JP6155972B2 - HEAT EXCHANGE UNIT AND HUMAN BODY LOCAL CLEANING DEVICE HAVING THE SAME - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a heat exchange unit for heating a fluid and a human body local cleaning device including the same.

  Such a heat exchange unit is described in Patent Document 1 below. A conventional heat exchange unit such as the heat exchange unit described in Patent Document 1 below has a stirring region that stirs a heated fluid and equalizes the temperature, and a flow detection region that detects the presence or absence of a flow separately. It was provided (away). Such a structure causes various problems such as an increase in the size of the entire unit, a complicated assembly, and an increase in the number of parts.

JP 2001-132061 A

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a heat exchanging unit that contributes to downsizing, facilitating assembly, and reducing the number of parts, and a human body local cleaning device including the same.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a heat exchange unit according to the present invention includes a main body portion in which a circulation space through which a fluid passes is formed, a heater disposed in the circulation space, and a fluid heated in the circulation space. The stirring region and the flow detection region include an outer wall surface of the main body and a lid fixed to the outer wall surface. It is formed between the two parts.

  The lid may be flat.

  The contact portion between the main body portion and the lid portion may be located on the same plane.

  It is good to provide the temperature detection means located in the said stirring area.

  The agitation region may be a flow path having a portion folded on the end side of the main body.

  The agitation region is connected to the circulation space, and a first flow path in which the fluid flows toward one end side of the main body portion, and a second flow in which the fluid flows back toward the other end side of the main body portion. A flow path and a third flow path that is folded from the second flow path so that the fluid flows toward one end of the main body and is connected to the flow detection area, and the flow detection area includes the first flow path and the third flow path. It is provided in a space between the folded portion between the second flow path and the folded portion between the second flow path and the third flow path.

  The flow detection region may be connected to an outlet that allows the fluid to flow toward the supply target.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a human body local cleaning device according to the present invention includes the above heat exchange unit and a cleaning nozzle that ejects cleaning water for cleaning the local part of the human body, and is heated by the heat exchange unit. Water is supplied to the cleaning nozzle as cleaning water.

  In the heat exchange unit according to the present invention and the human body local cleaning device including the heat exchange unit, the agitation region and the flow detection region are formed between the outer wall surface of the main body unit and one lid portion fixed to the outer wall surface. Yes. That is, since the stirring region and the flow detection region are formed using a part of the outer wall surface of the main body, the entire unit (device) can be reduced in size. In addition, since both regions can be formed by simply fixing one lid to the main body, assembly is facilitated and the number of parts is reduced.

  If the stirring region and the flow detection region are formed so that the lid portion has a flat plate shape, the entire unit (device) can be further reduced in size.

  If the contact part of the main body part and the lid part is located on the same plane, the process of joining both becomes easy. In particular, since the joining surface is flat, it becomes easy to join the two by welding such as ultrasonic welding.

  Temperature detection means can be provided in the stirring region. In particular, if temperature detection means is provided on the downstream side of the stirring region, the detection accuracy is improved.

  If the stirring region is a flow path having a portion that is folded back on the end side of the main body, the stirring region can be made compact.

  In this case, the first flow path where the stirring region flows toward one end side of the main body part, the second flow path which is folded back from the first flow path and flows toward the other end side of the main body part, and the second flow path A third flow path that is folded back from and flows toward one end of the main body, and the flow detection region is a folded portion between the first flow path and the second flow path, and the second flow path. If it is set as the structure provided in the space between the folded-back parts between 3rd flow paths, the structure including a stirring area | region and a flow detection area | region can be made compact.

  If an outflow port through which the fluid flows out toward the supply target is connected to the flow detection region, the entire unit (device) can be further reduced in size.

It is an external view of the heat exchange unit concerning one Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the heat exchange unit concerning one Embodiment of this invention (a lid for sensor fixation and an impeller are abbreviate | omitted). It is an external view of the heat exchange unit in the state in which the cover part is not being fixed to the main-body part. It is sectional drawing of the heat exchange unit in the state in which the cover part is not being fixed to the main-body part (an impeller is abbreviate | omitted). It is a top view of the cover part seen from the main-body part side. It is an external view of a heat exchange unit in the state where the lid for sensor fixation is not being fixed to the lid. 1 is an external view of a toilet seat to which a human body local cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. It is a block diagram for demonstrating the outline of the human body local cleaning apparatus concerning one Embodiment of this invention.

  A heat exchange unit 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. The heat exchange unit 1 according to the present embodiment whose appearance is shown in FIG. 1 includes a main body 10, a heater 20, a stirring region 30, a flow detection region 40, and a lid 50.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the main body 10 is a member in which a circulation space 11 through which a fluid passes is formed. The main body 10 in the present embodiment is integrally formed of a synthetic resin material. The distribution space 11 in the present embodiment is a substantially cylindrical space, and water is sent from the water source to the space. A cylindrical heater 20 is disposed in the circulation space 11. A flange portion 21 is provided on one end side (water source side) of the heater 20, and the flange portion 21 contacts one open end surface of the circulation space 11. A connection portion 22 is provided on the opposite side of the flange portion 21 to the side where the heater 20 is connected. The connection portion 22 and the flange portion 21 form a flow path that continues to the inside of the heater 20. A water supply hose (not shown) is directly or indirectly connected to the connection portion 22. The water sent from the water source flows into the heater 20 from the water supply hose through the flow path formed by the connecting portion 22 and the flange portion 21.

  The opening on the other end side of the circulation space 11 is blocked by a blocking member 113. There is a gap of a predetermined size between the end face on the other end side of the heater 20 and the face on the flow space 11 side of the sealing member 113. Moreover, the inner peripheral surface (cylindrical surface facing the circulation space 11) of the main body 10 is formed larger than the outer diameter of the heater 20, and the central axes thereof are substantially coincident. Therefore, there is a gap of a predetermined size between the outer peripheral surface of the heater 20 and the inner peripheral surface of the main body 10. An opening serving as the outlet 111 of the circulation space 11 is formed on one end side of the inner peripheral surface of the main body 10. The water that flows into the inside of the heater 20 passes through a gap between the other end surface of the heater 20 and the sealing member 113 and makes a U-turn so that the outer peripheral surface of the heater 20 and the inner peripheral surface of the main body 10 And flows out from the outlet 111 of the circulation space 11. Thus, the water sent from the water source is heated while passing through the inside and the outside of the cylindrical heater 20.

  A relay channel 112 is connected to the outlet 111 of the circulation space 11. The relay channel 112 is a channel that connects between the circulation space 11 and the stirring region 30. The relay flow path 112 in the present embodiment is a flow path that extends in a direction orthogonal to the central axis of the heater 20 that penetrates the outer wall of the main body 10 that constitutes the circulation space 11.

  The stirring region 30 is a configuration for making the temperature uniform by stirring the water heated by the heater 20. As shown in FIG. 3, the stirring region 30 in the present embodiment is a flow path along the outer wall surface 12 of the main body 10. The flow path is formed by a part of the outer wall surface 12 of the main body 10 being recessed. In this embodiment, the thickness of a part of the outer wall surface 12 is set to be larger than that of the other part, and a recess that becomes the stirring region 30 is formed in the thick part. The stirring region 30 includes a first flow path 31 connected to the circulation space 11 via the relay flow path 112, a second flow path 32 connected to the first flow path 31, and a third flow path 33 connected to the second flow path 32. . The end of the relay channel 112 is connected to the first channel 31 on the outer wall 12 side of the main body 10. The first flow path 31 that constitutes the most upstream flow path in the stirring region 30 is a flow path that extends from the inlet (a portion connected to the relay flow path 112) toward one end of the main body 10. That is, the first flow path 31 is a flow path in which the fluid flows toward one end side of the main body 10. The second flow path 32 located on the downstream side of the first flow path 31 is folded from the first flow path 31 on one end side of the main body portion 10 (hereinafter, the folded portion is referred to as a first folded portion 311). It is a flow path extending toward the other end side of the portion 10. That is, the second flow path 32 is a flow path in which the fluid flows toward the other end side of the main body 10. The third flow path 33 that is located on the downstream side of the second flow path 32 and constitutes the most downstream flow path in the stirring region 30 is folded back from the second flow path 32 on the other end side of the main body 10 (hereinafter referred to as “the second flow path 32”). The folded portion is referred to as a second folded portion 312), which is a flow path extending toward one end side of the main body portion 10. That is, the third flow path 33 is a flow path in which the fluid flows toward one end side of the main body 10. The outlet of the third flow path 33 is connected to a flow detection region 40 which will be described in detail later.

  The first flow path 31, the second flow path 32, and the third flow path 33 are parallel to each other, and are along the axial direction of the main body 10 (the direction along the flow of the fluid flowing through the circulation space 11; the same applies hereinafter). . The flow detection region 40 is provided in a space between the first folded portion 311 and the second folded portion 312. More specifically, the flow detection region 40 is provided in a space between the inlet of the first flow path 31 and the outlet of the third flow path 33. When viewed roughly, the second flow path 32 is positioned along the axial direction of the main body 10, and the first flow path 31, the third flow path 33, and the flow detection region are aligned along the second flow path 32. 40 is formed. Therefore, the dimensional relationship of each element in the axial direction of the main body 10 is “the length of the second flow path 32≈the length of the first flow path 31 + the length of the third flow path 33 + the length of the flow detection region 40. "

  Thus, the stirring region 30 in this embodiment is a flow path including a portion that is folded back so as to make two U-turns. In the folded portion, the flow of the fluid changes in the opposite direction, and the stirring action is exhibited due to the disturbance of the flow.

  A temperature detection means 60 is provided in the stirring region 30. Specifically, the temperature detection part (sensor part) of the temperature detection means 60 is provided so as to contact the fluid passing through the stirring region 30. The temperature detection means 60 in the present embodiment is provided so as to be located in the third flow path 33. That is, the temperature detection means 60 is provided in a flow channel located on the most downstream side among the flow channels constituting the stirring region 30. As described above, the stirring region 30 in the present embodiment expresses a large stirring action at two folded portions that are boundaries between the flow paths. Since the fluid passing through the third flow path 33 has passed through the two folded portions, the temperature is in a more uniform state. Therefore, the detection accuracy of the water temperature after heating by the temperature detection means 60 is high.

  In the present embodiment, the two temperature detection means 60 are provided so as to be positioned in the third flow path 33. One temperature detection means 60 is for measuring the temperature of the output water. Based on the temperature measured by the one temperature detecting means 60, the output of the heater 20 is controlled so that the temperature of the output water becomes a set temperature. The other temperature detection means 60 is for detecting whether abnormal heating has occurred. When the temperature measured by the temperature detection means 60 exceeds a predetermined threshold, the output of the heater 20 and the like is stopped. That is, the temperature detection means 60 constitutes a part of the safety device. In addition, it is good also as a structure which provided only the one temperature detection means 60 which has both these functions.

  The fluid that has passed through the third flow path 33 flows into the flow detection region 40. The flow detection area 40 in this embodiment is an area for detecting the flow rate of the fluid. The region is formed by a part of the outer wall surface 12 of the main body 10 being recessed. In the present embodiment, the thickness of a part of the outer wall surface 12 is set to be larger than that of other parts, and a depression that becomes the flow detection region 40 is formed in the thick part. The flow detection area 40 is a substantially cylindrical space, and an impeller 41 is accommodated inside the flow detection area 40. The impeller 41 is rotated by the fluid flowing into the flow detection region 40, and the flow rate of the fluid is detected by the amount of rotation. The flow detection area 40 may not be an area for detecting the flow rate. Simply, the presence or absence of a flow (whether there is a flow of a predetermined amount or more) may be detected. Further, the method for detecting the flow rate and the presence / absence of the flow is not limited to the method using the impeller 41.

  The flow detection region 40 is connected to an outlet 70 that allows heated water to flow out toward the supply target. That is, the flow detection region 40 is a portion located on the most downstream side in the water circuit constructed by the heat exchange unit 1. The outflow port 70 is a tip of a cylindrical portion that protrudes from a wall surface constituting the flow detection region 40 in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the main body 10 (direction perpendicular to the direction in which the fluid flows in the stirring region 30). . A pipe (not shown) is connected to the cylindrical portion, and water heated through the pipe is sent toward the supply target.

  Thus, in this embodiment, the stirring region 30 (the first flow path 31, the second flow path 32, and the third flow path 33) and the flow detection area 40 connected to the stirring area 30 are one of the outer wall surfaces 12 of the main body 10. The part is formed by recessing in a concave shape. The part which becomes the stirring area 30 and the flow detection area 40 in the main-body part 10 is an area | region opened toward the outer side. The opening is sealed by one lid part 50. Moreover, the periphery of the said opening is located on the same plane. In addition, the outflow port 70 (cylindrical part) mentioned above is located in the heater 20 side rather than the periphery of the said opening. That is, the lid 50 does not contribute to the configuration of the outlet 70.

  The lid 50 is a member that is integrally formed of a synthetic resin material. The portions that become the stirring region 30 and the flow detection region 40 are formed along the outer wall surface 12 of the main body 10, and since the peripheral edges of these openings are located on the same plane, the lid 50 is formed in a flat plate shape. Can do. Specifically, the lid 50 has a protruding portion 511 that protrudes toward the main body 10 and has a tip that comes into contact with the main body 10. (See FIG. 5), the opening-side surface 51 of the lid 50 can be a flat surface except for the protruding portion 511. The lid 50 is joined to the main body 10 to seal the opening. That is, the stirring region 30 and the flow detection region 40 are formed between the outer wall surface 12 of the main body 10 and the one lid portion 50 fixed to the outer wall surface 12. The stirring region 30 and the flow detection region 40 formed between the two have a flat shape (no step) along the outer wall surface 12 of the main body 10.

  In the present embodiment, the main body 10 and the lid 50 are joined by ultrasonic welding. It is preferable that at least one of the main body portion 10 and the lid portion 50 is previously formed with a protrusion (a portion that exhibits a bonding action) that melts by vibration when ultrasonic waves are applied, along the periphery of the opening. Since the periphery of the opening is located on the same plane, the contact portion between the main body 10 and the lid 50 is located on the same plane. Therefore, when the main body 10 and the lid 50 are joined, the energy transmitted to the contact portion of the main body 10 and the lid 50 (or the protrusion when the protrusion is formed) tends to be uniform. That is, the reliability of bonding by welding is improved.

  In addition, a space of a predetermined size is formed outside the portion of the lid 50 that covers the flow detection region 40. A sensor 52 for detecting the rotation amount of the impeller 41 is provided in the space. The space is sealed by a sensor fixing lid 53 that is fixed to the lid 50 (see FIGS. 1 and 6). The sensor 52 is a magnetic sensor that can detect a magnet fixed to the impeller 41.

  Thus, in the heat exchange unit 1 according to the present embodiment, the water that has entered the circulation space 11 and is heated by the heater 20 flows into the stirring region 30 via the relay flow path 112. Since the stirring region 30 is a flow path including a portion that is folded back so as to make a U-turn, the direction of the flow is changed by the folded portion, the heated water is stirred, and the temperature becomes uniform. The temperature of the water stirred by passing through the folded portion is measured by the temperature detection means 60 provided on the downstream side of the stirring region 30. Then, it enters the flow detection area 40 provided on the downstream side of the stirring area 30. Thereby, the impeller 41 in the flow detection area 40 rotates, and the flow rate of the flowing water is measured. The water that has entered the flow detection region 40 is sent to the supply target through the outlet 70.

  In the heat exchange unit 1 according to the present embodiment described above, the stirring region 30 and the flow detection region 40 are disposed between the outer wall surface 12 of the main body 10 and the one lid portion 50 fixed to the outer wall surface 12. Is formed. That is, since the stirring region 30 and the flow detection region 40 are formed using a part of the outer wall surface 12 of the main body 10, the entire unit can be reduced in size. In addition, since both regions can be formed by simply fixing one lid 50 to the main body 10, the assembly is facilitated and the number of parts is reduced.

  In particular, the heat exchange unit 1 according to the present embodiment includes the first flow path 31, the second flow path 32, and the third flow path 33, and the stirring region 30 is folded back so as to make a U-turn at the boundary of each flow path. The flow detection region 40 is more specifically a space between the first folded portion 311 and the second folded portion 312, and more specifically, the flow path of the aspect (including the first folded portion 311 and the second folded portion 312). Is installed in the space between the inlet of the first channel 31 and the outlet of the third channel 33. As described above, when viewed roughly, the second flow path 32 is positioned along the axial direction of the main body 10, and the first flow path 31 and the third flow path 33 are aligned along the second flow path 32. , And a flow detection region 40 is formed. That is, on the premise that the main body 10 in which the circulation space 11 in which the cylindrical heater 20 is arranged is formed has an elongated shape in the axial direction in order to increase the contact time between the heater 20 and the fluid, 30 is formed with a folded portion that provides a stirring action, and a flow detection region 40 is installed in a space between the first folded portion 311 and the second folded portion 312. In other words, the agitation region 30 and the flow detection region 40 are excellent in that they are arranged in a compact state using the outer wall surface 12 of the elongated main body 10. Since the stirring region 30 and the flow detection region 40 are in a collective state, the lid 50 that forms these regions together with the main body 10 can also be formed in a flat plate shape, and the entire unit becomes smaller. Furthermore, it is also possible to adopt an aspect advantageous for ultrasonic welding or the like in which the peripheral edge of the opening of the portion constituting the stirring region 30 and the flow detection region 40 in the main body 10 and the contact portion of the lid 50 are located on the same plane. it can.

  Hereinafter, a human body local cleaning device 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 7, the human body local cleaning device 2 is a device that is installed behind the toilet seat T and automatically cleans the local part of the human body. The human body local cleaning device 2 according to the present embodiment includes the heat exchange unit 1 and the cleaning nozzle 4 as schematically shown in FIG. The heat exchange unit 1 heats water supplied from a water source through the main valve 3 to a predetermined temperature. Specifically, the control means 6 of the human body local cleaning device 2 controls the heater 20 based on the temperature detected by the temperature detection means 60 so that the temperature of the output water becomes a predetermined temperature. The heated water is sent from the outlet 70 to the cleaning nozzle 4 through a pipe.

  The cleaning nozzle 4 is provided so as to be able to move back and forth between the original position and the cleaning position advanced by the nozzle driving device 5 controlled by the control means 6, and water (cleaning water) is supplied locally to the human body at the cleaning position. It spouts towards. Since the configuration of the cleaning nozzle 4 and the nozzle driving device 5 can be a known configuration, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described in detail, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment at all, A various change is possible in the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Heat exchange unit 10 Main-body part 11 Distribution space 12 Outer wall surface 20 Heater 30 Stirring area | region 31 1st flow path 32 2nd flow path 33 3rd flow path 311 1st folding | returning part 312 2nd folding | returning part 40 Flow detection area 41 Impeller 50 Lid 60 Temperature detecting means 70 Outlet 2 Human body local cleaning device 4 Cleaning nozzle

Claims (8)

A main body formed with a circulation space through which a fluid passes;
A heater disposed in the distribution space;
A stirring region for stirring the fluid heated in the circulation space;
A flow detection region for detecting the flow of fluid;
Have
The heat exchanging unit, wherein the agitation region and the flow detection region are formed between an outer wall surface of the main body and a lid portion fixed to the outer wall surface.   The heat exchange unit according to claim 1, wherein the lid portion has a flat plate shape.   The heat exchange unit according to claim 2, wherein a contact portion between the main body and the lid is located on the same plane.   The heat exchange unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a temperature detection unit located in the stirring region.   The heat exchanging unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the agitation region is a flow path having a portion folded on an end side of the main body. The stirring region is
A first flow path connected to the circulation space and flowing toward one end of the main body,
A second flow path that is folded from the first flow path and the fluid flows toward the other end of the main body,
A third flow path that is folded from the second flow path, flows toward one end of the main body, and is connected to the flow detection region;
Including
The flow detection region is a space between a folded part between the first flow path and the second flow path and a folded part between the second flow path and the third flow path. The heat exchange unit according to claim 5, wherein the heat exchange unit is provided.   The heat exchange unit according to claim 6, wherein the flow detection region is connected to an outlet through which a fluid flows out toward a supply target. The heat exchange unit according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
A cleaning nozzle that ejects cleaning water for cleaning the local part of the human body;
With
The human body local cleaning apparatus, wherein water heated by the heat exchange unit is supplied to the cleaning nozzle as cleaning water.

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