JP5168562B2 - Jet nozzle structure and circulation adapter - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a circulation adapter that is used by being attached to a bathtub in order to supply hot water from a bath water heater to the bathtub, and more particularly, to an ejection nozzle structure that ejects a bubble jet and a circulation adapter that includes the nozzle.

  Conventionally, the bath water supply system for a bathtub has a hot water operation mode in which new hot water is supplied from the bath water heater, a memorial operation mode in which the hot water in the bathtub is returned to the bath water heater, and heated and resupplied. Various hot water supply modes are available to meet consumer needs such as a bubble operation mode in which various bubbles are mixed in hot water and a bubble jet is jetted into a bathtub.

  In a hot water outlet attached to the bathtub, a so-called circulation adapter, it is necessary to make it possible to realize jets of a plurality of operation modes with the adapter alone. For example, in the memorial operation mode, it is necessary to spray from the safety side to the lower side of the bathtub so that the high temperature jet does not face the user, while in the bubble operation mode, the jet flow needs to be concentrated and ejected forward toward the user. There is a need to switch the ejection direction for each operation mode with one circulation adapter.

  On the other hand, since the spout of the circulation adapter, in particular, the spout in the bubble operation mode is installed toward the front, a finger may be inserted into the spout to close the spout. No hot water was ejected from the water, and the hot water flow stopped in the jet channel.

  Patent Document 1 proposes a nozzle structure that is provided around a bubble jet outlet, in which a communication hole that communicates the inside and outside of the nozzle is provided on the peripheral wall of the nozzle, and a finger clogging prevention plate is installed inside the nozzle. Has been. With this configuration, even if the tip of the nozzle is blocked while preventing the insertion of a finger inside the nozzle, the hot water can travel from the communication hole to the outside of the nozzle, so that the hot water flow can be prevented from stopping.

Utility Model Registration No. 2549011

With the nozzle structure of Patent Document 1, it is possible to prevent the hot water flow from being stopped due to finger filling while preventing the nozzle from being blocked, and it is effective for the concentrated jet directed forward of the jet by installing the nozzle.
However, a new problem arises that the traveling direction of the jet immediately after the nozzle outlet is not fixed.

FIG. 8 shows a circulation adapter currently being developed by the applicant.
As shown in FIG. 8, in the bubble operation mode, a high-speed and high-pressure jet is ejected toward the front of the jet outlet, so that a pressure difference occurs between the pressure of the jet that travels and the hot water pressure around the jet outlet. When the traveling direction of the jet is guided by the installation of the ejection nozzle, the pressure difference between the jet with the increased flow velocity and the nozzle outlet is further increased.

  When a large pressure difference is generated between the jet and the nozzle outlet, a negative pressure is generated around the nozzle outlet, and the jet immediately after the nozzle is immediately ejected as schematically shown in FIG. A phenomenon occurs in which it diffuses to the outer periphery of the nozzle outlet and does not proceed toward the targeted user. The jet diffusion phenomenon as described above tends to become more prominent as the jet pressure is higher and the flow velocity is higher. Moreover, it is thought that the influence of the pressure which acts on a bubble is large compared with hot water.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a bubble jet capable of proceeding in a target direction without diffusing the bubble jet ejected from the ejection port to the surroundings in a jet nozzle structure and a circulation adapter for ejecting a bubble jet containing bubbles into the bathtub. Is to get.

The invention of claim 1 is a jet nozzle structure for jetting a bubble jet containing bubbles into a bathtub, and a concentric double guard for guiding the bubble jet around the downstream side of the jet outlet for jetting the bubble jet. provided so as to open the bath surface, the inner guard of the double guard, the outer and inner side of the inner guard for returning to the ejection port side of the bubble jet from between the outer guard and inner guard It is characterized in that a reflux hole that communicates is formed.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a jet hole is formed in the inner guard by forming a reflux hole that communicates between the outer side and the inner side of the inner guard in order to return the bubble jet from between the outer guard and the inner guard to the jet outlet side. A negative pressure generated immediately after the exit can be applied to the jet outside the inner guard. Further, since the outer guard concentric with the inner guard exists, the negative pressure can be concentrated and acted in the vicinity of the nozzle outlet.

  The invention of claim 2 is characterized in that, in claim 1, a plurality of reflux holes are formed in the inner guard at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction.

The invention of claim 3 includes a hot water operation mode in which new hot water is supplied, a memorial operation mode in which hot water in the bathtub is circulated and heated and supplied to the bathtub again, and a bubble operation mode in which a bubble jet is supplied. has, a circulating adapter capable of switching the jets and jet port in the operating mode of the respective time of the bubble operation mode, the ejection port for ejecting a bubble jet downstream for guiding the bubble jets around the provided concentric double guard to open the bath surface, the inner guard of the double guard, the inner bubble jets from between the outer guard and inner guard for returning to the ejection port side A reflux hole that communicates the outside and the inside of the guard is formed.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect, the respective jet outlets that can be switched according to the chasing operation mode and the bubble operation mode, and the jet flow path between the chasing operation mode and the bubble operation mode can be switched. A switching means, and the switching means has a valve body that can be opened and closed and is urged by a temperature sensitive member. The valve body is driven by a change in jet temperature and is in a memorial operation mode at a predetermined temperature or higher. It switches to a jet flow path, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

According to the invention of claim 1, in the jet nozzle structure for jetting a bubble jet containing bubbles into the bathtub, a concentric double for guiding the bubble jet around the downstream side of the jet outlet for jetting the bubble jet provided so as to open the guard the bath surface, the inner guard of the double guard, outside and inside of said inner guard for returning to the ejection port side of the bubble jet from between the outer guard and inner guard preparative for forming a reflux hole communicating without diffusing the jet immediately after the nozzle outlet to ambient, it is possible traveling to the target direction.

  In other words, a negative pressure generated immediately after the jet outlet is applied to the outside of the inner guard and in the vicinity of the nozzle outlet, thereby forming a ring-shaped flow around the jet traveling in the target direction, a so-called jet guide with fluid, The bubble jet can be advanced without being diffused toward the target position.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the plurality of return holes are formed in the inner guard at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction, the guide by the fluid is formed over the periphery of the jet, and further, the bubble jet Can be advanced toward the target position without being diffused around.

According to invention of Claim 3, the hot water operation mode which supplies new hot water, the memorial operation mode which circulates and heats the hot water of a bathtub, and supplies it to a bathtub again, The bubble operation mode which supplies a bubble jet It has the door, a circular adapter capable of switching the jets and jet port in the operating mode of the respective time of the bubble operation mode, to guide the air bubbles jets around the downstream side of the ejection port for ejecting a bubble jet provided so as to open a concentric double guard for the bath surface, the inner guard of the double guard, in order to reflux the spout side bubble jets from between the outer guard and inner guard Since the reflux hole that connects the outside and the inside of the inner guard is formed, a circulation adapter having basically the same effect as that of the first aspect can be obtained.

  According to invention of Claim 4, each switching outlet which can be switched according to the chasing operation mode and bubble operation mode, and the switching means which can switch the jet flow path between chasing operation mode and bubble operation mode, The switching means has a valve body that can be opened and closed biased by a temperature-sensitive member, and the valve body is driven by a change in the jet temperature, and the jet flow passage in the memorial operation mode at a predetermined temperature or higher. Therefore, autonomous operation independent of existing equipment such as a controller becomes possible with a single circulation adapter by sensing the jet temperature within the circulation adapter and switching the jet flow path. Moreover, only a bubble jet having a suitable temperature is ejected from the bubble jet outlet.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described based on examples.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the bath supply system of the embodiment includes a bathtub 1, a bath water heater 2, a circulation circuit 3, and a circulation adapter 4. The bath water heater 2 includes a heat supply unit 5 including a combustion unit and a heat exchange unit, and a pump 6 for circulating water and hot water. Each device is controlled by a controller 7. Further, the controller 7 is electrically connected to the operation panel 8, and the user presses a push button provided for each operation mode installed on the operation panel 8, so that a bath hot water instruction and various modes are provided. The selection signal is transmitted to the controller 7 and the operation of the bath water heater 2 is started.

A water and hot water distribution circuit during hot water supply and other hot water supply will be described. Water introduced into the introduction path 9 is supplied to the heat supply unit 5 through the first flow rate sensor 10, and is supplied to the bathtub 1 and other hot water supply system apparatuses through the discharge path 11.
During the bubble operation and the memorial operation, the circulation circuit 3 includes a return path 12 and a forward path 13. The hot water of the bathtub 1 sucked from the circulation adapter 4 by the operation of the pump 6 is heated by the heat supply unit 5 through the return path 12 and is supplied to the bathtub 1 from the circulation adapter 4 through the forward path 13. A second flow rate sensor 14 is provided in the return path 12 downstream of the pump 6, and the heating operation of the heat supply unit 5 is not performed unless there is a flow rate of 3.5 L / min or more from the viewpoint of safety. The discharge path 11 and the return path 12 are connected by a branch discharge path 15, and the communication is controlled by an electromagnetic valve 16. Reference numeral 17 denotes a gas supply path.

Next, the circulation adapter 4 is demonstrated based on FIG.2 and FIG.3.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the circulation adapter 4, and FIG. 3 is an operation schematic diagram in which each mechanism of the circulation adapter 4 is developed in a planar shape and schematically illustrated.
As shown in FIG. 2, the circulation adapter 4 has a first cylindrical body 18 disposed on the outside of the bathtub 1 and a first tubular body disposed in a penetrating manner from the inner side of the bathtub 1 to the tank wall 1 a. And a second cylindrical body 19 screwed into the body 18. The first and second cylindrical bodies 18 and 19 are each provided with a flange, and the sealing properties between the tank wall 1a and both flanges are secured by the annular packings 20 and 21.

  A switching valve case 23 fixed to the second cylindrical body 19 with a bolt 22 is disposed on the inner peripheral side of the second cylindrical body 19, and opens horizontally in front of the surface of the switching valve case 23. A bubble jet outlet 24 and a suction opening 25 are provided, and a side hole-shaped memorial jet outlet 26 (see FIG. 3) is formed in the tank bottom direction. A cover portion 27 including an ejection nozzle 48 is attached to the bathtub-side surface portion of the circulation adapter 4 so as to cover the switching valve case 23.

  The end wall portion 28 of the first cylindrical body 18 is formed with three port portions of a suction pipe 29, a discharge pipe 30 and an intake pipe 31. The suction pipe 29 is the forward path 13, and the discharge pipe 30 is the return path 12. Are connected to each other. The intake pipe 31 is connected to an intake unit (not shown) having a filter, an orifice, a check valve and the like via an intake pipe.

  The switching valve case 23 includes an outer cylinder part 32 fitted to the inner peripheral surface of the second cylindrical body 19 and an inner cylinder part 33 that forms a plurality of functional spaces in cooperation with the outer cylinder part 32. In other words, the outer cylindrical portion 32 and the inner cylindrical portion 33 have a cylindrical swirl chamber 34 provided with a bubble jet outlet 24 and a suction chamber 35 provided with a suction port 25 inside the switching valve case 23, and FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, a swirl preliminary chamber 37 that is arranged in parallel with the swirl chamber 34 and connected by a communication passage 36, a supply chamber 38 that is juxtaposed with the swirl spare chamber 37 and that can communicate with the follow-up jet outlet 26, and There are five functional spaces of a suction chamber 39 arranged in series on the countertub side with respect to the swirling preliminary chamber 37 and the supply chamber 38. Note that the swirl reserve chamber 37, the supply chamber 38, the suction chamber 39, and the like are arranged on the rear side of the drawing in FIG.

  The swirl chamber 34 is provided with an intake nozzle 40 having a conical shape at the end on the bathtub side. An intake hole 41 that is continuous with the intake pipe 31 is provided inside the intake nozzle 40, and the air introduced from the intake hole 41 is passed through the opening of the communication passage 36 provided in the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the swirl chamber 34. It is comprised so that it may supply toward.

The communication path 36 communicates with the columnar swirl chamber 34 so that the connection direction is a tangential direction. With this configuration, hot water introduced from the swirl preliminary chamber 37 swirls at a high speed along the inner peripheral shape of the swirl chamber 34, and is suitable for air suction, bubble miniaturization, generation of ultrasonic waves of a predetermined frequency, and the like. Swivel rotation speed can be obtained. The circulation adapter 4 is configured to have a rotational speed of 30,000 to 40,000 revolutions / minute.
A check valve 42 urged by a spring is installed in the swirl preliminary chamber 37 on the side opposite to the bathtub, and only the flow of hot water from the suction chamber 39 is allowed.

  The switching valve case 23 is provided with an outlet switching portion 43 that passes through the inner cylinder portion 33 and controls the hot water outlet to be switched between the bubble jet outlet 24 and the memorial jet outlet 26. The spout switching unit 43 includes a first switching valve 44, a shaft 45 that fixes the first switching valve 44 to the bathtub side end, and a second switching that is fixed to the countertub side end of the shaft 45. And a valve 46.

  The second switching valve 46 is configured to control the communication state between the swirling preliminary chamber 37 and the suction chamber 39 and to always communicate the suction chamber 39 and the supply chamber 38. The positional relationship between the first switching valve 44 and the second switching valve 46 is such that when the first switching valve 44 closes the supply chamber 38, the second switching valve 46 opens, and conversely, the second switching valve 44 When 46 is closing the swivel reserve chamber 37, the first switching valve 44 is opened.

A shape memory alloy spring 47 is disposed between the end wall portion 28 and the second switching valve 46.
More specifically, when the hot and cold water is at a low temperature or normal temperature, the shape memory alloy spring 47 is in a contracted state. At this time, since the first switching valve 44 closes the supply chamber 38 and the second switching valve 46 is open, hot water is supplied to the swirl chamber 34 via the swirl reserve chamber 37 and the communication path 36. Next, when hot hot water, for example, 48 ° C. hot water is supplied into the circulation adapter 4, the shape memory alloy spring 47 expands in response to the temperature change, and the first switching valve 44 opens and the second switching valve 44 opens. The switching valve 46 is closed.

The operation in each operation mode will be described based on FIG. 1, FIG. 3, and FIG. 1 shows a bubble operation mode, FIG. 3 shows a hot water operation mode, and FIG. 4 shows a memorial operation mode.
By operating the operation panel 8, the circulation adapter 4 can execute the hot water operation mode, the memorial operation mode, and the bubble operation mode.

(Bubble operation mode)
As shown in FIG. 1, when the bubble operation mode is selected on the operation panel 8, the controller 7 operates the pump 6 to introduce hot water in the bathtub from the suction port 25 through the suction chamber 35 into the return path 12. At this time, the heat supply unit 5 is not operated, and hot water circulates at the temperature introduced in the return path 12 and is introduced into the suction chamber 39 through the forward path 13. The shape memory alloy spring 47 installed in the suction chamber 39 performs a contraction operation in response to the hot water temperature, closes the first switching valve 44 and opens the second switching valve 46. When the shape memory alloy spring 47 has already contracted, the state is maintained.

Hot water entering the swirl preliminary chamber 37 from the suction chamber 39 passes through the communication path 36 and is introduced into the swirl chamber 34 from the communication path opening.
Since the communication path 36 is connected in the tangential direction of the swirl chamber 34, the hot water swirls around the central axis in the longitudinal direction of the swirl chamber 34, and a predetermined negative pressure is generated in the swirl chamber 34. Due to this negative pressure, air is sucked from the intake unit through the intake hole 41 into the central portion of the swirl chamber 34 and mixed with hot water. This bubble mixed hot water is ejected from a bubble jet outlet 24 that opens in a horizontal direction while swirling.

(Hot water operation mode)
As shown in FIG. 1, when the hot water operation mode is selected on the operation panel 8, the water introduced into the introduction path 9 and moved to the heat supply unit 5 is heated and then proceeds to the discharge pipe 11. At this time, the solenoid valve 16 is opened by the instruction of the controller 7 so that the hot water is led to the return path 12 via the branch discharge pipe 15 and a part of the hot water is introduced from the return path 12 to the circulation adapter 4. 25. Note that hot water is supplied from the suction port 25 only in the hot water operation mode.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the remaining hot water is introduced into the suction chamber 39 through the forward path 13. The shape memory alloy spring 47 installed in the suction chamber 39 expands in response to the temperature of the hot water introduced into the suction chamber 39 (for example, 50 ° C.), and the second switching valve 46 moves to the swivel reserve chamber 37. And the first switching valve 44 is opened. Hot water is sent from the supply chamber 38 to the memorial jet outlet 26 facing down the bathtub.

(Mourning mode)
As shown in FIG. 4, when the follow-up operation mode is selected, the pump 6 and the heat supply unit 5 start operating according to an instruction from the controller 7, and hot water in the bathtub is introduced into the return path 12 from the suction port 25. Hot water heated by the heat supply unit 5 is introduced into the suction chamber 39 through the forward path 13. The route after the suction chamber 39 is the same as in the hot water operation mode. The solenoid valve 16 is inactive, and the connection between the branch discharge pipe 15 and the circulation circuit 3 is cut off.

The ejection nozzle 48 of the bubble jet outlet 24 will be described with reference to FIGS.
5 is a front view of the cover portion 27, FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 5, and FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG.
The cover portion 27 includes a wire mesh portion 49 made of a metal mesh member that forms most of the front surface of the cover portion 27, and a resin center portion 50 located in front of the suction port 25 below the center of the wire mesh portion 49. The resin jet nozzle 48 that is adjacent to the upper portion of the central portion 50 and is mounted on the front surface of the bubble jet outlet 24, and the outer peripheral flange portion 51 that can be mounted on the flanges of the second cylindrical body 19 and the switching valve case 23. And consists of

The jet nozzle 48 includes a concentric outer guard 52 centered on the bubble jet outlet 24 and an inner guard 53 inside the outer guard 52.
The inner guard 53 expands in a tapered shape toward the bathtub 1 and has a cross-shaped opening 54, a bathtub 1 side edge of the inner wall 55, and a countertub 1 side edge of the outer guard 52. And a reflux hole 57 that is formed at every 90 ° at four positions on the top, bottom, left, and right, and penetrates the inside and outside of the inner guard 53 so that they can communicate with each other. The outer guard 52 expands in a tapered shape toward the bathtub 1 so as to be substantially parallel to the inner wall portion 55.

The effect of the present ejection nozzle 48 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 6, when the bubble operation mode is selected, a jet in the direction A in which bubbles shown by broken lines are mixed is ejected from the bubble jet outlet 24 of the circulation adapter 4 while turning and proceeds through the opening 54. To do.
Since the inner guard 53 guides the progress of the jet jetted from the bubble jet jet outlet 24, the pressure difference between the jet in the high-speed A direction and the area immediately after the outlet of the jet nozzle 48 becomes large, and the jet in the A direction is The negative pressure around the outlet causes suction in the outer peripheral direction, for example, the direction indicated by arrow C. When the C-direction jet is continuously generated, the trajectory of the A-direction jet is forcibly changed immediately after the outlet of the ejection nozzle 48, and the progress toward the target position, the so-called user, is hindered. (See Figure 8)

Immediately after the bubble jet outlet 24, a negative pressure is generated due to the venturi effect based on the jet of the high-speed jet.
Further, four reflux holes 57 are formed around the inner guard 53 at intervals of 90 °, and penetrate through the inner guard 53 so that they can communicate with each other. Therefore, the negative pressure immediately after the bubble jet outlet 24 is changed to the C direction. It can be made to act on the jet. The outer guard 52 that expands in a tapered shape toward the bathtub 1 is a guide mechanism that concentrates and acts on the jet flow in the C direction.

  The jet in the C direction sucked by the negative pressure becomes a flow in the B direction shown in FIG. 6 and proceeds immediately after the bubble jet outlet 24. At this time, the outer guard 52 serves as a guide mechanism that joins the sucked jet to the A-direction jet ejected from the bubble jet outlet 24.

Since ring-shaped jets in the B direction centering on the bathtub 1 side edge of the inner wall 55 are formed at four locations on the inner guard 53 in the vertical and horizontal directions, the pressure around the outlet of the ejection nozzle 48 is increased. The pressure difference between the jet in the A direction and the outlet around the ejection nozzle 48 can be reduced.
In other words, by forming the jet guide by the jet in the B direction, the jet in the C direction is blocked and the jet flowing in the A direction is prevented from weakening.
From the above, the jet flow in the A direction can travel toward the user through the trajectory indicated by the two-dot chain line.

Next, a modification in which the above embodiment is partially changed will be described.
1) In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the reflux holes are formed at four positions has been described. However, the directivity of the bubble jet can be further increased by further finely forming in the circumferential direction at predetermined small intervals. .

2] In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the inner and outer guards of the ejection nozzle are formed in a tapered shape toward the bathtub has been described. However, the expansion angle can be changed according to the specification, and at least depends on the fluid. Any jet nozzle can be used as long as it can form a jet guide, and can be applied to a cylindrical jet nozzle.

3] In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the three modes of the hot water operation mode, the memorial operation mode, and the bubble operation mode have been described, but other modes may be provided, and at least jetted at high speed and high pressure. The present invention can be applied to any jet outlet that has an operation mode.

4) In addition, those skilled in the art can implement the present invention in various forms added with various modifications without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and the present invention includes such modifications. is there.

1 is an overall explanatory diagram of a bath hot water system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing of the circulation adapter which concerns on a present Example. It is an operation | movement schematic diagram of the circulation adapter at the time of hot water operation. It is an operation | movement schematic diagram of the circulation adapter at the time of a chasing operation. It is a front view of the circulation adapter which concerns on a present Example. It is a figure which shows the VI-VI line cross section in FIG. It is a figure which shows the VII-VII line cross section in FIG. It is a schematic diagram of the circulation adapter explaining the subject of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Bathtub 2 Bath water heater 4 Circulation adapter 24 Bubble jet outlet 25 Suction inlet 26 Remembrance jet outlet 43 Jet outlet switching part 44 First switching valve 46 Second switching valve 47 Shape memory alloy spring 48 Injection nozzle 52 Outer guard 53 Inner guard 57 Return hole

Claims (4)

In the jet nozzle structure that jets a bubble jet containing bubbles into the bathtub,
A concentric double guard for guiding the bubble jet is provided around the downstream side of the jet outlet for jetting the bubble jet so as to open on the bathtub side surface ,
A reflux hole is formed in the inner guard of the double guard to connect the outer side and the inner side of the inner guard in order to return the bubble jet from between the outer guard and the inner guard to the outlet side. Ejecting nozzle structure.   The jet nozzle structure according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of return holes are formed in the inner guard at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction. Each operation mode has a hot water operation mode for supplying new hot water, a memorial operation mode for circulatingly heating the hot water in the bathtub and supplying it to the bathtub again, and a bubble operation mode for supplying bubble jets. A circulation adapter that can switch between a jet and a jet outlet,
In the bubble operation mode, a concentric double guard for guiding the bubble jet is provided around the downstream side of the jet outlet for jetting the bubble jet so as to open on the bathtub side surface ,
A reflux hole is formed in the inner guard of the double guard to connect the outer side and the inner side of the inner guard in order to return the bubble jet from between the outer guard and the inner guard to the outlet side. And circulation adapter. Respective spouts that can be switched according to the memorial operation mode and the bubble operation mode,
Switching means capable of switching the jet flow path between the memorial operation mode and the bubble operation mode,
The switching means has a valve body that can be opened and closed biased by a temperature-sensitive member, and the valve body is driven by a change in jet temperature, and is switched to a jet flow path in a chasing operation mode at a predetermined temperature or higher. The circulation adapter according to claim 3.