JP6688571B2 - Water softener - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a water softening device that removes hardness components of raw water such as tap water to soften the water.

Generally, a cation exchange resin is used for softening tap water. Since the exchange capacity of the cation exchange resin decreases with continued use, regeneration water (for example, salt water) is passed through the cation exchange resin for regeneration.
The water softening device provided with a cation exchange resin becomes large in size when the capacity of the cation exchange resin is increased, but the cation exchange resin is regenerated less frequently. On the other hand, when the capacity of the cation exchange resin is reduced, the apparatus is downsized, but the cation exchange resin is regenerated more frequently.

  The softened water has the effect of suppressing the generation of “soap residue,” which is generated by combining the soap and the hardness component, by removing the hardness component. Further, along with this, effects such as "reducing stains around water", "reducing usage of soap and shampoo", and "friendly to hair and skin" are known.

  Conventional water softeners are relatively large for household use, have a cation exchange resin capacity of around 10 L, and have the ability to soften the entire water around a detached house (for detached houses) and cations. There is one (for shower) having a capacity of about 5 L of exchange resin and having the ability to branch from a mixed faucet in a bathroom to soften the shower.

Although the water softening device for detached houses controls the regeneration automatically, it is expensive and is used for users who have serious skin problems such as atopy and sensitive skin. On the other hand, although the water softening device for a shower is relatively inexpensive, the user needs to perform a complicated valve operation in order to perform the regenerating operation. Further, the conventional water softening device for a shower has a problem that it has a tank-like appearance and is uncomfortable in the bathroom. Further, the capacity of the cation exchange resin of about 5 L was too large in the bathroom, and the shower had a bad momentum in the winter.
As described above, while many advantages have been recognized for soft water, the water softener has both advantages and disadvantages for both detached houses and showers, and has not spread in Japan.

  As a water softening device for a shower, the techniques described in the following Patent Documents 1 to 3 for the purpose of simplification, automation of regeneration, and size reduction are disclosed.

JP, 2009-90202, A JP, 2002-28646, A JP, 2003-71441, A

The technique of Patent Document 1 is a technique of providing a simple type water softener having a relatively long regeneration cycle (regeneration frequency is low). Therefore, a plurality of round bars are provided in the main body container to soften water. It is intended to prevent the generation of "waterways" that do not contribute. According to the technique shown in Example 1, the capacity of the main body container is 4.1 L, but the capacity of the cation exchange resin, the regeneration method, the appearance, etc. are not specifically disclosed. Further, assuming that the capacity of the cation exchange resin is 4 L, the obtained soft water amount has a theoretical value of 2000 L when the raw water hardness is 80 mg / L. In the disclosed example, when the flow rate is 0.58 m ^{3 /} h (9.6 L / min), the water passage time for obtaining soft water is 15 hr, which is 8640 L when converted to the amount of soft water. It is very different from the theoretical value.

  The technique described in Patent Document 2 is an apparatus equipped with an automatic regeneration valve, and the regeneration is automated by using the valve with an electrical means. In this technique, the salt water tank is a separate body, and it is open to the atmosphere, which tends to be unsanitary. In addition, the valve is complicated and the cost tends to increase. When installing in a bathroom, it is necessary to take measures against electric means, such as electric shock prevention.

  The technique described in Patent Document 3 is a device that manually switches a plurality of valves to repeat water softening and regeneration, but its operation is complicated and troublesome. Moreover, the ion exchange resin container, the valve, and the salt water container are exposed and the appearance is not considered.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a water softening device for shower use, which has a narrowed down function, is compact and has an excellent design, and has a high regeneration frequency, but is easy to operate and inexpensive. Another object of the present invention is to provide a water softening device for a shower, which has a small pressure loss and can secure a suitable amount of soft water.

The present invention has the following configurations as means for solving the above problems.
(1) The water softening device of the present invention is provided on an ion exchange resin part having a cation exchange resin that softens water, a tank that stores the ion exchange resin part, and a downstream side of the cation exchange resin. A water inlet for supplying water to the tank, and a water outlet provided upstream of the cation exchange resin for discharging soft water from the tank to the outside. A water softening device that is used while repeatedly regenerating resin, and a regenerant inlet for introducing a regenerant that regenerates the ion exchange capacity of the cation exchange resin into the tank, and for draining the regenerant. And a drainage port of the regenerant liquid injection port is located above the cation exchange resin and on the upper surface side of the tank, and the drainage port is below the cation exchange resin and Of the tank Located on the bottom side of the surface, the drainage port is provided with a part of the drainage port located below the bottom face of the internal space of the tank, and the upper chamber and the lower chamber that are vertically partitioned by a partition wall inside the drainage port. A drainage chamber having a chamber is provided, the ion exchange resin portion includes mesh members on the upstream side and the downstream side of the cation exchange resin, and the capacity of the cation exchange resin is the upstream mesh member and the mesh member. It is 90% or more of the volume between the mesh members on the downstream side, and the cation exchange resin is a granule type in which the particle size distribution of 150 to 355 μm is 95% or more. After the regeneration, the water flow rate is 10 L / min, and when the hardness of the raw water is 60 to 80 mg / L, 400 L of water having a hardness of 0 to 20 mg / L can be sampled.
(2) In the present invention, the pressure loss is preferably 0.05 MPa or less when the flow rate of water passing through the ion exchange resin part is 10 L / min .

  According to the water softener according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a compact water softener that can secure the amount of water used for one day of showering even in an area where tap water having a relatively high hardness is used. Further, the volume of the tank and the ion-exchange resin portion is set to be small and the pressure loss is kept low, so that the usability of the shower is not impaired when it is installed in the bathroom or the shower room.

Sectional drawing of the water softening apparatus of embodiment. The external appearance perspective view of the front side of the water softener of an embodiment. 1 is an external perspective view of a back side of a water softening device according to an embodiment. The external appearance perspective view of the state which removed the front cover of the water softener of an embodiment. FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the water softening device of the embodiment with each cap removed. The bathroom installation figure of the water softener of embodiment. The external appearance perspective view of the fixed unit of the water softener of an embodiment. Sectional drawing of the fixed unit of the water softener of embodiment. FIG. 9 (a) is a diagram showing a regenerant sealed in a sachet, and FIG. 9 (b) is a diagram showing a regenerant prepared by dissolving the regenerant. It is a figure which shows a mode.

Hereinafter, a water softening device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The scope of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments, and can be arbitrarily changed within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention. Further, in the following drawings, in order to make each configuration easy to understand, the scale and the number of each structure may be different from the actual structure.

<Water softener>
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a water softening device 1 according to the first embodiment. 2 and 3 are perspective views of the water softening device 1.
The water softening device 1 includes a tank 5 having an upper tank 5a and a lower tank 5b, an ion exchange resin part 3 housed inside the tank 5, and a water inlet part 6 for supplying water to the inside of the tank 5. An inlet joint 11 connected to the water inlet portion 6, a water outlet portion 7 for causing water to flow out from the inside of the tank 5 to the outside, an outlet joint 14 connected to the water outlet portion 7, and the tank 5. And a casing member 19 for covering.
The inside of the tank 5 serves as a water flow path for water softening. The water to be softened flows into the inside of the tank 5 from the water inlet 6 on the lower side of the tank 5, passes through the ion exchange resin part 3, and flows out to the outside from the water outlet 7 on the upper side of the tank 5. .

In addition, the water softening device 1 discharges the regenerating liquid, a regenerating liquid charging port 8 for charging the regenerating liquid into the tank 5, a removable cap member 16 for the charging port that covers the regenerating liquid charging port 8. A drainage port 9 and a drainage port cap member 18 that covers the drainage port 9 and is detachable. The regeneration liquid regenerates the ion exchange capacity of the cation exchange resin.
Hereinafter, each part will be described in detail.

<Ion exchange resin part>
The ion exchange resin part 3 includes a cation exchange resin 2 that softens water, and a case member 4 that forms the cation exchange resin 2 in an internal space. Note that, in FIG. 1, the cation exchange resin 2 is illustrated only partially, and is different from the actual stored state. The actual cation exchange resin 2 is particulate and fills 90% or more of the internal space of the case member 4.

The cation exchange resin 2 removes calcium ions (Ca ²⁺ ) and magnesium ions (Mg ²⁺ ) in tap water. As an example, in the matrix of the cation exchange resin 2, Na ^+, which is a cation, is bonded to an anion (R—SO ₃ ⁻ ) at an initial stage. When tap water is introduced into the cation exchange resin, ion exchange starts, Ca ²⁺ and Mg ²⁺ are adsorbed by the cation exchange resin 2, and Na ⁺ is released instead. As a result, the hardness components Ca ²⁺ and Mg ²⁺ are removed and the water is softened.

Further, since the cation exchange resin 2 has a reduced exchange capacity with continued use, it is regenerated by passing regenerated water (for example, salt water). The ion exchange capacity of the cation exchange resin 2 is reversed when, for example, salt water having a high concentration of 5 to 20% is passed, Na ⁺ is adsorbed on the cation exchange resin 2, and instead Ca ²⁺ and Mg ²⁺ are ^added. Is released. As a result, the cation exchange resin 2 is restored to the initial state and the cation exchange function is regenerated. The water softening device 1 of this embodiment is used by repeating water softening and regeneration in this way.

  The case member 4 houses the cation exchange resin 2. The case member 4 is housed in the tank 5 and fixed in the middle of the tank 5 in the vertical direction. Therefore, inside the tank 5, storage spaces 5d and 5e are formed above and below the case member 4. The case member 4 has a box-shaped body 4d that opens upward and a lid 4c that covers the opening of the box-shaped body 4d. The joint surface between the lid 4c and the box-shaped body 4d is welded and fixed so that the cation exchange resin 2 does not flow out. The side wall 4e of the box-shaped body 4d is in contact with the inner surface of the tank 5. Mesh members 4a and 4b are formed on the entire surface of the lid body 4c and the bottom surface of the box-shaped body 4d. The mesh members 4a and 4b are made of polyester, for example, and have a wire diameter of 45 μm and an opening size of 96 μm.

  Water flowing from the lower side to the upper side in the tank 5 passes through the mesh member 4 a on the bottom surface of the case member 4 and flows into the inside of the case member 4. This water comes into contact with the cation exchange resin 2 inside the case member 4 to be softened. Further, this water passes through the mesh member 4b of the lid 4c of the case member 4 and flows out of the case member 4.

  The capacity of the cation exchange resin 2 is preferably 90% or more of the volume between the mesh members 4a and 4b (that is, the volume inside the case member 4). The cation exchange resin 2 of this embodiment is accommodated in a fixed bed in which the cation exchange resin 2 hardly flows due to the passage of water. Therefore, the capacity of the cation exchange resin 2 can be set to 90% or more of the capacity of the case member 4, and the capacity of the tank 5 with respect to the capacity of the cation exchange resin 2 can be minimized. That is, the compact water softening device 1 can be provided.

  Further, as the cation exchange resin 2, it is preferable to use a fine particle type having a particle size distribution of 150 μm or more and 355 μm or less and 95% or more. Generally, the cation exchange resin 2 having a particle size of 300 to 1180 μm is appropriately blended. When the particle size of the cation exchange resin 2 is large, the ion exchange performance deteriorates when the flow rate of water passing through is large. On the other hand, when the particle size of the cation exchange resin 2 is small, the ion exchange performance can be improved even when the flow rate of water passing therethrough is large. The ion exchange resin part 3 of the present embodiment can improve the ion exchange performance by selecting the fine particle type cation exchange resin 2.

<Tank>
The tank 5 has a box-shaped upper tank 5a that opens to the lower side and a box-shaped lower tank 5b that opens to the upper side, and a two-part structure in which the openings are overlapped and fixed to form an internal space. Is. Edges are formed at the peripheral edges of the openings of the upper tank 5a and the lower tank 5b. The lower tank 5b is provided with an inner step portion 5c below the middle of the vertical direction, and the case member 4 is mounted on the inner step portion 5c. The outer peripheral surface of the case member 4 is fitted to the inner peripheral surface of the lower tank 5b. Further, the edge of the lid 4c of the case member 4 is covered with the edge of the upper tank 5a via the packing 10. Further, the edges of the upper tank 5a and the lower tank 5b are fixed to each other by welding so that water does not leak. Since the packing 10 is provided between the upper tank 5a and the case member 4, the entire amount of water passing through the tank 5 from the lower side to the upper side is inside the case member 4 (that is, cation exchange). Resin 2).
A storage space 5e is formed between the bottom of the case member 4 and the bottom wall 5f of the lower tank 5b. A storage space 5d is formed between the upper surface wall 5g of the upper tank 5a and the lid 4c of the case member 4.

  The tank 5 serves as a passage for water and also functions as a water storage portion in the flow path for softening water by the ion exchange resin portion 3. For this reason, there is a time lag between the time when the water starts to flow into the tank 5 and the time when the tank 5 is filled with water and the water does not flow out from the water outlet 7. In order to reduce the time difference, it is preferable to reduce the volume of the tank 5. When a shower of 10 L / min is used, a time difference of 12 seconds occurs in a volume of 2 L, 18 seconds in 3 L, and 24 seconds in 4 L. The volume of the tank 5 is preferably 2 L or less and the time difference is preferably 12 seconds or less.

<Water inlet, inlet joint>
The water inlet portion 6 is provided below the ion exchange resin portion 3 and on the lower portion of the side surface of the tank 5 (more specifically, the lower tank 5b). An inlet joint 11 is connected to the water inlet portion 6 via a water conduit 12 and an inlet adapter 13.

  The water conduit 12 is an L-shaped pipe, and has a horizontal portion 12a extending laterally from the side surface of the tank 5 and a vertical portion 12b extending upward from the tip of the horizontal portion 12a. The horizontal portion 12a of the water conduit 12 and the water inlet portion 6 are connected via a packing or the like so that there is no water leakage. An inlet adapter 13 is fixed to the upper end of the vertical portion 12b of the water conduit 12.

  The inlet adapter 13 has one end connected to the water conduit 12 and the other end connected to the inlet joint 11. The other end side of the inlet adapter 13 is exposed from the upper surface 19a of the casing member 19. An O-ring seal surface 13a is provided on the inner periphery of the other end of the inlet adapter 13, and a female screw 13b is provided further on the inner side thereof.

  The inlet joint 11 is a 90-degree elbow pipe extending upward from the upper surface 19a of the casing member 19. The inlet joint 11 has a straight pipe portion 11e that extends upward from the upper surface 19a of the casing member 19, and a bent portion 11f that extends by bending from the upper end of the straight pipe portion 11e in the direction along the upper surface 19a of the casing member 19.

  An O-ring insertion groove 11a is provided on the outer periphery of the end portion of the inlet joint 11 on the straight pipe portion 11e side, and a male screw 11b is provided on the tip end side thereof. The end portion of the inlet joint 11 on the straight pipe portion 11e side is connected to the inlet adapter 13 by screwing the male screw 11b with the female screw 13b of the inlet adapter 13. Further, the O-ring insertion groove 11a of the inlet joint 11 and the O-ring sealing surface 13a of the inlet adapter 13 are arranged to face each other. An O-ring 11d that prevents water leakage between the inlet joint 11 and the inlet adapter 13 is attached to the O-ring insertion groove 11a. The O-ring sealing surface 13a has a length that is several times the screw pitch of the male screw 11b in the axial direction of the inlet adapter 13. As a result, the inlet joint 11 is rotatable along the screw without being separated from the inlet adapter 13 while ensuring the water tightness with the inlet adapter 13. Since the inlet adapter 13 is fixed to the casing member 19 via another member, the inlet joint 11 is rotatable with respect to the casing member 19.

  On the outer circumference of the end portion of the inlet joint 11 on the bent portion 11f side, for example, a parallel thread 11c for a pipe having a nominal G1 / 2 is provided. For example, a connection hose extending from a faucet is connected to the parallel pipe thread 11c. By configuring the inlet joint 11 to be rotatable, the opening direction of the inlet joint 11 can be directed to the faucet side regardless of the orientation of the water softener 1 with respect to the faucet. As a result, the connection hose connecting the faucet and the inlet joint 11 can be set short, and the water softening device 1 can be installed compactly.

<Water outlet>
The water outlet portion 7 is located above the ion exchange resin portion 3. In the present embodiment, the water outlet portion 7 is provided on the top wall 5g of the tank 5 (more specifically, the upper tank 5a). An outlet joint 14 is connected to the water outlet portion 7 via an outlet adapter 15.

In the present embodiment, the outlet adapter 15 and the outlet joint 14 have the same structures as the inlet adapter 13 and the inlet joint 11, respectively.
The outlet adapter 15 has one end connected to the water outlet 7 and the other end connected to the outlet joint 14. An O-ring seal surface 15a is provided on the inner periphery of the other end of the outlet adapter 15, and a female screw 15b is provided further on the inner side thereof.

  The outlet joint 14 extends upward from the upper surface wall 5g of the tank 5, and further extends upward from the upper surface 19a of the casing member 19. The outlet fitting 14 is a 90 degree elbow tube. The outlet joint 14 has a straight pipe portion 14e that extends upward from the upper surface 19a of the casing member 19, and a bent portion 14f that extends by bending from the upper end of the straight pipe portion 14e in the direction along the upper surface 19a of the casing member 19. An O-ring insertion groove 14a is provided on the outer periphery of the end portion of the outlet joint 14 on the straight pipe portion 14e side, and a male screw 14b screwed with a female screw 15b is provided on the tip side thereof. An O-ring 14d is attached to the O-ring insertion groove 14a. Like the inlet joint 11, the outlet joint 14 is rotatable with respect to the casing member 19.

  When the water softening device 1 is installed in a bathroom and used for showering, a shower hose can be directly connected to the outlet joint 14. In this case, since the shower hose is drawn in various directions by the user, the outlet joint 14 is rotatably configured so that the outlet joint 14 is rotationally moved in accordance with the operation of the shower hose 35. As a result, the load applied to the outlet joint and its connecting portion can be reduced and damage can be prevented.

<Regeneration liquid inlet>
The regeneration liquid inlet 8 is provided on the upper surface side of the tank 5 (more specifically, the upper tank 5a) and is located above the cation exchange resin 2. By disposing the regenerant inlet 8 above the cation exchange resin 2, the regenerant can be passed through the cation exchange resin 2 while utilizing the natural head.
The regeneration liquid inlet 8 has a cylindrical shape that protrudes upward from the upper surface of the upper tank 5a and is integrated with the upper tank 5a. A male screw 8a is formed on the outer periphery of the regenerant inlet 8. A packing 8b is provided on the upper end surface of the regenerant inlet 8.

  The opening of the regenerant inlet 8 is covered with a detachable inlet cap member 16. The inlet cap member 16 has a bottomed tubular shape. A female screw 16a that is screwed onto the male screw 8a of the regenerant inlet 8 is provided on the inner periphery of the inlet cap member 16. By screwing the inlet cap member 16 into the regenerant inlet 8, the packing 8b is compressed and sealed between the upper end surface of the regenerant inlet 8 and the bottom of the inlet cap member 16.

<Drainage port>
The drainage port 9 is provided on the bottom side surface side of the tank 5 (more specifically, the lower tank 5b), and is located below the cation exchange resin 2. Moreover, at least a part of the drain port 9 is located below the bottom surface of the internal space of the tank 5 (that is, the top surface of the bottom wall 5f). By arranging the drainage port 9 below the cation exchange resin 2, the regenerant liquid that is fed from the regenerant liquid inlet 8 and spontaneously drops can be easily discharged at the lower part of the tank 5.
The drain port 9 has a cylindrical shape that projects laterally from the lower side of the side surface of the upper tank 5a, and is integrated near the bottom wall 5f of the lower tank 5b. A male screw 9 a is formed on the outer circumference of the drainage port 9. A packing 9b is provided on the tip surface of the drainage port 9.

  The drain port 9 has a drain chamber 17 that connects the inside and the outside of the tank 5. Further, the drainage chamber 17 has a partition wall 17c that partitions the inside into an upper chamber 17a and a lower chamber 17b. In the water softening device 1 of the present embodiment, the regenerant is passed through the cation exchange resin 2 by utilizing the natural head of the regenerant. At this time, depending on the thickness of the cation-exchange resin 2 layer in the vertical direction, the air in the cation-exchange resin 2 layer is pushed out, and the regenerant liquid is collected over the entire lower surface of the case member, so that the air-lock state is maintained. It may occur. When an airlock condition occurs, the passage of liquid may be delayed, resulting in insufficient regeneration. By providing the drain port 9 with the drain chamber 17 partitioned into the upper chamber 17a and the lower chamber 17b, the upper chamber 17a can function as an air charge and the lower chamber 17b can function as drain. As a result, smooth drainage is possible with one drain port without providing another structure for air charge. When the drainage chamber 17 as in this embodiment is not provided, an air charge port may be provided in addition to the drainage port. Further, a vacuum breaker that communicates with the atmosphere when water is not passed through the cation exchange resin 2 and closes when water pressure is applied by water passage may be provided on the side wall of the tank 5 or the like.

  The opening of the drainage port 9 is covered with a removable drainage port cap member 18. The drain port cap member 18 has a bottomed tubular shape. A female screw 18 a that is screwed onto the male screw 9 a of the drainage port 9 is provided on the inner circumference of the drainage port cap member 18. By screwing the drain port cap member 18 into the drain port 9, the packing 9b is compressed and sealed between the tip surface of the drain port 9 and the bottom portion of the drain port cap member 18.

<Casing member>
The casing member 19 covers the tank 5, the water inlet portion 6, the water outlet portion 7, the regenerant inlet 8, the drain outlet 9, the inlet cap member 16, and the drain cap member 18. There is. As a result, it is possible to configure the water softening device 1 that has high designability in consideration of its appearance without exposing the inner parts of the casing member 19.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the casing member 19 includes a base 20, a left side surface cover 21, a right side surface cover 22, an inner cover 23, an upper cover 24, and a front cover 25. The casing member 19 of the present embodiment is composed of the base 20, the left side cover 21, the right side cover 22, the inner cover 23, the upper cover 24, and the front cover 25, but any combination of the members. They may be integrated with each other.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the base 20 covers the bottom of the tank. The bottom of the tank 5 is fixed to the inner surface of the base 20 with screws. In addition, the water inlet portion 6, the water outlet portion 7, the inlet cap member 16, the drain outlet cap member 18, the inlet adapter 13, the outlet adapter 15, and the water conduit 12 are fixed to the tank 5, resulting in These will be fixed to the base 20.

  The base 20 has leg portions 26 having a height of 30 mm, for example, extending from four corners downward from the bottom surface (installation surface), and tip portions 26a of the leg portions 26 are in contact with the installation surface. When the water softening device 1 is installed in a bathroom, it is generally easy for dirt to accumulate between the bottom surface and the installation surface. By providing the leg portion 26 extending to the bottom surface of the water softening device 1 and forming a gap between the bottom surface and the installation surface, dirt is less likely to accumulate. The leg portion 26 may be integrated with the casing member or may be a separate body. When the water softening device 1 does not have the base 20, the legs may be extended downward from the tank 5. By setting the size of the gap to be around 30 mm, hands can be inserted between them, so that the installation surface can be cleaned using a cleaning tool such as a sponge. Note that the installation surface includes a bathroom washing room, a counter surface, a bathtub upper edge surface, and the like.

  The left side cover 21 and the right side cover 22 are fixed to the base 20. The left side cover 21 and the right side cover 22 cover both side surfaces and the back surface of the tank 5.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the inner cover 23 is located on the front side of the device and covers the front surface of the tank 5. The inner cover 23 is located inside the front cover 25 and is covered by the front cover 25. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the water softening device 1 with the front cover 25 removed. As shown in FIG. 4, the inner cover 23 does not cover the drain port cap member 18. As shown in FIG. 1, the inner cover 23 is provided with a hole opening 23a. The drainage port 9 penetrates the hole opening 23a and projects to the outside.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the upper cover 24 covers the upper surface of the tank 5. The upper cover 24 has a stepped shape having an upper step portion 24a and a lower step portion 24b. The upper step portion 24a is located on the rear side of the water softening device 1, and the lower step portion 24b is located on the front side. The upper step portion 24a is provided with a hole through which the inlet joint 11 and the outlet joint 14 penetrate and project. Further, the lower step portion 24b is provided with a through hole through which the regeneration liquid inlet 8 penetrates and projects. The inlet cap member 16 is screwed onto the regenerant inlet 8 above the lower step portion 24b. The upper step portion 24a is provided with a locking protrusion 24c protruding upward near the boundary with the lower step portion 24b. The locking projection 24c fits into the locking groove 25b of the front cover 25, which will be described later.

  The front cover 25 has a shape in which the other end of the plane is bent downward (L-shaped upside down) to cover the front surface of the inner cover 23 and the lower step portion 24b of the upper cover 24 from above and from the front. As a result, the drain port cap member 18 and the input port cap member 16 are simultaneously covered by the front cover 25.

A fitting piece 25 a for fitting the inside of the base 20 is provided at the lower end of the front cover 25. A locking groove 25b for locking the locking projection 24c of the upper cover 24 is provided on the back surface of the front cover 25 on the other end side. The front cover 25 is configured to be detachable from the water softening device 1 by the fitting piece 25a and the locking groove 25b. During normal use, the front cover 25 is fitted and locked by the inner surface of the base 20 and the upper cover 24 to cover the drain port cap member 18 and the input port cap member 16. Thereby, the front cover 25 realizes a clean appearance in which the drain port cap member 18 and the input port cap member 16 are not exposed. Further, when the work for reproduction is performed, the lock of the front cover 25 is removed (see FIG. 4). Furthermore, the regenerating liquid input port 8 and the drain port 9 can be exposed by removing the input port cap member 16 and the drain port cap member 18 (see FIG. 5).
In addition, although the case where the front cover 25 is configured to be removable has been illustrated in the present embodiment, at least a part of the casing member 19 is removed to expose the input port cap member 16 and the drain port cap member 18. If For example, the casing member may include a portion that covers the input port cap member 16 and a drain port cap member 18, and the respective portions may be removable.

<Installation form>
Next, the installation form of the water softening device 1 will be described. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the water softening device 1 is installed in the bathroom 27.
The water softener 1 is installed in a bathroom 27 provided with a mixed faucet 30 connected to a shower head 34 via a shower hose 35.
In the present embodiment, the water softening device 1 is installed on the washing place 28 in the bathroom 27. When the water softening device 1 is installed in the bathroom, by installing it between the existing mixed water faucet 30 and the shower head 34, the user can operate the water faucet to use the soft water from the shower. The water softening device 1 is installed on the opposite side of the shower hook 29 with the mixed faucet 30 in between. Since the shower hose 35 and the shower head 34 are existing ones, and their positions are almost the same as before the water softening device 1 is installed, installation of the water softening device 1 greatly impairs usability. There is no.

  In the present embodiment, the water softening device 1 connects the fixed unit 31 that is attached to the mixed faucet 30, the inlet side connection hose 32 that connects the fixed unit 31 and the inlet joint 11, and the fixed unit 31 and the outlet joint 14. The outlet side connection hose 33 is further provided. The user can use the soft water shower by opening and closing the mixed faucet 30.

  FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the fixing unit 31, and FIG. 8 shows a sectional view of the fixing unit 31. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the fixed unit 31 includes a unit body 36, a faucet mounting nut 37, a straight joint 38, and a shower hose joint 40.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the unit main body 36 has a first communication chamber 36a and a second communication chamber 36b which are adjacent to each other and are partitioned from each other. The first communication chamber 36a has a first inlet portion 41 and a first outlet portion 42 that communicate with each other. Further, the second communication chamber 36b has a second inlet portion 43 and a second outlet portion 39 that communicate with each other.

A straight joint 38 and a faucet mounting nut 37 are attached to the first inlet portion 41. The first inlet portion 41 is connected to the mixed faucet 30 via a straight joint 38 and a faucet mounting nut 37.
On the inner peripheral surface of the first inlet portion 41, an O-ring sealing surface 41a and a female screw 41b are formed in order from the tip side. The straight joint 38 is a hollow cylinder, and has a flange 38a at the tip located on the opposite side of the first inlet 41. The faucet mounting nut 37 is locked to the flange 38a. Further, in the straight joint 38, a male screw 38c and an O-ring groove 38b are formed from the tip end side on the outer peripheral surface of the end portion on the first inlet portion 41 side. The male screw 38c is screwed into the female screw 41b of the first inlet portion 41 to connect the first inlet portion 41 and the straight joint 38. Further, the O-ring sealing surface 41a of the first inlet portion 41 and the O-ring groove 38b of the straight joint 38 are arranged to face each other. An O-ring 38d that prevents water leakage between the first inlet 41 and the straight joint 38 is attached to the O-ring groove 38b. The O-ring sealing surface 41a has a length (several times or more) in the axial direction that is sufficient for the screw pitch of the male screw 38c. As a result, the straight joint 38 is rotatable along the screw without separating from the first inlet portion 41 while ensuring the water tightness with the first inlet portion 41. In addition, since the faucet mounting nut 37 is locked to the flange 38a, the faucet mounting nut 37 has a structure that is rotatable and does not come off. Therefore, the first inlet portion 41 is rotatably attached to the mixed water faucet 30.

  The first outlet portion 42 is connected to the inlet side connection hose 32. The first outlet portion 42 extends in a direction orthogonal to the first inlet portion 41. A male screw 42 a for connecting to the inlet-side connection hose 32 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the first outlet portion 42. The male screw 42a is preferably a parallel pipe screw.

  The second inlet portion 43 is connected to the outlet side connection hose 33. A male screw 43 a for connecting to the outlet-side connection hose 33 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the second inlet portion 43. The male screw 43a is preferably a parallel pipe screw. The second inlet portion 43 is adjacent to the first outlet portion 42 and extends in parallel.

A shower hose joint 40 is attached to the second outlet 39. The shower hose 35 is connected to the second outlet 39 via a shower hose joint 40.
The second outlet portion 39 extends parallel to the side opposite to the second inlet portion 43 and the first outlet portion 42. On the inner peripheral surface of the second outlet portion 39, an O-ring seal surface 39a and a female screw 39b are formed from the tip side.
The shower hose joint 40 is located between the second outlet portion 39 and the shower hose 35. The shower hose joint 40 extends by bending in a direction orthogonal to the second outlet portion 39. A male screw 40b and an O-ring insertion groove 40a are formed from the tip end side on the outer peripheral surface of the end portion of the shower hose joint 40 located on the second outlet 39 side. The second outlet 39 and the shower hose joint 40 have the same configuration as the above-described connection between the first inlet and the straight joint 38, and are rotatably connected. That is, the shower hose joint 40 is rotatable with respect to the second outlet 39. On the outer peripheral surface of the end portion of the shower hose joint 40 located on the opposite side of the second outlet portion 39, a pipe parallel screw 40c of nominal G1 / 2 is formed. The shower hose 35 is connected to the pipe parallel screw 40c.
In addition, since the screw diameter of the shower hose connection port of the mixed faucet varies depending on the faucet manufacturer, it is desirable to use an adapter that converts the diameter if the inlet joint and outlet joint of the device do not match. .

  The water discharged from the mixed faucet 30 flows into the first communication chamber 36 a of the unit main body 36 from the first inlet 41 via the faucet mounting nut 37 of the fixed unit 31 and the straight joint 38. Further, water flows into the inlet joint 11 (FIG. 1) from the first outlet portion 42 of the first communication chamber 36a via the inlet-side connection hose 32. The water flowing into the inlet joint 11 is softened in the tank 5 and flows out from the outlet joint 14. This water flows from the second inlet portion 43 of the fixed unit 31 into the second communication chamber 36b via the outlet-side connection hose 33. Further, the water flows out from the second outlet portion 39 into the shower hose 35 and is ejected from the shower head 34. Thus, the mixed faucet is connected to the inlet joint 11 via the first communication chamber 36 a of the fixed unit 31. The shower hose is connected to the outlet joint 14 via the second communication chamber 36b of the fixed unit 31.

  In the fixed unit 31, the first inlet 41 is rotatable with respect to the mixed water faucet 30, and the shower hose joint 40 attached to the second outlet 39 is rotatable with respect to the unit body 36. The shower hose 35 is made of a flexible material and is drawn in various directions by the user. Since the fixed unit 31 has a rotatable structure between the mixed water faucet 30 and the shower hose 35, the fixed unit 31 follows the operation of the shower hose 35 even when the shower hose 35 is laid around. Can be rotated and moved. As a result, stress is less likely to be applied to the connection portion of the fixed unit 31.

<Detailed configuration of ion exchange resin>
Next, the detailed configuration of the ion exchange resin part 3 will be specifically described.
The cation exchange resin, which is widely used for softening tap water, has a softening principle as described above.
The performance of the cation exchange resin 2 of the ion exchange resin part 3 is generally represented by a breakthrough capacity (BT Cap). When the regeneration level of the cation exchange resin 2 is 100 g / LR (100 g of regenerant per 1 liter of resin (Resin)), B.I. T. Cap≈50 g CaCO ₃ / LR (50 g hardness component is removed in terms of CaCO ₃ per 1 L of resin). When the reproduction level is 150 g / LR, the B.I. T. Cap≈57 g CaCO ₃ / LR. In this specification, the unit of liter is expressed as "L".

The soft water amount S (L) obtained per regeneration of the water softening device is the raw water hardness T _H0 (mgCaCO ₃ / L; hereinafter referred to as mg / L) and the capacity of the cation exchange resin 2 is V (L). Is expressed by the following equation (1).

  According to the formula (1), for example, when the raw water hardness is 80 mg / L and the resin is 1 L, S = 625 (L), but in practice, it is estimated that the capacity is about 70 to 80%, 437.5. It is calculated that 531.3 L of soft water is obtained.

  As a regenerant for regenerating the cation exchange resin 2, sodium chloride (NaCl) is preferably used because it is safe and inexpensive. Further, potassium chloride (KCl) or hydrochloric acid (HCl) may be used as the regenerant. When sodium chloride is used as a regenerant, salt water (sodium chloride aqueous solution) in which sodium chloride is dissolved is used as a regenerant. The concentration of the aqueous sodium chloride solution is preferably 5% or more and 15% or less, and about 10% is most efficient. For example, B.I. T. In order to obtain Cap≈50 g / LR, 100 g of sodium chloride is required when the capacity of the cation exchange resin 2 is 1 L, and 900 mL of water is required to obtain a concentration of 10%.

<Soft water range, shower volume>
According to the hardness distribution of water treatment plants throughout Japan, the hardness of 0 to 140 mg / L water treatment plants is 98.6% of the total water treatment plants, and as a water softening device, if it is possible to secure sufficient performance to soften water within that range. I know it's good. In addition, the amount of water used in a general household is said to be 1000 L / day for a family of four, of which the amount of shower used is said to be 200 L / day. From the above, as the minimum performance required for the water softening device, it is desirable that 1000 L or more of water for a detached house and 200 L or more of water for a shower can be obtained for one regeneration when the raw water hardness is 140 mg / L. . Of course, less performance is required, but the playback frequency becomes more than once a day, and usability becomes poor. In addition, the hardness range of soft water is defined as a hardness of 20 mg / L or less as a range in which the above-mentioned effect of soft water can be obtained.

<Characteristics of cation exchange resin, flow rate of fluidized bed, shower, etc.>
The cation exchange resin 2 has a substantially spherical particle shape, and particles having a particle diameter of 300 to 1180 μm are appropriately blended, and the product is defined by the particle size distribution and the uniformity coefficient. When the particle size is large, the pressure loss of the resin layer is small, but when the flow rate of water passing through is large, the ion exchange performance deteriorates. On the other hand, when the particle size is small, the pressure loss increases, but the ion exchange performance is secured to some extent even when the flow rate of water passing through is large. This relationship is organized by space velocity (Space Velocity; SV value). Assuming that the amount of resin (L) and the flow rate of water are Q (L / min), the SV value (1 / h) is calculated by the following equation (2).

  The tank 5 containing the cation exchange resin 2 may be made of a thermoplastic resin, a thermosetting resin, or a metal such as stainless steel. The tank 5 is made of a material that withstands passage of hot water of 50 ° C. in order to pass water for shower. Since the tank 5 serves as a water flow path, a load due to pressure loss such as the cation exchange resin 2 and the shower is repeatedly applied. Therefore, the tank 5 preferably has a reinforced structure such as a rib. When the tank 5 is made of resin, the material strength can be increased by adding an inorganic substance such as glass fiber.

  There are a fluidized bed and a fixed bed as the installation form of the cation exchange resin 2 inside the tank 5. The fluidized bed has a resin amount of less than 90% with respect to the space for storing the cation exchange resin inside the tank, and the resin flows due to the flow of water inside the tank. When the water inlet of the tank 5 is provided on the lower side and the water outlet is provided on the upper side, and the entire interior of the tank is used as a space for accommodating the resin and water is passed from the inlet to the outlet, the resin flows and is ion-exchanged to be softened. A filter and a mesh for preventing resin outflow are installed on the water inlet side and the water outlet side. According to this fluidized bed, the SV value can be reduced to reduce the pressure loss, but the tank 5 is enlarged.

  In the case of a conventional water softening device for shower, when the general shower flow rate is 10 L / min, the SV value is 80 to 120 / h, and the resin amount is about 5 to 7 L and is stored in the tank. It can be seen that it is quite large in the bathroom. In the fluidized bed, the pressure loss can be made extremely small, but the entire water softening device is affected by the pressure loss of the mounted valve and piping.

On the other hand, in the fixed bed used in the present embodiment, the capacity of the cation exchange resin 2 is 90% or more of the space for storing the cation exchange resin 2 in the tank 5 (internal space of the case member 4). Is. Therefore, the cation exchange resin 2 hardly flows due to the flow of water in the tank 5.
As the space for accommodating the resin inside the tank, a case member provided with mesh members having mesh sizes that prevent the resin from flowing out on the upstream side and the downstream side of the water flow may be used, and the resin may be accommodated in this case member. Further, the tank itself may be provided with mesh members on the upstream side and the downstream side, and the resin may be housed between the mesh members. With this configuration, the tank can be downsized, that is, the water softening device can be downsized, while considering the pressure loss while increasing the SV value.

  According to the experiments by the present inventors, a fluidized bed having an average particle size of cation exchange resin of 600 ± 50 μm was used, and SV value = 300 (/ h; capacity of cation exchange resin was 2 L, flow rate of water was 10 L / When the raw water hardness is 80 mg / L, the hardness of the water that has passed through the cation exchange resin is 0 mg / L. On the other hand, when water is passed at an SV value of 500 (/ h; the capacity of the cation exchange resin is 1.2 L and the flow rate of water is 10 L / min), when the raw water hardness is 80 mg / L, the hardness of the water that has passed through the cation exchange resin Is 10 to 15 mg / L, which indicates that the SV value exceeds the capacity of the cation exchange resin. The pressure loss was 0.01 MPa or less when the flow rate was 10 L / min. Even when a cation exchange resin having a particle size distribution of 150 to 355 μm and a particle size distribution of 95% or more was used, the SV value was 500 as a limit.

  On the other hand, in the fixed bed, when the cation exchange resin 2 of 150 to 355 μm having a particle size distribution of 95% or more is used, SV value = 1105 (/ h; cation exchange resin volume 543 mL, Even at a water flow rate of 10 L / min), the hardness of water that has passed through the cation exchange resin is 0 mg / L. If the SV value is 650 or less, the amount of soft water obtained increases. The pressure loss was 0.03 MPa when the flow rate was 10 L / min. For example, in the fluidized bed, if the limit of the SV value is 300, the required capacity of the cation exchange resin will be 2 L or more, but in the fixed bed, if the SV value is set to 650, it will be 1 L or less. . By using such a fixed bed, downsizing of the water softening device can be realized.

  To summarize the above, the volume of the cation exchange resin 2 is calculated to be 800 mL or more in order to obtain the soft water amount of 200 L or more in one regeneration with the raw water hardness of 140 mg / L. At this time, if the filling of the cation exchange resin 2 is 90%, the space for accommodating the cation exchange resin 2 inside the tank is 900 mL or more, which is the most compact design. In reality, it is desirable that the cation exchange resin 2 has a capacity of 800 to 1200 mL and a space of 900 to 1300 mL.

  Further, the amount of salt used for regeneration is preferably 80 g to 180 g when the regeneration level is 100 to 150 g / LR, and the salt is dissolved in water to have a concentration of 5 to 15%. Is desirable. Further, it is desirable that the salt used has a particle size as small as possible in consideration of solubility. For example, commercially available salt has an average particle size of 395 μm, but if a fine-grain type salt having an average particle size of about 207 μm is used, dissolution in water becomes faster, which is convenient. Then, a predetermined amount of salt is put in a container, water is put in a container of a predetermined amount so as to have a concentration of 5 to 15%, the salt is dissolved, and the obtained salt water is charged as a regenerating liquid into a water softening device, a resin. The regeneration method of passing the solution through is most convenient.

  As the salt to be used, commercially available one can be used, but the amount per bag is generally 500 g, 1 kg and 2 kg, and a predetermined amount is required for use in regenerating the water softening device. There is a need to. On the other hand, if the amount required for one regeneration is preliminarily packaged and sealed in a packaging bag, the labor of weighing can be saved. The salt thus packaged can be attached or sold as a consumable item. To pack and seal the bag, put it in a plastic bag with a zipper, heat seal three sides using a film to form a bag, and heat the remaining one side after filling, heat seal one side of the ring-shaped film. After filling into a bag and filling, the remaining one side can be heat-sealed.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 9A, a prescribed amount of granular sodium chloride 61 may be packaged and sealed in the packaging bag 50. The sachet 50 is made of, for example, two rectangular film materials 51. The two film materials 51 are heat-sealed on four sides with a granular sodium chloride 61 sandwiched therebetween to form a bag shape.

  As shown in FIG. 9B, the user puts the granular sodium chloride 61 and the water 62, which are taken out by opening the sachet 50, into a container 64 to make a regenerant liquid 63 having a predetermined concentration. Further, the regenerant liquid 63 in the container 64 is passed from the regenerant liquid inlet 8 to the drain port 9. As a result, the regenerant liquid 63 passes through the cation exchange resin 2 and the exchange capacity of the cation exchange resin 2 can be regenerated.

<Pressure loss, tank capacity, usability>
A water passage from a water supply source to a shower head in a general household is a water supply source, a water heater, a mixed faucet, a shower hose, and a shower head, and pipes and pipe members are appropriately connected between them. As described above with reference to FIG. 6, the water softening device 1 for a shower is preferably connected between the mixed faucet 30 and the shower hose 35 when installed in a bathroom. In this case, since the water softening device itself is a passage resistor and serves as a water storage portion, it is necessary to prevent the usability and usability of a normal shower from being impaired.
Being a water reservoir on the pipe means that hot water is delayed from the shower by the amount of water. Therefore, it is preferable that the amount of the cation exchange resin and the volume of the storage portion thereof are as small as possible. When a shower of 10 L / min is used, it takes 12 seconds for a 2 L volume, 18 seconds for a 3 L, and 24 seconds for a 4 L, and the hot water comes out slowly. Therefore, it is desirable that the volume is 2 L or less and 12 seconds or less.

On the other hand, as the water heater, a gas water heater, an oil water heater, an electric water heater, an eco cute, etc. are used, and there are a direct pressure type to which water pressure is directly applied and a hot water storage type having a large hot water storage tank inside. In particular, electric water heaters and eco cutes have built-in pressure reducing valves to protect the hot water storage tank. The setting of this pressure reducing valve is as low as 85 kPa, and it is desirable to consider the pressure loss so as not to impair the feeling of use of the shower even with this water pressure.
The feeling of use of the shower is substantially dependent on the flow rate, and if it is less than 7 L / min, the shower is weak in momentum and a satisfactory feeling cannot be obtained. On the other hand, at 12 L / min or more, the momentum is too strong, and it feels painful when you experience it. 8-10 L / min is comfortable, at least 7 L / min is required. That is, when the water pressure is 85 kPa, it is desirable to be able to secure a flow rate of 7 L / min or more through the water heater, the mixing faucet, the water softening device, and the shower head. At 7 L / min, the pressure loss of the water heater is 25 kPa, and the pressure loss of the mixing faucet and the shower head is 25 kPa when the shower head is installed 1.65 m above the floor surface. It is preferable that the pressure is set to 30 kPa or less, considering the pressure loss of the connection hose and the like. Here, the relationship between the pressure loss ΔP and the flow rate Q is expressed by the following equation (3), where g is the gravitational acceleration and A is the flow passage cross-sectional area.

  Therefore, when Q = 10 (L / min), it can be read as ΔP = 60 (kPa) or less. As mentioned above, in the fixed bed, the entire water flow passes through the layer of cation exchange resin, so pressure loss tends to increase, but by reducing the thickness of that layer, pressure loss can be kept small. You can

The structure described in the above embodiment is an example of the water softening device, and needless to say, is not limited to the structure of the above embodiment. The outline of a desirable water softening device will be described below.
The tank containing the cation exchange resin must have a regenerant inlet and a drainage port, but by placing the regenerant inlet above the resin and the drainage port below the resin, there is a natural drop. It is possible to let the regenerant liquid pass through the resin while utilizing. Regardless of the positions of the regenerant inlet and the drainage port, it is possible to use a pump or water flow to assist the liquid flow, but this configuration is the simplest and the liquid flow can be performed reliably.

In order to use the natural head, the water passage from the regenerant inlet to the drain must be opened to the atmosphere during regeneration. Therefore, the cap member can be used as a detachable means for opening the regeneration liquid inlet and the drainage port. Further, a vacuum breaker which communicates with the atmosphere when water is not passed through the cation exchange resin and which is closed when water pressure is applied by water passage can be provided above or below the resin. Furthermore, the regenerant inlet and the drain may have a valve structure, and the valve may be opened and closed as needed.
A cap member, a vacuum breaker, and a valve can be combined appropriately. As the fixed bed, resin is stored as a case member, the tank containing the case member is provided with a regenerant inlet at the upper part and a drain port at the lower part, both are open to the atmosphere, and the regenerant is introduced from the regenerant inlet. In this case, initially, the liquid is passed from the upper chamber of the tank through the resin layer in the case member and from the lower chamber of the tank to the drain port, but depending on the thickness of the resin layer, the air in the resin layer is pushed out, and There is a case where an airlock state occurs in which the entire surface is retained in the lower part of the, the liquid flow is delayed, and as a result, the regeneration is insufficient.
Therefore, it is necessary to always open the atmosphere in the lower chamber of the tank, so it is effective to provide an air charge port in addition to the drain port, increase the diameter of the drain port, and add a vacuum breaker. . In particular, it is desirable to provide an air charge port to ensure the passage of liquid, but the drain port has a drain chamber, and the drain chamber has an upper chamber and a lower chamber, each of which communicates with the tank lower chamber. Thus, the structure can be simplified because the upper chamber can be used for air charge and the lower chamber can be used for drainage even though it is a single drainage port.

In order to cover the regenerant inlet and the drain outlet, it is necessary to have a detachable means that can withstand the water pressure caused by water flow, and it is preferable that they are cap members. In particular, if the structure is such that the screw portion is provided, and the cap member and the inlet and drain ports are screwed together, it is easy for the user to use.
In the water softening device, it is desirable that the tank, the water inlet, the water outlet, the regenerant inlet, the drainage port, and each cap member are appropriately covered with a casing member to give consideration to the appearance. The casing member includes an upper surface, both side surfaces, a front surface, a back surface, and a bottom surface, but the combination of the upper surface and the side surface, the bottom surface and the side surface, and the like are not limited. Since the user operates the cap member at the time of reproduction, at least the cap member needs to be exposed at that time. Therefore, the cap member may be previously exposed without being covered with the casing member and provided outside the casing member. On the other hand, a portion corresponding to the cap of the casing member may be partially detachably provided so that the cap member can be exposed by covering with the casing member. In this way, it is possible to realize a clean design with no protrusion in appearance.

  In the structure of the previous embodiment, the method of making the joint on the inlet side and the joint on the outlet side rotatable is compatible with the water seal structure, so that the seal member such as the male screw, the cylindrical seal groove, and the O ring is disposed on the joint side. It is possible to make the joint freely rotatable by providing a female thread and a cylindrical sealing surface at the water inlet portion and the water outlet portion, screwing them together, and fitting the sealing groove to the sealing surface via the sealing member. . Alternatively, rotatably provide a nut, a cylindrical seal groove and packing at the tip of the joint, provide male threads at the water inlet and water outlets, and provide a cylindrical packing seal surface inside and screw the nut's male thread into place. The seal groove can be fitted to the packing seal surface via the packing, and the joint can be freely rotated.

  When the hose connected to the piping is a flexible hose, if the hose is extended horizontally or upward from the joint, the hose may sag or bend downward due to the weight and temperature of the water in the hose during use. there is a possibility. Therefore, it is desirable that the joint has a bent portion from the upper surface of the casing member in the direction along the surface. Specifically, the bent portion is oriented approximately 90 degrees (horizontal) from the joint, and the hose to be connected is always in a slackened state, which prevents abnormal deformation during use. .

In a normal bathroom, a shower head is attached from a mixed faucet via a shower hose. When installing a water softening device, if these existing ones can be used, it will fit well in the bathroom. Therefore, once remove the mixed faucet and shower hose, install a fixing unit at the shower hose connection port of the faucet, and connect the shower hose and the piping members connected to the inlet joint and outlet joint of the device to the fixed unit. It is desirable to have a structure that
The fixed unit is screwed into the shower hose connection port of the mixed water faucet, has a first inlet having a rotatable female screw, communicates with the first inlet, and is taken out in a direction orthogonal to the first inlet. One outlet part, a second outlet part provided adjacent to the first outlet part in a parallel direction, and communicated with the second inlet part, taken out in a direction orthogonal to the second inlet part, and a second inlet part It is preferable to provide a second outlet portion that is rotatable with respect to the central axis of the.
The first inlet portion, the first outlet portion, the second inlet portion, and the second outlet portion are provided with an intervening member for changing the direction of the passage or rotatably constituting the passage. be able to. By connecting the first outlet part and the inlet joint of the device, the outlet joint and the second inlet part through the piping member, and further connecting the second outlet part and the existing shower hose, the mixed faucet is operated and the shower is operated. Soft water can be discharged from the head. With this configuration, it is possible to use the existing mixed faucet, shower hose, and shower head as they are. Therefore, the usability of the user does not significantly change before and after the installation of the device. If the device itself is installed on the side farther than the shower head with the mixed faucet in between, the device can be installed in the bathroom well. Since the screw diameter of the shower hose connection port of the mixed faucet varies depending on the faucet manufacturer, it is desirable to use an adapter that converts the diameter if the inlet joint and outlet joint of the device do not match. .

<Summary>
According to the water softening device 1 of the previous embodiment, it is possible to easily perform regeneration only by introducing the regenerant liquid from the regenerant liquid inlet 8 of the water softener device 1, allowing it to spontaneously drop, and discharging it from the drainage port 9. At the time of regeneration, the user only has to remove the input port cap member 16 and the drain port cap member 18, and the complicated valve operation and electrical operation can be eliminated. In addition, the input port cap member 16 and the drain port cap member 18 have a screw structure, which allows the worker to further facilitate the attachment / detachment work.

  According to the water softening device 1 of the previous embodiment, the drain port 9 is provided with the drain chamber 17 divided into the upper chamber 17a and the lower chamber 17b, so that the upper chamber 17a is air-charged and the lower chamber 17b is drained. Can be made to function respectively. Therefore, airlock does not occur, and almost the entire amount of the supplied regenerant liquid can be smoothly discharged.

  According to the water softening device 1 of the previous embodiment, since each member is covered with the casing member 19 having a high design property, the appearance can be matched with the bathroom 27. Further, a part of the casing member 19 is configured to be detachable, and does not hinder the user's work by exposing the input port cap member 16 and the drain port cap member 18 during the regenerating operation of the operator.

  According to the water softening device 1 of the previous embodiment, the leg portion 26 on the bottom surface provides a gap with the installation surface. This not only makes it difficult for dirt to collect on the bottom surface of the water softening device 1, but also facilitates the work of cleaning the bottom surface and the installation surface.

  According to the water softening device 1 of the previous embodiment, by providing the inlet joint 11 and the outlet joint 14 on the upper surface of the casing member 19, the connection from the mixed faucet 30 and the shower head 34 via the shower hose 35 are performed. Can be easily connected. In addition, since the inlet joint 11 and the outlet joint 14 are rotatable, no matter where the water softening device 1 is installed in the bathroom 27, the connection hose can be accommodated well. In addition, since the inlet joint 11 and the outlet joint 14 are provided with the bent portions 11f and 14f, the connection hose can be loosened from the beginning of the installation, and the load on the water softening device 1 when the connection hose is laid can be reduced. .

  According to the water softener 1 of the previous embodiment, if the mixing faucet 30 and the inlet joint 11 are connected and the outlet joint 14 and the shower hose 35 are connected, the existing mixing faucet 30 and the shower are provided. The hose 35 and the shower head 34 can be used. Further, when the fixing unit 31 is provided on the mixed water faucet 30 and the connection hoses 32 and 33 and the shower hose 35 are connected to each other, the water softening device 1 can be stored in the bathroom 27 better.

  According to the water softener of the previous embodiment, it is possible to provide a compact water softener 1 that can sufficiently secure the amount of water used for one day of use in a shower even in an area where water hardness is relatively high. Since the volumes of the tank 5 and the ion exchange resin portion 3 are small and the pressure loss is kept low, the usability of the shower is not impaired.

Although various embodiments of the water softening device have been described above, each configuration and the combination thereof in each of the embodiments are examples, and addition, omission, and replacement of the configuration are within the scope not departing from the spirit of the present invention. And other changes are possible. Further, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the inlet cap member 16 and the drain cap member 18 are used as the detachable means for opening the regeneration liquid inlet 8 and the drain port 9 has been illustrated. However, the regenerant inlet and the drain may have a valve structure, and the valve may be opened and closed as needed. Also, a cap member, a vacuum breaker, and a valve can be combined appropriately.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case member 4 having the mesh members 4a and 4b is provided in the tank 5, and the cation exchange resin 2 is housed inside the case member 4. However, the tank itself may be provided with mesh members on the upstream side and the downstream side, and the cation exchange resin may be housed between the mesh members.

With respect to the water softening device 1 shown in the above-mentioned embodiment, an actual machine was manufactured and its effect was confirmed.
As the cation exchange resin 2, DIAION SK1BS manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (particle size distribution: 150 to 355 μm: 95%) was used.
The capacity of the cation exchange resin 2 was 970 mL.
The volume of the case member 4 (that is, the volume between the mesh members 4a and 4b) was 1020 mL.
As the mesh members 4a and 4b, those made of polyester and having a wire diameter of 45 μm and an opening of 96 μm were used.
The thickness of the cation exchange resin 2 in the vertical direction was 75 mm.
As a regenerant, 120 g of sodium chloride having an average particle size of 207 μm (packed in one bag) was prepared. In addition, one packaged regenerant described above was dissolved in 1 L of water to prepare a regenerant solution having a concentration of 10.7%.

  In the water softening device having the above specifications, after 1000 L of tap water was continuously passed, the water was stopped, the regenerant was passed, and when drainage was completed, water was passed again to measure the performance. The flow rate was set to 10 L / min. As for the regenerating liquid, 1 bag (120 g) of salt was placed in an empty 2 L PET bottle, half (about 1 L) of water was placed in the PET bottle, and the salt was dissolved by shaking a few times to give a concentration of 10.7%. And

Amount of soft water obtained:
With tap water having a raw water hardness of 80 mg / L, 450 L of soft water having a hardness of 0 to 20 mg / L was obtained.
With tap water having a raw water hardness of 140 mg / L, 200 L of soft water having a hardness of 0 to 20 mg / L was obtained.
The pressure loss when water was passed was 0.045 MPa in each case.
As described above, it was confirmed that the water softening device 1 having desired performance could be manufactured.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Water softening device, 2 ... Cation exchange resin, 3 ... Ion exchange resin part, 4 ... Case member, 4a ... Mesh member, 4b ... Mesh member, 5 ... Tank, 6 ... Water inlet part, 7 ... Water outlet part , 8 ... Regeneration liquid input port, 9 ... Drainage port, 10 ... Packing, 11 ... Inlet joint, 12 ... Water pipe, 14 ... Outlet joint, 16 ... Inlet cap member, 17 ... Drainage chamber, 17a ... Upper chamber, 17b ... Lower chamber, 18 ... Drainage port cap member, 19 ... Casing member, 19a ... Upper surface, 20 ... Base, 26 ... Leg part, 27 ... Bathroom, 30 ... Mixing faucet, 31 ... Fixed unit, 32 ... Inlet side Connection hose, 33 ... Exit side connection hose, 34 ... Shower head, 35 ... Shower hose, 36 ... Unit body, 40 ... Shower hose joint, 50 ... Packaging bag, 51 ... Film material, 61 ... Sodium chloride, 62 ... Water , 63 ... again Liquid, 64 ... container.

Claims (2)

An ion exchange resin portion having a cation exchange resin that softens water, a tank that stores the ion exchange resin portion, and water that is provided upstream of the cation exchange resin and that supplies water to the tank. A water softening device provided with an inlet part and a water outlet part provided on the downstream side of the cation exchange resin for letting out soft water from the tank to the outside, which is used while repeating outflow of soft water and regeneration of the cation exchange resin. And
The tank is provided with a regenerant inlet for introducing a regenerant that regenerates the ion exchange capacity of the cation exchange resin, and a drainage port for draining the regenerant,
The regeneration liquid inlet is located above the cation exchange resin and on the upper surface side of the tank, and the drainage outlet is located below the cation exchange resin and on the side bottom surface side of the tank. The drainage chamber is provided with a part of the drainage chamber located below the bottom surface of the internal space of the tank, and a drainage chamber having an upper chamber and a lower chamber partitioned vertically by a partition wall inside the drainage chamber is provided. Is provided,
The ion exchange resin portion includes mesh members on the upstream side and the downstream side of the cation exchange resin, and the capacity of the cation exchange resin is a volume between the upstream mesh member and the downstream mesh member. 90% or more, and the cation exchange resin is a granule type in which the particle size distribution of 150 to 355 μm is 95% or more, and the flow rate of water is 10 L / The water softening device is characterized in that when the hardness of raw water is 60 to 80 mg / L, 400 L of water having a hardness of 0 to 20 mg / L can be sampled.   When the flow rate of water passing through the ion exchange resin part was 10 L / min, the pressure loss was 0. The water softening device according to claim 1, wherein the water softening device has a pressure of 05 MPa or less.

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