JP2789773B2 - Shower equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to a shower device for showering and discharging hot water or water toward a user's body, particularly a lower body.

<Conventional technology> Conventionally, as this type of shower device, for example,
As disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 70880, a plurality of water outlets for a body shower are provided in the vertical direction on the front of a shower tower body, and water outlets for an overhead shower are provided downward at an upper portion, and a water supply pipe connected to each of these water outlets. An opening / closing valve and a flow regulating valve are provided in the middle of the shower, and hot water of a preset instantaneous flow rate is discharged in the lateral direction from the water outlet of the body shower by operating the operation unit and applied to the whole body excluding the head, and the overhead shower There is a type in which hot water having a preset instantaneous flow rate is discharged downward from a water outlet and mainly hits the head.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> However, in such a conventional shower apparatus, since hot water or water does not hit the lower body sideways or downwards, the lower body, specifically the waist, buttocks, thighs, calf and There is a problem that the sole cannot be sufficiently stimulated from below and the massage cannot be performed.

Therefore, the underwater shower outlet is provided upward in the shower tower body, and a predetermined instantaneous flow rate of hot water is discharged upward from the undershower outlet similarly to the body shower or the overhead shower by operating the operation unit. Can be applied to the lower body and soles.

However, in this case, at the start of water discharge of the under shower, hot water of a set instantaneous flow rate is suddenly discharged from the water discharge port and violently hits the lower body and soles, so the user is surprised, and the under shower which is still unfamiliar is performed. There is a problem that the user feels uneasy about using the device and suddenly discharges water when the operation unit is erroneously operated, which gives the user discomfort.

In view of such a conventional situation, the present invention prevents the sudden water discharge at the start of the under shower water discharge while preventing the waist, hips, thighs,
The purpose is to give a moderate stimulus to the calf, sole, etc. from below.

<Means for Solving the Problems> A technical means according to the present invention for solving the above problems is to provide a water outlet upward, at a position below the vertical center height position of the body, and to connect to the water outlet. An on-off valve and a flow regulating valve are provided in the middle of the water supply pipe to be opened, and at the start of opening of the on-off valve, the opening of the flow regulating valve is reduced, and after a predetermined time, the opening of the valve is loosened to a preset opening. The flow rate adjusting means is provided.

<Operation> According to the present invention, according to the above technical means, at the start of opening of the on-off valve, the starting flow rate adjusting means changes the opening of the flow rate adjusting valve and discharges the hot water or water from the water outlet at a momentary flow rate with a small amount of water for a predetermined time. At the same time, hot water or water hits the lower body and the sole by increasing the instantaneous flow rate and approaching the set flow rate thereafter.

<Example> An example of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, this embodiment stands on the upper surface of an overhang portion (A ₁ ) projecting from the lower end of a vertically elongated shower tower body (A) in front of the shower tower body (A). Water outlet for under shower toward the lower body of the user in the open state (1)
Are disposed diagonally upward and left and right, respectively, and the start and stop of water discharge from these water discharge ports (1) and (1) are controlled by the operation of the operation unit (C) via the controller unit (B).

The upper surface of the overhang portion (A ₁ ) is inclined upward as it approaches the shower tower body (A) from the tip, and at the center thereof, a pair of left and right recesses (A ₂ ) that are smaller than the long dimension of the sole and larger than the short dimension. ) And (A ₂ ) are formed, and the under shower water outlet (1) is formed on the bottom surface of each of the recesses (A ₂ ) and (A ₂ ).
By opening (1), even if the sole is placed so as to cover each recess (A ₂ ), the water discharge port (1) is not blocked, and each recess (A ₂ ) The lower inner peripheral surface is partially or substantially horizontally or downwardly inclined to form a drain passage (A ₃ ) so that hot water or water is drained from the inside of the concave portion (A ₂ ) to the outside.

The drain passage (A ₃ ) is not limited to the above-described one, and may be, for example, a through-hole communicating the inside and the outside of the recess (A ₂ ).

Each of the water outlets (1) is connected to a water supply pipe (2) at the base end thereof, and the base end of the pipe (2) is a water supply source. In the case of the present embodiment, hot water is provided on the shower tower body (A). An on-off valve (4) composed of, for example, a solenoid valve is provided in the middle of the water supply pipe (2), and the on-off valves (4) and (4) and the hot-water mixing tap ( A flow control valve (5) having a water flow sensor and adjusting the instantaneous flow rate is provided between the flow control valve (3) and (3).

The on-off valves (4) and (4) and the flow control valve (5) are each electrically connected to a controller (B) to be described later, and the controller (B) controls the on-off operation and the opening adjustment operation, respectively. Is done.

The controller unit (B) stores the programmed one of the on / off valves (4) and (4) and the opening / closing operation of each of the opening / closing operations and the flow rate adjusting valve (5), such as a ROM or a RAM. A program storage circuit (B ₁ ), a program reading circuit (B ₂ ) for reading a program stored and held in the program storage circuit, and a CPU for executing the program read by the program reading circuit (B ₂ ). A program execution circuit (B ₃ ), a data storage circuit (B ₄ ) such as a RAM for holding data obtained temporarily during control and arithmetic processing of the program execution circuit (B ₃ ), a timer counter for managing the execution time (B _5), the actual closing valve program execution result of the program execution circuit _{(B 3) (4) (} 4) of the selection signals and opening and closing of the respective Constituting out with work signal and the flow rate adjusting valve (5) execution signal converter consisting of D / A converter for converting the opening degree adjustment operation signal (B _6).

Furthermore, the controller unit (B) and start timing detecting means for detecting the timing at which the automatic control is started by a signal from the operation unit (C) is (B _7), the output from the start timing detection means (B ₇₎ Based on the detected signal, the opening degree of the flow control valve (5) is reduced, and after a predetermined time, the opening degree of the flow control valve (5) is relaxed to a programmed opening degree (B). ₈ ) Equipped.

In the case of the present embodiment, the operation unit (C) is an operation panel disposed on the front surface of the shower tower body (A), and the “both” switch (C ₁ ) for under shower on the operation panel (C) is used. ) or touch one of "left" switch (C ₂₎ or "right" switch (C ₃₎ (pressed down) by operating, read only program corresponding to it to the program read circuit (B ₂₎ The water stop switch (C ₄ ) is touched (pressed down) or the switch corresponding to water discharge (C ₁ ) (C ₂ ) (C ₃ )
By touching (pressing down) again, each on-off valve (4) during the opening operation is immediately closed, and the program is canceled to return to the initial state.

That is, by pressing the "both" switch (C ₁ ) for under shower on the operation panel (C) in the initial state, the start timing detecting means (B ₇ ) moves from the operation panel (C) to the control section (B). The output automatic control start signal is detected, the detection signal is output to the start flow rate adjusting means (B ₈ ), and when the detection signal is input, the start flow rate adjusting means (B ₈ ) first resets the timer counter (B ₅ ). Start the operation, narrow the opening of the flow control valve (5), and at the same time double open / close valve (4)
(4) is opened, and water discharge is started from both the left and right water discharge ports (1) and (1) to such an extent that hot water or water having a small instantaneous flow rate does not hit the user's body violently.

After that, when the start flow rate adjusting means (B ₈ ) counts up by a timer counter (B ₅ ) after a lapse of a predetermined time from the start of water discharge, for example, as shown in FIG. 5 (A), the flow rate adjusting valve (5) is opened. The instantaneous flow rate of hot water or water to be spouted gradually decreases gradually, and when the opening of the valve (5) reaches the programmed opening and the instantaneous flow reaches the set flow rate, the flow rate is adjusted. The two opening / closing valves (4) and (4) are opened / closed intermittently while maintaining the opening of the valve (5) or loosening the opening of the flow regulating valve (5) as shown in FIG. 5 (B). The instantaneous flow rate of hot water or water to be spouted is increased stepwise around the water spout stop time, or the opening of the flow control valve (5) is intermittently loosened as shown in FIG. 5 (C). So that the instantaneous flow rate increases gradually.

In this state, either the water stop switch (C ₄ ) is pressed or the “both” switch (C ₁ ) is pressed again to close both open / close valves (4) and (4) to open the left and right water discharge ports (1) ( Water discharge from 1) is stopped.

Also, either one "left" and "right" switch for under the shower without pressing the water stop switch (C _4), for example by pressing the "left" switch (C _2), the flow regulating valve (5) At the same time, the opening and closing valve (4) on the right side is closed to stop the discharge of water from the water discharge port (1) on the right side, followed by the flow control valve (5). And the instantaneous flow rate of water discharged from the left water outlet (1) approaches the set flow rate, and when the set flow rate is reached, the operation of the flow control valve (5) is stopped, and thereafter the instantaneous flow rate is maintained constant. .

And "Left" for under shower in the initial state
By pressing one of the “right” switches, for example, the “right” switch (C ₃ ), the flow control valve (5) is throttled, and at the same time, both the on-off valves (4) and (4) are opened to discharge both right and left. Water discharge is started from the water outlet (1) to the extent that hot water or water with a small instantaneous flow does not hit the body violently from the water outlet (1), and after a predetermined time, only the left open / close valve (4) is closed to open the left water outlet (1). ) Is stopped, followed by the flow control valve (5)
And the instantaneous flow rate of water discharged from the right water discharge port (1) approaches the set flow rate, and when the set flow rate is reached, the operation of the flow control valve (5) is stopped.

In this state, pressing the water stop switch (C ₄ ) or pressing the “right” switch (C ₃ ) again closes the right on-off valve (4) and discharges water from the right water discharge port (1). Is stopped.

Further, for the under shower without pressing the water stop switch (C ₄₎ "left" switch (C ₂₎ right off valve by pressing (4) by closing the right side of the spout (1) from At the same time as the water discharge is stopped, the left open / close valve (4) is opened to start water discharge from the left water discharge port (1).

Further, by pressing the "both" switch (C ₁ ) of the under shower from this state, the two on-off valves (4) and (4) are opened, and at the same time, the flow control valve (5) is squeezed and both the left and right water outlets ( 1) From (1), water discharge is started to the extent that hot water or water does not hit the body violently. Subsequently, the flow control valve (5) is loosened to set the instantaneous flow rate at which water is discharged from both water discharge ports (1), (1). When the flow rate approaches the set flow rate, the operation of the flow control valve (5) is stopped.

In the figure, (6) is the outlet of the overhead shower,
(7) is a water outlet for a micro shower, (8) is a water outlet for tapping water, (9) is a water outlet for a body shower, and (10) is a water outlet for a hand shower. These water outlets (6)
(7), (8), (9), and (10), similarly to the water outlet (1) for the under shower described above, each water outlet (6) (7) through the controller (B) by the operation of the operation unit (C). ) (8)
(9) The start and stop of water discharge from (10) are controlled,
At the start of each water discharge, hot water or water at the set instantaneous flow rate is suddenly discharged, or the instantaneous flow rate is discharged less like underwater discharge and returned to the set flow rate after a predetermined time. Is also good.

 Next, the operation of such a shower device will be described.

If _one of the switches (C ₁ ), (C ₂ ) and (C ₃ ) for under shower on the operation panel (C) is touched (pressed down), the two on-off valves (4) are operated based on the corresponding program. (4) or one of the on-off valves (4)
At the same time as opening only the valve, first, the start timing detecting means (B ₇ ) detects the automatic control start signal and outputs the detection signal to the start flow rate adjusting means (B ₈ ). ₈ ) By narrowing the opening of the flow control valve (5), hot water or water supplied from the hot water mixer tap (3) is supplied to each water outlet, and vigorously applied to the user's body from each water outlet (1). Water discharge is started to the extent that it does not hit.

After a predetermined time, the starting flow rate adjusting means (B ₈ ) loosens the opening of the flow rate adjusting valve (5), thereby increasing the instantaneous flow rate of the hot water or water to be discharged. From (1), water is discharged obliquely upward toward the lower body of the user standing in front of the shower tower body (A).

This upward water discharge hits the front of the waist if the user stands forward facing the shower tower body (A), and hits the back and hips of the user if the user stands backward, and if the user approaches the shower tower body (A), Hits the thighs and calves.

In addition, if one foot is placed on the recess (A ₂ ) on the upper surface of the overhanging portion (A ₁ ) where hot water or water is discharged while standing, it hits the sole of the foot and water is discharged from both water discharge ports (1) and (1). If you sit on a chair and put your feet in the recesses (A ₂ ) and (A ₂ ), you will hit both feet.

Further, touch (press down) the water stop switch (C ₄ ) on the operation panel (C) or touch one of the under shower switches (C ₁ ), (C ₂ ), and (C ₃ ) again ( If the switch is pressed down, the on-off valves (4) that are being opened are closed immediately, and the water discharge from the water discharge ports (1) is stopped.

In the embodiment described above, the water outlets (1) for the under shower are arranged on the upper surface of the overhanging portion (A ₁ ) at the lower end of the shower tower body (A) diagonally upward and downward, respectively. The number of the water outlets (1) may be one or three or more. If the water outlet (1) is disposed at a position below the vertical center of the user's body, the side wall or the floor surface of the shower room. May be arranged.

In addition, the opening / closing operation of the open / close valves (4) and (4) of the under shower and the opening adjustment operation of the flow control valve (5) are automatically controlled based on a program stored in the controller unit (B) in advance. However, the same is true even if control is performed using, for example, a relay or the like in addition to the program.

<Effect of the Invention> Since the present invention has the above configuration, it has the following advantages.

At the start of opening of the on-off valve, the starting flow rate adjusting means changes the opening degree of the flow rate adjusting valve to discharge hot water or water from the water discharge port at an instantaneous flow rate for a predetermined time, and thereafter increases the instantaneous flow rate to approach the set flow rate. As a result, the water hits the hot water or the lower body and the sole, so that appropriate stimuli can be applied to the waist, hips, thighs, calves, soles, etc. from below while preventing rapid water discharge at the start of under shower water discharge.

Therefore, it is possible to apply a stimulus to a part that cannot be sufficiently performed by the body shower, the overhead shower, or the hand shower, and to massage, and at the start of the water discharge, the surprise of the user is reduced, and the under shower, which is not familiar, can be used with ease.

When the under shower is provided together with other showers and the operation section controls the start and stop of water discharge from these showers, a small amount of water discharge at the start of under shower water discharge can also be used as a notice function, and other showers can be used. Even if the under shower is spouted by mistake during use, it can be stopped immediately by the above-mentioned notice function.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a shower device showing one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a circuit configuration diagram of a control system, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an appearance of the shower device, and FIG. FIG. 5 (A) is a graph showing the relationship between instantaneous flow rate of hot water or water discharged from the water outlet of the under shower and time, and FIG. (B) and FIG. 5 (C) are graphs each showing another example. B ₈ …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yasuharu Kato 2-1-1 Nakajima, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka Tochiki Kiki Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-63-226325 (JP, A) Japanese Utility Model Application Showa 63-100572 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Application Showa 62-190592 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) A47K 3/22

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] (1) At a position below the vertical center position of the body,
A water outlet is provided upward, an on-off valve and a flow control valve are provided in the middle of a water supply pipe connected to the water outlet, and at the start of opening of the on-off valve, the opening of the flow control valve is reduced and after a predetermined time, A shower device, comprising: a starting flow rate adjusting means for loosening an opening degree of a valve to a preset opening degree.