JP7493801B2 - Drain trap - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a drain trap installed in a drainage path.

The drain trap is installed in a drainage path that drains liquids such as air conditioner drains into a sewage manhole. Conventionally, drain traps have been known that have a housing with an inlet through which liquid flows and an outlet through which the liquid is discharged (see Patent Documents 1 and 2).

The drain trap described in Patent Document 1 is equipped with a partition that divides the interior space of the housing into a storage space that communicates with the inlet and stores liquid, and a discharge space that communicates with the discharge port and discharges liquid. Closing the valve in this partition disconnects the storage space from the discharge space, which, together with the water sealing effect of the liquid stored in the storage space, prevents the backflow of contaminated air, odors, and the like. In this drain trap, if the inner surface of the housing or the partition becomes soiled by the liquid stored in the storage space, the partition is designed to be removable, making cleaning easy.

The drain trap described in Patent Document 2 has an inlet at the top of the housing and an outlet at the side of the housing, forming a water-sealed space at the bottom of the housing. In addition, the drain trap described in Patent Document 2 has an electrode pair with different redox potentials immersed in the water-sealed space, and this electrode pair is constantly electrically connected by an electrode short-circuiting member provided at the inlet. As a result, it is described that negatively charged germs in the sealed water are attracted to the positive electrode and killed.

International Publication No. 2007/116531 JP 2008-291610 A

The drain trap described in Patent Document 1 is equipped with a partition body, which can reliably prevent the backflow of contaminated air and odors even when there is little liquid in the storage space. However, if the liquid stored in the storage space remains there for a long time without being drained, bacteria may grow inside the liquid, and these grown bacteria may then flow back.

The drain trap described in Patent Document 2 is capable of suppressing the growth of bacteria in the sealed water space, but when there is little liquid in the sealed water space, contaminated air and odors will flow back. Furthermore, because the electrode pair is constantly short-circuited by the electrode short-circuiting member, the metal that makes up the electrode pair is prone to elution in the sealed water, which poses a problem in terms of sustainability.

Therefore, there is a need for a drain trap that can continuously prevent the backflow of contaminated air and the proliferation of bacteria.

The drain trap according to the present invention is characterized by comprising a housing having an inlet through which liquid flows in and an outlet through which liquid is discharged, and a partition that divides the interior space of the housing into a storage space that communicates with the inlet to store liquid and a discharge space that communicates with the outlet to discharge liquid. The partition has a conductive valve body, a valve seat that supports the valve body and has at least two first conductive parts that are electrically insulated from each other, and a positive electrode and a negative electrode that are electrically connected to each of the first conductive parts of the valve seat. The positive electrode and the negative electrode are arranged spaced apart from each other inside the storage space, and when the valve body is separated from the valve seat by the pressure of the liquid stored in the storage space, the electrical connection between the positive electrode and the negative electrode is interrupted, and when the pressure is reduced and the valve body abuts against the valve seat, the positive electrode and the negative electrode are electrically connected via the valve body and the valve seat.

In this configuration, when there is a lot of liquid in the storage space, the valve body moves away from the valve seat and the water seal prevents the backflow of contaminated air, etc., and when there is little liquid in the storage space, the valve body abuts against the valve seat, preventing the backflow of contaminated air, etc. On the other hand, when there is little liquid in the storage space, the liquid is not discharged from the outlet, so if this liquid remains for a long time, bacteria will grow inside the liquid, and there is a risk that these grown bacteria will flow back.

In this configuration, a positive electrode and a negative electrode are provided that are spaced apart from each other inside the storage space, and when the pressure of the liquid stored in the storage space drops and the valve body abuts against the valve seat, the positive electrode and the negative electrode are electrically connected via the valve body and the valve seat. As a result, negatively charged bacteria in the liquid retained in the storage space are attracted to the positive electrode and killed. Therefore, even when there is little liquid in the storage space, it is possible to prevent the backflow of contaminated air and suppress the growth of bacteria in the liquid.

Moreover, in this configuration, when the valve body is separated from the valve seat by the pressure of the liquid stored in the storage space, the electrical connection between the positive electrode and the negative electrode is interrupted, so that it is possible to prevent the electrodes from eluting into the liquid while the liquid continues to be discharged from the outlet. While the liquid continues to be discharged from this outlet, the liquid does not remain in the storage space for a long period of time, so bacteria do not grow and the water seal action prevents the backflow of contaminated air, etc. In this way, it is possible to prevent the elution of the electrodes when the valve is open while suppressing the growth of bacteria when the valve is closed, so that a drain trap that can continuously prevent the backflow of contaminated air and the growth of bacteria has been provided.

Another characteristic feature is that the partition has a protruding portion that protrudes from the valve seat toward the storage space and includes a second conductive portion electrically connected to each of the first conductive portions, and the positive electrode and the negative electrode are fixed to each of the second conductive portions of the protruding portion.

As in this configuration, by providing a protrusion on the partition and fixing the positive and negative electrodes to the second conductive portion of this protrusion, there is no need to provide a separate support member for the electrodes, making the configuration inexpensive and allowing for a more compact drain trap.

Another characteristic feature is that a conductive film is formed on the surface of each of the first conductive portion of the valve seat and the second conductive portion of the protrusion, and is electrically connected to the positive electrode and the negative electrode, respectively.

By forming a conductive film on the surfaces of the valve seat and protrusion as in this configuration, material costs can be reduced compared to when the valve seat and protrusion themselves are made of conductive material.

Another characteristic feature is that the protrusion is formed in a circular ring shape in a plan view, and the positive electrode and the negative electrode are each arranged in a semi-cylindrical shape along the surface of the protrusion.

As in this configuration, if the positive and negative electrodes are each arranged in a semi-cylindrical shape along the surface of the protrusion, it is possible to ensure a large surface area for both electrodes, thereby ensuring the destruction of bacteria.

Another characteristic feature is that the positive electrode and the negative electrode are formed of a flat plate member placed on the bottom of the housing, the partition has a valve seat member at one end that forms the valve seat and at the other end that is electrically connected to the flat plate member, and the valve seat member has a third conductive portion that electrically connects the first conductive portion of the valve seat to the flat plate member.

As in this configuration, by configuring the positive and negative electrodes as flat plate members placed at the bottom of the housing, bacteria can be killed even in situations where there is very little liquid in the storage space.

Another characteristic feature is that the valve seat serves as both the positive electrode and the negative electrode.

As in this configuration, if the valve seat also serves as the positive and negative electrodes, there is no need to provide a separate conductive member on the valve seat, which is efficient.

Another characteristic feature is that the valve body is made of an insulating sphere, and a conductive film is formed over the entire surface of the sphere.

By providing a conductive film over the entire surface of the sphere that forms the valve body, as in this configuration, not only is processing easy, but the positive and negative electrodes can be reliably connected when the valve is closed, even if the sphere rotates under the pressure of the liquid.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the drain trap. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a valve body, a valve seat, and a sterilization mechanism. FIG. FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of a valve body, a valve seat, and a sterilization mechanism according to the first alternative embodiment. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a drain trap according to another embodiment 2. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a drain trap according to another embodiment 3.

Below, an embodiment of the drain trap according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the invention is not limited to the following embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.

As shown in Figures 1 to 5, the drain trap X comprises a bottomed cylindrical housing 5 having a sidewall 51 on which a receiving pipe section 2 (an example of an inlet) for receiving liquid and a discharge pipe section 3 (an example of a discharge outlet) for discharging liquid are formed, a lid section 6 for closing an internal space 4 of the housing 5, and a partition body 1 for dividing the internal space 4 into a storage space 7 for receiving and storing liquid from the receiving pipe section 2 and a discharge space 8 that communicates with the discharge pipe section 3 and discharges the liquid. In the following description, the lid section 6 side may be referred to as the top and the bottom 52 side of the housing 5 as the bottom.

The housing 5 is molded using a resin material and is formed into a cylindrical shape with a flat bottom 52. The receiving pipe section 2 and the discharge pipe section 3 are formed integrally with the side wall 51 as flow paths extending horizontally from the side wall 51, and are connected at opposing positions on the side wall 51 of the housing 5. The connection point 2A of the receiving pipe section 2 and the connection point 3A of the discharge pipe section 3 are provided with a height difference so that the receiving pipe section 2 is higher than the discharge pipe section 3 by a small predetermined value (for example, 5 mm). The pipe axis direction Y of the receiving pipe section 2 and the pipe axis direction Y of the discharge pipe section 3 are shifted in parallel in the vertical direction in the vertical cross section (side view) shown in FIG. 1, but are consistent in the horizontal cross section (plan view) shown in FIG. 2. By providing a height difference between the receiving pipe section 2 and the discharge pipe section 3 in this way, it is configured to facilitate the flow of liquid from the receiving pipe section 2 to the discharge pipe section 3.

The outer surface of the side wall 51 of the housing 5 is flat 51a, which is perpendicular to the direction in which the receiving pipe 2 and the discharge pipe 3 are connected (see FIG. 5). The outer surface of the side wall 51 is also provided with an inclined step 51b that is inclined from above the receiving pipe 2 toward below the discharge pipe 3, and the diameter of the inclined step 51b toward the lid 6 is larger than the diameter of the inclined step 51b toward the bottom 52.

The lid 6 is formed in a circular shape in a plan view, and can be attached to the housing 5 by screwing together threads 18 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the housing 5 and the inner peripheral surface of the lid 6 (see FIG. 1). In addition, a number of equally spaced protrusions 6a protruding radially outward are formed on the outer periphery of the lid 6, and the user can easily attach the lid 6 to the housing 5 by hooking their fingers onto these protrusions 6a (see FIG. 5).

In addition, a reflector 23 (e.g., reflective tape) is attached to the outer side of the lid 6 around the entire circumference. This allows an operator to easily identify the location of the drain trap X by shining light onto the reflector 23 when the drain trap X is installed above the ceiling. Since various other paths may be installed in addition to the drainage path in which the drain trap X is installed, for example, the reflector 23 installed on the drain trap X may be red and yellow reflectors may be provided on the components installed on the other paths, and the reflectors may be color-coded for each path.

The partition body 1 is composed of a cylindrical first partition 10 and a plate-like second partition 11 that extends outward from the first partition 10 around the entire circumference. The first partition 10 has a notch 12 cut out along a portion of the circumference in the up-down direction and a rectangular opening 13 in an area above the second partition 11 (see FIG. 5). This opening 13 is located opposite the notch 12. The second partition 11 is provided in an inclined state around the entire circumference of the first partition 10, with the lowermost position near the lower end of the notch 12 and the uppermost position near the center of the opening 13 (see FIG. 1).

The partition 1 is detachable from the internal space 4 of the housing 5, and when attached to the internal space 4 of the housing 5, it divides the lower side of the internal space 4 of the housing 5 into a storage space 7 and the upper side of the internal space 4 into a discharge space 8. In this way, the partition 1 divides the internal space 4, making the entire bottom 52 of the housing 5 the storage space 7. The partition 1 also has a conductive valve body 15 formed of a sphere that rises to allow liquid to flow from the storage space 7 to the discharge space 8 when a set amount or more of liquid is stored in the storage space 7, a conductive valve seat 16 that receives and supports the valve body 15, and a sterilization mechanism 9 electrically connected to the valve seat 16.

The valve body 15 has a hollow sphere 15a (an example of a sphere) made of insulating resin or the like, and a conductive film 15b that covers the entire surface of the hollow sphere 15a (see FIG. 1). In this embodiment, the conductive film 15b is formed by applying a conductive paint to the surface of the hollow sphere 15a. This conductive paint is made of a conductive polymer paint or a dispersion paint in which a conductive filler is dispersed. The valve body 15 has an outer diameter that can completely close the opening of the valve seat 16.

The valve seat 16 is formed in an annular shape protruding radially inward in the internal space of the first partition 10. As shown in FIG. 4, the surface of the valve seat 16 is an insulating member made of resin or the like, and is covered with a pair of opposing first conductive films 16a (an example of a first conductive portion), each of which is formed in a semicircular arc shape. The first conductive films 16a are formed by applying a conductive paint to the surface of the valve seat 16. The conductive paint is made of a conductive polymer paint, a dispersion paint in which a conductive filler is dispersed, or the like.

Between the pair of first conductive films 16a of the valve seat 16, an insulating region 16b is formed where the insulating member is exposed. In other words, the pair of first conductive films 16a are electrically insulated from each other, and when the valve body 15 abuts against the valve seat 16, they are electrically connected via the conductive films 15b of the valve body 15, and when the valve body 15 moves away from the valve seat 16, the electrical connection is interrupted by the insulating region 16b.

As shown by the two-dot chain line in Figure 1, when a set amount of liquid or more is stored in the storage space 7, the valve body 15 rises from the valve seat 16 and opens, and the liquid flows from the storage space 7 to the discharge space 8 and is discharged from the discharge pipe section 3. Then, when the amount of liquid stored in the storage space 7 falls below the set amount, the valve body 15 descends and abuts against the valve seat 16, closing the valve. At this time, the inner surface of the first partition section 10 guides the valve body 15 to rise and descend in the vertical direction.

The valve seat 16 is disposed on the partition 1 so that it is located lower than the lower end 3a of the discharge pipe section 3 when the partition 1 is attached to the internal space 4 of the housing 5. In other words, there is a time lag between when the valve body 15 floats up from the valve seat 16 and when the liquid is discharged from the discharge pipe section 3. This time lag prevents the valve body 15 from floating up from the valve seat 16 and falling back down to the valve seat 16 repeatedly in a short period of time, even when only a small amount of liquid flows into the storage space 7 from the receiving pipe section 2, thereby suppressing the generation of noise.

The valve seat 16 is disposed above the lower end of the first partition 10 in the vertical direction, and the first partition 10 has a conductive hanging portion 10a (an example of a protrusion) that extends below the valve seat 16. By providing the hanging portion 10a in this manner, the storage space 7 is formed into a U-shaped flow path that is inverted at the bottom 52 of the housing 5, and the storage space 7 is configured to be water-sealed by the liquid stored in the storage space 7. By providing the storage space 7 on the bottom 52 side of the housing 5, the storage space 7 can be constantly water-sealed by the liquid stored in the storage space 7 when the valve body 15 floats up from the valve seat 16.

1 and 4, the hanging portion 10a in this embodiment is formed in a circular ring shape in a plan view protruding into the storage space 7, and its inner surface is covered with a pair of second conductive films 10a1 (an example of a second conductive portion). Each second conductive film 10a1 is formed in a semicircular arc shape in a plan view, and an insulating region 10a2 in which an insulating member is exposed is formed between the pair of second conductive films 10a1. This second conductive film 10a1 is continuously applied from the valve seat 16 to the inner surface of the hanging portion 10a using the same material as the first conductive film 16a of the valve seat 16. That is, in a plan view, the first conductive film 16a of the valve seat 16 and the second conductive film 10a1 of the hanging portion 10a overlap, and the insulating region 16b of the valve seat 16 and the insulating region 10a2 of the hanging portion 10a overlap. With this configuration, the pair of first conductive films 16a of the valve seat 16 and the pair of second conductive films 10a1 of the hanging portion 10a are electrically connected to each other.

The sterilization mechanism 9 has a positive electrode 9A and a negative electrode 9B electrically connected to the first conductive film 16a of the valve seat 16 and the second conductive film 10a1 of the hanging portion 10a. In this embodiment, the positive electrode 9A is made of zinc, and the negative electrode 9B is made of copper. The positive electrode 9A and the negative electrode 9B are not particularly limited as long as they are metals with an oxidation-reduction potential difference. The positive electrode 9A may be made of iron, tin, aluminum, etc. other than zinc, and the negative electrode 9B may be made of silver, gold, platinum, etc. other than copper.

The positive electrode 9A and the negative electrode 9B are disposed apart from each other inside the storage space 7, and are fixed separately while being electrically connected to the pair of second conductive films 10a1 of the hanging portion 10a. The pair of second conductive films 10a1 can be fixed to the positive electrode 9A and the negative electrode 9B by adhesive fixation with a conductive adhesive, welding fixation with a laser or the like, bolt fixation, etc. As described above, the pair of second conductive films 10a1 of the hanging portion 10a are formed in a semicircular arc shape in a plan view protruding into the storage space 7, so that the positive electrode 9A and the negative electrode 9B are each disposed in a semicylindrical shape along the inner surface of the hanging portion 10a (the pair of second conductive films 10a1). With this configuration, when the valve body 15 is separated from the valve seat 16 due to the pressure of the liquid stored in the storage space 7, the electrical connection between the positive electrode 9A and the negative electrode 9B is cut off, and when the pressure of the liquid stored in the storage space 7 decreases and the valve body 15 abuts against the valve seat 16, the positive electrode 9A and the negative electrode 9B are electrically connected via the valve body 15 and the valve seat 16.

When the positive electrode 9A and the negative electrode 9B are electrically connected, negatively charged bacteria in the liquid retained in the storage space 7 are attracted to the positive electrode 9A. The cell walls of the bacteria attracted to the positive electrode 9A are destroyed by the release of the surface charge, causing them to become inactive and die. This prevents the liquid retained in the storage space 7 from spoiling and allows it to be kept clean, preventing biofilms from adhering to the inside of the housing 5 and the partition body 1 and causing contamination.

As shown in Figures 1 to 3, a shield member 17 is provided between the lid 6 and the partition 1 attached to the internal space 4, which fits closely to the lid 6 and reduces the coefficient of friction between the lid 6 and the partition 1. The shield member 17 is formed into a disk shape from a resin such as silicone. The upper surface of the shield member 17 that comes into contact with the lid 6 fits closely to the back surface of the lid 6 due to the suction cup effect. The lower surface of the shield member 17 that comes into contact with the partition 1 attached to the internal space 4 is also given a sliding treatment to reduce the coefficient of friction between the lower surface of the shield member 17 and the partition 1.

When the lid 6 is attached to the housing 5, the partition 1 receives a downward pressing force from the lid 6, and the partition 1 and the side wall 51 of the housing 5 are provided with a sealing portion 14 that seals a part of the partition 1 while exerting a force component along the up and down direction around the entire circumference of the side wall 51. This sealing portion 14 has a main body side sealing portion 14a formed on the side wall 51 of the housing 5 and a partition side sealing portion 14b formed on the partition 1.

The body-side sealing portion 14a is a step provided around the entire circumference of the side wall 51 in a state where it protrudes inward from the side wall 51. The body-side sealing portion 14a is provided in a state where it is inclined around the entire circumference of the housing 5 in such a way that the uppermost position is near the upper end position of the receiving pipe portion 2 in the circumferential direction of the housing 5 and the lowermost position is near the lower end position of the discharge pipe portion 3. The partition-side sealing portion 14b is the outer end of the second partition portion 11 that is inclined around the entire circumference of the partition 1 in the circumferential direction. The partition-side sealing portion 14b is covered with a resin member 20 (e.g., elastomer resin) in a state where it is sandwiched between the partition-side sealing portion 14b from above and below.

With the partition 1 attached to the internal space 4 of the housing 5, the lid 6 is attached to the housing 5 by screwing the threaded portion 18 with a shield member 17 interposed between the partition 1 and the lid 6. At this time, the lid 6 presses the partition 1 downward, and the main body side sealing portion 14a and the partition body side sealing portion 14b are subjected to a downward pressing force. The main body side sealing portion 14a and the partition body side sealing portion 14b are pressed against the main body side sealing portion 14a by the downward pressing force, and are tightly sealed. In this way, the partition body side sealing portion 14b and the main body side sealing portion 14a are tightly sealed around the entire inner circumference of the side wall 51 of the housing 5, isolating the storage space 7 and the discharge space 8.

A height adjustment member 21 is arranged in the resin member 20 of the partition side sealing portion 14b, which adjusts the part 8a of the discharge space 8 facing the discharge pipe part 3 of the side wall 51 to the same height as the lower end 3a of the discharge pipe part 3 when the partition body 1 is attached to the internal space 4. At the position corresponding to the discharge pipe part 3 in the circumferential direction of the side wall 51 of the housing 5, the step part which is the main body side sealing portion 14a is located below the lower end 3a of the discharge pipe part 3. Therefore, when the partition body 1 is attached to the internal space 4, the part 8a of the discharge space 8 facing the discharge pipe part 3 becomes lower than the lower end 3a of the discharge pipe part 3. Therefore, by forming this height adjustment member 21, the accumulation of liquid in the part of the discharge space 8 facing the discharge pipe part 3 is suppressed, and the occurrence of corrosion of the liquid is suppressed. In addition, the height adjustment member 21 is also used by the resin member 20 provided on the partition side sealing portion 14b.

As shown in FIG. 5, the partition 1 has legs 19 that protrude downward from the internal space 4 when it is attached to the internal space 4. A plurality of legs 19 are provided at intervals around the circumference of the first partition 10. As a result, if the partition 1 is inserted into the internal space upside down, the legs 19 protrude upward from the internal space 4, making it impossible to attach the lid 6 to the housing 5. In this way, it is possible to prevent the partition 1 from being inserted into the internal space 4 in the wrong vertical direction.

The housing 5 and partition 1 are transparent, and the valve body 15 has a color (e.g., blue) that can be distinguished from the housing 5 and partition 1. This allows an operator to visually check the position of the valve body 15 from outside the housing 5 when the partition 1 is attached to the internal space 4 of the housing 5. This makes it easy to check whether the partition 1 is attached in the correct position and to check the degree of dirt on the partition 1. Here, "transparent" refers to a state in which the inside of the housing 5 can be seen through, and includes colorless transparent or colored transparent, as well as translucent.

In the drain trap X in the above-described embodiment, when there is a lot of liquid in the storage space 7, the valve body 15 moves away from the valve seat 16 and the water seal prevents the backflow of contaminated air, etc., and when there is little liquid in the storage space 7, the valve body 15 abuts against the valve seat 16, preventing the backflow of contaminated air, etc. On the other hand, when there is little liquid in the storage space 7, the liquid is not discharged from the discharge pipe section 3, and bacteria are likely to grow inside the liquid if it remains there for a long time.

The sterilization mechanism 9 described above is configured to provide a positive electrode 9A and a negative electrode 9B spaced apart from each other inside the storage space 7, and when the pressure of the liquid stored in the storage space 7 drops and the valve body 15 abuts against the valve seat 16, the positive electrode 9A and the negative electrode 9B are electrically connected via the valve body 15 and the valve seat 16. As a result, negatively charged bacteria in the liquid retained in the storage space 7 are attracted to the positive electrode 9A and killed. Therefore, even when there is little liquid in the storage space 7, it is possible to prevent the backflow of contaminated air in which bacteria have proliferated.

Moreover, in this embodiment, when the valve body 15 is separated from the valve seat 16 under the pressure of the liquid stored in the storage space 7, the electrical connection between the positive electrode 9A and the negative electrode 9B is interrupted, so that the electrodes 9A, 9B can be prevented from eluting into the liquid while the liquid continues to be discharged from the discharge pipe section 3. While the liquid continues to be discharged from the discharge pipe section 3, the liquid does not remain in the storage space 7 for a long period of time, so bacteria do not grow and the water seal action prevents the backflow of contaminated air, etc. In this way, it is possible to prevent the elution of the electrodes 9A, 9B in the open valve state while suppressing the growth of bacteria in the closed valve state, resulting in a drain trap X that can continuously prevent the backflow of contaminated air.

As described above, by providing a hanging portion 10a in the first partition 10 of the partition body 1 and fixing the positive electrode 9A and the negative electrode 9B to this hanging portion 10a, there is no need to provide a separate support member for the electrodes 9A and 9B, making the construction inexpensive and allowing the drain trap X to be made compact. In addition, by forming conductive films 16a and 10a1 on the surfaces of the valve seat 16 and the hanging portion 10a, material costs can be reduced compared to when the valve seat 16 and the hanging portion 10a themselves are made of conductive materials. Furthermore, if the positive electrode 9A and the negative electrode 9B are each arranged in a semi-cylindrical shape along the surface of the hanging portion 10a, it is possible to ensure a large surface area for both electrodes 9A and 9B, thereby ensuring the annihilation of bacteria.

[Another embodiment]
6 to 8 show a drain trap X according to another embodiment. In order to facilitate understanding of the drawings, the same names and symbols are used for similar members, and only different configurations will be described.

(1) As shown in FIG. 6, the positive electrode 9A and the negative electrode 9B as the sterilization mechanism 9 may be composed of a pair of flat plate members 90 placed on the bottom 52 of the housing 5. The partition body 1 in this embodiment has a pair of conductive members 30 (an example of a valve seat member, an example of a first conductive portion and a third conductive portion) having conductivity with a valve seat 16 formed at one end, and the other end of the conductive member 30 is electrically connected to the positive electrode 9A and the negative electrode 9B. The first flat plate member 90A constituting the positive electrode 9A is formed in a semicircular shape in a plan view, and the second flat plate member 90B constituting the negative electrode 9B is formed in a semicircular shape in a plan view symmetrical to the first flat plate member 90A. The first flat plate member 90A and the second flat plate member 90B are fixed to the bottom 52 of the housing 5 in a state spaced apart from each other inside the storage space 7. The pair of flat plate members 90A, 90B can be fixed to the bottom 52 of the housing 5 by adhesive fixation, welding fixation by laser or the like, bolt fixation, etc.

The pair of conductive members 30 are made of a conductive metal or the like, and are formed of a first conductive member 30A and a second conductive member 30B that are symmetrical on the left and right. The first conductive member 30A has a first base portion 30Aa that is semicircular in plan view, and a first rod-shaped portion 30Ab that is rod-shaped and extends from the middle of the first base portion 30Aa toward the first flat plate member 90A. Similarly, the second conductive member 30B has a second base portion 30Ba that is semicircular in plan view, and a second rod-shaped portion 30Bb that is rod-shaped and extends from the middle of the second base portion 30Ba toward the second flat plate member 90B. The pair of conductive members 30 are supported by a protruding portion 10b that is protruding in a circular ring shape radially inward in the internal space of the first partition portion 10 through an insulating member 31 (an example of a valve seat member) made of an insulating member such as resin. The insulating member 31 is formed in a circular ring shape in a plan view having a pair of step portions 31a1, and the first base portion 30Aa and the second base portion 30Ba are supported by the pair of step portions 31a1. The insulating member 31 also has a pair of partition walls 31b that partition the first base portion 30Aa and the second base portion 30Ba, and the partition walls 31b separate the first conductive member 30A and the second conductive member 30B from each other.

With this configuration, the sterilization mechanism 9 is provided with a positive electrode 9A and a negative electrode 9B (a pair of flat plate members 90 placed on the bottom 52 of the housing 5) that are spaced apart from each other inside the storage space 7, and is configured so that when the pressure of the liquid stored in the storage space 7 decreases and the valve body 15 abuts against the valve seat 16, the positive electrode 9A and the negative electrode 9B are electrically connected via the valve body 15 and the valve seat 16 (conductive member 30). As a result, negatively charged bacteria in the liquid retained in the storage space 7 are attracted to the positive electrode 9A and killed. Therefore, even if there is little liquid in the storage space 7, it is possible to prevent the backflow of contaminated air in which bacteria have proliferated. Moreover, since the positive electrode 9A and the negative electrode 9B are configured with the flat plate members 90 placed on the bottom 52 of the housing 5, bacteria can be killed even in a situation where there is very little liquid in the storage space 7.

(2) As shown in FIG. 7, a pair of flat plate members 90 as the sterilization mechanism 9 shown in FIG. 6 may be provided with elastic pieces 91 protruding toward the conductive member 30. In the figure, the first conductive member 30A is shown, and when the first conductive member 30A moves downward, the tip of the first rod-shaped portion 30Ab comes into contact with the elastic piece 91, and the elastic piece 91 moves downward to obtain an electrical connection with the first flat plate member 90A. As described above, since the lid portion 6 presses the partition body 1 downward, the conductive member 30 fixed to the partition body 1 also moves downward when the lid portion 6 is attached. As a result, an electrical connection between the conductive member 30 and the positive electrode 9A and the negative electrode 9B can be reliably obtained via the elastic pieces 91.

(3) As shown in FIG. 8, the valve body 15 of the drain trap X may be made of a flat plate-shaped member, and is not particularly limited as long as the valve body 15 is conductive. Even in this case, conductive films 15b and 16a are provided at least on the opposing portions of the valve body 15 and the valve seat 16, respectively, so that when the valve body 15 is separated from the valve seat 16 under the pressure of the liquid stored in the storage space 7, the electrical connection between the positive electrode 9A and the negative electrode 9B is interrupted, and when the pressure of the liquid stored in the storage space 7 is reduced and the valve body 15 abuts against the valve seat 16, the positive electrode 9A and the negative electrode 9B are electrically connected via the valve body 15 and the valve seat 16.

(4) In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, the positive electrode 9A and the negative electrode 9B are fixed to the inner surface of the hanging portion 10a of the partition 1, but the positive electrode 9A and the negative electrode 9B may also be fixed to the outer surface of the hanging portion 10a of the partition 1. In addition, the positive electrode 9A and the negative electrode 9B are each arranged in a semi-cylindrical shape along the inner surface of the hanging portion 10a (the pair of second conductive films 10a1), but the shape is not particularly limited and may be arranged in a comb-like shape.
(5) In the embodiment shown in Fig. 6, the positive electrode 9A and the negative electrode 9B are formed in a semicircular shape that is symmetrical in plan view, but they may be formed in an asymmetrical semicircular shape in plan view. In addition, the positive electrode 9A and the negative electrode 9B may be formed in a rectangular shape in plan view, and the shape is not particularly limited.
(6) In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, conductive films 15b, 16a are provided on the valve body 15 and the valve seat 16. However, as long as the positive electrode 9A and the negative electrode 9B are electrically connected when the valve body 15 abuts against the valve seat 16, and the electrical connection between the positive electrode 9A and the negative electrode 9B is cut off when the valve body 15 is separated from the valve seat 16, any configuration may be used, such as providing three or more conductive films or separate conductive members.
(7) The first conductive film 16a of the valve seat 16 in the embodiment of Figures 4 and 8 and the conductive member 30 in the embodiment of Figures 6 and 7 may be made of the same metal as the positive electrode 9A and the negative electrode 9B. In other words, if the valve seat 16 serves as both the positive electrode 9A and the negative electrode 9B, there is no need to provide a separate conductive member for the valve seat 16, which is efficient.

(8) The cover 6 may be omitted and the partition 1 may be configured to be non-detachable.
(9) In the above embodiment, the lid 6 can be attached to the housing 5 by screwing the threaded portion 18, but the lid 6 may be press-fitted into the housing 5 to be attached to the housing 5 in a fitting manner. In other words, the method of attaching the lid 6 to the housing 5 can be changed as appropriate.

(10) In the above embodiment, the bottom 52 of the housing 5 is flat and the entire bottom 52 of the housing 5 is used as the storage space 7. However, it is also possible to use the entire bottom 52 of the housing 5 as the storage space 7 by appropriately changing the shape of the bottom 52 of the housing 5, for example, by providing a step in the bottom 52 of the housing 5.

(11) In the above embodiment, the shape of the side wall 51 of the housing 5 and the shape of the partition 1 in a plan view are approximately elliptical, but they can also be rectangular, for example, and the shape can be changed as appropriate.

(12) In the above embodiment, the valve body 15 is exemplified as being ball-shaped. However, for example, the valve body 15 can also be configured as a plate-shaped body that can swing freely around a horizontal axis, and the shape of the valve body 15 can be changed as appropriate.

The present invention can be applied to a drain trap installed in a drainage path.

1: Partition body 2: Receiving pipe section (inlet)
3: Exhaust pipe section (exhaust outlet)
4: Internal space 5: Housing 7: Storage space 8: Discharge space 9: Sterilization mechanism 9A: Positive electrode 9B: Negative electrode 10a: Suspended portion (protruding portion)
10a1: Second conductive film (second conductive portion)
15: Valve body 15a: Hollow sphere (sphere)
15b: Conductive film 16: Valve seat 16a: First conductive film (first conductive portion)
30: Conductive member (valve seat member, third conductive portion)
90: Flat plate member X: Drain trap

Claims (7)

a housing having an inlet through which liquid flows and an outlet through which the liquid is discharged;
a partition body that divides an internal space of the housing into a storage space that communicates with the inlet and stores liquid, and a discharge space that communicates with the discharge port and discharges liquid,
The partition body includes a valve body having electrical conductivity, a valve seat supporting the valve body and having at least two first conductive portions electrically insulated from each other, and a positive electrode and a negative electrode electrically connected to the first conductive portions of the valve seat, respectively;
The positive electrode and the negative electrode are disposed spaced apart from each other within the storage space,
A drain trap in which when the valve body moves away from the valve seat due to the pressure of the liquid stored in the storage space, the electrical connection between the positive electrode and the negative electrode is cut off, and when the pressure decreases and the valve body abuts against the valve seat, the positive electrode and the negative electrode are electrically connected via the valve body and the valve seat. the partition has a protrusion that protrudes from the valve seat toward the storage space and includes a second conductive portion electrically connected to each of the first conductive portions;
2. The drain trap of claim 1, wherein said positive electrode and said negative electrode are separately secured to said second conductive portions of said projections. The drain trap according to claim 2, wherein a conductive film electrically connected to the positive electrode and the negative electrode is formed on the surface of each of the first conductive portion of the valve seat and the second conductive portion of the protrusion. The drain trap according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the protrusion is formed in a circular ring shape in a plan view, and the positive electrode and the negative electrode are each arranged in a semi-cylindrical shape along the surface of the protrusion. the positive electrode and the negative electrode are formed of a flat plate member placed on a bottom of the housing,
the partition body has a valve seat member at one end thereof, and the other end thereof is electrically connected to the flat plate member,
2. The drain trap of claim 1, wherein the valve seat member has a third conductive portion electrically connecting the first conductive portion of the valve seat and the plate member, respectively. A drain trap according to any one of claims 1 to 5, in which the valve seat is used as both the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The drain trap according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the valve body is formed of an insulating sphere, and a conductive film is formed over the entire surface of the sphere.

Images