JP5145383B2 - Cleaning unit mounting structure - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a structure for attaching a cleaning unit for automatically cleaning a bathtub to the bathtub.

Patent Document 1 discloses a bath system including a cleaning unit that automatically cleans dirt such as scales attached to an inner wall surface of a bathtub.
As shown in FIG. 5, the cleaning pipe (95) connected to the cleaning nozzle (94) provided on the bathtub bottom wall (93) has a water flow valve (99) and a detergent located downstream thereof. A mixing tube (97) is provided. A detergent valve (96) is disposed in the detergent supply pipe (80) connected from the detergent tank (90) storing the detergent stock solution (A) to the detergent mixing pipe (97). The detergent valve (96), the detergent mixing pipe (97), and the water flow valve (99) are housed in a casing (81) to constitute a washing unit (98).

At the time of bath cleaning, preliminary rinsing, detergent cleaning and finishing rinsing are performed in this order.
In the preliminary rinsing process, by closing the detergent valve (96) of the washing unit (98), the water supply valve (99) is shut off from the detergent supply pipe (80) to the washing pipe (95). , And water flow through the cleaning pipe (95) is sprayed from the cleaning nozzle (94) to the inner surface of the bathtub (92).

In the detergent cleaning process, the detergent stock (A) in the detergent tank (90) is supplied from the detergent supply pipe (80) to the detergent mixing pipe (97) by opening the detergent valve (96), and the water flow valve Open (99). Then, the detergent stock solution (A) from the detergent supply pipe (80) and the water flowing through the washing pipe (95) are mixed to form a detergent liquid, which is sprayed from the washing nozzle (94) onto the inner surface of the bathtub (92), and then Wait for a predetermined time.
In the final rinsing step, as in the preliminary rinsing step, water is passed through the cleaning pipe (95) from the cleaning nozzle (94) to the inner surface of the bathtub (92) to wash away the detergent solution.
Thereby, the automatic cleaning of the bathtub (92) is completed.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-234645

Document 1 describes a configuration in which an auxiliary mounting plate is fixed to the back side of the bathtub flange (82) facing the washing area side of the bathtub side wall (83), and the cleaning unit (98) is attached to the auxiliary mounting plate. Yes (paragraph [0028] in Document 1).
Reference 1 does not specify a specific structure for fixing the auxiliary mounting plate for the cleaning unit (98) to the bathtub (92), but the auxiliary mounting plate for the cleaning unit (98) is firmly attached to the bathtub (92). In order to fix to, it is possible to adopt the following structure. That is, a dedicated mounting hole is formed in the bathtub side wall (83) and the bathtub flange (82) on the outer periphery of the upper end thereof, and the auxiliary mounting plate is attached to the bathtub side wall (83) and the bathtub flange ( 82). Then, the cleaning unit (98) is attached to the auxiliary mounting plate.

However, with such a configuration, there is a problem that the mounting work becomes complicated because a dedicated mounting hole for mounting the auxiliary mounting plate to the bathtub (92) is required. There is also a problem that it becomes unsightly because the dedicated mounting hole and the head of the fixing screw are exposed on the surface of the bathtub (92).
The present invention has been made in view of such points.
In the “structure in which a cleaning unit having a function of spraying a detergent solution from a cleaning nozzle facing the inside of the bathtub is mounted on the outer peripheral area of the bathtub side wall”, a dedicated mounting hole is formed in the bathtub. This makes it possible to install the cleaning unit without any problems, thereby improving the workability when installing the cleaning unit and preventing the dedicated mounting holes and the heads of the fixing screws from being exposed to the surface of the bathtub. The issue is to prevent damage.

The solution means of the invention according to claim 1 for solving the above-mentioned problem is as follows:
"Attaching the bathtub metal fittings for discharging the hot water heated by the heat source machine to the bathtub side wall in the metal fitting mounting hole opened on the side wall of the bathtub.
Provided with the screw to be tightened, a support body that is tightened together with the bathtub metal fitting is provided on the bathtub side wall so as to be clamped between the bathtub side wall and the bathtub metal fitting,
Attach the cleaning unit to the support,
Providing a cleaning pipe for supplying a detergent solution from the cleaning unit to the cleaning nozzle.
In this case, the bathtub metal fitting is screwed and fixed in a penetrating state in the metal fitting mounting hole provided in the bathtub side wall. Then, using the screw to be tightened, the bathtub metal fitting and the support are jointly fastened to the bathtub side wall, and then the cleaning unit is attached to the support. This eliminates the need to form a dedicated mounting hole in the bathtub for mounting the cleaning unit.
In the invention according to claim 1, the detergent tank and the washing unit which are appropriately disposed at a place are connected by a detergent supply pipe.

The present invention has the following specific effects.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is not necessary to form a dedicated mounting hole for mounting the cleaning unit in the bathtub, and accordingly, workability at the time of mounting the cleaning unit can be improved. In addition, when opening the dedicated mounting hole on the side wall of the bathtub, it is necessary to provide a waterproof structure on the opening of the mounting hole to prevent the bathing water from leaking out of the bathtub. However, in the present invention, since it is not necessary to form the mounting hole of the cleaning unit on the side wall of the bathtub, it is not necessary to apply the waterproof structure to the mounting part of the cleaning unit. Workability at the time is improved.
In addition, since the dedicated mounting hole and the head of the fixing screw are not exposed on the surface of the bathtub, the appearance of the bathtub is not impaired.

Schematic of a bath system illustrating an embodiment of the present invention The flowchart explaining operation | movement of the bath system of embodiment of this invention. Explanatory drawing of the mounting structure of the cleaning unit (3) in this embodiment Sectional drawing of the attachment part of the bathtub metal fittings (5) in this embodiment Illustration of conventional example

Hereinafter, we described with reference to the accompanying drawings the best mode for carrying out the present invention.
"overall structure"
FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view of a bath system to which a cleaning unit mounting structure according to the present embodiment is applied. A heat source machine (10) for generating hot water by heating, a bathtub (20), a cleaning unit (3), and a detergent. A tank (7).
From the heat source machine (10), the forward pipe (12) and the return pipe (13) for tracking the inside of the bathtub (20) are drawn out, and the forward pipe (12) and the return pipe (13) The bathtub metal fitting (5) attached to the bathtub side wall (21) and the heat exchanger (not shown) in the heat source unit (10) (connected by a gas burner) are connected to form a memorial circuit as a whole. .
And when chasing the inside of the bathtub (20), the gas burner burns and a circulation pump (not shown) in the heat source unit (10) is operated, so that the bath water in the bathtub (20) Heating and heating are performed while circulating through the path of the metal fitting (5) → the return pipe (13) → the heat exchanger or the circulation pump in the heat source machine (10) → the forward pipe (12) → the bathtub metal fitting (5). Further, a hot water outlet pipe (11) connected to the cleaning unit (3) is drawn out from the heat source machine (10).
Details of each part will be described below.

《Detergent tank (7)》
The detergent tank (7) is attached to a bathtub flange (22) protruding from the outer periphery of the upper end of the bathtub (20), and a detergent supply pipe (70) drawn from the bottom wall of the detergent tank (7) is described later. It is connected to a detergent valve (69) incorporated in the cleaning unit (3).
FIG. 3 shows the structure of the attachment part of the detergent tank (7).
The detergent tank (7) includes a tank main body (73) for storing a detergent stock solution, and a detergent supply cylinder (74) projecting upward from the tank main body (73). The upper end of the detergent supply cylinder (74) is connected to the tank mounting hole (220) provided in the bathtub flange (22) in an inserted state, and is connected to the tank fixing cylinder (75) screwed into the detergent supply cylinder (74). ) And the outer flange (77) of the detergent replenishing cylinder (74), the bathtub flange (22) is clamped from above and below, so that the detergent tank (7) is attached to the bathtub flange (22). ing. Also, a detergent replenishing cap (78) is detachably screwed to the upper end of the tank fixing cylinder (75), and the detergent stock solution (A) is removed from above by removing the cap (78). ) And then the cap (78) is screwed back into the detergent supply tube (74) to supply the detergent.

《Cleaning unit (3)》
As shown in FIG. 1, the washing unit (3) includes a valve device (60), a silver ion generator (63) provided on the downstream side of the valve device (60), and the detergent tank (7). A detergent valve (69) connected to a detergent supply pipe (70) extending from the bottom wall, and a cleaning unit controller (33) for controlling the detergent valve (69) and the like are provided. The downstream side of the detergent valve (69) is a venturi-structured detergent mixing pipe (62) provided in a washing pipe (62) connected from the silver ion generator (63) to the washing nozzle (51) on the bathtub (20) side. 72).

  In the valve device (60), from the upstream side, a water flow control valve (61), a flow sensor (64), an on-off valve (65), an air release valve (66), and a backflow prevention valve (67) are arranged in this order. Has been. The water amount control valve (61) is connected to a tapping pipe (11) drawn from the heat source device (10), and the water amount control valve (61) can be adjusted by a stepping motor or the like. Yes. The atmosphere release valve (66) is a valve for releasing the atmosphere when the water supply pipe in the heat source unit (10) falls into a negative pressure state.

The unit case (30) of the cleaning unit (3) that houses the valve device (60) and the like has a waterproof structure, and as shown in FIG. ) And a support plate (37) as a support that is fastened together.
The detergent supply pipe (70) extending from the bottom wall of the detergent tank (7) is connected to the detergent valve (69) in the unit case (30). The cleaning pipe (62) on the downstream side of the detergent mixing pipe (72) is connected to the cleaning nozzle (51) provided on the bathtub metal fitting (5) provided on the bathtub side wall (21).

<Bathtub fittings (5)>
The bathtub metal fitting (5) has the structure shown in FIG. 4, and the metal fitting body (52) and the fastening cylinder (53) for clamping the bathtub side wall (21) and the gradual dust filter (540) are mounted and fixed to the metal fitting body (52). A filter cover (54) is provided.
The metal fitting body (52) includes a flat hollow cylindrical portion (520) located on the inner surface side of the bathtub side wall (21) and a central cylinder (521) concentric with the metal fitting mounting hole (210 ) And a screw cylinder (522) in which a male screw is engraved on the outer periphery, and the open end of the hollow cylindrical part (520) is covered with a filter dust cover (540) by a filter cover (54). It is fixed in a broken state.

  On the inner periphery of the tightening tube (53), a female screw that is screwed into the screw tube (522) of the metal fitting body (52) is engraved, and on the outer periphery of the end on the metal fitting body (52) side. The tightening flange (530) is overhanging.When the tightening tube (53) is screwed into the screw tube (522) of the metal fitting body (52) and tightened, the tightening flange (530) of the tightening tube (53) is ) And the metal fitting body (52), the bathtub side wall (21) is clamped, whereby the bathtub metal fitting (5) is attached to the bathtub side wall (21). On the bottom plate (531) located at the end opposite to the fastening flange (530) of the fastening cylinder (53), the forward pipe (12) and the return pipe (13) drawn from the heat source machine (10). And the forward pipe (12) and the return pipe (13) are connected to the inside of the hollow cylindrical part (520) from the screw cylinder (522) of the metal fitting body (52). Thereby, while the hot water heated by the heat source machine (10) passes through the metal fitting body (52) from the forward pipe (12) and diffuses from the gradual dust filter (540) at its tip into the bathtub (20), Hot water in the bathtub (20) passes through the gradual dust filter (540) and flows into the metal fitting body (52), and then returns to the heat source machine (10) (not shown) from the fastening cylinder (53) and is heated. . Thereby, the hot water in the bathtub (20) is circulated and traced by the heat source machine (10).

In the center of the bottom plate (531) of the fastening tube (53), a nozzle mounting tube (532) for projecting and mounting the cleaning nozzle (51) exposed to the bathtub (20) is projected. The mounting cylinder (532) is inserted into the central cylinder (521) of the metal fitting body (52). A cleaning pipe (62) for supplying a detergent to the cleaning nozzle (51) is connected to the central outer wall portion of the bottom plate (531). At the tip of the cleaning nozzle (51), the ejection holes (510) (510) having a shape and arrangement that can uniformly spray the detergent liquid onto the lower surface of the bathtub lid (26) and the bathtub side wall (21) covering the bathtub (20) Is formed.
In this case, as described above, since the cleaning nozzle (51) is detachably screwed into the nozzle mounting cylinder (532), the shape and arrangement of the ejection holes (510) (510) are different. From the plurality of types of cleaning nozzles (51) and (51), the type of cleaning nozzle (51) most suitable for the size and shape of the bathtub (20) can be selected and used.

  And the washing | cleaning unit (3) is attached to the support plate (37) fastened with the bathtub metal fitting (5) with respect to the bathtub side wall (21), Comprising: As shown in FIG.3 and FIG.4, The screw cylinder (522) of the metal fitting body (52) penetrating the metal fitting mounting hole (210) provided in the side wall (21), and the through hole (370) provided in the vertical side (371) of the support plate (37). ) Portion is externally fitted, and a fastening cylinder (53) is screwed onto the screw cylinder (522) from the outside. The vertical side portion (371) is clamped between the fastening flange (530) of the fastening tube (53) and the bathtub side wall (21), thereby supporting the bathtub side wall (21) ( 37) is fastened together.

A cleaning unit (3) is attached to a lower side portion (372) bent in the horizontal direction from the lower end of the support plate (37) with a screw (not shown).
In this case, since the cleaning unit (3) is attached to the support plate (37) that is fastened together with the bathtub metal fitting (5), a dedicated mounting hole for attaching the cleaning unit (3) is provided in the bathtub (20). Since it is not necessary to open the bathtub side wall (21) or the bathtub flange (22), workability when the cleaning unit is attached is improved. Further, since the dedicated mounting hole and the head of the fixing screw are not exposed on the surface of the bathtub (20), the appearance of the bathtub (20) is not impaired. Furthermore, when opening the dedicated mounting hole in the bathtub side wall (21), it is necessary to provide a waterproof structure for preventing the bathing water from leaking out of the bathtub (20) to the opening part of the mounting hole. In this embodiment, since the cleaning unit (3) is attached to the detergent tank (7), it is necessary to apply the waterproof structure to the mounting portion of the cleaning unit (3). From this point, workability when the cleaning unit (3) is mounted is improved.

《Drain plug operation tools and drain plugs》
As shown in FIG. 1, the bathtub flange (22) has a drain plug operation tool (43) provided with a drain plug driving section (43a) for electrically opening and closing the drain plug (25) of the bathtub bottom wall (23). It is arranged. Further, the operation signal of the drain plug operation tool (43) is applied to a cleaning unit control device (33) incorporated in the cleaning unit (3) and a control device (not shown) incorporated in the heat source unit (10). .

The bathtub side wall (21) is provided with an injection nozzle (38) for a jet bath, and the injection nozzle (38) has a nozzle head (382) and a cylindrical portion protruding from its base end ( 380). Then, the bathtub side wall (21) is formed by the tightening nut (381) screwed into the cylindrical portion (380) passing through the nozzle mounting hole (211) opened in the bathtub side wall (21) and the nozzle head (382). Thus, the injection nozzle (38) is fixed to the bathtub side wall (21).
This is configured so that hot water can be jetted into the bathtub (20) from the heat source machine (10) side through the jet nozzle (38), and thus, the jet in the bathtub (20) can be made according to preference. The bus state can be made.

<Operation>
Next, the operation of the bath system will be described.
In the present embodiment, when the drain plug operation tool (43) is operated, the drain plug driving section (43a) is activated, the drain plug (25) is opened, and drainage starts. In addition, the operation signal of the drain plug operation tool (43) is transmitted to the control unit (not shown) of the cleaning unit control device (33) and the heat source unit (10), and after the operation of the drain plug operation tool (43), it is predetermined. When time elapses (when drainage of the bathtub (20) is completed), the cleaning operation of the bathtub (20) by the cleaning unit (3) starts.

In this cleaning operation, as shown in FIG. 2, “preliminary rinsing” → “detergent cleaning” → “standby” → “finish rinsing” is sequentially performed, and finally “silver ion cleaning” is performed to complete the cleaning operation. Is done.
In the preliminary rinsing step, the water control valve (61) of the washing unit (3) is set to a predetermined opening and the on-off valve (65) is opened.When the heat source (10) detects the water flow at this time, this is performed. The gas burner built in the cylinder burns and the heating operation of the hot water is started (S101). Then, the heated hot water is sent to the cleaning pipe (62) of the cleaning unit (3) through the hot water pipe (11). At this time, a constant amount of hot water controlled by the water amount control valve (61) is passed through the cleaning pipe (62), and the detergent valve (69) is closed. Injected from the cleaning nozzle (51) provided on the downstream side of 62) toward the inner wall surface of the bathtub (20) and the lower surface of the bathtub lid (26). As a result, dirt such as hair and scale adhering to the inner wall surface of the bathtub (20) is preliminarily washed away. When the hot water is sprayed for a predetermined time (for example, 1 minute) (S102), the preliminary rinsing process is terminated and the process proceeds to the detergent cleaning process.

  In the detergent cleaning step, the detergent valve (69) of the detergent supply pipe (70) is opened from the preliminary rinse state (S103). Then, the detergent stock solution (A) from the detergent tank (7) passes through the detergent supply pipe (70) due to the negative pressure generated when the hot water flowing through the washing pipe (62) passes through the venturi-structured detergent mixing pipe (72). The detergent mixture tube (72) is poured through, and the detergent stock solution is mixed with warm water to produce a detergent solution. Then, the detergent liquid is sprayed from the cleaning nozzle (51) toward the inner wall surface of the bathtub (20) and the lower surface of the bathtub lid (26). As a result, dirt such as scale adhering to the inner wall surface of the bathtub (20) and the lower surface of the bathtub lid (26) is washed. When this detergent liquid is sprayed for a predetermined time (for example, 2 minutes) (S104), the detergent valve (69) and on-off valve (65) of the washing unit (3) are closed and the detergent liquid from the washing nozzle (51) is closed. Is stopped (S105), and the detergent cleaning process is terminated. When this detergent cleaning process is completed, the process proceeds to a standby process.

  In the standby process, all jets from the cleaning nozzle (51) are stopped, and the process waits until a predetermined time elapses with the detergent liquid adhering to the inner wall surface of the bathtub (20) and the lower surface of the bathtub lid (26). (S106). As a result, the detergent liquid penetrates into dirt such as scale adhering to the inner wall surface of the bathtub (20) and the lower surface of the bathtub lid (26), and the dirt can be lifted to be easily washed away in the next finish rinsing step. . When this predetermined time (for example, 3 minutes) elapses (S106), the standby process is terminated and the process proceeds to the finishing rinse process.

In the final rinsing process, basically, as in the preliminary rinsing process described above, the opening / closing valve (65) of the cleaning unit (3) is opened, and only hot water from the heat source machine (10) is supplied to the cleaning pipe (62). Jetted from the cleaning nozzle (51) provided on the downstream side toward the inner wall surface of the bathtub (20) and the lower surface of the bathtub lid (26). As a result, dirt such as scales floating on the inner wall surface of the bathtub (20) and the lower surface of the bathtub lid (26) by the detergent liquid is washed away together with the detergent liquid. When this warm water injection is performed for a predetermined time (for example, 2 minutes) (S108), the on-off valve (65) of the cleaning unit (3) is closed (S109), and the injection from the cleaning nozzle (51) is stopped, The finish rinsing process is terminated.
And when the above process is complete | finished, silver ion washing | cleaning is performed.

  In the silver ion cleaning step, the water amount control valve (61) of the cleaning unit (3) is set to a predetermined opening, the on-off valve (65) is opened, and the silver ion generator (63) is operated (S110). ). In this silver ion cleaning process, by outputting a combustion prohibition signal to the control unit of the heat source machine (10), unheated water is sent to the cleaning unit (3) through the tapping pipe (11) to control the amount of water. The valve (61) causes a certain amount of water to flow into the cleaning pipe (62). At this time, silver ions generated by the silver ion generator (63) are mixed into the water flowing through the cleaning pipe (62). That is, by energizing a pair of silver electrodes of the silver ion generator (63) and generating silver ions by electrolysis of the silver electrodes, the water flowing through the cleaning pipe (62) is thereby supplied to the silver ion generator (63). Silver ions are dissolved in this water while passing through the cylinder. Then, the silver ion water containing silver ions is sprayed from the cleaning nozzle (51) toward the inner wall surface of the bathtub (20) and the lower surface of the bathtub lid (26). Thereby, silver ions adhere to the inner wall surface of the bathtub (20) and the lower surface of the bathtub lid (26). Therefore, propagation of germs and molds in these places can be prevented by the antibacterial and antibacterial effects of silver ions.

  When the silver ion water is sprayed for a predetermined time (for example, 2 minutes) (S111), the opening / closing valve (65) of the cleaning unit (3) is closed and the silver ion generator (63) is stopped (S112). ), The injection of silver ion water from the cleaning nozzle (51) is stopped, and the silver ion cleaning step is completed. At the end of this silver ion cleaning process, the bathtub cleaning operation is completed, and the entire cleaning process is completed.

(3) ・ ・ ・ Cleaning unit
(5) ... Bathtub fittings
(7) Detergent tank
(10) ... Heat source machine
(20) ... bathtub
(21) ... Bathtub side wall
(22) ... Bathtub flange
(25) ・ ・ ・ Drain plug
(37) ... Support
(38) ... Injection nozzle
(43) ... Drain plug operation tool
(51) ... Cleaning nozzle
(62) ・ ・ ・ Cleaning piping
(74) ... Detergent supply cylinder
(210) ・ ・ ・ Fitting mounting hole
(211) ... Nozzle mounting hole
(220) ... Tank mounting hole

Claims (1)

In a structure in which a cleaning unit having a function of spraying a detergent solution from a cleaning nozzle facing the inside of the bathtub is attached to the outer peripheral area of the bathtub side wall.
The tub bracket for discharging the heated hot water in the heat source apparatus in the bathtub, and screwing and fixed in the through state to metal mounting hole which is opened to the bathtub side wall,
The screw to be tightened is provided with a support that is tightened together with the bathtub metal fitting on the bathtub side wall so as to be clamped between the bathtub side wall and the bathtub metal fitting,
Attach the cleaning unit to the support,
A cleaning unit mounting structure in which a cleaning pipe for supplying a detergent solution from the cleaning unit to the cleaning nozzle is provided.