JP6048656B2 - shower head - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a shower head that discharges hot water mixed with fine bubbles from water spray holes.

  The fine bubbles having a diameter of 50 μm or less mixed in the hot water have a large specific surface area, and thus, for example, a large amount of dirt such as sebum of the human body can be adsorbed and removed. Since the specific surface area of the fine bubbles decreases as the diameter thereof decreases, in order to improve the cleaning function as described above, it is desirable to reduce the diameter of the fine bubbles as much as possible.

  Patent Document 1 listed below describes a liquid ejection device that can generate fine bubbles efficiently and with high density. This liquid discharge apparatus can be applied to a shower head.

  In the liquid ejection device described in Patent Document 1, a liquid flow path such as hot water is provided with a liquid introduction path, a liquid flow rotator circuit connected to the upstream side of the liquid introduction path, and an upstream side of the liquid flow circulation circuit. It is formed from a contracted channel connected to the side and an expanded channel connected to the upstream side of the contracted channel. The liquid flow swirl circuit is one in which liquid swirl vanes are arranged, and the diameter of the contracted flow path is made smaller than the diameter of the liquid flow swirl circuit. Moreover, the diameter of the expanded flow path is made larger than the diameter of the contracted flow path. This expanded flow path communicates with the liquid discharge port.

  Moreover, the liquid discharge apparatus described in Patent Document 1 includes an air flow introduction path for a gas such as air. The air flow introduction path communicates with the outside of the liquid discharge device and opens downstream in the liquid flow turning circuit or the contracted flow path. Moreover, in the liquid discharge apparatus described in Patent Document 1, a tapered liquid flow scattering surface that faces the expanded flow path and faces the opening range of the contracted flow path is provided.

  In such a liquid discharge device, a swirl flow is generated in the liquid introduced through the liquid introduction path by the liquid swirl blades in the liquid flow circuit, and a gas such as air is swirled through the air flow introduction path due to the decompression action generated at this time. The gas-liquid mixed fluid is generated. When the generated gas-liquid mixed fluid passes through the contracted flow path, the flow velocity and the swirl frequency increase, and fine bubbles are gradually generated in the gas-liquid mixed fluid by the shearing force. Thereafter, vortex breakdown occurs due to the dispersion of the swirling flow due to centrifugal force in the expanded flow path, the bubbles contained in the gas-liquid mixed fluid are refined, and many fine bubbles are generated. Further, a part of the gas-liquid mixed fluid collides with the liquid flow scattering surface, the vortex flow is completely destroyed, and fine bubbles are generated. The liquid containing many fine bubbles thus generated is discharged to the outside through the liquid discharge port.

JP 2009-178661 A

  Patent Document 1 discloses that the liquid discharge device as described above can reduce the cost of parts and improve the assemblability, and can suppress an increase in manufacturing cost. However, the liquid ejection device described in Patent Document 1 cannot be denied that the configuration for generating fine bubbles is somewhat complicated. For example, it is pointed out that a liquid flow circuit is required, and the liquid flow circuit must be provided with a liquid swirl vane for the formation of a swirl flow. It is also pointed out that a liquid scattering surface must be provided. In order to realize a versatile shower head, simplification of the configuration is definitely desired.

  The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances as described above, and provides a shower head capable of suppressing the coalescence of bubbles and promoting the generation of fine bubbles while simplifying the configuration. Is an issue.

 In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a hot water introduction flow path is formed inside, and a gas is sucked by decompression when hot water is introduced upstream of the introduction flow path, and the sucked gas is mixed into the hot water as bubbles. A head body provided with a gas-liquid mixing section and a flat plate-like portion, and a plurality of water spray holes are formed through the flat plate portion in the plate thickness direction and are arranged outside the outlet of the introduction channel. A water spray plate attached to the head body, and a hot water discharge channel formed between the head body and the water spray plate and arranged in parallel to the water spray plate and communicating with the introduction channel, On the outlet side, there is a channel expanding portion whose cross-sectional area gradually increases toward the outlet, and the discharge channel is arranged substantially orthogonal to the outlet side portion of the introduction channel, and the inlet of the discharge channel Is the volume of hot water flowing into the discharge channel per unit time. It has a cross-sectional area that is equal to or less than the volume of hot water that passes per unit time in the portion excluding the channel expansion portion, and the water spray plate has a swirl flow generating flow channel that generates a swirl flow in the hot water upstream of the water spray hole. The swirl flow generating flow path is recessed and is arranged to communicate with both the discharge flow path and the water spray hole and to extend outside the discharge flow path. The fine bubble generating unit is formed by the discharge flow path and the swirl flow generating flow path. And a plurality of fine bubble generating units are provided side by side in the length direction of the head body.

  In this shower head, it is preferable that the adjacent swirl flow generating flow paths are communicated with each other by a communication portion in two adjacent micro-bubble generating units.

  In this shower head, in the flow path enlarged portion of the introduction flow path, each cross section in the length direction preferably has a cross-sectional area in which the volume of hot water passing per unit time is equal for each cross section. .

  In this shower head, it is preferable that the length of the hot water discharge direction toward the sprinkling hole is shorter than the length of the hot water introduction direction orthogonal to this length in the swirl flow generation flow path.

  According to the shower head of the present invention, the configuration is simplified, and the coalescence of bubbles is suppressed, and the generation of fine bubbles is promoted.

It is sectional drawing of the length direction which showed one Embodiment of the shower head of this invention. (A) (b) is the perspective view of the front side of the shower head shown in FIG. 1, and the principal part perspective view of the back side, respectively. It is the perspective view which showed the watering board in the shower head shown in FIG. 1 from the back surface side. (A) and (b) are the back views of the watering board shown in FIG. 3, respectively, and the principal part sectional drawing of the width direction of the shower head shown in FIG.

  FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an embodiment of the shower head of the present invention. 2A and 2B are a perspective view of the front side and a main portion perspective view of the shower head shown in FIG. 1, respectively.

  The shower head 1 is formed of a head body 2, a water spray plate 3, and a discharge channel 4. The head body 2 has a vertically long shape. Inside the head body 2, a first introduction flow path 7 for introducing hot water and having a circular cross section is provided. The first introduction flow path 7 has an inlet 8 at the lower end of the head body 2 and an outlet 9 at the upper end. Extending in the length direction of the head main body 2, the outlets 9 are provided at two upper and lower portions. A gas-liquid mixing unit 11 is connected near the inlet 8 of the first introduction flow path 7.

  In the gas-liquid mixing part 11, a second introduction flow path 12 having a circular cross section is formed, in which hot water is introduced and sent to the inlet 8 of the first introduction flow path 7. The second introduction flow path 12 has a pressurization part 14 whose inner diameter decreases rapidly in the length direction of the second introduction flow path 12 at the lower end, and communicates with the pressurization part 14 on the outlet 15 side. A pressure reducing part 16 whose inner diameter gradually increases toward the outlet 15 is provided. In the second introduction channel 12, the outlet 15 coincides with the inlet 8 of the first introduction channel 7, and the second introduction channel 12 communicates with the first introduction channel 7.

  Further, in the gas-liquid mixing unit 11, a gas introduction having a gas passage such as air, oxygen, carbon dioxide gas, ozone or the like in the vicinity of the connection part between the pressurization unit 14 and the decompression unit 16 in the second introduction flow channel 12. A tube (not shown) is connected orthogonally to the gas-liquid mixing unit 11. The gas introduction tube extends toward the outside of the gas-liquid mixing unit 11, has an inlet at the tip thereof, and has an outlet at a portion disposed closest to the gas-liquid mixing unit 11. Further, in the gas-liquid mixing unit 11, a communication path (not shown) is formed inside between the second introduction flow path 12 and the outlet of the gas introduction pipe. The ventilation path of the gas introduction pipe communicates with the second introduction flow path 12 through the communication path.

  The arrangement position of the gas-liquid mixing unit 11 is not limited to the upstream side of the first introduction flow path 7, and can be in the middle of the first introduction flow path 7.

  In addition, the head body 2 is provided with two third introduction passages 25 having a circular cross section for sending hot water introduced into the first introduction passage 7 to the discharge passage 4. The third introduction flow paths 25 are arranged one by one above and below the head body 2, and communicate with the first introduction flow path 7 with the inlets 26 aligned with the outlets 9 of the first introduction flow paths 7. Further, the third introduction flow path 25 is disposed substantially orthogonal to the first introduction flow path 7.

  And the 3rd introduction flow path 25 has the flow path expansion part 29 in which an internal diameter gradually expands toward the exit 28 and the cross-sectional area increases gradually toward the exit 28 side. In the flow path enlargement part 29, it curves so that an inner surface may spread outside as it goes to the exit 28. FIG.

  In the head body 2, the hot water introduction flow path 30 is formed by the first introduction flow path 7, the second introduction flow path 12 and the third introduction flow path 25 as described above. Hot water introduced into the introduction flow path 30 and flowing out from the introduction flow path 30 is discharged from a water spray hole 31 formed in the water spray plate 3.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the water spray plate 3 has a rectangular shape in front view. The water spray holes 31 are arranged in the vertical and horizontal directions of the water spray plate 3. The portion of the water spray plate 3 where at least the water spray holes 31 are formed has a thin flat plate shape, and the water spray holes 31 penetrate the flat plate portion in the plate thickness direction.

  Further, in the water spray plate 3, as shown in FIG. 1, a swirl flow generation flow path 32 that generates a swirl flow in the hot water flow is provided on the upstream side of the sprinkling holes 31. The swirl flow generation flow path 32 is formed as a recess having a rectangular shape in plan view, in which the water spray plate 3 is cut out in the thickness direction. The swirl flow generating channel 32 has a relationship of l <d, where l is the length of the hot water discharge direction toward the sprinkling hole 31 and d is the length d of the hot water introduction direction orthogonal to the length l. ing. That is, in the swirl flow generation channel 32, the length l in the discharge direction toward the sprinkling holes 31 is shorter than the length d in the hot water introduction direction orthogonal to the length l. Such a swirl flow generation flow path 32 communicates with both the discharge flow path 4 and the water spray holes 31.

  Such a water spray plate 3 is attached to the front side of the upper end portion of the head main body 2 via an O-ring 35. The O-ring 35 ensures water tightness between the water spray plate 3 and the head main body 2.

  In the shower head 1 to which the water spray plate 3 is attached, a hot water discharge passage 4 is formed between the head body 2 and the water spray plate 3. That is, a narrow gap between the head body 2 and the water spray plate 3 serves as the discharge flow path 4. The discharge channel 4 is disposed in parallel to the water spray plate 3, communicates with the introduction channel 30 of the head body 2, and communicates with the swirl flow generation channel 32 of the water spray plate 3.

  Further, the discharge flow path 4 is disposed substantially orthogonal to the outlet side portion of the introduction flow path 30, that is, the third introduction flow path 25. And in the discharge flow path 4, the inlet 36 which corresponds to the downstream end of the flow-path expansion part 29 which is an exit of the introduction flow path 30 has the cross-sectional area which has the following relationship. That is, the cross-sectional area of the inlet 36 is, for example, a unit in a portion excluding the flow path expanding portion 29 of the introduction flow path 30 where the washer-like volume of hot water flowing into the discharge flow path 4 per unit time of about 0.1 seconds. It is set so as to be equal to or less than the disk-shaped volume of hot water passing through per hour. This cross-sectional area is an area of a cross section perpendicular to the direction of hot water flowing through the introduction flow path 30.

  The swirl flow generation flow path 32 is disposed so as to spread outward from the discharge flow path 4. Further, in the swirl flow generation flow path 32, the length 1 in the hot water discharge direction is longer than the distance between the head body 2 and the water spray plate 3 where the discharge flow path 4 is formed.

  In the shower head 1, the fine bubble generating unit 37 is formed by the discharge flow path 4 and the swirl flow generation flow path 32 as described above. Two microbubble generation units 37 are provided in the shower head 1 and are arranged side by side in the length direction of the head body 2.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the watering plate in the shower head shown in FIG. 1 from the back side. 4A and 4B are a rear view of the water spray plate shown in FIG. 3 and a cross-sectional view of the main part in the width direction of the shower head shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4A and 4B, the two fine bubble generating units 37 are arranged above and below the water spray plate 3. The upper fine bubble generating unit 37a and the lower fine bubble generating unit 37b are partitioned by ribs 38 provided at the boundary between them. The rib 38 is erected on the water spray plate 3, extends in the width direction of the water spray plate 3, and protrudes from the boundary portion of the swirl flow generation flow path 32 of the fine bubble generating units 37 a and 37 b. On the other hand, both the left and right ends of the rib 38 are arranged on the inner side of the side end of the swirl flow generation flow path 32, and a communication portion 39 is formed between the left and right ends of the rib 38 and the side end of the swirl flow generation flow path 32. Has been. By the communication part 39, the adjacent swirl flow generating flow paths 32 in the fine bubble generating units 37a and 37b communicate with each other.

  Such a shower head 1 can discharge hot water containing many fine bubbles having a diameter of 50 μm or less from the sprinkling holes 31. The shower head 1 is connected to a water pipe such as a hose through which hot water passes and an inlet of the gas-liquid mixing unit. Hot water introduced into the second introduction flow path 12 of the gas-liquid mixing unit 11 through the water pipe is once pressurized when passing through the pressurizing unit 14 and then depressurized when passing through the decompression unit 16. Along with the decompression at this time, a gas such as air, oxygen, carbon dioxide, or ozone is sucked into the air passage of the gas introduction pipe. The sucked gas passes through the communication path and is mixed as bubbles in the hot water introduced into the second introduction flow path 12. As a result, hot and cold water is introduced into the first introduction flow path 7 from the outlet 15 of the second introduction flow path 12 through the inlet 8 as a gas-liquid mixed fluid.

  The hot water introduced into the first introduction channel 7 flows out from the outlet 9 and is introduced into the third introduction channel 25 through the inlet 26. When the hot water introduced into the third introduction flow channel 25 passes through the flow channel expansion portion 29, it flows outward along the inner surface of the flow channel expansion portion 29 and flows from the outlet 28 of the third introduction flow channel 25. It is introduced into the discharge flow path 4 through the inlet 36. Since the flow path expanding portion 29 is curved so that the inner surface spreads outward, the occurrence of turbulent flow such as vortex in the hot water flowing out from the outlet 28 is suppressed. Collisions between the bubbles accompanying the generation of turbulent flow are suppressed, and coalescence of the bubbles is suppressed.

  At the inlet 36 of the discharge flow path 4, the volume of hot water flowing into the discharge flow path 4 per unit time is equal to or less than the volume of hot water passing per unit time in the portion of the introduction flow path 30 excluding the flow path expansion portion 29. Since it has a cross-sectional area, hot water introduced into the discharge flow path 4 is pressurized. In the discharge flow path 4, since the cross-sectional area of the portion downstream from the inlet 36 is larger than the cross-sectional area of the inlet 36, the pressure is gradually reduced. As a result of the pressurization and decompression, the bubbles in the hot water are crushed and most of them become fine bubbles. As described above, since the generation of turbulent flow is suppressed in the hot water containing fine bubbles as described above, it flows almost radially toward the outer peripheral portion of the discharge flow path 4 and is introduced into the swirl flow generation flow path 32. Is done.

  When the hot water introduced into the swirl flow generation flow path 32 is introduced into the swirl flow generation flow path 32, it collides with the side end surface of the swirl flow generation flow path 32, and the flow is substantially perpendicular to the sprinkling hole 31 side. It can be bent. Therefore, a swirl flow is temporarily generated in the hot water introduced into the swirl flow generation flow path 32. However, this swirl flow is generated due to a difference in fluid action force between the flow of hot water toward the sprinkling hole 31 and the flow of hot water flowing into the swirl flow generation flow channel 32 from the discharge flow channel 4. Collapses soon due to shear force. The hot water may contain some large bubbles having a relatively large diameter, and these large bubbles are generally easily trapped at the center of the swirling flow. However, as the swirling flow collapses, the large bubbles are released from restraint and are crushed by the shearing force, so that they become fine bubbles. The refinement of the bubbles contained in the hot water is promoted by the swirling flow generated in the swirling flow generating channel 32 and its collapse, and hot water containing a large number of fine bubbles is generated.

  Hot water containing a large number of such fine bubbles is discharged to the outside of the shower head 1 through the water spray holes 31. Since the diameter of the fine bubbles is much smaller than the inner diameter of the water spray hole 31, it can easily pass through the water spray hole 31. Hot water containing many fine bubbles discharged from the shower head 1 has a high cleaning function and the like because the fine bubbles have a large specific surface area.

  As described above, the shower head 1 basically includes the head body 2 in which the introduction flow path 30 is provided and the gas-liquid mixing unit 11 is provided on the upstream side of the introduction flow path 30, and the plurality of water spray holes 31. And a water spray plate 3 in which a swirl flow generating flow channel 32 is recessed, and a discharge flow channel 4 formed between the head body 2 and the water spray plate 3. Therefore, the shower head 1 has a simplified configuration while promoting the production of hot water containing a large number of fine bubbles. The shower head 1 is considered promising as being versatile.

  Moreover, in the swirl flow generation flow path 32, when the length in the discharge direction toward the water sprinkling hole 31 is l and the length in the introduction direction orthogonal to the length l is d, there is a relationship of l <d. Therefore, the difference in the force acting on the hot water in the hot water sprinkling direction and the hot water introduction direction becomes large. Due to this difference in force, the shearing force due to the swirling flow generated in the swirling flow generating flow path 32 becomes larger, and the pulverization of the bubbles is further promoted and functions effectively for miniaturization. The hot water discharged from the sprinkling holes 31 is of a high quality with a higher density of fine bubbles. Moreover, shortening the length l in the direction of hot water spraying also contributes to the miniaturization of the shower head 1.

  In the shower head 1, each cross section in the length direction of the flow path expanding portion 29 of the introduction flow path 30, that is, a cross section perpendicular to the flowing direction of the hot water, the volume of hot water passing per unit time is Can have a cross-sectional area equal to. In the shower head 1 having such a flow path expanding portion 29, it is possible to suppress a decrease in flow rate when hot water passes through the flow path expanding portion 29, and as a result, collision between bubbles in the hot water is further suppressed. And the coalescence of bubbles is further suppressed. The expansion of bubbles and the accompanying decrease in the number of bubbles are suppressed.

  In the shower head 1, the two fine bubble generating units 37 a and 37 b formed by the discharge flow path 4 and the swirl flow generation flow path 32 are arranged side by side in the length direction of the head body 2. Hot water containing many bubbles can be sprinkled over a wide area. Moreover, since the adjacent swirl flow generating flow paths 32 in the fine bubble generating units 37a and 37b communicate with each other by the communication portion 39, the pressure difference between the fine bubble generating units 37a and 37b can be suppressed to a small value. . For this reason, the momentum of the hot water discharged from the sprinkling holes 31 and containing a large number of fine bubbles becomes uniform, and a high-quality shower can be realized.

  The shower head of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. There are various details such as the shape and configuration of the swirl flow generation flow channel, the configuration and arrangement position of the gas-liquid mixing unit, and the number of fine bubble generation units, including the shape and configuration of the head body, water spray plate, and discharge flow channel. Various embodiments are possible.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Shower head 2 Head main body 3 Sprinkling plate 4 Discharge flow path 11 Gas-liquid mixing part 29 Flow path expansion part 30 Introduction flow path 31 Sprinkling hole 32 Swirling flow generation flow path 36 Inlet of discharge flow path l Hot water in swirl flow generation flow path Discharge length d Introduction lengths 37, 37a, 37b in the swirl flow generation flow path Fine bubble generating unit 39

Claims (4)

A hot water introduction flow path is formed inside, and a gas-liquid mixing section is provided on the upstream side of the introduction flow path for sucking gas by decompression when hot water is introduced and mixing the sucked gas into the hot water as bubbles. The head body,
A water spray plate having a flat plate-like portion, wherein a plurality of water spray holes are formed through the flat plate portion in the thickness direction, and are arranged outside the outlet of the introduction flow path and attached to the head body. When,
A hot water discharge channel formed between the head body and the water spray plate and disposed in parallel to the water spray plate, and communicated with the introduction flow channel;
The introduction flow path has a flow path expansion portion whose cross-sectional area gradually expands toward the outlet on the outlet side thereof,
The discharge channel is disposed substantially orthogonal to the outlet side portion of the introduction channel, and the inlet of the discharge channel has a volume of hot water flowing into the discharge channel per unit time. Having a cross-sectional area equal to or less than the volume of hot water passing per unit time in a portion excluding the flow path enlarged portion of the path;
In the water spray plate, a swirl flow generation flow path for generating a swirl flow in the hot water is recessed upstream of the water spray hole, and the swirl flow generation flow path communicates with both the discharge flow path and the water spray hole. And arranged to spread outside the discharge flow path,
A shower head characterized in that a fine bubble generating unit is formed by the discharge flow path and the swirl flow generating flow path, and a plurality of the fine bubble generating units are provided side by side in the length direction of the head body. .   2. The shower head according to claim 1, wherein in two adjacent microbubble generating units, the adjacent swirl flow generation flow paths communicate with each other through a communication portion.   Each of the cross-sections in the length direction of the introduction channel has a cross-sectional area in which the volume of hot water passing per unit time is equal for each cross-section. Item 3. A showerhead according to item 1 or 2. The length of the hot water discharge direction toward the sprinkling hole is shorter than the length of the hot water introduction direction orthogonal to this length in the swirl flow generation flow path. A shower head according to claim 1.

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