JP3289367B2 - Sanitary washing equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sanitary washing nozzle and a washing apparatus used for a sanitary washing toilet seat for washing a local part of a human body after a stool, and in particular, bubbles are forcibly mixed into washing water. The present invention relates to a sanitary washing device of the type described below.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a cleaning apparatus of this type for cleaning a local part of a human body, there is a cleaning apparatus in which a single or a plurality of nozzle holes are provided and hot water is jetted from the cleaning nozzle to clean the local part intensively. The jet is a continuous steady flow, which may give a user discomfort due to a strong stimulus.
For this reason, a cleaning device disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 58-13688 has been known as a device that can obtain a soft feeling by mixing bubbles in the cleaning water. In this apparatus, an air suction unit for mixing air is provided in the vicinity of the jet nozzle, and the amount of air mixed depends on the jet speed or jet amount of the washing water. Therefore, the amount of air that can be mixed was naturally limited.

For this reason, in recent years, there has been proposed an apparatus in which air is forcibly mixed into cleaning water as shown in FIGS. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a toilet bowl, 2 denotes a sanitary flush toilet seat, and a toilet seat 3, a toilet lid 4, a main body 5 having a built-in cleaning device, and a cleaning nozzle 7 provided to protrude into the toilet bowl 1 to clean a local part of the human body 6. Is provided. FIG. 6 shows the structure of the cleaning nozzle 7. Reference numeral 8 denotes a supply path of cleaning water, to which cleaning water mixed with air is supplied by an air pump 9 and an air supply means 10 provided on the upstream side. Numeral 11 denotes a nozzle cylinder, and numeral 12 denotes a movable nozzle, which is configured to be pushed to a local position by the water pressure of the washing water, and to jet washing water from a nozzle hole 14 to a local human body through a water supply passage 13.

In the above configuration, when the cleaning water mixed with air acts on the supply passage 8, the movable nozzle 12 is pushed out by water pressure and stops at a local position, and the cleaning water mixed with air bubbles is ejected from the nozzle hole 14. Cleaning of the human body part is performed. As a result, sufficient mixed air can be obtained, and the amount of mixed air can be adjusted as desired.

[0005]

However, in the conventional cleaning apparatus as described above, there is a problem that it is not possible to selectively use the cleaning with air bubbles and the cleaning with a continuous steady flow as desired. That is, since there are a plurality of users in this type of cleaning device, a comfortable cleaning form differs depending on gender, age, individual difference, physical condition, and the like, and improvement is desired.

In addition, since air is mixed on the upstream side of the nozzle cylinder, individual bubbles interfere with each other while passing through the nozzle cylinder and the movable nozzle, and the bubbles become non-uniform. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, bubbles flowing into the nozzle cylinder with a predetermined particle diameter interfere with each other, separate into a gas phase and a liquid phase, and change to a large diameter. As a result, when squirting from the nozzle hole, a popping sound of bubbles is generated,
When the jet flow came into contact with the human body part, the washing water was scattered, and unnecessary parts were sometimes wetted.

Further, in a nozzle device of the type in which the movable nozzle is driven forward and backward by this kind of water pressure, when the water pressure is particularly low due to long-term use, the movable nozzle may be caught on the inner peripheral wall surface of the nozzle cylinder and may not advance to the position of the human body. In some cases, cleaning was impossible.

[0008] The present invention is to solve the above problems,
It is a first object of the present invention to provide a sanitary washing nozzle that can selectively use washing with air bubbles and washing with a continuous steady flow according to the physical condition and preference of the user.

A second object is to prevent the mixed air bubbles from becoming non-uniform, and to obtain a stable air-bubble mixed wash water with less scattering of the wash water and less sound of air bubbles. That is, an object of the present invention is to provide a sanitary washing device capable of forcibly mixing air with a low discharge pressure.

A third object of the present invention is to provide a highly reliable sanitary washing device capable of stably driving the movable nozzle to advance even when the water pressure supplied to the nozzle is low, in a washing apparatus for forcibly mixing air bubbles of this kind. It is to implement the device.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above first and second objects
In order to achieve the objective , the sanitary washing device of the present invention has a nozzle cylinder and a water supply passage communicating with the washing water supply means, and has a movable structure configured to be able to advance and retreat in the nozzle cylinder by the water pressure of the supplied washing water. A water supply body, an elastic member for urging the movable water supply body in a retreating direction, a nozzle element that is provided at a tip end of the movable water supply body and that jets washing water to a human body part,
An air mixing means for forcibly mixing air into the water supply channel, wherein the air mixing means is an air supply pipe fixedly mounted such that an open end is located at least in the water supply channel at an advanced position of the movable water supply body. And air supply means for supplying air to the air supply pipe.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sanitary washing apparatus according to the present invention, wherein an outer peripheral portion of the air supply pipe is movable in an axial direction of the air supply pipe and closes a water supply passage of the movable water supply body. A movable plate is provided, and a stopper for stopping the movable plate is provided at a position where the flow path of the washing water is secured at the advance position of the movable water supply body.

[0013]

According to the sanitary washing nozzle of the present invention, first and second nozzle chambers are provided in the nozzle element to divide the washing water by the dividing wall, and the first and second nozzle chambers communicate with the respective nozzle chambers. The jets ejected from the two jet holes are configured to contact and interfere with each other, and air mixing means for forcibly mixing air into the washing water is provided.If air is not mixed, the jets are jetted separately from the first and second jet holes. The washed water comes in contact and merges to form an intensive continuous flow and squirt toward the human body part. In addition, when air is forcibly mixed, cleaning water containing air bubbles is jetted from the first and second jet holes at the same time, but the cleaning water jetted from each jet hole contains air bubbles and is irregular. It becomes an intermittent flow. That is, the jetting power of the washing water spouted from each jetting hole changes in strength and weakness, and the washing water that merges due to the two jets contacting and interfering with each other fluctuates. As a result, when air bubbles are not mixed, an intensive continuous flow is obtained, and a cleaning mode in which oscillating cleaning in which air bubbles are mixed by forcibly mixing air, that is, a wide range of cleaning can be selected.

In the sanitary washing device according to the present invention, the nozzle element provided at the tip of the movable water supply body having a water supply passage is configured to be capable of being driven forward and backward by the water pressure of the washing water, and is provided at the position where the movable water supply body is advanced. An air supply pipe is fixedly mounted so that an open end is located in the water supply path, and air is mixed in a process of passing through a water supply path provided in a movable water supply body, that is, at a stage close to a nozzle element, so that air There is no sudden expansion or contraction of the flow path of the washing water after mixing, and the washing water is discharged from the orifice through the water supply path before being separated into a gas phase and a liquid phase. As a result, non-uniform air bubbles are prevented and air bubbles having a stable particle diameter are generated, and when ejected to a local part of the human body, there is a moderate irritation and a soft washing feeling is obtained, and the air bubble particle diameter does not increase. In addition, the sound of air bubbles popping out of the washing nozzle is reduced, and the scattering of washing water can be reduced. Further, since the opening end of the air supply pipe is provided in the water supply passage, air is mixed in with the flow rate of the washing water passing therethrough increased, and the opening is formed by the ejector effect caused by the passage of the washing water. End pressure can be reduced. This makes it possible to forcibly mix air with a small capacity air pump, that is, at a low discharge pressure.

Further, in the sanitary washing device according to the present invention, a movable plate which is movable in an axial direction of the air supply pipe and is capable of closing a water supply passage of the movable water supply body is provided on an outer peripheral portion of the air supply pipe. Since the stopper for stopping the movable plate is provided at a position where the flow path of the washing water is secured at the advance position of the movable water supply body, the movable water supply body is provided on the movable water supply body by the movable plate at the retracted position. The water supply channel is closed, and when water pressure acts in this state, the pressure receiving area of the water pressure acting on the end face of the movable water supply body increases the sectional integral of the water supply passage, and the advance output of the movable water supply body can be increased. At the advanced position, the movable plate is stopped by the stopper, the water supply passage is opened, and the washing water can pass. Thereby, even when the supplied water pressure is low, the movable water supply body can be driven to advance stably, and the reliability is improved.

[0016]

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

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a sanitary washing apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 2 and 3 are sectional views of a sanitary washing nozzle, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. is there. In the figure, reference numeral 15 denotes a washing water supply means comprising a water pump 16 and a motor 17 which is a driving means of the water pump 16;
Is a hot water tank for storing hot water heated by the electric heater 19, and 20 is a supply path for supplying cleaning water. Reference numeral 21 denotes a sanitary washing nozzle, which is provided in a nozzle cylinder 23 having a water supply port 22 communicating with the supply passage 20, and which is driven in advance in the nozzle cylinder 23 by receiving the water pressure of the washing water, stops at the position of the human body local part, and supplies the water supply passage. A movable water supply 26 for supplying the cleaning water coming through the nozzle 24 to a nozzle element 25 provided at the distal end, and an air pump 27 serving as an air supply means
The air mixing means 30 comprising an air supply pipe 29 for forcibly mixing the compressed air generated by the motor 28 as the driving means with the cleaning water, the cleaning water supply means 15 is stopped, and the supply of the cleaning water is stopped. It has an elastic member 31 for moving the movable water supply 26 to the retracted position when stopped. The open end 32 of the air supply pipe 29 is located at the position where the movable water supply body 26 is advanced, that is, the nozzle cylinder 23 so that the nozzle element 25 is positioned within the water supply passage 24 with the nozzle element 25 advanced to the local body position.
Are fixedly extended on the same axis. Reference numeral 33 denotes a movable plate provided on the outer peripheral portion of the air supply pipe 29,
A stopper 34 is provided to cooperate with the forward / backward movement of No. 6 and to close the water supply passage 24 and to stop the movable plate 33 at a position where the flow path of the washing water is secured at the advance position of the movable water supply body 26. . Reference numeral 35 denotes a check valve for preventing backflow of washing water from the air supply pipe 29 to the air pump 27 when the supply of air is stopped.

The nozzle element 25 is connected to the first and second nozzle chambers 36 and 37 communicating with the water supply passage 24, respectively.
First and second orifices 3 communicating with each of 6, 37
8, 39, and a flow dividing wall 40 separating the first and second nozzle chambers 36 and 37, and the jet discharged from the first outlet 38 and the jet discharged from the second outlet 39 are mutually separated. Each of them is configured to be ejected at a predetermined angle so as to cause contact interference.

Reference numeral 41 denotes a water supply control circuit for controlling the washing water. When the washing with air bubbles is selected by the jet selection switch 42, the water pump 16 and the air pump 27 are driven to wash the air at a predetermined ratio. First water supply control means 43 for supplying water to nozzle element 25 and jet selection switch 4
When the washing by the continuous flow in which no bubbles are mixed is selected by 2, the driving of the air pump 27 is stopped, and the rotation speed of the water pump 16 is increased so as to compensate for the decrease in the washing feeling due to the decrease in the amount of air, It comprises a second water supply control means 44 for increasing the flow rate of the washing water.

In the above configuration, the operation of this embodiment will now be described.
The operation will be described. When the bubble mixing cleaning is selected by the jet selection switch 42, the first water supply control means 43
As a result, the motors 17 and 28 start rotating, and the washing water is supplied to the nozzle cylinder 22 through the hot water tank 18 by the water pump 16, and the water pressure of the washing water is
And starts to move forward against the force of the elastic member 31.

Here, the operation of the movable plate 33 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, when the movable water supply 26 is in the retracted state, the movable plate 33 is in contact with the end face of the movable water supply 26 and moves to the retracted position with the water supply passage 24 closed. When the washing water is supplied from the water supply port 22, the water pressure is increased.
The movable water supply body 26 is moved forward by acting on the end face of the movable water supply body 6 and the movable plate 33, and the force for moving forward is proportional to the water pressure and the pressure receiving area on which the water pressure acts. When the movable plate 33 does not exist, the washing water flows into the water supply passage 24 at the same time as the washing water flows, so that the cross-sectional area of the water supply passage 24 does not effectively act as the pressure receiving area, and the advance output of the movable water supply body 26 decreases. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG.
4, the pressure receiving area indicated by the hatched portion S can be increased, and the advance output can be improved. As a result, the reliability of the movable water supply body 26 against catching is improved. The movable water supply 26 is easily caught in the early stage of the movement, and once the movement starts, the movable water supply body 26 advances relatively smoothly.

When the movable water supply body 26 advances by the water pressure and reaches the local position of the human body, the movable water supply body 26 comes into contact with the stopper 34 to stop the movable plate 33, and as shown in FIG. Pass 24. On the other hand, the water pump 16
Operates, the air pump 27 also operates, and the check valve 3
5. Compressed air is mixed into the cleaning water from the opening end 32 at a predetermined ratio through the air supply pipe 29, and the cleaning water mixed with air bubbles flows into the nozzle element 25. At this time, since air is mixed in the process of passing through the water supply passage 24, that is, at a stage close to the nozzle element 25, there is no rapid expansion and contraction of the flow path of the washing water after air mixing and before the separation into the gas phase and the liquid phase. Then, the air is discharged from the jet holes through the water supply passage 24, so that the non-uniformity of the air bubbles is prevented and the air bubbles having a stable particle diameter are supplied. Water supply channel 2
The flow rate of the washing water passing around the air supply pipe 29 in the inside 4 is increased, and air can be mixed in a state where the pressure at the open end 32 of the air supply pipe 29 is low due to the ejector effect caused by the passage of the washing water. This makes it possible to forcibly mix air with a small capacity air pump, that is, a low discharge pressure.

The washing water that has flowed into the nozzle element 25 is divided by the dividing wall 40 into the first and second nozzle chambers 36 and 37, and the first and second jet holes 38 and 39 communicating with each other.
The washing water mixed with air bubbles is ejected from the nozzle. At this time, the washing water spouted from each spout contains bubbles and becomes an irregular intermittent flow. That is, the jet power of the wash water spouted from each jet hole changes in strength, and at the confluence of the two jets, the jets of the wash water interfere with each other due to the jet powers of the jets, so that the wash water has an amplitude Wn shown in FIG. As a result, the cleaning jet is mixed with air bubbles and oscillates in a wide range. In addition, as described above, non-uniformity of air bubbles is prevented and air bubbles having a stable particle diameter can be supplied, so that when squirted into a human body part, there is a moderate stimulus and a soft washing feeling can be obtained, and the air bubble particle diameter does not increase. In addition, the popping sound of the bubbles at the time of ejection from the nozzle element 25 is reduced, and the scattering of the washing water can be reduced.

Next, when the washing by the continuous flow in which no air bubbles are mixed is selected by the jet selection switch 42, the driving of the air pump 27 is stopped by the second water supply control means 44 and the amount of air decreases. The rotation speed of the water pump 16 is increased so as to compensate for the decrease in the feeling of washing, and the flow rate of the washing water is increased. That is, the flow rate ejected from the nozzle element 25 in the bubble-containing cleaning is the sum of the water amount and the air amount,
Since the flow rate is set such that a predetermined cleaning feeling can be obtained when it comes into contact with the human body local part, when the supply of air is stopped, the actual flow rate decreases, and the cleaning feeling decreases. Therefore, when the cleaning in which bubbles are not mixed is selected, it is necessary to increase the flow rate of the cleaning water. The increased washing water is supplied to the nozzle cylinder 22, the water supply passage 2
4, and flows into the nozzle element 25, and each of the ejection holes 38,
It gushes at the same time from 39. The cleaning water jetted separately comes into contact and merges, and since it is a continuous flow in which no air bubbles are mixed, it is jetted toward the human body part as a concentrated jet as shown in FIG.

If the oscillating cleaning with air bubbles and the intensive continuous flow cleaning are automatically and alternately repeated, the monotonous feeling of the user can be eliminated and the effect of massaging the part to be cleaned can be obtained. .

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the nozzle element 25 is provided with the two ejection holes 38 and 39 so as to be able to contact and interfere with each other, and the air mixing means 30 for forcibly mixing air is provided. When air bubbles are not mixed, an intensive continuous flow is obtained, and a cleaning mode in which oscillating cleaning in which air bubbles are mixed, that is, a wide-range cleaning can be selected by forcibly mixing air. This makes it possible to remotely control the cleaning pattern variable,
The configuration can be simplified.

In addition, since air is mixed in the process of passing through the water supply passage 24 provided in the movable water supply body 26, the flow path of the washing water after the air mixing is not suddenly expanded or contracted, and the flow of the washing water is changed into a gas phase and a liquid phase. Since the air bubbles are discharged from the jet holes 38 and 39 through the water supply channel 24 before separation, the air bubbles are prevented from becoming non-uniform and bubbles having a stable particle size are generated. The popping sound of air bubbles can be reduced, and the scattering of washing water can be reduced. Further, since the opening end 32 of the air supply pipe 29 is provided in the water supply passage 24, air is mixed in with the flow velocity of the washing water passing therethrough increased, and the ejector effect due to the passage of the washing water is obtained. Thereby, the pressure at the opening end can be reduced. This makes it possible to reduce the capacity of the air pump 29, that is, forcibly mix air with a low discharge pressure.

Further, since the movable plate 33 capable of closing the water supply passage 24 is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the air supply pipe 29 so as to be interlocked with the movable water supply body 26, the advance output of the movable water supply body 26 can be increased. Thus, the reliability of the nozzle advance is improved.

[0029]

As described in detail in the above embodiment, the sanitary washing nozzle of the present invention is provided with two ejection holes in the nozzle element so as to be able to interfere with each other, and is provided with an air mixing means for forcibly mixing air. Therefore, when air bubbles are not mixed, an intensive continuous flow can be obtained, and a swing mode in which air bubbles are mixed by forcibly mixing air, that is, a cleaning mode capable of performing a wide range of cleaning can be selected. As a result, the cleaning pattern can be selected only by controlling the mixing of air, the variable cleaning pattern can be remotely controlled, and the configuration can be simplified.

Further, since air is mixed in the process of passing through the water supply passage provided in the movable water supply body, the flow path of the washing water after the air mixing does not suddenly expand or contract, and before the separation into the gas phase and the liquid phase. Since it is discharged from the ejection hole through the water supply channel, bubbles are prevented from becoming non-uniform and bubbles with a stable particle size are generated, and the popping sound of bubbles during ejection from the nozzle element is reduced, Further, scattering of washing water can be reduced. Further, since the opening end of the air supply pipe is provided in the water supply passage, air is mixed in with the flow rate of the washing water passing therethrough increased, and the opening is formed by the ejector effect caused by the passage of the washing water. End pressure can be reduced. This makes it possible to reduce the capacity of the air pump, that is, to forcibly mix air with a low discharge pressure.

Further, a movable plate capable of closing the water supply passage is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the air supply pipe so as to be interlocked with the movable water supply body.
Since the initial advance output of the movable water supply body can be increased, the reliability of the advance of the nozzle is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a sanitary washing device showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the sanitary washing nozzle.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the sanitary washing nozzle when the nozzle is retracted.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a conventional cleaning device.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of the cleaning nozzle.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 15 cleaning water supply means 21 sanitary cleaning nozzle 22 water supply port 23 nozzle cylinder 24 water supply channel 25 nozzle element 26 movable water supply 27 air pump (air supply means) 29 air supply pipe 30 air mixing means 31 elastic member 32 open end 33 movable plate 34 Stopper 36 First Nozzle Chamber 37 Second Nozzle Chamber 38 First Jet Hole 39 Second Jet Hole 40 Dividing Wall

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-58-29932 (JP, A) JP-A-3-161625 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) E03D 9/08

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A water supply port communicating with cleaning water supply means.
Nozzle cylinder, and a water supply passage communicating with the water supply port.
The nozzle cylinder is operated by the pressure of the supplied washing water.
A movable water supply body configured to be able to advance and retreat within
An elastic member for urging the body in the retreating direction;
A nozzle that is provided at the tip and sprays washing water toward the human body
Spill element and air mixing forcibly mixing air into the water supply passage
Means, said aeration means being said movable water supply
At the advanced position of the water supply channel at least an open end
Fixedly mounted in the nozzle cylinder to be located
An air supply pipe, and an air supply pipe for supplying air to the air supply pipe.
A sanitary washing device comprising a supply means . 2. The air supply pipe is provided on an outer peripheral portion of the air supply pipe.
The movable plate movable in the axial direction of the movable water supply body moves forward and backward
Cooperates with the operation and closes the water supply channel of the movable water supply body
And at the advance position of the movable water supply body,
Stop the movable plate at a position to secure the flow path of purified water.
The sanitary washing device according to claim 1, further comprising a topper .