JP2014069096A - Water softening apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a water softening apparatus that can prevent subsequent dripping in which hot water leaks from a hot water terminal after closure of a hot water mixing stopper without intention.SOLUTION: A water softening apparatus 1 includes a water softening vessel 2, a hot water introduction part 10 is disposed at an upper part of the water softening vessel 2, and a softening water discharge part 11 is disposed at a lower part of the same. Moreover, a charging part 5 in which an ion exchange resin is charged and a closed space V locating between the charging part 5 and the hot water introduction part 10 are disposed in an inside of the water softening vessel 2. In addition, a communication passage 7 that communicates the closed space V and the softening water discharge part 11 is disposed, and air in the closed space V can be discharged through the communication passage 7.

Description

  The present invention relates to a water softening device that softens a liquid using an ion exchange resin, and particularly relates to a technique suitable as a water softening device that is directly connected to a water supply or hot water supply terminal.

  Conventionally, water softening devices have been widely used mainly for industrial purposes to suppress the adhesion of scales in facilities and the like. However, in recent years, tap water and well water have been softened so that soft water can be used even in general households. Water softening devices for household use are being marketed. This household water softening device has a filling portion filled with an ion exchange resin, similar to that for industrial use, in which a cation such as calcium ion or magnesium ion contained in tap water or the like is contained. Can be replaced with sodium ions.

In recent years, a simple water softening device that can be installed in a bathroom is attracting attention from the viewpoints of health and beauty. This simple water softening device has a tank provided with a filling part, and the tank can be connected to a hot-water mixing tap in a bathroom by piping or the like, and hot water passing through the hot-water mixing tap is passed through the filling part. Thus, it can be supplied to a terminal such as a shower or currant (hereinafter also referred to as a hot water terminal).
For example, this type of water softening device is disclosed in Patent Document 1.

  By the way, this simple water softening device is designed to have a structure in which the inside of the tank can be kept sealed in order to discharge hot water introduced into the tank from the hot water terminal with a predetermined momentum (water pressure). That is, in this kind of water softening device, when hot water is introduced into a tank, a sealed area is formed between the introduction part and the filling part of the tank, and the sealed area ensures the water pressure at the hot water terminal. ing.

JP 2008-18380 A

  However, in the conventional simple water softening device, hot water (soft water) that has been softened unintentionally from the hot water terminal even after the hot water mixing tap is closed due to the influence of air present in the sealed area. Leakage (sagging) occurred.

This will be specifically described.
As shown in FIG. 8, the simplified water softening device 101 includes a hot water introduction unit 110 on the upper side of the tank 102, and supplies hot water introduced from the introduction unit 110 to the filling unit 105. In general, it is softened while flowing toward the water. Therefore, in this type of water softening device 101, the sealed region 112 is located above the filling unit 105. In addition, it is desirable to provide an air layer in the sealed region 112 so that hot water introduced into the tank 102 is efficiently distributed to the filling unit 105. Therefore, in this type of water softening device 101, an air layer is usually formed in the sealed region 112.

  For this reason, in this type of water softening device 101, when the hot water mixing tap 30 is opened, water is supplied from above the tank 102 and the water level of the tank 102 tends to rise as shown in FIG. The air layer is compressed by the water level, and the internal pressure in the sealed region 112 is increased. That is, in the tank 102, the internal pressure in the sealed area 112 tends to increase due to water supply. On the other hand, when the hot / cold water mixing tap 30 is closed, the water supply to the tank 102 is stopped and the water level does not rise, so that the internal pressure in the sealed region 112 is not pressurized. However, immediately after the hot and cold water mixing tap 30 is closed, the internal pressure in the sealed region 112 is higher than the external pressure. That is, by stopping the water supply into the tank 102, the air layer tends to expand as shown in FIG. 10 in order to lower the internal pressure in the sealed region 112 (lower to the vicinity of the external atmospheric pressure). As a result, the water level in the tank 102 was pushed down, and the hot water in the tank 102 was pushed out to the hot water terminal 113 side.

Thus, immediately after the water supply to the tank is stopped, the internal pressure in the sealed area is higher than the external pressure, and the sealed area is in a non-pressurized state in that state. The water level in the tank 102 was pushed down to keep the pressure balance with the water, and hot water leaked from the hot water terminal to the outside.
Further, the sag caused in this way may continue for several tens of seconds after the hot-water mixing tap is closed, and there is a high concern that the user may feel uncomfortable.

  Therefore, in view of the problems of the prior art, an object of the present invention is to provide a water softening device that can prevent drooping of hot water from unintentionally leaking from a hot water terminal after the hot and cold mixing tap is closed.

  The invention according to claim 1, which is provided to solve the above problems, is a filling part filled with an ion exchange resin, an introduction part for introducing hot water into the filling part, and a discharge part for discharging hot water passing through the filling part. When the hot water is introduced into the filling portion, a water softening device is formed in which a substantially sealed region is formed between the introduction portion and the filling portion, and the region is connected to the discharge portion. A water softening device comprising a passage.

  The water softening device of the present invention includes a communication path that includes a sealed region (hereinafter simply referred to as a sealed region) formed between an introduction unit and a filling unit and a discharge unit that discharges hot water that has passed through the filling unit. Therefore, when the pressure in the sealed region tends to be high, the pressure in the region can be released to the discharge unit side. That is, as described above, there is usually an air layer in the sealed region, and when the air layer is compressed, a situation occurs in which the inside of the sealed region is pressurized. Since the air in the pressurized air layer can be sent to the discharge unit side as needed, it is possible to prevent the internal pressure in the sealed region from being excessively increased. Thereby, according to the present invention, even when the water softening device is connected to the hot and cold water mixing tap in the bathroom, the internal pressure in the sealed region cannot become a high pressure state after the hot and cold water mixing tap is closed. It is possible to suppress leakage of the hot water from the hot water terminal (sagging) caused by the internal pressure.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the discharge portion has a narrowed portion having a narrow channel cross section, and the communication path communicates with the narrowed portion. It is a water softening apparatus as described in above.

  According to such a configuration, a so-called venturi effect that intentionally generates a low-pressure portion (low-pressure portion) by forming a constricted portion is achieved, and the pressure in the sealed region is reduced. That is, in the present invention, the pressure drop in the sealed region can be more efficiently achieved by communicating the narrowed portion and the sealed region with the communication path.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, a restricting means for restricting the inflow of fluid is provided on the region side of the communication path, and the restricting means is configured so that hot water introduced into the filling portion is in the region. 3. The water softening device according to claim 1, wherein intrusion of fluid into the communication path is restricted when entering a certain range. 4.

  According to such a configuration, when the hot water introduced into the filling portion has entered a certain region of the sealed region, the restricting means regulates the inflow of fluid into the communicating passage. It is possible to prevent a problem that hot water that does not pass is supplied to the discharge section. That is, according to the present invention, only soft water that has passed through the filling portion can be supplied to the discharge portion.

  Further, according to the present invention, even when an air layer exists in the sealed region, the air in the air layer is not completely discharged. In other words, according to the present invention, when the air in the air layer that can exist in the sealed region reaches a certain amount (an amount that hardly affects the leakage of hot water caused by the air layer pressurization), the regulating means. Therefore, it is possible to restrict the air passing through the communication path from passing through, so that it is possible to ensure the dispersion effect of the hot water supplied to the filling portion, which can be expected when the air layer exists.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the water softening device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the communication path is filled with an ion exchange resin.

  According to such a configuration, since the ion exchange resin is filled in the communication passage, the hot water that has flowed into the communication passage can be softened and supplied to the discharge portion in the same manner as the hot water that has passed through the filling portion.

Here, as described above, many simple water softening devices are installed in a bathroom. And this kind of water softening apparatus is provided between the hot-water mixing tap in a bathroom, and hot-water terminals, such as a shower and a currant. In particular, when the water softening device is connected to a shower terminal, the user of the shower terminal operates the shower terminal in all directions up, down, left, and right. Due to the balance of the water level with the hot water stored in the hot water, the hot water may leak from the shower terminal regardless of the air layer. That is, when the height of the shower terminal is lower than the level of hot water stored in the water softening device after the hot water / water mixing tap is closed, air enters from the shower terminal and the discharge portion of the water softening device is In some cases, the water was replaced with hot water on the downstream side as a reference.
Accordingly, the invention according to claim 5 provided to prevent such a problem is characterized in that the discharge portion is provided with a check valve for restricting the flow of hot water toward the filling portion. The water softening device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

  According to such a configuration, since the check valve for restricting the flow of hot water in the direction of the filling portion is provided in the discharge portion, a problem that air flows in from the hot water terminal after the hot water mixing tap is closed is prevented. The leakage of hot water due to air replacement can be prevented.

  The water softening device of the present invention communicates a sealed region provided between a hot water introduction part and a filling part filled with an ion exchange resin and a discharge part from which hot water passing through the filling part is discharged through a communication path. Therefore, the increased internal pressure in the sealed region can be lowered. Along with this, it is possible to prevent unintended leakage of hot water due to the pressure increase in the sealed area.

It is a perspective view which shows the condition which installed the water softening apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention in the bathroom. It is explanatory drawing which shows notionally the cross section of the water softening apparatus of FIG. It is an expanded sectional view which shows a soft water discharge part notionally. (A) is explanatory drawing which shows the state in which soft water is continuously supplied to the shower terminal using the water softening apparatus of FIG. 2, (b) is the soft water from the water softening apparatus of FIG. 2 to the shower terminal. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state immediately after supply was stopped. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which the air of sealed space has flowed out to the soft water discharge part via the communicating path. It is explanatory drawing which showed the communicating path filled with cation exchange resin. It is explanatory drawing which shows the modification of a communicating path. It is explanatory drawing which shows notionally the cross section of the conventional water softening apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state in which soft water is continuously supplied to the shower terminal using the water softening apparatus of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state immediately after supply of the soft water from the water softening apparatus of FIG. 8 to the shower terminal was stopped.

Below, the water softening apparatus 1 which concerns on this embodiment is demonstrated.
As shown in FIG. 1, the water softening device 1 of this embodiment is a simple water softener suitable for installation in a bathroom, and has a basic configuration similar to that of a known one. And in this embodiment, it has the characteristics provided with the structure which can prevent the drooping of the hot water which may generate | occur | produce after use of hot water terminals, such as a shower and a currant.

First, the basic configuration of the water softening device 1 of the present embodiment will be described.
That is, the water softening device 1 is composed of a water softening container 2 filled with a cation exchange resin. The water softening container 2 is connected to a hot water supply pipe 31 connected to a hot and cold mixing tap 30 provided in the bathroom and a terminal side pipe 32 to which a shower terminal 33 is attached. That is, the water softening device 1 adsorbs calcium ions, magnesium ions, and the like contained in hot water supplied from the outside through the hot water supply pipe 31 to the cation exchange resin filled in the water softening vessel 2. Thus, the water hardness is lowered and the water is softened, and the softened hot water (hereinafter also referred to as soft water) can flow out to the shower terminal 33 side.

  More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the water softening device 1 is provided with a hot water introduction portion 10 into which hot water is introduced at the upper portion of the water softening vessel 2, and a soft water discharge portion that discharges the soft water to the lower portion thereof. 11 is provided. That is, the hot water supply pipe 31 is connected to the hot water introduction part 10, and the terminal side pipe 32 is connected to the soft water discharge part 11. Further, inside the water softening vessel 2, a filling portion 5 filled with a cation exchange resin that occupies a region from the bottom of the vessel 2 to a predetermined position in the height direction is provided, and the filling portion 5 and hot water introduction A space (region) V formed mainly by air is formed between the portions 10. That is, when the hot water / water mixing tap 30 is opened, the hot water that has passed through the hot water / introducing section 10 falls into the space V, is introduced into the filling section 5, is softened by the filling section 5, and passes through the soft water discharge section 11. To the shower terminal 33 side.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the cation exchange resin is prevented from flowing out in the filling unit 5 so that the cation exchange resin filled in the filling unit 5 does not flow out to the soft water discharge unit 11. However, the filter part 12 which guides only soft water to the soft water discharge part 11 side is provided. That is, the hot water supplied to the filling unit 5 follows a route to the soft water discharge unit 11 through the filter unit 12.

  As described above, the water softening device 1 of the present embodiment is installed in a bathroom, and the cation exchange resin in which the filling unit 5 is filled with hot water that has passed through the hot-water mixing tap 30 according to the basic configuration described above. The softened water can be supplied to the user via the shower terminal 33 or the like.

  By the way, as described above, the simple water softening device is usually filled with hot water when the hot water mixing tap is continuously opened so that a shower terminal can be used. The water level reaches a space located above the filling portion (hereinafter referred to as a sealed space when hot water is introduced into the filling portion). As a result, the air in the sealed space is compressed, and the sealed space is in a pressurized state. On the other hand, when the shower terminal is finished and the hot and cold water mixing tap is closed, the sealed space becomes non-pressurized, so the air in the sealed space tends to expand and the force pushes down the water level in the sealed space. Act on. As a result, immediately after the use of the shower terminal was finished, a trailing sag occurred where soft water leaked unintentionally from the shower terminal due to the expansion action of the air in the sealed space.

  Therefore, the water softening device 1 of the present embodiment is provided with the following characteristic configuration in order to prevent the soft water from drooping after the shower terminal 33 is used. That is, the water softening device 1 includes a communication path 7 that allows pressurized air in the sealed space (sealed region) V to escape toward the soft water discharge unit 11 and a portion of the soft water discharge unit 11 that has a low water pressure (negative pressure unit). The constriction part 8 which generates is provided.

First, this characteristic configuration will be described.
As shown in FIG. 2, the communication path 7 has a long and narrow shape, and is a flow path mainly assuming gas circulation. And this communicating path 7 is distribute | arranged so that the sealed space V and the soft water discharge part 11 may be connected. Specifically, the communication path 7 has one open end (the end located above the water softening container 2) disposed slightly lower than the ceiling surface of the sealed space V, and the other open end. (The end located on the lower side of the water softening container 2) is disposed at a position soaking in the soft water flowing through the soft water discharge portion 11.
In the present embodiment, a member in which the inner diameter of the communication path 7 is set to a constant size, for example, about 1 to 3 mm, for example, a tube made of resin or rubber is employed.

As shown in FIG. 2, the narrowed portion 8 is a portion where the cross section of the flow path formed in the soft water discharge portion 11 is formed in a narrow shape, and specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the soft water discharge portion 11. This is a portion where the cross section of the flow path is narrowed and formed at any location in the flow direction of soft water. That is, the narrowed portion 8 is a portion that has a channel cross section narrower than any channel cross section in the direction of soft water flow in the soft water discharge section 11. For this reason, the narrowed portion 8 is a portion in which the flow rate of the soft water is faster than that of any portion in the flow direction of the soft water in the soft water discharge portion 11 and the water pressure is lowered by the action of the venturi effect.
Although this Venturi effect can be explained using Bernoulli's theorem showing the fluid energy conservation law, the explanation is omitted because it is a known theorem.

  In the present embodiment, the other open end portion of the communication passage 7 on the soft water discharge portion 11 side is disposed so as to communicate with the narrowed portion 8. That is, the other open end portion of the communication passage 7 is arranged at a place where the water pressure becomes lower with the flow of the soft water in the soft water discharge portion 11 so as to efficiently move the air. In the present embodiment, the crossing angle of the communication passage 7 in the narrowed portion 8 is an angle that intersects with the direction of the soft water flowing through the narrowed portion 8 substantially perpendicularly or in the direction along the soft water flow direction. Is set. Therefore, in the present embodiment, not only when the internal pressure of the sealed space V tends to increase, but also when the water pressure of the constricted portion 8 becomes below a certain level, the air in the sealed space V is supplied to the soft water discharge portion 11. It can be moved to the side.

Next, the function of this characteristic configuration will be described.
As described above, the water softening device 1 of the present embodiment connects the sealed space V and the soft water discharge portion 11 through the communication passage 7 to prevent the soft water from drooping, and the pressure in the sealed space V that tends to increase in pressure. Is released to the soft water discharge part 11 side. Moreover, in this embodiment, in addition to the communication path 7, the constricted part 8 is provided in the soft water discharge part 11 to which the communication path 7 is connected, so that the pressure drop in the sealed space V can be more efficiently achieved. Functions that can be added. That is, the water softening device 1 uses the shower terminal 33 to open the hot water mixing tap 30 and the water level in the water softening vessel 2 tends to rise or the water pressure in the constricted portion 8 becomes below a certain level. The air in V can be made to flow out to the soft water discharge part 11 side at any time.

  More specifically, when the hot and cold mixing tap 30 is opened, hot water that has passed through the hot and cold mixing tap 30 is introduced into the water softening vessel 2 from the hot water and water introduction section 10. The hot water introduced into the water softening container 2 is supplied to the filling unit 5 so as to fall in a space (hereinafter, a space in which hot water is introduced into the water softening container is referred to as a sealed space) V. Then, the hot water supplied to the filling unit 5 flows down so as to be pushed downward while being softened by the cation exchange resin by a water pressure in a water supply source (not shown). Then, the hot water flowing down the filling portion 5 becomes soft water and enters the filter 12 and flows toward the soft water discharge portion 11. And it flows out toward the shower terminal 33 sequentially from the soft water which reached the soft water discharge part 11.

  When the open state of the hot and cold water mixing tap 30 continues, the balance between the flow rate of hot water supplied into the water softening vessel 2 and the flow rate of soft water flowing out of the water softening vessel 2 is as shown in FIG. The water level in the water softening vessel 2 tends to increase over time. That is, if the open state of the hot and cold water mixing tap 30 continues, the inside of the sealed space V tends to be pressurized due to the rise of the water level in the water softening vessel 2.

  When the inside of the sealed space V tends to be pressurized, the air in the sealed space V is pushed out into the communication path 7 in order to maintain the internal pressure of the sealed space V at a constant level (a pressure approximately equal to the external pressure). Then, the air pushed out from the sealed space V passes through the communication path 7 and flows into the soft water discharge unit 11. More specifically, the air that has passed through the communication passage 7 is discharged into the soft water toward the shower terminal 33 from the portion where the narrowed portion 8 of the soft water discharge portion 11 is located. Then, the air released into the soft water in this way becomes a bubble state as shown in FIG. 5, flows toward the shower terminal 33, and is released to the outside.

  Similarly, while the open state of the hot and cold water mixing tap 30 continues, since the soft water always passes through the soft water discharge portion 11, the water pressure in the constricted portion 8 is in a low pressure state due to the venturi effect. is there. And if the water pressure of the constriction part 8 becomes low pressure below fixed, the air in sealed space V will be attracted | sucked to the soft-water discharge part 11 side like the case where the sealed space V becomes a pressure | voltage rise tendency. That is, in the present embodiment, it is possible to cause the air in the sealed space V to flow to the soft water discharge portion 11 side also by the venturi effect in the narrowed portion 8.

  Thus, in the present embodiment, during use of the shower terminal 33, the sealed space V is occasionally changed due to the venturi effect by the narrowed portion 8 in addition to the communication path 7 that connects the sealed space V and the soft water discharge portion 11. The air existing inside can be released to the outside. For this reason, in this embodiment, while using the shower terminal 33, the inside of the sealed space V is not excessively boosted. That is, according to the present embodiment, even after the use of the shower terminal 33 is finished and the hot and cold water mixing tap 30 is closed, the air in the sealed space expands in the water softening container as in the conventional water softening device. Since the action of pushing down the water level does not work, the problem that soft water leaks from the shower terminal 33 unintentionally cannot occur.

In the said embodiment, the structure which does not arrange | position anything in the communicating path 7 is shown in the communicating path 7 on the assumption that the air (gas) in the sealed space V mainly distribute | circulates. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is assumed that the water level in the water softening vessel 2 reaches the open end of the communication path 7 on the closed space V side, and as shown in FIG. A configuration in which the same cation exchange resin filled in the filling portion 5 is filled therein may be used. As a result, even if hot water flows into the water softening container 2 until the water level reaches the open end of the communication path 7 on the closed space V side, the hot water in the communication path 7 is the same as the hot water that has passed through the filling portion 5. Since the water can be discharged to the soft water discharge part 11 side while softening the water, it is possible to prevent a problem that hot water that has not been softened reaches the shower terminal 33 or the like. Further, when the cation exchange resin is filled in the communication path 7, a filter 42 is provided at the lower end or both ends of the communication path 7 in order to prevent the cation exchange resin from flowing out of the communication path 7. Is preferably provided.
In addition, when employ | adopting the said structure, it is desirable to make the internal diameter in the communicating path 7 into the internal diameter expanded from the internal diameter shown in the said embodiment. For example, the inner diameter of the communication path 7 in this case is recommended to be about 5 to 15 mm.

Moreover, although the said embodiment is a structure which may flow in in the communicating path 7 when the water level of the hot water introduce | transduced in the water softening container 2 becomes more than fixed, this invention is such a structure. In order to eliminate the concern, when the water level in the water softening container 2 becomes a predetermined water level, a configuration may be provided that includes a restricting means capable of restricting the open end on the sealed space V side in the communication path to a closed state. Absent.
For example, as such a regulating means 41, as shown in FIG. 7, the open end of the communication path 7 on the sealed space V side is bent in a “U” shape and directed toward the water surface, so that the inside of the water softening container 2 Examples include a mechanism in which when a water level rises to a predetermined water level, a spherical valve body floating in water disposed in the flow path at the open end thereof closes the flow path.

  In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which only the function capable of suppressing the trailing droop (hereinafter also referred to as post-boosting drooping) caused by the pressure rising tendency of the sealed space V has been shown, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Without being limited, in addition to the function of suppressing the sag after pressurization, the height position of the shower terminal 33, that is, the function of suppressing the sag that may occur due to the pressure difference of hot water (hereinafter also referred to as pressure sag) is added. It doesn't matter. Specifically, when the pressure drooping is performed, when the height position of the shower terminal 33 is set lower than the position of the water level in the water softening vessel 2, the soft water on the shower terminal 33 side is replaced with external air. Since this is a phenomenon that occurs, a configuration in which a check valve is attached to the soft water discharge portion 11 or a soft water discharge portion having a check valve is employed.

Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the structure which provided the constriction part 8 in the soft water discharge part 11 was shown, this invention is not limited to this, The structure which does not provide the constriction part 8 may be sufficient.
Further, the present invention may have a configuration in which a plurality of constricted portions 8 are provided and separate communication paths 7 are connected to each.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Water softening device 2 Water softening container 5 Filling part 7 Communication path 8 Narrow part 10 Hot water introduction part (introduction part)
11 Soft water discharge part (discharge part)
30 Hot and cold mixing tap 33 Shower terminal 41 Restriction means V Sealed space (sealed area)

Claims (5)

It has a filling part filled with an ion exchange resin, an introduction part that guides hot water to the filling part, and a discharge part that discharges hot water that has passed through the filling part. When hot water is introduced into the filling part, the introduction part and the filling part are filled A water softening device in which a substantially sealed region is formed between the two parts,
A water softening device comprising a communication passage communicating the region and the discharge section. The discharge part has a constricted part in which the cross section of the flow path has a narrow diameter,
The water softening device according to claim 1, wherein the communication path communicates with a narrowed portion.   A restricting means for restricting the inflow of fluid is provided on the region side of the communication path, and the restricting means is configured so that the hot water introduced into the filling portion enters the certain range of the region. The water softening device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein inflow of fluid into the communication path is restricted.   The water softening device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the communication path is filled with an ion exchange resin.   The water softening device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the discharge portion is provided with a check valve for restricting the flow of hot water toward the filling portion.

Images