JP3353148B2 - Bath tub hot water circulation purification 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 bathtub hot water circulation / purification apparatus which can be used at any time for 24 hours by combining with a bathtub.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The bathtub hot water circulating / purifying apparatus purifies and sterilizes the hot water in the bath tub in a circulation process of introducing the hot water in the bath tub and returning the hot water to the bath tub. With the function of filtering out impurities when passing through, combined with a special filter, sterilization with ozone and heating means, it has the ability to clear certain standards for bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Legionella bacteria It enables comfortable bathing at any time without changing the hot water.

[0003]

If the bathing is continuously repeated, the hot water contains a large amount of impurities such as body stains, dirt, and body hair. Large impurities such as body hair are removed in advance by a filter called a hair catcher, but fine impurities that cannot be captured by the hair catcher are:
Filtered with a filter. Most of the impurities filtered off by the filter material remain trapped in the filter material, and surviving bacteria are attached to the trapped impurities and mixed with the hot water returned to the bathtub. Some bacteria can pass through the filter media. On the other hand, the temperature of the hot water is kept at around 40 ° C., at which activity for Legionella bacteria becomes active, so that the impurities strained with a filter medium can be said to be a perfect breeding place for bacteria. Therefore, the circulation path becomes an excellent breeding place for bacteria, and not only the breeding of bacteria in the circulation path, but also clogging of filter media due to dirt and slime generated due to waste products generated from the propagated bacteria. There is also a problem. From such a cause, in the case of the conventional bathtub hot water circulation purification device, an example of confirming the number of Legionella bacteria that could harm the human body in the hot water in the bathtub was reported, which was a social problem. Has been developed. Frequent replacement of the filter media can prevent this, but this increases the economic burden and is less practical.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided a bathtub for purifying and sterilizing hot water in a bath tub when the hot water in the bath tub is introduced and returned to the bath tub by passing through the passage. In the hot water circulation purification device, the purpose is to improve the purification and sterilization ability, the configuration of which is a distribution circuit for distributing the introduced hot water to the heat reduction sterilization chamber and the convection chamber, and the hot water in the convection chamber A stacking tank provided so that sludges contained in the split hot water can be collected by the weir action, and cooling means for cooling the distributed and split hot water to an appropriate temperature after merging. That is. It is preferable that a drain port that can be opened and closed be provided in the deposition tank, and that hot water heated to a high temperature in the heat sterilization chamber be introduced into the deposition tank.

[0005]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First, a basic configuration of a circulation path formed by combining a bathtub hot water circulation purifying apparatus according to the present invention with a bathtub will be described. In FIG. 1, hot water in a bathtub B pumped through a pump 15 is supplied to a heating sterilization chamber 2 and a convection chamber 1 by a branch pipe 17a which is a distribution circuit. While the hot water introduced into the inside is heated and sterilized, a part of the hot water introduced into the convection chamber 1 is caused to flow by the rectifying weir 5 and is diverted to the deposition tank 5a. Impurities are separated as sludge from the hot water diverted into the deposition tank 5a, and the sludge is deposited on the bottom of the deposition tank 5a. A drain 13 is provided in the deposition tank 5a, and the sludge deposited on the bottom of the deposition tank 5a can be collected from the drain 13. The hot water from which the sludge has been separated flows into the convection chamber 1 and merges with the hot water generated in the heat sterilization chamber 2, and is then cooled to an appropriate temperature by the cooling means C and returned to the bathtub B. Next, a specific embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The bathtub hot water circulation / purification device A as a specific embodiment includes a convection chamber 1 having a two-stage configuration in which a second filtration unit 1b is provided on a first filtration unit 1a. The heat sterilization chamber 2 is provided so as to be in contact with the second filtration unit 1b. The first filtration unit 1a and the second filtration unit 1b in the convection chamber 1 are provided with a water-permeable window 3a meshed in a central portion of the partition wall 3 that partitions the first filtration unit 1a and the second filtration unit 1b. The supply port 4 is provided on one side surface in the longitudinal direction of the first filtration unit 1a which is communicated with the water-permeable wall formed by the above, and which is formed in a horizontally long shape,
In the center, a straightening weir 5 with a downward slope directed toward the supply port side is formed by tilting the upper part in the direction opposite to the supply port at right angles to the longitudinal direction, so that a slight amount is formed between the flow control weir and the partition wall 3. It is set up so that a gap is left and a deposition tank 5a over the weir is formed in the area of the first filtration unit 1a. Also, convection chamber 1
In the first filtration section 1a, a pipe 6 connected to the bottom of the heat sterilization chamber 2 is provided as an introduction path for introducing hot water heated in the heat sterilization chamber 2 to the deposition tank 5a. A modified material 7 in which bags of activated carbon 7a and cypress blocks 7b in which cypress is cut into several centimeters, respectively, is accommodated in the second filtration unit 1b. Further, a return port 8 is provided in an upper part of the second filtration part 1b.

A plate-shaped Peltier element 9 is fixed to the bottom of the heating sterilization chamber 2.
Is with the heating side on which the heat pipe 10 protrudes upward,
A plurality of cooling fins 11, 11,... Protruding downward from the downward cooling side surface are arranged so as to protrude into the second filtering portion 1b, and the cooling fins 11, 11,. Is configured. The heating sterilization chamber 2 is provided on one side with a nozzle 12 for discharging hot water in a mist state, and the heat pipe 10 protruding from the Peltier element 9 is provided with a plurality of radiating fins 10a. Have been.

Further, a sludge collection chamber 14 is attached to the deposition tank 5a through a drain port 13 having an opening / closing door 13a on the wall surface opposite to the supply port 4, and the sludge collection chamber 14 has The basket body 14a is housed so as to be freely taken in and out, so that sludge can be separated from hot water discharged through the inside of the sludge collection chamber 14.

In order to install the bathtub hot water circulation purifying apparatus A, as shown in FIG.
, A tip of a suction pipe 16 connected to a suction port of the pump 15 is immersed in hot water in the bathtub B, and a distribution circuit is connected to a discharge pipe 17 connected to a discharge port of the pump 15. A certain distribution pipe 17a is attached and the discharge pipe 17 is divided into two parts, one is connected to the supply port 4 and the other is connected to the nozzle 12. At the end of the suction pipe 16, a filter 18 called a hair catcher is attached similarly to the conventional device, and a large dust and hair etc. mixed in the hot water in the bathtub B are removed. 15 is prevented from being sent. Then, the return pipe 19 connected to the return port 8 of the bath tub hot water circulation / purification device A is set so that hot water discharged from the tip thereof is poured into the bath tub B.
A plug (not shown) for securing a power supply for driving the Peltier element 9 and the pump 15 therein is inserted into an AC outlet.

When the pump 15 starts operating by turning on the switch, hot water in the bathtub B is pumped and introduced into the convection chamber 1 and the heat sterilization chamber 2. At the same time, the Peltier element 9 is activated, and the radiation fins 10a are heated by the temperature rise on the side of the heating sterilization chamber. The hot water sent to the convection chamber 1 flows in from the supply port 4, is sent from the first filtration unit 1 a to the second filtration unit 1 b, fills all of the convection chamber 1, and overflows from the return port 8. The hot water is returned to the bathtub B through the return pipe 19. On the other hand, the hot water sent into the heating sterilization chamber 2 is discharged in a mist form from the nozzle 12,
The atomized hot water contacts the radiating fins 10a to generate hot water and steam. Thereby, the hot water discharged into the heat sterilization chamber 2 is instantaneously boiled and sterilized, and the liquefied steam is sent out to the deposition tank 5a together with the hot water through the pipe 6.

[0010] Even after the convection chamber 1 is filled with hot water, the hot water supplied into the first filtration section 1a flows over the rectifying weir 5 into the deposition tank 5a, where it flows therethrough. When the flow velocity once drops on the back side, sludge s such as scale is separated and deposited on the bottom. Further, in the deposition tank 5a, the hot water introduced along the pipe 6 from the heating sterilization chamber 2 is mixed and sterilized at a high temperature, and a convection phenomenon occurs due to the tendency of the hot water to rise. The hot water in one filtering section 1a is swirled while being kept at a high temperature and is pushed out to the second filtering section 1b. In the first filtration unit 1a, the flow rate in the area on the supply port side is high because the downward slope of the rectifying weir 5 faces the supply port side, so that the sludge is not separated from the hot water and the deposition tank 5a. To the side at a stretch, and the sludge deposited in the deposition tank 5a does not return.

The hot water flowing into the second filtration section 1b is purified in the process of passing through the bag filled with the activated carbon 7a and the bag filled with the hinoki block 7b, respectively. The mixture is evenly mixed with the supplied hot water and is completely sterilized.
The hot water that has been sterilized and lowered to an appropriate temperature by contact with 1 is returned to the bathtub B. Therefore, the hot water returned into the bathtub is not too hot, and the hot water in the bathtub is kept at an appropriate temperature. As described above, since hot water is sent from the heat sterilization chamber into the convection chamber to heat and sterilize the hot water in the convection chambers (the first filtration unit and the second filtration unit), the bacteria in the circulation path can be totally eliminated. And killed,
Problems such as clogging of the filter medium due to dirt and slime do not occur.

Sludge s deposited on the bottom of the first filtration unit 1a over a long period of time is periodically drained such that hot water in the first filtration unit 1a returns directly to the bathtub B through the sludge collection chamber 14. The opening / closing door 13a of the opening 13 is opened, and the sludge s deposited on the bottom of the first filtration section 1a (the area opposite to the supply port) flows out into the sludge collecting chamber 14 and is filtered by the basket 14a. After closing 13a, the cage 14a is removed and discarded. Furthermore, when we change hot water in bathtub,
When no hot water is left in the bathtub, it is desirable to provide the pump with an idle operation prevention mechanism to automatically stop the pump, or to provide an overheat prevention mechanism to stop the operation of the Peltier element.

In the bathtub hot-water circulation purifying apparatus of this embodiment, the convection chamber is provided with a second filtration section defined on the first filtration section by a water-permeable wall with respect to the first filtration section. Therefore, the hot water in the first filtration unit is efficiently pushed out to the second filtration unit while maintaining the high temperature. However, the positional relationship between the first filtration unit and the second filtration unit is upside down or left and right. Alternatively, both can be connected by a pipe. In addition, the adoption of a Peltier element as the heating means effectively cools the sterilized water by effectively utilizing the cooling action, and sends out the returned hot water at an appropriate temperature to the bathtub. Heaters and burners can be used, and radiating fins can be used as cooling means. The structure of the heat sterilization chamber should also be a structure other than the combination of nozzles and radiating fins that discharge hot water in a mist. Also, the positional relationship between the heat sterilization chamber and the convection chamber is not limited to the embodiment, and does not deviate from the gist of the present invention, such as adding an auxiliary pump between the heat sterilization chamber and the convection chamber. It may be changed appropriately within the range.

The hot water generated in the heat sterilization chamber may be sent not only to the first filtration unit but also to the first filtration unit and a part of the hot water to the second filtration unit. The modifying material contained in the section is not limited to activated carbon and hinoki block, for example, copper fibers, magnets, barley stone, etc. can be added or changed, and the modifying material can also be used in the heat sterilization chamber and the first filtration section. It is also possible to increase the reforming effect by accommodating.
Further, the embodiment can be freely changed, for example, by incorporating a pump or assembling the pump with the bathtub.

[0015]

The hot water circulated through the bath tub hot water circulating / purifying apparatus of the present invention is such that impurities are separated as sludge in the sedimentation tank diverted by the weir-over action. The content is extremely low, the occurrence of slimming due to the propagation of bacteria is suppressed, and the amount of impurities mixed in the hot water is significantly reduced. Also, the hot water in the convection chamber is sterilized by high temperature by combining the hot water in the overheat sterilization room with the hot water in the convection room, and the hot sterilized water can be cooled to an appropriate temperature by cooling means and then returned to the bathtub. If the return water is not too hot. If a drainage port that can be opened and closed is provided in the deposition tank, the accumulated sludge is removed, the convection chamber is always kept in a clean state, and the filter material exchange cycle can be lengthened. Furthermore, if hot water sent from the heat sterilization chamber is introduced into the deposition tank, not only the hot water circulating in the convection chamber, but also the deposited sludge will be primarily sterilized by high temperature, and bacteria that are hidden in the sludge will be removed. Will be eradicated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a basic configuration of a circulation path.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view schematically showing a bathtub hot water circulation purification device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view schematically showing an example in which a bathtub hot water circulation / purification device is set in a bathtub.

[Explanation of symbols]

A: bathtub hot water circulation purification device, B: bathtub, C: cooling means, 1 ... convection chamber, 1a ... first filtration section, 1b ... second filtration section, 2 ... heat sterilization chamber, 3 ... partition wall, 3a ...
Water passage window, 4 supply port, 5 rectifier weir, 5a deposition tank, 6 pipe, 7 reformer, 7a activated carbon, 7
b ·· cypress block, 8 ·· return port, 9 ·· Peltier element, 10 ·· heat pipe, 10a ·· heat radiating fin, 1
1. Cooling fins, 12 nozzles, 13 outlets,
13a ··· Opening door, 14 · · · Sludge collection chamber, 14a basket, 15 · · pump, 16 suction pipe, 17 · · · discharge pipe, 17a · · distribution pipe, 18 · · filter,
19. Return pipe, sludge.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI C02F 1/28 C02F 1/28 F 1/52 1/52 K 9/00 502 9/00 502A 502D 502H 503 503Z F25B 21/02 F25B 21/02 D (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) C02F 1/02 C02F 1/00 C02F 9/00

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A bathtub hot water circulation purifier for forming a circulation path for introducing hot water in a bathtub and returning it to the bathtub in combination with the bathtub, and purifying and sterilizing the hot water in the bathtub introduced in the process of passing through the circulation path. A distribution circuit for distributing the introduced hot water to the heat-sterilizing chamber and the convection chamber in the device, and a sludge contained in the split hot water by diverting the hot water in the convection chamber by a weir action. And a cooling means for cooling the divided and separated hot water to an appropriate temperature after merging. 2. The bathtub hot water circulation / purification device according to claim 1, wherein a drainage port that can be opened and closed is provided in the deposition tank. 3. The bathtub hot water purification system according to claim 1, further comprising an introduction path for introducing hot water heated at a high temperature in the heat sterilization chamber into the deposition tank.