JP3331899B2 - Human body cleaning device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a human body cleaning apparatus for cleaning a human body with hot water.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a human body cleaning device of this type as shown in FIG.
No. 77).

FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing a supply system of washing water. A pump 1 is connected to a water supply pipe 2 on the upstream side of the pump 1 and an air mixing section 3 on the downstream side. I have.
The aeration unit 3 has a cylindrical suction head 4 made of ceramic material, and the air sent from the compressor 5 is mixed with water at the suction head 4 part. With this configuration, the washing water supplied from the water supply pipe 2 is pressurized by the pump 1 and reaches the aeration unit 3. In the aeration unit 3, the air supplied from the compressor 5 is made finer by the suction head 4 and flows into the wash water. Further, the washing water that has passed through the aeration unit 3 reaches the heat exchanger 6, and the washing water heated to an appropriate temperature in the heat exchanger 6 is supplied to the nozzle device 7.
Is supplied to the human body and squirted toward the human body. By this action, the washing water ejected from the nozzle device 7 contains air,
A soft sensation can be obtained when cleaning the human body.

[0004]

However, in the conventional apparatus for cleaning a human body as described above, the compressor 5
If the ratio between the amount of washing water and the amount of air is not appropriate, a large amount of air will accumulate in the heat exchanger 6, causing local boiling and abnormal heating inside the heat exchanger 6. I was In addition, since the control of the compressor 5 and the heat exchanger 6 is not integrated, the user also needs to perform a plurality of operations in operation, and cannot use the operation without learning the operation sequence and timing according to the situation. there were. Further, the heat exchanger 6 has a problem that no measures are taken against reduction of power consumption.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and provides an instant connection between a water supply pipe and a hot water pipe.
An intermediary heating means, and a water supply for controlling water supply to the heating means.
Water control means, and the hot water pipe for discharging cleaning water to a human body part
Mixing the air into the washing water with the discharging means connected to the
Aeration means, and water or temperature of said water supply pipe or hot water pipe;
Flow rate detection means for detecting the flow of water, the controller,
The air mixing means according to the flow rate detected by the flow rate detection means
To change the air mixing ratio and operate the heating means.
By controlling the rotation, the aeration means and the heating
The means and the means are interlocked . The amount of air mixed into the washing water is changed in conjunction with the control of the flow rate of the washing water to prevent stagnation of air in the heating means and the hot water pipe due to an inappropriate mixing ratio. The operation of (1) is eliminated, the heat loss is reduced by using the instantaneous heating means, and the amount of electric power used is significantly reduced together with the reduction of the amount of washing water due to air mixing.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A human body local cleaning apparatus according to the first invention of the present invention is an instantaneous type in which a water supply pipe and a hot water pipe are connected.
Heating means and water supply control for controlling water supply to the heating means
Means and connected to the hot water pipe for discharging washing water to the human body part
Air mixing for mixing air into the cleaning water.
Inlet means and a flow of water or hot water in said water supply pipe or hot water pipe.
Flow rate detecting means for detecting the movement, and the controller
By the air mixing means according to the detection flow rate of the amount detection means
The air mixing ratio is varied and the operation of the heating means is controlled.
By controlling, the air mixing means and the heating means
Is interlockingly controlled . Then, the flow rate detection means
Based on the value of the output flow rate, the connection of the bubble mixing means and the heating means is performed.
By performing the dynamic operation, the ratio of the amount of washing water to the amount of air
Of air mixing means when water is cut off or water is cut off
Can be stopped, air flows into the heating means, causing local boiling and abnormalities
This prevents heating and ensures that washing water is flowing.
By controlling the heating means
Damage the heating means even if the water is cut off for a long time.
Can be prevented. Furthermore, according to this configuration, even the heat exchanger
Air flows backward, causing abnormal temperature rise of the ceramic heater.
Can be prevented from causing
is there.

[0007] Further, in the human body local cleaning apparatus according to the second invention of the present invention, an instantaneous heating in which a water supply pipe and a hot water pipe are connected.
Means and water supply control means for controlling water supply to the heating means
Connected to the hot water pipe that discharges washing water to a human body part
Discharging means and an air mixing means for mixing air into the cleaning water.
Cleaning settings to set the stage and cleaning of the human body part with cleaning water
After the cleaning operation is stopped, power is supplied to the heating means.
After stopping, the water is stopped by the water stopping means . Further, the human body local cleaning device according to the third invention of the present invention performs the water stopping by the water stopping means in addition to the second invention.
After that, the driving of the air mixing means is continued for a predetermined time . Then, after the cleaning is completed , the operation of stopping the power supply to the heating means is performed.
By stopping first, the washing water stays in the heating means
Temperature rise due to boiling after excessive heating can be reduced
Things.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, water supplied from a water supply pipe 8 is supplied to a main solenoid valve 9 as water supply control means, a motor-driven flow control valve 10 which is also water supply control means and adjusts the amount of washing water, and The flow reaches a heat exchanger 12 which is an instantaneous heating means via a flow sensor 11 which is a flow detecting means for detecting a flow rate of water. The heat exchanger 12 has a high limit switch 13 that directly cuts off the power supply to the heat exchanger 12 when an abnormal rise in the temperature of the heat exchanger itself is detected, and an air detection thermistor that detects the presence or absence of water in the heat exchanger 12. 14 is provided. The hot water pipe 15 near the outlet of the heat exchanger 12 is provided with a hot water thermistor 16 for detecting the temperature of the washing water. A cleaning nozzle unit 18 having a cleaning nozzle 17 as a discharge means at the end is connected to a terminal of the hot water pipe 15. The cleaning nozzle 17 is of a type in which protrusion and retraction are controlled by a motor. Between the washing nozzle 17 and the heat exchanger 12, air is mixed into the washing water from a motor-driven air pump 21 which is an air mixing means provided outside via an internal air pipe 19 and an external air pipe 20. . The cleaning water supplied from the cleaning nozzle 17 is used for cleaning a local portion of the user sitting on the toilet seat 22. The toilet seat 22 is provided with a seat switch 23 for detecting a user sitting on the toilet seat 22.

An instruction to supply the cleaning water from the cleaning nozzle 17 is given from the remote controller 24. The remote control 24 has an anal washing switch 25 which is a washing setting means and a selecting means,
Also provided are a bidet cleaning switch 26 for female local cleaning, a stop switch 27 for cleaning water which is also a cleaning setting means, a flow rate and temperature control section 28, and a changeover switch 29 for switching the flow rate or temperature control by the control section 28. ing.
In FIG. 1, the cleaning nozzle unit 18 is only for the anus, but the bidet cleaning nozzle unit is separately provided in a similar configuration, and the expression on the drawing is omitted.

An air mixing ratio control for receiving a radio signal from the remote controller 24 and controlling each of the components represented by dotted lines in FIG. 1 and controlling the mixing ratio of cleaning water and air therein. A controller 32 having a detection flow control unit 31 for performing control based on signals from the unit 30 and the flow sensor 11 is provided. The controller 32 is provided with a preheating switch 33 for selecting to perform heating in the heat exchanger 12 when water or hot water is not flowing.

FIG. 2 shows the details of the heat exchanger 12.

Ceramic heater 34 for electrically heating
Are sandwiched by copper plates 35 and 36 provided on both sides, and resin cases 38 and 39 having a flow path therein are provided outside thereof, and these cases 38 and 39 are sealed with a copper material 35 by a sealing material 40 or the like. 36. The high limit switch 13 is mounted on the surface of the copper plate 35, and the air detection thermistor 14 is mounted on the upper part of the case 38.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the details of the cleaning nozzle 17. FIG. 3 is a top view of the cleaning nozzle 17 as viewed from above, and FIG. 4 is a cutaway cross-sectional view as viewed from the side.

The flow path in the cleaning nozzle 17 is changed from the flow path 41 formed in the cleaning nozzle unit 18 to the cleaning nozzle 17.
The cross-sectional area of the flow path gradually decreases as the flow path reaches the flow paths 42 and 43 in the inside, and the enlarged section 46 passes through the parallel section 45 near the nozzle port 44.
It is configured to slightly expand like a trumpet. With this configuration, when warm water mixed with air is supplied, the cleaning water is swung over a relatively wide range and discharged to the human body local part by the action of the air mixing and the action of the expansion unit 46. That is, the Coanda phenomenon, which is generated when hot water flows from the parallel portion 45 to the enlarged portion 46 and adheres to the left or right wall, is disturbed by randomly mixed air, and the jet is oscillated to the right and left. When the mixing of air is stopped,
By the action of 5, the hot water is discharged in a relatively narrow range in a direct injection state. By making use of this phenomenon and selecting whether or not to mix air into warm water, the washing jet can be switched between swinging and direct jetting and supplied.

FIG. 5 shows the details of the air detection thermistor 14. The periphery of the bead 47 of the thermistor is protected by a protective tube 48, and a filler 49 is filled between the two and solidified. The protection tube 48 is fixed with a fixing bracket 50 and the hot water tube 15 is fixed.
Facing the channel. The principle of the air detection by the air detection thermistor 14 is as follows. First, the temperature is measured in advance, the air detection thermistor 14 itself is energized to perform self-heating, and after a predetermined time elapses, the temperature is measured again and compared with the temperature before heating. I do. When the surroundings are water (hot water), the heat radiation after heating is relatively large, so the temperature difference before and after heating is small. When the surroundings are air, the temperature difference before and after heating is large because heat radiation after heating is relatively small. Based on the magnitude of this temperature difference, it is determined whether the surroundings are water (hot water) or air.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

When the power is turned on (S1) and the anal washing switch 25 is operated (S2), the temperature of the hot water thermistor 16 is maintained in a state where the user is seated on the toilet seat 22 and the seat switch 23 is turned on (S3). The process proceeds to the determination (S4). The temperature detected by the hot water thermistor 16 is a predetermined value (5
0 ° C) or lower, the controller 32 determines that the controller is safe.
If it exceeds, judge it as dangerous. If it is determined to be dangerous, the subsequent operation of discharging the washing water to the local human body is not performed. With this determination, it is possible to prevent high-temperature hot water from being discharged from the cleaning nozzle 17 to the human body part, and to ensure safety in the event of an emergency. Note that even during use, the heat exchanger 12
If the temperature of the hot water exceeds 50 ° C. due to a malfunction of the temperature control system or a sharp decrease in the amount of washing water, the hot water thermistor 16
Detects this, and immediately stops the supply of hot water by the original solenoid valve 9. Subsequently, the air pump 21 is started (S5), the original solenoid valve 9 is opened (S6), and the cleaning nozzle 17 is gradually protruded (S7). Activating the air pump 21 first is a measure for preventing water from flowing backward even if the check mechanism of the air pump 21 itself fails. This action prevents water or hot water from flowing back into the air pump at the start of use, resulting in deterioration or deterioration of performance, or failure.

Subsequently, after a while, the value of the flow sensor 11 is read (S8). When the flow rate is 0.2 l / min or more, the controller 32 determines that there is a flow of water (S
9), energization of the heat exchanger 12 is started (S10), and the ceramic heater 35 is heated to heat the washing water. Then, the flow rate value set by the remote controller 24 is read (S
11) A flow control operation is performed to compare the value detected by the flow sensor 11 with the set value and control the flow control valve 10 to obtain the set value (S12).

The air pump 21 is controlled based on the read value of the flow sensor 11, and the air pump 2 is controlled so that a predetermined ratio between the amount of washing water and the amount of air mixed therein becomes a predetermined value.
The voltage applied to 1 is controlled (S13). The rotation speed of the motor of the air pump 21 changes according to the voltage, and the amount of air to be discharged changes. The relationship between the cleaning flow rate and the amount of air mixing is as shown in FIG. In the case of anal irrigation, the air mixing ratio is increased as the amount of washing water is reduced. Increasing the air mixing ratio tends to increase the bubble diameter as the washing flow rate decreases. This is because the flow rate of the cleaning water is reduced by the flow control valve 10, so that when the cleaning flow rate decreases, the internal pressure of the cleaning water in the cleaning nozzle 17 decreases, and even when the same air is mixed in when the cleaning water amount is large, air bubbles are generated. This is because the diameter tends to be large.

In general, when the amount of large-diameter bubbles increases, the feeling of irritation increases and the detergency increases, but if it is increased too much, the jet tends to be intermittent and more people dislike it. Taking this into consideration, in the case of anal cleaning, control is performed to emphasize the cleaning power and to reduce the amount of cleaning water and appropriately increase the air mixing ratio. In the case of bidet cleaning, as the air mixing ratio increases, the diameter of the bubbles increases, and many people experience a sense of disgust. Also, in the case of bidet cleaning, since there is a tendency that emphasis is placed on feeling when wetting the local part rather than the cleaning effect of the cleaning water itself, in bidet cleaning, control is performed to reduce the amount of cleaning water and reduce the air mixing ratio with the amount of cleaning water. I have. In any case, the amount of air mixed into the wash water is automatically changed in conjunction with the flow rate control of the wash water, so there is no need for the user to perform multiple operations, especially in operation, and depending on the situation. It does not require mastering of the operation sequence and timing, and can be used freely by elderly people and children.

Thereafter, the temperature set by the remote controller 24 and the hot water thermistor 16 so that a desired washing water temperature is obtained.
Are compared by the controller 32, and the heating amount of the heat exchanger 12 is adjusted (S14). When it is desired to change the set temperature, the switch 29 for switching the flow rate and the temperature of the remote controller 24 is switched to the temperature side, and the temperature is adjusted by the adjusting unit 28. To change the flow rate setting, the changeover switch 29 is switched to the flow rate side, and the flow rate setting is adjusted by the adjusting unit 28. When the flow rate setting is changed, as described above, an operation of automatically changing the air mixing amount according to the cleaning flow rate is performed. For this reason, the amount of air becomes too small and the air flows back to the heat exchanger 12, causing an abnormal temperature rise of the ceramic heater 35, or the cleaning water flowing back to the air pump 21 due to insufficient rotation of the air pump 21. Abnormal situations can be prevented. In addition, optimization of bodily sensation and detergency can be achieved,
The user can use the device accurately without performing multiple operations.

The hot water adjusted to the set flow rate by the flow control valve 11 and adjusted to the set temperature by the heat exchanger 12 reaches the washing nozzle unit 18, where an external air pipe 20 and an internal air pipe 19 are supplied from an air pump 21. And is discharged from the cleaning nozzle 17 to the human body part. In the case of cleaning with warm water mixed with this air, the cleaning nozzle 17
The washing water oscillates and cleans a relatively wide area of the human body part due to the action of. The flow rate is less than half, without impairing the cleaning effect and the user's bodily sensation, as compared with the conventional cleaning with only warm water, due to the improvement of the jet flow velocity of the cleaning nozzle 17 due to the mixing of air and the action of popping bubbles. Can be washed. This has been confirmed experimentally.

Further, by using the instantaneous heat exchanger 12, compared with the conventional hot water storage type heating means, there is no heat loss at the time of hot water storage, so that the power consumption can be reduced to about half. In addition, the flow rate of the washing water can be reduced to half, so that the power consumption can be significantly reduced. Also,
The instantaneous heat exchanger requires a rating of about 2.5 KW (25 A) in consideration of the low incoming water temperature, and it is difficult to use a general household outlet because it has a limitation of up to 15 A. , 1.2 KW, and can be used with a general outlet. Further, since the air pump 21 for mixing air into the hot water is provided between the heat exchanger 12 and the washing nozzle 17, air is supplied to the heat exchanger 12
This prevents local boiling inside the heat exchanger 12 and abnormal heating.

The stop switch 27 controls the heating of the washing water by the heat exchanger 12 and the air mixing operation by the air pump 21.
Is continued until is operated (S15). Stop switch 2
7 is operated and the stop is instructed, first, the heat exchanger 1
Then, the power supply to the ceramic heater 35 is stopped (S16). In the case of this stop operation, before the flow rate sensor 11 becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value (0.18 l / min) on the stop side, the power supply to the ceramic heater 35 is stopped according to the stop instruction of the stop switch 27, thereby ensuring safety. Therefore, the ceramic heater 35 can be stopped earlier as compared with the case where the operation of stopping the energization of the ceramic heater 35 is performed by relying on the signal of the flow rate sensor 11, and the effect of stopping the flow thereafter is combined. As a result, the temperature rise due to post-boiling can be reduced.

Then, after water is flowed through the heat exchanger 12 for a predetermined time to prevent boiling, the original solenoid valve 9 is stopped (S17).
Subsequently, in the cleaning nozzle unit 19, the supply of the cleaning water is stopped, and the flow sensor 11 detects that the self-cleaning power has been lost, and the drawing operation is performed (S18). After the main solenoid valve 9 is stopped, the operation of the air pump 21 is continued for a predetermined period of time, and after the high-temperature hot water due to boiling is discharged, the air pump 21 is stopped (S19). During use, if a large amount of air-mixed water is sent from the water supply pipe 8 or if the flow of water is stopped due to water cutoff, the flow rate is determined to be less than a predetermined value (0.18 l / min). When the sensor 11 detects the current, the power supply to the ceramic heater 35 is cut off to prevent empty heating and abnormal temperature rise. When the controller 32 fails and the temperature of the hot water rises, the high limit switch 13 (set at 60 ° C.) functions to directly turn off the power of the normal “stop” type original solenoid valve 9, 9 is closed to stop the supply of hot water.

The operation of preheating the heat exchanger 12 when the supply of hot water is not being performed is performed by first operating the air detection thermistor 14.
The presence or absence of air in the heat exchanger 12 is detected. When the surroundings are air, power is not supplied to the heat exchanger 12 when water is not passed through the heat exchanger 12. Also, when the preheating switch 33 is not turned on, the ceramic heater 3
5 does not preheat the heat exchanger 12. Then, the temperature detected by the hot water thermistor 16 becomes a predetermined temperature (40
(° C.), the ceramic heater 35 preheats the temperature, and quickly raises the temperature at the time of reuse.

The operation of supplying and stopping hot water when the bidet cleaning switch 26 is pressed is the same as the above-described operation at the time of cleaning the anus. Therefore, detailed description is omitted, but as described above,
A characteristic feature is that control is performed to reduce the mixing ratio of air as the washing water is reduced.

In this embodiment, as the instantaneous heating means,
Although the heat exchanger 12 having the ceramic heater 35 is taken as an example, the heater may be other electric heating means such as a sheathed heater or a heater in which a ribbon heater is insulated by mica. There is also a method that utilizes combustion heat instead of electric heating.

Also, the main solenoid valve 9 and the flow control valve 10 are taken as examples of the water supply control means, but the main solenoid valve provided independently, the flow control valve independently provided with a water stopping function, and the water pump are provided. And so on.

Although the washing nozzle 17 which oscillates by mixing with air is taken as an example of the discharging means, it may be of a type which does not oscillate or a shower which simply discharges hot water mixed with air.

The air pump 21 is used as an air mixing means.
However, a compressor, a blower, or a compressed air supply device provided centrally in a remote portion may be used.

Also, the flow sensor 11 for directly detecting the flow rate is taken as an example of the flow rate detecting means, but indirectly such as detecting the opening signal of the flow control valve or detecting the rotation speed of the water supply pump. It may be a flow rate detecting means.

Also, the stop switch 27, the anal wash switch 25, and the bidet wash switch 26 provided on the remote controller as the washing setting means are taken as examples, but they are open / close valves for directly opening and closing the flow paths of the water supply pipe and the hot water pipe. Is also good.

An anal washing switch 2 is used as a selecting means.
5. Although the bidet cleaning switch 26 is taken as an example, the selection may not be performed for each local area, but may be a means that can freely select the air mixing ratio according to a disease or a physical condition even in the same local area.

[0036]

As described above, according to the apparatus for cleaning a human body part of the present invention , the air flow is detected based on the flow rate detected by the flow rate detecting means.
By performing interlocking operation of foam mixing means and heating means,
When the ratio of washing water volume to air mixing volume is optimized or when
Can be stopped in conjunction with the
Prevent local boiling and abnormal heating due to inflow of air
Can do things.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system diagram of a human body local cleaning apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration explanatory view of a main part of a heat exchanger used in the apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a top view of a cleaning nozzle used in the apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a partially cut-away side sectional view of a cleaning nozzle used in the apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a main part of an air detection thermistor used in the apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a control flowchart of a main part of the apparatus.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a cleaning water amount and an air mixing amount of the same device.

FIG. 8 is a system diagram of a conventional human body local cleaning apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 8 water supply pipe 9 original solenoid valve (water supply control means) 10 flow control valve (water supply control means) 11 flow sensor (flow rate detection means) 12 heat exchanger (heating means) 15 hot water pipe 17 washing nozzle (discharge means) 21 air pump (Air mixing means) 25 Anal cleaning switch (cleaning setting means, selecting means) 26 Bidet switch (cleaning setting means, selecting means) 27 Stop switch (cleaning setting means) 32 Controller

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Keisuke Ono 1006 Kazuma Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Shinichi Omori (56) References JP-A-5-33377 (JP, A) JP-A-6-257201 (JP, A) JP-A-2-144431 (JP, A) JP-A-2-213533 (JP, A) ) Actually Open Hei 5-27835 (JP, U) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) E03D 9/08

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] (1) Instantaneous heating in which a water supply pipe and a hot water pipe are connected.
Means and water supply control means for controlling water supply to the heating means
Connected to the hot water pipe that discharges washing water to a human body part
Discharging means and an air mixing means for mixing air into the cleaning water.
Step and the flow of water or hot water in said water supply pipe or hot water pipe.
And a flow rate detecting means for detecting the flow rate.
Air by the air mixing means according to the detected flow rate of the discharging means.
The mixing ratio is varied and the operation of the heating means is controlled.
Thus, the air mixing means and the heating means are connected.
A human body cleaning device that controls movement . 2. Instantaneous heating in which a water supply pipe and a hot water pipe are connected.
Means and water supply control means for controlling water supply to the heating means
Connected to the hot water pipe that discharges washing water to a human body part
Discharging means and an air mixing means for mixing air into the cleaning water.
Cleaning settings to set the stage and cleaning of the human body part with cleaning water
After the cleaning operation is stopped, power is supplied to the heating means.
The human body local cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein after stopping, the water is stopped by a water stopping means . 3. After water is stopped by the water stopping means, air is mixed.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the driving of the means is continued for a predetermined time .