JP5397047B2 - Foam discharge device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a foam discharge device that discharges air by mixing air into a fluid.

  A conventional foam discharge device is used for, for example, an automatic cleaning device for a toilet, and is provided with an air mixing mechanism for mixing bubbles into cleaning water between a cleaning water inlet and a bubble outlet. A discharge device is disclosed in Patent Document 1.

  In the foam discharge device of Patent Document 1, an air mixing mechanism for mixing air into the cleaning water is provided between the cleaning water inlet and the bubble flow discharging port, and a rectifying mechanism is provided downstream of the air mixing mechanism. The aeration mechanism includes a pressure reducing plate in which a plurality of small holes are formed in a circumferential shape and the cleaning water flows through the small holes in the cleaning water flow channel, and air from the outside formed on the outer wall of the cleaning water flow channel downstream of the pressure reducing plate. And a taper portion where the washing water that has passed through the small-diameter small hole downstream of the pressure reducing plate directly collides. On the other hand, the rectifying mechanism has a structure in which a rectifying portion of the washing water flow path is provided between the downstream end of the tapered portion and the bubble flow outlet, and a rectifying grid disposed in the rectifying portion.

  In this foam discharge device, the cleaning water introduced from the small hole of the decompression plate introduces the air that has flowed into the cleaning water flow path through the air hole and directly collides with the tapered portion to be crushed. . When a collision occurs, the air introduced into the air mixing mechanism becomes a large number of bubbles and is dispersed and mixed in the washing water to form a bubble flow, which is discharged from the bubble flow discharge port through the rectifying mechanism. Yes.

International Publication Number 01/068995

  In the foam discharge device disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above, the cleaning water introduced from the plurality of small holes of the decompression plate and the air from the outside are dispersed and mixed in the taper portion. It flows along the part. For this reason, when the washing water is at a very small flow rate, the bubble effect due to the dispersion mixing due to the collision at the taper portion is not sufficient, so that the bubble washing water cannot be reliably produced. Moreover, since the required flow rate is limited in range for the dispersion mixing in the tapered portion, the flow rate at which the dispersion can be mixed is also limited with respect to the water discharge flow rate. For this reason, since the range which adjusts the water discharge flow rate is also limited, there exists a possibility that required water discharge flow rate adjustment cannot be performed. Furthermore, it is difficult for the washing water to be mixed with air to stably create a foam state.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a foam discharge device capable of obtaining a stable foam state in a fluid even at a minute flow rate as compared with a conventional foam discharge device.

  The means taken to solve the above problems is a foam discharge in which a fluid is supplied from an inflow port of a housing, and a fluid containing air is discharged in a foam state by an air mixing mechanism disposed inside the housing. In the apparatus, the aeration mechanism includes an outer cylinder disposed upstream of a fluid in the housing, a bottomed inner cylinder that engages with the outer cylinder and has a discharge hole that discharges the fluid to the outside, An intermediate plate that is disposed between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder and that forms an air mixing portion that mixes air into the fluid together with the outer cylinder, and the fluid is introduced from the inlet, and is provided in the outer cylinder A first inflow hole, a second inflow hole provided in the intermediate plate facing the first inflow hole and communicating the air mixing part and the inner cylinder, and opposed to the second inflow hole; Diffusion surface provided at the bottom having a hole, and the aeration An air suction hole for supplying air from the outside, and the fluid that has passed through the first inflow hole is introduced into the air mixing portion, and after passing through the second inflow hole, the diffusion surface By introducing directly into the fluid, a fluid containing air is discharged from the discharge hole in a foam state.

  In this case, it is preferable that the second inflow hole has a larger diameter than the diameter of the first inflow hole.

  The first inflow hole may be provided coaxially with the second inflow hole.

  According to the present invention, this foam discharge device can introduce sufficient air before the fluid collides with the diffusion surface by providing the intermediate plate between the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder. Thereafter, when the fluid passes through the second inflow hole of the intermediate plate, the fluid entrains air in the aeration portion, and the fluid directly collides with the diffusion surface formed at the bottom of the inner cylinder with the air. For this reason, the foam ejection device of the present invention generates the foam effect via the aeration unit, rather than causing the fluid to directly collide with the tapered diffusion surface as in the prior art and generating the foam effect. A foamy state can be obtained stably. In addition, the fluid discharged from the second inflow hole directly collides with the diffusion surface facing the second inflow hole, so that the fluid is surely diffused. It is taken in and a bubble flow is generated in the diffusion part. This is because, in the case of a tapered wall as in the prior art, if the amount of fluid to be introduced is a very small flow rate, it is difficult for the fluid to become a bubble flow, but in the present invention, air is taken in. In order to surely diffuse the fluid, a stable foam state can be obtained even if the fluid has a very small flow rate by providing a diffusion surface facing the aeration unit and the second inflow hole.

  In this case, if the diameter of the second inflow hole is larger than that of the first inflow hole, the fluid can easily flow through the second inflow hole, and air can be introduced through the aeration part. The volume of fluid increases by the amount introduced. For this reason, in order to prevent the fluid from colliding with the intermediate plate due to an increase in the volume of the fluid, the second inflow hole needs to have a larger diameter than the first inflow hole serving as the fluid discharge portion. is there. Thereby, the fluid containing air can smoothly pass through the second inflow hole.

  Further, for example, if the first inlet hole and the second inlet hole are not coaxial, the fluid introduced from the first inlet hole collides with the intermediate plate, and the flow of the fluid is suppressed. For this reason, it becomes difficult to generate a sufficient negative pressure in the aeration unit, and sufficient air cannot be introduced into the second inflow hole. In addition, the foam discharge device makes the first inflow hole and the second inflow hole coaxially so that the fluid colliding with the intermediate plate does not impair the role of the air mixing part supplying air by flowing backward through the air suction hole. By providing, air can be smoothly introduced.

  Moreover, since the foam discharge apparatus of this invention can discharge a fluid in a foam state even with a very small flow rate, it can be realized with a simple structure when the flow rate is small. Further, this foam discharge device has a simplified structure such as a component configuration and a shape of a discharge port. Therefore, the foam discharge device can reduce the size of the device.

It is sectional drawing at the time of applying the foam discharge apparatus of this invention to the automatic washing faucet part of a toilet. It is an external view of 1st Embodiment of the foam discharge apparatus shown in FIG. 1, (a) is a top view, (b) is a side view, (c) is a bottom view. It is AA sectional drawing of the foam discharge apparatus of FIG.2 (c). The shape of the outer cylinder of the foam discharge apparatus of FIG. 3 is shown, (a) is a top view, (b) is sectional drawing, (c) is a bottom view. It is an external view of 2nd Embodiment of the foam discharge apparatus shown in FIG. 1, (a) is a top view, (b) is a side view, (c) is a bottom view. It is CC sectional drawing of the foam discharge apparatus of FIG.5 (c). The shape of the outer cylinder of the foam discharge apparatus of FIG. 6 is shown, (a) is a top view, (b) is sectional drawing, (c) is a bottom view.

  Hereinafter, the structure of the foam discharge apparatus 1 concerning embodiment of this invention is demonstrated with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view when the foam discharge device 1 is applied to a faucet portion of an automatic faucet device.

  The foam discharge device 1 is attached to the tip of a curved faucet body 2. The faucet body 2 is provided with a human body detection sensor 3 adjacent to the foam discharge device 1 by a faucet cover 4. When the human body detection sensor 3 detects the approach of a human hand, a foam fluid (water containing air) flows from the foam discharge device 1.

  Here, the attachment method of the foam discharge apparatus 1 is demonstrated. One end of the foam discharge device 1 is joined to the connector 6 via the flat packing 5 inside the faucet body 2. The connector 6 is flexible and has a hose 7 inserted along the curved shape of the faucet body 2. Furthermore, the joint between the connector 6 and the hose 7 is held by a binder 8 so as to prevent the connector 6 and the hose 7 from being attached and detached due to ensuring the sealing property between the connector and the hose, water pressure or the like.

(First embodiment)
Next, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 2 shows the appearance of the foam discharge device 1 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. FIG. 3 shows the foam discharge device 1 in the section AA in FIG. FIG. 4 shows the shape of the outer cylinder 14 shown in FIG. The foam discharge device 1 has an internal structure as shown in FIG. 3, and fluid (for example, water) passes through an aeration mechanism 13 provided in a cylindrical housing 12, so that the fluid in a foam state is removed. produce. The air mixing mechanism 13 includes an outer cylinder 14, an intermediate plate 15, and an inner cylinder 16. And the outer cylinder 14 is arrange | positioned from the axial direction so that the flow path of the housing 12 may be restrict | limited to the upstream in the housing 12. FIG. The outer cylinder 14 shown in FIG. 4 has a boss shape at the center, and the first inflow hole 14a having a small hole through which the fluid enters the air mixing mechanism 13 from the inlet 12a of the housing 12 has a boss shape. It is provided in the center (FIG. 2 (a)). Further, an inner cylinder 16 is provided in the downstream portion in the housing 12 from the axial direction (FIG. 2B). The inner cylinder 16 is provided with a plurality of (for example, eight) discharge holes 16a having a larger diameter than the first inflow hole 14a in order to discharge the fluid that has entered from the first inflow hole 14a to the outside. (FIG. 2 (c)).

  Next, the structure of each component of the foam discharge device 1 will be described.

  The housing 12 is made of a metal such as stainless steel, has a cylindrical shape, and is provided with an inflow port 12a into which a fluid flows. The housing 12 has an inner diameter at the central portion in the axial direction that is smaller than the inner diameters at both the upstream and downstream ends, and has a locking step portion 12b protruding inward.

  The outer cylinder 14 is made of resin and is disposed upstream of the housing 12. The outer cylinder 14 is fitted to the inner wall of the housing 12 and has a convex portion 14 b at the center of the upstream surface. The center of the convex portion 14b is provided with a first inflow hole 14a. On the downstream side of the outer cylinder 14, a concave portion 14c having a step on the inside is formed, and the concave portion 14c has an outer cylindrical step portion 14d having a flat surface on the downstream side. When the outer cylinder 14 is fitted into the housing 12, the axial end surface of the recess 14 c is locked to the outer cylinder 14 by the locking step 12 b in the housing 12. 4B and 4C, the BB cross-sectional view of the outer cylinder 14 shown in FIGS. 4B and 4C includes four air intake grooves in the recess 14c from the end surface of the recess 14c toward the bottom surface of the recess 14c. 14e are radially formed from the center in the circumferential direction at intervals of 90 degrees, and each air suction groove 14e is formed.

  The intermediate plate 15 is made of resin, has a disk shape, and forms an air mixing portion 17 between the intermediate plate 15 and the outer cylinder 14. The intermediate plate 15 is locked in the axial direction by an outer cylinder step 14d formed in the recess 14c of the outer cylinder 14, and the side wall of the intermediate plate 15 is fitted to the inner wall of the recess 14c. Further, the intermediate plate 15 is provided with a second inflow hole 15a at the center of the disk, and is coaxial with the first inflow hole 14a of the outer cylinder 14 when assembled. And the diameter of the 2nd inflow hole 15a is large compared with the diameter of the 1st inflow hole 14a.

  Further, the inner cylinder 16 is disposed so as to sandwich the intermediate plate 15 together with the outer cylinder 14. The inner cylinder 16 includes a bottom portion 16b and a cylindrical portion 16c, and an upstream end portion of the cylindrical portion 16c is formed with an inner cylinder step portion 16d on the outside. In the inner cylinder 16, the end face in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion 16 c sandwiches the intermediate plate 15, and the outer wall from the end face of the inner cylinder 16 to the inner cylinder step portion 16 d and the inner wall of the outer cylinder 14 are fitted. Further, as shown in FIG. 2 (c), the bottom portion 16b of the inner cylinder 16 is provided with eight discharge holes 16a in the circumferential direction, and the upstream surface of the bottom portion 16b is A diffusion surface 16e that causes the fluid to collide and diffuse is provided inside the discharge hole 16a. The diffusion surface 16e is provided to face the second inflow hole 15a of the intermediate plate 15, and has an area equal to or larger than the area of the second inflow hole 15a. Furthermore, the inside of the cylindrical portion 16c of the inner cylinder 16 including the diffusion surface 16e serves as a diffusion portion 16f in which the fluid that has passed through the second inflow hole 15a is diffused.

  Further, the outer diameter of the inner cylinder 16 is sufficiently smaller than the inner diameter of the housing 12, and the air suction hole 17 a is provided between the inner cylinder 16 and the housing 12 so that air can be introduced from the outside between the inner cylinder 16 and the housing 12. The air is taken in from below the housing. The air suction hole 17 a communicates with the air mixing groove 14 e of the outer cylinder 14 so that air can be introduced into the air mixing portion 17.

  Next, the foam generation method by the foam discharge apparatus 1 of 1st Embodiment is demonstrated.

  First, the fluid that has flowed into the housing 12 from the inlet 12a of the housing 12 is guided to the convex portion 14b of the outer cylinder 14, and the fluid flows into the first inflow hole 14a provided in the convex portion 14b. Thereafter, the fluid that has passed through the first inflow hole 14 a flows to the aeration unit 17. Thereafter, the fluid flows into the second inflow hole 15 a of the intermediate plate 15. At this time, when the fluid flows into the second inflow hole 15a, a negative pressure is generated by the flow of the fluid, air is introduced from the air suction hole 17a, and the air in the air mixing part 17 can be introduced into the fluid. Since the diameter of the second inflow hole 15a is wider than the diameter of the first inflow hole 14a, the fluid containing air can pass smoothly. Further, when the air mixing part 17 flows into the air mixing part 17, since the negative pressure is generated in the air mixing part 17, it is possible to continuously take in air from the air suction hole 17a in contact with the outside.

  The fluid that has passed through the second inflow hole 15a is then introduced into the diffusion portion 16f, and directly collides with the diffusion surface 16e of the bottom portion 16b formed in the inner cylinder 16 and diffuses there. Then, by colliding with the diffusion surface 16e, the fluid is subdivided and diffused radially to create a foam state. Thereafter, the fluid in a foamed state becomes a foam flow and is discharged from the discharge hole 16 a of the inner cylinder 16.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 5 shows an appearance according to the second embodiment of the foam discharge device 1 shown in FIG. FIG. 6 shows the foam discharge device 1 in the CC cross section of FIG. FIG. 7 shows the shape of the outer cylinder 24 in the second embodiment. The foam discharge device 1 has a structure in which a fluid in a foam state is created by passing a fluid through an aeration mechanism 23 provided in a cylindrical housing 22. The air mixing mechanism 23 includes an outer cylinder 24, an intermediate plate 25, and an inner cylinder 26, as in the first embodiment. An outer cylinder 24 is disposed upstream of the housing 22. The outer cylinder 24 shown in FIG. 7 is provided with four first inflow holes 24a having a small hole through which a fluid enters from the inflow port 22a of the housing 22 to the air mixing mechanism 23 in a lattice shape. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, a bottomed cylindrical inner cylinder 26 is disposed downstream of the housing 22 (FIG. 5B). The inner cylinder 26 is provided with four discharge holes 26a for discharging the fluid introduced from the first inflow hole 24a to the outside. Further, four first inflow holes 24a are provided in the circumferential portion on the plane of the outer cylinder 24, and four discharge holes 26a are provided in the central portion of the bottom portion 26b of the inner cylinder 26 ( FIG. 5 (a) (c)).

  Next, the structure of each component of the foam discharge apparatus 1 concerning 2nd Embodiment is demonstrated.

  The housing 22 is made of metal such as stainless steel, has a cylindrical shape, and is provided with four inflow ports 22a into which fluid flows. As shown in FIG. 6, the housing 22 has a central inner diameter smaller than the inner diameters of the upstream and downstream ends, and has a locking step portion 22b discharged to the inside.

  The outer cylinder 24 is disposed upstream of the housing 22, and the upstream side where the outer cylinder 24 is fitted to a locking step portion 12 b formed on the inner wall of the housing 22 is a flat surface. A plurality of first inflow holes 24 a are provided in the circumferential portion of the flat surface of the outer cylinder 24. A recess 24c having a step is formed downstream of the outer cylinder 24, and an outer cylinder step 24d is provided on the downstream side. When the outer cylinder 24 is fitted into the housing 22, the axial end surface of the recess 24 c is locked in the outer cylinder 24 by the locking step 22 b in the housing 22. As shown in the DD cross-sectional view of the outer cylinder 24 in FIGS. 7B and 7C, the outer diameter of the outer cylinder 24 is notched at equal intervals (90-degree intervals) in the circumferential direction. The air intake groove 24e is formed, and thereby, there are four air supply holes 24f formed in the radial direction for communicating the air introduced from the outside of the housing 22 to the air mixing portion 27. The air intake grooves 24e are positioned so as to face each other.

  The intermediate plate 25 is made of resin, has a disk shape, and forms an aeration unit 27 between the outer plate 24 and the intermediate plate 25. The intermediate plate 25 is disposed in the recess 24c of the outer cylinder 24 from the axial direction, is locked by the outer cylinder step 24d, and the side wall of the intermediate plate 25 is fitted to the inner wall of the recess 24c. In addition, the intermediate plate 25 is provided with a second inflow hole 25a at a position facing the first inflow hole 24a in the assembled state, and is coaxial with the first inflow hole 24a of the outer cylinder 24 when assembled. Since the first inflow hole 24a and the second inflow hole 25a are coaxial, an alignment shaft 28 is provided between the outer cylinder 24 and the intermediate plate 25 to ensure the coaxiality. For this purpose, the outer cylinder 24 and the intermediate plate 25 are provided with installation holes 24g and 25b on the axis parallel to the central axis so as to install the alignment shaft 28 so that the inflow holes 24a and 25a are coaxial. It has been. Further, the diameter of the second inflow hole 25a is larger than the diameter of the first inflow hole 24a as in the first embodiment.

  The inner cylinder 26 is disposed so as to sandwich the intermediate plate 25 together with the outer cylinder 24. The inner cylinder 26 includes a bottom portion 26b and a cylindrical portion 26c, and an end portion in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion 26c forms an inner cylinder step portion 26d having a plane on the upstream side. In the inner cylinder 26, the end surface of the cylindrical portion 26 c is engaged with the intermediate plate 25, and the outer wall from the end surface of the inner cylinder 26 to the inner cylinder step portion 26 d and the inner wall of the outer cylinder 24 are fitted. The bottom portion 26b is provided with a discharge hole 26a for discharging fluid to the outside. The bottom portion 26b has a diffusing surface 26e that collides and diffuses the fluid introduced into the diffusing portion 26f formed in the inner cylinder 26 on the outer diameter side with respect to the nine discharge holes 26a provided in a lattice shape in the central portion. Is provided. The diffusion surface 26e is provided to face the second inflow hole 25a of the intermediate plate 25, and has an area that is equal to or larger than the area of the second inflow hole 25a. Further, a diffusion part 26f through which fluid diffuses is formed in the cylindrical part 26c of the inner cylinder 26 including the diffusion surface 26e.

  Next, the foam generation method by the foam discharge apparatus 1 concerning 2nd Embodiment is demonstrated.

  In FIG. 6, the fluid that has flowed into the housing 22 from the inlet 22 a of the housing 22 is supplied to the upstream end surface of the outer cylinder 24, and the fluid flows into the four first inlet holes 24 a provided in the outer cylinder 24. Inflow. Thereafter, the fluid that has passed through the first inflow hole 24 a is introduced into the aeration unit 27. After the introduction, the fluid flows into the second inflow hole 25a of the intermediate plate 25. When the fluid flows into the second inflow hole 25a, a negative pressure is generated by the fluid flow in the vicinity of the second inflow hole 25a. For this reason, the air in the air mixing part 27 is introduced into the fluid passing through the second inflow hole 25a. The introduction of the air allows the fluid having an increased volume including air to pass smoothly because the diameter of the second inflow hole 25a is wider than the diameter of the first inflow hole 24a. Further, since a negative pressure is generated in the aeration unit 27, it is possible to continuously take in air from the air suction hole 27a in contact with the outside during inflow.

  Further, the fluid that has passed through the second inflow hole 25a is discharged to the diffusion portion 26f, and directly collides with the diffusion surface 26e of the bottom portion 26b of the inner cylinder 26 and diffuses. And by making it collide with the diffusion surface 26e, the fluid is diffused radially and creates a foamed state. Therefore, the fluid becomes a foam flow and is discharged from the discharge hole 26 a of the inner cylinder 26.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, You may change into the aspect shown below.

  -Since this foam discharge apparatus 1 can obtain a bubble flow reliably even at a minute flow rate, the number of discharge holes 16a and 26a and the cross-sectional area of the fluid can be set in accordance with the set flow rate.

  The intermediate plates 15 and 25 of the first and second embodiments may be a cylinder instead of a disk. The same effect can be obtained by providing a groove for supplying air necessary for air mixing in the cylindrical portions of the intermediate plates 15 and 25.

  The air suction holes 17a and 27a of the first and second embodiments are formed by the housings 12 and 22 and the air mixing mechanisms 13 and 23. However, the air suction holes 17a and 27a are directly provided in the housings 12 and 22 and the like. Also good.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, ... Foam discharge apparatus, 12, 22 ... Housing, 12a, 22a ... Inlet, 13, 23 ... Air mixing mechanism, 14, 24 ... Outer cylinder, 14a, 24a ... First inflow hole, 15, 25 ... Intermediate plate 15a, 25a ... second inflow hole, 16,26 ... inner cylinder, 16a, 26a ... discharge hole, 16e, 26e ... diffusion surface, 17,27 ... aeration unit, 17a, 27a ... air suction hole

Claims (3)

In the foam discharge device in which the fluid is supplied from the inflow port of the housing and the fluid containing air is discharged in a foam state by the aeration mechanism disposed inside the housing.
The aeration mechanism is
An outer cylinder disposed upstream of the fluid in the housing;
A bottomed inner cylinder having a discharge hole for engaging the outer cylinder and discharging fluid to the outside;
An intermediate plate that is disposed between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder and forms an air mixing portion that mixes air into the fluid together with the outer cylinder;
Fluid is introduced from the inflow port, a first inflow hole provided in the outer cylinder,
A second inflow hole provided in the intermediate plate facing the first inflow hole and communicating the air mixing part and the inner cylinder;
A diffusion surface provided at a bottom portion facing the second inflow hole and having the discharge hole;
An air suction hole that is provided in the housing and supplies air to the aeration unit from the outside,
The fluid that has passed through the first inflow hole is introduced into the aeration unit, and air is introduced directly into the diffusion surface after passing through the second inflow hole, so that the fluid containing air is in the foam state and the discharge hole. A foam discharge device characterized by being discharged more. The foam discharge device according to claim 1, wherein the second inflow hole has a larger diameter than the diameter of the first inflow hole. The foam discharge device according to claim 1, wherein the first inflow hole is provided coaxially with the second inflow hole.

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