JP3286468B2 - Five-way valve structure in bath water circulation channel - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a five-way valve structure in a bath circulation path.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as shown in FIG.
The so-called 24 bath water can be used in a clean state for a long time while performing sterilization S, filter medium backwashing, heating, etc.
There is a time heating bath U.

A part of the circulation path of the bath is switched in accordance with the action of filtration, washing, etc. in the middle of the bath. For example, the filter medium of the filtration device is backwashed, and then the contaminants are washed, and the backwash and the sewage after the washing are performed.
The water is drained out of the bath water circulation channel by a separately provided sewage discharge pipe.

[0004]

As described above, the switching valve X is interposed in the middle of the flow path Z in order to perform flow conversion with various functions in the circulation flow path.
When the number of switching channels is large, the channels are switched by combining a large number of two-way valves and three-way valves, for example (FIG. 18).
), And all the flow paths are switched using one five-way valve.

However, when a large number of ordinary valves are combined,
A required flow path must be formed by combining the operations of the valves, which has the disadvantage of complicating the operation system, and when using a five-way valve, the flow path can be switched with a single valve. However, because the valve structure is complicated and the volume is large, if a compact whole device with a circulation flow path and various functions in the middle is installed outside the bathtub, it becomes difficult to incorporate it into the device, and the whole device becomes large. And it is difficult to make effective use of the narrow bathroom space.

[0006]

The present invention comprises a bathtub, a circulation path for bath water having at least a filtering device and a heating device, and a circulation pump provided in the middle of the circulation path. In a hot water heating / filtration apparatus configured to heat and filter at least while forcibly circulating hot water in a bath tub, a five-way valve is provided at a branch part of a circulation flow path, and a five-way valve is provided. The valve includes a valve case in which the valve body is rotatably housed, a holding case provided in a communicating state below the valve case, an electric motor connected to the valve body, a water inlet opening in the holding case, and a valve case. The first communication port, the second communication port, the third communication port, and the fourth communication port opened in the peripheral wall.
A communication port, a first chamber, a second chamber, and a third chamber formed by partitioning the interior of a hollow valve body into three chambers with partition walls, and a valve closed except for one of the lower surfaces of the valve body. A lid, a first valve port, a second valve port, a third valve port, a fourth valve port, a fifth valve port, and a sixth valve port which are opened on the valve wall on the outer periphery of each chamber partitioned by the partition. It is an object of the present invention to provide a five-way valve structure in the configured bath circulation path.

[0007]

According to the present invention, when heating and filtering while forcibly circulating the bath water in the bath tub, the circulation pump is operated to circulate the bath water in the circulation flow path while the bath water is circulated in the circulation passage. The bath water is heated and filtered by a warming device and a filtering device.

[0008] However, besides the heating and the filtering action by the circulation flow path, in the case where a flow path is formed in the reverse direction to wash the filter medium of the filtration device, or after the filter medium is washed, the sewage in the flow path is further reduced. In the case of washing and discharging, for example, the flow path is reversed or another flow path is formed by switching a five-way valve provided at the flow path branch portion of the circulation flow path.

In other words, when a general circulation path for heating and filtration is used, the valve body housed in the valve case is rotated by operating the electric motor by the operation unit, and the valve is opened on the peripheral wall of the valve case. A predetermined communication port of each communication port is matched with a required valve port of a required compartment of the valve element. In this state, the bath water enters through the water inlet that opens into the holding case, temporarily stays in the holding case, and enters into one chamber of the valve body that is not closed by the valve lid. From the required communication port of the valve case through the required communication port, return to the required compartment through the required communication port via the required communication port via the circulation flow path, and return to the required compartment of the same compartment. It will be forcedly circulated while returning to the bathtub through the required communication port.

[0010] Next, in the case of a backwash channel, when the valve body is rotated via an electric motor by performing a backwash operation by the operation unit, the valve port of the valve body and the communication port of the valve case are connected. Is changed, and the water from the water inlet flows through the circulation flow path through the circulation flow path at the time of filtration in the reverse flow path, and is discharged from the required communication port of the valve case to the outside of the circulation flow path.

In the washing after the backwash, the washing operation is performed so that the valve body rotates and the valve port and the communication port coincide with each other so that the washing operation is performed. Sewage in the
The pollutants are discharged from the circulation channel to the outside.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 4, a five-way valve M includes a casing A made of a synthetic resin material having a five-way outer passage, a casing A rotatably housed in the casing A, and a partition 16 'inside. , And an electric motor C connected to a support shaft 29 of the valve body B.

As shown in FIG. 4, the casing A comprises a cylindrical valve case 1 and a holding case 3 connected to form a holding space 2 for holding fluid on the lower surface of the valve case 1. In the center of the water inlet 4 that communicates with the holding space 2
And a water inlet pipe 5 is protruded therefrom, and the first communication port 6, the second communication port 7, the third communication port 8, the fourth communication port 9 are provided on the outer peripheral wall of the valve case 1 in a substantially right angle direction. And communication pipes 10, 11, 12, and 13 are connected to the respective ports.

The communication pipes 10, 11, 12, and 13 provided in the communication ports 6, 7, 8, and 9 have a substantially L-shaped elbow shape, and are turned around a base end portion connected to the valve case 1 as a center. Is configured to be possible.

As another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 17, a tapping screw 14 'is provided in a communication port on the peripheral wall of the valve case 1.
A mounting pipe 14-1 is continuously provided through the connecting pipe, an engaging claw 14 is protruded from a peripheral surface of the mounting pipe 14-1, and an engaging claw is formed in an engaging groove 15 formed in an inner peripheral wall at a base end of the communication pipe. 14 are engaged in a watertight manner so that the communication pipe can be attached rotatably.

As shown in this embodiment, each communication pipe 10, 11,
12 and 13 can be rotated around the base end, so that the direction of the pipe of the circulation flow path connected to the communication pipe can be arbitrarily determined. Accordingly, the communication pipe can be assembled with one touch and the rotation can be freely performed.

A valve body B is rotatably housed in the valve case 1. The outer sliding surface of the valve body B is formed in a curved shape, and the inner periphery of the valve body B is formed as a concave curved surface. The valve body B has a function of switching the flow path of the fluid from the water inlet 4 while rotating in the cylindrical valve case 1, and the valve body B has a cylindrical valve wall 16 having a closed upper surface and a partition wall therein. 16 '.

As shown in FIG. 12, the interior of the valve wall 16 is partitioned into three chambers by a partition 16 '. The partition 16' extends radially from the center to three directions and has a distal end of the valve body B. It is connected to the inside of the wall 16 and is the first of three chambers formed by the partition 16 '.
The chamber 17 is formed by a partition wall having an angle of about 90 degrees, and the other second chamber is formed.
18, the third chamber 19 is formed by a partition wall having an angle of about 135 degrees.

On the outer peripheral surface of the valve body corresponding to the joint between the partition wall 16 'and the valve wall 16, a groove 20 is provided in the vertical direction.
When integrally molding the valve body B of a synthetic resin material with a mold,
It is provided at the joint between the split mold and the split mold,
By forming a projection corresponding to the groove at the joint of the split molds, the groove 20 is formed at the time of integral molding.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, a disc-shaped valve cover 21 is provided integrally with the lower surface of the valve body B, and the lower surface of the valve body B is removed except for the first chamber 17. It is closed.

That is, the disc-shaped valve cover 21 is attached to the valve case 1.
And the lower part of the boundary between the holding case 3 and
It is configured to rotate at the same time as the valve body B, and a notch 22 is formed by cutting out a part of the disk into a fan shape that matches the shape of the first chamber 17.

The partition wall 1 of the valve body B is provided on the upper surface of the valve cover 21.
6 'is formed with a radially extending fitting groove 23 into which the lower edge portion is fitted. By fitting the lower edge portion of the partition wall 16' with the fitting groove 21 ', the valve body B and the valve lid body 21 are integrated. Assemble to

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the valve wall 16 of the valve body B has two valve ports for each chamber, and the first chamber 17 has a first valve port. 23, a second valve port 24, a third valve port 25, a fourth valve port 26 in the second chamber 18, a fifth valve port 27 in the third chamber 19,
Sixth valve ports 28 are provided.

Each of these valve ports is appropriately communicated with the first, second, third, and fourth communication ports of the valve case 1 by displacement caused by the rotation of the valve body B, and is connected to the water inlet port 4. The flow path of the fluid is switched, so that the flow path from the water inlet 4 passes through the notch 22 of the valve lid 21 from the storage space 2 and passes through the valve body B
A flow path from the first chamber 17 through the first valve port 23 or the second valve port 24 to a required communication port of the valve case 1 is formed, and the second chamber 18 and the third chamber of the valve body B are formed. 19 valve ports 25, 26, 27, 28
Is for forming a suction / discharge flow path by appropriately communicating with the communication ports 6, 7, 8, 9 of the valve case 1.

A support shaft 29 is provided upright at the center of each partition wall 16 '. The support shaft 29 is connected to the output shaft of the electric motor C, as shown in FIGS. As shown in the figure, a cam 30 having three recesses α, β, and γ is provided on the peripheral wall of the support shaft 29 at three upper and lower positions. The limit switches 31, 32, 33 are provided in three layers, and the sensor claws 34, 35, 36 of each limit switch 31, 32, 33 are provided corresponding to each recess of the cam body 30, respectively. When the sensor claw comes to the position of the concave portion, a limit switch integrated with the sensor claw operates to stop the electric motor C. Reference numeral 30 'denotes an insertion pin for supporting three limit switches 31, 32, and 33.

The electric motor C starts to operate by being energized by an operation switch provided separately, and rotates the valve body B.
When the sensor claw of the limit switch reaches the concave portion of the cam body 30 by rotating by a certain angle, the milit switch is turned off to cut off the power supply to the electric motor C and stop the rotation of the valve body B.

As described above, by the combination of the limit switch and the cam body, the valve body B is automatically stopped when the valve body B rotates by a predetermined angle, and each valve port of the valve body B is connected to a required communication port of the valve case 1. It is located automatically so that the switching of the flow path is performed automatically.

Therefore, the positions of the three concave portions of the cam body 30 are as follows.
The position is determined depending on which valve port matches which communication port (this will be described later).

The five-way valve M configured as described above is used for a so-called 24-hour warm bath. A 24-hour warm bath will be described with reference to a schematic diagram shown in FIG.

The 24-hour warm bath is mainly composed of a bathtub 100, a heating device 101, a sterilization device 102, a filtration device 103, and a circulation pump P, and a circulation pipe is provided between these.
The five-way valve M is interposed in the middle of the circulation pipe 104 to switch hot water from the bathtub 100 in the circulation flow path.

More specifically, a water inlet 109 provided in a water suction pipe 107 for taking out hot water from the bathtub 100 communicates with the water inlet 4 of the five-way valve M, and supplies the circulated hot water to the bathtub 100. Outlet 106 provided in the discharge pipe 105 is connected to the third communication port 8 of the five-way valve M.
Between the communication port 6 and the second communication port 7, a circulation flow path R that connects and connects the heating device 101, the sterilization device 102, and the filtration device 103 is provided. In the fourth communication port 9,
A sewage drainage pipe 109 is connected.

As described above, the bathtub 100 is connected through the five-way valve M to the circulation flow path R including the heating device 101, the sterilizing device 102, the filtering device 103, etc., and the sewage discharge pipe 109. The bath water in the bathtub 100 is heated, sterilized, and filtered while circulating in the circulation flow path R by the circulation pump P provided in the middle of the water supply pipe 107.
The system is designed so that it can be used for a long period of time without replacing the bath water by sterilization and filtration while maintaining the appropriate temperature at any time during 4 hours.

Further, by the switching operation of the five-way valve M, the circulation channel R is used to backwash the filtration device 103 and to wash the filter medium.
In some cases, a backwash channel Q is formed in which the bath water is discharged in the opposite direction to the normal to discharge the cleaning wastewater from the wastewater discharge pipe 109 (see FIG. 7). After performing the backwashing by the operation, there is also a case of normal washing for washing away dust and the like accumulated in the backwash flow path Q (see FIG. 8).

As described above, by operating the five-way valve M, a flow path for heating, sterilizing, and filtering the bath water is formed between the bathtub 100 and the circulation flow path R as shown in FIG. (Hereinafter referred to as a filtration channel), a channel for performing backwashing of the filtration device as shown in FIG. 10 (hereinafter referred to as a backwash channel), and washing after the backwash as shown in FIG. (Hereinafter, referred to as a washing channel).

Next, the operation of the five-way valve M in each flow path will be specifically described as follows.

(I) When a filtration channel is formed (see FIG. 6). By rotating the valve body B, the first valve port 23 of the first chamber 17 communicates with the first communication port 6 of the valve case 1, and the third valve port 25 of the second chamber 18 communicates with the third communication port 8. The fourth valve port 26 is communicated with the second communication port 7 respectively.

In this state, when the circulation pump P is operated, the bath water is sent from the water inlet 108 of the bathtub 100 and the water inlet pipe 107 to the water inlet 4 of the casing A, and from the water inlet 4 through the holding space 2 to the valve cover body. The water enters the first chamber 17 of the valve body B through the notch 22 of the valve 21, is sent from the first valve port 23 to the circulation channel R through the first communication port 6, and is heated, sterilized, and filtered. Second communication port 7
The water enters the second chamber 18 through the fourth valve port 26 and the discharge port 10 from the third valve port 25 of the second chamber 18 to the bathtub 100 through the third communication port 8.
Water reaches bathtub 100 at 6.

The flow path is as follows: water inlet 108 → water inlet 4 → first chamber 17 → first valve port 23 → first communication port 6 → circulation channel R → second communication port 7 → fourth valve port. 26 → second room 18 → third valve port 25
→ The third communication port 8 → the discharge port 106.

(Ii) When a backwash channel is formed (see FIG. 7). By rotating the valve body B, the first valve port 23 of the first chamber 17 communicates with the second communication port 7 of the valve case 1 and the second chamber 18
The fourth valve port 26 to the first communication port 6 and the third valve port 25 to the fourth communication port 6.
The communication ports 9 are communicated with each other. This water flow path is shown as follows: water intake port 108 → water inlet port 4 → first chamber 17 → first valve port 23 → second communication port 7 → circulation channel R in the opposite direction → first communication port 6 → second.
The fourth valve port 26 of the chamber 18 → the second chamber 18 → the third valve port 25 → the fourth communication port 9 → the sewage discharge pipe 109 (iii) When a washing flow path is formed (see FIG. 8). By rotating the valve body B, the second valve port 24 in the first chamber 17 communicates with the first communication port 6 of the valve case 1 and the third chamber 19
The fifth valve port 27 to the second communication port 7 and the sixth valve port 28 to the fourth
The communication ports 9 are communicated with each other. The flow path is as follows: water inlet 108 → water inlet 4 → first chamber 17 → second valve port 24 → first communication port 6 → circulation channel R → second communication port 7 → fifth chamber 19 Valve port 27 → third chamber 19 → sixth valve port 28 → fourth communication port 9 → sewage discharge pipe 109 As described above, the five-way valve M operates as described in (i), (ii) and (iii). Things.

In addition to the above, there is a flow path for independently performing cleaning. In this case, the drainage mode is set by pressing the cleaning switch of the operation unit disposed at a required position three times within two seconds. .

That is, in the drain mode, when the washing switch is pressed in a predetermined form, the circulation pump is stopped, the five-way valve is operated, and the valve body B stops at the same position as the washing flow path in FIG.

Then, the water in the five-way valve M, the water in the filtration device 103, and the water in the circulation pipe 104 are drained from the sewage discharge pipe 109.
And the inside of the five-way valve and the like is set to atmospheric pressure).

The state of the natural drainage is determined by the following circulation pump P
It is not released until the switch for the operation of the switch is turned on.

Next, when the operating section is operated to form a filtration flow path, the five-way valve returns to the state of the filtration flow path shown in FIG. 6 and restarts the filtration operation.

By creating such a single drain mode, drainage inside the main body of the 24-hour insulated bath can be easily performed by one-touch operation of the operation unit. Conventionally, drainage inside the main body is manually performed and a separate drain cock or the like is provided. This has the effect that the structure can be eliminated.

Here, the operation of the cam body 30 of the five-way valve M in the 24-hour warm bath will be described. The recesses α, β, and γ formed on the peripheral surface of the cam body 30 are formed by the filtration channels of the circulation bath,
It is provided corresponding to the backwash channel and the wash channel. That is, as shown in FIGS. 14 to 16, the concave portion α is provided at the uppermost stage, and the valve body B is rotated by operating an operation panel (not shown) to form a filtration flow path. In this case, after a certain rotation, the concave portion α engages with the sensor claw 34 of the uppermost limit switch 31 to cut off the power supply to the electric motor C to stop the rotation of the valve body B. Becomes the state of the filtration channel.

The recess β is provided in the middle,
This is because, when the operation panel (not shown) is operated to rotate the valve body B to form the backwash flow path, the recess β is engaged with the sensor claw 35 of the middle-stage limit switch 32 after a certain rotation. Then, the power supply to the electric motor C is cut off to stop the rotation of the valve body B, and this stop position becomes the state of the backwash flow path.

The recess γ is provided at the lowermost stage, and is operated by operating an operation panel (not shown) so as to be a washing flow path, or automatically after a certain period of time after the backwashing. When the valve body B rotates, after a certain rotation, the concave portion γ engages with the sensor claw 36 of the lowermost limit switch 33 so that the electric motor C
Then, the rotation of the valve body B is stopped by stopping the power supply to the valve, and the state of the washing flow path is established.

As described above, operations such as filtration, backwashing, and washing are performed by the operation panel (not shown). When the filtration operation is performed first, the valve body B is rotated by the electric motor C. The valve body B stops at the position of the filtration channel due to the engagement between the concave portion α of the cam body 30 and the sensor claw 34. In normal circulation, such a filtration channel is used to perform a function as a 24-hour warm bath. And sometimes, when cleaning the filtration device 103,
When the backwash operation is performed on the operation panel, the electric motor C is operated, the valve body B is rotated, the concave portion 32 of the cam body 30 is engaged with the sensor claw 35, and the electric motor C is at the backwash position of the valve body B. Is stopped, and thereafter, when a cleaning operation is performed or when a predetermined required time elapses, the cleaning operation or automatically activates the electric motor C to rotate the valve body B and rotate the concave portion of the cam body 30. 33 and sensor claw 36
And the electric motor C stops at the cleaning position of the valve body B.

[0051]

According to the present invention, a five-way valve is used to switch the circulation path of bath water, and the structure of the five-way valve is divided into a valve case and a holding case, and before the water enters the valve case. In order to temporarily store the bath water in the storage case, the flowing water of the bath water becomes smooth, and further, four communication ports are formed on the outer periphery of the valve case, and water is supplied from a water inlet formed at a required position of the storage case. The flow path of filtration, backwashing, washing, etc. can be switched by distributing the bath water by the valve port of the valve body. Therefore, there is an effect that the switching of various flow paths can be smoothly performed by one compact five-way valve. In addition, there is an effect that the size of the hot water heating and circulating device installed in the bathroom in a limited space can be reduced as a whole.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall front view of a five-way valve structure of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the same.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the same.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the five-way valve structure of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a transverse cross-sectional view showing the position of a valve element in the case of a filtration channel, as viewed from the bottom.

FIG. 7 is a transverse cross-sectional view showing the position of a valve body in the case of a backwash channel as viewed from the bottom.

FIG. 8 is a transverse cross-sectional view showing the position of a valve body in the case of a washing flow path as viewed from the bottom.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the entire position of a filtration channel.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the entire position of the backwash channel.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing the entire position of a cleaning flow channel.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the valve body.

FIG. 13 is a partially sectional explanatory view of a cam body.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken along the line CC in FIG. 13;

FIG. 17 is an explanatory view of a communication pipe.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory view of a switching valve provided in a conventional circulation flow path.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List A Casing B Valve C Electric motor M Five-way valve 1 Valve case 3 Storage case 4 Water inlet 16 Valve wall 16 'Partition wall 20 Groove 21 Valve lid 23 Fitting groove

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A bathtub, a circulation path of bathwater having at least a filtering device and a heating device, and a circulation pump provided in the middle of the circulation path forcibly circulating the bathwater in the bathtub. In the hot-water heating and filtering device that is configured to heat and filter at least, a five-way valve is provided at the branch of the circulation flow path, and the five-way valve rotates the valve body A freely stored valve case, a holding case provided in a communicating state below the valve case, an electric motor connected to the valve body, a water inlet opening to the holding case, and a first communication opening opened to the peripheral wall of the valve case. , 2nd communication port, 3rd
A communication port, a fourth communication port, a first chamber, a second chamber, and a third chamber formed by partitioning the interior of a hollow valve body into three chambers with partition walls; and one of the lower surfaces of the valve body A first valve port, a second valve port, a third valve port, a fourth valve port, a fifth valve port, and the like, which are opened on the valve wall around each chamber partitioned by the partition wall. Sixth
A five-way valve structure in a bath water circulation channel comprising a valve port.