JP2740550B2 - Bathtub - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a bath tub in which the water level in the bath tub changes periodically.

(B) Conventional technology Conventionally, as an embodiment of a bubble generating bath, a bath hot water circulation channel is interposed between a bathtub body and a circulation pump, and an air intake unit is connected to the bath hot water circulation channel. In some cases, hot water mixed with air bubbles can be ejected into the bathtub body, and the number of rotations of the hot water mixed with air bubbles can be adjusted by controlling the rotation speed of a circulation pump by a control unit.

(C) Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in the case of the above-described bubble-generating bath, although the bath water mixed with bubbles can change the amount of spout by adjustment, it only hits a part of the body of the bather. However, the bather's overall feeling did not change.

In addition, the effect of the bubble-containing bath water on the bath water in the bathtub body was small, and it was not possible to visually enjoy the change of the entire bathwater in the bathtub body.

(D) Means for Solving the Problems The present invention provides a bath water circulation flow path composed of a bath water suction flow path and a bath water strong flow path interposed between a bathtub body and a hot water storage tank;
Flow rate adjusting means respectively provided in the bath water suction passage and the bath hot water supply passage, the inflow amount from the bath water suction passage into the hot water storage tank, and the outflow from the hot water storage tank to the bath hot water supply line A control unit for controlling the flow rate adjusting means so that the amount is different. Further, the present invention is characterized in that an air intake section is communicatively connected to the bath hot water supply passage so that a bath containing air bubbles can be jetted into the bathtub body.

(E) Function and Effect According to the present invention, the following function and effect are produced.

That is, a bath water circulation flow path composed of a bath water suction flow path and a bath hot water supply flow path interposed between the bathtub body and the hot water storage tank,
Flow rate adjusting means respectively provided in the bath water suction passage and the bath hot water supply passage, the inflow amount from the bath water suction passage into the hot water storage tank, and the outflow from the hot water storage tank to the bath hot water supply line And a control unit for controlling the flow rate adjusting means so that the amount is different, so that the water level of the bathwater in the bathtub body can be changed, and the bather can enter the bathtub dynamically while being in the bathwater. You can feel the water level fluctuating throughout the body and enjoy it visually.

In addition, by changing the cycle and amplitude of changing the water level in various ways, it is possible to prevent the bather from getting tired of bathing for a long time.

Also, by changing the bath water level while ejecting the bubbled bath water from the strong bath flow path into the bathtub body, the amount of the bubbled bath water can be changed, so that the The change of the entire bath in the hot water body can be further increased, and the sensory and visual enjoyment can be increased in addition to the acupressure and massage effects for the bather by the bubble-containing bath.

(F) Example An example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(A) shown in FIG. 1 is an air bubble generation bathtub according to the present invention. The air bubble generation bathtub (A) is provided between a bathtub body (1) and a hot water storage tank (T). A hot-water circulation channel (D) consisting of a hot-water bath (10) and a hot-water bath (11) is provided, and a circulation pump is provided in the hot-water suction channel (10) and the hot-water bath (11), respectively. (P) and (P ') are provided, and both circulation pumps (P)
(P ') is controllable through the control unit (C), and the circulating pumps (P) and (P') are periodically changed in rotation speed with different phases to form the bathtub body (1). The water level (H) of the bath water (W) in () can be changed periodically.

The front and rear walls of the bathtub body (1) are provided with a foot-side jet nozzle (2) and a back-side jet nozzle (3), each of which has an automatically variable jet amount.

The specific structure of the foot side / back side jet nozzles (2) and (3) can be configured in the same manner as that described in Japanese Patent Application No. 1-73367 filed by the applicant.

In addition, each of the jet nozzles (2) and (3) is connected to the terminal end of the bath hot water supply channel (11), and
An air intake section (5) for taking in air from the outside is connected and connected via an air intake path (8), and a negative pressure generated when each of the ejection nozzles (2) and (3) ejects bath water is used. And the air taken in from the air intake section (5) is blown out to each jet nozzle (2).
It is made to be able to be inhaled into (3), and the hot water mixed with air bubbles can be jetted out of each jet nozzle (2) (3) into the bathtub body (1).

Each air suction passage (8) is provided with an electric valve (9) for adjusting the amount of air bubbles. The electric valve (9) allows each ejection nozzle (2) to pass through each air suction passage (8).
(3) The amount of air sucked into the inside can be adjusted, and the amount of bubbles in the bath water ejected from each of the ejection nozzles (2) and (3) can be adjusted. (M4) is a valve driving motor.

In addition, suction port (1m) opened at the bottom of the bathtub body (1)
Is connected to the beginning of the bath water suction passage (10).

A bypass flow path (12) is interposed between the bath water suction flow path (10) and the bath hot water flow path (11) in a communicating state, and a bypass flow path (12) is provided in the middle of the bypass flow path (12). (1) An electric valve (13) is provided to open and close the bypass flow path (12). (M
1) is a first valve driving motor for driving the first electric valve (13).

Further, a second electric valve (14) is provided downstream of the bypass flow path (12) of the bath water suction flow path (10) so that the downstream side of the bath water suction flow path (10) can be freely opened and closed. . (M2) is a second valve driving motor that drives the second electric valve (14).

In addition, a third electric valve (15) is provided on the upstream side of the bypass flow path (12) of the hot water supply path (11) so that the upstream side of the hot water supply path (11) can be freely opened and closed. And (M3) is a third valve driving motor that drives the third electric valve (15).

The control unit (C) includes a microprocessor (MPU)
And input / output interfaces (a) and (b), ROM and RAM
And a timer (t).

The operation interface panel (6) and the water level sensor (S) attached to the bathtub body (1) are connected to the input interface (a), and the operation panel (6) is connected to the bathtub body ( 1) A blow operation switch for blowing out hot water mixed with air bubbles into the bathtub, and a water level (H) of the bathtub in the bathtub body (1).
And a water level change switch for periodically changing the water level.

The output interface (b) has a pump drive motor (M) for driving the circulation pumps (P) and (P ').
(M ') and the first, second and third valve driving motors (M
1) (M2) (M3) and valve drive motor (M4) are connected.

Moreover, inverters (I) and (I) are interposed between the pump driving motors (M) and (M ') and the control unit (C), and the output frequencies of the inverters (I) and (I) are adjusted. The rotation speed of each of the circulation pumps (P) and (P ') can be smoothly and reliably changed by changing the rotation speed.

In the above-described configuration, when the water level (H) of the bath water (W) in the bathtub body (1) is periodically changed, first, the first electric valve (13) is closed and the bypass flow path is set. (12) is shut off, and the second and third electric valves (14) and (15) are opened respectively, so that the bathtub body (1) and the hot water storage tank (T) are connected to the hot water suction passage (10) and the hot water. A communication state is established via the strong feed channel (11).

In such a state, the rotation speed of the circulation pump (P ') provided in the bath hot water supply passage (11) is periodically changed, and the circulation pump (P) provided in the bath hot water suction passage (10) is rotated. By periodically changing the rotation speed by delaying the phase (for example, by delaying a half cycle), the hot water in the hot water storage tank (T) is passed through the hot water supply channel (11), and the bathtub body ( 1) Bath water (W) in the bathtub body (1) while supplying the bathwater in the bathtub body (1) through the bathwater suction flow path (10) and returning to the hot water storage tank (T). Can be changed periodically.

At this time, hot water mixed with air bubbles is jetted from the foot side / back side jet nozzles (2) and (3) into the bathtub body (1).

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the rotation speed of the circulation pumps (P ') and (P) and the time (t), where (Q') and (Q).
Shows rotation speed change curves of the circulation pumps (P ′) and (P), respectively.

The rotation speed change curves (Q ′) and (Q) indicate that the rotation speeds of the circulation pumps (P ′) and (P) are sinusoidally constant at a constant cycle (for example, one minute) with respect to time (t). The amplitude is changed within the rotation speed range (for example, in the range of 1600 to 3000 rpm).

Further, the cycle of the rotation speed change curves (Q ′) and (Q) may be indefinite. For example, the cycle is 1 minute, 2 minutes,
1 minute, 3 minutes, ... or 10 seconds, 20 seconds, 10 seconds, 30
It can be varied randomly, such as seconds.

 The amplitude can also be changed and adjusted.

Further, the periodic change of the rotation speed of the circulation pumps (P) and (P ') is represented by a sine function curve in the memory (m) of the control unit (C).
A quadratic function curve, a cubic function curve, or a multi-order function curve such as a quartic function curve, or a sawtooth shape, a rectangular pulse shape, and the like, and further, those obtained by a combination thereof are programmed, It can be varied according to any of these.

Further, the water level (H) is always detected by the water level sensor (S), and the detection result is sent to the control unit (C), so that the fluctuation of the water level (H) exceeds a certain range (for example, 5 cm). If it occurs, the circulation pump (P) (P ')
The number of rotations is controlled, and feedback control is performed to eliminate such a problem.

Further, when the bath water mixed with bubbles is jetted without changing the water level (H) of the bath water (W) in the bathtub body (1), first, the first electric valve (13) is opened. By closing the second and third electric valves (14) and (15), the bath water circulation is performed by the bath water suction flow path (10), the bypass flow path (12), and the hot water supply path (11). A channel (D) is formed.

In this state, by driving at least one of the circulation pumps (P) and (P '), each of the jet nozzles (2) and (3) causes the bath water containing air bubbles to be jetted into the bathtub body (1). Can be.

At this time, the number of rotations of the circulating pumps (P) and (P ') to be driven is periodically changed so that a jet of a wave image returned to a bather can be given.

The opening / closing amount of each of the ejection nozzles (2) and (3) and the opening / closing amount of each of the electric valves for adjusting the amount of air bubbles (9) are also controlled by the controller (C) in the same manner as the rotation speed of the circulation pump (P). Can be changed.

The embodiment of the present invention has the above-mentioned configuration, and the circulation pumps (P) and (P ') are used as flow rate adjusting means provided in the bath water suction passage (10) and the bath hot water supply passage (11), respectively. Since the valves (14) and (15) are used, according to the present embodiment, the following operational effects are produced.

That is, since the water level (H) of the bath water (W) in the bathtub main body (1) can be changed periodically, the bather can dynamically change the water level (H) in the bath water.
Can be felt by the whole body, and the change of the water level (H) of the bath water (W) can be visually recognized, so that it can be enjoyed sensuously and visually.

In addition, by changing the cycle and amplitude of changing the water level (H) in various ways, it is possible to prevent the bather from getting tired of bathing for a long time.

In addition, by periodically changing the bath water level (H) while the bubble-containing bath water is jetted into the bath tub body (1) from the bath hot water supply channel (11), the bubble-containing bath water is discharged. Since the amount of squirt can also be changed periodically, the change of the entire bath water in the bathtub body (1) can be further increased, and acupressure and massage for the bather by the bubble-water-containing bath water can be obtained. In addition to effects, visual and sensory enjoyment can be increased.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual configuration explanatory view of a bubble generating bathtub according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a change in rotation speed and time of a circulation pump. (A): Bubble generation bath (T): Hot water storage tank (D): Bath hot water circulation flow path (P) (P '): Circulation pump (10): Bath hot water suction flow path (11): Bath hot water strong flow Road

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Mitsuaki Hashida 2-81-1, Honmura, Chigasaki-shi, Kanagawa Pref. Tochiki Kiki Co., Ltd. Chigasaki Plant (72) Inventor Koichi Uchiyama 2-81-1, Honmura, Chigasaki-shi, Kanagawa T 陶 h 陶(72) Inventor Kenji Moriyama 2-8-1, Honmura, Chigasaki-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Tochiki Equipment Co., Ltd.

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A hot-water bath circulation channel comprising a bath-water suction channel and a hot-water bath forcibly interposed between a bathtub body and a hot-water storage tank; A flow rate adjusting means provided in each of the flow paths, and controlling the flow rate adjusting means such that an inflow amount from the bath water suction flow path to the hot water storage tank and an outflow amount from the hot water storage tank to the hot water supply path are different. A bath tub comprising: 2. The bathtub according to claim 1, wherein an air intake portion is connected to the strong flow path of the bathtub so as to be able to jet a bath containing air bubbles into the bathtub body.