JPH01320058A - Bubble generating bathtub - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To have certain and precise stopping of bubble generation by turning a touch switch on and off, and by making continuity/shutoff operation for the light between a pair of optical fibers. CONSTITUTION:When a person bathing pushes a touch switch 14 from a bathtub, a shutoff plate 16 cuts continuity of the light between a light projecting element 17a and a light receiving element 18a with the aid of optical fibers 20, 21, that causes turning-on as optical signal. This On output is sent to a photoelectric transducer 19, in which the On output is converted from optical signal into electric signal (voltage signal) and sent to a control device 8. On the basis of this electric signal this control device 8 changes over on and off an electric switch of the body of circulation pump through an operational circuit so as to make jetting out and its stop of bubbles.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (a) Industrial Application Field This invention relates to a bubble-generating bathtub having an optical fiber switch structure.

(b) Prior Art Conventionally, there has been a typical switch structure for a bathtub as shown in FIG. 5, for example.

That is, in FIG. 5, (50) indicates a bathtub, and a controller (50) is installed on the upper surface of the peripheral edge (50a) of the bathtub (50).
1), the controller (51) is equipped with a plurality of switches (52), (53), and (54), and when each switch is operated, a certain output signal is transmitted, and a separately provided control device (55) receive the signal and operate the desired solenoid on/off valve,
I try to adjust and change the temperature of the hot water and the amount of hot water.

(C) Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in many of the switch structures in such conventional bathtubs, the on/off operation of the switch is performed by a mechanical structure, and the mechanical 4i! For example, an air switch and a pressure switch (58) are used. However, such a switch structure operates by displacing a diaphragm in response to fluctuations in air pressure within the pressure switch, making it difficult to detect slight pressure fluctuations. very expensive. Furthermore, if it becomes necessary to increase the distance between the air switch and the pressure switch due to bathtub design conditions, etc., the pressure cannot be propagated accurately, which may hinder the operation of drive parts. Especially when used in a bubble-generating bathtub, the operation of the pump that circulates the bath water in the bathtub cannot be quickly controlled, and the switch operation requires force and is complicated.

(d) Means for Solving the Problems In the present invention, a bath water circulation pipe composed of a bath water suction pipe and a bath water forced delivery pipe is interposed between a bathtub and a circulation pump section installed outside the bathtub. , an air suction part is provided in the middle of the forced bath water pipe, and the air bubbles are generated at the same time as the bath water is ejected from the opening in the bathtub of the forced bath water pipe, and it is attached to the upper surface of the periphery of the bathtub. When the bubble generation switch is turned on and off, an output signal is sent to a control device installed outside the bathtub, and the control device operates the circulation pump section to generate bubbles. is a touch switch that has a light emitter and a light receiver connected to the ends of a pair of optical fibers, a cutoff plate that can be freely inserted between both the light emitter and receiver, and a light conduction between the two optical fibers. It is an object of the present invention to provide a bubble-generating bathtub characterized by comprising a photoelectric conversion device that converts the signal into an electric signal and sends the signal to a control device.

(e) Functions and Effects In the present invention, since the light is configured as described above, conduction/blocking of light between the pair of optical fibers is performed by turning on/off the touch switch. Such operation action is sent to the control device via the photoelectric conversion device,
Since the circulation pump section is operated and stopped, it is possible to create an inexpensive switch structure for the bubble-generating bathtub without requiring a high-precision pressure switch, etc. Even over long distances, there is almost no attenuation of the signal output transmitted to the control device, and the wiring system between them can be easily installed.Therefore, accurate and precise bubble generation stop operation is possible, and a comfortable bubble bathtub is created. You can enjoy bathing in.

(v) Example An example of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings. (^) shows a bubble-generating bathtub, and the bathtub (^) has a brim-like edge (1) of a constant width on the periphery. A controller (a) is disposed at a predetermined location on the edge (1).

In addition, a circulation pump part fB) is installed outside the bathtub (A), and a bath water circulation pipe (C) is interposed between the bathtub (8) and the pump part (B). It's forcing me.

In other words, the bath water circulation pipe (C) is the bubble generating bathtub (8).
A bath water suction pipe (C-1) for sending bath water from the pump to the circulation pump section (8), and a bath water return pipe for sending bath water in a jet form from the same pump (B) to the same bathtub (8). Pipe (C-2
), and the suction pipe (C-1) has one end opened [1] at the bottom of the bubble-generating bathtub (^), and the water suction pipe (C-1) of the pump body (b) of the circulation pump section (B). ni fl! !
The end of the bath water return pipe (C-2) is connected to the drain port of the pump body (b), and the bath water is sucked into the pump body (b). The other end communicates with a foot side spout (2) and a dorsal side spout D (3) that open at the front and rear lower portions.

Then, the bath return pipe (
A separate air supply pipe (4) is connected and branched to C-2), so that the pump body (
By the drive of b), the bubble generating bath'! The bath water in IJ (8) is sucked in from the bath water suction pipe (C-1) and forced to the foot side spout (2) from the bath water return pipe (C-2').
), the air will be ejected to the dorsal side ejection FT+ (3), and at this time, the negative pressure of the bath water circulation will be applied to the air from the air supply pipe (4) that communicates with the vicinity of each ejection port (2) and (3). The air that is not mixed with the bath water becomes bubbles and is ejected from the respective spout ports (2) and (3) together with the bath water.

A jet flow switching valve (5) is interposed in the middle of the bath water return pipe (C-2) leading from the pump body (b) to the bubble generating bathtub (8), and the valve (5) can be operated. The bath water can be switched between the foot side and the back side, and the base end of the intake pipe (4) is equipped with a foot side air bubble adjustment valve (6) so that the air bubbles can be adjusted depending on the amount of intake air. ,
A back bubble control valve (7) is connected, and each valve (506) (7) is disposed on the controller (a) of the edge (1) of the bathtub, respectively.

That is, the controller 1 roller (a) is attached to the edge (1) of the bathtub.
A slightly raised controller table (a-1) is formed, and each valve (5) (6H) is placed above the table (a-1).
7) handles (5') (6°) (7°) are arranged, and each valve (5H6H7) is vertically disposed below the edge (1).

A bubble generation switch (D) is installed in the middle of the controller (a), and when the switch (D) is operated, an output signal is generated and the output signal is sent to the bathroom. The pump body (b) is sent to a control device (8) attached to a wall, etc., and the pump body (b) is driven and stopped by the control device (8) to generate a jet of bath water to generate bubbles. .

Furthermore, the switch (D) is configured to be able to transmit on/off signals to the control device (8) using an optical fiber, which constitutes the gist of the present invention.

In addition, an operation line (9) is connected from the control device (8) to the circulation pump section (B).
) is connected to an electric wire (10) for supplying electricity from an AC power source.

Here, to explain the configuration of the bubble generation switch (D), as shown in FIGS. 3 to 4, the switch (D) has a water-resistant operation display sheet (11) and an operation display It consists of an operation panel (12) to which a sheet (11) is attached, a gauging body (13), and a touch switch (14) built into the casing body (13).

The touch switch (14) has two rectangular spiral notch grooves alternately combined in opposite directions, and a protrusion (15) on the back side of the central portion surrounded by the two notch grooves. and a blocking plate (16) is attached to the lower end of the projection (15).

By pressing the center portion of the touch switch (14), the blocking plate (16) can be easily moved in the vertical direction. And on both sides of the blocking plate (17),
A light emitting part (17) and a light receiving part (18) are provided, which can be cut off and made conductive by vertical movement of the cutoff plate (16).
The light projecting section (17) and the light receiving section (18) are composed of a photoelectric conversion device ff (
The light emitting element (17a) and the light receiving element (19) arranged in the
8a) are formed at the tips of the optical fibers (20) and (21) connected to the optical fibers (20) and (21).

On the other hand, in this embodiment, the photoelectric conversion device (19) is a control device (
8) is incorporated within.

As shown in FIG. 1, the photoelectric conversion device (19) is connected to a control device (
8) is connected to the input side interface.

Next, the operation of the bathtub switch structure having the above configuration will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3.

The bather presses the touch switch (14) with his/her hand (]1) from inside the bathtub.
), the blocking plate (16) will connect to the optical fiber (20).
(21) to the light emitting element (17a) and the light receiving element (18).
a), thereby generating an ON output as an optical signal.

The ON output is then sent to the photoelectric conversion device M (19), where the ON output is converted from an optical signal to an electrical signal (voltage signal), and then sent to the control device (8). sent to.

The control device (8) controls the operation line (
9), the electric switch of the pump body (b) of the circulation pump section (B) is turned ON/OFF to eject and stop the bubbles.

Since this invention is configured as described above, it produces the following actions and effects.

■The touch switch (14) transmits on/off signals to the light emitting/receiving elements (17a) (18a), optical fiber (20
) (21) and the photoelectric conversion device (19) to the control device (8), eliminating the need for a high-precision pressure switch, making it possible to manufacture a switch structure for bubble-generating bathtubs at low cost. can do.

■The touch switch (14) transmits on/off signals to the light emitting/receiving elements (17a) (18a), optical fiber (20
) (21) and the photoelectric conversion device (19)
I' device (8), so even if the distance between the bubble generation switch (0) and the control device (8) is quite long, the signal output transmitted to the control device (8) is attenuated. The on/off signal can be accurately sent to the control device (8). Therefore, the control device (8
) by ¥? ! Tight and accurate driving of the pump body (b)
It can be stopped and the generation of bubbles can be accurately controlled, allowing you to enjoy a comfortable bath.

■Communicates via optical fiber (20) (21), and the setting device has an electrically insulated structure, making it safe to use and capable of controlling bubble generation and stop regardless of electrical noise.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is an overall explanatory diagram of the bubble generating bathtub of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the controller portion, Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the bubble generating switch, Fig. 4 is a plan view of the same, and Fig. 5 is a conventional one. An explanatory diagram of the technology.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1) A bath water circulation pipe consisting of a bath water suction pipe and a forced bath water supply pipe is interposed between the bathtub and a circulation pump section installed outside the bathtub, and an air suction section is installed in the middle of the forced bath water supply pipe. It is configured to generate air bubbles at the same time as bath water is ejected from the opening in the bathtub of the forced bath water pipe, and moreover, by turning on and off the air bubble generation switch attached to the upper surface of the periphery of the bathtub, the air bubbles are generated from the outside of the bathtub. The output signal is sent to the control device installed at the pump, and the control device operates the circulation pump section.
The bubble generating switch is configured to generate bubbles, and the bubble generating switch includes a light emitting part and a light receiving part respectively connected to the ends of a pair of optical fibers, and a touch switch provided with a blocking plate that can be freely interposed between both the light emitting and receiving parts. A bubble-generating bathtub characterized by comprising a photoelectric conversion device that converts the conduction/blocking of light between both optical fibers into an electrical signal and sends the signal to a control device.