JP3172591B2 - Bathtub cleaning method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bathtub cleaning method for performing automatic cleaning of a bathtub and defoaming after the cleaning.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The applicant has proposed a method for automatically cleaning the inner wall surface of a bathtub, for example, in Japanese Patent Application No. 2-320150. In this proposal, the cleaning liquid stored on the bottom side of the bathtub is guided to a cleaning nozzle via a circulation path built in a circulation pump, and the cleaning liquid (a mixture of detergent and water) is circulated and sprayed from the cleaning nozzle to the inner wall surface of the bathtub. After the dirt on the inner wall of the bathtub is removed, the used washing liquid is discharged from the drain port of the bathtub and discarded.

[0003]

However, when the inside of the bathtub is cleaned by circulating and spraying the cleaning liquid with the cleaning nozzle, a large amount of the cleaning liquid (detergent) is generated, covering the inside wall of the bathtub, and draining the bathtub. Even after the cleaning liquid is discharged from the mouth, the foam remains on the inner wall surface of the bathtub, and in the next step, even if the inner wall surface of the bathtub is rinsed, the foam does not easily disappear and there is a problem that it is difficult to eliminate the foam. Was.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a bathtub cleaning capable of effectively removing bubbles generated during bathtub cleaning and discharging the same from a bathtub together with a cleaning liquid. It is to provide a method.

[0005]

The present invention is configured as follows to achieve the above object. That is, in the bathtub cleaning method of the present invention, the cleaning liquid jetted from the cleaning nozzle to the inner wall surface of the bathtub is guided to the cleaning nozzle via a circulation path incorporating a pump, and the cleaning liquid is circulated and injected from the cleaning nozzle to remove stains on the inner wall surface of the bathtub. After that, a defoamer for removing bubbles of the cleaning liquid is supplied to an arbitrary portion of a path from the bathtub to the cleaning nozzle via the circulation path, the foam is removed, and then the cleaning liquid is drained. After injecting the defoaming agent for eliminating the foam, the defoaming agent is circulated and ejected from the washing nozzle together with the washing liquid to eliminate bubbles in the circulation path, and then the washing liquid is drained.The circulating ejection of the washing liquid heats the washing liquid. It is a characteristic feature of the present invention that the defoaming agent is circulated and sprayed and the defoaming agent is heated together with the cleaning liquid.

[0006]

In the present invention having the above construction, for example, the cleaning liquid collected on the bottom surface of the bathtub is guided to the cleaning nozzle via the circulation path, and is circulated and sprayed from the cleaning nozzle to the inner wall surface of the bathtub, thereby removing stains on the inner wall surface of the bathtub. Dropped. After removing this dirt, the antifoaming agent is put into the circulation path, and the antifoaming agent is circulated and ejected from the cleaning nozzle together with the cleaning liquid. When the defoamer is sprayed on the foam, the foam is instantaneously erased. After the bubbles are completely removed, the cleaning liquid is discharged from the drain of the bathtub.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a system configuration of an embodiment relating to a bathtub cleaning method according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, a drain pipe 2 is connected to the bottom of a bathtub 1, and the drain pipe 2 is provided with an automatic drain valve 3. A cleaning nozzle 5 for spraying a cleaning liquid onto the inner wall surface of the bathtub is attached to the inner surface of the lid 4 placed on the upper surface of the bathtub 1.

A return port 6 for the cleaning liquid is opened at the bottom of the bathtub 1. The return port 6 is connected to the inlet side of a return pipe 7, and the outlet side of the return pipe 7 is connected to the suction side of a circulation pump 8. ing. The circulation pump 8 has a discharge side connected to a proximal end of the outward pipe 10, and a distal end connected to the washing nozzle 5. The return pipe 7, the circulation pump 8, A circulation path 11 that functions as an injection path to the cleaning nozzle 5 via the outward pipe 10 is formed. This circulation path
A heat exchanger 9 for heating the cleaning liquid is provided on the outgoing pipe 10 side of 11.

The return pipe 7 has a water level sensor 12 such as a pressure gauge for detecting the water level in the bathtub 1, a return pipe opening / closing valve 13 such as a solenoid valve for opening / closing a pipe, and a flow of water in the pipe. A running water sensor 14 for detecting the temperature of the washing liquid and an inlet temperature sensor 15 for detecting the temperature of the cleaning liquid before entering the heat exchanger 9 are provided. Further, an outlet side of a water supply pipe 27 is connected between the return pipe opening / closing valve 13 of the return pipe 7 and the flowing water sensor 14, and an inlet side of the water supply pipe 27 detects a water supply flow rate with a water supply control valve 28 such as an electromagnetic valve. Connected to a water supply source such as tap water through a flow sensor 30.

One end of a detergent supply pipe 23 and one end of a defoamer supply pipe 16 are connected to the forward pipe 10, and the other end of the detergent supply pipe 23 is connected to a detergent tank 25 via a detergent control valve 24. Have been. The detergent tank 25 stores a detergent. The other end of the defoamer supply pipe 16 is a defoamer control valve such as a solenoid valve.
It is connected to a defoaming agent tank 18 via 17, and a desired defoaming agent such as an alcohol-based or silicone-based defoaming agent is stored in the defoaming agent tank 18. Further, the outgoing pipe 10 is provided with an outlet temperature sensor 20 for detecting the temperature of the cleaning liquid on the outlet side of the heat exchanger 9.

The detection signals of the water level sensor 12, the flowing water sensor 14, the flow rate sensor 30, and the temperature sensors 15 and 20 are transmitted to a control unit 31.
Has been added to The control device 31 is provided with a circuit such as a timer and a sequence control program for automatically cleaning the bathtub.The control device 31 receives detection signals from the various sensors and operates various valves in accordance with the given programs. The opening and closing, the operation of the circulation pump 8 and the heating operation of the heat exchanger 9 are controlled, and the operation of automatic cleaning of the bathtub is performed. A remote controller 32 for instructing a cleaning operation is connected to the control device 31.

The system of the apparatus of this embodiment is configured as described above. Next, the operation of bathtub cleaning using this system will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
First, when the cleaning switch is turned on by the remote controller 32, the drainage operation of the remaining hot water in the bathtub 1 is performed in steps 101 to 104. In step 101, it is determined by the water level sensor 12 whether or not there is remaining hot water in the bathtub 1. If there is remaining hot water, the automatic drain valve 3 is opened to drain the bathtub hot water. Close 3.

Next, at step 105, the water supply control valve 28 is opened. Then, the water supplied through the water supply pipe 27 is jetted from the washing nozzle 5 into the bathtub 1 through the outgoing pipe 10 side. At this time, the heat exchanger 9 is heated, and the water flowing out of the heat exchanger 9 is discharged. Hot water of a predetermined temperature S ° C., for example, 60 ° C., is supplied to the cleaning nozzle 5, and the amount of hot water required for bath tub cleaning is stored on the bottom side of the bath tub 1. The required water amount is set in advance as a necessary minimum amount that does not hinder the start-up operation of the circulation pump 8, and the water supply time after opening the water supply control valve 28 is determined by the control device 31.
Or when the required amount of water is stored on the bottom side of the bathtub 1, the burner combustion of the heat exchanger 9 is stopped. The water supply control valve 28 is closed.

Next, the return pipe opening / closing valve 13 is opened, the circulation pump 8 is started, and then the detergent control valve 24 is opened to supply a predetermined amount of detergent from the detergent tank 25 into the forward pipe 10. The water (hot water) stored on the bottom of the bathtub 1 by the activation of the circulation pump 8
Is sucked from the return pipe 7 side and enters the circulation pump 8,
The water pressurized by the circulation pump 8 is circulated and jetted from the washing nozzle 5 into the bathtub 1 through the outgoing pipe 10, and due to the circulating flow of water, the detergent put into the outgoing pipe 10 from the detergent tank 25 is discharged. As a result of being carried to the cleaning nozzle 5 together with the circulating water and being injected into the bathtub 1, the water (hot water) and the detergent are mixed to produce a cleaning solution having a predetermined detergent concentration.

In this embodiment, after the detergent is introduced in step 111, the heat exchanger 9 is heated, and the cleaning liquid circulating in the circulation path 11 is heated to the optimum temperature for exhibiting the chemical cleaning ability of the detergent. For example, the heating temperature is controlled to 60 ° C., and the cleaning liquid heated to 60 ° C. is circulated and sprayed from the cleaning nozzle 5 to the inner wall surface of the bath tub. Remove dirt. When the circulating injection of the cleaning liquid from the cleaning nozzle 5 elapses a predetermined T time required for bathtub cleaning, the defoamer control valve 17
Is opened, and a small amount of an antifoaming agent is injected from the antifoaming agent tank 18 into the forward pipe 10. The supplied antifoaming agent is taken into the cleaning liquid circulating in the circulation path 11 and is circulated and ejected from the cleaning nozzle 5 as a result.
The cleaning liquid and the antifoaming agent are evenly mixed, and the antifoaming agent spreads to every corner of the circulation path, so that the detergent bubbles generated on the pipe and the inner wall surface of the bathtub at the time of the circulation injection of the cleaning liquid are instantly and cleanly erased. . In step 115, it is determined whether a predetermined time required for defoaming has elapsed since the defoaming agent control valve 17 was opened,
When a predetermined time has elapsed, it is determined that the bubbles of the cleaning liquid have completely disappeared, the heating of the heat exchanger 9 and the operation of the circulation pump 8 are stopped, the return pipe opening / closing valve 13 is subsequently closed, and the automatic drain valve 3 is closed. Is opened to drain the dirty cleaning liquid accumulated on the bottom side of the bathtub 1.

In step 120, it is determined from the water level detection signal of the water level sensor 12 whether or not the cleaning liquid in the bathtub 1 has been completely drained. When the cleaning liquid has been completely drained, the next steps 121 to 125 are performed. Rinse the pipeline and inner wall of the bathtub.

First, at step 121, the water supply control valve 28 is opened. Then, the water supplied from the water supply pipe 27 side is
The washing pipe 5 is guided to the washing nozzle 5 while washing the inside of the side pipe, and clean water is sprayed from the washing nozzle 5 onto the inner wall surface of the bathtub.
The cleaning liquid adhering to the inner wall surface of the bathtub and the dirt component dropped by the cleaning liquid are washed off and discharged from the drain pipe 2. In step 122, it is determined whether or not a sufficient amount of water necessary for rinsing is supplied based on the detection signal of the flow rate sensor 30, and when the required amount of water for rinsing is supplied, Judging that the rinsing of the inner wall of the bathtub was completed,
Next, at step 123, the return pipe opening / closing valve 13 is opened. This valve
The water supplied from the water supply pipe 27 by the opening operation of 13 enters the return pipe 7 side, enters the bathtub bottom side from the return port 6 while washing the inside of the pipe, and is discharged from the drain pipe 2. When the amount of water required for rinsing the return pipe 7 is supplied, the return pipe 7
Is completed, and the water supply control valve 28 is closed. Then, the return pipe opening / closing valve 13 is closed, the automatic drain valve 3 is closed, the automatic cleaning of the bathtub is completed, and the bathtub 1 is ready to be filled with hot water.

As described above, according to this embodiment, at the end of the bathtub cleaning operation by the circulating injection of the cleaning liquid, the defoaming agent is introduced into the circulation path 11 and the defoaming agent is put together with the cleaning liquid in the heat exchanger 9. Since it is configured to be heated and circulated and ejected from the washing nozzle 5, the defoaming agent is evenly sprinkled on the detergent foam generated by the circulated ejection of the washing liquid.
The foam can be instantaneously erased, and the conventional difficult foam defoaming operation can be released.

The amount of the defoamer used in one washing of the bathtub is extremely small. Since the defoamer contained in the defoamer tank 18 once can be used for several years, for example, Once the defoamer has been set, it is not necessary to replenish the defoamer tank 18 with the defoamer for a long period of time. At the time of bathtub cleaning, it is conceivable to use a defoamer-containing detergent obtained by mixing a defoamer with a detergent, but this defoamer-containing detergent is difficult for ordinary consumers to purchase by ordinary means, In addition, there is a problem that the price of the detergent increases and the cleaning cost increases. Furthermore, when a normal detergent is used by mistake instead of a detergent containing an antifoaming agent, a large amount of foam is generated, and there is no problem of such misuse, which is effective.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can take various embodiments. For example, in the above embodiment, the defoaming agent is heated in the heat exchanger 9 and circulated and injected from the cleaning nozzle. However, the defoaming agent may be circulated and injected without heating.

Further, in the system shown in FIG. 1, the heat exchanger 9 may be omitted, and the cleaning liquid may be circulated and jetted from the cleaning nozzle 5 without heating to perform automatic cleaning of the bathtub.

Further, in the above embodiment, the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is configured as a dedicated apparatus for cleaning the bathtub.
As shown by the broken line, the inlet side of the water supply pipe 27 connected to the circulation path 11 is connected to the hot water supply pipe 38 side of the water heater 37, and the bathtub is cleaned using hot water of the water heater 37 instead of water. You may.

As a modification of the system shown in FIG. 1, the washing nozzle 5 is attached to the side wall of the bathtub 1 and the heat exchanger 9 functions as a heat exchanger for reheating.
The circulation path 11 may be configured to function as a reheating circuit, so that both bathtub cleaning and reheating of bath water can be performed. Further, while the washing nozzle 5 is attached to the lid 4 side, a branch pipe is connected from the outgoing pipe 10 to the outgoing pipe 10 via a three-way valve or the like, and the outlet side of the branch pipe is connected to the side wall of the bathtub for further purging. A fired circulation line may be formed. Also in this case, the circulation pump 8 also serves as both the pump operation of the injection of the cleaning liquid and the reheating circulation of the bathtub hot water, so that the circulation pump 8 can be efficiently used.

Further, in the above embodiment, the defoaming agent is circulated and sprayed together with the cleaning liquid. However, this defoaming agent is put into an arbitrary part of the circulation path, for example, in the bathtub 1 or the like, and defoamed without being circulated. You may make it foam. However, by circulating and spraying the defoaming agent as in this embodiment, the defoaming effect is further enhanced, and the defoaming time can be significantly reduced.

[0025]

According to the present invention, the cleaning liquid is circulated and sprayed from the cleaning nozzle to remove stains on the inner wall surface of the bathtub, and then a defoaming agent is added to defoam the cleaning liquid (detergent) generated in the bathtub and the like. Since the cleaning liquid is drained, the bubbles can be eliminated in a short time and then drained when the cleaning liquid is drained, so it has been difficult to eliminate the bubbles generated during the cleaning. The conventional problems can be completely solved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system diagram of an embodiment of a bathtub cleaning apparatus to which a bathtub cleaning method of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a bathtub cleaning operation using the system of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Bathtub 5 Washing nozzle 8 Circulation pump 11 Circulation path 16 Defoamer supply pipe 17 Defoamer control valve 18 Defoamer tank 23 Detergent supply pipe 24 Detergent control valve 25 Detergent tank 31 Controller

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A cleaning liquid jetted from a cleaning nozzle to an inner wall surface of a bath tub is guided to a cleaning nozzle via a circulation path built in a pump, and the cleaning liquid is circulated and jetted from the cleaning nozzle to remove dirt on the inner wall surface of the bath tub. A bath tub cleaning method in which an antifoaming agent for removing bubbles of the cleaning liquid is supplied to an arbitrary portion of a path leading to the cleaning nozzle through the circulation path to remove bubbles and then drain the cleaning liquid. 2. The cleaning liquid jetted from the cleaning nozzle to the inner wall surface of the bathtub is guided to the cleaning nozzle via a circulation path built in the pump, and the cleaning liquid is circulated and injected from the cleaning nozzle to remove dirt on the inner wall surface of the bathtub. A bath tub cleaning method in which a defoamer for eliminating bubbles of the cleaning liquid is put into a path leading to the cleaning nozzle via the circulation path, and the defoamer is circulated and ejected from the cleaning nozzle together with the cleaning liquid to eliminate bubbles in the circulation path and then drain the cleaning liquid. . 3. The bath tub cleaning method according to claim 2, wherein the circulating injection of the cleaning liquid is performed by heating the cleaning liquid, and the circulating injection of the defoaming agent is also performed by heating the defoaming agent together with the cleaning liquid.