JP4766807B2 - Drain plug device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a drain plug device that opens and closes drain plugs attached to the bottom of a tank body such as a bathtub and a basin.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Traditionally, a drain plug device is provided with an operation button on the upper edge surface of a bathtub, a basin, etc., and a holding means (thrust lock mechanism) provided on the drain plug side or operation unit side by enabling the transmission means to be pushed by the operation button. ), The configuration in which the cap lid is alternately held between the open state and the closed state is dominant.
In the case of this manual type, opening and closing cannot be performed unless the pressing amount of the operation button is a certain level or more. Therefore, the force is weak in elderly people, children, etc., and the drain plug may not be opened and closed reliably.
Therefore, in recent years, a switch for opening and closing is provided on the wall of the bathroom, kitchen, living room, etc., and the plug lid of the drain plug is pushed by a predetermined amount by remote operation by the switch operation, and the open state and the closed state are alternately Electric type that can be done has been developed to ensure the opening and closing of the drain plug.
Conventionally, there is a technique as a drain plug device that opens and closes a drain plug by manual operation or automatic operation (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-303530).
In this prior art, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, an arm 252 is raised from its output shaft 251 via a speed reduction mechanism 254 consisting of a gear train directly connected to the electric motor 25, and a rotating convex 253 is attached to the arm 252. A recess that is provided with a horizontal guide groove 101 that guides the rotating projection 253 in the intermediate piece 10 that protrudes and guides the operation shaft 121 directly connected to the operation button 12, and is recessed from the lower end of the intermediate piece 10. A transmission shaft 23 for transmitting power to the release wire 13 is inserted into the shaft 102 coaxially with the operation shaft 121 from the lower end until the upper end abuts against the bottom of the recess 102.
The horizontal guide groove 101 is secured for a length (2X) that is at least twice as long as the distance (X) between the shaft attachment portions of the arm 252.
When the operation button 12 is pushed, the operation shaft 121 descends in the intermediate piece 10 and pushes down the transmission shaft 23 at the lower end thereof, and the release wire 13 is moved forward to provide a thrust lock mechanism provided on the drain plug side. When the operation button 12 is pushed again by locking and opening the plug cover, the thrust lock mechanism is similarly unlocked and the plug cover is closed.
Further, when the “open” switch is touch-operated, the transmission shaft 23 is pushed down together with the intermediate piece 10 in the first half rotation while the arm 252 makes one rotation, and the release wire 13 is moved forward in the same manner to the drain plug side. When the thrust lock mechanism provided on is locked to open the plug lid, the intermediate piece 10 is returned to the original position by the remaining half rotation, and the “close” switch is touch-operated, the arm 252 similarly. In the first half rotation during one rotation, the transmission shaft 23 is pushed down together with the intermediate piece 10, the release wire 13 is moved forward to unlock the thrust lock mechanism provided on the drain plug side, and the plug lid is closed. The intermediate piece 10 is moved back to the original position by the remaining half rotation.
[0003]
By the way, in the prior art, while the rotating protrusion 253 is guided in the horizontal guide groove 101 via the arm 252, the intermediate protrusion 10 is pushed down by hooking the rotating protrusion 253 in the groove 101. A large torque is required to depress 10, and a large space is occupied inside the arm 252 for rotation.
Therefore, not only the large motor 25 with high output has to be used, but also a large operation part with a large internal space must be manufactured, and the operation part itself including the motor 25 increases in size and weight, and the bathtub There is a problem that it cannot be installed when the space under the upper edge surface such as a wash basin is narrow, and it is necessary to attach it by a robust means to apply a large load to the upper edge surface on which the operation part is suspended. There was a problem which made installation work troublesome.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional circumstances, and its intended process is to use both a small and lightweight operation unit that does not use a high-output electric motor and occupies space, and performs both automatic operation and manual operation. An object of the present invention is to provide a drain plug device that opens and closes a plug.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The technical means taken in order to solve the above-mentioned object are a worm gear having a worm wheel that is rotatably held at a fixed position, an electric motor that transmits power to the worm gear, and a hole formed in the worm wheel. It is electrically equipped with a screw cylinder which is screwed into the central screw hole and guided by the power of the electric motor so as to be able to reciprocate, and a transmission means which is connected to the drain plug and the manual operation portion and is inserted into the screw cylinder. A force imparting means is provided, and the screw cylinder is provided with a pusher that pushes the transmission means to the drain plug side by the power of the electric motor, and is held at the forward end of the transmission means during manual operation and when the electric motor is driven. The drain plug device is characterized in that the drain plug is alternately opened and closed by locking and unlocking (claim 1).
A spur gear may be used instead of the worm gear.
[0006]
According to the above means, every time the manual operation portion (operation button) is pushed, the pushing force is transmitted to the transmission means in the screw cylinder, and the holding means (thrust lock mechanism) is alternately locked and unlocked. Repeat the procedure to open and close the drain cap. The transmission means receives the elastic force of the return ammunition both when the drain plug is opened and when the drain plug is closed, and each manual operation portion (operation button) is moved back to a predetermined position.
Whenever the electric motor is driven, a predetermined amount of forward rotation of the electric motor is transmitted to the worm gear or the spur gear, the screw cylinder is advanced, the transmission means is moved forward by the pusher, and the holding means is held at the forward end. The drain plug is opened and closed by alternately repeating the lock and unlocking. Then, the screw cylinder is moved back to a predetermined position when the plug is opened and closed by reverse rotation of the electric motor by a predetermined amount. The transmission means receives the elastic force of the return ammunition both when the drain plug is opened and when the drain plug is closed, and each manual operation section (operation button) is moved back to a predetermined position.
[0007]
Also, a hot water prevention detecting means for detecting a predetermined position of the transmission means when the drain plug is opened is provided. Even if the hot water supply switch is operated at the detection of the predetermined position of the transmission means by the hot water prevention detection means, the predetermined means is provided. It is more preferable that the hot water supply means is operated only for the time or the control unit is controlled so that the hot water supply means does not operate (Claim 2).
[0008]
According to the above means, both manual operation and automatic operation, when the holding means is locked (when opening), the weight of the plug lid, the support shaft, etc. that supports it is not added to the resilience of the return ammunition. The manual operation unit (operation button) moves back to the predetermined height position one step lower, and the weight of the cap lid and the support shaft that supports it is added to the resilience of the return ammunition when unlocked (closed) Therefore, the manual operation unit (operation button) moves back to a predetermined height position that is one step higher than that.
Therefore, the height position of the predetermined position of the transmission means at the time of opening and closing is different.
On the other hand, in a hot water supply apparatus including a bathtub and hot water supply means, a hot water switch is operated, hot water supply is started, hot water is supplied for a predetermined time, and detection means such as a water level sensor for starting hot water filling detects a predetermined water level. There is a hot water supply device (the former) in which the control unit has a hot water start electric circuit for continuing hot water supply for the first time and a hot water supply device (the latter) in which the control unit does not have such a function.
In the former case, the hot water supply means starts hot water supply even if the hot water supply switch is operated when the predetermined position of the transmission means at the time of opening is detected by the hot water prevention means, but the detection means such as a water level sensor Then, after continuing the hot water supply for the predetermined time to detect this, the control unit controls the hot water supply means so as to stop the operation considering that it is in an open state.
In the latter case, the control unit controls the hot water supply means not to operate even if the hot water supply switch is operated when the predetermined position of the transmission means at the time of opening the plug is detected by the hot water prevention means.
Therefore, in the former, continuous dripping of hot water is prevented, and in the latter, hot water is not consumed at all.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, an embodiment of the drain plug device of the present invention will be described. Reference symbol A is the drain plug device.
1 to 6 show a first embodiment of the drain plug device of the present invention, FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment, and FIG. 8 shows a third embodiment.
First, the first embodiment will be described. The drain plug device A includes a drain plug 1 provided at the bottom of the bathtub B as shown in FIG. 1, and an operation unit 2 that transmits power to the drain plug 1 side. , A transmission means 3 for connecting the drain plug 1 and the operation section 2, a holding means 4 for alternately holding the open state and the closed state provided on the drain plug 1 side, automatically to the transmission means 3 It is composed of an electric force applying means 5 for transmitting power.
[0010]
As shown in FIG. 1, the drain plug 1 has a drain fitting 11 having a flange 111 attached to a drain outlet b established at the bottom of the bathtub B, and is attached to a guide tube 21 provided on the drain fitting 11. A release wire 13, which is a constituent member of the transmission unit 3, is communicated, and a manual operation or a driving force from the electric force application unit 5 is transmitted to the holding unit 4 provided in the guide tube 21 through the release wire 13. Then, the drain plug 1, specifically, the plug lid 41 is opened and closed alternately.
Reference numeral 31 denotes a drainage joint to which the drain outlet fitting 11 is attached, specifically, a drainage basin.
[0011]
The holding means 4 is a well-known thrust lock mechanism, and the support shaft 51 that supports the plug lid 41 by the advancement of the release wire 13 is alternately locked and unlocked at the forward end (ascending end) to alternate the drain plug 1. It has a well-known structure that opens and closes, and includes a fixed ring, a rotating ring, an engagement tooth, a saw tooth, and the like, and will not be described in detail.
[0012]
As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 6, and the like, the operation unit 2 is a manual operation unit that holds and hangs a peripheral flange 221 on the edge of the mounting port b <b> 1 that opens on the upper edge surface of the bathtub B. (Referred to below as operation buttons) 12 guide cylinders 22, an operation cylinder 32 screwed into the circumferential surface of the guide cylinder 22 and attached so as to sandwich the upper edge surface between the guide cylinders 22, The operation shaft 121 is formed.
In this embodiment, the operation cylinder 32 is formed by the mounting cylinder portion 321 that is screwed into the guide cylinder 22 as described above, and the operation cylinder main body 322 that is fitted in a watertight manner to the mounting cylinder portion 321.
[0013]
The transmission means 3 includes the operation shaft 121, a transmission shaft 23 connected to the operation shaft 121 via a coupling 6, and an upper end connected to the transmission shaft 23. A release wire 13 having a lower end connected to a supporting shaft 51 to be supported, and the transmission shaft 23 is inserted from above into a transmission tube 42 provided at the lower end of the operation tube 32 so as to communicate with the inside. 52 is interposed with a slight clearance between the bottom of the transmission cylinder 42 and the retaining rod 231 formed in the middle of the transmission shaft 23 (see FIGS. 2 and 6).
Each time the operation button 12 is pushed, the transmission means 3 including the operation shaft 121, the transmission shaft 23, and the release wire 13 moves forward against the return ammunition 52 to raise the support shaft 51. Thereby, the holding means 4 is alternately locked and unlocked to hold the drain plug 1 in the open state and the closed state.
[0014]
As shown in FIGS. 2, 5, 6, and the like, the electric force applying means 5 includes a drive box 15 provided in communication with the operation cylinder 32, and an electric motor (motor) 25 accommodated in the drive box 15. The worm gear 35 connected to the output shaft 251 of the electric motor 25, the screw cylinder 45 screwed into the central screw hole 351a of the worm wheel 351 and reciprocated by the power of the electric motor 25, and the screw cylinder 45 The operation shaft 121 which is one constituent member of the transmission means 3 is inserted.
[0015]
As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 5, and 6, the drive box 15 includes a motor box portion 151 that houses the electric motor 25 so that a part of the motor box portion 151 is housed in the operation tube 32. A gear box portion 152 is attached to the side surface so as to correspond to the operation shaft 121, and is formed so as to communicate with the motor box portion 151.
[0016]
2 and 4, the gear box portion 152 is provided so as to project from the inner wall in the operation tube 32 of the motor box portion 151, and the upper and lower wall portions 151a and 151a correspond to the screw tube 45. The through holes 151b and 151b through which the screw cylinder 45 is inserted are opened, and the convex portions 151c and 151c for rotatably holding the worm wheel 351 at fixed positions from the inner surfaces of the upper and lower wall portions 151a and 151a have the same circumference. Projecting on top.
[0017]
The screw cylinder 45 has an outer thread 451 threaded on the outer peripheral surface thereof over the entire length, and longitudinal grooves 451a and 451a are formed in the outer surface facing each other with the cylinder core interposed therebetween, The lower end opening portion is closed by disk-shaped lids 452 and 452 having the insertion holes 452a and 452a through which the operation shaft 121 is inserted, and the vertical grooves 451a and 451a are opened from the edges of the through holes 151b and 151b. The guide projections 151d and 151d projecting in the direction are engaged (see FIG. 4).
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 3, the worm gear 35 meshes with a transmission pinion 251 a at the tip of the output shaft 251 of the electric motor 25 via a spur gear 353, and the driving force is transmitted from the worm 352 to the worm wheel 351. The spur gear 353 has a shaft support mode as shown in FIG. 3, and annular recesses 351b and 351b corresponding to the projections 151c and 151c are formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the worm wheel 351. The convex portions 151 c and 151 c are fitted into the annular concave portions 351 b and 351 b so as to be recessed and rotate at a fixed position by the power of the electric motor 25.
[0019]
In the worm wheel 351, a central screw hole 351a that is screwed into the outer screw 451 of the screw cylinder 45 is opened at the center, and when the electric motor 25 is driven, the vertical grooves 451a and 451a of the screw cylinder 45 are connected to the worm wheel 351. The gear box portion 152 guided by the guide convex portions 151d and 151d protruding from the hole 151b moves up and down in a penetrating manner.
[0020]
The lids 452 and 452 at the lower end opening portion of the screw cylinder 45 are in contact with the coupling 6 at the time of closing, and a pusher 7 that pushes the transmission means 3 toward the drain plug 1 when the electric motor 25 is driven. It is the structure which functions as.
[0021]
In addition, a sensor for a bottom dead center that detects a cover 452 of an upper end open portion of the screw cylinder 45 is located on a higher side of the front wall of the motor box portion 151 where the gear box portion 152 is connected. On the lower side of the means 8, sensor means 8a for the top dead center for detecting the lid 452 at the lower end opening portion of the screw cylinder 45 is provided.
[0022]
Further, in the operation cylinder 32, the stopper lid 41, the support shaft 51, etc. are not applied to the elastic force of the return ammunition 52, and when the plug lid 41, the support shaft 51, etc. Focusing on the fact that the height positions of the couplings 6 at the time of closing the cap applied to the force are different from each other, a hot water preventing means 9 for detecting the coupling 6 at the time of opening is provided.
The sensor means 8, 8a, 9 for top dead center, bottom dead center, and hot water filling prevention use magnetic sensors in this embodiment, but may be contact type sensors. is there.
Reference numeral 200 denotes a guide pipe connected across the drainage joint 31 and the operation cylinder main body 322, and the release wire 13 is inserted through the guide pipe 200.
[0023]
The drain plug apparatus A of the present embodiment configured as described above has a transmission shaft in which the operation shaft 121 moves forward in the screw cylinder 45 and is connected by the coupling 6 every time the operation button 12 is pushed. 23, the release wire 13 is moved forward to the drain plug 1 side against the elastic force of the return ammunition 52, the support shaft 51 is raised, and the holding means 4 is alternately locked and unlocked at its forward end. Repeatedly, the drain plug 1 is held in the open and closed states (see FIG. 6).
Then, for example, by touching or remotely operating an “open” switch (not shown) on an operation panel (not shown) disposed on the kitchen, living room, bathroom wall, or the like, the electric motor 25 is properly operated. Rotation of the return cylinder 52 until the lid (pushing element) 7 at the lower end opening of the screw cylinder 45 detects the lid 452 at the upper end opening of the screw cylinder 45 by the sensor means 8 for bottom dead center. The coupling 6 is pushed against the force, the transmission means 3 including the operation shaft 121, the transmission shaft 23, and the release wire 13 is moved forward to the drain plug 1 side, and the holding means 4 is locked at the forward end. Then, the drain plug 1 is opened (see FIG. 5).
As described above, when the lid 452 at the upper end open portion of the screw cylinder 45 is detected by the sensor means 8 for bottom dead center, the electric motor 25 automatically reversely rotates and the lid at the lower end open portion of the screw cylinder 45 is detected. The transmission means 3 is moved back until 452 is detected by the sensor means 8a for top dead center.
Similarly, when a “close” switch (not shown) is touch-operated or remotely operated, the pusher (the lid 452 of the lower end of the screw cylinder 45) is similarly connected to the coupling 6 and the upper end of the screw cylinder 45. It is pushed against the resilience of the return ammunition 52 until the cover 452 of the open part is detected by the sensor means 8 for bottom dead center, and the transmission composed of the operation shaft 121, the transmission shaft 23, and the release wire 13. After the means 3 is moved forward to the drain plug 1 side and the holding means 4 is unlocked at the forward end and the drain plug 1 is closed, the electric motor 25 rotates in the reverse direction, and the lower end opening cover of the screw cylinder 45 is closed. The transmission means 3 is moved back until the body 452 is detected by the sensor means 8a for top dead center.
When both the manual operation and the automatic operation are detected, the hot water prevention detecting means 9 detects the coupling 6 (two-dot broken line) at the time of opening (locking) where the weight of the plug lid 41, the support shaft 51, etc. does not act. Hot water supply only when a detection means such as a water level sensor for starting hot water filling detects a predetermined water level by touch-operating or remotely operating a hot water supply switch in the bathtub B and a hot water supply means (for example, a water heater). In the hot water supply apparatus having a control unit with an electric circuit for starting hot water filling, even if the switch is operated when detecting the hot water filling prevention means, for example, a hot water supply device supplies hot water for the predetermined time. After continuing, it is controlled by the control unit so as to stop the operation of the water heater. In the case of a hot water supply device having no such function, the control unit controls the hot water supply device so that the hot water supply device does not operate even if the hot water supply switch is touch-operated or remotely operated at the same time (see 2 in FIG. 5). See dotted line).
Of course, at the time of closing, the weights of the plug lid 41, the support shaft 51, etc. act, so that the operation button 12 returns to the state of the solid line in FIG.
[0024]
Next, a second embodiment shown in FIG. 7 will be described. This embodiment does not use the worm gear 35 as described above, but guides the screw cylinder 45 to reciprocate with the spur gear 354. To do. Of course, a central screw hole 354a in which the screw cylinder 45 is screwed into the spur gear 354 is opened. Reference numeral 25 is an electric motor, 355 is the gear train, and 15 is a drive box.
Since it is the same as that of embodiment mentioned above except that the electric motor 25 is installed vertically in the drive box 15, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted.
[0025]
Further, a third embodiment shown in FIG. 8 will be described. In this embodiment, screw holes 151b for screwing the external screws 451 of the screw cylinder 45 into the upper and lower wall portions 151a and 151a of the gear box portion 152 are opened. Example in which the worm gear 35 and the screw cylinder 45 at the time of driving the spur gear rotate and reciprocate unlike the first and second embodiments that reciprocate without rotation. It is. In this case, as a matter of course, the screw cylinder 45 has no vertical groove 451a.
[0026]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the present invention is a drain plug device that enables manual operation and automatic operation by using a worm gear, a spur gear, and an electric motor that directly transmits power to the gear as a drive mechanism. Not only does it need to secure a large internal space for rotation, but it is a transmission system for driving force that is directly connected to the speed reduction mechanism (gear train), so there is no need to use a large motor with high output, and it is compact and lightweight. Even if the space under the upper edge surface of a bathtub, basin or the like is narrow, it can be easily attached by simple means.
In particular, since the worm gear outputs a high output, the motor can be further miniaturized, and a small and lightweight operation unit is sufficient.
[0027]
In addition, there is provided a detection means for preventing hot water filling that detects a predetermined position of the transmission means when the drain plug is opened, and the predetermined means even if the switch for hot water supply is operated when the predetermined position of the transmission means is detected by the detection means for hot water filling. When the control unit controls the hot water supply device so that the hot water supply device is operated only for the time, the detection device such as the water level sensor is predetermined by touching or remotely operating the hot water supply switch while detecting the time of opening. After continuing the hot water supply for a predetermined time to detect the water level of the water, the operation of the hot water supply means is stopped by assuming that it is in an open state to prevent continuous dripping of hot water, and the transmission means in the detection means for hot water prevention When the controller controls the hot water supply device so that the hot water supply means does not operate even if the hot water supply switch is touch-operated or remotely operated when the predetermined position is detected, the hot water supply switch is detected when opening is detected. Operate Since the hot water supply unit does not operate, it is possible to not consume hot water quite useless.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front sectional view of a drain plug device of a first embodiment, with an intermediate omitted.
FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the main part, showing when the drain plug is closed, and a two-dot broken line shows the position of the operation button and coupling when the drain plug is opened.
3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line (3)-(3) of FIG.
4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line (4)-(4) in FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a partial enlarged cross-sectional view showing a state where the operation button is automatically lowered to the lower limit, and shows a state where the transmission means is moved back by the resilient force of the return ammunition by a two-dot broken line.
FIG. 6 is a partial enlarged cross-sectional view showing a state where the operation button is lowered to the lowering limit by manual operation, and a two-dot broken line indicates the positions of the operation button and the coupling at the time of opening.
FIG. 7 is a front sectional view of the drain plug device of the second embodiment, with the middle omitted.
FIG. 8 is a front sectional view of a drain plug device according to a third embodiment, with the middle omitted.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a conventional drain plug device.
10A and 10B show a relationship among an electric motor, an intermediate piece, an arm raised from an output shaft, and a convex for rotation. FIG. 10A is a side view showing a cross section of the output shaft, and FIG. The operation shaft is shown in cross section in a plan view.
[Explanation of symbols]
35: Worm gear 351: Worm wheel 352: Worm 25: Electric motor 351a: Central screw hole 45: Screw cylinder 1: Drain plug 2: Operation part 12: Manual operation part (operation button) 5: Electric force application means 4: Holding means 3: Transmission means 7: Pusher 9: Detection means 354: Spur gear

Claims (3)

A worm gear having a worm wheel that is rotatably held at a fixed position, an electric motor that transmits power to the worm gear, and a screw that is screwed into a central screw hole that is opened in the worm wheel and receives the power of the electric motor. A screw cylinder that is guided so as to be reciprocally movable, and a transmission means that is connected to the drain plug and the manual operation unit and is inserted into the screw cylinder constitute an electric force applying means. A pusher that pushes the transmission means to the drain plug side by power is provided, and the drain plugs are alternately opened by locking and unlocking the holding means at the forward end of the transmission means both during manual operation and when driving the motor. A drain plug device characterized by being plugged. The drain plug device according to claim 1, wherein a spur gear is used instead of the worm gear. A detecting means for preventing hot water filling is provided to detect a predetermined position of the transmission means when the drain plug is opened, and even if the switch for hot water supply is operated when the predetermined position of the transmitting means is detected by the detecting means for hot water filling, only a predetermined time The drain plug device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the controller is controlled so that the hot water supply means is operated or the hot water supply means is not operated.

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