JP6364380B2 - Sterilizer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a sterilizer, and more particularly to an apparatus for sterilizing stored water.

  In water tanks installed on bathtubs, pools, rooftops of buildings and condominiums, etc., bacteria can propagate in the water and on the walls due to long-term use, and the sanitary condition of the stored water can deteriorate. Therefore, in order to maintain the sanitary state of the stored water, sterilization with chemicals or sterilization with ultraviolet light irradiation is performed. As an apparatus for sterilizing using ultraviolet light, an apparatus that is installed on a wall of a bathtub (for example, see Patent Document 1), an apparatus that is used by floating on the water in a bathtub (for example, see Patent Document 2), and the like. is there.

JP 2005-81227 A JP 2014-108372 A

  When it is necessary to work on the water tank to introduce the sterilizer, the water tank cannot be used during that time, which will hinder the lives of users of buildings and condominiums where the water tank is installed. An initial cost is incurred for refurbishment. There is a demand for a sterilization apparatus that can be easily introduced in a short time without performing construction or the like on an existing water tank.

  The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and one of exemplary purposes thereof is to provide a sterilization apparatus that can be easily installed.

  A sterilization apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes a motor having a rotation shaft, a flow path that is disposed on an outer periphery of the motor and extends in the axial direction of the rotation shaft, and is attached to the rotation shaft, and is rotated in the flow path in the axial direction. An impeller that emits UV light, a light emitting element that irradiates water flowing through the flow path with ultraviolet light, and a housing that houses the motor, the flow path, the impeller, and the light emitting element.

  According to this aspect, it is possible to provide a sterilizing apparatus that is installed in a water storage tank and sterilizes by taking in stored water and irradiating it with ultraviolet light. Moreover, the whole apparatus can be reduced in size by providing a flow path in the outer periphery of the motor extending in the axial direction. In addition, since a necessary configuration is accommodated inside the housing, the sterilizer can be easily installed.

  The flow path may be formed between the inner surface of the housing and the outer surface of the sleeve that covers the motor.

  The wall surface of the flow path may be made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).

  A plurality of light emitting elements may be provided along the flow path.

  The flow path may have an inlet and an outlet at positions separated in the axial direction. The light emitting element may be provided at at least one of the entrance and the exit so as to emit ultraviolet light in the axial direction.

  You may further provide the string-like member attached to the outer side of a housing | casing.

  You may further provide the power supply line which supplies electric power to a light emitting element and a motor from the outside. The power line may be fixed to the string member.

  You may further provide the hook for latching a part of string-like member in the position away from the housing | casing.

  According to the sterilization apparatus of the present invention, the apparatus can be easily installed.

It is sectional drawing which shows schematically the structure of the sterilizer which concerns on embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of a sterilizer roughly. It is a figure which shows roughly the sterilizer installed in the water tank. It is sectional drawing which shows schematically the structure of the sterilizer which concerns on a modification. It is sectional drawing which shows schematically the structure of the sterilizer which concerns on a modification. It is sectional drawing which shows schematically the structure of the sterilizer which concerns on a modification.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the description, the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and repeated descriptions are omitted as appropriate.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of a sterilizer 10 according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the configuration of the sterilizer 10, and shows a cross section taken along line AA and BB in FIG. 1. The sterilizer 10 rotates the impeller 40 by the motor 30 to generate an axially flowing water flow X2 in the flow channel 60, and irradiates the water flowing in the flow channel 60 with ultraviolet light from the light emitting element 50 to sterilize the water. To do.

  In this specification, the direction in which the rotating shaft 32 of the motor 30 extends may be referred to as the axial direction. In addition, a direction orthogonal to the axial direction may be referred to as a radial direction, and a direction surrounding the axial direction may be referred to as a circumferential direction. In addition, the expression regarding these directions does not necessarily mean that the sterilizer 10 is formed rotationally symmetrical with respect to the rotating shaft 32.

  The sterilizer 10 includes a housing 20, a motor 30, an impeller 40, a light emitting element 50, and a flow path 60.

  The housing 20 accommodates the motor 30, the impeller 40, the light emitting element 50, and the flow path 60 therein. The casing 20 is formed of a metal material such as aluminum or stainless steel, a resin material, or the like. The portion of the housing 20 that forms the wall surface of the flow path 60 is desirably made of a material that has a high reflectivity for ultraviolet light and that is less susceptible to deterioration by ultraviolet light. Examples of such a material include fluorine-based resins such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).

  The housing 20 includes a side surface portion 22, an upper surface portion 23, a lower surface portion 24, and a leg portion 25. The side surface portion 22 is a cylindrical member extending in the axial direction, for example, a cylindrical member as shown in FIG. The upper surface portion 23 is provided so as to close one end of the side surface portion 22, and the lower surface portion 24 and the leg portion 25 are provided so as to close the other end of the side surface portion 22. The lower surface portion 24 is provided with a water inlet 26 for taking water into the housing 20, and the upper surface portion 23 is provided with a drain port 27 for discharging sterilized water. The water inlet 26 is provided with a filter 28 for removing foreign substances, microorganisms, and the like contained in the water taken into the water inlet 26.

  The leg portion 25 has a bottom surface 25a that contacts the bottom wall of the water storage tank when the sterilizer 10 is installed in the water storage tank or the like. The leg portion 25 is formed thicker than the side surface portion 22, the upper surface portion 23, and the lower surface portion 24 so that the load of the sterilizer 10 can be supported. A step 25 b that is displaced in the axial direction is provided between the bottom surface 25 a and the bottom surface 24 of the leg portion 25. The leg portions 25 are provided only in a partial range in the circumferential direction, and are provided at, for example, four locations as shown in FIG. Thus, when the sterilizer 10 is installed, a gap is provided between the bottom wall of the water storage tank and the lower surface portion 24 so that water can be taken in from the water inlet 26.

  The motor 30 is disposed at the center of the housing 20 so that the axial direction of the rotation shaft 32 is along the length direction of the side surface portion 22. A rotating shaft 32 of the motor 30 is rotatably supported by a bearing portion 34 fixed to the housing 20. An oil seal 35 and a mechanical seal 36 are provided between the rotating shaft 32 and the bearing portion 34. A sleeve 38 fixed to the bearing portion 34 is provided on the outer periphery of the motor 30. The bearing portion 34, the oil seal 35, the mechanical seal 36, and the sleeve 38 are configured to prevent water from entering the space 39 in which the motor 30 is provided.

  The bearing portion 34 and the sleeve 38 are formed of a metal material such as aluminum or stainless steel or a resin material. Since the sleeve 38 constitutes a part of the wall surface of the flow path 60 and is disposed at a position facing the light emitting element 50, the sleeve 38 may be made of a material having high ultraviolet light reflectivity and little deterioration due to ultraviolet light. desirable. Therefore, it is preferable to form the sleeve 38 with a fluorine-based resin such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).

  The flow path 60 is provided between the inner surface of the housing 20 and the outer surfaces of the bearing portion 34 and the sleeve 38. Since the motor 30 and the bearing portion 34 are disposed in the central portion of the housing 20, the flow path 60 is provided in a region near the side surface portion 22 in the housing 20. The channel 60 extends in the axial direction along the side surface portion 22, has an inlet 62 in the vicinity of the lower surface portion 24, and has an outlet 64 in the vicinity of the upper surface portion 23.

  The light emitting element 50 is an LED (Light Emitting Diode) that emits ultraviolet light, and is an LED whose central wavelength or peak wavelength is included in the ultraviolet region of about 200 nm to 300 nm. It is preferable to use the light emitting element 50 that emits ultraviolet light around 260 nm, which is a wavelength with high sterilization efficiency. As such an ultraviolet light LED, for example, one using aluminum gallium nitride (AlGaN) is known.

  A plurality of light emitting elements 50 are provided along the flow path 60 and irradiate the water flowing through the flow path 60 with ultraviolet light. In the present embodiment, the plurality of light emitting elements 50 are attached to the inner surface of the side surface portion 22 and arranged side by side in the axial direction. The light emitting elements 50 are provided at a plurality of different positions in the circumferential direction. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the light emitting elements 50 are arranged at four positions shifted by 90 degrees in the circumferential direction.

A waterproof cover 52 is provided on the front surface of the light emitting element 50. The cover 52 is made of a material having a high transmittance of ultraviolet light emitted from the light emitting element 50, and is made of, for example, quartz (SiO ₂ ), sapphire (Al ₂ O ₃ ), an amorphous fluororesin material, or the like. The cover 52 may be partially provided at the position of the light emitting element 50 or may be provided so as to cover the entire inner surface of the side surface portion 22.

  The impeller 40 is attached to the tip of the rotating shaft 32 of the motor 30. In the present embodiment, the impeller 40 is provided in the vicinity of the water inlet 26. The impeller 40 generates a water flow that flows in the axial direction through the flow path 60 by rotation. As the impeller 40 rotates, the flow X1 from the water inlet 26 into the housing 20, the axial flow X2 from the inlet 62 to the outlet 64 of the flow path 60, and the flow X3 from the drain port 27 to the outside of the housing 20. Occurs.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing the sterilizer 10 installed in the water storage tank 90. The sterilizer 10 is provided in the underwater W of the water tank 90 so that the legs 25 are in contact with the bottom wall 92 of the water tank 90. The sterilizer 10 further includes a chain 70, a power line 72, and a hook 74. The chain 70 is a string-like member connected to the attachment portion 29 of the housing 20. The chain 70 can be used when the sterilizer 10 is thrown into the water tank 90 or when the sterilizer 10 is pulled up from the water tank 90.

  The power line 72 is a power line for supplying electric power to the motor 30 and the light emitting element 50 from the outside. The power supply line 72 is provided so as to run along the chain 70. The power line 72 may be partially fixed to the chain 70 or may be formed integrally with the chain 70. The hook 74 temporarily locks the chain 70 to prevent the chain 70 from falling into the water tank 90 during use of the sterilizer 10. The hook 74 is provided, for example, on a work window 94 for maintenance of the water storage tank 90 that is located away from the housing 20.

  With the above configuration, the sterilizer 10 rotates the impeller 40 by driving the motor 30 to take water into the housing 20 and sterilizes the taken water by irradiating it with ultraviolet light. The sterilized water is discharged out of the housing 20. By continuously operating the sterilizer 10, the water inside the water tank 90 in which the sterilizer 10 is installed is circulated through the sterilizer 10, and the entire water inside the water tank 90 is sterilized.

  According to the present embodiment, since the motor 30 is arranged in the center and the flow path 60 is provided so as to surround the outer periphery of the motor 30, the apparatus can be downsized. Moreover, since the structure necessary for irradiating the running water with ultraviolet light is accommodated in the housing 20, handling such as installation and removal can be facilitated. Further, since the plurality of light emitting elements 50 are arranged along the flow path 60 extending in the axial direction, the range of the flow path 60 that is irradiated with ultraviolet light is lengthened, and the sterilization ability by ultraviolet light irradiation is increased. Can do.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, by using a material such as PTFE having a high reflectivity of ultraviolet light as a member constituting the wall surface of the flow path 60 such as the housing 20 or the sleeve 38, the light from the light emitting element 50 can be used. Ultraviolet light can be reflected by the wall surface, and high-intensity ultraviolet light can be irradiated to the water in the flow path 60. Thereby, the disinfection ability by ultraviolet light irradiation can be improved. Further, by using a material such as PTFE that is less deteriorated by irradiation with ultraviolet light, deterioration of the casing 20 due to ultraviolet light from the light emitting element 50 can be prevented, and durability of the sterilizer 10 can be improved.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, by attaching a string-like member such as the chain 70 to the housing 20, the operation of putting the sterilizer 10 into the water tank 90 or taking it out of the water tank 90 is facilitated. be able to. Thereby, the time when the water supply etc. in a building cannot be used for the maintenance of the water tank 90 can be shortened, and the convenience of the user of the water tank 90 can be improved. Moreover, since the sterilizer 10 can be installed without refurbishing the water tank 90, the initial cost for introducing the sterilizer 10 can be reduced.

  Moreover, according to this Embodiment, the disinfection apparatus 10 can be operated continuously by providing the power wire 72 for supplying electric power from the outside. Further, by arranging the power supply line 72 along the chain 70, it is possible to prevent the connection portion of the power supply line 72 from being damaged due to the power supply line 72 being pulled when the sterilizer 10 is turned on or removed.

(Modification 1)
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a configuration of the sterilizer 10 according to the modification, and corresponds to a cross section taken along line BB in FIG. In the sterilization apparatus 10 according to this modification, the cross section along the line AA in FIG. 1 is the same as the cross section shown in FIG. In the present modification, the circumferential position where the light emitting element 50 is provided differs depending on the axial position. Specifically, the circumferential position of the light emitting element 50 at the position of the AA line cross section in FIG. 1 corresponds to the position of the leg portion 25, but is at the position of the BB line cross section. The position of the light emitting element 50 in the circumferential direction is shifted from the position of the leg 25 by 45 degrees. By disposing the light emitting element 50 in this way, the entire flow path 60 can be efficiently irradiated with ultraviolet light, and the sterilizing ability can be further improved.

(Modification 2)
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a configuration of the sterilization apparatus 10 according to the modification, and shows a cross section corresponding to FIG. 1 described above. This modification differs from the above-described embodiment in that the arrangement of the motor 30 and the impeller 40 is reversed in the axial direction. That is, the impeller 40 is provided near the drain port 27, and the motor 30 is provided on the water inlet 26 side. The impeller 40 generates a water flow that discharges water from the drain port 27. The light emitting element 50 is provided at a position facing the bearing portion 34. Also in this modification, the same effect as the above-described embodiment can be obtained. In a further modification, the light emitting element 50 may be provided at a position facing the sleeve 38.

(Modification 3)
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a configuration of the sterilization apparatus 10 according to the modification, and shows a cross section corresponding to FIG. 1 described above. In this modification, the light emitting element 50 is not provided on the inner surface of the side surface portion 22, and the first light emitting element 50 a provided at the inlet 62 of the flow path 60 and the second light emitting element 50 b provided at the outlet 64 of the flow path 60 are provided. It differs from the above-mentioned embodiment by the point provided.

  The 1st light emitting element 50a is attached to the inner surface of the leg part 25, and the 1st cover 52a is provided in the front surface. The first light emitting element 50 a is provided to emit ultraviolet light in the axial direction from the inlet 62 to the outlet 64 of the flow path 60. The 2nd light emitting element 50b is attached to the inner surface of the upper surface part 23, and the 2nd cover 52b is provided in the front surface. The second light emitting element 50 b is provided so as to emit ultraviolet light in the axial direction from the outlet 64 to the inlet 62 of the flow path 60.

  According to this modification, since the first light emitting element 50a and the second light emitting element 50b are provided so as to emit ultraviolet light in the axial direction in which the flow path 60 extends, the number of flow paths is smaller than that of the above-described embodiment. The entire 60 can be irradiated with ultraviolet light. In a further modification, both the first light emitting element 50a and the second light emitting element 50b may be provided without providing both the first light emitting element 50a and the second light emitting element 50b. Moreover, you may use in combination with the light emitting element 50 provided in the inner surface of the side part 22. FIG.

  In the above, this invention was demonstrated based on the Example. It is understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various design changes are possible, and various modifications are possible, and such modifications are within the scope of the present invention. It is a place.

  In the above-described embodiment, power is supplied from the outside through the power line 72. In a further modification, a battery may be accommodated in the housing 20 and the motor 30 and the light emitting element 50 may be driven by electric power supplied from the battery.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Sterilizer, 20 ... Housing, 30 ... Motor, 32 ... Rotating shaft, 40 ... Impeller, 50 ... Light emitting element, 60 ... Flow path, 62 ... Inlet, 64 ... Outlet, 72 ... Power line, 74 ... Hook.

Claims (7)

A motor having a rotating shaft;
A flow path disposed on the outer periphery of the motor and extending in the axial direction of the rotating shaft;
An impeller attached to the rotating shaft and generating the axial water flow in the flow path by rotation;
A light emitting element that irradiates water flowing through the flow path with ultraviolet light;
A housing that houses the motor, the flow path, the impeller, and the light emitting element ;
The sterilizing apparatus , wherein the flow path is formed between an inner surface of the casing and an outer surface of a sleeve covering the motor . The sterilizer according to claim 1 , wherein a wall surface of the flow path is made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).   The sterilizer according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the light emitting elements are provided along the flow path. The flow path has an inlet and an outlet at positions separated in the axial direction,
The said light emitting element is provided in at least one of the said entrance and the said exit so that an ultraviolet light may be emitted in the said axial direction, The sterilizer as described in any one of Claim 1 to 3 characterized by the above-mentioned.   The sterilizer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a string-like member attached to the outside of the casing. A power line for supplying electric power from the outside to the light emitting element and the motor;
6. The sterilizer according to claim 5 , wherein the power line is fixed to the string member. The sterilizer according to claim 5 or 6 , further comprising a hook for locking a part of the string-like member at a position away from the housing.

Images