JP7382571B2 - Electrolyzed water generator - Google Patents

Description

The present disclosure relates to an electrolyzed water generating device.

BACKGROUND ART Electrolyzed water generating devices that receive raw water and generate electrolyzed water such as ozonated water have been developed. A conventional electrolyzed water generating device includes an anode, a cathode, and a cation exchange membrane provided between the anode and the cathode. Further, the conventional electrolyzed water generating device includes a housing that has an inlet through which water flows and an outlet through which water flows out, and includes an anode, a cathode, and a cation exchange membrane. Further, the conventional electrolyzed water generating device includes two power supply shafts that are electrically connected to the anode and the cathode, respectively, and extend in a predetermined direction so as to penetrate through the two through holes of the housing.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-176993

In the conventional electrolyzed water generating device described above, electrolyzed water can be favorably generated by arranging the anode, the cathode, and the cation exchange membrane in an appropriate positional relationship. However, if a shift occurs in the positional relationship between the anode, the cathode, and the cation exchange membrane, there is a risk that the electrolyzed water production performance will deteriorate. Therefore, it is required to maintain an appropriate positional relationship between the anode, the cathode, and the cation exchange membrane.

The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the prior art. An object of the present invention is to provide an electrolyzed water generating device that can reduce the possibility that the anode, cathode, and cation exchange membrane will be misaligned.

An electrolyzed water generation device according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes an anode, a cathode, an ion exchange membrane provided between the anode and the cathode, an inlet through which water flows, and an outlet through which the water flows out. a housing for accommodating the anode, the cathode, and the ion exchange membrane; two power supply shafts each electrically connected to the anode and the cathode and extending in a predetermined direction; a spring portion connecting each of the cathodes and the power feeding shaft; the spring portion has a shaft engaging portion that engages with the power feeding shaft; one end is connected to the shaft engaging portion; the other end is connected to the shaft engaging portion; It is composed of an anode or a connecting portion connected to the cathode.

According to the electrolyzed water generation device according to the aspect of the present disclosure, even if a load is applied to the power supply shaft, the spring portion absorbs the positional shift of the power supply shaft based on the load. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the positional deviation from having an adverse effect on at least one of the anode and the cathode.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an electrolyzed water generating device according to an embodiment. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along the width direction of the electrolyzed water generating device of the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a partial plan view showing the positional relationship between the cathode, the spring section, and the power supply shaft of the electrolyzed water generating device according to the embodiment. It is an enlarged view of the 1st perspective cross section of the power supply shaft of the electrolyzed water generation device of an embodiment. It is an enlarged view of the 2nd perspective cross section of the power supply shaft of the electrolyzed water generation device of an embodiment. It is a partial perspective view which shows the positional relationship of the anode, the spring part, and the power supply shaft of another example of the electrolyzed water generation apparatus of embodiment.

Hereinafter, an electrolyzed water generation system of each embodiment and an electrolyzed water generation device used therein will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, parts with the same reference numerals have the same functions, unless otherwise specified, even if there are slight differences in shape in the drawings. do.

In this embodiment, the electrolyzed water generating device 100 is an ozonated water generating device that generates ozonated water as electrolyzed water. Ozonated water is effective in sterilization and decomposition of organic matter, so it is used in the water treatment, food, and medical fields, and has the advantages of low persistence and no byproducts. ing.

In this specification, the X direction in FIG. 1 is a direction along the water flow path, and is referred to as a water flow direction. As shown in FIG. 1, the electrolyzed water generating device 100 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape with the X direction being the longitudinal direction. The Y direction in FIG. 1 is a direction that crosses the water flow path, and is called the width direction. It is assumed that the Y direction is a direction along a horizontal plane. The Z direction in FIG. 1 is the direction in which electrodes and conductive films are stacked, and is called the stacking direction. In FIG. 1, the up-down direction is shown as the Z direction, with the lid 2 of the electrolyzed water generation device 100 being positioned on the upper side. The X direction, Y direction, and Z direction are not limited to the combination of directions shown in FIG. 1, and the electrolyzed water generation device 100 may be provided in any orientation.

However, it is desirable that the electrolyzed water generating device 100 of the embodiment be incorporated into another device in such a posture that its flow path extends along the vertical direction. More specifically, it is preferable to incorporate the electrolyzed water generating device 100 into another device in such a position that its inlet Fin faces downward and its outlet Fout faces upward. In other words, the attitude of the electrolyzed water generating device 100 is preferably set so that water flows from below to above. The reason for this is that it is preferable to quickly separate ozone from the surface of the anode A before the ozone generated on the surface of the anode A grows into bubbles. That is, when the inlet Fin faces downward and the outlet faces upward, ozone quickly leaves the surface of the anode A due to buoyancy. According to this, ozone is prevented from remaining in the form of bubbles and easily dissolves in water, thereby improving the production efficiency of ozone water. However, the electrolyzed water generating device 100 may be incorporated into another device in any posture other than the posture in which the flow path extends along the vertical direction.

As shown in FIG. 1, the electrolyzed water generation device 100 includes an anode A consisting of a power supply F and an anode body AM, a cathode C, and a cation exchange membrane I provided between the anode A and the cathode C. , is equipped with. In this embodiment, an example is shown in which the anode A is made up of an anode main body AM and a power supply F, but the anode A may be made of one material or may be made of three or more materials. You can leave it there.

The power supply F, the anode main body AM, the cation exchange membrane I, and the cathode C constitute a laminated structure 4. The power supply F, the anode main body AM, the ion exchange membrane, and the cathode C all have a flat plate shape. The flat plate shape has a rectangular planar shape with the longitudinal direction in the X direction, that is, the water flow direction, and the short direction in the Y direction, that is, the width direction, and has a thickness in the Z direction, that is, the lamination direction. ing. The power supply F, the anode body AM, the cation exchange membrane I, and the cathode C are stacked in this order from bottom to top in the Z direction.

The cathode C has a V-shaped through hole in plan view. The cation exchange membrane I is provided with a plurality of through holes in a direction transverse to the water flow direction. Ozone is generated in the through holes of the cathode C and the through holes of the cation exchange membrane I, and is dissolved in the water in the container part 1. This produces ozonated water.

As shown in FIG. 1, the electrolyzed water generating device 100 of this embodiment includes a housing 5. As shown in FIG. The housing 5 has an inlet Fin through which water flows and an outlet Fout through which water flows out, and includes an anode A, a cathode C, and a cation exchange membrane I. The housing 5 includes a container part 1 that receives a power supply F, an anode A, a cathode C, and a cation exchange membrane I, and a lid part 2 that closes an opening of the container part 1.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an elastic body 3 is placed at the bottom of the container portion 1. As shown in FIGS. A laminated structure 4 is placed on the elastic body 3. The lid part 2 is fixed to the upper surface of the container part 1 so as to press down the laminated structure 4.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the housing 5 includes a positioning recess T that fits into the protrusion P of the external device 200. As shown in FIGS. Therefore, the electrolyzed water generating device 100 can be easily positioned relative to the external device 200. In this embodiment, the positioning recess T is provided in the lid part 2. Therefore, the container portion 1 having the positioning recess T can be formed while suppressing a decrease in strength due to the positioning recess T. However, the positioning recess T may be provided in the container part 1. Further, the electrolyzed water generating device 100 may have a positioning convex portion instead of the positioning concave portion T, and the external device 200 may have a concave portion instead of the convex portion P. That is, the positioning recess T and the protrusion P may be replaced with any shape as long as they fit into each other.

The external device 200 has a claw portion 201 hanging from its outer edge. The electrolyzed water generating device 100 is inserted between the claws 201 of the external device 200 so that the claws 201 of the external device 200 are hooked to the lower side of the flange 12 extending outward from the upper end of the container 1. . Thereby, the electrolyzed water generating device 100 is fixed to the external device 200. Note that the external device 200 is a device that uses electrolyzed water, such as ozone water, generated by the electrolyzed water generating device 100.

The lid portion 2 includes a thin portion 21 having a relatively small wall thickness and a thick portion 22 having a relatively large wall thickness. The positioning recess T is provided in the thick portion 22 . Therefore, it is possible to suppress the strength of the lid portion 2 from decreasing. The positioning recess T is a groove extending along the longitudinal direction of the lid 2. Therefore, the electrolyzed water generating device 100 can be stably positioned with respect to the convex portion P of the external device 200.

The lid portion 2 includes a laser-transparent resin having a color that allows laser light to pass therethrough relatively easily. The container portion 1 contains a laser-absorbing resin of a color that relatively easily absorbs laser light. Laser light is irradiated onto the thin wall portion 21 from above the lid portion 2 in the Z direction. Thereby, the laser light transmitted through the thin wall portion 21 heats the lower surface of the thin wall portion 21 of the lid portion 2 and the upper surface of the container portion 1. As a result, in this embodiment, the thin wall portion 21 of the lid portion 2 and the container portion 1 are fixed to each other by laser resin welding. According to this, the lid part 2 and the container part 1 can be easily fixed. In addition, the container part 1 has a color close to black or black, and the lid part 2 has a transparent or white color or a color close to it.

Further, in the thin wall portion 21 of the lid portion 2, the container convex portion 11 is inserted into a groove formed in the lid portion 2. Therefore, the lid part 2 and the container part 1 can be firmly fixed.

As shown in FIG. 1, the anode A is electrically connected to the power supply shaft AS for the anode A. The anode A and the power supply shaft AS for the anode A are connected via a spring portion B for the anode A. A power supply shaft AS for the anode A is inserted into a through hole 1A provided on the bottom surface of the container portion 1. A portion of the power supply shaft AS for the anode A that protrudes to the outside of the container portion 1 is electrically connected to the positive electrode of the power supply portion.

As shown in FIG. 1, a power supply shaft CS for the cathode C is electrically connected to the cathode C. The cathode C and the power supply shaft CS for the cathode C are connected via a spring portion B for the cathode C. A power supply shaft CS for the cathode C is inserted into a through hole 1C provided on the bottom surface of the container portion 1. A portion of the power supply shaft CS for the cathode C that protrudes to the outside of the container portion 1 is electrically connected to the negative electrode of the power supply portion.

A portion of the power supply shaft AS for the anode A that protrudes to the outside of the container portion 1 and a portion of the power supply shaft CS for the cathode C that protrudes to the outside of the container portion 1 are connected to an O-ring O, a washer W, a washer S, and a portion of the power supply shaft CS for the cathode C, respectively. Insert into hexagonal nut N. As a result, the power supply F, anode A, cation exchange membrane I, and cathode C that constitute the laminated structure 4 can be fixed by tightening the hexagonal nuts N.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the electrolyzed water generation device 100 is electrically connected to an anode A and a cathode C, and is oriented in a predetermined direction so as to penetrate through the two through holes 1A and 1C of the housing 5, respectively. It includes two extending power supply shafts AS and CS. The power supply shafts AS, CS and the through holes 1A, 1C each have an engaging portion SE and an engaged portion that engage with each other so as to suppress displacement of the power supply shafts AS, CS with respect to the through holes 1A, 1C in a predetermined direction. Contains part 1E. According to this, it is possible to suppress misalignment in a predetermined direction in which the power supply shafts AS and CS extend, that is, in the axial direction.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the engaging portion SE is a step convex portion in which the diameter of the power supply shafts AS, CS is smaller on the outside of the housing 5 than on the inside of the housing 5. Specifically, each of the power supply shaft AS and the power supply shaft CS has a relatively large diameter, and has a relatively smaller diameter than the first shaft portion and the first shaft portion that extend along a predetermined direction. and a second shaft portion extending along a predetermined direction. The first shaft portion extends inwardly from the bottom of the housing 5 and the second shaft portion extends outwardly from the bottom of the housing 5. The engaging portion SE is constituted by a stepped convex portion between the first shaft portion and the second shaft portion.

The engaged portion 1E is a stepped through hole in which the diameters of the through holes 1A and 1C are smaller on the outside of the housing 5 than on the inside of the housing 5. Specifically, each of the through holes 1A and 1C has a relatively large diameter, and is relatively smaller than the first through hole portion and the first through hole portion extending along a predetermined direction. and a second through-hole portion having a diameter and extending along a predetermined direction. The first through hole portion is provided on the inside of the bottom surface of the housing 5, and the second through hole portion is provided on the outside of the bottom surface of the housing 5. The engaged portion 1E is constituted by a stepped through hole between a first through hole portion and a second through hole portion.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, in the electrolyzed water generation device 100, the power supply shafts AS, CS and the through holes 1A, 1C each include a fitting part SF and a fitted part 1F that fit into each other. . Thereby, rotation of the power supply shaft AS with respect to the through hole 1A with the predetermined direction as the rotation axis and rotation of the power supply shaft CS with respect to the through hole 1C with the predetermined direction as the rotation axis can be suppressed. In other words, it is possible to suppress the rotation of each of the power supply shafts AS and CS around a predetermined direction.

In the present embodiment, the fitting portion SF is the outer plane portion of each of the power supply shafts AS and CS extending along a predetermined direction, and the fitted portion 1F is a through hole extending along a predetermined direction. These are the inner plane parts of 1A and 1C. Therefore, each of the fitting part SF and the fitted part 1F can be easily formed. However, the fitting part SF and the fitted part 1F may have any shape as long as they fit into each other and prevent the power supply shaft AS and the power supply shaft CS from rotating around a predetermined direction. may have.

The electrolyzed water generating device 100 includes two spring parts B that connect the anode A and the cathode C to the power supply shafts AS and CS, respectively. The spring portion B absorbs the positional deviation between the anode A and the power supply shaft AS for the anode A, and the positional shift between the cathode C and the power supply shaft CS for the cathode C. Therefore, even if a load is applied to the power supply shafts AS, CS, the spring portion B absorbs the positional deviation of the power supply shafts AS, CS based on the load. It is possible to suppress the occurrence of adverse effects on the environment.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the spring portion B has a spiral shape so as to rotate about a predetermined direction as the central axis of rotation. Therefore, the spring portion B more effectively absorbs the positional deviation between the anode A and the power supply shaft AS for the anode A, and the positional deviation between the cathode C and the power supply shaft CS for the cathode C. As a result, it is possible to more effectively prevent the positional shift from having an adverse effect on at least one of the anode A and the cathode C.

The spring portion B may have any shape, for example, the shape shown in FIG. 6. Further, in this embodiment, the two spring parts B are formed integrally with the cathode C and the anode A, respectively, but the spring parts formed separately and independently form the cathode C and the anode A, respectively. It may be fixed to .

Although the electrolyzed water generating device 100 of the embodiment is an ozonated water generating device that generates ozonated water, the substance to be generated is not limited to ozone. For example, the electrolyzed water generating device may exhibit a sterilizing effect by generating hypochlorous acid. Further, the electrolyzed water generating device may be one that generates oxygen water, hydrogen water, chlorine-containing water, hydrogen peroxide water, or the like.

The anode A of the electrolyzed water generating device 100 of this embodiment can generate electrolyzed water of conductive silicon, conductive diamond, titanium, platinum, lead oxide, tantalum oxide, etc., and has high conductivity and durability. It may be made of any substance as long as it has. For example, the anode body AM is made of conductive diamond, and the power feeder F is made of titanium. Further, when the anode A is a diamond electrode, the method for manufacturing the anode A is not limited to a method of manufacturing by film formation, and materials other than metal may be used.

The cathode C may be any electrode that is conductive and durable, and may be made of, for example, platinum, titanium, stainless steel, conductive silicon, or the like.

The electrolyzed water generating device 100 of this embodiment can be used by being attached to a device that makes it possible to increase the concentration of electrolyzed water generated in an electrolyzed solution. The devices include, for example, water treatment equipment such as a water purification device, a washing machine, a dishwasher, a heated toilet seat, a refrigerator, a hot water supply device, a sterilization device, a medical device, an air conditioner, or a kitchen device.

Hereinafter, the characteristic configuration of the electrolyzed water generating device 100 of the embodiment and the effects obtained thereby will be described.

(1) The electrolyzed water generating device 100 includes an anode A, a cathode C, and a cation exchange membrane I provided between the anode A and the cathode C. The electrolyzed water generating device 100 includes a housing 5 that includes an anode A, a cathode C, and an ion exchange membrane I, and has an inlet Fin through which water flows and an outlet Fout through which water flows out. The electrolyzed water generation device 100 includes two power supply shafts AS and CS that are electrically connected to an anode A and a cathode C, respectively, and extend in a predetermined direction so as to penetrate through two through holes 1A and 1C of the housing 5, respectively. There is. The power supply shafts AS, CS and the through holes 1A, 1C each have an engaging portion SE and an engaged portion that engage with each other so as to suppress displacement of the power supply shafts AS, CS with respect to the through holes 1A, 1C in a predetermined direction. Contains part 1E. According to this, it is possible to suppress positional deviation in the predetermined direction in which the power supply shafts AS, CS extend.

(2) The power supply shafts AS, CS have a first shaft portion that has a relatively large diameter and extends along a predetermined direction, and a first shaft portion that has a relatively smaller diameter than the first shaft portion and extends in a predetermined direction. and a second shaft portion extending along the direction. An engaging portion is formed by a stepped convex portion between the first shaft portion and the second shaft portion. The through holes 1A and 1C have a first through hole portion that has a relatively large diameter and extends in a predetermined direction, and a first through hole portion that has a relatively smaller diameter than the first through hole portion and extends in a predetermined direction. and a second through hole portion extending along. An engaged portion is formed by a stepped through hole between the first through hole portion and the second through hole portion. According to this, the power supply shafts AS, CS and the through holes 1A, 1C can be easily formed.

(3) The electrolyzed water generating device 100 includes an anode A, a cathode C, and a cation exchange membrane I provided between the anode A and the cathode C. The electrolyzed water generating device 100 includes a housing 5 that includes an anode A, a cathode C, and a cation exchange membrane I, and has an inlet Fin through which water flows and an outlet Fout through which water flows out. The electrolyzed water generation device 100 includes two power supply shafts AS and CS that are electrically connected to an anode A and a cathode C, respectively, and extend in a predetermined direction so as to penetrate through two through holes 1A and 1C of the housing 5, respectively. There is. In the electrolyzed water generation device 100, the power supply shafts AS, CS and the through holes 1A, 1C fit into each other so as to suppress rotation of the power supply shafts AS, CS with respect to the through holes 1A, 1C, respectively, with a predetermined direction as the rotation axis. It includes a fitting part SF and a fitted part 1F that fit together. According to this, rotation around the predetermined direction in which the power supply shafts AS, CS extend can be suppressed.

(4) The fitting portion SF is an outer plane surface of the power supply shafts AS, CS extending along a predetermined direction, and the fitted portion 1F is an inner plane surface of the through holes 1A, 1C extending along a predetermined direction. It may be a department. According to this, the fitting part SF and the fitted part 1F can be easily formed.

(5) The electrolyzed water generating device 100 includes an anode A, a cathode C, and a cation exchange membrane I provided between the anode A and the cathode C. The electrolyzed water generating device 100 includes a housing 5 that includes an anode A, a cathode C, and a cation exchange membrane I, and has an inlet Fin through which water flows and an outlet Fout through which water flows out. The electrolyzed water generation device 100 includes two power supply shafts AS and CS that are electrically connected to an anode A and a cathode C, respectively, and extend in a predetermined direction so as to penetrate through two through holes 1A and 1C of the housing 5, respectively. There is. The electrolyzed water generating device 100 includes two spring parts B that connect the anode A and the cathode C to the power supply shafts AS and CS, respectively. According to this, even if a load occurs on the power supply shafts AS, CS, the spring portion B absorbs the positional deviation of the power supply shafts AS, CS based on the load. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the positional shift from having an adverse effect on at least one of the anode A and the cathode C.

(6) The spring portion B may have a spiral shape so as to rotate about a predetermined direction as the central axis of rotation. According to this, it is possible to more effectively prevent the positional shift from having an adverse effect on at least one of the anode A and the cathode C.

1A, 1C Through hole 1E Engaged part 1F Fitted part 5 Housing 100 Electrolyzed water generator A Anode AS Power supply shaft (Power supply shaft for anode)
B Spring part C Cathode CS Power supply shaft (power supply shaft for cathode)
I Cation exchange membrane Fin Inlet Fout Outlet SE Engagement part SF Fitting part

Claims (2)

an anode;
a cathode;
an ion exchange membrane provided between the anode and the cathode;
a housing having an inlet through which water flows and an outlet through which the water flows out, and housing the anode, the cathode, and the ion exchange membrane;
two power supply shafts each electrically connected to the anode and the cathode and extending in a predetermined direction;
Two electrodes located at longitudinal ends of the anode and the cathode, interposed between the anode and the cathode and the power supply shaft, and connecting the anode and the cathode with the power supply shaft. comprising a spring portion;
The electrolyzed water generating device is configured such that the spring part has a shaft engaging part that engages with the power supply shaft at one end, and the other end is connected to the anode or the cathode. The electrolyzed water generating device according to claim 1, wherein the spring portion has a spiral shape so as to rotate about the predetermined direction as a rotation center axis.

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