JP7362033B2 - automatic faucet device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an automatic faucet device equipped with a strainer.

BACKGROUND ART Functional parts (including, for example, electromagnetic valves) of an automatic water faucet device may suffer from malfunctions or other malfunctions even if small particles of dirt are mixed in therein. To prevent this, conventionally, strainers with finer meshes have been used compared to mechanical faucet devices such as so-called single-lever faucets and thermostatic faucets. Such a fine strainer is placed between the stop valve or the functional part of the automatic faucet device and the stop valve.

However, when the strainer is placed on a water stop valve, it is necessary to prepare a dedicated water stop valve that is different from a mechanical water faucet. In addition, when a strainer is placed between the functional part of an automatic faucet device and a stop valve, it is necessary to remove the functional part of the automatic faucet device from the stop valve when performing maintenance on such a strainer. was there.

In addition, when a strainer is placed between the functional part of an automatic faucet device and a stop valve, the strainer may fall off during installation or maintenance of the automatic faucet device. In some cases, the automatic faucet system was installed or restored without noticing that the strainer had fallen off (without the strainer installed). (This exposes the device to the risk of malfunctions due to the contamination of microscopic particles.)

Note that Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 disclose the basic form of the functional section of an automatic water faucet device.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-61918 Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-53525

The inventor of the present invention has discovered that by employing a cylindrical strainer, it is possible to realize a configuration in which only the strainer can be easily removed during maintenance, etc., without using a dedicated water stop valve.

The present invention has been made based on the above findings. An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic faucet device in which only the strainer can be easily removed during maintenance or the like, and there is no need to use a dedicated stop valve.

The present invention includes: a base; a flow path unit having a flow path therein; and a flow path unit that can be attached to and removed from the front side of the base; a filtration portion on at least a part of a peripheral surface; a cylindrical strainer that can be installed and removed from the front side in the flow path of the flow path unit, and an upstream side of the flow path of the flow path unit is in a space inside the filtration part of the cylindrical strainer. The automatic faucet device is characterized in that the downstream side of the flow path of the flow path unit communicates with a space outside the filtration portion of the cylindrical strainer.

According to the present invention, a cylindrical strainer is adopted so that the upstream side of the flow path of the flow path unit communicates with the space inside the filtration part of the cylindrical strainer, and the downstream side of the flow path of the flow path unit By configuring the side to communicate with the space outside the filtration part of the cylindrical strainer, it becomes possible to trap fine dust flowing from the upstream side inside the filtration part of the strainer. Additionally, during maintenance, etc., it is possible to create a layout where only the strainer that has trapped dirt inside can be easily removed, making it possible to prevent dirt from falling into the flow path and flowing downstream. .

Further, the automatic faucet device of the present invention includes a solenoid valve, which is attachable to and detachable from the flow path unit above the cylindrical strainer, and which is configured to connect the flow path of the flow path unit to the flow path unit. It is preferable to further include a solenoid valve unit configured to communicate or shut off communication by opening and closing the solenoid valve.

According to this, it is possible to suppress the automatic faucet device from moving forward, and it is possible to realize an automatic faucet device with good size balance as a whole.

Further, the flow path of the flow path unit is formed so that a cross-sectional area of the flow path gradually increases in a portion from a space outside the filtration portion of the cylindrical strainer toward the solenoid valve. is preferred.

According to this, pressure loss due to the flow path can be reduced, and the water flow toward the electromagnetic valve can be stabilized. This allows it to be used even at sites where the water supply pressure is low.

For example, the flow path of the flow path unit has an upward flow path extending upward from a space outside the filtration portion of the cylindrical strainer, and the electromagnetic valve unit is configured to When it is possible to attach and remove the upper end of the upward flow path, it is preferable that the upward flow path is formed such that the cross-sectional area of the flow path gradually increases as it goes upward.

The flow path unit or the solenoid valve unit may include a valve seat that is annular in plan view on which the solenoid valve is seated, and a recess that is annular in plan view adjacent to the outer circumferential side of the valve seat. In this case, it is further preferable that the upward flow path communicates with the annular recess at the upper end.

According to this, the water flow toward (the valve seat of) the electromagnetic valve can be supplied omnidirectionally through the annular recess in plan view. As a result, the force of water applied to the electromagnetic valve unit, particularly the diaphragm valve, can be averaged in the circumferential direction, and the opening and closing of the diaphragm valve can be stabilized. As a result, it is possible to suppress unreasonable deformation due to the application of a distorting force to the diaphragm valve, and the resulting reduction in service life.

Further, it is preferable that a constant flow valve is provided in a space inside the filtration part of the cylindrical strainer.

According to this, the space inside the filtration part of the cylindrical strainer can be effectively utilized, and an automatic faucet device that is space-saving as a whole can be realized.

In this case, it is further preferable that the constant flow valve is fitted on the rear side of the cylindrical strainer.

According to this, the cylindrical strainer and the constant flow valve can be handled integrally (attached or removed integrally), and maintenance is easy.

Furthermore, a pressure-resistant member is provided integrally with the cylindrical strainer, and the pressure-resistant member is fitted to the flow path unit, so that the strainer is connected to the flow path unit. Preferably, it is installed within the road.

According to this, since the strainer is held by fitting the pressure-resistant member and the flow path unit, there is no need to design the cylindrical strainer itself as a pressure-resistant member. This allows the strainer to be manufactured from a relatively low cost material such as POM.

According to the present invention, a cylindrical strainer is adopted so that the upstream side of the flow path of the flow path unit communicates with the space inside the filtration part of the cylindrical strainer, and the downstream side of the flow path of the flow path unit By configuring the side to communicate with the space outside the filtration part of the cylindrical strainer, it becomes possible to trap fine dust flowing from the upstream side inside the filtration part of the strainer. Additionally, during maintenance, etc., it is possible to create a layout where only the strainer that has trapped dirt inside can be easily removed, making it possible to prevent dirt from falling into the flow path and flowing downstream. .

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective sectional view of an automatic faucet device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the automatic faucet device of FIG. 1; FIG. 2 is a front view of the automatic faucet device of FIG. 1; FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective cross-sectional view of the water inlet side channel unit of the automatic faucet device of FIG. 1. FIG. FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective sectional view of the water inlet side channel unit of FIG. 4 viewed from above. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the water inlet side channel unit of FIG. 4. FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an automatic faucet device using a water outlet side flow path unit with a generator.

Next, an automatic faucet device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(composition)
1 is a schematic perspective sectional view of an automatic faucet device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of the automatic faucet device 1 of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of the automatic faucet device 1 of FIG. FIG. 1 is a front view of the automatic faucet device 1. FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the automatic water faucet device 1 of the present embodiment includes a base 10 having a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape (which may be in the shape of a casing), and a front side of the base 10 (see FIG. and flow path units 20 and 30 that can be attached and detached from the right side in FIG. 2).

The flow path unit of this embodiment includes a water outlet side flow path unit 20 and a water inlet side flow path unit 30. First, the water outlet side flow path unit 20 can be attached and removed from the front side of the base 10, and the water inlet side flow path unit 30 can be attached and removed from the front side of the water outlet side flow path unit 20. It can be installed and removed. Note that the front here refers to the direction in which the user approaches when using the automatic faucet device 1, and generally refers to the direction facing the washbasin or the wall surface to which the automatic faucet device 1 is attached. .

More specifically, the lower step portion 20s of the water outlet side flow path unit 20 is in contact with the step portion 10s of the base 10, and the upper recessed portion 20r of the water outlet side flow path unit 20 is aligned with the base 10. The water outlet side flow path unit 20 is attached to the base 10 from the front side (right side in FIGS. 1 and 2) so as to be engaged with the fitting part 10p.

The rear fitting recess 30r of the water inflow channel unit 30 is fitted into the front protrusion 20p of the water outflow channel unit 20 via an O-ring 92. Further, this fitted state is maintained by the restraining member 40 engaging with the key hole 30h of the rear side fitting recess 30r and the keyway 20k of the front side protrusion 20p.

The flow path of this embodiment includes a first flow path 31 extending upward from the lower area of the base 10 and a small diameter flow path extending forward from the upper end of the first flow path 31 by the water inlet side flow path unit 30. , a large-diameter third flow path 33 that continues from the second flow path 32 and extends further forward, and a front end of the third flow path 33 (a front end of the third flow path 33). In plan view, the fourth flow path 34 (upward flow path) extending upward from the end defined by the rear end of the pressure-resistant member 80 (described later) and the upper end of the fourth flow path 34 communicate with each other. An annular recess 35 (fifth flow path), a sixth flow path 36 that extends downward from the recess 35 via an annular valve seat 35v in plan view, and a lower end of the sixth flow path 36 A seventh flow path 37 extending from the rear side to the rear side is formed. The recess 35, which is annular in plan view, is adjacent to the outer peripheral side of the valve seat 35v, which is annular in plan view.

Furthermore, the flow path of this embodiment includes an eighth flow path 28 which communicates with the seventh flow path 37 (the central axis is offset) and further extends toward the rear side by the water outlet side flow path unit 20. A ninth flow path 29 extending from the rear end of the eight flow paths 28 to the upper region of the base 10 is formed.

Further, in the automatic faucet device 1 of this embodiment, the solenoid valve unit 50 can be attached to and removed from the upper end of the sixth channel 36 of the water inlet channel unit 30 from above.

More specifically, the electromagnetic valve unit 50 is inserted (fitted) into the upper fitting recess 30q of the water inlet channel unit 30 via the O-ring 95.

In the electromagnetic valve unit 50 of this embodiment, the pilot hole 56 can be opened and closed by moving the pilot valve 54 by the magnetic force provided by the electromagnetic coil 55.

When the pilot hole 56 is opened, the back pressure chamber 53 communicates with the seventh flow path 37 or the eighth flow path 28 via the pilot passage 57, that is, the water in the back pressure chamber 53 flows into the seventh flow path. 37 or the eighth flow path 28, the back pressure in the back pressure chamber 53 decreases, the diaphragm 52 is elastically deformed, and the main valve body 51 is separated from the valve seat 35v, that is, the main valve body 51 is opened. It has become so.

When the pilot hole 56 is closed, the communication state between the back pressure chamber 53 and the pilot passage 57 is cut off, the back pressure in the back pressure chamber 53 returns to the original balanced state, and the main valve body 51 is moved to the valve seat 35v. In other words, the main valve body 51 is closed.

Further, the third flow path 33 of the water inlet side flow path unit 30 has a stepped cylindrical shape (it may have a gently tapered approximately conical shape) that tapers in stages toward the rear side (left side in FIG. 2). The cylindrical strainer 70 is inserted (fitted) from the front side through an O-ring 97.

The strainer 70 has a filtration part 71 on at least a part of the circumferential surface, and the upstream side of the flow path (second flow path 32) has a space 72 inside the filtration part 71 of the cylindrical strainer 70. On the other hand, the downstream side of the flow path (third flow path 33) communicates with a space outside the filtration part 71 of the cylindrical strainer 70.

Further, a constant flow valve 73 is provided in a space 72 inside the filtration part 71 of the strainer 70 and in a region on the side communicating with the second flow path 32 . The constant flow valve 73 is fitted on the rear side of the cylindrical strainer 70.

In addition, a pressure-resistant member 80 is provided on the front side of the cylindrical strainer 70. The pressure-resistant member 80 is screwed into the front female screw portion 30t extending further forward of the third flow path 33 of the water inlet side flow path unit 30 via an O-ring 98. The rear end of the strainer 70 defines the front end of the space 72 inside the filtration part 71 and the front end of the third flow path 33 .

Further, the fourth flow path 34 (upward flow path) of the present embodiment is formed so that the cross-sectional area of the flow path gradually increases as it goes upward. Regarding this, a supplementary explanation will be given with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective sectional view of the water inlet side flow path unit 30 of the automatic faucet device 1 of FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective cross section of the water inlet side flow path unit 30 of FIG. 6 is a plan view of the water inlet side channel unit 30 of FIG. 4. FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the fourth flow path 34 (upward flow path) of the present embodiment wraps around the cylindrical wall that defines the sixth flow path 36, and the flow goes upward. The road cross-sectional area is gradually expanding.

More specifically, the fourth flow path 34 (upward flow path) of the present embodiment communicates with the third flow path 33 via an opening hole 34h (see FIG. 6) on the lower surface side, and On both the left and right sides of 34h, the cylinder wall that defines the sixth flow path 36 gradually expands into the cylindrical space further outside the cylindrical wall that defines the sixth flow path 36 as it goes upward, and at the upper end thereof, the cylinder that defines the sixth flow path 36. It smoothly transitions (continuously) into an annular recess 35 surrounding the wall (surrounding the valve seat 35v). The opening hole 34h is opened in a part of the lower region of the cylindrical space further outside the cylindrical wall defining the sixth flow path 36, and may have an arc shape.

(effect)
According to the automatic faucet device 1 of the present embodiment described above, the cylindrical strainer 70 is adopted, and the upstream side of the flow path (second flow path 32) is connected to the filtration part 71 of the strainer 70. While communicating with the inner space 72, the downstream side of the flow path (third flow path 33) communicates with the space outside of the filtration part 71 of the strainer 70, so that the water flowing from the upstream side Fine dust can be trapped inside the filtration part of the strainer 70, and only the strainer 70 with dust trapped inside can be easily removed from the front side during maintenance or the like. Thereby, it is possible to suppress dust from falling into the flow path and flowing out downstream.

Further, according to the automatic faucet device 1 of the present embodiment, the solenoid valve unit 50 that communicates or shuts off the flow path of the flow path unit by opening and closing the solenoid valve (the main valve body 51 via the pilot valve 54) It can be attached to and removed from the upper end of the sixth flow path 36 of the side flow path unit 30 from above (the valve seat 35v and the main valve body 51 are aligned). Thereby, it is easy to remove the solenoid valve unit 50 during maintenance, etc., and the maintenance work of the solenoid valve unit 50 is easy.

Further, according to the automatic faucet device 1 of the present embodiment, since the solenoid valve unit 50 and the strainer 70 are vertically arranged side by side, it is possible to suppress the flow path from moving forward, and the overall size balance is good. An automatic faucet device 1 can be realized.

Further, according to the automatic faucet device 1 of the present embodiment, the fourth flow path goes from the space outside the filtration part 71 of the cylindrical strainer 70 to the solenoid valve (the main valve body 51 of the solenoid valve unit 50). 34 (upward flow path) wraps around the cylindrical wall defining the sixth flow path 36, so that the cross-sectional area of the flow path gradually increases toward the upper side. Thereby, pressure loss due to the flow path can be reduced, and the water flow toward the solenoid valve (main valve body 51 of the solenoid valve unit 50) can be stabilized. This allows it to be used even at sites where the supply water pressure is low.

In particular, the fourth flow path 34 (upward flow path) of the present embodiment communicates with the third flow path 33 via an opening hole 34h on the lower surface side (see FIG. 6), and is connected to the left and right sides of the opening hole 34h. On both sides, the solenoid valve gradually expands upward into the cylindrical space further outside the cylindrical wall defining the sixth flow path 36, so that the solenoid valve can be operated without requiring a significant increase in space. The water flow toward (the main valve body 51 of the electromagnetic valve unit 50) can be effectively stabilized.

Furthermore, the fourth flow path 34 (upward flow path) of this embodiment has a smooth groove formed in the annular recess 35 surrounding the cylindrical wall defining the sixth flow path 36 (surrounding the valve seat 35v) at the upper end. By transitioning (continuously) to the annular recess 35, the water flow toward the valve seat 35v of the solenoid valve (the main valve body 51 of the solenoid valve unit 50) can be supplied in all directions through the annular recess 35. can. Thereby, the force of water applied to the electromagnetic valve unit 50, particularly the diaphragm 52 (diaphragm valve), can be averaged in the circumferential direction, and the opening and closing of the diaphragm 52 can be stabilized. As a result, it is possible to suppress unreasonable deformation due to the application of a distorting force to the diaphragm 52, and the resulting reduction in service life.

Moreover, according to the automatic faucet device 1 of this embodiment, the constant flow valve 73 is provided in the space 72 inside the filtering part 71 of the cylindrical strainer 70. Thereby, the space 72 inside the filtration part 71 of the cylindrical strainer 70 can be effectively utilized, and the automatic water faucet device 1 that is space-saving as a whole can be realized.

Furthermore, according to the automatic faucet device 1 of this embodiment, the constant flow valve 73 is fitted on the rear side of the cylindrical strainer 70. Thereby, it is easy to handle the cylindrical strainer 70 and the constant flow valve 73 as one (install or remove them as one).

Furthermore, according to the automatic faucet device 1 of this embodiment, the pressure-resistant member 80 is provided integrally with the cylindrical strainer 70, and by fitting the pressure-resistant member 80 to the flow path unit, the strainer 70 is installed in the flow path of the flow path unit. The pressure member 80 is preferably made of a hard material such as glass-filled PPS in order to ensure pressure resistance. Since the strainer 70 is held by fitting the pressure-resistant member 80 and the flow path unit, there is no need to design the cylindrical strainer 70 itself as a pressure-resistant member, so the strainer 70 can be made of a relatively low-cost material such as POM. It becomes possible to manufacture from

In the automatic faucet device 1 of this embodiment, the water outlet side flow path unit 20 can be replaced with a water outlet side flow path unit 120 equipped with a generator equipped with a generator 125 that generates water current power. FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the automatic faucet device 1 when the water outlet side flow path unit 20 is replaced with a water outlet side flow path unit 120 equipped with a generator.

The water outlet side flow path unit 120 with a generator has an engagement recess (not shown) that engages with a rib 10r (see FIG. 2) of the base 10, and the rib 10r and the engagement recess engage with each other. By fitting together, they are held on the base 10.

As shown in FIG. 7, the water outlet side flow path unit 120 with a generator also has the eighth flow path 128 and the ninth flow path 29, similar to the eighth flow path 28 and the ninth flow path 29 of the water outlet side flow path unit 20. 129. Further, in order to hold the water inlet side flow path unit 30, it has a keyway 120k similar to the keyway 20k.

1 Automatic faucet device 10 Base 10p Fitting part 10r Rib 10s Step part 20 Water outlet side flow path unit 20k Keyway 20p Front side protrusion 20r Recessed part 20s Step part 28 8th flow path 29 9th flow path 30 Water inlet side flow Channel unit 30h Key hole 30q Upper side fitting recess 30r Rear side fitting recess 30t Front female screw section 31 First flow path 32 Second flow path 33 Third flow path 34 Fourth flow path 34h Opening hole 35 Recess 35v Valve seat 36 Sixth channel 37 Seventh channel 40 Suppressing member 50 Solenoid valve unit 51 Main valve body 52 Diaphragm 53 Back pressure chamber 54 Pilot valve 55 Solenoid coil 56 Pilot hole 57 Pilot passage 70 Strainer 71 Filtration section 72 Space 73 Constant flow valve 80 Pressure-resistant member 92 O-ring 95 O-ring 97 O-ring 98 O-ring 120 Water outlet side flow path unit with generator 120k Keyway 125 Generator 128 8th flow path 129 9th flow path

Claims (8)

The base and
a flow path unit that has a flow path inside and can be attached to and removed from the base from the front side;
a cylindrical strainer that has a filtration part on at least a portion of its peripheral surface and that can be installed and removed from the front side within the flow path of the flow path unit;
Equipped with
The upstream side of the flow path of the flow path unit communicates with a space inside the filtration section of the cylindrical strainer, and the downstream side of the flow path of the flow path unit communicates with the filtration section of the cylindrical strainer. An automatic faucet device characterized in that the faucet communicates with an outside space. It has a solenoid valve, and is attachable to and detachable from the flow path unit above the cylindrical strainer, and is configured to communicate or block the flow path of the flow path unit by opening and closing the solenoid valve. The automatic faucet device according to claim 1, further comprising a solenoid valve unit. The flow path of the flow path unit is formed such that a cross-sectional area of the flow path gradually increases in a portion extending from a space outside the filtration portion of the cylindrical strainer toward the solenoid valve. The automatic faucet device according to claim 2. The flow path of the flow path unit has an upward flow path extending upward from a space outside the filtration part of the cylindrical strainer,
The solenoid valve unit is attachable to and detachable from the upper end of the upward flow path,
4. The automatic water faucet device according to claim 3, wherein the upward flow path is formed so that the cross-sectional area of the flow path gradually increases as it goes upward. The flow path unit or the solenoid valve unit has a valve seat that is annular in plan view on which the solenoid valve is seated, and a recess that is annular in plan view adjacent to the outer circumferential side of the valve seat. ,
The automatic faucet device according to claim 4, wherein the upward flow path communicates with the annular recess at an upper end. The automatic water faucet device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a constant flow valve is provided in a space inside the filtration part of the cylindrical strainer. 7. The automatic faucet device according to claim 6, wherein the constant flow valve is fitted on the rear side of the cylindrical strainer. A pressure-resistant member is provided integrally with the cylindrical strainer,
8. The automatic faucet device according to claim 7, wherein the strainer is installed in the flow path of the flow path unit by fitting the pressure-resistant member into the flow path unit.

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