JP2008289993A - Bubble generator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a highly convenient bubble generator sufficiently generating microbubbles. <P>SOLUTION: The bubble generator 100 includes a body part 10 and a plurality of insertion members 11. The insertion member 11 includes a plate-like part 12 and a protruded part 13, and is formed with the protruded part 13 protruded into the body part 10. An air passage 16 is provided in the insertion member 11 for leading air outside the body part 10 thereinto. An opening 15 of one end of the air passage 16 is formed on a face downstream (front side) of the protruded part 13. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a bubble generator that generates fine bubbles in a liquid.

  Conventionally, an apparatus for generating fine bubbles in a liquid has been developed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  The ultrafine bubble generator described in Patent Document 1 has a pipe for circulating water in a bathtub, and a pump and a mixer (bubble generator) inserted in the pipe. In this ultrafine bubble generating device, when the pump is activated, water in the bathtub (hereinafter referred to as bathtub water) is drawn from one end of the pipe. Bath water sucked from one end of the pipe is supplied again into the bathtub from the other end of the pipe via a pump and a mixer.

  Here, in this ultrafine bubble generating device, a plurality of protrusions are provided in the mixer. The plurality of protrusions generate cavitation in the bathtub water flowing in the mixer. Thereby, fine bubbles are generated in the bath water.

By the way, in order to generate a sufficient amount of fine bubbles in the mixer, it is necessary to mix a sufficient amount of air in advance into the bath water flowing into the mixer. Therefore, in the ultrafine bubble generating device described in Patent Document 1, an air inlet is provided in the pipe on the upstream side of the pump. Then, air is sucked into the pipe from the air inlet by the negative pressure generated when the pump is started. Thereby, air is mixed in the bath water upstream of the mixer.
JP 2002-85949 A

  However, when the mixer is used in other various systems that do not have the piping structure described in Patent Document 1, fine bubbles cannot be generated sufficiently. That is, the amount of fine bubbles generated by the mixer is greatly affected by the structure and capability of peripheral parts such as piping structures or peripheral devices. Therefore, the above mixer is not convenient.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a highly convenient bubble generator that can sufficiently generate fine bubbles.

  (1) A bubble generator according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a liquid inlet through which liquid flows, a liquid channel through which liquid flows from the liquid inlet, and a liquid outlet through which liquid flowing through the liquid channel flows out. A main body having a plurality of protrusions provided in the main body and projecting into the liquid flow path, and at least one of the plurality of protrusions allows gas to flow from the outside of the main body to the liquid flow path. It has a gas flow path leading into it, and at least one other protrusion of the plurality of protrusions is provided downstream of at least one protrusion.

  According to this bubble generator, cavitation can be generated in the liquid flowing through the liquid flow path on the downstream side of the protrusion. Thereby, fine bubbles can be generated in the liquid.

  Further, the gas is guided from the outside of the main body into the liquid channel by the gas channel of at least one of the plurality of projections. Therefore, in this bubble generator, fine bubbles can be generated using the gas while mixing the gas into the liquid at the protrusion. Thereby, even when the flow rate and pressure of the liquid are low, fine bubbles can be efficiently generated while air is reliably mixed in the liquid.

  As a result, fine bubbles can be efficiently generated in the liquid without being greatly affected by the structure and capacity of peripheral parts such as pipes and pumps or peripheral devices. Therefore, this bubble generator can be used for systems having various structures and various uses, and is excellent in convenience.

  In addition, since the bubble generator is provided with a plurality of protrusions, the gas mixed in the liquid in at least one protrusion can be reliably made into fine bubbles in the other protrusions.

  In this bubble generator, the gas outside the main body can be sucked into the liquid flow path by the negative pressure of the liquid generated in at least one protrusion. In this case, gas can be sufficiently mixed into the liquid even when the flow rate and pressure of the liquid are low. Thereby, fine bubbles can be generated more efficiently in the liquid without being greatly affected by the structure and capacity of peripheral parts such as pipes and pumps or peripheral devices.

  Further, in this bubble generator, at least one protrusion has a role of mixing gas into the liquid and a role of generating fine bubbles in the liquid. Therefore, it is not necessary to separately provide a means for mixing gas in the liquid and a means for generating fine bubbles in the liquid. Thereby, the bubble generator can be miniaturized and the manufacturing process can be simplified.

  (2) The gas flow path of at least one protrusion may open on the downstream surface of the protrusion.

  In this case, the gas outside the main body can be reliably sucked into the liquid flow path by the negative pressure of the liquid generated on the downstream side of the at least one protrusion. Thereby, even when the flow rate and pressure of the liquid are low, the gas can be reliably mixed into the liquid. As a result, fine bubbles can be reliably generated in the liquid without being greatly affected by the structure and capacity of peripheral parts such as piping and pumps or peripheral devices.

  (3) At least one protrusion may be provided on the most upstream side of the plurality of protrusions. In this case, the air mixed in the liquid in at least one protrusion can be surely made into fine bubbles in the other protrusion.

  (4) Each of the plurality of protrusions may have a gas flow path. In this case, since gas is mixed in the liquid at each protrusion, the gas concentration in the liquid can be sufficiently increased. Thereby, fine bubbles can be sufficiently generated in the liquid.

  (5) The plurality of protrusions may be detachably provided on the main body.

  By preparing a plurality of protrusions having different sizes and shapes, the protrusions can be exchanged according to the use state of the bubble generator. Thereby, according to a use condition, the flow speed and flow volume of a liquid, the magnitude | size and generation amount of a fine bubble, etc. can be adjusted easily. As a result, the convenience of the bubble generator is further improved.

  (6) The plurality of protrusions may be arranged in a staggered manner. In this case, cavitation can be efficiently generated in the liquid in the liquid channel. Thereby, fine bubbles can be generated more efficiently in the liquid.

  (7) The plurality of protrusions may be arranged in a spiral shape. In this case, the liquid flows as a swirl flow in the liquid flow path. Thereby, fine bubbles can be generated more efficiently in the liquid.

  According to the present invention, fine bubbles can be efficiently generated in a liquid without being greatly affected by the structure and capacity of peripheral parts such as pipes and pumps or peripheral devices. Therefore, the bubble generator of the present invention can be used for systems having various structures and various applications, and is excellent in convenience.

  Hereinafter, a bubble generator according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<First Embodiment>
(1) Configuration of Bubble Generation Device FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a bubble generation device including a bubble generator according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, bubble generating apparatus 1000 includes bubble generator 100 and pump 101 according to the present embodiment. The bubble generator 100 is attached to the lower side surface of the bathtub 102. Details of the bubble generator 100 will be described later.

  The bubble generator 100 and the pump 101 are connected by a liquid supply pipe 103. In addition, one end of a liquid suction pipe 104 is connected to the pump 101. The other end of the liquid suction pipe 104 is connected to an opening on the bottom surface of the bathtub 102. Water 105 is stored in the bathtub 102.

  In the bubble generating apparatus 1000, the water 101 in the bathtub 102 is sucked from the other end of the liquid suction pipe 104 when the pump 101 is activated. Water 105 sucked from the other end of the liquid suction pipe 104 is supplied again into the bathtub 102 via the pump 101, the liquid supply pipe 103 and the bubble generator 100. At this time, a large number of fine bubbles 106 are generated in the water 105 in the bubble generator 100. Thereby, a large number of fine bubbles 106 are supplied into the bathtub 102. The pump 101 only needs to generate power that can circulate the water 105 in the bathtub 102. Therefore, in the present embodiment, an inexpensive pump 101 can be used.

(2) Configuration of Bubble Generator FIG. 2 is an external view showing the bubble generator 100 of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. In addition, in the bubble generator 100 of FIG. 2, the water 105 flows in the direction shown by the white arrow. In the following description, the side where the water 105 flows in the bubble generator 100 is referred to as the rear, and the side where the water 105 flows out is referred to as the front.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the bubble generator 100 includes a cylindrical main body 10 and a plurality of insertion members 11 arranged in a staggered manner on the main body 10. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of insertion members 11 are arranged in four rows. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, eight insertion members 11 are arranged at equal intervals in each row.

  FIG. 4 is a view showing the insertion member 11. 4A is a perspective view of the insertion member 11, and FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of the insertion member 11. FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of the insertion member 11 and the periphery of the attachment position as viewed from the side.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the insertion member 11 includes a plate-like portion 12 and a protruding portion 13. In the present embodiment, the protrusion 13 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape. As shown in FIG. 4 (b), a substantially L-order air passage 16 is provided inside the insertion member 11, an opening 14 is formed on one surface of the plate-like portion 12, and one of the protrusions 13 is formed. An opening 15 is formed on the surface.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the insertion member 11 is inserted into the fitting hole 17 (FIG. 5) so that the protrusion 13 projects into the main body 10 toward the axis of the main body 10 and the opening 15 faces forward. It is. As shown in FIG. 5, the fitting hole 17 is sealed by the insertion member 11.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the insertion member 11 and the flow of water 105 in the main body 10. 6 is a view taken in the direction of arrow C in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the flow direction of the water 105 is changed when the water 105 flowing through the main body 10 collides with the rear surface of the protrusion 13. Specifically, the water 105 flows so as to detour in the left-right direction of the protrusion 13 after colliding with the rear surface of the protrusion 13. As a result, an area where the pressure of the water 105 is lowered is generated in front of the protrusion 13. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, cavitation occurs in front of the protrusion 13, and a plurality of fine bubbles 106 are generated in the water 105.

  Moreover, the front of the protrusion 13 becomes a negative pressure with respect to the atmosphere. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 5, air outside the main body 10 is sucked into the main body 10 through the air passage 16. Thereby, a sufficient amount of air can be mixed in the water 105.

(3) Other shapes of projections In the above description, the insertion member 11 having the rectangular parallelepiped projections 13 has been described, but the shape of the projections 13 is not limited to the above example. FIG. 7 shows another example of the shape of the protrusion 13.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 7A, the protrusion 13 may have a pointed shape, and as shown in FIG. 7B, the protrusion 13 has a columnar shape or an elliptical column shape. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 7C, the outer surface of the protrusion 13 may have a random uneven shape.

(4) Effect of this Embodiment As described above, in the bubble generator 100 according to this embodiment, the insertion member 11 having the protrusion 13 is inserted into the main body 10. In this case, cavitation occurs in the water 105 flowing in the main body 10 on the front side of the protrusion 13. Thereby, the fine bubbles 106 can be reliably generated in the water 105.

  In the present embodiment, air outside the main body 10 is sucked into the main body 10 through the air passage 16 of the insertion member 11. That is, in the present embodiment, the air bubbles are mixed into the water 105 by the insertion member 11 and the fine bubbles 106 can be generated using the air. Thereby, even when the flow rate and pressure of the water 105 are low, it is possible to efficiently generate fine bubbles while reliably mixing air into the water 105. As a result, the fine bubbles 106 can be efficiently generated in the water 105 without being greatly affected by the structure and capability of peripheral parts such as piping and pumps or peripheral devices. Therefore, the bubble generator 100 according to the present embodiment can be used for systems having various structures and various applications, and is excellent in convenience.

  In addition, since the plurality of insertion members 11 are provided, the air sucked into the water 105 in one insertion member 11 can be surely made into fine bubbles in the other insertion member 11.

  Further, in the present embodiment, air is sucked into the main body 10 by the negative pressure of the water 105 generated by the insertion member 11. In this case, even when the flow rate and pressure of the water 105 are low, air can be sufficiently mixed into the water 105, so that it is not necessary to generate large power in the pump 101. Thereby, the fine bubbles 106 can be generated more efficiently in the water 105 without being greatly affected by the structure and capacity of peripheral parts such as pipes and pumps or peripheral devices.

  In the present embodiment, the insertion member 11 plays a role of mixing air into the water 105 and a role of generating fine bubbles in the water 105. That is, it is not necessary to separately provide a means for mixing air into the water 105 and a means for generating fine bubbles in the water 105. Thereby, the bubble generator 100 can be miniaturized and the manufacturing process can be simplified.

  Moreover, in this Embodiment, the insertion member 11 is arrange | positioned at zigzag form. In this case, cavitation can be efficiently generated in the water 105 in the main body 10. Thereby, the fine bubbles 106 can be generated in the water 105 more efficiently.

  Moreover, in this Embodiment, the main-body part 10 and the insertion member 11 are formed as a separate component. Therefore, by preparing a plurality of insertion members 11 having different sizes and shapes of the protrusions 13, the insertion members 11 can be exchanged depending on the use situation. In this case, the flow rate and flow rate of the water 105, the size and generation amount of the fine bubbles 106, and the like can be easily adjusted according to the use situation. Thereby, the convenience of the bubble generator 100 is further improved.

  A check valve may be attached to the opening 14 of the insertion member 11. In this case, water leakage of the bubble generator 100 can be prevented.

  Further, a cover member may be provided so as to cover the outer peripheral surface of the main body 10 of the bubble generator 100. In this case, it is possible to prevent the air passage 16 of the insertion member 11 from being clogged with dust and the like. Thereby, the reliability of the bubble generator 100 can be improved.

(5) Other usage example of bubble generator Hereinafter, the other usage example of the bubble generator 100 is demonstrated using drawing.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining another example of use of the bubble generator 100. The use example of the bubble generator 100 of FIG. 8 differs from the use example of FIG. 1 in the following points.

  As shown in FIG. 8, in this example, the bubble generator 100 is attached to a tap faucet 121 via a connector 120. As described above, in the bubble generator 100 according to the present embodiment, air can be efficiently mixed into the water 105 without generating large power by a pump or the like. Therefore, even when the bubble generator 100 is attached to the tap faucet 121 as in this example, the fine bubbles 106 can be sufficiently generated in the water 105.

(6) Still another usage example of the bubble generator FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining still another usage example of the bubble generator 100. The use example of the bubble generator 100 of FIG. 9 differs from the use example of FIG. 1 in the following points.

  As shown in FIG. 9, in this example, the bubble generator 100 is provided so as to connect the shower head 122 and the water injection pipe 123. In this example, water supplied to the water injection pipe 123 from a liquid supply source (not shown) is supplied to the shower head 122 through the bubble generator 100.

  In this case, since a sufficient amount of fine bubbles are generated in the bubble generator 100, mist-like water is discharged from the shower head 122. Therefore, for example, when the bubble generator 100 is attached to the shower head 122 in the bathroom, the shower head 122 in the wash basin, the shower head 122 in the kitchen sink, etc., the use of water is improved while improving the water cleaning effect. The amount can be reduced.

  In addition, in this example, although the case where the bubble generator 100 was provided between the shower head 122 and the water injection pipe 123 was demonstrated, you may provide the bubble generator 100 so that the water injection pipe 123 may be inserted.

<Second Embodiment>
FIG. 10 is an external view showing a bubble generator according to the second embodiment.

  The bubble generator 200 according to the present embodiment is different from the bubble generator 100 shown in FIG. 2 in the following points.

  As shown in FIG. 10, in the bubble generator 200 according to the present embodiment, the insertion member 11 is arranged in a spiral shape. In this case, the water 105 flows as a swirl flow in the main body 10. Thereby, the fine bubbles 106 can be generated more easily in the main body 10.

<Other embodiments>
In the embodiment described above, the air passages 16 are formed in all the insertion members 11, but some of the insertion members 11 among the plurality of insertion members 11 may not have the air passages 16. For example, the air passage 16 may be formed in the insertion member 11 at the most upstream side, and the air passage 16 may not be formed in the other insertion members 11.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the main-body part 10 and the insertion member 11 are used as a separate member, you may form the main-body part 10 and the insertion member 11 integrally.

<Correspondence between Each Component in Claim and Each Element in Embodiment>
Hereinafter, although the example of a response | compatibility with each component of a claim and each element of embodiment is demonstrated, this invention is not limited to the following example.

  In the above embodiment, the air passage 16 is an example of a gas flow path.

  As each constituent element in the claims, various other elements having configurations or functions described in the claims can be used.

  The present invention can be effectively used for various bubble generators and bubble generators.

It is a figure which shows the bubble generator provided with the bubble generator which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is an external view which shows the bubble generator of FIG. It is the sectional view on the AA line of FIG. It is a figure which shows an insertion member. It is the partial cross section figure which looked at the insertion member and its attachment position periphery from the side. It is C arrow line view of FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of the other shape of a projection part. It is a figure for demonstrating the other usage example of a bubble generator. It is a figure for demonstrating the other usage example of a bubble generator. It is an external view which shows the bubble generator which concerns on 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Main-body part 11 Insertion member 13 Projection part 16 Air passage 100,200 Bubble generator 105 Water 106 Fine bubble 1000 Bubble generator

Claims (7)

A main body having a liquid inlet through which liquid flows, a liquid channel through which the liquid flowing in from the liquid inlet flows, and a liquid outlet through which the liquid flowing through the liquid channel flows out;
A plurality of protrusions provided on the main body and protruding toward the liquid flow path;
At least one of the plurality of protrusions has a gas flow path that guides gas into the liquid flow path from the outside of the main body,
The bubble generator, wherein at least one other protrusion of the plurality of protrusions is provided downstream of the at least one protrusion. 2. The bubble generator according to claim 1, wherein the gas flow path of the at least one protruding portion opens on a downstream surface of the protruding portion. The bubble generating device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one protrusion is provided on the most upstream side of the plurality of protrusions. The bubble generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each of the plurality of protrusions has the gas flow path. The bubble generator according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of protrusions are detachably provided on the main body. The bubble generator according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of protrusions are arranged in a staggered manner. The bubble generator according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of protrusions are arranged in a spiral shape.

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