating agent filling unit and then is passed through a moisturizing agent filling unit. It has a configuration. At this time, in order to gradually release the humectant into the water, as the humectant, an encapsulated product, a product carried on an appropriate simple substance, or a tableted product is used.

When water from the shower of this prior art [2] is used for washing the skin and hair, chlorine and the like are removed so that hair pain and discoloration can be prevented (reduced), and skin irritation is reduced. In addition, it can be expected to prevent the skin from drying due to the moisturizing effect.
Japanese Patent No. 3139362 JP-A-11-009485 (FIGS. 1 to 3, paragraph [0008])

  As described above, the reason why the encapsulated moisturizing agent or the like in the prior art [2] is used is that if the moisturizing agent is in a liquid state or is easily dissolved by contact with water, the passing water It is because it will be leaked immediately. Since many moisturizing materials themselves are easily dissolved in water or water, special processing such as encapsulation is required as described above, but this processing takes time and effort. There is a problem that the cost increases.

  In addition, when adding any other additive to the moisturizing agent, if the additive is liquid or easily soluble in water, it is necessary to perform special processing as described above, which is troublesome. There is.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made paying attention to the above-described circumstances, and the purpose thereof is to use a moisturizing agent as it is even if it is liquid or easily dissolved in water. It is another object of the present invention to provide an additive-containing water flow transport device capable of gradually releasing the humectant and the like into water.

  The additive-containing water flow transport device according to the present invention is formed by a water flow that is provided with a suction hole for the additive in the outer wall of the skin / hair additive storage container and passes outside the suction hole at high speed. The additive in the container is sucked into the water flow from the suction hole by the suction pressure, and mixed with the water flow passing therethrough and transported.

  The skin and hair additives are those added to exert some function as water used for the skin and hair, and include moisturizing agents, fragrances, dechlorinating agents and the like.

  In the above prior art [2], since water is configured to pass through the moisturizer filling part, it is necessary to provide sustained release as the moisturizer itself. However, in the present invention, as described above, an additive such as a moisturizing agent is stored in a storage container and discharged from a suction hole provided in the storage container, and the suction hole passes through the outside of the water flow. Therefore, the additive is gradually released, and the additive does not flow out and be consumed at an early stage. Therefore, it is not necessary to use an additive that has undergone special processing such as encapsulation, and an additive that is easily soluble in liquid or water can be used as it is.

  If the additive is easily soluble in water (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “easily soluble additive”), the finely powdered easily soluble additive contained in the storage container is sucked and released as it is from the suction hole. The water flow that passes through the outside of the suction hole sometimes enters the storage container through the suction hole to dissolve the easily soluble additive, and the aqueous additive is sucked and discharged from the suction hole. In addition, when dissolving with water that has penetrated in this way and releasing it by suction, the easily dissolving additive may not be in the form of powder.

In view of the water pressure in showers and currants in bathrooms and washrooms, etc., the realistic range of the flow velocity of water flowing outside the storage container is 50 to 200 cm / sec. In this case, the suction hole of the storage container As the size, if the hole length (see D shown in FIG. 4) is 0.5 to 5.0 mm and the hole diameter (see C shown in FIG. 4) is 0.8 to 1.2 mm, the additive is gradually added. Can be released. In this regard, it has been confirmed through experiments that intermittent use for a total of about 10 hours is possible when an additive is packed in a storage container having a capacity of about 6 cm ³ .

  It is preferable that the outer shape of the storage container is cylindrical, and the suction hole is formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof. If the storage container is cylindrical, it can be conveniently placed along a flowing water channel such as a shower, and since the flowing water flows along the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical storage container, it is formed on the outer peripheral surface as described above. It is convenient for the additive to be released from the suction holes.

  Furthermore, it is preferable that a purification mechanism is detachably attached to the upstream side of the storage container. Chlorine and the like can be removed by this purification mechanism. Therefore, the influence of chlorine or the like is reduced (or eliminated), and water having the effect of adding the additive can be ejected from a shower or the like. Examples of the purification mechanism include those equipped with an adsorbent such as activated carbon.

  Moreover, in this invention, it is preferable that the said storage container is attached to the inside of a shower head so that attachment or detachment is possible. Since water having a moisturizing effect is desired when washing the face, body, and hair, it is preferable to attach the storage container to a shower head in a bathroom or the like. However, the transport device according to the present invention does not exclude the case where it is attached to a water pipe or the like other than the shower head, for example, a currant portion or a sink lower portion.

  According to the additive-containing water flow transportation device according to the present invention, the liquid additive and the water-soluble additive can be used as they are, but the additive can be gradually released into water. it can. Therefore, since it is not necessary to apply special processing to the additive as in the prior art, labor is not required and costs can be reduced.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to examples. However, the present invention is not limited by the following examples, but may be implemented with appropriate modifications within a range that can meet the purpose described above and below. Of course, it is also possible and they are all included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a shower head 10 including an additive-containing water flow transport device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, only the end face is shown. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the additive storage container 11 in the additive-containing water flow transport device of Embodiment 1, FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the additive storage container 11, and FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view thereof. It is sectional drawing.

  The shower head 10 is composed of a shower handle portion 27a and a shower head portion 27b, and an additive storage container 11 and a dechlorination filter (purification mechanism) 21 described below can be accommodated in an internal space formed by these. . The shower handle 27a and the shower head 27b are detachably attached by screwing. The outlet 26 of the shower head portion 27b is provided with the eyeplate 26 having a plurality of dot-like holes, and the water-saving device 31 is provided on the rear side thereof.

The transport device is composed of an additive storage container 11 and a dechlorination filter 21. The additive storage container 11 is a circle having fixing convex portions 14 and 15 on its upper and lower end surfaces as shown in FIGS. It is columnar and can accommodate the additive in its container inner space 19 (accommodating amount of about 6 cm ³ ). The suction hole 12 is formed in the outer peripheral wall 13 of the storage container 11, and more specifically, when the shower head 10 is hooked on a bathroom bracket (when the shower head 10 is placed upright when not in use) A suction hole 12 is formed in the substrate (FIG. 1). The suction hole 12 has a hole diameter C of 1.0 mm and a hole length D of 2.0 mm (FIG. 4). The hole length D is the same as the thickness of the outer wall 13 in the storage container 11.

In the container 11, for example, polyethylene glycol (molecular weight: 20000, freezing point: 56 to 63 ° C., kinematic viscosity: 1 × 10 ^{−2 to} 1.5 × 10 ⁻² m ² / sec (10000 to 15000 cSt ) (100 ° C.). In storing, the lid 11a of the storage container 11 is removed and the additive is put into the container inner space 19, and the lid 11a is firmly attached to the main body 11b by screwing, fitting, or other attaching / detaching methods. It is assumed that the suction hole 12 is only closed and opened.

  The dechlorination filter 21 has a cylindrical shape, and this cylindrical wall portion has a filter function. The cylindrical wall is composed of an adsorbing element 22 made of activated carbon fiber and a nonwoven fabric 23 wound five-fold around the adsorbing element 22, and rubber packing 25 is attached to the upper and lower ends of the adsorbing element 22 from the upper and lower ends of the cylindrical wall. Prevent leakage.

  The dechlorination filter 21 is disposed on the upstream side of the additive storage container 11, and the fixing convex portion 15 of the storage container 11 is fitted into the cylindrical hole 21 a of the dechlorination filter 21, so that the upper cylindrical hole opening is formed. Closed and only the lower side (lower opening 21b) is open (FIG. 1). In addition, with the dechlorination filter 21 and the additive storage container 11 fitted together in this manner, the fitting is perfectly fitted and fixed in the shower interior space.

  Next, the operation will be described.

  Water supplied from the water supply enters the cylindrical hollow portion 24 of the filter 21 through the shower handle hem inner space 29a, passes through the adsorption element 22 and the nonwoven fabric 23 of the filter 21, and dust, chlorine, and the like are removed in this process. To the filter outer space 28. In addition, since the intensity | strength of an outer peripheral part is improving with the said nonwoven fabric 23, even if the pressure in a cylinder is high, a deformation | transformation of a filter is prevented favorably.

  Subsequently, the water in the filter outer space 28 is guided to the shower head inner space 29 b and flows outside the additive storage container 11. At this time, a suction pressure is generated by the water flow passing through the outside of the suction hole 12 (arrow A in FIG. 3), and the additive in the storage container 11 is gradually released from the suction hole 12 (arrow B in FIG. 3). ). In some cases, water enters the storage container 11 from the suction hole 12 to dissolve the additive, and the aqueous additive is released from the suction hole 12 by the suction pressure generated by the outer water flow (arrow A) ( Arrow B).

  The water to which the additive is added in this way is discharged to the outside from the eye plate 26 through the water saving tool 31 and used for the skin and hair.

  In the present embodiment, the additive is used as it is, and since it is gradually released from the suction hole 12 of the storage container 11 as described above, a moisturizing effect can be imparted over a long period of time. Therefore, no special processing is required for the additive.

  In addition, when the additive in the storage container 11 is lost due to use, or when the water purification power of the dechlorination filter 21 is reduced, the shower head part 27b is removed from the shower handle part 27a, and the storage container containing the additive 11 or a new dechlorination filter 21 may be replaced.

  The size of the suction hole 12 is not limited to the above embodiment, and may be set as appropriate. Incidentally, when the hole diameter C is the same, the shorter the hole length D is, and when the hole length D is the same, the larger the hole diameter C is, the faster the consumption of the additive is.

  The position where the suction hole is formed in the outer wall 13 of the storage container 11 is not limited to the above embodiment, and for example, FIG. 5 (a cross section showing a shower using an additive-containing water flow transport device according to another embodiment of the present invention) As shown in the figure, the suction hole 32 may be formed at a lower position when the shower is not used. Although there was a concern that the additive in the container 11 leaks out when the suction hole 32 is in the downward position, the suction hole 32 is small enough to be gradually released by the suction force of the water flow. Therefore, leakage due to gravity does not actually cause a problem. Rather, when the storage container 11 is immersed in water, the influence of the additive being released from the suction hole is more likely to be released. large. Therefore, any height position of the suction hole may be used.

  In addition, in the above embodiment, the flowing water changes direction from the filter outer space 28 and the shower head inner space 29b toward the eyeplate 26 (in FIGS. 1 and 5, the flowing water first proceeds upward, and then the direction toward the left side. Although the case where the suction hole 12 is provided outside the flow curve is shown, it may be provided inside the curve or on the side of the curve.

  Further, the number of suction holes 12 is not limited to one as in the above embodiment, and a plurality of suction holes 12 may be provided. However, it is desirable to set according to the properties of the additive from the viewpoint of gradual release of the additive.

  As the additive, in addition to the above polyethylene glycol, humectants such as glycerin, licorice extract, aloe extract, jojoba oil, squalane, dechlorinating agents such as ascorbic acid, and various additives such as fragrances can be used.

Also as the dechlorination filter 21, not only the said embodiment but various filters can be used, for example, the filter etc. which were shown by the above-mentioned patent document 1 can be used. Specifically, it is an integrally formed molded body composed of activated carbon fibers, particles and fibril aggregates, wherein the molded body has a bulk density of 0.1 to 0.3 g / cc, An adsorbent molded body having a compression elastic modulus in the flow direction of 0.03 kgf / mm ² or more can be mentioned. The compression elastic modulus (E) is a measurement of the shrinkage (λ) of the thickness of the adsorption molded body when the load (P) is variously changed to the adsorption molded body of thickness (L) and cross-sectional area (A). And it is a value calculated | required from the following Formula (1). The particles contained in the adsorption molded body include particles that do not deform even when the water pressure during actual use is 0.5 kgf / cm ² , such as inorganic particles such as diatomaceous earth, calcium silicate, zeolite, glass beads, polyethylene, polypropylene, and the like. Organic particles such as acrylic resin and phenol resin, and activated carbon particles can be used, and these can be used alone or as a mixture.
E = (P · L) / (A · λ) (1)

<Experiment>
Experiments were conducted on the consumption of additives under the condition that 40 ° C. tap water was discharged at a flow rate of 8 liters / minute using a shower head as shown in FIGS.

  As the dechlorination filter 21, the one shown in the above embodiment, having an outer diameter of 35 mm, an inner diameter of the cylindrical hollow portion 24 of 10 mm, and a length of 63 mm was used.

The additive storage container 11 was cylindrical as described above, and the container inner space 19 had a diameter of 18 mm × length of 28 mm and a storage capacity of about 7 cm ³ . And experiment no. 1 and 3, the suction hole 12 is formed in the peripheral wall at a position of about 5 mm from the ceiling of the cylindrical container inner space 19 and the hole diameter C is 0.8 mm and the hole length D is 1.0 mm. (See FIG. 1), Experiment No. 2 and 4, the suction hole 12 is formed in the peripheral wall at a position of about 5 mm from the bottom surface of the cylindrical container inner space 19, and the hole diameter C is 0.8 mm and the hole length D is 1.0 mm as described above. Was used (see FIG. 5).

As an additive, polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of 6000 (freezing point: 56 to 63 ° C., kinematic viscosity: 8.5 × 10 ⁻⁴ m ² / sec (210 ° F. (100 ° C.))) [hereinafter referred to as PEG6K] , polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of 20,000 (solidifying point: 56 to 63 ° C., kinematic viscosity: 134 × 10 ^-4 m ² / s (210 ° F (100 ℃) )) [ hereinafter referred to as PEG20K] with which the 7 cm ³ The storage container 11 was filled.

  In the experiment, water was continuously passed. The flow rate of water passing through the outer wall 13 of the storage container 11 is about 133 cm / second.

  The results of this experiment are shown in Table 1.

  As can be seen from Table 1, in both cases of PEG6K and PEG20K, the additive is gradually released and remains even after 10 hours, and the release of the additive can be sustained for a long time.

It is sectional drawing which shows the shower head provided with the transport equipment of the additive containing water flow which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the additive storage container in the transport instrument of the additive containing water flow of Embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the additive storage container of Embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the additive storage container of Embodiment 1. FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the shower using the transport instrument of the additive containing water flow which concerns on other embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Shower head 11 Additive storage container 11a Cover part 11b Main body part 12, 32 Suction hole 13 Outer wall 14,15 Fixing convex part 19 Inner space 21 Dechlorination filter 22 Adsorption element 23 Nonwoven fabric 24 Cylindrical hollow part 28 Filter outer space 29b Shower head space

Claims (4)

  A suction hole for the additive is provided on the outer wall of the skin / hair additive storage container, and the additive in the container is removed by a suction pressure formed by a water flow passing through the outside of the suction hole at high speed. A transport device for an additive-containing water flow, characterized in that it is sucked into a water flow from a suction hole, mixed with the water flow passing therethrough and transported.   The transport device for an additive-containing water flow according to claim 1, wherein the storage container is cylindrical and the suction hole is formed on an outer peripheral surface thereof.   The additive-containing water flow transportation device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a purification mechanism is detachably attached to the upstream side of the storage container.   The transport device for an additive-containing water stream according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the storage container is detachably attached to the inside of a shower head.

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