JP4133730B2 - Steam generator for sauna - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a steam generator for a sauna which is installed in a bathroom or a bathtub of a general household and generates steam for a sauna bath using water (including hot water) from tap water as a water source. It relates to the prevention of backflow of water once supplied to the steam generator.

    In recent years, the effects of sauna baths have attracted attention from the viewpoint of beauty and health maintenance, and methods and devices that can perform sauna baths in general households have been proposed.

  The simplest way to take a sauna bath in a general home is to fill the bathtub with about half of that hot water (waist bath) and cover the bather's shoulder with a bath lid. Thereby, a sauna bath can be enjoyed with the steam generated in the bathtub.

  However, in the case of this sauna bath method, it is a simple method to the last, and the steam temperature is insufficient, so that it is not sufficiently effective.

  Then, what was proposed so that a sauna space may be formed using the whole bathroom and a sauna bath can be performed is known. For example, as shown in Patent Document 1, a steam ejection part for ejecting steam generated by the steam generation part into the bathroom is provided. The steam from the steam generating part is once supplied to the inside of the steam ejecting part and diffused, and then discharged from the outlet of this steam ejecting part into the bathroom.

  Patent Document 2 proposes another configuration for using the entire bathroom as a sauna space. According to this, a sauna apparatus main body is installed beside a bathtub in a bathroom, for example. This sauna apparatus main body takes in the air in a bathroom with the negative pressure which arises by the hot water injection from a nozzle, and the fan provided behind the nozzle inside, and mixes this air with the hot water of nozzle injection. The heated air is discharged into the bathroom through a duct, and hot water droplets adhering to the duct are collected and stored in a hot water recovery tank. The recovered water is heated again and sprayed from the nozzle, thereby constituting a recycle type sauna apparatus.

  Furthermore, Patent Document 3 proposes yet another configuration for using the entire bathroom as a sauna space. The steam generator proposed in this document includes steam generating means, circulating means for circulating hot water used in the steam generating means, water supply means for supplying (supplementing) water and hot water to the circulating means, steam And a blowing means for blowing the steam generated by the generating means. In particular, the water supply means has a water supply source and a pipe with an electromagnetic valve interposed, as can be seen in FIGS. The supply source such as water is constituted by a water heater that uses tap water to supply the water itself or hot water of a predetermined temperature. Water or hot water that uses this tap water as a water source is supplied (supplemented) to a drain pan that forms part of the circulation means.

As shown in Patent Documents 1 to 3 described above, even in ordinary households, a sauna space can be formed using a bathroom and a sauna bath can be enjoyed.
JP-A-5-337162 JP 2000-55397 A Japanese Patent No. 3406967

  Since the conventional bathroom sauna device and steam generator described above are suitable for general households, the water supply generally drawn into each household is used as the water source for generating steam. Is most. For example, as proposed in Patent Document 3 described above, a water / hot water supply pipe from a hot water heater is connected to a drain pan of a steam generator.

  However, in the case of a supply path (pipe) using tap water in this way, the open end of the supply path (pipe) is placed in the drape pan or the storage tank because it aims to reduce the size of the structure of the steam generator. The structure is often close to the accumulated water (hot water) surface. For this reason, once the water (hot water: water used once for steam generation (including hot water)) discharged into a tank or the like is once again supplied to the supply channel (for some reason such as water outage or negative pressure at the time of failure) There is a concern that tap water will be contaminated by flowing back into the pipe.

  In order to prevent this backflow, it is usually considered to provide a check valve in the water supply path to the steam generator. However, in the case where such a supply path is directly connected to the drain tank, there is still a possibility that once discharged, the water discharged once flows back into the tap water system when the check valve breaks or fails.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a conventional problem. When water or hot water using water as a water source is stored in a tank and steam for sauna is generated using the water or hot water in the tank. Another object of the present invention is to provide a sauna steam generator that can reliably prevent the backflow of water (hot water) once discharged from the tank to the water system.

In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, a tank for storing water, and a supply path for supplying water before or after heating to the tank from a water supply source using water as a water source, A sauna steam generator that uses the water stored in the tank to generate steam for a sauna bath, and the opening end of the supply path is positioned higher than the water surface when the tank is full. It is provided and arranged so as to take an air gap between the water surface . For example, the water supply source is a water heater using tap water, and the water stored in the tank is hot water from the water heater. A check valve may be provided in the middle of the path from the water supply source to the open end of the supply path.

  Further, according to another aspect of the present invention, a heat exchange formed by a reservoir tank capable of storing hot water, a suction port capable of communicating with the storage tank and capable of sucking external air and a steam outlet A tank, a supply path for supplying the hot water from a water heater using water as a water source, and a pump means for injecting the hot water stored in the storage tank into the heat exchange tank through a nozzle And steam generating means for generating steam by exchanging heat between the hot water jetted from the nozzle toward the heat exchange tank and the external air sucked from the suction port, and accompanying the generation of the steam Recovery means for recovering the water droplets separated in the storage tank, and a steam generator installed so as to discharge the steam from the outlet into the bathtub, and at least the storage Detection means for detecting the water level in the tank and the heat exchange tank, and the temperature of the hot water in the storage tank, and the steam generation state by the steam generation unit as command information and information detected by the detection means And a control means that controls the supply path so that the opening end of the supply path is provided at a position higher than the water surface when the heat exchange tank is full, and an air gap is formed between the water surface and the water surface. It is arranged.

  In the present invention, the term “steam” is not necessarily limited to steam at 100 ° C., and includes a steam temperature of 100 ° C. or lower, such as a temperature of about 40 ° C. in the bathtub. It is used as

According to the present invention, it is provided with a supply path for supplying water before or after heating to a tank (or a storage tank) from a water supply source using water as a water source, and the open end of the supply path is connected to the tank full water. It provided in the position higher than the water surface of time, and it has arrange | positioned so that an air gap may be taken between the said water surfaces . For this reason, when water in the tank (warm water) tries to enter the open end of the supply channel due to some reason such as negative pressure in the event of failure of the backflow prevention equipment equipped or when there is an abnormality such as water outage That is, even when attempting to reverse flow, such a situation can be reliably prevented. For this reason, a water system can be protected from the contamination by the water discharged from the water pipe once.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  First, the whole structure of the bathtub sauna system using the steam generator for saunas concerning this invention is demonstrated.

  In FIG. 1, the whole structure of this bathtub sauna system is shown. As shown in the figure, as an example, this bathtub sauna system is partly on the rim surface RM (edge) on the short side on the foot position side in the longitudinal direction of the bathtub 10 placed in the bathroom BR, from the upper surface thereof. A steam generator 11 is provided which is detachably or integrally installed in a state where it protrudes and the remaining part is suspended. Moreover, the cool air apparatus 12 is installed in the state which put the ventilation port toward the bathtub 10 side in the bathroom wall surface located a little above this steam generator 11. FIG.

  A power supply box 13 that receives supply of commercial power from outside is installed behind the ceiling of the bathroom BR, and heater power is supplied to the steam generator 11 from this power supply. Further, the power supply box 13 receives an operation signal from a remote controller 14 installed at an appropriate place on the wall surface in the bathroom, and transmits an operation signal based on the operation signal to the steam generator 11 and the cool air device 12. Is configured to do.

  Therefore, as will be described in detail later, the steam generator 11 injects steam (mist) at an appropriate temperature (for example, around 40 ° C.) from the portion protruding from the rim surface RM toward the hot water reservoir (inside the bathtub) of the bathtub 10. It is supposed to be. For this reason, when the user is ready for operation of the steam generator 11, the user enters the inside of the bathtub 10, puts on the bath lid FT, and takes a face from a part thereof as shown in FIG. 2. Then, the operation of the steam generator 11 is commanded from the remote controller 14. Thereby, the hot water reservoir of the bathtub 10 can be used as a sauna space, and a sauna bath (perspiration bath) can be enjoyed while staying in the bathtub.

  Hereinafter, this bathtub sauna system is demonstrated in detail focusing on the structure and operation | movement of the steam generator 11. FIG.

  The steam generator 11 forms a substantially rectangular parallelepiped box as shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a view (hereinafter referred to as a front view) seen from a user (tub side) of a sauna bath.

  The steam generator 11 includes a waterproof cover 20 that functions as a central casing, a ventilation duct 21 installed on the upper side of the waterproof cover 20, and a top that covers the ventilation duct 21. And a cover 22.

  Inside the waterproof cover 20, there is provided a tank 30 that is integrally formed so as to divide the upper and lower sides via a step portion 30 a and to form an integral space. Among the tanks 30, a tank part below the step part 30 a forms a storage tank 31 for storing hot water, and an upper tank part forms a heat exchange tank 32 for heat exchange. An in-tank filter 34 is placed on the step portion 30a.

  The left side wall in FIG. 3 of the heat exchange tank 32 is formed with a taper, and the right side wall facing it is formed upright. Of these, the taper wall is provided with a water injection nozzle 35 for injecting water into the tank, as will be described later. On the inner surface of the upright wall, hot water is circulated by a pump as will be described later. An injection nozzle 36 that injects the liquid is directed.

  The storage tank 31 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and a heater (seeds heater) 37 for heating water in the tank is installed on one side wall (the left side wall in FIG. 3). The heater 37 is installed through the side wall in an airtight state so that the heating part is located inside the tank and the terminal part is located outside the tank. The electrode part located outside the tank is hermetically covered with a heater cover 38.

  Thereby, the electrode part of the heater 37 can be airtightly covered with the double waterproof section. That is, a primary waterproof section is formed between the waterproof cover 20 and the storage tank 31, and a secondary waterproof section is formed inside the heater cover 37. The heater 37 is more reliably protected by the double waterproof section.

  Moreover, in order to ensure the waterproof performance of this waterproof section, it is important to reliably release the internal pressure rising due to hot water to the outside. For this reason, in the present embodiment, a vent filter having a microporous membrane is provided in order to reliably release the internal pressure rising in the secondary waterproof compartment to the primary waterproof compartment. Furthermore, in order to release the internal pressure of the primary waterproof compartment to the outside, a piped cable is used as the power cable 63 described later. By this. Using the hollow portion of the pipe, the internal pressure can be released to the outside through the power supply box 13.

  By energizing the heater 37, the water in the storage tank 31 is directly heated.

  A circulation port 31a is formed on the other side wall (right side wall in FIG. 3) of the storage tank 31, and a pump filter 39 is attached to the entrance of the circulation port 31a. As shown in FIG. 3, a circulation pump 40 is installed outside the side wall where the circulation port 31a is formed. The suction port of the circulation pump 40 is airtightly connected to the circulation port 31a, and the discharge hose 41 is connected to one end of the discharge port. The other end of the discharge hose 41 rises upward to reach a predetermined position on the side wall of the heat exchange tank 32. At this position, the discharge hose 41 is inserted into the side wall in an airtight manner and coupled to the injection nozzle 36 described above. For this reason, when the circulation pump 40 is driven, the hot water in the storage tank 31 reaches the injection nozzle 36 through the circulation port 31a, the circulation pump 40, and the discharge hose 41, and is directed from the injection nozzle 36 into the heat exchange tank 32. Is injected.

  Further, a discharge port 31 b is formed at the bottom of the storage tank 31. This discharge port is connected to the suction port of the drain valve 50 (three-way valve) below the storage tank 31. In addition to the suction port, the drain valve 50 is provided with two drain ports, one of which forms a normal drain path, and reaches the normal drain port 52 via the check valve 51. This normal drain port 52 is connected to a drain pipe. The other drainage port forms an emergency drainage channel used in an emergency, and is always opened through the emergency drainage port 53 as it is toward, for example, a drainage space under the bathtub.

  For this reason, by controlling the electromagnetic part of the drain valve 50 with a control signal, it is possible to switch to three states of closed (drainage off), open 1 (normal drainage), and open 2 (emergency drainage).

  As shown in FIG. 3, the bottom surface of the waterproof cover 20 is formed in a step shape through a step portion 20a at a substantially central position. The normal drain port 52 and the emergency drain port 53 are formed in the step portion 20a. Is mounted sideways. This horizontal installation facilitates installation work and maintenance management.

  On the other hand, a water injection mechanism is provided below the storage tank 31 in addition to the drainage mechanism described above. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the stepped portion 20 a described above is provided with a water supply port 54, and hot water from a water heater (not shown) is supplied to the water supply port 54. As shown in FIG. 6, the water supply port 54 is a check valve that prevents water or warm water in the tank 30 (that is, water once discharged from the water system) from flowing back from the water injection nozzle 35 to the water heater. It is coupled to a hot water supply via 500.

  This check valve 500 is coupled with a backflow prevention air gap (described later) set between the water injection opening end of the water injection nozzle 35 and the water level in the tank 30 when the tank 30 is full. It is intended to ensure the prevention of water backflow.

  Note that the above-described check valve 500 may be provided inside the waterproof cover 20.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the water supply port 54 includes a manual valve 55, a pressure relief valve 56, a hot water supply filter 57, a flow rate sensor 116, a hot water supply thermistor 117, an electromagnetic water injection valve 60, And a water supply hose 62 through a metering valve 61.

  The water supply hose 62 rises upward and is airtightly connected to the water injection nozzle 35 on the side wall (taper wall) 32a having the tapered surface of the heat exchange tank 32 described above. The water injection nozzle 35, the water supply hose 62, and the water supply port 54 supply water before or after heating to the tank 30 (heat exchange tank 32) from a water supply source using water as a water source. Part of the supply channel.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the water injection nozzle 35 has one end penetrating the taper wall 32a of the heat exchange tank 32 from the inside to the outside and is hermetically sealed with a sealing member with respect to the taper wall 32a. One end of the L-shaped pipe 351 and the end of the L-shaped officer 51 penetrating the tapered wall 32a are hermetically coupled using a sealing member such as an O-ring, and the other end is directed downward. The connecting pipe 352 is disposed so as to face the other end of the L-shaped officer 351 inside the heat exchange tank 32. The water supply hose 62 described above is connected to the connecting pipe 352. A holding plate 354 for holding the L-shaped tube 351 and the connecting tube 352 is attached to the outer wall surface of the tapered wall 32a.

  The other tip portion of the nozzle body 353 is curved in a substantially L shape. The nozzle main body 353 is arranged upward along the tapered wall of the heat exchange tank 32, and the opening end of the tip portion curved in a substantially L shape thereof is more predetermined than the water level LV when the heat exchange tank 32 is full. It is positioned so as to increase by a height α. Therefore, at the time of normal water injection, as shown by an arrow A in FIG. 4, the water heater is connected to the heat exchange tank 32, that is, the storage tank 31 through the water supply hose 62, the connecting pipe 352, the L-shaped 351, and the nozzle body 353. Hot water from is supplied. That is, the hot water from the water heater poured into the heat exchange tank 32 is stored in the storage tank 31.

  For this reason, if the water injection valve 60 is opened and closed by a control signal in a state where the manual valve 55 is opened, the supply of hot water from an external water heater to the heat exchange tank 32 via the water injection nozzle 35 can be intermittently controlled. It is like that.

  The predetermined height α of the opening end on the discharge side of the nozzle body 35 described above may be, for example, even when the heat exchange tank 32 is full of water (the water surface is at the LV position) and the check valve 500 described above is broken. The water or hot water is set to a value of 25 mm or 25 mm or higher, which is a height that can prevent the water or hot water from being sucked into the nozzle body 353 and backflowing when water breakage or failure occurs.

  The method of installing the water injection nozzle 35 is not limited to the structure detailed in FIG. 4 described above, and may be configured as shown in FIG. 5, for example. According to the structure shown in FIG. 5, a recessed portion 32 b is formed in part of the tapered wall 32 a of the heat exchange tank 32, and the water injection nozzle 35 is attached using the recessed portion 32 b.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the water injection nozzle 35 includes a nozzle main body 361 that corresponds to the position of the recess 32 b, and that protrudes airtightly toward the inside of the tank on the shoulder of the heat exchange tank 32, and the shoulder And a connecting pipe 362 that is airtightly provided. A water supply hose 62 extending from below is connected to the connecting pipe 362 from the outside of the heat exchange tank 32. The other end of the nozzle body 361 is bent in an inverted V shape as shown in the figure, and the open end of the tip is directed obliquely toward the inside of the storage tank 32. At this time, the distance from the opening end to the bare surface LV when the heat exchange tank 32 is full is the same as described above in order to prevent the backflow of water (warm water) in the tank 30 (32) to a predetermined value α (25 mm). Above).

  Thus, by forming the recessed part 32b which sunk inside in a part of taper wall 32a, it is not necessary to form the hole for attaching the water injection nozzle 35 to the taper wall 32a of the storage tank 32, and the part of the recessed part 32b is used. A space for mounting the water injection nozzle 35 can be secured. For this reason, the water injection nozzle 35 can be easily attached around the tapered wall 32a. There is an advantage that the water injection nozzle 35 itself has only the structure.

  Note that, at a predetermined position on the bottom of the waterproof cover 20, a heater power supply cable 63, various electronic circuit power supply cables 64, and a communication cable 65 connected to the power supply box 13 are airtightly connected. . Although not shown, these cables are routed to necessary places inside the cover.

  On the other hand, the ventilation duct 21 described above is attached to a ceiling body 70 that covers the upper portion of the waterproof cover 20. In the ventilation duct 21, a suction port 71 and a blower port 72 are formed as shown in FIG. Both the suction port 71 and the blowout port 72 communicate with the internal space of the heat exchange tank 32. For this reason, while the air in the bathroom (actually, using the bath lid is operated, the inside of the bathtub) can be taken into the heat exchange tank 32 through the suction port 71, the air inside the heat exchange tank 32 is taken in. The air can be discharged through the air outlet 72.

  An opening / closing cover 22a is attached to the front side of the top cover 22. When the sauna bath is not performed, the cover 22a is closed (the state shown in FIG. 3) and the suction port 71 and the air outlet 72 are closed. ing. For this reason, the hot water and dust of bathtub BT are prevented from entering the steam generator 11 through the suction port 71 and the blower outlet 72. When performing a sauna bath, a mechanism is provided that can open the cover 22a and maintain the open state.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a separator 73 as an obstacle member for gas / liquid separation is attached to the ceiling body 70 of the heat exchange tank 32 so as to hang down toward the inside of the heat tank 32. The separator 73 is located between the suction port 71 and the air outlet 72 and is tapered so as to form an obtuse angle with respect to the injection body coming from the suction port 71 and the injection nozzle 36. Moreover, the position of the lower end of the separator 73 is located below that of the air outlet 72, so that the ejector from the suction port 71 and the injection nozzle 36 does not reach the air outlet 72 directly. Yes.

  For this reason, a high-temperature air / liquid mixture collides with the separator 73 to cause gas-liquid separation, and only saturated water vapor is discharged from the heat exchange tank 32 through the outlet 72.

  More specifically, the hot water circulated to the injection nozzle 36 by the pump 40 is injected at high speed from the plurality of injection holes formed in the injection nozzle 36 toward the inside of the heat exchange tank 32. The air in the bathtub is taken in through the suction port 71 due to the friction accompanying this injection.

  This suction is possible for the following reasons. Kinetic energy is given to the air in the tank by the hot water flow injected into the heat exchange tank 32, and this air moves in the tank, so that a negative pressure is generated around the suction port 71. Air can be taken in from the suction port 71 by pressure.

  Since hot water is simultaneously jetted from a plurality of jet holes at a high speed, the contact area with the air inside the heat exchange tank 32 increases, and more air is sucked into the tank via the suction port 71.

  Since this sucked air runs in the heat exchange tank 32 together with the high temperature water (the jetted hot water), it is heated and humidified. A part of the heated and humidified mixture of air and water collides with the inclined surface of the separator 73, and the remaining part collides with the wall surface of the heat exchange tank 32. By this collision, gas-liquid separation occurs, and it is separated into saturated water vapor and water. Water falls on the storage tank 31 directly or through the wall surface and is collected. On the other hand, the saturated water vapor is discharged toward the bathtub through the outlet 72.

  Further, as can be understood from FIG. 3, a control board 80 is provided outside the right wall of the heat exchange tank 32 in a state where the discharge hose 41 is avoided and where no contact is made with hot water or the like. On the control board 80, electronic components of a control circuit 81 that plays a central role in controlling the steam generator 11 are mounted.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the control circuit 81 includes a microcomputer (microcomputer) and gives the microcomputer a program describing a procedure for executing processing related to driving and control of the steam generator 11. A part of means for realizing the control is functionally realized. Such a program is stored in advance in a memory (not shown) of the microcomputer.

  In the control circuit 81, various circuits as peripheral circuits and interfaces of the microcomputer are mounted on the same control board 80. Although not shown, this circuit includes an A / D converter, a detection circuit, and a drive circuit. These various circuits are electrically connected to various detection means and drive means in the steam generator 11, receive and convert signals detected by the detection means, send them to the microcomputer, and output them by processing of the microcomputer. The received control signal is received / converted and output to the driving means.

  More specifically, the suction port 71 and the air outlet 72 are provided with thermistors 110 and 111 as detection means for detecting the temperature, respectively, and the detection signals of the thermistors 110 and 111 are transmitted to the control circuit 81. Sent to.

  An overflow (OF) level sensor 112 is provided at a predetermined position on the edge (upper limit) of the heat exchange tank 32, and a detection signal from the level sensor 112 is sent to the control circuit 81. Further, a lower limit level sensor 113 is provided at a position slightly below the upper limit of the side wall of the storage tank 31 and above the circulation port 39. The detection means of the level sensor 113 is connected to the control circuit 81. Sent. A common level sensor 114 that provides a reference signal for comparison is attached to a predetermined position near the bottom of the storage tank 31, and a detection signal of the common level sensor 114 is sent to the control circuit 81 as a reference signal. These level sensors 112 to 114 use electrode switches that are connected (ON) when water reaches the sensor position because detection accuracy is particularly required.

  Further, in the storage tank 31, a hot water thermistor 115 is attached at a position below the lower limit level sensor 113 and substantially near the center of the tank 31, and a detection signal of the hot water thermistor 115 is controlled. It is sent to the circuit 81.

  The detection signal of the hot water supply thermistor 17 inserted in the water injection system is sent to the control circuit 81, and the detection signal of the flow sensor 116 is sent directly to the microcomputer.

  On the other hand, a control command from the microcomputer is output to the pump 40, the drain valve 50, and the water injection valve 60 as a drive signal from the control circuit 81. The signal from the drain valve 50 is directly output to the microcomputer.

  A water leakage detection sensor 118 is installed in a position near the bottom of the waterproof cover 20 and a detection signal from the sensor 118 is directly sent to the microcomputer. The detection signal of the interlock reed switch 119 installed at the upper end of the heat exchange tank 32 is also sent directly to the microcomputer.

  On the other hand, the power supply box 13 (see FIG. 1) includes a function of supplying necessary power to the steam generating device 11, a function of shutting off the power supply in an emergency, and a function of driving the cool air device 13 according to a command from the user. It is. In order to exert these functions, the arithmetic unit of the power supply box 13 communicates with the microcomputer mounted on the control board 80 of the steam generator 11 via the communication cable 65, such as a normal state, an abnormal state such as electric leakage, etc. It is connected to be able to send and receive information about.

  Operation | movement of the steam generator 11 which concerns on this embodiment is performed centering on the microcomputer (not shown) of the control circuit 81. FIG. Based on detection signals from detection means such as various sensors and switches, the microcomputer performs a “standby / preparation separation process” (a process for maintaining or switching the steam generator 11 to a standby state or performing a mist operation). The preparatory operation for whether or not the preparatory operation for the vehicle should be started), the “preparation operation” (the process for securing the temperature suitable for the sauna bath and the amount of hot water suitable for the mist operation in the storage tank 31), and “the mist operation” (Processing for generating steam (mist) from the outlet 72 of the steam generator 11 in response to the user's remote control operation using hot water prepared by the preparatory operation), and "Blowing steam temperature setting" Various processes including “processing” (temperature setting process of steam generated during mist operation) are performed.

  Thus, using the water supplied from the water heater (temperature of (warm water) is 37 to 50 ° C.) to the steam generator 11, a mist operation is performed in accordance with the user's instruction, and the tub 10 is filled. Generate steam. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 1, the user can enjoy a sauna bath using the bathtub 10.

  For this reason, according to the bathtub sauna system according to the present embodiment, the sauna space is not formed using the entire bathroom as in the prior art, so generation of mold or the like due to condensation on the wall surface of the bathroom due to the sauna bath Can be almost eliminated. In addition, this bathtub sauna system jets steam toward the inside of the bathtub and covers the bathtub with a cover such as a bath lid, so that the breathing characteristic peculiar to the sauna room can be greatly reduced. Furthermore, the space where steam only needs to create a sauna environment occupies the inside of the bathtub, so that a comfortable temperature and humidity state can be obtained within a short time. That is, it is possible to obtain the convenience that the waiting time is shorter than that of the sauna system using the bathroom. Furthermore, since the waiting time is short, the amount of electric energy and water resources used is reduced, and a sauna system that satisfies the requirements for cost saving and resource saving can be provided.

  In particular, steam is generated toward the bathtub used for normal bathing (full-body bathing, half-body bathing, etc.), and sauna bathing can be performed with the steam staying in this bathtub. Can be provided.

  In addition, a water supply source (a water supply nozzle 35, a water supply hose 62, and a water supply port 54 that supplies water before or after heating to the tank 30 (or the storage tank 31) from a water supply source that uses water as a water source) The opening end of the supply path is provided at a position higher than the water surface LV when the tank 30 is full, and an air gap of a predetermined distance is provided between the tank 30 and the water surface. For this reason, when water in the tank (warm water) tries to enter the open end of the supply channel due to some reason such as negative pressure in the event of failure of another backflow prevention device or abnormalities at the time of water interruption, That is, even if it is a case where it is going to backflow, this situation can be prevented reliably. For this reason, the said water system can be reliably protected from the contamination resulting from the water once discharged from the water system piping.

  In addition, the structure of the steam generator 11 which concerns on embodiment mentioned above can be deform | transformed into a various form further. For example, you may comprise so that tap water may be drawn in directly into the tank 30 without going through a water heater. In order to realize this configuration, the water pipe is directly connected to the water supply port 54 so that the tap water reaches the water injection nozzle 35 via the water supply hose 62. Thereby, a predetermined amount of tap water can be poured into the tank 30 (storage tank 31). In this case, it is essential to provide the aforementioned predetermined amount of air gap α between the water level surface when the tank 30 is full and the opening end of the water injection nozzle 35. Steam can be generated as described above by heating the injected water to a predetermined temperature by the heater 37 to make warm water and circulating the hot water by the circulation pump 40. That is, it is not always necessary to use hot water from a hot water heater.

  Further, the shape of the tank 30 (the storage tank 31 and the heat exchange tank 32) is not necessarily limited to that of the above-described embodiment, and tap water (hot water) can be stored in the lower part, and heat can be stored in the upper part. If the exchange space can be ensured and the both have a communication structure, it can be formed in an appropriate shape. For example, the storage tank 31 and the heat exchange tank 32 may be molded separately and then assembled together to form an integral storage space, or each molded separately and then installed as a separate body. In addition, both tank spaces may be coupled via the communication portion.

The perspective view which shows the outline | summary of the sauna system for bathtubs using the steam generator of this invention based on one Embodiment of this invention. The side view explaining the state of the sauna bath in this sauna system for bathtubs. The front view which fractured | ruptured partially and shows the structure of the steam generator which concerns on embodiment. The fragmentary figure explaining the attachment structure of the water injection nozzle used with the steam generator which concerns on embodiment. The partial view explaining the attachment structure of the water injection nozzle which concerns on a modification. The block diagram which shows the electric system of a steam generator, and the path | route for steam generation.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Bath 11 Steam generator 20 Waterproof cover 30 Tank 31 Storage tank 32 Heat exchange tank 32a Tapered wall 32b Recess 35 Water injection nozzle 36 Injection nozzle 37 Separator 38 Heater 40 Pump 54 Water supply port 62 Water supply hose 80 Control board 90 Microcomputer 351 L-shaped 352 Connecting pipe 353 Nozzle body 361 Nozzle body 362 Connecting pipe 500 Check valve

Claims (4)

A tank for storing water,
A supply path for supplying water before or after heating to the tank from a water supply source using water as a water source, and steam for sauna bath is generated using water stored in the tank. In sauna steam generator,
A steam generator for a sauna, wherein an opening end of the supply path is provided at a position higher than a water surface when the tank is full and an air gap is formed between the tank and the water surface. The steam generator for a sauna according to claim 1, wherein the water supply source is a hot water heater using tap water, and the water stored in the tank is hot water from the water heater. The sauna bath steam generator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a check valve is provided in the middle of a path from the water supply source to the opening end of the supply path. A storage tank capable of storing hot water;
A heat exchange tank formed in communication with the storage tank and in communication with a suction port capable of sucking outside air and the steam outlet;
A supply path for supplying the hot water from a water heater using water as a water source to the storage tank;
Pump means for injecting the hot water stored in the storage tank into the heat exchange tank through a nozzle;
Steam generating means for generating steam by exchanging heat between the hot water sprayed from the nozzle toward the heat exchange tank and the external air sucked from the suction port;
Recovery means for recovering the water droplets separated along with the generation of the steam in the storage tank, and a steam generator installed so as to discharge the steam from the outlet toward the bathtub;
At least water levels inside the storage tank and the heat exchange tank, detection means for detecting the temperature of the hot water in the storage tank, and the information detected by the detection means on the generation state of the steam by the steam generation unit Control means to control according to
Steam for a sauna, wherein an opening end of the supply passage is provided at a position higher than a water surface when the heat exchange tank is full, and the supply passage is disposed so as to form an air gap between the water surface and the water surface. Generator.

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