JP7300299B2 - Faucet damper structure, faucet provided with faucet damper structure, and method for reducing sound in faucet - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a technique for suppressing noise generated by changes in the internal pressure of a faucet when water is stopped.

As conventional faucets, for example, top-type faucets and lever-type faucets are known. Since the top-type faucet turns the handle several times to stop the water, it takes several seconds to stop the water, but the lever-type faucet can stop the water immediately by simply raising or lowering the lever. Therefore, at present, lever-type faucets are widely used as kitchen faucets, bathroom faucets, washbasin faucets, etc., and are becoming mainstream.

As soundproofing of houses progresses, residents are becoming more sensitive to sound than before, and there is an increasing need for quiet rooms. On the other hand, the flow of water from faucets and showers in houses is controlled by opening and closing shutoff valves in the faucets. When the stop valve is closed at once by operating a lever provided on the faucet, the flow of water from the faucet or the like is stopped, but the water downstream of the stop valve tries to continue flowing due to inertia. As a result, a momentary negative pressure is generated in the faucet, and the force of the water returning causes a sudden positive pressure. This water pressure wave (water hammer) may generate sound when it hits the water stop valve, and in a quiet room, the sound may cause discomfort to the occupants.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to suppress the generation of noise when water is stopped in a lever type faucet or a solenoid valve type faucet.

A faucet damper structure according to the present invention includes:
a housing member that can be attached to the channel pipe in a state of communicating with the channel pipe arranged downstream of the water stop valve;
an elastic member housed inside the housing member,
The elastic member has a cylindrical shape, is filled with air, and is expandable and contractible.

According to this configuration, when water is flowing through the channel tube, the cylindrical elastic member accommodated inside the housing member contracts due to the pressure of the flowing water. Then, when the water stop valve is closed by operating the lever to stop the water, the contracted elastic member quickly expands and restores as the running water pressure decreases. As a result, the negative pressure generated in the flow pipe arranged on the downstream side of the water stop valve is absorbed, and the subsequent positive pressure is also suppressed, so the sound generated by the water pressure wave (water hammer) is reduced. be.

In the faucet damper structure according to the present invention, it is preferable that the thickness of the elastic member is continuously increased from one end to the other end in the longitudinal direction.

According to this configuration, when the contracted elastic member expands and restores, it expands and restores in order from the thicker portion to the thinner portion, resulting in rapid expansion and restoration. Suppressed. As a result, the pressure wave generated when the elastic member expands and restores can be alleviated, and the generation of sound can be suppressed more effectively.

In the faucet damper structure according to the present invention, it is preferable that grooves extending in the longitudinal direction are formed in the outer surface of the elastic member.

As in this configuration, since grooves extending in the longitudinal direction are formed on the outer surface of the elastic member, the groove portion is easily crushed when the elastic member is contracted, so the collapsed state of the elastic member is controlled. be able to. In addition, when the elastic member contracts, the groove and its peripheral portion as a whole are stretched, making it difficult for a situation in which a part of the elastic member is locally stretched. It is possible to prevent cracks and the like from occurring.

In the faucet damper structure according to the present invention, it is preferable that a longitudinally extending ridge is formed on the inner surface of the elastic member.

As in this configuration, a ridge extending in the longitudinal direction is formed on the inner surface of the elastic member, so that when the elastic member contracts, the inner side of the elastic member is in line contact at the ridge instead of surface contact. Therefore, the elastic member can expand and restore more quickly when the water stops.

In the faucet damper structure according to the present invention, it is preferable that one end of the housing member is provided with a detachable lid member, and the elastic member is connected to the lid member.

According to this configuration, since the elastic member is connected to the detachable cover member, the elastic member can be taken out from the housing member by removing the cover member from the housing member. Therefore, maintenance of the elastic member can be easily performed.

In the faucet damper structure according to the present invention, it is preferable that the elastic member is connected to the lid member in a state of communication, and that an openable and closable opening is provided in the lid member.

According to this configuration, even if the air enclosed in the elastic member permeates over time, the air can be replenished into the elastic member through the opening of the lid member.

1 is a perspective view of a single lever faucet with a faucet damper structure; FIG. It is a sectional view of damper structure for faucets. It is an exploded perspective view of the damper structure for faucets. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a state of an elastic member of the faucet damper structure when fluid is flowing inside the faucet. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the elastic member; FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of another embodiment of the elastic member; FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the elastic member; FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the elastic member; FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the elastic member;

[Embodiment]
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.
(Damper structure for faucets)
FIG. 1 shows an example in which a faucet damper structure 1 according to the present invention is applied to a single lever faucet 3. As shown in FIG. The faucet damper structure 1 according to the present invention is not limited to the single lever faucet 3, and may be applied to other types of faucets such as lever faucets and electromagnetic valve faucets.

The single-lever faucet 3 includes a faucet body 30, an operating lever 31, and a water stop valve (not shown). In this embodiment, the stop valve is provided inside the faucet main body 30 . It should be noted that water stop valves applicable to the present invention include not only valves that are manually opened and closed, but also electromagnetic valves.

A discharge part 4 from which water flows is connected to the upper side of the faucet body 30 , and a water supply pipe 5 and a hot water supply pipe 6 are connected to the lower side of the faucet body 30 . The flow pipe 7 has one end connected to the faucet main body 30 and the other end connected to the discharge portion 4 .

Water sent from the water supply pipe 5 and hot water sent from the hot water supply pipe 6 are mixed inside the faucet main body 30. - 特許庁The mixed water passes through the flow pipe 7 and once flows downward from the faucet main body 30, then changes direction and flows upward to the discharge portion 4, and then flows out from the discharge portion 4 to the outside.

The operation lever 31 is provided so as to be vertically rotatable with respect to the faucet main body 30 , and the amount of water can be adjusted by rotating the operation lever 31 . In this embodiment, the water stop valve is fully closed to stop the water when the operating lever 31 is positioned at the lower end of the rotation. When the operation lever 31 is rotated upward from the position of the lower end of the rotation, the opening of the water stop valve increases according to the amount of rotation, and more water flows out. When the operating lever 31 is positioned at the upper end of rotation, the water shut-off valve is fully opened and the water flow rate is maximized.

A faucet damper structure 1 according to the present embodiment includes a housing member 2 that can be attached to a flow pipe 7 in a state of communicating with the flow pipe 7 arranged downstream of a faucet body 30 having a water stop valve; The housing member 2 includes a cylindrical elastic member 22 that is housed inside the housing member 2 and that can be sealed and expanded/contracted and contains air.

The faucet damper structure 1 in the present embodiment is provided in the channel pipe 7 via the T-shaped pipe 8 at a position close to the faucet main body 30 .

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , the housing member 2 in this embodiment includes a nipple member 20 and a cylindrical outer cylinder member 21 . The housing member 2 is constructed by fitting a nipple member 20 to one end of an outer cylindrical member 21 . Although both the nipple member 20 and the outer cylinder member 21 are preferably made of metal, they may be made of resin. When the nipple member 20 and the outer cylinder member 21 are made of metal, examples of metal materials include stainless steel, brass, bronze, and gunmetal. When the nipple member 20 and the outer cylinder member 21 are made of resin, examples of resin materials include polyphenylene sulfide, polyacetal, polyamide, and polyphenylene oxide. As another form of the housing member 2, for example, a configuration in which the nipple member 20 and the outer cylinder member 21 are integrated may be used.

The elastic member 22 is composed of a cylindrical member with both ends opened, and one end thereof is closed by fitting a blind plug 222 into the end thereof. Incidentally, the blind plug 222 may be fixed by tightening the outer circumference of the elastic member 22 with a band or crimping it, if necessary. Moreover, the elastic member 22 in this embodiment has a constant thickness from one end to the other end in the longitudinal direction.

The constituent material of the elastic member 22 is not particularly limited as long as it is capable of contracting and expanding and satisfies the standards of the Waterworks Act. Examples of such materials include silicone rubber, fluororubber, ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM), styrene-based elastomer, and olefin-based elastomer. Further, the hardness of the elastic member 22 is desirably in the range of A50 to A80, for example.

The lid member 23 in this embodiment includes a first nipple 230, a second nipple 231, a hollow tube 232, a plug 233, a first ferrule 234, a first nut 235, a second ferrule 236, and a second nut 237. . The first nipple 230 and the second nipple 231 that are screwed together form a connection portion that is connected to the outer cylindrical member 21 . The first ferrule 234 and the first nut 235 constitute a first Swagelok joint, and the second ferrule 236 and the second nut 237 constitute a second Swagelok joint.

A first nipple 230 and a second nipple 231 forming connection portions are provided on the outer peripheral surface of one end side of the hollow tube 232, and are connected by a first ferrule 234 and a first nut 235 that constitute a first Swagelok joint. The positions of the connection portions (first nipple 230 and second nipple 231) are fixed. The blind plug 233 is detachably attached to the other end of the hollow tube 232 via a second ferrule 236 and a second nut 237 that constitute a second Swagelok joint. The other end of tube 232 is configured to be open. That is, the other end of the hollow tube 232 when the blind plug 233 is removed serves as an opening (not shown).

The first nipple 230, the second nipple 231, the hollow tube 232, the plug 233, the first ferrule 234, the first nut 235, the second ferrule 236, and the second nut 237, which constitute the lid member 23, are all made of metal. Although it is desirable to be made of resin, one made of resin may also be used. As another form of the lid member 23, for example, a first nipple 230, a second nipple 231, a hollow tube 232, a first ferrule 234, a first nut 235, and a second ferrule, which are members other than the blind plug 233, are provided. 236 and the second nut 237 may be integrated.

The end of the hollow tube 232 of the lid member 23 (the end on the side where the blind plug 233 is not provided) is fitted into the opening of the elastic member 22 . As a result, the elastic member 22 is connected so as to communicate with the hollow tube 232 of the lid member 23 and air is sealed inside the elastic member 22 . Even if the air contained in the elastic member 22 permeates over time, the air can be refilled into the elastic member 22 from the opening by removing the blind plug 233 of the lid member 23. - 特許庁

A first nipple 230 of the lid member 23 is screwed to the end of the outer cylindrical member 21 of the housing member 2 (the end on the side where the nipple member 20 is not provided). Thereby, the elastic member 22 is housed inside the housing member 2 . The size of the outer diameter of the elastic member 22 and the size of the inner diameter of the housing member 2 are such that the elastic member 22 interferes with the inner wall of the housing member 2 when the elastic member 22 is crushed and contracted under the pressure of running water. Therefore, it is desirable to design the elastic member 22 so that it is not completely crushed. With this configuration, when the water stop valve is closed and the water is stopped, the contracted elastic member 22 can more quickly expand and restore itself as the pressure of the flowing water decreases.

By screwing the nipple member 20 of the housing member 2 into the T-shaped tube 8 provided in the flow pipe 7, the faucet damper structure 1 is connected to the flow pipe 7 in a state of communication. Attached to tube 7 .

(Method for reducing noise at faucets when water is stopped)
A method of reducing noise when water is stopped in a faucet provided with the faucet damper structure 1 described above will be described.
The sound reduction method includes contracting the elastic member 22 when fluid is flowing inside the faucet and expanding the elastic member 22 when the flow of fluid is stopped by the stop valve.

Specifically, for example, when the operation lever 31 is operated to open the water stop valve, water (an example of fluid) flows through the faucet body 30 into the flow pipe 7, and part of the water is used for the faucet. It flows into the damper structure 1. At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, the elastic member 22 is crushed and contracted because the water pressure is applied to the elastic member 22 from the outside.

Next, when the water stop valve is closed by operating the operating lever 31 to stop the water, as shown in FIG. expands and restores. As a result, the negative pressure generated in the flow pipe 7 arranged on the downstream side of the stop valve of the water faucet body 30 is absorbed, and the subsequent positive pressure is also suppressed, resulting in water pressure waves (water hammer). Reduces the sound produced by

[Other embodiments]
1. The elastic member 22 in the above-described embodiment is a cylindrical member with both ends open, and one end thereof is provided with a blind plug, but it is not limited to this configuration. Alternatively, for example, as shown in FIG. 9, it may be configured by a cylindrical member with one end closed and the other end open.

2. When the elastic member 22 is a cylindrical member with one end closed and the other end open, as shown in FIG. can be In this embodiment, two grooves 220 having an arcuate cross-section are provided at opposing positions on the vertical cross-section of the elastic member 22 . No groove 220 is provided near the opening of the elastic member 22 . As in this configuration, the grooves 220 extending in the longitudinal direction are formed on the outer surface of the elastic member 22, so that when the elastic member 22 contracts, the grooves 220 deform and contract as shown in FIG. However, since a situation in which a portion of the elastic member 22 is locally stretched is unlikely to occur, cracks or the like are prevented from occurring in the elastic member 22 that is repeatedly contracted, expanded, and restored, and the durability of the elastic member 22 is improved. expected to improve.

3. When the elastic member 22 is configured as a cylindrical member with one end closed and the other end open, as shown in FIG. It's okay to be there. In this embodiment, four ridges 221 are provided at intervals of 90 degrees in the longitudinal section. The protrusion 221 is not provided near the opening of the elastic member 22 . As in this configuration, the longitudinally extending ridges 221 are formed on the inner surface of the elastic member 22, so that when the elastic member 22 is contracted, the inner surface of the elastic member 22 is prevented from being in a vacuum state. It is possible to prevent delays in expansion and restoration due to changes in pressure, and to mitigate pressure waves that occur during expansion.

4. Although the elastic member 22 shown in FIG. 9 has a constant thickness from one end to the other end in the longitudinal direction, it is not limited to this configuration. Alternatively, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, the elastic member 22 may have a configuration in which the thickness is continuously increased from one end to the other end in the longitudinal direction. According to this configuration, when the contracted elastic member 22 expands and restores, it expands and restores in order from the thicker portion (the other end side) to the thinner portion (the one end side). , and rapid expansion and restoration are suppressed. As a result, the pressure wave generated when the elastic member 22 expands and restores can be alleviated, and the generation of sound can be suppressed more effectively. In this embodiment, the inner diameter of the elastic member 22 becomes smaller from one end to the other end, but the configuration in which the thickness is continuously increased is not limited to this.

5. The configuration of the groove 220 shown in FIG. 5, the configuration of the ridge 221 shown in FIG. 7, and the configuration in which the thickness is continuously increased shown in FIG. may be combined with Further, even when the elastic member 22 is configured by a cylindrical member having both ends opened, the configuration of the groove 220 shown in FIG. 5, the configuration of the ridge 221 shown in FIG. You may arbitrarily combine the structure which thickness becomes thick continuously shown by FIG. 8 as needed.

6. The damper structure for a faucet according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. It may be a simple configuration such as just being arranged. In this arrangement, when water flows into the faucet damper structure, the resilient member is in a state of floating within the housing member.

It should be noted that the embodiments disclosed in this specification are exemplifications, and the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto, and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the scope of the present invention.

(Comparison test of volume and pressure in single lever faucet)
As shown in Table 1 below, various water dampers having different constituent materials, hardness, thickness (inner diameter and outer diameter dimensions), length and inner volume of the elastic member, and inner diameter of the housing member (damper diameter) A tap damper structure (Examples 1 to 8) was prepared and incorporated into a single lever faucet as shown in FIG. In addition, as a comparative example, a single-lever faucet that did not incorporate a faucet damper structure was similarly measured for the sound volume generated when the water was stopped and the pressure in the channel pipe. As for the volume, the volume detected by the microphone was displayed on a chart and the magnitude was quantified. The pressure was measured by connecting a pressure gauge to the channel tube. The results are shown in Table 1 below.

As shown in Table 1, the loudness of the sound when the water is stopped in the single lever faucet (Examples 1 to 8) incorporating the faucet damper structure according to the present invention is It was confirmed that the sound was reduced to a level lower than that of the single-lever faucet (comparative example) when the water supply was stopped. As for the pressure, according to the single lever faucet incorporating the faucet damper structure according to the present invention (Examples 1 to 8), the single lever faucet not incorporating the faucet damper structure (comparative example) It was confirmed that negative pressure is less likely to occur than in the case of . It was also confirmed that the smaller the inner diameter (damper diameter) of the housing member, the smaller the sound. It is considered that this is because the elastic member interferes with the inner wall of the housing member when the elastic member is contracted, so that the elastic member is not crushed completely.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be suitably used in the field of technology for suppressing the generation of noise at water faucets when water is stopped.

1: Faucet Damper Structure 2: Housing Member 20: Nipple Member 21: Outer Cylinder Member 22: Elastic Member 220: Groove 221: Ridge 222: Blind Plug 23: Lid Member 230: First Nipple 231: Second Nipple 232 : Hollow tube 233: Blind plug 234: First ferrule 235: First nut 236: Second ferrule 237: Second nut 3: Single lever faucet 30: Faucet body 31: Operation lever 4: Discharge part 5: Water Supply pipe 6: hot water supply pipe 7: channel pipe 8: T-shaped pipe

Claims (7)

a housing member that can be attached to the channel pipe in a state of communicating with the channel pipe arranged downstream of the water stop valve;
an elastic member housed inside the housing member,
the elastic member has a cylindrical shape, is filled with air, and is expandable and contractible;
A faucet damper structure in which the thickness is continuously increased from one end to the other end in the longitudinal direction of the elastic member . a housing member that can be attached to the channel pipe in a state of communicating with the channel pipe arranged downstream of the water stop valve;
an elastic member housed inside the housing member,
the elastic member has a cylindrical shape, is filled with air, and is expandable and contractible;
A damper structure for a water faucet , wherein a groove extending in a longitudinal direction is formed on the outer surface of the elastic member . a housing member that can be attached to the channel pipe in a state of communicating with the channel pipe arranged downstream of the water stop valve;
an elastic member housed inside the housing member,
the elastic member has a cylindrical shape, is filled with air, and is expandable and contractible;
A damper structure for a faucet , wherein a longitudinally extending ridge is formed on the inner surface of the elastic member . A damper structure for a faucet according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein a detachable lid member is provided at one end of said housing member, and said elastic member is connected to said lid member. 5. The water faucet damper structure according to claim 4 , wherein said elastic member is connected to said lid member in a state of communication, and said lid member is provided with an opening that can be freely opened and closed. A faucet comprising the faucet damper structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5 . A method for reducing sound in the faucet according to claim 6 ,
A method for reducing noise, comprising the step of contracting said elastic member when fluid is flowing inside a faucet and expanding said elastic member when said fluid is stopped by said stop valve.

Images