JP6388397B2 - Disinfection and purification equipment - Google Patents

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to a sterilization purification apparatus.

  In recent years, for example, in a washing machine, it has been considered to include a sterilization and purification device in order to sterilize water supplied into a tub. As this type of sterilization and purification device, a device that sterilizes water with ultraviolet rays irradiated from an ultraviolet lamp is considered (for example, see Patent Document 1). By the way, when irradiating ultraviolet rays from an ultraviolet lamp, a high voltage is applied to the ultraviolet lamp. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent electric leakage from the ultraviolet lamp to water, and conventionally, measures for preventing electric leakage have been taken by covering the ultraviolet lamp with a protective tube made of resin. However, in this configuration, for example, when the protective tube is broken, it is not possible to prevent electric leakage.

JP 2013-193059 A

  The present embodiment provides a sterilization and purification device that can prevent electric shock to the user by preventing water from adhering to the ultraviolet lamp and preventing leakage from the ultraviolet lamp to water.

The sterilization and purification apparatus according to the embodiment includes an ultraviolet lamp, a water guide portion that allows water to pass through, a flange portion that projects to a side portion of the water guide portion, and an upper case to which the ultraviolet lamp is fixed. . The ultraviolet lamp and the water guide section are spaced apart from each other, and a shielding section that shields water is provided between the ultraviolet lamp and the water guide section. The ultraviolet lamp is provided above the water guide portion, and the water guide portion is fixed to the upper case at the flange portion, and a drain hole is provided at the lowermost portion of the flange portion. Yes.

The figure which shows schematic structure of the washing machine by embodiment. The perspective view of the sanitization purification apparatus by embodiment Top view of the sterilization and purification apparatus according to the embodiment Front view of the sterilization purification apparatus according to the embodiment Side view of the sterilization and purification apparatus according to the embodiment Vertical side view of a sterilization and purification apparatus according to an embodiment Longitudinal front view of the sterilization and purification apparatus according to the embodiment

  Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In the description of the embodiment, substantially the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. Embodiments will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7. In FIG. 1, the washing machine 1 is a so-called vertical-axis fully automatic washing machine, and its outer shell is composed of an outer box 2 and a top cover 3 mounted on the upper part of the outer box 2. A tank 4 is disposed in the outer box 2. The tank 4 includes a water tank 5 and a rotating tank 6 accommodated in the water tank 5.

  The water tank 5 is elastically suspended from the outer box 2 by an elastic suspension mechanism (not shown), and is configured to be able to store water. The rotating tub 6 accommodates laundry when washing is performed, and functions as a washing tub and a dewatering tub. The rotary tub 6 is configured to be rotatable about the bottom tub shaft 6a as a rotation axis. The tank shaft 6a has a through hole at the center. A plurality of dewatering holes (not shown) are formed in the peripheral wall portion of the rotating tub 6. A stirring body 7 is rotatably disposed at the bottom of the rotary tank 6.

  A drive mechanism 8 having a washing motor and a clutch is disposed on the outer bottom of the water tank 5. A rotating shaft 8a of a washing machine motor provided in the drive mechanism 8 passes through the tank shaft 6a, and the agitator 7 is attached to the tip of the rotating shaft 8a. The drive mechanism 8 is configured to be able to switch between a state in which the stirrer 7 is rotationally driven independently and a state in which the stirrer 7 and the rotary tub 6 are rotationally driven integrally by switching the clutch. A drain valve 11 is provided at a drain port 9 disposed at the bottom of the water tank 5 via a connecting pipe 10. A drain pipe 12 is connected to the drain valve 11. When the drain valve 11 is closed, water can be stored in the tank 4. In a state where the drain valve 11 is opened, water in the tank 4 is discharged from the drain port 9 through the drain pipe 12 to the outside of the apparatus.

  In the top cover 3, a water supply valve 14, a water injection case 15, a water absorption pump 16 for bath water absorption, a sterilization purification device 17 and the like are disposed. The water supply valve 14 includes a water inlet 19, a water supply outlet 20 and a priming water outlet 21 each serving as a water outlet. The water inlet 19 is connected to a water tap (not shown) through a water supply hose (not shown). The tip of the water supply outlet 20 is connected to the water injection case 15. The tip of the priming outlet 21 is branched into two, one branch is connected to the water injection case 15, and the other branch is connected to the priming inlet 23 of the suction pump 16 via the priming connection pipe 22. It is connected to the.

  A check valve 24 is provided in the middle of the priming connection pipe 22. The check valve 24 allows the flow of water from the priming outlet 21 to the priming inlet 23 side, but prevents the flow of water from the priming inlet 23 to the priming outlet 21 side. . The water injection case 15 is connected to the upper part of the water tank 5 through a water supply pipe 25.

  The water supply valve 14 can be switched between a water supply state, a priming water supply state, and a closed state. In the water supply state, the water supply outlet 20 is opened, and the tap water supplied from the tap is supplied into the tank 4 through the water injection case 15 and the water supply pipe 25.

  In the priming water supply state, the priming water outlet 21 is opened, and a part of the tap water is supplied to the water suction pump 16 through the priming water connecting pipe 22 as priming water. At this time, the remaining tap water is supplied into the tank 4 through the water injection case 15 and the water supply pipe 25. In the closed state, both the water supply outlet 20 and the priming water outlet 21 are closed, and the tap water is not supplied to either the tank 4 or the water absorption pump 16, and the water supply is stopped.

  The water absorption pump 16 has a function of pumping up bath water (water) 27a stored in a bathtub 27 which is an external water storage source, and uses a pump motor as a drive source. The water absorption pump 16 includes a water inlet 28, a water outlet 29, and a priming inlet 23. One end of a bath water hose 30 is connected to the water inlet 28. A water absorption part 31 is provided at the other end of the bath water hose 30, and the water absorption part 31 is submerged in the bath water 27 a of the bathtub 27. When the water absorption pump 16 is driven, the bath water 27 a in the bathtub 27 is sucked up from the water absorption portion 31 to the water absorption pump 16 side through the bath water hose 30, and the sucked bath water 27 a is discharged from the water outlet 29. . A water outlet 29 of the water absorption pump 16 is connected to a water inlet 34 of the sterilization and purification device 17 through a connecting pipe 33.

  The sterilization and purification device 17 is provided with a water outlet 36. One end of a connection hose 37 is connected to the water outlet 36. The other end of the connection hose 37 is connected to the water injection case 15. When the water absorption pump 16 is driven and the bath water 27a in the bathtub 27 is discharged from the outlet 29 to the connecting pipe 33 side, the bath water 27a is discharged from the inlet 34 in the sterilization purification device 17 to the sterilization purification device 17. Water is passed inside. At this time, the bath water 27a is sterilized and purified as will be described in detail later. From the water outlet 36, the sterilized and purified bath water 27a is discharged to the water injection case 15 side. The bath water 27 a discharged to the water injection case 15 side is supplied into the tank 4 through the water supply pipe 25.

  Next, the configuration of the sterilization and purification device 17 will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following description, for convenience of explanation, an XYZ orthogonal coordinate system may be used. In this coordinate system, the longitudinal direction of the sterilization purification device 17 is the X direction, the short direction is the Y direction, and the direction orthogonal to both the X direction and the Y direction is the Z direction. When the washing machine 1 is installed in use, the downward direction in the Z direction indicates the direction of gravity (the direction in which an object falls due to gravity, the lower direction).

  2 is an example of a perspective view of the sterilization purification apparatus according to the embodiment, FIG. 3 is an example of a top view (viewed from the upper side in the Z direction), FIG. 4 is an example of a front view (viewed from the Y direction), FIG. 5 shows an example of a side view (viewed from the X direction). 6 shows an example of a longitudinal side view taken along line AA in FIGS. 3 and 4, and FIG. 7 shows an example of a longitudinal front view taken along line BB in FIGS.

  The sterilizing and purifying device 17 includes an upper case 44 and a water guiding case (water guiding portion) 54. The water guiding case 54 has a longitudinal direction in the X direction and has a substantially box shape (or a substantially U-shaped cross section) with an open top. The water guiding case 54 has a flange portion 52 that protrudes to the side thereof, and is fixed to the upper case 44 at the flange portion 52. In this case, the flange portion 52 is formed in a step shape that is higher on the outer side than on the inner side, and the upper case 44 is fixed to the outer portion of the flange portion 52.

  A water guide case cover 50 is welded and fixed to the upper part of the water guide case 54. As the welding method, for example, a vibration welding method, a hot plate welding method, or the like can be used. The upper portion of the water guiding case 54 is covered with a water guiding case cover (lid portion) 50 and closed in a watertight manner. A connecting pipe 33 and a connecting hose 37 are connected to the lower part of the water guiding case 54.

  The upper case 44 has a substantially box shape having a longitudinal direction in the X direction and an open lower part. The upper case 44 and the water guiding case 54 are integrally connected by being screwed and fixed by a screw 60 at the flange portion 52 in a state of being arranged facing each other in the Z direction (vertical direction). An internal space 66 is formed by the upper case 44 and the water guiding case 54. A power line 64 is disposed on the upper case 44. The power line 64 is inserted into the upper case 44 and connected to the ultraviolet lamp 40. The connection pipe 33 is connected to one end portion in the X direction on the lower surface of the water guiding case 54, and the connection hose 37 is connected to the other end portion.

  An ultraviolet lamp 40 is disposed in the upper part inside the upper case 44. The ultraviolet lamp 40 irradiates ultraviolet rays for sterilization and has a glass tube. At both ends of the ultraviolet lamp 40 in the longitudinal direction, a power feeding unit 65 is provided. The ultraviolet lamp 40 is fixed to the upper lower surface of the upper case 44 by a fixing member 42. A power supply line 64 inserted from the outside of the upper case 44 is connected to the power supply unit 65 so that power can be supplied to the ultraviolet lamp 40.

  The upper case 44 is provided with a waterproof member (shielding portion) 48 so as to cover the ultraviolet lamp 40 installed on the lower surface of the upper case. The waterproof member 48 has a substantially box shape with an open top, and is fixed to the upper case 44 with a screw 60 at an end thereof. The waterproof member 48 is made of a material that is permeable to ultraviolet rays. Examples of the material having transparency to ultraviolet rays include PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), PC (polycarbonate), PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate), and PET (polyethylene terephthalate). Since the waterproof member 48 is formed of a material that is permeable to ultraviolet rays, the ultraviolet rays irradiated from the ultraviolet lamp 40 pass through the waterproof member 48 and reach the water guiding case cover 50 and the water guiding case 54.

  The waterproof member 48 has a protruding portion 61b that protrudes upward along the outer periphery of the upper portion. The upper case 44 has a groove 61a at a location along the outer periphery of the ultraviolet lamp 40 arrangement portion. The protrusion 61b of the waterproof member 48 is fixed in a state of being inserted into the groove 61a. A packing material 62 is sandwiched between the groove 61a and the protrusion 61b. Thereby, the space 63 formed by the waterproof member 48 and the upper case 44 is configured to be watertightly closed, and water can be prevented from entering the space 63.

  The water guiding case cover 50 is made of a material that is transparent to ultraviolet rays. Examples of the material having transparency to ultraviolet rays include PTFE, PC, PMMA, and PET. Since the waterproof member 48 and the water guiding case cover 50 are made of a material that is permeable to ultraviolet light, the ultraviolet light irradiated from the ultraviolet lamp 40 passes through the waterproof member 48 and the water guiding case cover 50 and passes through the water guiding case 54. Irradiated inside. The bath water 27 a supplied from the bathtub 27 through the connection pipe 33 is sterilized by the ultraviolet rays irradiated from the ultraviolet lamp 40 while passing through the water guide case 54, and is discharged to the connection hose 37. Thereby, the bath water 27a can be sterilized and purified.

  The water guiding case 54 is arranged in the downward direction when viewed from the ultraviolet lamp 40. Further, the water guiding case 54 and the ultraviolet lamp 40 are separated in the vertical direction, and an internal space 66 is formed therebetween. According to this configuration, even if the water guiding case cover 50 is damaged, the water guiding case 54 and the ultraviolet lamp 40 are spaced apart from each other, so that water does not immediately adhere to the ultraviolet lamp 40. It is possible to avoid the occurrence of electric leakage. Further, since the ultraviolet lamp 40 is arranged so as to be located above the water guiding case 54, even if it leaks from the water guiding case 54, water falls according to gravity and does not fall on the ultraviolet lamp 40. Therefore, it is possible to prevent electric leakage due to water adhering to the ultraviolet lamp 40, and it is possible to avoid electric shock of the user due to electric leakage.

  Further, a waterproof member 48 is provided between the water guiding case 54 and the ultraviolet lamp 40. According to this configuration, even if the water guiding case cover 50 is damaged and the bath water 27a in the water guiding case 54 is ejected vigorously, the waterproofing provided between the water guiding case cover 50 and the ultraviolet lamp 40 is provided. The member 48 can shield the bath water 27 a ejected from the water guiding case 54. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the bath water 27a spouted from the water guiding case 54 from adhering to the ultraviolet lamp 40, and it is possible to prevent the user from receiving an electric shock due to leakage.

  Further, the waterproof member 48 is fixed to the upper case 44 so that the space 63 is closed in a watertight manner. That is, the ultraviolet lamp 40 arranged in the space 63 formed by the waterproof member 48 and the upper case 44 is isolated from the internal space 66 so as to be watertight. According to this configuration, even when the water guiding case cover 50 is damaged and the interior space 66 is filled with water for some reason, the bath water 27a enters the space 63, and the ultraviolet lamp 40 is It is possible to avoid being submerged. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the bath water 27a spouted from the water guiding case 54 from adhering to the ultraviolet lamp 40, and it is possible to prevent the user from receiving an electric shock due to leakage.

  The flange portion 52 is provided with a water drain hole 58. The drain hole 58 is desirably provided at the lowest position (lowermost portion) of the flange portion 52 in order to discharge water in the internal space 66. Therefore, in this embodiment, the drain hole 58 is provided in the inner part which is the lowest part among the flange parts 52. By providing the drain hole 58, for example, when the water guide case cover 50 is damaged, it is possible to discharge the water leaked into the internal space 66 from the internal space 66 to the outside. If the drain hole 58 is provided in the lowermost part of the flange part 52, water can be drained efficiently without remaining water in the flange part 52. As a result, it is possible to prevent water from accumulating in the internal space 66, and it is possible to prevent the waterproofing member 48 and thus the ultraviolet lamp 40 from being submerged by filling the internal space 66 with water. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the bath water 27a from adhering to the ultraviolet lamp 40, and it is possible to more effectively avoid the user's electric shock due to the occurrence of electric leakage from the ultraviolet lamp 40.

  A reflection portion 46 is provided on the inner wall of the upper case 44. The reflector 46 is made of a material that can reflect ultraviolet rays, and functions as an ultraviolet reflector. As the reflecting portion 46, for example, stainless steel, aluminum, or the like can be used, and the reflecting portion 46 can be formed by, for example, an in-mold integral molding method. The reflection part 46 reflects the ultraviolet light emitted from the ultraviolet lamp 40, and the ultraviolet light directed toward the water guiding case 54 increases. Thereby, the disinfection and purification effect of the bath water 27a flowing in the water guiding case 54 can be improved.

  A reflection portion 56 is formed on the inner wall of the water guiding case 54. The reflection portion 56 is made of a material that can reflect ultraviolet rays, and functions as an ultraviolet reflection portion. As the reflecting portion 56, for example, stainless steel, aluminum or the like can be used, and for example, it can be formed by an in-mold integral molding method. Since the ultraviolet light irradiated from the ultraviolet lamp 40 is reflected by the reflecting portion 56, the ultraviolet light irradiated to the bath water 27 a passing through the water guiding case 54 increases. Therefore, the disinfection / purification effect of the bath water 27a can be improved.

  Further, the reflection portion 56 may be disposed on the outer wall side of the water guiding case 54. In this case, a material having transparency to ultraviolet rays is used for the water guiding case 54. Since the water guiding case 54 is permeable to ultraviolet rays, the ultraviolet rays are reflected by the reflecting portion 56 and are irradiated again toward the inside of the water guiding case 54. As a result, the amount of ultraviolet rays irradiated to the bath water 27a passing through the water guiding case 54 increases. For this reason, the sterilization / purification effect of the bath water 27a can be improved, and since the reflecting portion 56 does not directly touch the bath water 27a, corrosion and dirt on the reflecting surface can be prevented, and the reflecting ability can be maintained for a long time. Can do.

  Further, as described above, the sterilization and purification device 17 can be configured as an integral unit in which the upper case 44 and the water guiding case 54 are fixed. With this configuration, convenience at the time of assembling or servicing the sterilization and purification device 17 is improved.

(Other embodiments)
In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the washing machine is applied to the vertical washing machine 1 has been described as an example. It can also be applied to machines.

  Moreover, in embodiment mentioned above, although the example which utilizes the bath water 27a stored in the bathtub 27 which is an external water storage source as washing | cleaning water was illustrated and demonstrated, it is not restricted to this, For example, it stores in a rainwater tank. Rain water may be used.

  Further, the water guiding case 54 is not limited to a box shape, and may have any shape as long as water can be passed through the inside and can be irradiated with ultraviolet rays from the outside. .

  As described above, the sterilization and purification apparatus according to the present embodiment includes the ultraviolet lamp 40 and the water guiding case (water guiding portion) 54 that allows water to pass therethrough. The ultraviolet lamp 40 and the water guiding case 54 are spaced apart from each other, and a waterproof member (shielding portion) 48 that shields water is provided between the ultraviolet lamp 40 and the water guiding case 54. According to this configuration, it is possible to avoid electric shock to the user by preventing water from adhering to the ultraviolet lamp and preventing leakage from the ultraviolet lamp to water.

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

    In the drawings, 1 is a washing machine, 17 is a sterilizing and purifying device, 40 is an ultraviolet lamp, 44 is an upper case, 46 and 56 are reflection portions (ultraviolet reflection portions), 48 is a waterproof member (shielding portion), and 50 is a water conducting case. A cover (lid portion), 52 is a flange portion, 54 is a water guide case (water guide portion), and 58 is a drain hole.

Claims (5)

With UV lamp,
A water-conveying section capable of passing water inside,
A flange portion projecting from a side portion of the water guide portion;
An upper case to which the ultraviolet lamp is fixed;
Have
The ultraviolet lamp and the water guide are spaced apart from each other,
Between the ultraviolet lamp and the water guide portion have a shielding unit for shielding the water,
The ultraviolet lamp is provided above the water guide portion,
The water guide portion is fixed to the upper case at the flange portion,
A sterilization and purification device in which a drainage hole is provided at a lowermost portion of the flange portion . The shielding section sterilization purification device according to claim 1, further comprising a transparent to ultraviolet radiation. Furthermore, it has a lid portion for watertightly closing the water guide portion,
The lid has transparency to ultraviolet light;
The sterilizing and purifying apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the water guiding portion has an ultraviolet reflecting portion. Before SL upper case sterilization purification device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 having an ultraviolet reflective part. The sterilizing and purifying apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the water guiding section and the upper case are fixed and configured as an integral unit.

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