JP2017104830A - Fluid sterilizer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fluid sterilizer including a cleaning function.SOLUTION: A fluid sterilizer 10 includes: a housing 20 having an inlet 23 and an outlet 24 and defining a passage 12 extending in an axial direction from the inlet 23 toward the outlet 24; a light source 40 which radiates ultraviolet light toward a fluid flowing in the passage 12; and a cleaning unit 30 which is provided so as to be movable in the axial direction within the passage. The cleaning unit 30 utilizes a force exerted on the cleaning unit 30 by the fluid in the passage to move in the axial direction and clean an inner wall surface 20a of the housing 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a fluid sterilizer, and more particularly to a technique for sterilizing a fluid by irradiating ultraviolet light.

  It is known that ultraviolet light has a sterilizing ability, and an apparatus for irradiating ultraviolet light is used for sterilization treatment in medical or food processing sites. In addition, an apparatus for continuously sterilizing a fluid by irradiating a fluid such as water with ultraviolet light is also used. As such a device, for example, a device in which an ultraviolet LED is arranged on the inner wall of a pipe end of a flow path formed of a straight tubular metal pipe can be cited (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP 2011-16074 A

  When the fluid sterilizer is used for a long time, the inner wall surface of the pipe may become dirty and the sterilizing ability may be reduced. If it is necessary to periodically disassemble the fluid sterilizer and clean the inside, it will take time for maintenance.

  The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and one of exemplary purposes thereof is to provide a fluid sterilization apparatus having a cleaning function.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a fluid sterilization apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes a housing having an inlet and an outlet, and defining a flow path extending in the axial direction from the inlet to the outlet. A light source that irradiates ultraviolet light toward the fluid flowing through the path, and a cleaning unit that is provided so as to be movable in the axial direction within the flow path. The cleaning unit moves in the axial direction using the force that the fluid in the flow path acts on the cleaning unit, and cleans the inner wall surface of the housing.

  According to this aspect, since the inner wall surface of the pipe can be automatically cleaned by the cleaning unit, it is possible to reduce the trouble of disassembling the fluid sterilizer and cleaning the inside. Further, since the cleaning unit is driven using the force acting on the fluid in the flow path, a simple structure that does not require a driving device such as a motor or an external power source can be realized.

  The cleaning unit may have a contact portion that touches the inner wall surface, and the inner wall surface may be frictionally cleaned by the contact portion.

  The cleaning unit may move in the flow path using at least one of buoyancy and fluid pressure from the fluid in the flow path.

  The cleaning unit may be located closer to the outlet than the inlet when the flow path is filled with fluid, and closer to the inlet than the outlet when the flow path is not filled with fluid. May be.

  The cleaning unit may move from the inlet to the outlet when the inflow of fluid into the flow path is started, and flows from the outlet when the inflow of fluid into the flow path is stopped. You may move towards the entrance.

  The cleaning unit may have a reflective surface that reflects ultraviolet light from the light source.

  The cleaning unit may have an uneven surface that protrudes in the axial direction and touches the fluid in the flow path.

  According to the present invention, the inside of the fluid sterilizer can be automatically cleaned.

It is sectional drawing which shows schematically the structure of the fluid sterilizer which concerns on embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the fluid sterilizer when there is no fluid in a flow path. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the fluid sterilizer when inflow of the fluid into a flow path is started. It is sectional drawing which shows schematically the structure of the fluid sterilizer which concerns on a modification. It is an external appearance perspective view which shows the washing | cleaning unit of FIG. 4 schematically. It is sectional drawing which shows schematically the structure of the fluid sterilizer which concerns on a modification. It is sectional drawing which shows schematically the structure of the fluid sterilizer which concerns on a modification.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the description, the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and repeated descriptions are omitted as appropriate.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of a fluid sterilizer 10 according to an embodiment. The fluid sterilizer 10 includes a housing 20, a cleaning unit 30, and a light source 40. The light source 40 irradiates ultraviolet light toward the inside of the housing 20. The fluid sterilizer 10 is used for sterilizing a fluid such as water flowing inside the housing 20 by irradiating it with ultraviolet light.

  The housing 20 includes a first end 21, a second end 22, an inflow port 23, an outflow port 24, a side wall 25, a first end wall 26, a second end wall 27, and a window portion 28. And have.

  The housing 20 includes the flow path 12 by a cylindrical side wall 25 extending in the axial direction, a first end wall 26 that closes the first end 21, and a second end wall 27 that closes the second end 22. Partition. The housing 20 is installed in such a direction that the first end 21 is vertically downward and the second end 22 is vertically upward. The inflow port 23 is provided in the vicinity of the first end 21 and allows the fluid to flow in a radial direction orthogonal to the axial direction in which the flow path 12 extends. The flow path 12 extends in the axial direction from the inflow port 23 toward the outflow port 24. The outflow port 24 is provided in the vicinity of the second end portion 22 and allows the fluid to flow out in a radial direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the flow path 12.

The first end wall 26 is provided with a window portion 28 for transmitting ultraviolet light from the light source 40. Window 28, of quartz (SiO _2), sapphire _{(Al 2 O} 3), ultraviolet light transmittance, such as amorphous fluororesin is constituted by a high member. A storage chamber 14 in which the cleaning unit 30 is stored is provided between the second end 22 and the outlet 24. The storage chamber 14 has a volume corresponding to the size of the cleaning unit 30 and stores the cleaning unit 30 at a position where the cleaning unit 30 does not hinder the flow of fluid flowing out from the outlet 24.

  The cleaning unit 30 is provided inside the housing 20, and moves the flow path 12 in the axial direction to clean the inner wall surface 20 a of the housing 20. The cleaning unit 30 includes a main body portion 32, a brush 34, and a reflection plate 36. The main body 32 is a cylindrical or columnar member, and has an outer diameter that is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the housing 20. The brush 34 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the main body 32 and contacts the inner wall surface 20 a of the housing 20. The brush 34 is a contact portion that touches the inner wall surface 20a, and frictionally cleans the inner wall surface 20a by moving in the axial direction while contacting the inner wall surface 20a.

  The reflection plate 36 is a disk-shaped member having a diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the housing 20, and is provided at a position facing the first end wall 26. The reflection plate 36 has a reflection surface facing the light source 40, reflects the ultraviolet light from the light source 40, and increases the intensity of the ultraviolet light irradiated to the fluid flowing through the flow path 12. The reflection plate 36 shields the ultraviolet light from the light source 40 toward the brush 34 and prevents the brush 34 from being deteriorated by the ultraviolet light.

  The housing 20 and the cleaning unit 30 are made of a metal material or a resin material. The inner wall surface 20a and the reflecting plate 36 of the housing 20 are preferably made of a material having a high ultraviolet light reflectance. For example, mirror-polished aluminum (Al) or polyfluorinated resin is used. It is composed of tetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). By constituting the inner wall surface 20a and the reflecting plate 36 with these materials, the ultraviolet light emitted from the light source 40 can be reflected by the inner wall surface 20a and the reflecting plate 36, and the ultraviolet light can be efficiently applied to the fluid. Note that PTFE is a chemically stable material and has a high ultraviolet light reflectivity, and is therefore suitable as a material for the side wall 25 and the reflector 36 that are exposed to ultraviolet light.

The cleaning unit 30 is positioned in the vicinity of the inflow port 23, more specifically in the interior of the accommodation chamber 14, receiving a force in the vertical direction due to at least one of buoyancy and fluid pressure from the fluid flowing in the flow path 12. . Therefore, the cleaning unit 30, it is desirable that the specific gravity than the fluid is configured to be lighter as it floated by buoyancy of the fluid, for example, configured as specific gravity than water (specific gravity 1 g / cm ³⁾ is reduced Is done. In particular, the main body 32 may be made of a resin material such as polypropylene or polyethylene having a specific gravity lighter than water. The cleaning unit 30 may have a specific gravity slightly larger than the specific gravity of the fluid. In this case, the cleaning unit 30 may be configured to float using both buoyancy and fluid pressure.

  The light source 40 includes a light emitting element 42 and a substrate 44. The light emitting element 42 is an LED (Light Emitting Diode) that emits ultraviolet light, and the center wavelength or peak wavelength thereof is included in the range of about 200 nm to 350 nm. The light emitting element 42 preferably emits ultraviolet light in the vicinity of 260 nm to 290 nm, which is a wavelength with high sterilization efficiency. As such an ultraviolet light LED, for example, one using aluminum gallium nitride (AlGaN) is known.

  The light emitting element 42 is an LED having a predetermined directivity angle or light distribution angle, for example, an LED having a wide light distribution angle with a light distribution angle (full angle value) of 120 degrees or more. Examples of the light emitting element 42 include a surface mount device (SMD) type LED having a high output intensity. The light emitting element 42 is disposed on the central axis of the housing 20 and attached to the substrate 44 so as to face the window portion 28. The substrate 44 is composed of a member having high thermal conductivity, and for example, copper (Cu), aluminum (Al), or the like is used as a base material. Heat generated by the light emitting element 42 is radiated through the substrate 44.

  Next, the operation of the cleaning unit 30 having the above configuration will be described. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the configuration of the fluid sterilization apparatus 10 when there is no fluid in the flow path 12. The cleaning unit 30 is positioned in the vicinity of the first end 21 when the flow path 12 is not filled with fluid. When the inflow of the fluid into the flow path 12 is stopped, the cleaning unit 30 falls downward in the vertical direction toward the first end portion 21 due to gravity acting on the cleaning unit 30. In the process of moving from the position near the outlet 24 shown in FIG. 1 to the position near the inlet 23 shown in FIG. 2, the cleaning unit 30 moves in the axial direction while touching the inner wall surface 20a. The inner wall surface 20a is cleaned.

  FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the configuration of the fluid sterilizer 10 when the inflow of fluid into the flow path 12 is started. When the inflow of the fluid into the flow path 12 is started, the cleaning unit 30 receives a force in the vertical upward direction due to the buoyancy or fluid pressure from the fluid flowing in from the inflow port 23, and flows from the inflow port 23 to the outflow port 24. Move in the axial direction (direction A). In the process of moving in the axial direction from the inlet 23 toward the outlet 24, the cleaning unit 30 cleans the inner wall surface 20a by moving the brush 34 in the axial direction while touching the inner wall surface 20a.

  According to the present embodiment, when the fluid is introduced into the fluid sterilizer 10 and when the inflow is stopped, the cleaning unit 30 moves in the flow path 12 in the axial direction. Can be cleaned automatically. Therefore, the trouble of disassembling and cleaning the fluid sterilizer 10 for cleaning the inner wall surface 20a can be reduced.

  According to the present embodiment, since the cleaning unit 30 is moved using the force caused by the fluid in the flow path 12, it is not necessary to provide a driving device such as a motor, and the cleaning function is achieved with a relatively simple structure. realizable. In addition, by maintaining a state in which the dirt does not adhere to the inner wall surface 20a of the housing 20, it is possible to suppress the influence that the ultraviolet light reflectance of the inner wall surface 20a is lowered due to the dirt and the irradiation efficiency of ultraviolet light is lowered.

(Modification 1)
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a configuration of the fluid sterilizer 110 according to the first modification. FIG. 5 is an external perspective view schematically showing the cleaning unit 130 of FIG. The present modification is different from the above-described embodiment in that the cleaning unit 130 has a reflection surface 136 configured by an uneven surface protruding in the axial direction. Hereinafter, the fluid sterilization apparatus 110 will be described focusing on differences from the above-described embodiment.

  The fluid sterilizer 110 includes a housing 20, a cleaning unit 130, and a light source 40. The cleaning unit 130 has a main body 132. The main body 132 is configured in a cylindrical shape or a columnar shape, and the reflection surface 136 facing the light source 40 is configured as an uneven surface. The reflecting surface 136 can be formed by evaporating aluminum on the surface of a resin material having an uneven surface, for example. A brush (not shown) for cleaning the inner wall surface 20 a is provided on the outer peripheral surface 134 of the main body 132.

  The reflective surface 136 causes the flow in the vicinity of the reflective surface 136 to be turbulent due to the uneven surface protruding in the axial direction. The reflective surface 136 turbulently flows in the vicinity of the outlet 24 when the fluid is filled in the flow path 12, and improves the sterilization efficiency by ultraviolet light. According to this modification, by providing the reflection surface 136 having a concavo-convex structure, the sterilization ability by ultraviolet light can be further enhanced.

(Modification 2)
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the configuration of the fluid sterilizer 210 according to the second modification. The fluid sterilizer 210 is different from the above-described embodiment in that the cleaning unit 230 is attached to the housing 20 via the elastic member 250 and is in contact with the inner wall surface 20a via the lip seal 234 and the wear ring 235. To do. Hereinafter, the fluid sterilizer 210 will be described focusing on differences from the above-described embodiment.

  The fluid sterilizer 210 includes a housing 20, a cleaning unit 230, a light source 40, and an elastic member 250. The cleaning unit 230 includes a main body 232, a lip seal 234, and a wear ring 235. The main body 232 is a cylindrical member and has a reflective surface 236 that faces the light source 40. A lip seal 234 and a wear ring 235 are provided on the outer periphery of the main body 232. The lip seal 234 is a contact portion that touches the inner wall surface 20a, and frictionally cleans the inner wall surface 20a by moving in the axial direction while contacting the inner wall surface 20a.

  The elastic member 250 is provided between the second end wall 27 of the housing 20 and the cleaning unit 230. The elastic member 250 is formed of a coiled spring as shown in the figure, and applies an elastic force vertically downward to the cleaning unit 230. The elastic member 250 applies the elastic force to the cleaning unit 230 when the fluid is not filled in the flow path 12 so that the cleaning unit 230 is positioned in the vicinity of the inflow port 23. The elastic member 250 has an elastic force smaller than the force from the fluid that acts on the cleaning unit 230. Thereby, when the fluid is filled in the flow path 12, the elastic member 250 is contracted by the force of the fluid acting on the cleaning unit 230 so that the cleaning unit 230 is positioned in the vicinity of the outlet 24.

  Also in this modification, the same effect as the above-mentioned embodiment can be produced. Further, according to this modification, even when the fluid sterilizer 210 is installed so that the axial direction of the housing 20 is horizontal, the cleaning unit 230 moves back and forth to move the inner wall surface 20a. Can be washed. That is, even when the cleaning unit 230 is arranged in such a direction as not to move near the inlet 23 due to gravity, the cleaning unit 230 is moved to the vicinity of the inlet 23 using the elastic force of the elastic member 250. Can be made. Further, due to the sealing structure by the lip seal 234, the cleaning unit 230 can be moved to the vicinity of the outlet 24 using the fluid pressure acting on the cleaning unit 230.

(Modification 3)
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a configuration of a fluid sterilizer 310 according to the third modification. The fluid sterilizer 310 is different from the above-described embodiment in that the light source 340 is provided on the side of the housing 320 and is configured to irradiate ultraviolet light in the radial direction toward the fluid flowing through the flow path 12. . Hereinafter, the fluid sterilizer 310 will be described focusing on differences from the above-described embodiment.

  The fluid sterilizer 310 includes a housing 320, a cleaning unit 30, and a light source 340. The housing 320 includes a first end 321, a second end 322, an inflow port 323, an outflow port 324, a side wall 325, a first end wall 326, a second end wall 327, and a window portion 328. And have.

  The housing 320 defines the flow path 12 extending in the axial direction from the inlet 323 toward the outlet 324. The inflow port 323 is provided in the vicinity of the first end 321, and the outflow port 324 is provided in the vicinity of the second end 322. The flow path 12 is surrounded by a cylindrical side wall 325 extending in the axial direction, a first end wall 326 that closes the first end 321, and a second end wall 327 that closes the second end 322. A part of the side wall 325 is provided with a window portion 328 for transmitting ultraviolet light from the light source 340.

  The light source 340 includes a plurality of light emitting elements 342 and a substrate 344. The plurality of light emitting elements 342 are arranged in the axial direction and attached to a common substrate 344. The light source 340 irradiates ultraviolet light in the radial direction of the flow path 12. Ultraviolet light from the light source 340 propagates through the flow path 12 while being reflected by the inner wall surface 320 a of the housing 320, and sterilizes the fluid flowing through the flow path 12.

  Also in this modification, the same effect as the above-mentioned embodiment can be produced. Further, according to the present modification, the cleaning unit 30 moves in the axial direction to clean the inner wall surface 20a, so that the window portion 328 can be prevented from being contaminated. Thereby, the transmittance | permeability of the window part 328 can reduce and the influence which the sterilization capability by ultraviolet light falls can be suppressed.

  The present invention has been described based on the embodiments. It is understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various design changes are possible, and various modifications are possible, and such modifications are within the scope of the present invention. It is a place.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Fluid sterilizer, 12 ... Flow path, 20 ... Housing, 20a ... Inner wall surface, 23 ... Inlet, 24 ... Outlet, 30 ... Cleaning unit, 40 ... Light source, 110 ... Fluid sterilizer, 130 ... Cleaning unit DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 136 ... Reflective surface, 210 ... Fluid sterilizer, 230 ... Cleaning unit, 236 ... Reflective surface, 310 ... Fluid sterilizer, 320 ... Housing, 320a ... Inner wall surface, 323 ... Inlet, 324 ... Outlet, 340 ... light source.

Claims (7)

A housing having an inlet and an outlet, and defining a flow path extending in the axial direction from the inlet toward the outlet;
A light source that emits ultraviolet light toward the fluid flowing through the flow path;
A cleaning unit provided movably in the axial direction in the flow path,
The fluid sterilizer is characterized in that the cleaning unit cleans the inner wall surface of the casing by moving in the axial direction using a force acting on the cleaning unit by the fluid in the flow path.   The fluid sterilizer according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning unit includes a contact portion that touches the inner wall surface, and the inner wall surface is frictionally cleaned by the contact portion.   The fluid sterilizer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cleaning unit moves in the flow path using at least one of buoyancy and fluid pressure from the fluid in the flow path.   The cleaning unit is located closer to the outlet than the inlet when the flow path is filled with fluid, and is closer to the inlet than the outlet when the flow path is not filled with fluid. The fluid sterilizer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the fluid sterilizer is located in the vicinity.   The washing unit moves from the inflow port toward the outflow port when inflow of fluid into the flow path is started, and the inflow of fluid into the flow path is stopped when the inflow of fluid into the flow path is stopped. The fluid sterilizer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the fluid sterilizer moves from an outlet toward the inlet.   The fluid sterilizer according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the cleaning unit has a reflective surface that reflects ultraviolet light from the light source.   The fluid sterilizer according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the cleaning unit has an uneven surface that protrudes in the axial direction and contacts the fluid in the flow path.

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