JP3741491B2 - UV sterilizer for water - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention belongs to the technical field of an ultraviolet sterilizer for sterilizing a liquid, and is particularly suitable as an ultraviolet sterilizer for sterilizing bath water.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The ultraviolet sterilizer for water is conventionally used as a sterilizer that circulates bath water and sterilizes it during circulation. “Ozonizer” was used as a bath water sterilizer. The ozonizer discharges high pressure in the air, ozonizes oxygen, and sterilizes by using the sterilization property of the generated ozone, and sterilizes by jetting ozonized air in the bathtub. Ozonizers are widely used because they are small, inexpensive, and easy to control the amount of ozone generated. However, when used as a bath water sterilizer, ozone sterilization must be stopped at the time of bathing, the problem of disturbing sleep due to intake noise when driving at midnight, and noise generated during high-pressure discharge. There have been problems such as the occurrence of radio interference in electric appliances such as TVs. Therefore, recently, an ultraviolet sterilizer has been used.
[0003]
4 (A) and 4 (B) show an example of a conventional ultraviolet sterilizer for water used for sterilizing bath water. This conventional apparatus is a conventional apparatus that seems to be the closest to the present invention, and this conventional apparatus will be described below. In FIG. 4A, the UV jacket 11 is formed integrally with the sterilizer main body 10. An inflow port 12 and an outflow port 13 are provided on the upper side of the UV jacket 11 and an opening 14 on the upper side, respectively. The opening 14 is hermetically sealed by screwing a jacket lid 15 to a flange 16 around the opening with a screw 17. The UV jacket 11 and the jacket lid 15 are made of a material resistant to ultraviolet rays or are backed with a strong material.
[0004]
A round hole 19 for attaching the outer tube 18 is provided at substantially the center of the jacket lid 15. The outer tube 18 is held by the jacket lid 15 via the packing 20 so that the upper opening appears outside the apparatus body 10. The packing 20 holds the outer tube 18 and prevents water in the UV jacket 11 from entering the outer tube 18. The outer tube 18 accommodates a UV lamp 21 therein and protects the UV lamp (ultraviolet germicidal lamp) 21 from bath water in the UV jacket 11, and has an opening for inserting the UV lamp above. The side is cylindrical and the bottom is closed. The outer tube 18 is made of a material such as quartz that allows easy passage of ultraviolet rays for sterilization.
[0005]
The UV lamp 21 is a low-pressure mercury lamp that emits germicidal radiation having a wavelength of approximately 260 nm (nanomillimeter). The discharge voltage of the low-pressure mercury lamp is several tens of volts. The UV lamp 21 is held on the outer tube 18 by a lamp base 22. The lamp base 22 is made of a material such as ceramic or PBT resin having excellent heat resistance, flame retardancy, and ultraviolet resistance. The discharge electrodes 21a and 21b of the UV lamp 21 are drawn to the lamp base 22 by lead wires 23 connected by spot welding and connected to a female connector 24a of a connector 24 waterproofed by a wiring 32. As shown in FIG. 4B, the UV lamp 21 is integrally coupled to the lamp base 22, the lead wire 23, and the female connector 24a, and only the lamp unit 30 can be detached from the apparatus main body 10. It can be configured.
[0006]
The male connector 24 b connected to the female connector 24 a is connected to the wiring 25, and the other end of the wiring 25 is connected to the output end of the inverter board 26. The inverter board 26 is attached in a state of floating on the outer side of the UV jacket 11 inside the apparatus main body 10. A power supply circuit for lighting the UV lamp 21 is mounted on the inverter board 26. This power supply circuit is a lighting circuit using a transistor inverter, and includes a DC-AC inverter and a step-up transformer. The input end of the inverter board 26 is connected to the control board 28 by wiring 27. The control board 28 generates a DC low voltage, and is composed of an insulating transformer, a filter, and a rectifying / smoothing circuit as shown in FIG.
[0007]
This conventional water sterilizer is constructed as described above, and operates as follows when sterilizing. That is, a low DC voltage (several volts) is generated by the control board 28 and input to the inverter board 26. After being converted to a high frequency (approximately 1 KHZ to several tens KHZ) by the lighting circuit of the inverter substrate 26 and boosted to a discharge voltage (several tens V), the electrode 21a of the UV lamp 21 passes through the wiring 25, the connector 24, and the lead wire 23. , 21b. A sterilization line is emitted from the UV lamp 21, and the emitted sterilization line passes through the outer tube 18 and sterilizes the bath water flowing through the flow path 29.
[0008]
When replacing the lamp, the connector 24 is removed, the lamp unit 30 is taken out from above, a new lamp unit is accommodated, and the connector is connected. When the outer tube 21 is to be cleaned, the connector 24 is removed, the lamp unit 30 is taken out from above, the jacket cover screw 17 is removed, and the jacket cover 15 and the outer tube 18 are removed from the UV jacket. After cleaning the outer tube 18 for dirt, a jacket lid and a lamp unit are attached.
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
When the water ultraviolet sterilizer is used in a so-called 24-hour bath hot water purifier that allows bathing at any time for 24 hours, the outer tube becomes soiled and the sterilizing ability is reduced in about six months. In addition, if the lamp is used for a predetermined time, the radiation capacity of the germicidal line is reduced and the lamp needs to be replaced. In the case of a 24-hour bath used at home, the user cleans the outer tube and replaces the lamp. The replacement of the UV lamp and the cleaning of the outer tube involve the work of removing or connecting the connector. In the conventional apparatus, a high-frequency high-voltage current flows through the connector, and if the user does not connect the connector correctly, there is a risk of arc discharge and further smoke and ignition. Further, since the connector is outside the main body of the apparatus and a high voltage current flows, there is a risk that the user may be touched with a wet hand and get an electric shock. The object of the present invention is to provide an ultraviolet sterilizer for water that solves such problems.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 is characterized in that an UV jacket provided in an apparatus main body having an opening, an inlet and an outlet provided facing the outside, A jacket lid that is fixed to the opening of the UV jacket, a UV lamp that is detachably supported by the UV jacket and emits a sterilizing line to the fluid in the UV jacket, and is disposed in the flow path of the UV jacket. The UV lamp is housed inside and passes ultraviolet light for sterilization and is also connected to an outer tube for blocking contact with the fluid in the UV jacket, a control board for generating a DC low voltage, and an output terminal of the control board. An inverter board that is connected to the UV lamp and generates a high-frequency high voltage for lighting the UV lamp, and a connector for connecting the inverter board and the control board It is characterized in that the water ultraviolet ray sterilizer provided in serial device main body outside.
[0011]
With the above configuration, the sterilized fluid flows in from the inlet and flows out from the outlet. It is sterilized by irradiating the sterilization line through the flow path. In addition, since the high frequency high voltage for lighting the UV lamp is generated by the inverter board, a DC low voltage flows through the wiring and connector between the control board and the inverter board, and a high frequency high voltage current does not flow. Although it is used for water, it is not limited to sterilization of water (cold water or hot water), but is also applied to liquid sterilization of other fluids such as soft drinks.
[0012]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the apparatus according to the first aspect, the jacket lid can be attached to and detached from the UV jacket, and the UV lamp projects downwardly below the jacket lid. The tube is held by the jacket lid, and a concave portion is provided above the jacket lid above the UV lamp to accommodate the inverter board.
[0013]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the apparatus according to the first aspect, the UV lamp is held by a lamp base that can be attached to and detached from the jacket lid, and a box body that houses the inverter board is disposed on the lamp base. It is characterized by being formed integrally.
[0014]
A fourth aspect of the present invention is the apparatus according to the first to third aspects, wherein the inverter substrate is molded with a molding agent. With the above configuration, even when the inverter board is used in an atmosphere with a lot of moisture or water droplets, moisture and the like do not enter the inside, and failure and deterioration are small. The problems were solved by the configurations of these claims.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
<Embodiment 1>
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1A is a cross-sectional view of the ultraviolet sterilizer according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 1B is a lamp unit according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the power supply circuit of the UV lamp according to the first embodiment. The same elements or parts as those described in the conventional apparatus are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
[0016]
In FIG. 1A, the head portion of the jacket lid 41 is provided with a recess 42 for accommodating the inverter board 26. The inverter board 26 is not directly stored in the recess 42 but is stored in the box 44, and the box 44 is stored in the recess 42. The inverter board 26 is molded with a molding material for preventing moisture and dust from entering. As the molding material, resin, glass, ceramic or the like having excellent electrical insulation is used. The box 44 is made of a non-conductive material, for example, a plastic resin or ceramic having excellent strength and insulation.
[0017]
The output end of the inverter board 26 is connected to the lead wire 43 by soldering, and the other end of the lead wire 43 is connected to the end of the lead wire 23 of the UV lamp 21 by spot welding or the like. The lead wire 23 is fixedly held by a lamp base 47. The lamp base 47 is made of a material such as ceramic or PBT resin. The input end of the inverter board 26 is connected to the wiring 45 by soldering, and the other end of the wiring 45 is connected to the female connector 46 a of the connector 46. The male connector 46 b connected to the female connector is connected to the control board 48 by the wiring 27. The connector 46 may have a low withstand voltage, but a waterproof one is used. The lamp unit 50, the connector 46, etc. are covered with a top cover (not shown).
[0018]
FIG. 1B shows the lamp unit 50. The lamp unit 50 is attached and removed as a unit, and the entire lamp unit 50 is replaced when the lamp unit 50 is replaced. As shown in the figure, the lamp unit 50 accommodates the lead wire 23 connected to the UV lamp 21 and the electrodes 21a and 21b, the lead wire 43 connecting the lead wire 23 and the inverter board 26, and the inverter board 26 with a molding agent. It is composed of a molded connector 44 and a female connector 46 a connected to the wiring 45.
[0019]
FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a power supply circuit for lighting the UV lamp.
In FIG. 2, a power source 53 is a commercial power source and is AC 100V. This power supply 53 is input to the control board 48. The power source input to the control board 48 is converted to a low voltage of about several volts by the insulating transformer 54 and then converted to a direct current low voltage of about 5 volts by the rectifying and smoothing circuit 55. This DC output voltage is input to the inverter board 26 via the connector 46 by the wirings 27 and 45. Further, a UV lamp lighting control signal for controlling the lighting of the UV lamp is simultaneously input to the inverter board 26 via the connector 46 from the control circuit 57 of the control board 48.
[0020]
The DC voltage input to the inverter board 26 is converted to a high frequency (approximately 1 KHZ to approximately 20 KHZ) by the DC-AC inverter circuit 58 and boosted to a high voltage (approximately several tens of volts) necessary for lighting the UV lamp 21 by the boost transformer 59. Is done. The inverter circuit uses a transistor inverter (or IC inverter) or a thyristor inverter. The high frequency high voltage boosted by the step-up transformer 59 is supplied to the UV lamp 21 when the UV lamp lighting control signal is ON, and the lamp is turned on. When using as a bath water sterilizer, the UV lamp operating voltage is preferably about 24 V or less in consideration of the risk of electric shock of the bather in the unlikely event.
[0021]
Embodiment 1 is the above structures, and bactericidal action is performed as follows. A DC low voltage and a UV lamp lighting control signal are supplied from the control board 48 through the wiring 27, and supplied to the input terminal of the inverter board 26 through the connector 46 through the wiring 45. When the UV lamp lighting control signal is ON, a high frequency high voltage current is supplied from the output terminal of the inverter board 26 to the UV lamp 21 to turn on the UV lamp 21. On the other hand, liquid to be sterilized, such as bath water, flows through the flow path 29 from the inlet port 12 of the UV jacket to the outlet port 13 and is sterilized by irradiating the sterilization line.
[0022]
In addition, the UV lamp 21 is replaced by removing the connector 46, pulling out the lamp unit 50 upward, and then storing the new lamp unit and connecting the connector 46 thereto. When cleaning the outer tube 18, the connector 46 is removed, the lamp unit is pulled out, the jacket cover screw 17 is removed, and the jacket cover 42 is taken out from the UV jacket 11. After cleaning the outer tube with a cloth or the like, the jacket lid 42 and the lamp unit 50 are attached.
[0023]
In the first embodiment, as described above, since the current voltage flowing through the connector 46 is a low voltage (DC voltage of several volts), even if the female connector 46a and the male connector 46b have poor contact, the connector 46 arcs. There is no risk of discharge or fuming. In addition, there is little risk of electric shock even if the body (hand or the like) is directly touched on the connector without turning off the power, and there is an effect that replacement work or the like can be performed extremely safely. Furthermore, since the inverter board 26 is molded to prevent ingress of water droplets and dust, and the connector 46 also uses a waterproof connector, the possibility of failure is low even if it is used for a long time in a humid atmosphere. There is an effect that reliability is improved. Further, the provision of the inverter board 26 on the jacket lid 41 makes the entire apparatus compact, and as a result, there is an effect that manufacture and assembly become easy.
[0024]
Note that the UV lamp may not be lit when the connector has poor contact. However, even in this case, the above dangerous situation does not occur. If necessary, a device for detecting a contact failure of the connector may be provided. Further, the present invention is not limited to a DC low voltage of approximately 5V, and is not limited to a discharge voltage of approximately 24V or less. Further, the input power supply is not limited to a commercial 100V, and may be a commercial power supply of 110 to 120V, for example.
[0025]
<Embodiment 2>
The second embodiment has almost the same configuration as the first embodiment. The same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof is omitted, and different components are denoted by different reference numerals, and this portion will be mainly described. 3A is a cross-sectional view of the ultraviolet sterilizer of Embodiment 2, and FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the lamp unit. 3 (A) and 3 (B), the lamp base 61 has a box part 62 for accommodating the inverter board 26 at the head, and the UV lamp 21 and lead wires 43 and 23 are held and fixed on the trunk part. A lamp base main body 63 is provided and is manufactured integrally. The lamp base 61 is made of ceramic or PBT resin.
[0026]
The lamp unit 60 is manufactured by connecting the lead wires 23 and 43 by spot welding and manufacturing the lamp base 61 so as to hold and fix the end of the UV lamp 21 and the lead wires 23 and 43. Thereafter, the inverter board 26 is housed in the box 62, the output end of the board and the lead wire 43 are connected by soldering, the input end and the wiring 45 are connected by soldering, and then molded with a molding agent. The upper surface of the jacket lid 65 is provided with a flat portion so that the box portion 62 can be stably placed when the lamp base 61 is attached. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment. The lamp base 61 is not limited to be manufactured as a single unit, but may be manufactured by dividing each part into a unit.
[0027]
The second embodiment is configured as described above, and its operation and function are the same as those of the first embodiment. According to the second embodiment, the box body for housing the inverter board in the head of the lamp base is configured integrally with the lamp base main body, so that operations such as attachment and removal are facilitated, and the manufacturing cost of the apparatus is reduced. effective.
[0028]
The embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to the above description or illustrated examples, and design changes and the like within the scope of the present invention are not limited. Even if it exists, it is included in this invention. For example, after the inverter board is stored in the storage part, it is molded with a molding agent to prevent water droplets and dust from entering. Instead of the molding agent, the substrate surface is coated with a moisture-proof coating agent and the top is sealed with a lid. May be. Further, the UV lamp is not limited to the straight tube type, but may be a U-tube type or other shapes.
[0029]
Further, the fixing of the jacket lid to the UV jacket is not limited to screws, and the contact surface between the jacket lid and the UV jacket may be fixed by screwing. The female connector and the male connector may be replaced and connected. Moreover, this invention is not limited only to the sterilization of bath water, For example, it can apply also as an apparatus which sterilizes soft drinks, serum, a vaccine raw material, etc. Further, the UV lamp is not limited to the low-pressure mercury lamp, and another lamp that emits ultraviolet rays having a sterilizing action may be used.
[0030]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, since the invention according to claim 1 operates only at a low voltage on the connector portion, even if there is a contact failure or the like in the connection of the connector, smoke is ignited by arc discharge or the like. There is no danger, and there is little risk of an electric shock even if it is touched by hand, and there is an effect that the safety of the apparatus can be improved.
The invention described in claim 2 is to make the design of wiring and device compact by providing a recess on the jacket lid to accommodate the inverter board and arranging an outer tube and a UV lamp below the lid. There is an effect that can be.
Since the invention according to claim 3 is unitized by integrating the lamp base and the inverter board housing portion, the production cost is reduced and the sterilizing lamp is replaced.
The effect that handling operation in cleaning etc. becomes still easier is acquired.
The invention according to claim 4 is advantageous in that the effect of moisture-proofing and waterproofing can be obtained by molding the inverter circuit and the high power supply pressure portion is not directly exposed to the outside, so that it can be handled with peace of mind.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1A shows a cross section of the entire structure of Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 1B shows a cross section of a lamp unit.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a power supply circuit for lighting a UV lamp according to the first embodiment.
3A shows a cross section of the entire structure of Embodiment 2 of the present invention, and FIG. 3B shows a cross section of a lamp unit.
4A shows a cross section of the entire structure of a conventional apparatus, and FIG. 4B shows a replacement unit.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Main unit 11 UV jacket 12 Inlet port (inlet)
13 Exit port (outlet)
14 Opening 15 and 41 Jacket lid 18 Outer tube 20 Packing 21 UV lamp 22, 47, 61 Lamp base 23, 43 Lead wire 24, 46 Connector 26 Inverter board 28, 48 Control board 30, 50, 60 Lamp unit

Claims (4)

  It has an opening facing the outside, an inlet and an outlet, a UV jacket provided in the main body of the apparatus, a jacket lid fixed to the opening of the UV jacket, and detachable from the UV jacket And a UV lamp that emits sterilization lines to the fluid in the UV jacket, and is disposed in the flow path of the UV jacket, and the UV lamp is housed in the UV jacket and passes UV light for sterilization. An outer tube that cuts off contact with the fluid inside, a control board that generates a low DC voltage, and a high-frequency high voltage that is connected to the output end of the control board and is connected to the UV lamp to light the UV lamp. An ultraviolet sterilizer for water, comprising a generated inverter board, and a connector for connecting the inverter board and the control board provided outside the apparatus main body   The jacket lid is made detachable from the UV jacket, and the outer tube is held by the jacket lid so that the UV lamp protrudes below the jacket lid, and the jacket is disposed above the UV lamp. 2. The ultraviolet sterilizer for water according to claim 1, wherein a concave portion is provided on an upper side of the lid to accommodate the inverter board.   The said UV lamp is hold | maintained at the lamp base which can be attached or detached to the said jacket cover, and the box body which accommodates the said inverter board | substrate in the upper part of the said lamp base was formed integrally. UV sterilizer for water.   4. The ultraviolet sterilizer for water according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the inverter substrate is molded with a molding agent.

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