JP2007209879A - Air bubble generating bathtub - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air bubbles generating bathtub provided with a jetting nozzle reducing the pressure rise by collision of water streams themselves and of the water stream with the wall surface in the inside of the nozzle, and securing a sufficient air suction by an ejector action while continuously changing jetting directions. <P>SOLUTION: The air bubble generating bath tub is provided with a branched flow-rate control means branching bath water fed from a circulating pump into two directions of a first branched bath-water forcedly-fed flow passage and a second branched bath-water forcedly-fed flow passage and variably adjusting the amount of branched bath water to the respective flow passages, and a controller continuously varying the jetting direction of the jetting nozzle by operating the branched flow-rate control means. The one or more jetting nozzles are respectively connected to both of the first and the second bath-water forcedly-fed flow passages, and one end of an air taken-in part is communicated and connected to each of the first and the second bath-water forcedly-fed flow passages immediately before the first and the second bath-water forcedly-fed flow passages are communicated and connected to the jetting nozzles, and within a range of possibility of suctioning air by the ejector action. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a bubble generating bathtub that can be massaged by a bubble jet while bathing, and more particularly to a bubble generating bathtub that can automatically change the discharge direction of bubbled bath water.

  Conventionally, a bubble jet generating bathtub apparatus has been widely adopted as a bathtub apparatus that can provide a massage effect during bathing (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This bubble jet generating bathtub device is provided with a nozzle on the side wall of the bathtub body, and a circulation pump for circulating bath water through the circulation pump is connected to the nozzle, and an ejector effect is used in the vicinity of the nozzle. An air suction unit that can mix air into bath water is installed. There is also a configuration in which a circulation pump and a nozzle are integrated.

  With such a configuration, by operating the circulation pump, bath water can be ejected from the nozzle on the side wall of the bathtub body, and at the time of the ejection, air is sucked in from the air suction section to mix air into the bath water. In addition, by causing the bath water mixed with air to be ejected from the nozzle, bubbles are generated in the bath water and applied to the body of the bather, thereby increasing the massage effect and the like.

  However, in the conventional bubble jet generating bath apparatus, the water discharge direction of the nozzle is constant and does not vary, so that the jet continues to hit only the same part of the bather, and the massage effect is reduced by habituation.

  In order to solve this problem, a high-pressure fluid introduction pipe having a nozzle portion at the tip and a low-pressure fluid suction pipe are integrated with the mixing chamber through the mixing chamber. A discharge port is provided on the wall of the nozzle portion at a position in front of the nozzle portion, and the high pressure fluid introduction pipe is provided with a rotating body that rotates in one direction by the force of the high pressure fluid. A jet nozzle is known in which a main body is swingably supported so that the direction of discharge can be changed, and this swing is caused by the rotational force of the rotating body (for example, Patent Document 2). reference.). According to this, it is possible to discharge the mixed fluid while automatically changing the discharge direction of the mixed fluid without affecting the discharge of the mixed fluid.

  On the other hand, in recent years, when bathing, a lymphatic massage can be performed by generating a water flow from the end of the limb toward the root, and the bather's foot side is positioned on one end side of the bathtub and on the other end side. A lymphatic surge that promotes the smooth flow of lymph fluid from the tip of the limb toward the heart with a simple configuration just by taking a bathing posture in a general bathtub where the bather's head side is positioned Has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 3).

Here, when jetting bath water or bubbling bath water from the jet outlet, water flows into the jet outlet from two or more different flow paths as means for changing the jet direction while continuously changing the jet direction. The flow rate is of variable type, in which the flow rate is changed from two or more different flow paths, and the flow rate of water flowing into the jet port is changed to change the jet direction while changing the jet direction. A jet direction changing means is disclosed.
JP-A-1-139162 JP-A-3-32670 Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-342507 (pages 13, 14 and 7, 8)

  However, since the jet nozzle described in Patent Document 2 is mechanically configured, there is a problem that the mechanism becomes large and not only leads to an increase in cost but also causes a failure.

  Moreover, in the ejection direction variable means described in Patent Document 3, there is no description about air suction, and this point is unclear. For example, if an air suction flow path is formed inside the nozzle, the pressure rises due to collision between water flows inside the nozzle or collision between the water flow and the wall surface, so there is a possibility that the ejector effect cannot be obtained and sufficient air cannot be sucked.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described circumstances, and is provided with a nozzle provided with a nozzle that ensures a flow velocity sufficient for air suction, stably supplies a bubble-containing jet, and ejects while continuously changing the ejection direction. The object is to provide a generation bathtub.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the bubble generating bathtub according to the present invention includes a bath water suction channel and a bath water forced flow channel between the bathtub body and the circulation pump as described in claim 1. A bath water circulation flow path is provided, and an air intake section is connected to the bath water circulation flow path, and air taken in by the air intake section is mixed into the bath water in the bath water strong feed flow path. In the bubble generating tub capable of ejecting bubble water mixed with bubbles into the bathtub body from one or more jet nozzles, the bath water sent from the circulation pump is used as the first branch bath strong-feed channel and the second branch bath. Branch flow control means for branching in two directions of the water-feeding flow path and variably adjusting the distribution amount to each, and control for continuously changing the injection direction of the jet nozzle by controlling the branch flow control means And each of the at least one or more jet nozzles includes a first and a second nozzle. One end of the air intake section is connected to both of the two branch bath water feed channels, and is just before the first and second branch bath water feed channels are connected to the jet nozzle, and an ejector Within the range in which air suction by action is possible, each of the first and second branch bath water forced-feed passages is connected in communication.

  Thus, by automatically changing the bubble-containing jet, the user can be massaged by the bubble jet over a wide area, and the change in the jet angle can prevent the user from accustoming to the blow feeling. It becomes possible.

  Preferably, the first and second branch bath water forced-feed passages are expanded from the communication connection portion with one end of the air intake portion to the jet nozzle side, as described in claim 2. Also good. As a result, the ejector effect can be reliably obtained, and a more stable bubble-containing jet can be obtained.

  The jet nozzle preferably discharges the air and the bath water in a range of a gas-liquid ratio of 0.2 to 1.5 as described in claim 3. It is desirable. This is because if the gas-liquid ratio is less than 0.2, the massage effect by the bubbles cannot be obtained, and if the gas-liquid ratio is 1.5 or more, the directivity of the bubble-containing jet is lost and the bubble bath effect cannot be obtained.

  Moreover, the bath water jet flow rate immediately adjacent to the discharge port of the jet nozzle is preferably jetted from the jet nozzle within a range of an instantaneous flow rate of 10 to 50 L / min as described in claim 4. desirable. If the bath water injection flow rate near the nozzle discharge port is less than 10 L / min, a jet massage effect cannot be obtained due to insufficient gas suction, and if the water control flow rate near the nozzle discharge port is 50 L / min or more, excessive injection to the user This is because pressure is applied and a comfortable jet massage effect cannot be obtained.

  Furthermore, the bath water jet flow velocity in the immediate vicinity of the discharge port of the jet nozzle is preferably jetted from the jet nozzle within an average flow velocity range of 3 to 15 m / sec as described in claim 5. desirable. If the bath water jet average flow velocity in the immediate vicinity of the nozzle discharge port is less than 3 m / sec, the massage feeling given to the user is insufficient, and if the bath water jet average flow velocity in the immediate vicinity of the nozzle discharge port is 15 m / sec or more, excessive jetting to the user is performed. This is because pressure is applied and a comfortable jet massage effect cannot be obtained.

  According to the bubble generation bathtub according to the present invention, there is provided a bubble generation bathtub comprising a nozzle that ensures a sufficient flow rate for air suction, stably supplies a bubble-containing jet, and ejects while continuously changing the injection direction. It is possible to prevent the user from acclimatizing the blow feeling.

  Embodiment of the bubble generation bathtub which concerns on this invention is described with reference to an accompanying drawing. Drawing 1 is a figure showing the whole bubble generation bathtub 1 outline concerning this embodiment.

  The bathtub main body 2 is provided with a suction port 3 for sucking bath water in the bathtub main body 2 on the bottom surface thereof. The suction port 3 is connected to the circulation pump 5 via the bath water suction flow path 4, and then the bath water strong feed flow path 6 is connected to the downstream side of the circulation pump 5.

  After passing through the motor-operated valve 20, the bath water strong feed channel 6 branches into a first branch bath water strong feed channel 7 and a second branch bath water strong feed channel 8. It is connected to the jet nozzle 40 installed on the side. The flow path from the suction port 3 to the jet nozzle 40 forms a bath water circulation flow path, and the motor-operated valve 20 and the motor 9 according to the present embodiment constitute the branch flow rate control means of the present invention.

  Further, one end of an air pipe 11 as an air intake portion is connected to the jet nozzle 40 in communication, and the other end of the air pipe 11 is open to the atmosphere.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the motor-operated valve 21 includes a main body 19, a rotary valve body 24 rotatably fitted in a hole 23 of the main body 19, and a rotary valve body 24 for rotating the rotary valve body 24. And a motor 9. The main body 19 is connected to the inflow port 22 communicatively connected by the pump 5 and the bath water feed channel 6 and the first inlet 41 of the jet nozzle 40 described later by the first branch bath water feed channel 7. The first outlet 29 and a second outlet 32 connected to the second inlet 42 of the jet nozzle 40 by the second branch bath water strong feed passage 8 are provided. An inflow hole 33 communicating with the constant inlet 22 formed in the same direction as the rotation axis of the valve body 24 and a valve port 34 formed so as to communicate with the inflow hole 33 on the side wall portion of the rotation valve body 24. And the first flow from the state where water flows only to the first outlet 29 as shown in FIG. 2B by rotating the rotary valve body 24 by the motor 9 under the control of the controller 10. A state in which the flow ratio is changed in both the outlet 29 and the second outlet 32 (FIG. 2 (c) shows a stage where the flow ratio is equal. ), And the jet flow while changing the flow ratio of the water flowing to the first outlet 29 and the second outlet 32 so that the water flows only to the second outlet 32 as shown in FIG. Water can be supplied to the nozzle 40.

  The jet nozzle 40 shown in FIG. 3 (a) is a swing water spouting nozzle in which the jet direction of the water flow continuously changes toward the bathtub body 2, and the first branch bath water strength is shown in FIG. 3 (b). A first inlet 41 to which the feed channel 7 is connected and a second inlet 42 to which the second branch bath water strong feed channel 8 is connected are provided in the mixing chamber 43, and the first branch bath water strong feed channel is provided. 7 and the second branch bath water strong feed flow path 8 are integrated with the mixing chamber 43 through the first inlet 41 and the second inlet 42.

  A water discharge port 44 is provided on the wall surface of the mixing chamber 43. The water discharge port 44 is located on the straight extension line of the second branch bath water feed channel 8, and the channel is mixed with the first branch bath water feed channel 7. After being curved along the wall surface of the chamber 34, it is provided at a position where it is opened to the bathtub body 2, and the two branched bath water forced-feed channels 7, 8 intersect with each other on the extension in the mixing chamber 43. It has become.

  The end of the air pipe 11 on the jet nozzle 40 side branches into the first branch air pipe 12 and the second branch pipe 13 immediately before the termination, and the first branch at the first connection port 14 and the second connection port 15 respectively. The bath water strong feed channel 7 and the second branch bath water strong feed channel 8 are connected in communication.

  The first connection port 14 and the second connection port 15 are just before the first and second branch bath water strong-feeding flow paths 7 and 8 are connected to the mixing chamber 43 and can suck air by an ejector action. In such a range, it is important that the first and second branch bath water forced flow paths are connected to each other. The distance is generally within 20 mm, although it depends on the tube diameter and flow velocity. However, even within the range in which air suction by the ejector action is possible, care must be taken because bubbles may become too large to be suitable for massage during bathing.

  Then, the circulation pump 5 is operated to supply water to the jet nozzle 40 via the motor-operated valve 21, and the motor 9 is driven to rotate the rotating valve body 24, thereby the first outlet 29 and While the flow rate ratio of water flowing to the second outlet 32 changes, it is supplied from the first inlet 41 and the second inlet 42 into the mixing chamber 43 and merges in the mixing chamber 43. Injected outside.

  In this case, the water merged in the mixing chamber 43 changes the flow direction supplied from the first inlet 41 and the second inlet 42 to change the direction of ejection from the mixing chamber 43 within a range of substantially fan-shaped angles. I will let you. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, when water flows only to the first outlet 29, the direction of water flow injection from the mixing chamber 43 is in the direction of arrow A in FIG. When the flow rate ratio between the first outlet 29 and the second outlet 32 is the same as shown in c), the direction of arrow B in FIG. 2 is obtained, and the rotating valve body 24 is further rotated as shown in FIG. 8D. When water flows only through the second outlet 32, the direction of jetting water from the mixing chamber 43 is the direction indicated by the arrow C in FIG.

  When the rotary valve body 24 is further rotated, the direction of the arrow B is changed again from the direction of the arrow C to the direction of the arrow B. In this way, the water is jetted from the mixing chamber 43 while changing the jet direction of the water flow within the range from the arrow i direction to the arrow c direction.

  FIG. 4 shows the first outlet 29 when the rotary valve body 24 is continuously rotated in one direction at the same time when the pump 5 in the embodiment shown in FIG. The time chart which shows the relationship between the change of the flow rate ratio of the 2nd outflow port 32, and an injection direction is shown, and the water quantity S has shown the supply water quantity from the pump 5 in FIG. Further, one cycle T in FIG. 4 can be arbitrarily set by setting the rotation speed of the motor 9.

  Next, the flow of air in each case of jetting from the mixing chamber 43 while changing the jet direction of the water flow within the range from the arrow i direction to the arrow c direction will be described.

  In the case where water is passed through only the first branch bath water strong-feed passage 7 through the motor-operated valve 21 under the control of the controller 10, that is, when water is discharged in the direction of arrow A in FIG. As shown, since the amount of water supplied to the first branch bath strong-feed passage 7 is large and the flow velocity of the first branch bath strong-feed passage 7 is large, the first branch from the first branch air pipe 12 is caused by the ejector effect. Air is sucked into the bath water forced flow path 7.

  Next, under the control of the controller 10, the motor valve 21 is made to gradually reduce the water flow to the first branch bath water feed channel 7 while passing the water to the second branch bath water feed channel 8. When the water is gradually increased, the water is passed through the first branch bath strong feed channel 7 and the second branch bath strong feed channel 8 as shown in FIG. The air in the pipe 11 is sucked into both the first branch bath water forced flow path 7 and the second branch bath water forced flow path 8 via the first branch air pipe 12 and the second branch air pipe 13. The

  As a result, the two water flows guided from the first branch bath strong feed channel 7 and the second branch bath strong feed channel 8 collide with each other in the mixing chamber 43, and the water discharge direction of the jet nozzle is the direction of arrow a. To the direction of arrow b.

  Then, under the control of the controller 10, the amount of water flow through the first branch bath water strong feed channel 7 is further reduced to the motor operated valve 21, and the amount of water flow through the second branch bath water strong feed channel 8 is further increased. When the water is passed through only the second branch bath strong feed channel 8, the amount of water supplied to the second branch bath strong feed channel 8 is large as shown in FIG. Since the flow velocity of the path 8 is large, air is sucked from the second branch air pipe 13 to the second branch bath water strong feed flow path 8 by the ejector effect. In this case, since the amount of water supplied to the second branch bath strong-feed channel 8 is large, the water discharge direction of the jet nozzle is downward as shown in the figure.

  In this way, two water supply passages are provided for one jet nozzle, and the water supply passage is connected to the jet nozzle while changing the injection direction by controlling the flow rate ratio with respect to the two water supply passages. Immediately before, the air pipe is connected so that the ejector effect can be obtained, and the other end of the air pipe is opened to the atmosphere, so that the water is entrained by the ejector effect of the jet water flow, and a stable bubble jet is obtained. Is possible.

  The jet nozzle 40 desirably discharges the air and the bath water while the gas-liquid ratio of the air and the bath water is within a range of 0.2 to 1.5. This is because if the gas-liquid ratio is less than 0.2, the massage effect by the bubbles cannot be obtained, and if the gas-liquid ratio is 1.5 or more, the directivity of the bubble-containing jet is lost and the bubble bath effect cannot be obtained.

  Further, it is desirable that the bath water jet flow rate immediately adjacent to the discharge port of the jet nozzle 40 be jetted from the jet nozzle within the range of the instantaneous flow rate of 10 to 50 L / min. If the bath water injection flow rate near the nozzle discharge port is less than 10 L / min, a jet massage effect cannot be obtained due to insufficient gas suction, and if the water control flow rate near the nozzle discharge port is 50 L / min or more, excessive injection to the user This is because pressure is applied and a comfortable jet massage effect cannot be obtained.

  Furthermore, it is desirable that the bath water jet flow velocity in the immediate vicinity of the discharge port of the jet nozzle 40 is jetted from the jet nozzle within an average flow velocity range of 3 to 15 m / sec. If the bath water jet average flow velocity in the immediate vicinity of the nozzle discharge port is less than 3 m / sec, the massage feeling given to the user is insufficient, and if the bath water jet average flow velocity in the immediate vicinity of the nozzle discharge port is 15 m / sec or more, excessive jetting to the user is performed. This is because pressure is applied and a comfortable jet massage effect cannot be obtained.

  Next, some modified examples of this embodiment will be described. The bubble generation bathtub 1A shown in FIG. 8 is obtained by integrating the suction port 3 and the circulation pump 5 into the jet nozzle 40A. According to this configuration, the bath water circulation channel can be made more compact, but the overall operation is not different from the above example.

  In the example shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, unlike the above-described example, the first and second branch bath water forced feed passages 7 and 8 run in parallel. Even in this case, if the flow path is curved along the wall surface of the mixing chamber 34 in both the first and second branched bath water forced flow paths 7, 8, the two branched bath water forced flow paths 7, In the mixing chamber 43, 8 can be configured to intersect on the extension.

  In FIG. 10, the first and second branch bath water forced feed passages 7 and 8 are expanded on the downstream side of the first and second connection ports connected to the first and second branch air pipes 12 and 13. Open. Thereby, the negative pressure, that is, the ejector effect can be obtained more reliably, and a more stable bubble jet can be obtained.

  The embodiments described above are for illustrative purposes and do not limit the scope of the invention. Accordingly, those skilled in the art can employ embodiments in which each or all of these elements are replaced by equivalents thereof, and these embodiments are also included in the scope of the present invention.

The figure which shows the whole outline | summary of embodiment of the bubble generation bathtub which concerns on this invention. An example of the motor operated valve concerning this embodiment is shown, (a) is a top view and (b) (c) (d) is an explanatory view showing a rotation state of a rotation valve body, respectively. (A) is a perspective view of the jet nozzle which concerns on this embodiment, (b) is sectional drawing. The graph which shows the relationship between the supply amount of the water supplied from the 1st inlet of a jet nozzle, and the supply amount of the water supplied from a 2nd inlet. The figure explaining the flow of the air in the case of discharging water in the arrow a direction. The figure explaining the flow of the air in the case of discharging water in the arrow direction. The figure explaining the flow of the air in the case of discharging water in the arrow c direction. The figure which shows the example which took in and integrated the suction inlet and the circulation pump into the jet nozzle. (A) is a perspective view which shows the example of the jet nozzle in which two branch bath water strong feed flow path diagrams are parallel, (b) is sectional drawing. The figure which shows the example which a branch bath water strong feed flow path terminal expands.

Explanation of symbols

1,1A Bubble generation bathtub 2 Bath body 3 Suction port 4 Bath water suction flow path 5 Circulation pump 6 Bath water forced flow path 7 First branch bath water forced flow path 8 Second branch bath water forced flow path 9 Motor DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Controller 11 Air pipe 12 1st branch air pipe 13 2nd branch air pipe 14 1st connection port 15 2nd connection port 19 Main body 21 Electric valve 22 Inflow port 23 Hole 24 Rotating valve body 29 1st outflow port 32 1st Two outlets 33 Inlet holes 34 Valve ports 40, 40A, 40B, 40C Jet nozzle 41 First inlet 42 Second inlet 43 Mixing chamber 44 Water outlet

Claims (5)

A bath water circulation channel composed of a bath water suction channel and a bath water forced flow channel is interposed between the bath body and the circulation pump, and an air intake portion is connected to the bath water circulation channel to communicate the air. In the bubble generating tub in which the air taken in by the intake part is mixed into the bath water in the bath water strong-feed passage, and the bubble water can be jetted into the bathtub body from at least one jet nozzle.
Branch flow rate control means for branching the bath water sent from the circulation pump in two directions, ie, a first branch bath water feed channel and a second branch bath water feed channel, and variably adjusting the distribution amount to each. When,
A controller for controlling the branch flow rate control means to continuously change the jet direction of the jet nozzle;
Each of the at least one or more jet nozzles is connected to both the first and second branch bath water forced-feed channels,
One end of the air intake section is immediately before the first and second branch bath water strong-feed passages are connected to the jet nozzle in a range where air suction by an ejector action is possible. A bubble generating bathtub characterized by being connected to each of the first and second branch bath strong-feed channels. 2. The bubble generating bathtub according to claim 1, wherein the first and second branch bath water strong-feed passages are expanded from a communication connection portion with one end of the air intake portion toward the jet nozzle. 2. The bubble generating bathtub according to claim 1, wherein the jet nozzle mixes and discharges the air and the bath water within a gas-liquid ratio range of 0.2 to 1.5. 2. The bubble generating bathtub according to claim 1, wherein the jet flow of the bath water immediately adjacent to the discharge port of the jet nozzle is jetted from the jet nozzle within an instantaneous flow rate of 10 to 50 L / min. 2. The bubble generating bathtub according to claim 1, wherein the bath water jet flow velocity immediately adjacent to the discharge port of the jet nozzle is jetted from the jet nozzle within an average flow velocity range of 3 to 15 m / sec.

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