JP3094735B2 - Electrolytic ionic water generator - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for producing electrolytic ionic water capable of separating and collecting alkaline ionic water and acidic ionic water. The present invention relates to a device for generating electrolytic ionic water having a compact shape that can be easily assembled.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Water containing alkaline ions such as calcium, sodium, magnesium and potassium is not only delicious, but also functions effectively to maintain the health by replenishing the lack of alkalinity and minerals in the human body. Commercially available as drinking water. As a device for producing this kind of alkaline ionized water easily and efficiently, household and commercial electrolytic ionized water generation devices have been developed and are rapidly spreading.

Usually, an electrolytic ionized water generator is used alone or in connection with a water purifying system such as an activated carbon filtration tank to a water tap, and its mechanism is provided with a space between a pair of electrode plates serving as an anode and a cathode. It consists of an electrolytic cell separated by an ion-exchange membrane. When flowing water, alkali ion (cation) water generated by the ionization of the electrolyte dissolved in the water flows from the cathode cell, and acidic ion (anion) water flows from the anode cell. Designed to harvest. Apparatus forms are roughly classified into a laminated structure using a flat electrode and a cylindrical structure using a ring electrode. A laminated structure capable of increasing the number of electrolytic cells to increase the generated capacity is mainly used.

A conventional ionic water electrolysis apparatus having this laminated structure has an electrode plate, an ion exchange membrane,
The electrode plate and the ion-exchange membrane are fixed in a sealed manner at a predetermined interval in the order of the ion exchange membrane until a predetermined number of tanks are set, and this is set in a box container having a water inlet and a water outlet. For this reason, the assembly process of each member is complicated, the work efficiency is poor, and the disassembly work at the time of maintenance, such as replacement of parts, is troublesome.

Further, in order to remove the alkali hydroxide component adhering as a scale to the cathode surface over time in the course of use, it is necessary to change the polarity of the electrode and backwash after use of the apparatus. In this case, since a phenomenon occurs in which the acidic ionized water is discharged from the alkaline ionized water outlet and the alkaline ionized water is discharged from the acidic ionized water outlet, the water sampling must be stopped during the washing. There has been proposed an ionic water generating apparatus (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-74585) in which continuous operation is enabled without stopping operation by providing a water channel switching means. However, the structure of the channel switching means is not installed in a part of the array panel in the unit panel type electrolytic cell.

[0006]

As described above, the electrolytic ion water generating apparatus having the conventional structure requires a lot of man-hours for assembling and disassembling. In addition, since the stacked and fixed electrolytic tanks are housed in the box container, the arrangement of the electrolytic tanks is increased. The number of stages is fixed, and it is not possible to adjust the electrolytic generation capacity by increasing or decreasing the number of tanks. Further, there has been a problem that it is difficult to design a compact structure because the unit of the electrolytic cell is relatively thick.

The present invention has been developed to solve such problems of the prior art, and its object is to simply and freely increase and decrease the number of electrolytic cell unit panels formed in the same shape on the front and back by laminating and fixing them. It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for generating electrolytic ionic water having a compact structure that can be assembled in a compact structure.

[0008]

An apparatus for producing electrolytic ionic water according to the present invention for achieving the above object comprises a frame-shaped resin frame having a plurality of connecting solid holes at predetermined positions on an outer peripheral portion. O-ring grooves are formed along the outer peripheral surface at the peripheral portions of both surfaces of the frame, and partition wall grooves are formed at the inner edges of the both surfaces of the frame. One of the O-grooves is located at a predetermined position between the O-ring grooves and the inner edge located at the top of the frame. The electrode plate is integrated into a support member with two flowing water holes communicating with the inside of the tank, with the tip of the electrode terminal protruding and the electrode surface exposed to the frame space surface excluding the lower part. An electrolyzer unit panel is formed, a desired number of such electrolyzer unit panels are laminated via an O-ring and an ion exchange membrane such that an anodic electrolyzer and a catholyte electrolyzer are mutually arranged, and water inlets are provided on both side surfaces. Communicating with the outer lid on the water inlet side and the flow hole of the anode electrolyzer A structure in which a water-side outer lid having an acidic ion water outlet and an alkali ion water outlet communicating with a flow hole of a cathode electrolysis cell is brought into contact with each other and hermetically fixed by a connection fixing hole of the support member. .

As an electrode plate constituting the electrolytic cell of the present invention, a normal metal electrode formed of, for example, a stainless steel plate or a titanium plate can be used. In particular, a noble metal such as platinum is plated and fired on the surface. A titanium electrode coated by such means as above is preferably used. When any of these electrode materials is used, it is preferable that the electrode plates of the anodic electrolytic cell and the cathodic electrolytic cell are made of the same material from the viewpoints of durability life and simplification of device assembly. Electrode terminals of the same material are spot-welded to the upper end of the electrode plate.

The electrolytic cell unit panel is formed integrally with the resin frame of the support member such that both side edges of the electrode plate and an intermediate portion of the electrode terminal are buried, and both surfaces of the electrode are exposed to the frame space except the lower portion. It is formed by this. Each of the electrolytic cell unit panels formed in this manner is a unit member having the same shape on the front and back sides as an anode electrolytic cell and a cathode electrolytic cell. Therefore, an O-ring is inserted into the O-ring groove of the support member, and an ion exchange membrane is simultaneously inserted into the groove for the partition wall, and a predetermined number of sheets are alternately overlapped with each other. It is assembled as a generator of electrolytic ionic water by hermetically fixing it.

In the structure of the present invention, even when the polarity of the electrode is changed, the same product ion water is always allowed to flow out from the same water outlet, so that the inside of the water outlet side cover or a separate member is prepared. A flow path switching mechanism for ionic water can be formed on a resin panel that can be laminated and arranged between the electrolytic cell unit panel and the water-side outer lid. As a specific flow path switching mechanism to be formed, a flow path leading from the water flow hole of the anode electrolytic cell to the acidic ion water outlet and a flow path leading from the water flow hole of the cathode electrolytic cell to the alkali ion water outlet communicate with each other. A branch path may be formed, and a pair of flowing water switching valves may be provided at appropriate positions of the branch path to open and close in response to polarity switching.

As another flow path switching mechanism, a horizontal hole-shaped space portion in which a flow hole of the anode electrolytic cell and a flow hole of the cathode electrolytic cell communicate with each other, and an acidic ion water outlet at a position opposite to the flow hole side of the space portion. A channel that is formed adjacent to a flow path that leads to the acidic ion water outlet and a flow path that passes to the alkaline ion water outlet by alternately moving left and right in the space part in conjunction with polarity switching. Can be set to a structure equipped with a flow path switching valve, and this mechanism is structurally simpler than the above-described branch path method.

[0013]

In the apparatus for generating electrolytic ionic water according to the present invention, the same member having the same shape as the front and back sides in which the electrode plate is integrated with the support member made of a frame-shaped resin frame is formed as the electrode tank unit panel. A plurality of electrolyzer unit panels are alternately arranged face to back via O-rings and ion exchange membranes, and the outer cover on the water inlet side and the outer cover on the water outlet side are overlapped on both sides, and the whole is connected and fixed, which is extremely efficient. The assembly work can be performed efficiently. Therefore, the assembling process is significantly simplified, and the capacity can be adjusted to a desired capacity according to the generation capacity of the ionized water to be electrolyzed by adjusting the number of stacked layers. Moreover, since each electrolytic cell unit panel is formed in a thin plate shape, it is extremely compact as a whole, and can be designed in a form convenient for carrying, installing, and the like.

Further, if a flow path switching mechanism is formed in a panel which can be laminated and arranged inside the water-side outer lid or between the electrolytic cell unit panel and the water-side outer lid, the polarities of the electrodes can be changed during use. Due to the action of the flow path switching, the generated alkaline ionized water always flows out of the alkaline ionized water outlet, and the generated acidic ionized water flows out of the acidic ionized water outlet. Therefore, in order to remove the scale attached to the cathode side electrode surface, even if the polarity of the electrode is changed each time or during use, the outlet of the generated ion water is not reversed,
Also, the durability life of the electrode plate is greatly improved. Since this channel switching mechanism is formed on the outer lid or the resin panel slightly thicker than the electrolytic cell unit panel, it does not impair the compactness or appearance.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the illustrated embodiments. FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway side sectional view showing an apparatus for generating electrolytic ionic water according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view thereof. In these figures, reference numeral 1 denotes an electrolytic cell unit panel integrally formed with an electrode plate 3 serving as an anode or a cathode connected to an electrode terminal 2. The electrolytic cell unit panel 1
A predetermined number of anodic electrolytic cells and cathodic electrolytic cells are alternately arranged via an O-ring 4 and an ion exchange membrane 5. It is hermetically fixed by a plurality of fixing means 11 such as bolts and nuts while being sandwiched by a water-side outer lid 10 provided with an ion water outlet 8 and an acidic ion water outlet 9. Reference numeral 12 denotes a flow hole for ion water, which communicates with, for example, the inside of every other cathode electrolytic cell and the ion water outlet 8 on the alkaline ion water side. Similarly, a flow hole from the anode electrolytic cell also penetrates in parallel, and communicates with the ion water outlet 9 on one acidic ion water side.

The specific configuration of the electrolytic cell unit panel 1 is as follows.
The front view of FIG. 3 and the enlarged sectional side view of FIG.
(Along the line), the electrode plate 3 is formed integrally with a support member 14 composed of a frame-shaped resin frame having a plurality of connection fixing holes 13 at predetermined positions on the outer peripheral portion. On both sides of the frame of the support member 14, an O-ring groove 15 is formed along the outer peripheral surface at a peripheral portion, and a groove 16 for a partition for fitting the ion exchange membrane 5 at an inner edge portion is formed. At a predetermined position between the ring groove 15 and the inner edge portion, two flowing water holes 12 are provided, one of which communicates with the inside of the tank and the other is not connected to the inside of the tank. The electrode plate 3 is integrated with the support member 14 such that the electrode terminals 2 protrude upward and the electrode surfaces are exposed to the frame body surface excluding the lower part. The support member 14 and the electrode plate 3 and the electrode terminals 2 can be integrated by a method of burying and molding at the stage of forming the resin frame.

In the electrolytic cell unit panel 1 having the above-described structure, the O-ring groove 15, the groove 16 for the partition wall, the flowing water hole 12, and the connection fixing hole 13 except for the protruding position of the electrode terminal 2 when the front surface and the rear surface are fitted to each other. Are formed as a thin plate member having the same shape on the front and back sides. Therefore, a large number of electrolytic cell unit panels 1 are prepared in advance, and an anodic electrolytic cell and a cathodic electrolytic cell are alternately arranged and laminated and sealed and fixed, so that electrolytic ionic water having a compact form as shown in FIG. Can be assembled.

When the channel switching mechanism is formed inside the outlet side outer cover 10 or on a panel which can be laminated and arranged between the electrolytic cell unit panel 1 and the water discharge side outer cover 10, for example, FIG.
As shown in the figure, a two-way branch path 17 in which a flow path from the flow hole of the anode electrolytic cell to the acidic ion water outlet 9 and a flow path from the flow hole of the cathode electrolytic cell to the alkaline ion water outlet 8 alternately communicate with each other is provided. It has a structure in which a pair of flow path switching valves 18 are provided at appropriate positions of the branch path 17 and opened and closed in conjunction with the polarity switching. The flow path switching valve 18 is preferably an electromagnetic valve mechanism. A flow path switching ball valve of a permanent magnet is inserted in a space extending between the passage and the branch path, and the flow path is switched by a polarity switching electromagnet operating mechanism. Or branch path 1
8 is designed to open and close.

As another flow path switching mechanism, as shown in FIG. 6, a horizontal hole-shaped space portion 19 is formed in which the water flow hole of the anode electrolytic cell and the water flow hole of the cathode electrolytic cell communicate with each other.
A flow path 20 leading to the acidic ion water outlet 9 and a flow path 21 leading to the alkali ion water outlet 8 are formed adjacent to each other at a position opposite to the flowing water hole side. Then, a single flow path switching valve 18 of a mechanism for alternately switching the flow paths 20 and 21 in conjunction with the polarity switching is provided in the space portion 19. The specific structure of the flow path switching valve 18 is preferably constituted by a solenoid type solenoid valve, and a flow path switching cylinder valve 22 inserted into the space portion 19 has a through hole as a flow path at a predetermined position. Alternatively, it is formed as a groove.

In using the apparatus for producing electrolytic ionic water according to the present invention, positive and negative electrodes are alternately connected to the electrode terminals 2 of the electrolytic cell unit panel 1 which is arranged and stacked, so that an anodic electrolytic cell and a cathodic electrolytic cell are used. Is formed, and tap water is fed from the water inlet 6. The contained water ionizes the contained electrolyte in the process of rising from the lower part of each electrolytic cell, and the alkali ions pass through the ion exchange membrane 5 to the cathode electrolytic cell, and the acidic ions move to the anodic electrolytic cell. The alkaline ionized water flows out from the alkaline ionized water outlet 8 and the acidic ionized water continuously flows out from the acidic ionized water outlet 9 as the generated ionized water.

A channel switching mechanism as shown in FIG. 5 or FIG. 6 is formed in a resin panel which can be laminated and arranged inside the water-side outer cover 10 or between the electrolytic cell unit panel 1 and the water-side outer cover 10. If the electrode is designed to have a structure, even if the polarity of the electrode terminal 2 is changed, the alkaline ionized water and the acidic ionized water always flow out from the same ionized water outlet. For this reason, the polarity can be switched at the time of use or each time the electrode is used, and the electrode plate 3 serving as the cathode can be washed, thereby making it possible to extend the life of the electrode about twice.

[0022]

As described above, the apparatus for generating electrolytic ionic water according to the present invention is constituted by simply stacking and fixing electrolytic tank members having the same shape on the front and back formed in advance as a unit panel. The manufacturing cost is reduced by simplification, and the shape after assembly is extremely compact. In addition, since the number of laminated electrolyzer unit panels can be freely increased or decreased, it is possible to control to a desired electrolyzed water generation capacity, including discrimination between household use and business use. Further, by forming the flowing water switching mechanism inside the water-outside outer lid or on the resin panel that can be laminated and arranged, it is possible to wash the electrode plate during use and to provide practical effects such as improvement of the life of the electrode plate. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway sectional view showing an apparatus for generating electrolytic ionic water according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a device for generating electrolytic ionic water according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing an electrolytic cell unit panel.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional side view of the electrolytic cell unit panel along the line AA in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional explanatory view illustrating a flowing water switching mechanism.

FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional explanatory view showing another flowing water switching mechanism.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electrolyzer unit panel 2 Electrode terminal 3 Electrode plate 4 O-ring 5 Ion exchange membrane 6 Water inlet 7 Inlet side lid 8 Alkaline ion water outlet 9 Acidic ion water outlet 10 Outlet side outer lid 11 Fixing means 12 Flow water hole 13 Connection fixed Hole 14 Support member 15 O-ring groove 16 Partition groove 17 Branch path 18 Flow path switching valve 19 Space part 20 Flow path 21 Flow path 22 Cylinder valve

Continuation of front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) C02F 1/46-1/48 C25B 9/20

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A frame-shaped resin frame having a plurality of connection fixing holes at predetermined positions on an outer peripheral portion, an O-ring groove extending along the outer peripheral surface at a peripheral portion on both sides of the frame, and a partition wall on an inner edge portion on both sides of the frame. Each of the grooves is formed, and at a predetermined position between the O-ring groove and the inner edge located at the top of the frame, two flow holes, one of which communicates with the inside of the tank, penetrate the supporting member. Electrode plates are integrated so that the front end protrudes upward and the electrode surface is exposed to the frame space surface excluding the lower portion, to form an electrolytic cell unit panel having the same shape on the front and back, and the electrolytic cell unit panel is formed with an O-ring and an ion exchange membrane. The desired number of sheets are laminated such that the anode electrolytic cell and the cathodic electrolytic cell are alternately arranged via an acid ion water outlet and a cathode that communicate with a water inlet side lid having water inlets on both sides and a flow hole of the anode electrolytic cell. The alkaline ionized water outlet communicating with the flow hole of the electrolytic cell. An electrolytic ionic water generating apparatus characterized in that it has a structure in which a water-side outer lid is abutted and hermetically sealed by a connection fixing hole of the support member. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electrode plates of the anodic electrolytic cell and the cathodic electrolytic cell are made of the same material. 3. A flow path communicating from a flow hole of an anode electrolysis tank to an acidic ion water outlet, and a cathode electrolysis, on a panel which can be arranged inside the water discharge side outer lid or between the electrolytic cell unit panel and the water discharge side outer lid. A branch path is formed in which the flow path from the flow hole of the tank to the outlet of the alkaline ionized water communicates with each other, and a pair of flow path switching valves are provided at appropriate positions of the branch path to open and close in response to polarity switching. The apparatus for generating electrolytic ionic water according to claim 1. 4. A horizontal hole in which a flow hole of an anode electrolytic bath and a flow hole of a cathode electrolytic bath communicate with a panel which can be arranged inside the water discharge side outer lid or between the electrolytic cell unit panel and the water discharge side outer lid. A space part having a shape, a flow path leading to an acidic ion water outlet and a flow path leading to an alkali ion water outlet are formed adjacent to a position opposite to the water flow hole side of the space part, and the space part interlocks with polarity switching. 3. The production of electrolytic ionic water according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a single flow path switching valve that alternately switches a flow path leading to an acidic ion water outlet and a flow path leading to an alkaline ion water outlet by moving left and right. apparatus.