JP5467319B2 - Microbubble generator - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a fine bubble generating device that generates fine bubbles of air having a bubble diameter of about 0.1 to 1000 μm in water to generate and discharge fine bubble-containing water containing fine bubbles.

  Water containing fine bubbles mixed with air as fine bubbles in water is attracting attention as enhancing the washing effect, bathing effect, etc., and various fine bubble generating devices that generate fine bubbles of air in water have been proposed and provided. ing.

  For example, the fine bubble generator can dissolve the air in the hot water taken out from the bathtub while circulating the hot water in the bathtub with a pump, and send the air-dissolved water into the bathtub. A part of the air in the air-dissolved water sent out into the bathtub is deposited as the pressure is reduced, and fine bubbles are generated. The fine bubbles cloud the hot and cold water in the bathtub, give it a taste like a milk bath, have a moisturizing effect on the skin, a thermal effect, etc., and bring a bathing effect comparable to a hot spring.

  In addition, development of so-called shower baths in which fine bubble-containing water is discharged from a shower head is also being studied so that the same effect can be obtained even by a person who does not usually touch the bathtub.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a shower apparatus provided with a decompression means such as a decompression valve in a shower head that rapidly decompresses pressurized air-dissolved hot / cold water obtained by pressurizing and dissolving air in hot water and generates fine bubbles by cavitation. Is described.

  This shower device makes it possible to easily generate and discharge white turbid water containing fine bubbles containing a sufficient amount of fine bubbles.

JP 2008-132038 A

  However, since the capacity of the bathtub is large in the microbubble generator installed together with the bathtub, in order to fill the bathtub with microbubbles and increase the dissolved oxygen concentration in a short time, the flow rate of the water containing fine bubbles is For example, those having a large flow rate of 15 liters / min or more are the mainstream. On the other hand, in the shower device, the required flow rate of the water containing fine bubbles is smaller than that of the water installed together with the bathtub, and therefore a fine bubble generating device that enables such a small flow rate is required. The

  For this reason, when fine bubble-containing water is desired for both bathing in a bathtub and shower bath, it is necessary to install two types of fine bubble generators, a large flow rate type and a small flow rate type. Therefore, the price of the microbubble generator is inevitably increased, and there is a problem that it becomes difficult to spread the microbubble generator.

  The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances as described above, and corresponds to both flow rates with the same apparatus for different flow rates of water containing fine bubbles required for bathing in a bathtub and shower bath. It is an object of the present invention to provide a microbubble generator that can reduce the cost.

 In order to solve the above problems, a microbubble generator of the present invention includes a bathtub, a pump, a dissolution tank connected in communication with the discharge side of the pump, one end connected to the bathtub, and the other end of the pump A first water supply pipe that is connected to the suction side of the tub and communicates between the tub and the pump; a second water supply pipe that is connected at one end to the lysis tank and connected at the other end to the tub; Fine bubble generation comprising a first pressure reducing part provided on the other end of the second water supply pipe and an intake part connected to the first water supply pipe and connected to the first water supply pipe The fine bubble generating device further includes a water storage tank, and the third water supply pipe is branched in the middle of the second water supply pipe, and the first flow path switching valve is provided at the branch portion. A shower head provided with a second decompression section at the end of the third water supply pipe; The shower head and the dissolution tank communicate with each other, the first return pipe is branched in the middle of the third water supply pipe, the flow rate ratio adjusting mechanism is provided at the branch portion, and the first return pipe is provided. The end of the pipe is connected to the water storage tank, the water storage tank and the dissolution tank communicate with each other, the second return pipe is provided with one end connected to the water storage tank, and the other end is in the middle of the first water supply pipe , The second flow path switching valve is provided at the connection portion, and the water storage tank communicates with the suction side of the pump.

  In this fine bubble generating device, it is preferable that a water pipe is connected to the water storage tank, and the water storage tank is capable of storing tap water.

  According to the fine bubble generating device of the present invention, both the flow rate of the fine bubble-containing water required for bathing in the bathtub and the shower bath can correspond to both flow rates with the same device, thereby reducing the price. Can be planned.

It is the block diagram which showed schematically one Embodiment of the microbubble generator of this invention.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram schematically showing an embodiment of a fine bubble generating apparatus.

  The fine bubble generator 1 includes a bathtub 2, a pump 3, and a dissolution tank 4. The pump 3 pressurizes water and supplies it to the dissolution tank 4. The dissolution tank 4 is connected to the discharge side of the pump 3 via an inflow pipe 5 and communicates with the pump 3. In addition, the pump 3 is disposed almost immediately below the dissolution tank 4, and the length of the inflow pipe 5 connecting the pump 3 and the dissolution tank 4 is shortened. With such an arrangement, the microbubble generator 1 is made compact so that it can be installed in a narrow space.

Moreover, the fine bubble generating device 1 includes a first water supply pipe 6. One end of the first water supply pipe 6 is connected to the side wall of the bathtub 2, and the other end is connected to the suction side of the pump 3. A water supply plug 7 having both a water supply port and a discharge port is provided on the side wall of the bathtub 2 to which one end of the first water supply pipe 6 is connected. In the water supply plug 7, the water supply port and the discharge port are provided independently of each other, and the water supply port communicates with the first water supply pipe 6. For this reason, the pump 3 communicates with the bathtub 2 and can take out hot water w ₁ stored in the bathtub 2 to the outside of the bathtub 2 through the first water supply pipe 6 by the operation thereof. The hot water w ₁ can be pressurized and supplied to the inside of the dissolution tank 4 through 5.

  Further, the fine bubble generating device 1 includes a second water supply pipe 8. One end of the second water supply pipe 8 is connected to a part of the bottom of the dissolution tank 4 that is different from the part to which the inflow pipe 5 is connected. The other end of the second water supply pipe 8 is connected to the side wall of the bathtub 2 via a water supply plug 7 and communicates with the discharge port of the water supply plug 7. For this reason, the dissolution tank 4 communicates with the bathtub 2 and can supply air-dissolved water generated in the dissolution tank 4 as described later to the bathtub 2 side through the second water supply pipe 8.

  Further, the fine bubble generating device 1 includes a first pressure reducing unit 9 on the other end side of the second water supply pipe 8. The first decompression unit 9 rapidly depressurizes the air-dissolved water, and a part of the air dissolved in the air-dissolved water by cavitation can be precipitated as fine bubbles. Examples of the first decompression unit 9 include a nozzle that forms a Venturi tube or the like. As shown in FIG. 1, the first decompression unit 9 is incorporated into the water supply plug 7 or connected to the discharge port of the water supply plug 7. Thus, it can be attached to the inner side of the bathtub 2.

  Further, the fine bubble generating device 1 includes an intake portion 10. The air intake unit 10 sucks air in the bathroom or the like, and is connected in the middle of the first water supply pipe 6. In the intake section 10, an ejector 11 is provided at a connection portion with the first water supply pipe 6, and an intake pipe 12 extending so as to rise toward the inside of a bathroom or the like is connected from the ejector 11. An intake valve 13 that can adjust the intake air amount is provided at the end of the intake pipe 12 opposite to the ejector 11. The ejector 11, the intake pipe 12, and the intake valve 13 form an intake portion 10.

In the microbubble generator 1, when bathing in the bathtub 2, the hot water w _{1 in the} bathtub 2 is taken out of the bathtub 2 through the water supply plug 7 and the first water supply pipe 6 by the operation of the pump 3. Along with the negative pressure generated at this time, air in the bathroom or the like is sucked through the intake valve 13 and the intake pipe 12 by the ejector 11 of the intake section 10 and mixed with the hot water w ₁ in the ejector 11. A gas-liquid mixed fluid in which air is mixed with air in the hot water w ₁ is supplied from the pump 3 to the inside of the dissolution tank 4 through the inflow pipe 5 in a pressurized state. Inside the dissolution tank 4, the gas-liquid mixed fluid is ejected upward from the bottom of the dissolution tank 4, and the hot water w ₁ is stored in the dissolution tank 4 in advance or the air mixed through the ejector 11. And vigorously stirred to produce air-dissolved water.

Air-dissolved water is taken out from the bottom of the dissolution tank 4 through the second water supply pipe 8 and supplied into the bathtub 2 through the water supply plug 7. When the air-dissolved water passes through the first decompression unit 9, the air-dissolved water is suddenly decompressed, the amount of air dissolved becomes supersaturated, and part of the air dissolved in the air-dissolved water by cavitation has a bubble diameter of 0. .Precipitated as fine bubbles of about 1 to 1000 μm. The fine bubble-containing water containing the fine bubbles is mixed in the hot water w ₁ in the bathtub 2, and the hot water w ₁ is eventually emulsified by the fine air bubbles.

Thus, fine bubble generator 1, while circulating hot water w ₁ in the bathtub 2, thereby generating fine air bubbles in the hot water w _1.

In the fine bubble generating device 1, an air circulation pipe 14 that connects the upper end portion of the dissolution tank 4 and the inflow pipe 5 in communication can be provided outside the dissolution tank 4. When the air-dissolved water is generated, the air that remains without being dissolved in the hot water w ₁ tends to remain in the upper part of the dissolution tank 4. The air circulation pipe 14 once extracts such residual air to the outside of the dissolution tank 4 and sends it back to the inside of the inflow pipe 5. The returned air is mixed again in the gas-liquid mixed fluid and reused to generate air-dissolved water. For this reason, the production | generation efficiency of the air dissolution water in the dissolution tank 4 improves, and it can reduce the excess air quantity.

  Further, an exhaust valve 15 can be provided at the upper end of the dissolution tank 4. The exhaust valve 15 finally exhausts the air remaining at the upper end portion inside the dissolution tank 4 without being completely dissolved. The exhaust valve 15 adjusts the partial pressure of the air by exhausting the residual air. It is effective to increase the generation efficiency of dissolved air.

  The fine bubble generating apparatus 1 as described above further includes a water storage tank 16 capable of storing water therein.

  Moreover, in the fine bubble generator 1, the 3rd water supply pipe | tube 17 is branched and provided in the middle of the 2nd water supply pipe | tube 8, and the 1st flow-path switching valve 18 is provided in the branch part. The first flow path switching valve 18 can be formed from a three-way valve or a plurality of two-way valves. A shower head 19 is provided at the end of the third water supply pipe 17. The shower head 19 has a plurality of water spray holes, and incorporates a second pressure reducing unit 20 such as a pressure reducing valve. The shower head 19 communicates with the dissolution tank 4 through the third water supply pipe 17. Similarly to the first decompression unit 9, the second decompression unit 20 abruptly decompresses the air-dissolved water, and precipitates a part of the air dissolved in the air-dissolved water by cavitation as fine bubbles. be able to.

  Further, in the fine bubble generating device 1, the first return pipe 21 is branched in the middle of the third water supply pipe 17, and the flow rate ratio adjusting mechanism 22 is provided at the branch portion. Similarly to the first flow path switching valve 18, the flow rate adjusting mechanism 22 can also be formed from a three-way valve, a plurality of two-way valves, and the like. The end of the first return pipe 21 is connected to the water storage tank 16, and the water storage tank 16 communicates with the dissolution tank 4 through the first return pipe 21. The end of the first return pipe 21 is connected to the upper end of the water storage tank 16.

  In the fine bubble generating device 1, the second return pipe 23 is provided with one end connected to the water storage tank 16, and the other end of the second return pipe 23 is in the middle of the first water supply pipe 6. It is connected to the upstream side of the intake section 10. A second flow path switching valve 24 is provided at the connection portion of the first water supply pipe 6 to which the second return pipe 23 is connected. The water storage tank 16 communicates with the suction side of the pump 3 through the second return pipe 23. The second return pipe 23 is connected to the bottom of the water storage tank 16 that is different from the connection with the first return pipe 21. Similar to the first flow path switching valve 18, the second flow path switching valve 24 can be formed from a three-way valve, a plurality of two-way valves, or the like.

And in the fine bubble generator 1, the water pipe 25 is connected to the water storage tank 16, and the water storage tank 16 enables storage of tap water. The water pipe 25 is connected to the upper end of the water storage tank 16 that is different from the connection with the first return pipe 21. The connection position of the water pipe 25 can be arranged on the opposite side of the connection position of the first return pipe 21. A water stop valve 26 having a float is provided on the end side of the water pipe 25. In the water stop valve 26, the float floats and sinks due to the buoyancy from the water w ₂ stored in the water storage tank 16, and the water in the water storage tank 16 reaches a preset water level as the float floats and sinks. to allow the storage of w _2. When the water level in the water storage tank 16 reaches the set upper limit water level, the water stop valve 26 is closed and the supply of tap water from the water pipe 25 is automatically stopped. Further, when the water level in the water storage tank 16 becomes less than the upper limit water level, the water stop valve 26 is opened, and the supply of tap water from the water pipe 25 is automatically started. Thus, the water stop valve 26 can keep the water level of the water w ₂ stored in the water storage tank 16 constant by opening and closing. The operation and stop of the water stop valve 26 can be performed by electrical control associated with the floating of the float.

Further, the water storage tank 16 is provided with a drain pipe 27 at a bottom portion different from the second return pipe 23, and the drain pipe 27 is provided with a drain valve 28. After the period of time in which the water w ₂ stored in the water storage tank 16 can be set in advance, the drain valve 28 is opened and stored in the water storage tank 16 in order to suppress the propagation of various germs. The existing water w ₂ can be drained to the outside of the water storage tank 16 through the drain pipe 27. The drain valve 28 can be opened / closed automatically, manually, or a combination thereof. If the drainage time is set in advance, the water w ₂ in the water storage tank 16 is not required to be operated manually. It can drain automatically and is very convenient.

  In such a microbubble generator 1, when taking a shower bath, the first flow path switching valve 18 closes the bathtub 2 side, opens the third water supply pipe 17 side, The flow path switching valve 24 closes the bathtub 2 side and opens the second return pipe 23 side. Further, the flow rate adjusting mechanism 22 switches the flow ratio of the air dissolved water supplied to the shower head 19 and the remaining air dissolved water supplied to the water storage tank 16. For example, when the flow rate of the dissolved air in the bath 2 is 20 liters / min, the flow rate of the dissolved air supplied to the shower head 19 can be 8 liters / min. The flow rate of dissolved air to the water storage tank 16 is adjusted to the remaining 12 liters / min. The flow rate ratio adjusted by the flow rate adjustment mechanism 22 can be appropriately set according to the flow rate of the water containing fine bubbles required for the shower bath, and can be changed according to, for example, the preference of the bather. You can also.

Then, in the shower bath, the water storage tank 16 water w ₂ or water pipes are retained in the 25 to supply tap water to the water storage tank 16, the water w ₂ which is stored, by operation of the pump 3, the second It is taken out of the water storage tank 16 through the return pipe 23 and flows through the first water supply pipe 6 at a portion located downstream from the second flow path switching valve 24. Water w ₂ is supplied from the discharge side of the pump 3 into the dissolution tank 4 through the inflow pipe 5. With the negative pressure at this time, air in the bathroom or the like is sucked through the intake valve 13 and the intake pipe 12 by the ejector 11 of the intake section 10 and mixed with the water w ₂ in the ejector 11. A gas-liquid mixed fluid in which air is mixed with air in the water w ₂ is supplied into the dissolution tank 4 in a pressurized state. Inside the dissolution tank 4, air-dissolved water is generated in the same manner as bathing in the bathtub 2.

  The generated air-dissolved water is taken out of the dissolution tank 4 through the second water supply pipe 8, flows through the third water supply pipe 17 by the first flow path switching valve 18, and is flown by the flow rate ratio adjusting mechanism 22. A part is supplied into the shower head 19. The air-dissolved water is rapidly decompressed by the second decompression unit 20 built in the shower head 19. Accordingly, the amount of dissolved air becomes supersaturated, and a part of the air dissolved in the air-dissolved water by cavitation is precipitated as fine bubbles having a bubble diameter of about 0.1 to 1000 μm. The fine bubble-containing water containing the fine bubbles is discharged to the outside from the water spray holes of the shower head 19 and contains air fine bubbles, and the shower bath is made possible by the cloudy fine bubble-containing water.

  The water supplied from the water pipe 25 to the water storage tank 16 can be not only room temperature water but also warm water heated to a desired temperature by a water heater.

The dissolved air that does not go to the shower head 19 flows through the first return pipe 21 and is returned to the water storage tank 16. In this way, the fine bubble generating device 1 realizes a shower bath with water containing fine bubbles while circulating the water w ₂ stored in the water storage tank 16.

  Such a microbubble generator 1 can be designed assuming bathing in the bathtub 2 where a large flow rate of water containing a large amount of water containing fine bubbles is required. Then, the flow rate of the air-dissolved water is adjusted by the flow ratio adjusting mechanism 22 in accordance with the small flow rate of water containing fine bubbles required for the shower bath, and the air-dissolved water not used for the shower bath is returned to the water storage tank 16. For this reason, the total flow rate of air-dissolved water is the same as the bathing in the bathtub 2 during the shower bath, and the same apparatus is used for both the bathing in the bathtub 2 and the water containing fine bubbles required in the shower bath. Can correspond to the flow rate. Therefore, the fine bubble generating device 1 may be a single device, and the cost can be reduced. It is expected that the spread of the microbubble generator 1 will be extended.

  Of course, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. Configuration and structure of bathtub, pump and dissolution tank, configuration and structure of first decompression unit and second decompression unit, first flow path switching valve, second flow path switching valve, and flow ratio adjustment mechanism There is no particular limitation on the configuration and structure of the above. Further, the same applies to the configuration and structure of the intake section and shower head.

  Moreover, in the range which can produce | generate an air dissolution water in a dissolution tank, when supplying air dissolution water to a bathtub and when supplying air dissolution water to a shower head, the flow volume of the water supplied to a dissolution tank from a pump It is also possible to change.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Fine bubble generating apparatus 2 Bathtub 3 Pump 4 Dissolution tank 6 1st water supply pipe 8 2nd water supply pipe 9 1st pressure reduction part 10 Intake part 16 Water storage tank 17 3rd water supply pipe 18 1st flow-path switching valve 19 Shower head 20 2nd decompression part 21 1st return pipe 22 Flow rate ratio adjustment mechanism 23 2nd return pipe 24 2nd flow-path switching valve 25 Water pipe

Claims (2)

A tub, a pump, a dissolution tank connected in communication with the discharge side of the pump, one end connected to the bathtub, and the other end connected to the suction side of the pump; 1 water supply pipe, one end connected to the dissolution tank, the other end connected to the bathtub, the second water supply pipe communicating the dissolution tank and the bathtub, and the other end of the second water supply pipe A fine bubble generating device comprising a first pressure reducing portion provided on the side and an intake portion connected to the first water supply pipe and communicating with the first water supply pipe,
The fine bubble generator further comprises a water storage tank,
A third water supply pipe is provided to be branched in the middle of the second water supply pipe, a first flow path switching valve is provided at the branch portion, and a second pressure reduction valve is provided at the end of the third water supply pipe. A shower head with a built-in portion is provided, and the shower head communicates with the dissolution tank,
The first return pipe is branched in the middle of the third water supply pipe, the flow rate adjusting mechanism is provided at the branch portion, and the end of the first return pipe is connected to the water storage tank. The water storage tank and the dissolution tank communicate with each other,
A second return pipe is provided with one end connected to the water storage tank, and the other end is connected to the upstream side of the intake section in the middle of the first water supply pipe. A fine bubble generating device, wherein a flow path switching valve is provided, and the water storage tank communicates with a suction side of the pump.   2. The fine bubble generating device according to claim 1, wherein a water pipe is connected to the water storage tank, and the water storage tank is capable of storing tap water.

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