JP3354489B2 - Shower 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 shower apparatus mainly used in ordinary households, and more particularly, to a shower apparatus which is designed not to receive cold water accumulated in a shower hose or high-temperature hot water which may cause a burn. Related to shower equipment.

[0002]

Normally, since the hot water used last time is cold and remains in the shower head or shower hose hung on the wall, it is surprised to take cold water at the start of the shower. Often do. Especially in the cold season such as winter, a strong shock is received, so that the elderly need to be careful.

[0003] In addition, when hot water is spouted from a shower head or used for hot water supply to a bathtub, etc., when the mixing tap is set to a high temperature by mistake or when the adjusting function of the mixing tap is unstable, the shower is stopped. There was a problem of getting burned by covering the hot water stored in the hose.

Accordingly, the present inventors have developed a shower device which can automatically take out cold water or high-temperature water which accumulates in a shower head or a shower hose or flows out of a mixer tap to take a shower safely. As a result of intensive studies, the present invention has been achieved.

[0005]

The gist of the shower apparatus according to the present invention is that a part of a shower hose to which a shower head is connected is formed based on the operation of a shape memory alloy.
Be those automatic draining valve for opening and closing at a preset temperature is provided, automatic draining valve, most of the shower hose
A draining member provided at a lower position, and a side of the draining member
Open and close the water outlet on the belly based on the operation of the shape memory alloy
Valve member and a cap that covers the water outlet of the drainage member
And to have .

Further, in such a shower device, the valve member of the automatic drain valve is set so as to be opened at a water temperature of 30 ° C. or lower.

[0007] Further, in such a shower device, the valve member of the automatic drainage valve is set so as to be opened at a water temperature of 45 ° C or higher.

In the shower apparatus, a valve member of an automatic drain valve which is opened at a water temperature of 30 ° C. or less, and
And a valve member of an automatic drain valve which is opened at 5 ° C. or higher.

[0009]

Next, an embodiment of a shower apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, the automatic drainage valve 12 is provided on a drainage member 20 provided below the shower hose 14 connecting the mixing tap 18 and the showerhead 16. The position where the automatic drain valve 12 is provided is a position where the water in the shower hose 14 is most easily drained,
That is, it is preferable that the position be the lowest position. Therefore, in the case of the shower device 10 of the type shown in FIG. 1 in which the shower hose 14 is connected below the mixing tap 18, the shower device 14 is provided at the lowest position of the shower hose 14 and is of the type shown in FIG. In the case of the shower apparatus 10 in which the shower hose 14 is connected above the mixing tap 18 and the shower hose 14 stands up, it is preferable that the shower hose 14 is provided at an end of the shower hose 14 and at a connection portion with the mixing tap 18. .

The automatic drain valve 12 is configured, for example, as shown in FIG. That is, a valve member 24 is provided for a water discharge port 22 provided on the side of the drainage member 20, and a coil spring 26 and a bias coil spring 28 made of a shape memory alloy are provided in a cylindrical portion of the valve member 24. The support members 30 are provided so as to face each other with the support member 30 interposed therebetween. FIG. 5A shows a state in which the shape memory alloy is below the transformation temperature. The coil spring 26 made of the shape memory alloy is pulled by the bias coil spring 28 and compressed, and the valve member 24 is pressed against the packing 32. The outlet 22 is closed.

A coil spring 26 made of a shape memory alloy is
When the temperature becomes higher than the transformation temperature and the force to return to the original shape increases, the valve member 24 is pulled back overcoming the bias coil spring 28, and as shown in FIG. Is opened. That is, the automatic drainage valve 12 of the present embodiment is in a closed state below the transformation temperature of the shape memory alloy used, and is opened above the transformation temperature. If hot water having a temperature higher than the transformation temperature is present in the drainage member 20, the water outlet 22 is automatically opened, and the hot water inside the drainage member 20 is discharged.

FIG. 4 shows an example of an automatic drain valve 12 that opens at low temperatures and closes at high temperatures. That is, as shown in FIG. 3A, at a temperature lower than the transformation temperature, the coil spring 26 made of the shape memory alloy is pulled and compressed by the bias coil spring 28, and the valve member 24 is released from the packing 32 and released. The water port 22 is opened. Further, at a temperature higher than the transformation temperature, the coil spring 26 made of a shape memory alloy overcomes the bias coil spring 28 to retract the valve member 24 as shown in FIG. Close 22. If hot water having a temperature lower than the transformation temperature is present in the drainage member 20, the water outlet 22 is automatically opened and the low-temperature hot water inside the drainage member 20 is discharged.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the automatic drain valve 12 is opened below 30 ° C. This is because the cold water remaining in the shower hose 14 is automatically drained so that the shower water does not bathe when the shower is started.

In another particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the automatic drain valve 12 is opened above 45 ° C. The hot water remaining in the shower hose 14 or the hot water flowing out due to malfunction or missetting of the mixing tap 18 is removed from the drain port 22 to prevent the hot water from jetting out of the shower head and to prevent trouble such as burns. This is to prevent it.

FIG. 5 shows another example of the automatic drainage valve 12, which is particularly effective for discharging hot water flowing out of the mixing tap 18. That is, in the direction of the arrow, the inlet 3
The high-temperature hot water flowing into the drainage member 20 from the drain 4 is blocked by the valve member 24 closed by the pressing of the coil spring 26 made of a shape memory alloy, and the entire amount thereof is discharged from the water outlet 22. Hot water does not erupt from the shower head via 36. When hot water below the transformation temperature flows in, the coil spring 26 made of a shape memory alloy is pushed back by the bias coil spring 28, the valve member 24 closes the water discharge port 22, and the valve member 24 is closed.
Through an opening provided in the center of the showerhead to the outlet 36 and to the showerhead. The automatic drain valve 12 based on the operation of the shape memory alloy can have various structures and shapes, and the present invention is not limited to the above examples.

The automatic drain valve 12 is operated at a temperature of 30 ° C.
If it is configured to open at a temperature equal to or higher than ° C., the shower can be used more comfortably and safely because neither cold water nor hot water is covered. FIG. 6 shows an example,
An automatic drain valve 38 that opens below 30 ° C. and an automatic drain valve 40 that opens above 45 ° C. are provided. As shown in FIG. 3A, at 30 ° C. or lower, the automatic drain valve 38 opens to discharge cold water, and as shown in FIG. Extraction valves 38, 40
Are closed, the hot water is sent to the shower head, and at 45 ° C. or higher, the automatic drain valve 40 is opened and the hot water is discharged at 45 ° C. or higher, as shown in FIG.

Also, at 30 ° C., as shown in FIG.
It is also possible to combine the automatic drainage valve 12 that opens below and the automatic drainage valve 12 that opens at 45 ° C. or higher, as shown in FIG. According to the automatic drain valve of the present embodiment, the cold water remaining in the shower hose 14 can be quickly drained, and the high-temperature hot water flowing out of the mixing tap 18 can be efficiently discharged from the automatic drain valve 12, and the shower head can be used. It can be prevented from flowing out.

There are times when it is desired to bathe in cold water of 30 ° C. or less when the temperature is hot in summer. For example, if the cap 42 is put on the water outlet 22 in advance in the automatic drain valve 12 shown in FIG. You can also use a cold water shower. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, even if cold water of 30 ° C. or less flows, the valve member 24 does not move and the automatic drain valve 12 remains closed, so that cold water from the shower head can be used. it can. Similarly, when it is desired to use hot water having a temperature of 45 ° C. or higher, for example, the cap 42 of the automatic drain valve 12 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 8, even when hot water of 45 ° C. or more flows, the water outlet 22 remains closed, so that the hot water can be discharged from the shower head.

FIG. 9 shows an example of a method of covering the automatic drain valves 38 and 40 with a common cap 42 and temporarily stopping the functions of the automatic drain valves in the automatic drain valve shown in FIG. As a method of temporarily stopping the function of the automatic drainage valve 12, various means other than the example described above are possible.

The automatic drain valve 12 used in the present invention
This is based on the operation of the shape memory alloy. Conventionally, bimetals, thermowax, etc. have been used as thermal actuators, but judgment is made based on the output per weight, the sensitivity of operation to temperature changes, the size of shape changes, etc. Alloys are the best materials. By using the shape memory alloy, the size and weight of the automatic drain valve can be reduced, and the opening / closing temperature can be set finely.

The type of shape memory alloy used in the present invention may be a commercially available type, and is not particularly limited.
Ti—Ni, Ti—Ni—Fe, Ti—Ni, Ti
Alloys such as -Ni-Cu are preferred.

The coil spring 26 made of a shape memory alloy is
It is obtained by processing a linear shape memory alloy into a coil spring.
The wire diameter and the coil diameter of the linear shape memory alloy are appropriately designed based on the size of the valve member 24, the strength of the water flow received by the valve member 24, and the like. The bias coil spring 28 is similarly designed, but it is preferable to use stainless steel having good corrosion resistance.

In addition, the present invention provides various improvements, corrections, and modifications to the structure and mounting position of the automatic drain valve, the type and composition of the shape memory alloy, etc. based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Can be implemented.

[0025]

According to the shower device of the present invention, since the water drain valve based on the operation of the shape memory alloy is provided in a part of the shower hose, the hot water in the shower hose is reduced to a preset temperature. Then, the drain valve is automatically opened and drained.

If the automatic drain valve is opened at a temperature of 30 ° C. or less, the cold water accumulated in the shower hose is automatically drained. Will not receive.

If the automatic drain valve is opened at 45 ° C. or higher, hot water pooled in the shower hose or flowing out of the mixer tap is automatically drained. Trouble can be prevented.

Also, an automatic drain valve which opens at 30 ° C. or lower and 4
If used together with an automatic drain valve that opens at 5 ° C or higher, cold water or high-temperature water accumulated in the shower hose or high-temperature water flowing out of the mixer tap will be automatically drained. No more shocks or burns when bathed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view schematically showing an example of a shower device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view schematically showing another example of the shower device according to the present invention.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are side cross-sectional views schematically illustrating an example of a drainage member according to the present invention. FIG. 3A is a state in which an automatic drainage valve is closed at a low temperature, and FIG. This shows a state in which the automatic drain valve is open at a high temperature.

FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view schematically illustrating another example of the drainage member according to the present invention. FIG. 4A is a state in which an automatic drainage valve is opened at a low temperature, and FIG. ) Indicates a state in which the automatic drain valve is closed at a high temperature.

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view schematically illustrating another example of the drainage member according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view schematically illustrating an example of a drainage member having two automatic drainage valves according to the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 4B shows a state in which both valves are open, FIG. 4B shows a state in which both automatic drain valves are closed at medium temperature, and FIG. 5C shows a state in which the other automatic drain valve is open at high temperature.

FIG. 7 is a side sectional view schematically illustrating an example of a means for temporarily stopping a function of an automatic drainage valve according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a side sectional view schematically illustrating another example of the means for temporarily stopping the function of the automatic drain valve according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a side sectional view schematically illustrating another example of the means for temporarily stopping the function of the automatic drain valve according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10: Shower device 12, 38, 40: Automatic drain valve 14: Shower hose 16: Shower head 18: Mixer tap 20: Drain member 22: Water outlet 24: Valve member 26: Coil spring made of shape memory alloy 28: Bias coil spring 30: Support member 32: Packing 34: Inlet 36: Outlet 42: Cap

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A shower provided with an automatic drain valve that opens and closes at a preset water temperature based on the operation of a shape memory alloy at a part of a shower hose connected to a shower head.
An apparatus, wherein the automatic drain valve is positioned at the lowest position of the shower hose.
A drain member provided on the device, and a drain member provided on the side of the drain member
Valve for opening and closing the discharged water outlet based on the operation of the shape memory alloy
Member and a cap to be placed on the water outlet of the drainage member
And a shower device. 2. The automatic drain valve according to claim 1, wherein the valve member has a water temperature of 30.
A shower device set to be opened at a temperature of not more than ° C. 3. The valve member of the automatic drain valve is provided with a water temperature of 45.
The shower apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shower apparatus is set to be opened at a temperature of not less than ° C. Wherein the preceding claims, characterized with the valve member of the automatic draining valve to be held at a water temperature 30 ° C. or less, that the valve member of the automatic draining valve to be held at a water temperature 45 ° C. or higher provided 2. The shower device according to 1.