JP2601407B2 - Ozone generator for toilet - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toilet ozone generator for decomposing and removing malodorous gas components generated from filth in a toilet, and more particularly to use of a person with a reduced walking ability, such as the elderly or the physically handicapped. The present invention relates to a toilet ozone generator attached to a movable toilet bowl provided in the above-mentioned section.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a method of removing malodorous gas components generated from filth in a toilet, an adsorbent such as activated carbon is disposed in a toilet to adsorb and remove malodorous gas components.
It is a common practice to use an electric fan to suck out odorous gas components together with air and discharge them out of the toilet. In addition, a combination of an electric fan and an adsorbent has been practiced to absorb malodorous gas components and simultaneously adsorb malodorous gas components to more effectively remove malodorous gas components. For example,
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-68934 has an intake section facing the inside of a toilet and an exhaust section extending to the outside of the toilet continuously with the intake section. A toilet device configured to be suctioned and exhausted from an exhaust is described. In addition, this toilet device is provided with a gravity switch on the toilet seat, the electric fan is automatically activated when a person sits on the toilet seat, and furthermore, after use, the control circuit continues for a predetermined time even after the person leaves the toilet seat. And the electric fan is driven. 62-189
No. 742 discloses a sensor-equipped deodorizer that controls the operation and stop of an electric fan by detecting a human body with an ultrasonic sensor.

[0003] Further, a method is known in which a malodorous gas component is chemically decomposed using ozone to convert it into an odorless component.
This is because ozone in the air is ozonized by silent discharge or ultraviolet irradiation, and the odorous gas components generated from the generated ozone and the waste in the toilet, such as ammonia and methyl mercaptan,
The method utilizes the fact that the odorous gas component is converted into nitrogen oxide, carbon dioxide gas, and sulfur oxide by an oxidative decomposition reaction by mixing with hydrogen sulfide and the like. Various ozonizers and ozone generators have been developed for this purpose. For example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 48-13644 discloses that a dielectric plate is sandwiched between a mesh electrode and a flat electrode and a high-voltage pulse is applied between the two electrodes. An ozonizer that generates ozone from oxygen in the air by applying the pressure is disclosed, and the ozonizer is further characterized in that the ozonizer is heated to remove water adhering to the surface of the electrode, thereby enhancing the ozone generating ability. I have.
Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 63-34438 discloses that ozone is generated by irradiating ultraviolet rays, and that the ozonolysis-deodorizing catalyst is irradiated with ultraviolet rays to delay the deterioration of the catalyst. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-31719 discloses a toilet seat with an ozone generator configured to pass through an ozone generator to decompose odors and sterilize hot water for local cleaning with ozone. Also, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-26
The ozone generation device disclosed in the 8929 publication detects a human body by an optical sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a pressure sensor, and the like, and automatically starts the operation of the ozonizer and the electric fan,
The ozonizer and the electric fan are configured to stop immediately after a person leaves or after a predetermined time has elapsed. Further, the ozone generator has an ozone sensor, and has a safety function for stopping the ozonizer and the electric fan when the residual ozone concentration becomes a predetermined value or more.

[0004] On the other hand, mobile toilets for use by people with reduced walking ability, such as the elderly and the physically handicapped, have also been widely known. The thing described in 4-31596 gazette is known. Further, Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. 61-149598 discloses a simple stool-type structure.

[0005]

However, in the conventional method of discharging the malodorous gas component together with the air in the toilet,
It is impossible to completely suck the odorous gas component even if the intake section is exposed to the inside of the toilet as described above, and the residual odorous gas component is adsorbed on the floor or wall surface in the toilet and remains. . Therefore, in order to sufficiently remove the odorous gas components, it is necessary to lengthen the driving time of the electric fan or increase the blowing capacity of the electric fan, but in any case, the noise of the electric fan increases or the consumption of the electric fan increases. It is not preferable because it increases the cost of the power and the device.

Further, in the method using an adsorbent, the adsorbing ability of the adsorbent decreases with time, so that it is necessary to periodically exchange the adsorbent, which is complicated and inconvenient in use, and economical. Is also not preferred. Furthermore, when activated carbon is used as an adsorbent, it is inexpensive, but has poor adsorption to ammonia and hydrogen sulfide, which are the main components of the malodorous gas components in the toilet, and is not very effective.

On the other hand, in a conventional ozone generator,
Although a human body is detected before and after use of the toilet and the operation and stop of the ozonizer are automatically performed, there is a problem that a failure of a component cannot be dealt with immediately. For example, even when the electric fan breaks down and the amount of air blows down, or when the air blow stops completely, the ozonizer continues to operate and ozone continues to be generated, and high-concentration ozone is generated inside the ozone generator. Not only stays in the toilet. The high concentration of ozone is not only extremely harmful to the human body, but also causes damage to the synthetic resin of the housing material of the ozone generator and shortens the life of the ozone decomposition and deodorization catalyst. In addition, there is an example in which a method of measuring ozone concentration is adopted as a safety mechanism. In this method, however, ozone is usually adsorbed to a detection unit, and for example, an ozone amount is calculated from its surface electric resistance value. For this reason, the deterioration of the detection unit with time is unavoidable, and there is a drawback that components need to be replaced, and the detection sensitivity is reduced, so that the function may not function smoothly in the event of a failure.

Further, when using the toilet, the toilet seat must be opened by erecting the seat plate each time the toilet is used. If the toilet seat is left open after use, or if the frequency of use becomes high, the opening and closing of the seat plate becomes complicated. In some cases, the seat plate was left standing upright. In the case of the movable toilet, when the seat plate is raised and the toilet seat is kept open, the indoor atmosphere is hindered by the odor leaking from the toilet. In particular, in the movable toilet according to the present invention, the operation of the ozone generator is started when the seat plate stands up (open state), and the operation of the ozone generator is stopped when the seat plate falls down (closed state). ,
If the seat plate is left standing, the ozone generator continues to operate. As a result, as described above, this causes a failure of the electric fan and generation of high-concentration ozone.

As described above, in the conventional ozone generator and the mobile toilet provided with the ozone generator, ozone may be continuously generated due to failure of component parts or carelessness in use, and as a result, ozone may be generated. Various problems such as damage to the housing of the generator, deterioration of the built-in components, shortening of the life of the ozonolysis / deodorization catalyst, and adverse effects on the human body occur. The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and achieves a high deodorizing effect by using ozone, and prevents ozone from continuing to be generated due to failure of component parts or carelessness at the time of use. It is an object of the present invention to prevent damage and deterioration of each component constituting the generator, particularly deterioration of an ozone decomposition catalyst.

[0010]

To achieve the above object, an ozone generator for a toilet according to the present invention comprises an ozonizer, an ozone decomposition / deodorization catalyst, an electric fan, and a control mechanism for controlling the ozonizer and the electric fan. In particular, the control mechanism includes a fail-safe mechanism that stops the ozonizer when the electric fan is disconnected. The control mechanism includes a wind speed sensor for detecting a wind speed of the electric fan, and is configured to stop the ozonizer when a wind speed detected by the wind speed sensor is equal to or less than a predetermined value.

To achieve the above object, an ozonizer,
An ozonolysis / deodorization catalyst, an electric fan, a control mechanism for controlling the ozonizer and the electric fan, and a toilet ozone generator attached to a movable toilet fitted with a waste container, wherein the control mechanism is a movable toilet. A sensor or switch for detecting the opening and closing of the seat plate, and when the seat plate is opened, the operation of the ozonizer and the electric fan is started, and a predetermined time is set from the time when the seat plate is opened. The operation of the ozonizer and the electric fan is stopped after a lapse of time.

[0012]

By configuring the ozone generator for a toilet as described above, when the electric fan is disconnected and the intake and exhaust stops, or when the amount of intake and exhaust by the electric fan drops below a predetermined value, it is immediately set. Since the ozonizer is stopped, high-concentration ozone is generated as in the related art, and damage and deterioration of components of the ozone generator, particularly deterioration of the ozone decomposition catalyst can be prevented. In addition, when attached to a mobile toilet, even if the seat is left standing upright,
Since the ozonizer and the electric fan are stopped after the elapse of the predetermined time, the same problem can be solved.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A toilet ozone generator according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Embodiment 1 An ozone generator for a toilet bowl according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an ozone generator according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing a control circuit of the ozone generator. As shown in FIG. 1, the ozone generator 1 according to the present invention mainly includes
The apparatus main body 5 includes an ozonizer 2, an ozonolysis deodorizing catalyst 3, and an electric fan 4, and a control circuit 6 that controls the operations of the ozonizer 2 and the electric fan 4. An ozonizer 2 constituting the device main body 5;
Any known ozone decomposition / deodorization catalyst 3 and electric fan 4 can be used.

The ozonizer 2 is formed by sandwiching a ceramic plate of, for example, alumina between electrodes, and supplies a high-frequency high voltage of about 5 kV and about 18 kHz from the high-frequency high-voltage generating circuit 7 between the electrodes so that the ozoneizer 2 is in the air. To ozonize oxygen. Further, by providing the heater, ozone can be effectively generated even when the humidity is high. The ozone decomposition / deodorization catalyst 3 has a large number of small holes, for example, a honeycomb passage, and causes an oxidative decomposition reaction when the malodorous gas component and ozone pass through the small holes.
The malodorous gas component is decomposed into an odorless gas component, and ozone is reduced to oxygen. The electric fan 4 sucks air containing an odorous gas component into the inside of the apparatus main body 5 from the suction unit 8,
This is for discharging the odorless gas component and oxygen gas decomposed by the ozone decomposition deodorizing catalyst 3 to the outside. For example, by using a brushless motor as a driving source, noise during operation can be suppressed, and the amount of air blown can be reduced. Can be easily performed. Further, by providing the filter 9 to the intake section 8, dust in the air enters the inside of the apparatus main body 5 at the time of inhalation, thereby reducing the ozone generation efficiency of the ozonizer 2 and the reaction efficiency of the ozone decomposition / deodorization catalyst 3. Can be prevented. The apparatus body 5 is configured by housing the ozonizer 2, the ozonolysis / deodorization catalyst 3, and the electric fan 4 in a casing formed of a synthetic resin such as an ABS resin (acrylonitrile / butadiene / styrene resin).

When the ozone generator 1 is operated, the air containing the malodorous gas component (black arrow in the figure) is supplied to the electric fan 4.
Is mixed with ozone generated from the ozonizer 2, is decomposed into an odorless gas component when passing through the ozonolysis / deodorization catalyst 3, and is discharged to the outside of the apparatus main body 5 together with oxygen gas ( Arrows in the figure). The operation of the ozone generator 1 is controlled by the control circuit 6.

The control circuit 6 is connected to a high-frequency high-voltage generating circuit 7 of the ozonizer 2 and a motor (not shown) of the electric fan 4, and starts and stops the operation of the ozonizer 2 and the electric fan 4 according to an open / close signal from the switch 10. Do. The switch 10 has a human body detection function using, for example, an infrared sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a capacitance sensor, a load sensor, or the like. When the person approaches the toilet or sits on the toilet seat, the ozonizer 2 and the electric fan 4
Is started and stopped when the user leaves the toilet or the toilet seat or after a predetermined time has elapsed. These operation start and stop mechanisms can be realized by a known timer circuit. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, when a person approaches the toilet or sits on the toilet seat, an ON signal (oscillation permission signal) is input from the switch 10 to the control circuit 6, and the oscillation circuit 11 starts oscillating. The clock is sent to the timer circuit 12. Then, the timer circuit 12 keeps the ozonizer 2 and the electric fan 4 conductive through the driver. On the other hand, when a person leaves the toilet or the toilet seat after use, an OFF signal is output from the switch 10 to the control circuit 6.
, The oscillation circuit 11 stops oscillating, and the clock is no longer sent to the timer circuit 12. Then, the timer circuit 12 is reset after a predetermined time has elapsed, and cuts off the conduction of the ozonizer 2 and the electric fan 4.

Further, the control circuit 6 includes the fail-safe circuit 1
3 is provided. This fail-safe circuit 13 corresponds to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the transistor T1, the diode D, and the resistor R (high resistance value)
The electric fan 4 is connected to the base of the unit 1, and the high-frequency high-voltage generating circuit 7 is connected to the collector. When the toilet seat ozone generator 1 is operated, signals from the electric fan 4 and the high-frequency high-voltage generating circuit 7 are constantly input to the transistor T1. However, when the electric fan 4 is disconnected and no signal is input to the base of the transistor T1, the signal from the high-frequency high-voltage generating circuit 7 does not flow from the collector to the emitter, and the high-frequency high-voltage generating circuit 7 is cut off. Stops. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the generation of ozone when the electric fan 4 is disconnected. The fail-safe circuit 13 includes one transistor T1, one diode D, and one resistor R
, It can be produced at extremely low cost, and its operation principle is simple, so that no malfunction occurs.

Further, the wind speed of the electric fan 4 is constantly measured by the wind speed sensor 14 during operation, and the measured value is input to the control circuit 6. When the wind speed becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value, the control circuit 6 switches the switch 1 connected to the wind speed sensor 14.
5 is turned on, and the base current of the transistor T2 supplied from the timer circuit 12 is reduced by a voltage drop.
As a result, the current to the high-frequency high-voltage generating circuit 7 is cut off, and the ozonizer 2 stops. Thus, when the blowing capacity of the electric fan 4 is reduced, it is possible to prevent the ozonizer 2 from continuing to operate and generating high-concentration ozone. Here, the use of the wind speed sensor 10 as a means for detecting the amount of air blown by the electric fan 4 is advantageous in designing compared to a method of measuring the amount of air flow. In other words, in the method of measuring the air flow, it is necessary to define the cross-sectional area of the air path. The degree of freedom increases. In addition, compared with the method of measuring the ozone concentration, the detection unit does not deteriorate with time, can maintain a stable detection capability, and does not require replacement of parts.

As described above, the ozone generator 1 according to the present invention can be used when the electric fan 4 is disconnected by the control circuit 6 and the intake / exhaust is stopped, or when the intake / exhaust amount falls below a predetermined value. Since the ozonizer 2 is configured to be stopped immediately, generation of high-concentration ozone as in the related art can be prevented.

Embodiment 2 Next, a toilet ozone generator attached to a movable toilet according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 is a perspective view showing the movable toilet, FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the movable toilet shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 5 is a control circuit diagram of the ozone generator, and FIG. It is a timing chart shown. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the movable toilet is configured by disposing a toilet seat 22 below a seat plate 21 of a toilet main body 20 and further removably disposing a waste container 23 below the toilet seat 22. . The toilet body 20 is of a known type, and a pair of leg bars 25 having armrest bars 24 is attached to both sides of a seat plate 21, and a backrest plate 26 is further attached so as to pass over a rear end of the pair of leg bars 25. It is composed. Further, the seat plate 21 and the toilet seat 22 are mounted so as to be able to undulate around the edge of the backing plate 26 as a rotation center, and function as a normal chair when the seat plate 21 and the toilet seat 22 are closed, and are shown. The waste container 23 can be used by erecting the seat plate 21 to expose the waste container 23 as described above.

As shown in FIG. 4, the ozone generator 30 has the suction portion 8 having the opening 2 of the waste container 23.
7 is attached to the toilet body 20. Further, the attachment position of the ozone generator 30 is not particularly limited. For example, the ozone generator 30 is arranged below the seat plate 21 on the side of the backing plate 26 and close to the waste container 23.

The ozone generator 30 is the same as that shown in the first embodiment, that is, the apparatus body 5 composed of the ozonizer 2, the ozone decomposition / deodorization catalyst 3, and the electric fan 4.
And a control circuit 6 for controlling the operation of the ozonizer 2 and the electric fan 4 as main members. However, the configuration of the opening and closing mechanism of the switch 10 and the configuration of the timer circuit 12 of the control circuit 6 are different from those of the first embodiment. These will be described with reference to FIG. That is, the switch 10
The ON signal (oscillation permission signal) is input to the control circuit 6 by raising the seat plate 21 of the movable toilet, and the OFF signal is input to the control circuit 6 when the seat plate 21 falls down. And
When the ON signal is input to the control circuit 6, an oscillation clock as a time base is generated from the oscillation circuit 11, and the oscillation clock is sent to the first timer 12a and the second timer 12b. The oscillation circuit 11 is, for example, a CMOS NAN.
The oscillation clock has a period and a frequency set by a resistor and a capacitor. For example, the clock period is 0.165 seconds, and the frequency is 6.1.
Hz.

The first timer 12a has a stage counter, and divides the oscillation clock by a predetermined time (t
1) Functions as a safety timer that stops the oscillation of the oscillation circuit 11 after the lapse of time. For example, the clock cycle 0.16
A clock of 5 seconds and a frequency of 6.1 Hz can be divided by 12,288 to form a timer of about 33 minutes. And
When the time (t1) has elapsed, the last clock is supplied to the oscillation circuit 1
1 and a one-shot trigger is applied to the second timer 12b. The second timer 12b is provided with a one-shot multivibrator. When the one-shot trigger is continuously supplied, the second timer 12b keeps the driving signal, which is the output thereof, at a high level. When the trigger is activated, the ozonizer 2 and the electric fan 4 are stopped after a lapse of a predetermined time (t2). The time (t2) is set by a resistor and a capacitor, and the one-shot pulse (drive signal) is set to be output, for example, for about 7 minutes.

Also, the oscillation of the oscillation circuit 11 is stopped by the falling of the seat plate 21. An off signal is input to the control circuit 6 due to the fall of the seat plate 21, and the first timer 1
2a is reset.

Accordingly, the ozonizer 1 starts the operation of the ozonizer 2 and the electric fan 4 when the seat plate 21 is raised, and after the time (t2) specified by the second timer 12b has elapsed due to the fall of the seat plate 21, the ozonizer 1 starts operating. 2 and the operation of the electric fan 4 are stopped. Here, even if the seat plate 21 is left standing, if the total time of the time (t1) specified by the first timer 12a and the time (t2) specified by the second timer 12b elapses, the ozonizer 2 And the operation of the electric fan 4 is stopped. FIGS. 6A and 6B show the operating states of the ozonizer 2 and the electric fan 4.
Shown in

As in the first embodiment, the fail-safe circuit 13 and the function of detecting the wind speed of the electric fan 4 to stop the ozonizer 2 are added to the control circuit 6, so that the blowing capacity of the electric fan 4 is reduced. Or if the ventilation stops,
The operation of the ozonizer 2 is stopped. Further, the soldered portion of the ozonizer 2 is coated with an epoxy resin or a silicon resin in order to prevent corrosion due to ozone.

[0028]

As described above, according to the ozone generator for a toilet according to the present invention, when the electric fan is disconnected and the intake and exhaust is stopped, or the amount of intake and exhaust by the electric fan falls below a predetermined value. In this case, since the ozonizer is immediately stopped, high-concentration ozone is generated as in the related art, so that damage and deterioration of the components, particularly deterioration of the ozone decomposition / deodorization catalyst can be prevented. In addition, when attached to a mobile toilet, even if the seat plate is left standing upright, the ozonizer is stopped after a predetermined time has elapsed,
A similar problem can be solved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an ozone generator according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing a control circuit of the ozone generator shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a movable toilet according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the mobile toilet shown in FIG. 3;

5 is a circuit diagram showing a control circuit of the ozone generator attached to the mobile toilet shown in FIG.

6 is a timing chart showing the operation of the ozone generator attached to the mobile toilet shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 30 Ozone generator 2 Ozonizer 3 Ozone decomposition and deodorization catalyst 4 Electric fan 6 Control circuit 7 High frequency high voltage generation circuit 10 Switch 11 Oscillation circuit 12 Timer circuit 12a First timer 12b Second timer 13 File safe circuit 14 Wind speed sensor 15 Switch Reference Signs List 20 Chair body 21 Seat plate 22 Toilet seat 23 Waste container

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. An ozone generator for a toilet comprising an ozonizer, an ozone decomposition / deodorization catalyst, an electric fan, and a control mechanism for controlling the ozonizer and the electric fan, wherein the control mechanism is configured to control the ozonizer when the electric fan is disconnected. An ozone generator for a toilet, comprising a fail-safe mechanism for stopping the operation. 2. An ozone generator for a toilet comprising an ozonizer, an ozone decomposition / deodorization catalyst, an electric fan, and a control mechanism for controlling the ozonizer and the electric fan, wherein the control mechanism detects a wind speed of the electric fan. An ozone generator for a toilet, comprising a wind speed sensor, wherein the ozonizer is stopped when a wind speed detected by the wind speed sensor is equal to or less than a predetermined value. 3. An ozone generating apparatus for a toilet provided with an ozonizer, an ozone decomposition / deodorization catalyst, an electric fan, a control mechanism for controlling the ozonizer and the electric fan, and attached to a movable toilet fitted with a waste container. The mechanism includes a sensor or a switch for detecting opening and closing of a seat plate of the movable toilet, and when the seat plate is opened, the operation of the ozonizer and the electric fan is started, and the seat plate is An ozone generator for a toilet, wherein the operation of the ozonizer and the electric fan is stopped after a lapse of a predetermined time from a time point when the opening state is reached.