JP2021177811A - Shower nozzle and liquid circulation structure - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a shower nozzle suppressed in a decrease in a flow rate of liquid.SOLUTION: A shower nozzle 1 includes: a tube body 3 disposed with a flow channel 4 in which liquid circulates; a head 5 disposed in one end of the tube body 3 and becoming an exit of liquid; a bubble generator 10 arranged in the flow channel 4 of the tube body 3 so as to make liquid pass therethrough, and incorporating bubbles in passing liquid; and an auxiliary flow channel 25 for making liquid pass through between the bubble generator 10 and the inner peripheral surface of the flow channel 4.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a shower nozzle and a liquid flow structure.

Patent Document 1 discloses a shower nozzle in which a bubble generation mechanism is incorporated. In this bubble generation mechanism, a throttle portion is formed at a position in the middle of the flow path, and a collision portion is arranged in the throttle portion. The bubble generation mechanism causes the liquid to contain bubbles by causing the flow of the liquid to collide with the collision portion, and causes the liquid containing the bubbles to flow out from the outlet.

International Publication No. 2013/012069

However, in the shower nozzle disclosed in Patent Document 1, the amount of liquid passing through the bubble generation mechanism is regulated by the small cross-sectional area of the flow path in the bubble generation mechanism, and the flow rate of the liquid in the shower nozzle is restricted. Is expected to decrease.

An object of the present invention is to provide a shower nozzle in which a decrease in the flow rate of a liquid is suppressed.

The shower nozzle (1) according to the present invention is provided with a pipe body (3) provided with a flow path (4) through which a liquid flows, and a head (5) provided at one end of the pipe body (3) to serve as a liquid outlet. The bubble generator (10), which is arranged so that the liquid passes through the flow path (4) of the tube body (3) and contains bubbles in the passing liquid, and the bubble generator (10) and the flow path ( An auxiliary flow path (25) for passing a liquid between the inner peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface of 4) is provided.

In such a shower nozzle (1), the liquid flowing through the flow path (4) of the tube body (3) passes through the bubble generator (10), so that the liquid contains bubbles. Since the auxiliary flow path (25) is provided between the bubble generator (10) and the inner peripheral surface of the flow path (4) of the pipe body (3), the bubble generator (25) passes through the bubble generator (25). The liquid containing the bubbles and the liquid passing through the auxiliary flow path (25) are mixed and flow out from the head (5). As described above, since the auxiliary flow path (25) is provided in addition to the bubble generator (10), a flow rate larger than the flow rate of the liquid passing through the bubble generator (10) is circulated to the shower nozzle (1). Therefore, the decrease in the flow rate of the liquid is suppressed.

Further, the auxiliary flow path (25) may include a plurality of deflection flow paths (26) that generate a swirling flow in the liquid. In this configuration, since the swirling flow is formed by the liquid flowing out from the auxiliary flow path (25), the liquid including the bubbles passing through the bubble generator (10) and the liquid passing through the auxiliary flow path (25) are selected. Is easy to mix.

The deflection flow path (26) may have an inclined surface (26s) inclined in the circumferential direction about the axis of the flow path from the inlet to the outlet. In the deflection flow path (26), the liquid flows along the inclined surface (26s) inclined in the circumferential direction, so that the liquid is discharged in the direction inclined in the circumferential direction.

In the auxiliary flow path (25), the opening area of the inlet may be larger than the opening area of the exit. In this configuration, the flow velocity of the liquid discharged from the outlet of the auxiliary flow path (25) can be increased.

The bubble generator (10) is arranged in the inner space of the tubular body (20) having an outer peripheral surface along the inner peripheral surface of the flow path (4), and the tubular body (20) is the bubble generator (10). ) Has a regulation wall (23) that restricts the movement of the flow path (4) to the downstream side, and the auxiliary flow path (25) may be formed on the peripheral wall (21) of the tubular body (20). good. In this configuration, the tubular body (20) in which the auxiliary flow path (25) is formed and the bubble generator (10) can be easily integrated.

The shower nozzle (1) further includes a holding member (40) arranged upstream of the bubble generator (10), and the holding member (40) has an opening area that increases from the inlet side to the outlet side. It may have an inclined inner peripheral inclined surface (35) and a rib (36) protruding from the inner peripheral inclined surface (35) and engaging with the bubble generator (10). In this configuration, the bubble generator (10) is restricted from moving upstream.

Further, the liquid flow structure (50) according to the present invention is a liquid flow structure (50) in which a liquid flows from an inlet to an outlet, has a flow path (12), and passes through the flow path (12). It is provided with a bubble generator (10) for containing bubbles in the liquid to be used, and an auxiliary flow path (25) for passing the liquid on the outer periphery of the bubble generator (10).

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a shower nozzle in which a decrease in the flow rate of a liquid is suppressed.

It is a partial cross-sectional view which shows the shower nozzle which concerns on one example. It is a perspective view which looked at the tubular body from the entrance side. It is a perspective view which looked at the tubular body from the exit side. It is a top view which looked at the tubular body from the exit side. It is a top view which looked at the tubular body from the entrance side. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI of FIG. It is a top view which looked at the cap from the exit side. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII of FIG. It is sectional drawing along the IX-IX line of FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same elements are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicate description will be omitted.

FIG. 1 is a side view of the shower nozzle according to an example, and shows a part of the shower nozzle in a cross section. As shown in FIG. 1, the shower nozzle 1 includes a tube body 3, a head 5, a bubble generator 10, a cylindrical body 20, and a cap (holding member) 30. The tubular body 3 is a portion gripped by the user of the shower nozzle 1, and has, for example, a substantially columnar outer shape. The tubular body 3 of the illustrated example has a substantially cylindrical outer shape bent at the center in the longitudinal direction. Inside the tubular body 3, a flow path 4 having a circular cross section is formed in which a liquid flows along the longitudinal direction. That is, the tubular body 3 has a substantially cylindrical shape. The head 5 is provided at one end (downstream end) of the tubular body 3 and has an outlet for liquid flowing from the shower hose 40 connected to the other end (upstream end) side of the tubular body 3. It has become. The head 5 is provided with, for example, a plurality of through holes, and the liquid flowing through the tube 3 is discharged from the plurality of through holes.

The bubble generator 10 is arranged so that the liquid passes through the flow path 4 of the tube body 3, and the passing liquid contains bubbles. In this embodiment, the bubble generator 10 is arranged in the inner space of the tubular body 20. The bubble generator 10 of one example has a substantially cylindrical shape, and the liquid passing through the flow path 12 formed by the inner space contains bubbles. The bubble generator 10 of the illustrated example has a flow path 12 that connects an inflow port that opens on the upstream side and an outflow port that opens on the downstream side. A throttle portion 12a having a flow path cross-sectional area smaller than that of the inflow port is formed at an intermediate position of the flow path 12, and a collision portion 13 for further reducing the flow path cross-sectional area is arranged in the throttle portion 12a. When the liquid supplied from the inflow port collides with the collision portion 13, a part of the dissolved gas becomes a bubble-containing liquid and flows from the outflow port. The bubble generator 10 may generate bubbles in the flowing liquid based on another principle. In one example, the bubbles may be fine bubbles having a bubble diameter of less than 100 μm, and in particular, microbubbles having a bubble diameter of 1 μm or more and less than 100 μm, ultrafine bubbles having a bubble diameter of less than 1 μm, or the like may be used.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the tubular body as viewed from the entrance (upstream) side. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the tubular body as viewed from the exit (downstream) side. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the tubular body as viewed from the outlet side. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the tubular body as viewed from the entrance side. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI of FIG. The tubular body 20 has a bottomed cylindrical shape, and includes a peripheral wall 21 and a bottom wall 23. For example, the inner diameter of the tubular body 20 is substantially the same as or slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the bubble generator 10. A circular opening 23a is formed in the center of the bottom wall 23. The bubble generator 10 arranged in the inner space of the tubular body 20 is restricted from moving to the downstream side by abutting on the bottom wall (regulatory wall) 23.

The peripheral wall 21 of the tubular body 20 has an outer peripheral surface along the inner peripheral surface of the flow path 4 of the tubular body 3, and as shown in FIG. 1, the tubular body 23 faces the downstream side. It is arranged in the flow path 4 of 3. In the shower nozzle 1 as an example, the tubular body 20 is arranged at the end of the tube body 3 opposite to the head 5 (that is, the upstream side). For example, the upstream end of the flow path 4 of the tubular body 3 is a step 4a formed so as to have a large inner diameter. By arranging the tubular body 20 in the step portion 4a, the movement to the downstream side is restricted. In a state where the tubular body 20 is arranged in the step portion 4a, the deflection flow path 26 (outlet 26b) of the tubular body 20 communicates with the flow path 4 of the tubular body 3.

An auxiliary flow path 25 is formed on the peripheral wall 21 of the tubular body 20. The auxiliary flow path 25 allows the liquid to pass between the bubble generator 10 and the inner peripheral surface of the flow path 4 of the tube body 3. An example auxiliary flow path 25 is a tubular flow path formed from one end to the other end of the peripheral wall 21. In the present embodiment, the auxiliary flow path 25 is composed of a plurality of (four in the illustrated example) deflection flow paths 26 having the same shape that generate a swirling flow in the liquid. The deflection flow paths 26 are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the peripheral wall 21. Therefore, the tubular body 20 has rotational symmetry with the axis of rotation as the center of rotation. The deflection flow path 26 causes a swirling flow in the liquid by inclining the direction of the liquid discharged from the outlet 26b with respect to the axial direction of the flow path 4 of the tube body 3.

The deflection flow path 26 of one example has a rectangular cross section. That is, each deflection flow path 26 is defined by four sides extending along the flow direction of the liquid. In one example, the deflection flow path 26 may be defined by two trapezoidal sides and two rectangular sides. In the illustrated example, one of the four side surfaces (side surface 26s) is an inclined surface that is inclined in the circumferential direction about the axis of the flow path from the inlet to the exit. The cross section of the auxiliary flow path 25 may be other than a rectangle, and may be, for example, a circle or a polygon. For example, when the cross section of the auxiliary flow path is circular, the portion of the inner peripheral surface of the auxiliary flow path that inclines in the circumferential direction from the inlet to the exit with the axis of the flow path as the center is the inclined surface. Become.

Further, in each deflection flow path 26, the opening area of the inlet 26a is larger than the opening area of the outlet 26b. That is, the distribution cross-sectional area of the deflection flow path 26 gradually decreases from the inlet 26a to the outlet 26b. In the illustrated example, the opening end of the inlet 26a is expanded in the radial direction so that the opening area of the inlet 26a of the deflection flow path 26 is particularly large (see FIG. 6). In the present embodiment, the bubble generator 10 and the auxiliary flow path 25 constitute a liquid distribution structure 50 for flowing a liquid from the upstream (inlet 26a) to the downstream (outlet 26b).

The cap (holding member) 30 is arranged upstream of the bubble generator 10 and the tubular body 20, and connects the pipe body 3 and the shower hose 40. The cap 30 of one example has a substantially cylindrical shape and has a flow path 39 through which a liquid flows. The cap has a thread groove 31 formed on the outer periphery on the upstream side and a thread groove 32 formed on the outer periphery on the downstream side. Further, a flange 33 protruding in the radial direction is formed between the thread groove 31 on the upstream side and the thread groove 32 on the downstream side. The thread groove 31 on the upstream side may be connected to a substantially cylindrical mounting member 41 provided at the tip of the shower hose 40. That is, a screw groove 42 corresponding to the screw groove 31 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the mounting member 41.

The thread groove 32 on the downstream side is connected to the end portion on the upstream side of the pipe body 3. As shown in FIG. 1, a thread groove 6 corresponding to the thread groove 32 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the upstream end portion of the pipe body 3. In the state where the cap 30 is connected to the tubular body 3 (that is, the thread groove 32 and the thread groove 6 are screwed together), the flange 33 of the cap 30 is in contact with the end edge of the tubular body 3. In one example, a sealing member 7 such as an O-ring arranged between the flange 33 of the cap 30 and the threaded groove 32 on the downstream side (annular groove 32a) allows the upstream end of the pipe body 3 and the cap 30 to be connected to each other. The connection part is sealed.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the cap 30 as viewed from the outlet (downstream) side. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII of FIG. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IX-IX of FIG. As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, on the inner circumference of the cap 30, there is a pedicle-shaped inclined surface (inner peripheral inclined surface) 35 inclined so that the opening area increases from the inlet side to the exit side. It is formed. The inclined surface 35 of the illustrated example is formed on the downstream side of the center position of the flange 33 in the flow direction of the liquid (see FIG. 8). A plurality of (four in the illustrated example) ribs 36 projecting from the inclined surface 35 toward the center of the flow path 39 are formed on the inclined surface 35. The ribs 36 are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. Each rib 36 has a triangular plate shape. The downstream edge 36a of the rib 36 is aligned with the downstream edge 30a of the cap 30. Further, the edge 36b in the radial direction of the rib 36 is aligned with the position of the inner peripheral surface 39a on the inlet side of the flow path 39 of the cap 30.

With the cap 30 connected to the tubular body 3, the rib 36 may abut (engage) the upstream edge of the tubular body 20 and the upstream edge of the bubble generator 10. Further, the flow path 12 of the bubble generator 10 and the deflection flow path 26 (inlet 26a) of the cylindrical body 20 communicate with the flow path 39 of the cap 30. For example, the outer diameter of the outlet side edge of the inclined surface 35 downstream of the flow path 39 may be larger than the outer diameter of the tubular body 20.

The liquid flowing through the shower hose 40 is supplied to the flow path 12 of the bubble generator 10 and the auxiliary flow path 25 (deflection flow path 26) of the cylindrical body 20 via the flow path 39 of the cap 30. The liquid supplied to the flow path 12 of the bubble generator 10 becomes a bubble-containing liquid and flows out of the bubble generator 10. Further, the liquid supplied to the auxiliary flow path 25 becomes a swirling flow traveling downstream while swirling in the circumferential direction around the axis of the flow path 4, and flows out from the tubular body 20. These liquids flow through the flow path 4 of the tubular body 3 while being mixed with each other, and are discharged from the head 5.

As described above, the shower nozzle 1 of an example includes a pipe body 3 provided with a flow path 4 through which a liquid flows, a head 5 provided at one end of the pipe body 3 and serving as a liquid outlet, and a pipe body 3. A bubble generator 10 that is arranged so that the liquid passes through the flow path 4 and contains bubbles in the passing liquid, and an auxiliary that allows the liquid to pass between the bubble generator 10 and the inner peripheral surface of the flow path 4. A flow path 25 is provided.

In such a shower nozzle 1, the liquid flowing through the flow path 4 of the tube 3 passes through the bubble generator 10, so that the liquid contains bubbles. Since the auxiliary flow path 25 is provided between the bubble generator 10 and the inner peripheral surface of the flow path 4 of the pipe body 3, the liquid containing bubbles passing through the bubble generator 10 and the auxiliary flow path are provided. The liquid passing through 25 is mixed and discharged from the head 5. As described above, since the auxiliary flow path 25 is provided in addition to the bubble generator 10, the decrease in the flow rate of the liquid is suppressed.

Further, the auxiliary flow path 25 may include a plurality of deflection flow paths 26 that generate a swirling flow in the liquid. In this configuration, since the swirling flow is formed by the liquid flowing out from the auxiliary flow path 25, the liquid containing bubbles passing through the bubble generator 10 and the liquid passing through the auxiliary flow path 25 are likely to be mixed.

The deflection flow path 26 may have a side surface (inclined surface) 26s that is inclined in the circumferential direction about the axis of the flow path 4 from the inlet to the outlet. In the deflection flow path 26, the liquid flows along the side surface 26s that is inclined in the circumferential direction, so that the liquid is discharged in the direction that is inclined in the circumferential direction. A swirling flow can be easily formed by discharging the liquid in a direction inclined in the circumferential direction.

The opening area of the inlet 26a of the deflection flow path 26 (auxiliary flow path 25) may be larger than the opening area of the outlet 26b. In this configuration, the flow velocity of the liquid discharged from the outlet 26b of the deflection flow path 26 can be increased. Therefore, the liquid containing bubbles passing through the bubble generator 10 and the liquid passing through the auxiliary flow path 25 are likely to be mixed.

The bubble generator 10 is arranged in the inner space of the tubular body 20 having an outer peripheral surface (peripheral wall 21) along the inner peripheral surface of the flow path 4, and the tubular body 20 is on the outlet side of the liquid from the bubble generator 10. The auxiliary flow path 25 may be formed on the peripheral wall 21 of the cylindrical body 20 so as to have a regulation wall that restricts the movement to. In this configuration, the cylindrical body 20 in which the auxiliary flow path 25 is formed and the bubble generator 10 can be easily integrated. Further, the auxiliary flow path 25 can be easily arranged at the position of the outer periphery of the bubble generator 10.

The cap 30 has an inclined surface (inner peripheral inclined surface) 35 inclined so that the opening area increases from the inlet side to the exit side, and a rib 36 protruding from the inclined surface 35 and engaging with the bubble generator 10. May have. In this configuration, the bubble generator 10 is restricted from moving upstream.

Although the exemplary embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

For example, the channel cross-sectional area of the auxiliary channel may be constant from the inlet to the outlet. In this case, the auxiliary flow path may or may not be inclined in the circumferential direction about the axis of the flow path 4 from the inlet to the outlet. That is, the auxiliary flow path may be formed in a spiral shape or a linear shape.

Further, an example is shown in which a tubular auxiliary flow path 25 is formed on the peripheral wall 21 of the tubular body 20, but the auxiliary path is the flow path 4 of the tubular body 3 along the liquid flow path in the bubble generator 10. It suffices if it is provided inside. As an example, a groove-shaped path may be formed on the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall of the cylindrical body, and an auxiliary path may be defined by the outer peripheral surface of the bubble generator 10 and the groove-shaped path.

Further, although an example in which the bubble generator and the tubular body are arranged at the upstream end portion of the tubular body is shown, the position where the bubble generator and the tubular body are arranged is not particularly limited. For example, the bubble generator and cylinder may be located at the downstream end of the tube (ie, upstream of the head) or at the center of the upstream and downstream ends of the tube. good.

Further, the form in which the liquid flow structure composed of the bubble generator and the tubular body is arranged in the flow path of the shower nozzle has been described. For example, the liquid passes through the bubble generator and the outer periphery of the bubble generator. A liquid flow component provided with an auxiliary flow path and a liquid flow structure including the auxiliary flow path may be arranged between the existing shower nozzle and the shower hose.

1 ... shower nozzle, 3 ... tube body, 4 ... flow path, 5 ... head, 10 ... bubble generator, 20 ... tubular body, 25 ... auxiliary flow path, 26 ... deflection flow path.

Claims (7)

A pipe body (3) provided with a flow path (4) through which a liquid flows, and
A head (5) provided at one end of the tube body (3) and serving as an outlet for the liquid,
A bubble generator (10) arranged so that the liquid passes through the flow path (4) of the tube body (3) and causes the liquid to contain bubbles.
A shower nozzle comprising an auxiliary flow path (25) for passing the liquid between the bubble generator (10) and the inner peripheral surface of the flow path (4). The shower nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary flow path (25) includes a plurality of deflection flow paths (26) that generate a swirling flow in the liquid. The shower nozzle according to claim 2, wherein the deflection flow path (26) has an inclined surface (26s) inclined in the circumferential direction about the axis of the flow path from the inlet to the outlet. The shower nozzle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein in the auxiliary flow path (25), the opening area of the inlet is larger than the opening area of the outlet. The bubble generator (10) is arranged in the inner space of a cylindrical body (20) having an outer peripheral surface along the inner peripheral surface of the flow path (4).
The tubular body (20) has a regulatory wall (23) that regulates the movement of the bubble generator (10) to the downstream side of the flow path (4).
The shower nozzle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the auxiliary flow path (25) is formed on a peripheral wall (21) of the tubular body (20). A holding member (40) arranged upstream of the bubble generator (10) is further provided.
The holding member (40) has an inner peripheral inclined surface (35) inclined so that the opening area increases from the inlet side to the outlet side of the liquid, and the air bubbles protruding from the inner peripheral inclined surface (35). The shower nozzle according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which has a rib (36) that can be engaged with the generator (10). A liquid distribution structure (50) that distributes liquid from the inlet to the outlet.
A bubble generator (10) having a flow path (12) and containing bubbles in the liquid passing through the flow path (12).
A liquid flow structure comprising an auxiliary flow path (25) for passing the liquid on the outer periphery of the bubble generator (10).

Images