JP7396563B1 - Fine bubble generator - Google Patents

Abstract

The inventors have investigated techniques by which ultra-fine bubbles, defined as bubbles having a relatively small bubble diameter of less than 1 micrometer, are generated. However, with such technology, it is not only difficult to confirm minute ultra-fine bubbles with the naked eye, but also with an observation mechanism that has a resolution at the microscopic resolution level, making it difficult for users to identify purified water containing significant bubbles. The inventors have found that ambiguity is a concern, as generation often cannot be convincingly confirmed. It has an irradiator 1600 that irradiates a light beam 1930 to water 1910 at a predetermined location inside the pipe 1230, and an imager 1700 that images the water 1910 at a predetermined location, and the density of fine bubbles 1920 contained in the water 1910. is a fine bubble generating device 1000 that is measured by using image analysis of water 1910 captured by an imager 1700.

Description

The present invention relates to a fine bubble generator that generates fine bubbles in a water tank such as a bathtub, for example.

Ultra-fine technology includes a filtration process in which a mixture of bubbles and liquid with diameters on the order of nanometers is filtered through a polymer filtration membrane made of a material selected from among materials including at least polypropylene and nylon. A fine bubble generator using a method for producing bubble liquid is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

It is said that such technology can provide a method for producing ultra-fine bubble liquid that can remove microorganisms, fine particles, etc. under mild conditions.

Fine bubbles are expected to be used in a variety of fields, including soil purification in the environmental field, promotion of the growth of agricultural and livestock products in the agricultural field, freshness preservation in the food field, promotion of the growth of marine products in the fishery field, and toilet cleaning in the cleaning field. , precision exfoliation in the industrial field, and hot springs such as bubble baths in the beauty field. Needless to say, fine bubbles are expected to be used in other fields such as the medical and pharmaceutical fields.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2022-145040

By the way, the present inventor believes that it is desirable for fine bubbles to be widely used because they are expected to have various effects, but various obstacles need to be overcome in order to promote the wider use of fine bubbles. I realized that I had to.

For example, among fine bubbles defined as bubbles with a bubble diameter of 100 micrometers or less, not only microbubbles defined as relatively large bubbles with a bubble diameter of 1 micrometer or more, but also relatively small bubbles. The inventors have investigated techniques by which ultra-fine bubbles, defined as bubbles with bubble diameters of less than a micrometer, are generated.

However, with such technology, it is not only difficult to confirm minute ultra-fine bubbles with the naked eye, but also with an observation mechanism that has a resolution at the microscopic resolution level, making it difficult for users to identify purified water containing significant bubbles. The inventors have found that ambiguity is a concern, as generation often cannot be convincingly confirmed.

The inventor believes that it is extremely important that the user be able to confirm the production of bubble-containing purified water without any doubt.

The present invention takes into account the above-mentioned conventional problems and aims to provide a fine bubble generator that can promote wider use of fine bubbles.

A first aspect of the present invention is a fine bubble generator that is immersed in water in a water tank,
a pipe member having a water inlet and a water outlet;
a pump that circulates water inside the pipe of the pipe member from the water inlet to the water outlet;
a fine bubble generator provided on the pipe member;
an irradiator that irradiates the water at a predetermined location inside the pipe with a light beam;
an imager that images the water at the predetermined location;
a casing through which the pipe member passes;
a battery that supplies power to the pump;
It is equipped with
The density of fine bubbles contained in the water is measured by using image analysis of the water imaged by the imager,
The pipe wall portion of the pipe member is provided with an irradiation window portion for the irradiator to irradiate the light beam, and an imaging window portion for the image pickup device to image the water,
The irradiation window portion is arranged such that the direction in which the irradiator irradiates the light beam is a vertical direction,
The imaging window section is arranged such that the direction in which the imager images the water is a horizontal direction,
the irradiator emits the light beam downward;
The casing houses the pump, the battery, the fine bubble generator, the irradiator, and the imager,
The fine bubble generator is characterized in that the casing is sealed so that the water in the water tank does not enter into the casing.
A second aspect of the present invention is the fine bubble generating device according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the bottom of the casing is configured so that the irradiated light beam does not pass downward.
In a third aspect of the present invention, the water is circulated inside the water tank so that the water flowing out from the water outflow port flows in from the water inflow port,
The irradiator and the imager are arranged near the water inlet,
The fine bubble generator according to the second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that when the measured density of the fine bubbles reaches a predetermined level, the power supply to the pump is stopped.
A first invention related to the present invention is a pipe member having a water inlet and a water outlet;
a pump that circulates water inside the pipe of the pipe member from the water inlet to the water outlet;
a fine bubble generator provided on the pipe member;
an irradiator that irradiates the water at a predetermined location inside the pipe with a light beam;
an imager that images the water at the predetermined location;
It is equipped with
The fine bubble generating device is characterized in that the density of fine bubbles contained in the water is measured by using image analysis of the water imaged by the imager.

A second invention related to the present invention is that the pipe wall portion of the pipe member includes an irradiation window portion for the irradiator to irradiate the light beam, and an imaging window for the image pickup device to image the water. A department has been set up,
The irradiation window portion is arranged such that the direction in which the irradiator irradiates the light beam is a vertical direction,
The fine bubble generating device according to a first invention related to the present invention is characterized in that the imaging window portion is arranged so that the direction in which the imager images the water is a horizontal direction.

A third invention related to the present invention is the fine bubble generation device according to the second invention related to the present invention, wherein the irradiator irradiates the light beam downward.

A fourth invention related to the present invention is a fine bubble generator submerged in a water tank, comprising:
a casing through which the pipe member passes;
a battery that supplies power to the pump;
It is equipped with
The casing houses the pump, the battery, the fine bubble generator, the irradiator, and the imager,
The fine bubble generating device according to a third invention related to the present invention is characterized in that the casing is sealed so that the water in the water tank does not enter the inside of the casing.

A fifth invention related to the present invention is the fine of the fourth invention related to the present invention, characterized in that the bottom portion of the casing is configured so that the irradiated light ray does not pass downward. It is a bubble generator.

A sixth invention related to the present invention is that the water is circulated inside the water tank so that the water flowing out from the water outflow port flows in from the water inflow port,
The irradiator and the imager are arranged near the water inlet,
In the fine bubble generation device according to a fifth invention related to the present invention , the power supply to the pump is stopped when the measured density of the fine bubbles reaches a predetermined level. be.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a fine bubble generator that can promote wider use of fine bubbles.

Explanatory diagram of the fine bubble generator of this embodiment (Part 1) Explanatory diagram of the fine bubble generator of this embodiment (Part 2) A schematic perspective view of the fine bubble generator of this embodiment (Part 1) A schematic perspective view of the fine bubble generator of this embodiment (Part 2) (a) A schematic plan view of the fine bubble generator of this embodiment, (b) A schematic partial side view of the vicinity of the irradiator of the fine bubble generator of this embodiment (a) Block diagram of the fine bubble generator of the present embodiment near the image analysis device, (b) Perspective view of the fine bubble generator of the present embodiment near the pump, (c) Fine bubble of the present embodiment Perspective view of generator near battery A schematic plan view of a fine bubble generator according to a first modification of the present embodiment A schematic plan view of a fine bubble generator according to a second modification of the present embodiment An explanatory diagram of the irradiator of the fine bubble generator of this embodiment

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

The same applies to the following, but some components may not be shown in the drawings, or may be shown in perspective or omitted.

First, the configuration and operation of the fine bubble generator 1000 of this embodiment will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 9.

Here, FIGS. 1 and 2 are explanatory views (parts 1 and 2) of the fine bubble generator 1000 of the present embodiment, and FIGS. 3 and 4 are schematic perspective views of the fine bubble generator 1000 of the present embodiment. (Parts 1 and 2), and FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of the irradiator 1600 of the fine bubble generator 1000 of this embodiment.

In FIG. 4, the housing 1100 is shown transparently, and wireless communication is indicated by a dashed-dotted arrow. In FIG. 9, a container of water 1910, which is not bubble-containing purified water, is shown on the left, in which light rays 1930 are not visualized, although there is some reflection on the glass wall of the container, and light rays 1930 are fine bubbles 1920. A container of water 1910, bubble-containing purified water, is shown on the right, clearly visualized by reflection.

While explaining the operation of the fine bubble generation device 1000 of this embodiment, a fine bubble generation method and a fine bubble density measurement method of the invention related to the present invention will also be explained.

The fine bubble generator 1000 is immersed in water in a water tank 1800.

In order to measure the density of fine bubbles 1920 contained in water 1910, which will be described later, it is not necessarily required that fine bubble generator 1000 be immersed in water tank 1800.

Pipe member 1200 is a unit having a water inlet 1210 and a water outlet 1220.

The filter 1 is attached to the water inlet 1210 so that impurities are prevented from flowing in from the water inlet 1210 together with the water 1910. For example, the auxiliary pipe 2 is attached to the water outlet 1220 so that the casing 1100 is prevented from vibrating due to the influence of water flow.

The housing 1100 is a unit through which a pipe member 1200 passes.

The housing 1100 includes a battery remaining amount lamp section 11 having four battery remaining amount lamps, a usage time lamp section 12 having eight usage time lamps each representing 30 minutes of usage time, a function switch 13, and An on-off switch 14 and a chain hanging hole portion 15 having a chain hanging hole are provided.

Pump 1300 is a unit that circulates water 1910 in pipe interior 1230 of pipe member 1200 from water inlet 1210 to water outlet 1220.

For example, pump 1300 is a so-called submersible pump that does not require a suction hose and a circulation return hose.

Battery 1400 is a unit that supplies power to pump 1300.

For example, battery 1400 is an enclosure battery with a 12.8 volt and 6 amp hour battery specification that can provide approximately 4 hours of underwater device operation without recharging.

Fine bubble generator 1500 is a unit provided to pipe member 1200.

For example, the fine bubble generator 1500 includes a cylindrical body that accommodates a shaft with a predetermined distance between the inner circumferential surface of the hollow part and the outer circumferential surface of a cylindrical shaft, and A plurality of blades are provided between the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical body and generate turbulence in the fluid flowing through the flow path formed to extend spirally from one end side to the other end side of the cylindrical body. This unit has a plurality of ribs formed of protrusions extending in the axial direction of the shaft and is provided on the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical body.

Of course, when generating fine bubbles 1920 through activation by such turbulent flow, if the amount of dissolved oxygen in water 1910 is insufficient, for example, by injecting oxygen from an oxygen cylinder, oxygen can be removed from the water. 1910 may be supplementally dissolved.

The housing 1100 houses a pump 1300, a battery 1400, and a fine bubble generator 1500.

It is also conceivable to use a fine bubble generation mechanism in which fine bubbles are generated by water pressure feeding and passage of water by an AC power pump with a pump output of 50 watts or more.

However, in such an embodiment, there is a concern about the risk of electric leakage due to the use of an AC power source.

In such an embodiment, it is necessary to run a power supply cable, and the minimum size of the fine bubble generator to obtain a satisfactory amount of water pressure is usually about half the size of an orange box, so it is necessary to make the device more compact. Realization is often difficult.

In this embodiment, the pump 1300 is driven by the battery 1400, and an AC power source for the pump 1300 is not required, so the risk of electrical leakage that reduces safety can be eliminated.

In this embodiment, the case width X of the case 1100 is 230 mm, the case depth Y of the case 1100 is 65 mm, and the case height Z of the case 1100 is 120 mm. . In other words, the capacity of the casing is approximately 2 liters, and the two-dimensional size of the casing is smaller than A5 size, so the size of the fine bubble generator can be suppressed and the apparatus can be made more compact.

The housing 1100 is sealed to prevent water 1910 from the water tank 1800 from entering the interior of the housing 1100.

By adopting the battery 1400 charging mechanism that incorporates an electromagnetic coupling charging circuit that uses a wireless charging coil, which is expected to contribute to equipment compactness, submarine-type underwater device operation is realized in a sealed specification. be done.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 4, 5(a), 5(b), 6(a), 6(b), 6(c), and 9, the configuration of the fine bubble generator 1000 of this embodiment will be explained. and operations will be explained in more detail.

Here, FIG. 5(a) is a schematic plan view of the fine bubble generator 1000 of the present embodiment, and FIG. 5(b) is a schematic plan view of the fine bubble generator 1000 of the present embodiment near the irradiator 1600. FIG. 6(a) is a schematic partial side view of the fine bubble generator 1000 according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 6(b) is a block diagram of the fine bubble generator 1000 of the present embodiment. It is a perspective view of the vicinity of the pump 1300 of the generation device 1000, and FIG. 6(c) is a perspective view of the vicinity of the battery 1400 of the fine bubble generation device 1000 of this embodiment.

In FIG. 5(a), the direction of the arrow in FIG. 5(b) is indicated by arrow A, wireless communication is indicated by a dashed-dotted arrow, and the flow direction of water 1910 is indicated by a white arrow. has been done.

The irradiator 1600 is a unit that irradiates the water 1910 at a predetermined location inside the pipe 1230 with a light beam 1930.

For example, the illuminator 1600 is a 0.5 watt type laser beam illuminator with a relatively low power type. The light beam 1930 is a light beam having a sufficiently small wavelength depending on the bubble diameter of the fine bubble 1920, and may be red light, but preferably is often green or blue light. For example, regarding laser specifications, visible laser products according to the GB7247.1-2012 standard are available with laser powers from 5 to 30 milliwatts mW and emission wavelengths from 510 to 540 nanometers.

The imager 1700 is a unit that images water 1910 at a predetermined location.

For example, the imager 1700 is a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) camera used in a smartphone. The water 1910 may be imaged through an optical filter so that the visualized light rays 1930 in the image of the water 1910 can be safely confirmed without affecting the human body.

Among fine bubbles defined as bubbles with a bubble diameter of 100 micrometers or less, not limited to microbubbles defined as bubbles with a relatively large bubble diameter of 1 micrometer or more, but also relatively small 1 micrometer bubbles. Embodiments are also conceivable in which ultra-fine bubbles are generated, defined as bubbles with a bubble diameter of less than or equal to .

However, in such an embodiment, it is not only difficult to confirm fine ultra-fine bubbles with the naked eye, but also with an observation mechanism that has a resolution at the microscopic resolution level, and users have to identify purified water containing significant bubbles. Ambiguity is a concern, as generation cannot often be confirmed convincingly.

In this embodiment, water 1910, which is bubble-containing purified water, is visualized by being reflected by fine bubbles 1920 through light rays 1930 that have passed through pipe member 1200, through which the water 1910 is at least partially visible. The production of bubble-containing purified water can be confirmed without any doubt.

The housing 1100 houses an irradiator 1600 and an imager 1700.

In order to measure the density of fine bubbles 1920 contained in water 1910, which will be described later, it is not necessarily required that the housing 1100 houses the irradiator 1600 and the imager 1700.

The density of fine bubbles 1920 contained in water 1910 is measured by using image analysis of water 1910 captured by imager 1700.

Visualization of the light beam 1930 and measurement of the density of the fine bubbles 1920 contained in the water 1910 are performed using the controller 20 housed in the housing 1100, and an image analysis device connected to the controller 20 by wireless communication This may be done by further utilizing the device 30. The image analysis device 30 is an information processing device like a smartphone, which includes a transmitting/receiving section 31, an image analyzing section 32, a stop determination section 33, and an image display section 34.

The captured image of water 1910 is not only displayed on the image display unit 34 but also analyzed by the image analysis unit 32. A simple measurement of the number of fine bubbles 1920 in a unit capacity is performed by local processing or cloud processing by using image analysis software or artificial intelligence analysis technology installed in the image analysis unit 32.

Next, the configuration and operation of the fine bubble generator 1000 of this embodiment will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 5(a), 7, 8, and 9.

Here, FIGS. 7 and 8 are schematic plan views of the fine bubble generator 1000 of the first and second modified examples of the present embodiment.

In FIGS. 7 and 8, wireless communication is indicated by a dashed-dotted arrow, and the flow direction of water 1910 is indicated by an open arrow.

Water 1910 is circulated inside the aquarium 1800 such that water 1910 flows out from the water outlet 1220 and flows in from the water inlet 1210.

The water 1910 may be moved, without being circulated inside the aquarium 1800, for example from a water storage part to a water utilization part, at least through a connection in which the fine bubble generator 1500 is arranged.

The irradiator 1600 and the imager 1700 are placed near the water inlet 1210.

The irradiator 1600 and the imager 1700 may be placed near the water outlet 1220. More specifically, pump 1300 may be placed near water outlet 1220, and irradiator 1600 and imager 1700 may be placed upstream or downstream of pump 1300. However, the density of fine bubbles 1920 near the water inlet 1210 best represents the density of fine bubbles 1920 that is considered to eventually become approximately uniform inside the tank 1800 with sufficient circulation of water 1910. It is expected that you will do so.

When the measured density of fine bubbles 1920 reaches a predetermined level, power supply to pump 1300 is stopped.

The density of the fine bubbles 1920 contained in the water 1910 increases as the pump 1300 is operated, but the increase in the density of the fine bubbles 1920 almost stops when a saturated state is reached, and the density of the fine bubbles 1920 begins to decrease. Sometimes.

Pump 1300 is remotely monitored by using smartphone communication by transmitter/receiver 31. Since the pump 1300 is stopped according to the stop judgment by the stop judgment unit 33, power saving of the battery 1400 can be realized.

The pipe wall portion 1240 of the pipe member 1200 is provided with an irradiation window portion 1241 through which the irradiator 1600 irradiates the light beam 1930 and an imaging window portion 1242 through which the imager 1700 images the water 1910.

The illumination window section 1241 may have two windows, such as an entrance window and an exit window, arranged opposite each other so that the light beam 1930 passes through the pipe member 1200 without being reflected. . The imaging window section 1242 may have two windows, such as a first and second imaging window, such that an imaging orientation such as upward or downward can be selected. Needless to say, almost the entire pipe wall section 1240 is formed of transparent glass, and the irradiation window section 1241 and the imaging window section 1242 may be integrally configured as a single window.

The irradiation window section 1241 is arranged so that the direction in which the irradiator 1600 irradiates the light beam 1930 is vertical.

The direction in which the irradiator 1600 irradiates the light beam 1930 does not necessarily have to be vertical. However, even when the housing 1100 is opened for equipment maintenance work, a user who is performing equipment maintenance work on the side of the fine bubble generator 1000 may inadvertently expose the light beam 1930 irradiated in the vertical direction. Safety improvements are often more likely to be expected, as they are rarely viewed directly.

The imaging window section 1242 is arranged so that the direction in which the imager 1700 images the water 1910 is horizontal.

Since the imaging direction of the imager 1700 is orthogonal to the irradiation direction of the irradiator 1600, high image quality of the image of the water 1910 obtained by imaging is guaranteed, and the density of the fine bubbles 1920 measured by using image analysis is High accuracy is expected.

Irradiator 1600 emits a light beam 1930 downward.

Irradiator 1600 may emit light beam 1930 upward. However, a user who performs equipment maintenance work on the side of the fine bubble generator 1000 may sometimes look down at the fine bubble generator 1000, but rarely looks up at the fine bubble generator 1000, It is almost impossible to inadvertently look directly at the emitted light beam 1930.

The bottom of the housing 1100 is configured so that the downwardly emitted light ray 1930 does not pass therethrough.

Since the light beam 1930 does not pass through and exit the bottom of the housing 1100 to the outside of the housing 1100, it is highly unlikely that a user will inadvertently look directly at the light beam 1930. Needless to say, for example, the bottom portion of the housing 1100 to which the light beam 1930 is irradiated may be made of a material that does not allow the light beam 1930 to pass through, and the other portions may be made of a transparent material. may have been done.

Note that the program of the invention related to the present invention is the operation of all or some steps (or processes, operations, effects, etc.) of the fine bubble generation method and fine bubble density measurement method of the invention related to the present invention described above. This is a program that causes a computer to execute, and is a program that operates in cooperation with the computer.

Furthermore, the recording medium of the invention related to the present invention can perform all or some steps (or processes, operations, actions, etc.) of the fine bubble generation method and fine bubble density measurement method of the invention related to the present invention described above. A computer-readable recording medium that stores a program that causes a computer to execute all or part of an operation, and the read program is used in cooperation with the computer.

Note that the above-mentioned "some steps (or steps, operations, effects, etc.)" means one or some steps among the plurality of steps.

Moreover, the above-mentioned "operation of a step (or process, operation, action, etc.)" means the operation of all or part of the above-mentioned steps.

Further, one usage form of the program of the invention related to the present invention is a form in which it is transmitted in a transmission medium such as the Internet, light, radio waves, or sound waves, read by a computer, and operated in cooperation with the computer. It may be.

Further, the recording medium includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) and the like.

Further, a computer is not limited to pure hardware such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), but may also include firmware, an OS (Operating System), and further peripheral devices.

Note that, as described above, the configuration of the present invention may be realized in software or hardware.

The fine bubble generator of the present invention can promote wider use of fine bubbles, and is useful for use in a fine bubble generator that generates fine bubbles in an aquarium such as a bathtub.

1 Filter 2 Auxiliary pipe 11 Battery remaining amount lamp section 12 Usage time lamp section 13 Function switch 14 On/off switch 15 Chain hanging hole section 20 Controller 30 Image analysis device 31 Transmission/reception section 32 Image analysis section 33 Stop judgment section 34 Image display section 1000 Fine bubble generator 1100 Housing 1200 Pipe member 1210 Water inlet 1220 Water outlet 1230 Pipe interior 1240 Pipe wall 1241 Irradiation window 1242 Imaging window 1300 Pump 1400 Battery 1500 Fine bubble generator 1600 Irradiator 1700 Imager 1800 Water tank 1910 water 1920 Fine bubble 1930 Ray of light A Arrow X Housing width Y Housing depth Z Housing height

Claims (3)

A fine bubble generator that is immersed in water in a water tank,
a pipe member having a water inlet and a water outlet;
a pump that circulates water inside the pipe of the pipe member from the water inlet to the water outlet;
a fine bubble generator provided on the pipe member;
an irradiator that irradiates the water at a predetermined location inside the pipe with a light beam;
an imager that images the water at the predetermined location;
a casing through which the pipe member passes;
a battery that supplies power to the pump;
It is equipped with
The density of fine bubbles contained in the water is measured by using image analysis of the water imaged by the imager,
The pipe wall portion of the pipe member is provided with an irradiation window portion for the irradiator to irradiate the light beam, and an imaging window portion for the image pickup device to image the water,
The irradiation window portion is arranged such that the direction in which the irradiator irradiates the light beam is a vertical direction,
The imaging window section is arranged such that the direction in which the imager images the water is a horizontal direction,
the irradiator emits the light beam downward;
The casing houses the pump, the battery, the fine bubble generator, the irradiator, and the imager,
The fine bubble generating device, wherein the casing is sealed so that the water in the water tank does not enter the inside of the casing. 2. The fine bubble generator according to claim 1 , wherein the bottom of the casing is configured so that the irradiated light beam does not pass downward. The water is circulated inside the water tank so that the water flowing out from the water outlet flows into the water inlet,
The irradiator and the imager are arranged near the water inlet,
The fine bubble generator according to claim 2 , wherein the power supply to the pump is stopped when the measured density of the fine bubbles reaches a predetermined level.