JPH06154523A - Appratus and method for cleaning bathtub water - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a simple and economical bathtub water cleaning apparatus capable of effectively back-washing the filter medium and provide a cleaning method using the apparatus. CONSTITUTION:An air tank 9 and a circulation pump 11 are successively installed in a circulation route of bathtub water on the downstream side of a filtration tank 6 filled with a filter medium and only on the case of back wash, air is stored in the air tank 9, so that back wash is carried out while the layer of the filter medium being pulled down by introducing a large quantity of air accumulated in the air tank 9 into the filtration tank 6 at once together with the bathtub water. Since back wash of the filter medium is carried out while the filter medium is in the scattered state, the stain adhering to the filter medium is excellently removed and moreover since it is sufficient to provide only an air tank 9 and a compressor to send air to the appratus, the apparatus is economical and hardly breaks down.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bathtub device, and in particular, to properly clean a filtration tank filled with a filter medium such as activated stone or activated carbon to effectively filter dirt in hot water and keep the hot water constantly clean. The present invention relates to a bathtub cleaning device having a backwash function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, cleaning of bath water by pumping hot water in a bathtub with a circulation pump and forcibly circulating it through a circulation path provided with various types of cleaning treatment equipment and ejecting the purified hot water again into the bathtub The device was developed.

This bath water purifying device includes a circulation pump for circulating the hot water, a pre-filter provided at the hot water inlet of the hot water pipe for filtering large dirt, and the capacity of the filtering material while filtering dirt. A filtration tank filled with a porous granular filter medium for water treatment according to the above, an ozone sterilizer for sterilization, and a cleaning treatment device such as a heater for keeping hot water at an appropriate temperature are provided.

In the filtration tank, dirt is removed by ion exchange, and at the same time, activated stone such as barley stone that elutes and activates minerals, activated carbon that adsorbs and removes dirt, and dirt is adsorbed and adsorbed at the same time. Porous granular materials having various water treatment capacities such as zeolite, which are removed by means of the above method, are filled individually or in combination to form a filtration layer.

Therefore, the filtration tank is, as described above,
Not only the filtration capacity of the filtration layer, but also the water treatment capacity according to the capacity of the filled filter material is effective in cleaning the bath water.

With the development of the cleaning device as described above, it becomes possible to enjoy comfortable bathing with hot water of a suitable temperature at any time for 24 hours without changing the hot water.

When such a cleaning device is continuously operated, the filter medium filled in the filter tank becomes dirty and the filter layer is clogged, the circulating amount of hot water is reduced, and the cleaning ability is deteriorated.

Therefore, when the filter layer is clogged,
Since the filter medium forming the filter layer is not always cheap and cannot be replaced frequently, the filter medium is taken out of the filtration tank and washed.

Further, cleaning the filter medium is troublesome and at the same time not so preferred for dirty work. Therefore, in order to automatically wash the filter medium without removing it from the filter tank, it is necessary to clean the filter layer with hot water. Many so-called backwashing devices for washing the filter medium by flowing in the opposite direction to automatically wash the device have been developed.

[0010]

However, in the cleaning of the filter medium using the conventional backwashing device, the hot water whose pressure is not so strong is simply passed through the filter medium layer in the reverse direction.
The layers of the filter medium were not collapsed and the filter medium was in close contact with each other, and the dirt could not be removed so effectively from the filter.

Therefore, various attempts have been made to improve the cleaning effect by applying ultrasonic vibration to the filter medium. However, since the filter medium particles are relatively large and heavy, the filter medium layer is destroyed by the vibration. It was difficult to break it apart.

Further, the device for vibrating the layer of the filter medium is complicated and expensive, and at the same time, it is easy to break down, and the maintenance of the device is difficult.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art and to provide a bath water purifying apparatus and a cleaning method capable of effective backwashing using a simple and inexpensive apparatus. To do.

[0014]

[Means for Solving the Problem] That is, according to the present invention, the hot water in the bathtub is pumped up by a circulation pump through a hot water suction pipe, the dirt is filtered by a filter tank, and then returned to the bathtub again through a hot water pipe to continuously supply hot water in the bathtub. In a bathtub hot water purification device to keep clean, a switching valve is installed to switch the hot water circulation path between a cleaning circulation path that flows forward in the filtration tank and a backwash circulation path that flows in the reverse direction. Is a bathtub hot water purification device characterized by sequentially arranging an air tank for storing air and a circulation pump in a circulation path on the downstream side of the filtration tank in the above flow, and switches the switching valve to the backwash circulation path. It is characterized in that air is stored in the air tank only when it is washed, and the air stored in the air tank is introduced into the filtration tank together with hot water for backwashing during backwashing to wash the filter medium. How to clean the bath water That.

[0015]

The present invention is constructed as described above, and by appropriately rotating the valve body of the switching valve, the hot water circulation path can be easily switched between forward cleaning and reverse backwashing. Air is stored in the air tank only when the circulation path is switched to backwash.

At the time of backwashing, since the air tank is arranged upstream of the filtration tank, the air accumulated in this air tank also flows into the filtration tank from the reverse direction for backwashing. It flows into the filtration tank together with hot water.

As a result, a relatively large amount of air accumulated in the air tank flows into the filter tank at once, so that the layer of the filter medium collapses, and the dirt attached to the separated filter medium is easily removed with hot water, which is effective. Can be backwashed.

Further, as the apparatus, only an air tank and a compressor for sending air to the air tank are provided, so that the cost is low and there is almost no risk of failure.

[0019]

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

FIG. 1 is a piping diagram showing the structure of the apparatus of the present invention, in which 1 is a bathtub, 2 is hot water, 3 is a hot water suction pipe for sucking hot water 2 from the bathtub, 4 is hot water in the direction opposite to the hot water pipe. Check valve to prevent the flow of water, 5 is a switching valve for switching the circulation path of hot water, 6 is a filtration tank filled with a filter medium such as activated carbon or barley stone, 7
Is a tank inflow pipe connected to the upper side surface of the tank for inflowing hot water into the filtration tank 6, 8 is a tank outflow pipe connected to the bottom surface of the tank for outflowing filtered hot water from the filtration tank 6, and 9 is in the middle of the tank outflow pipe 8. Deployed air tanks, 10
Is a compressor that sends air to the air tank 9.

Reference numeral 11 is a circulation pump for forcibly circulating hot water, 12 is a pump inflow pipe for inflowing hot water into the circulation pump 11, 13 is a pump outflow pipe for outflowing hot water from the circulation pump 11, and 14 is a pump outflow pipe 11. A pump outflow branch pipe branched from the middle, 15 a hot water pipe for jetting hot water after cleaning treatment into the bathtub 1 again, and 16 drainage water for discharging hot water after backwashing and rinsing to the outside of the bathtub 1. It is a tube.

Eight hot water distribution pipes, which are a hot water suction pipe 3, a tank outflow and outflow pipes 7 and 8, a pump outflow and outflow pipes 12 and 13, a pump outflow and outflow pipe 14, a spout pipe 15, and a drainage pipe 16 One end of each is connected to eight connection ports of the switching valve 5, respectively.

Of course, this embodiment shows only the basic structure, and other devices such as a heater for heating hot water and an ozone sterilizer for sterilization are also provided in the hot water circulation path in the actual device. It has been deployed.

Next, in the present embodiment, three hot water circulation paths for cleaning, backwashing and rinsing are formed by switching the switching valve 5, so the state of each circulation path will be described.

FIG. 2 shows the case where the hot water is cleaned, and in this case, the switching valve 5 is switched so that the hot water flow pipes are connected to each other via the hot water flow passage shown by the dotted line.

That is, the hot water suction pipe 3 and the tank inflow pipe 7 are the hot water flow passage 17, the tank outflow pipe 8 and the pump inflow pipe 12 are the hot water flow passage 18, and the pump outflow pipe 13 and the spout hot water pipe 15 are hot water. Each is connected by a flow passage 19, and the pump outflow branch pipe 14 and the hot water discharge pipe 16 are closed, and hot water flows from the hot water suction pipe 3 through the inside of the filtration tank 6 from top to bottom as shown by the arrow. A hot water circulation path is formed in the forward direction toward the pipe 15.

For cleaning, the compressor 10
Is stopped and air is not accumulated in the air tank 9.

When the circulation pump 9 is operated, the hot water 2 in the bathtub 1 is sucked up from the hot water pipe 3, and the check valve 4 opens because the flow of the hot water is in the forward direction. It flows into the filtration tank 6 from above via the tank inflow pipe 7.

The hot water that has entered the filtration tank 6 flows downward through the tank outflow pipe 8 while the dirt is filtered by the filled filter material and at the same time the activation stones are activated. After entering the circulation pump 11 through the air tank 9 that has not accumulated, the hot water flow passage 18 of the switching valve 5 and the pump inflow pipe 12, it flows out from the pump outflow pipe 13.

The hot water flowing out of the pop outflow pipe 13 is returned to the bathtub 1 again from the hot water pipe 15 through the hot water flow passage 19 of the switching valve 5, and the circulation cleans the hot water.

Next, the hot water is cleaned for a predetermined period of time, and the filter material filled in the filtration tank 6 becomes dirty and clogged, and the cleaning effect is lost. Therefore, backwashing is performed to remove this dirt. The case will be described with reference to FIG.

In this case, the switching valve 5 is switched so that the hot water flow pipes are connected to each other via the hot water flow passage shown by the dotted line.

That is, the hot water suction pipe 3 and the pump inflow pipe 12 are the hot water flow passage 20, and the pump outflow pipe 13 and the tank outflow pipe 8 are connected.
Is a hot water flow passage 21, and the tank inflow pipe 7 and the hot water discharge pipe 16 are respectively connected by a hot water flow passage 22. When the hot water discharge pipe 16 is opened, the hot water pipe 15 and the pump outflow branch pipe 14 are closed. As shown by the arrow, the hot water flows from the hot water suction pipe 3 through the filtration tank 6 from the bottom to the upper side, and then forms a circulation path of hot water in the opposite direction toward the hot water discharge pipe 16.

At the same time as the switching valve 5 is switched to form the above-mentioned backwash circulation path, the circulation pump 1
The operation of No. 1 is stopped, the operation of the compressor 10 is started, and air is stored in the air tank 9.

When the circulation pump 11 is operated after a predetermined amount of air has accumulated in the air tank 9, the hot water 2 in the bathtub 1 is sucked up from the hot water pipe 3 and the flow of the hot water is in the forward direction, so a check is performed. The valve 4 opens and enters the circulation pump 11 through the hot water flow passage 20 of the switching valve 5 and the pump inflow pipe 12, and flows out from the pump outflow pipe 13.

The hot water flowing out of the pump outflow pipe 13 enters the tank outflow pipe 8 through the hot water flow passage 21 of the switching valve 5, enters the filtration tank 6 together with the air accumulated in the air tank 9, and descends inside the filtration tank 6. Flow in the reverse direction from above to remove the dirt on the filter media and backwash.

At this time, since a relatively large amount of air enters the filtration tank 6 all at once, the pressure of the air causes the layers of the filter medium to collapse and the filter medium to fall apart. Is dropped very well.

The hot water thus backwashed in the filtration tank 6 is discharged from the hot water discharge pipe 16 through the tank inflow pipe 7 and the hot water flow passage 22 of the switching valve 5.

When the air in the air tank 9 is emptied by backwashing, the circulation pump is stopped to collect air, and then the circulation pump is operated again to perform backwashing, which depends on how dirty the filter medium is. Repeating the backwashing several times while making the filter medium violent with a large amount of air cleans the filter medium.

Of course, the backwashing is determined by an experiment in advance according to the backwashing conditions such as the backwashing interval, the number of backwashing, the cleaning capacity of the filtration tank, the capacity of the air tank, the capacity of the compressor, and the like. It can be done automatically by control based on.

In the circulation path for backwashing with air, the air tank 9 needs to be arranged upstream of the filtration tank 6, and the circulation pump 11 is further upstream of the air tank 9 because it does not entrain air. Therefore, in the forward flow, they are sequentially arranged on the downstream side of the filtration tank 6.

If this backwashing is continued for a predetermined time, the filtration tank 6
The filter medium filled in the tank will no longer be clogged, and the hot water will be able to be purified again by the forward flow.However, if backwashing is completed and cleaning is immediately started, hot water that has been separated from the filter medium during backwashing will be discharged. There is a concern that dirt remaining in the filtration tank 6 without being discharged from the pipe 16 may flow into the bath 1.

Therefore, in this embodiment, when the backwashing is finished, the hot water is circulated in the forward direction for a predetermined time and is rinsed in the forward direction to be discharged from the hot water discharge pipe 16, and then the cleaning is started. The circulation path will be described with reference to FIG.

In the case of this rinse circulation path, the switching valve 5 is switched so as to connect the hot water flow pipes to each other via the hot water flow path indicated by the dotted line.

That is, the hot water suction pipe 3 and the tuck inflow pipe 7 are connected in the hot water flow passage 17, and the tank outflow pipe 8 and the pump inflow pipe 12 are connected in the hot water flow passage 18 in the same manner as in the case of cleaning, and the pump outflow is performed. The branch pipe 14 and the hot water discharge pipe 16 are connected by the hot water flow passage 23, the pump outflow pipe 13 and the spout hot water pipe 15 are closed, and the hot water is pumped up from the bathtub 1 and moves upward in the filtration tank 6 as shown by the arrow. Forms a rinsing circulation path that circulates in the forward direction while discharging the hot water discharged from the hot water discharge pipe 16 after flowing in the forward direction.

Also in the case of this rinsing circuit, the compressor 10 is stopped and no air is stored in the air tank 9.

When the circulation pump 11 is operated in this state, the hot water 2 in the bathtub 1 is sucked up from the hot water suction pipe 3 and enters the filtration tank 6 through the hot water flow passage 17 of the switching valve 5 and the tank inflow pipe 7.

The hot water that has entered the filtration tank 6 flows in the forward direction from the top to the bottom of the tank, and when it is backwashed, some of the dirt left in the tank without being discharged, although it has been separated from the filter medium, is removed. After the filter material is washed while being attached again to the filter material, it flows out from the tank outflow pipe 8, and enters the circulation pump 11 through the empty air tank 9, the hot water flow passage 18 of the switching valve 5, the pump inflow pipe 12, and the like.

The hot water that contains dirt by rinsing in the circulation pump 11 does not flow out from the pump outflow pipe 13 and return to the bathtub 1 from the pump outflow pipe 13 as in the case of cleaning, but rather the pump outflow branch pipe 14 Flowing out from the hot water flow passage 2 of the switching valve 5
After 3 hours, the water is discharged from the hot water discharge pipe 16 to the outside of the bathtub 1.

When the circulation of the rinsing is continued for a predetermined time, some of the dirt left in the filter tank 6 by the backwash but not discharged from the hot water discharge pipe 16 and remaining in the tank is again attached to the filter material. At the same time, all the hot water containing dirt is discharged out of the bath tub, so that even if it returns to the circulation path of the cleaning process thereafter, no dirt is brought into the bath tub 1.

Next, the structure of the switching valve 5 for switching the circulation path of the hot water as described above will be described.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the switching valve 5, which shows 24
Is a cylindrical valve case with an open bottom surface,
Eight connection ports 25 to which each of the hot water distribution pipes of the book are individually connected
32 are arranged at equal intervals on the circumference of the circle slightly inside the outer circumference.

Reference numeral 33 denotes a disk-shaped valve body that is rotatably fitted in the valve case 24, and is located on the surface of the valve body 33 so as to face the connection ports 25 to 32 of the valve case 22. The blind elongated groove-shaped hot water flow grooves 34 to 36 are provided as hot water flow passages that connect three consecutive adjacent connection ports of the four adjacent connection ports to each other. A drive shaft 37 for rotating 33 projects downward.

Reference numeral 38 denotes a valve lid, and the valve lid 38 is fitted in the valve case 24 in which the valve body 33 is fitted and has an upper surface opened to close the opening of the lower surface, and a bottom surface for passing the drive shaft 37 of the valve body 33. A bearing hole 39 is provided at the center of the.

Next, a state in which the switching valve 5 having the above-mentioned structure is switched to form a circulation path for hot water will be described.

The state in which the switching valve 5 is switched to form the circulation path for cleaning the hot water is as shown in FIG. 6 as a top view (a) and a vertical sectional view (b). The connection state of the connection port and the hot water distribution pipe will be described.

The hot water flow pipes are connected to the respective connection ports by the tank inflow pipe 7, the hot water intake pipe 3, the pump inflow pipe 12, the tank outflow pipe 8, the pump outflow pipe 13, the spout pipe 15, the pump outflow branch pipe 14, and the exhaust pipe. It suffices to connect the hot water pipes 16 to the respective connection ports in the counterclockwise direction in this order.
However, 26 is the hot water suction pipe 3, 27 is the pump inflow pipe 12,
28 is a tank outflow pipe 8, 29 is a pump outflow pipe 13
However, 30 is connected to the molten metal pipe 15, 31 is connected to the pump outflow branch pipe 14, and 32 is connected to the molten metal discharge pipe 16.

When the hot water flow pipes are connected to the respective connection ports for cleaning in this way, the valve element 33 is rotated by the motor 40 via the drive shaft 37, and the adjacent connection ports 25 and 26 are heated. The circulation grooves 34, 27 and 28 are hot water circulation grooves 35, 2
9 and 30 are aligned with the hot water flow groove 36.

As a result, as shown in the parentheses of the corresponding hot water flow passages in FIG. 2, the hot water flow grooves 34 flow through the hot water flow passages 17 connecting the hot water suction pipes 3 and the tank inflow pipes 7. Groove 35
Is a hot water flow passage 18 connecting the tank outflow pipe 8 and the pump inflow pipe 12, and the hot water flow groove 36 is a hot water flow passage 19 connecting the pump outflow pipe 13 and the spout pipe 15.

Further, since the adjacent connection ports 31 and 32 are closed so as not to coincide with any of the hot water flow grooves, the hot water of the pump outflow branch pipe 14 and the hot water discharge pipe 16 connected to these connection ports is closed. Since the distribution is cut off, a circulation path for hot water for cleaning is formed as shown in FIG.

Next, a state in which the valve body 33 is rotated to form a hot water circulation path for backwashing will be described with reference to FIG.

In this state, the valve element 33 is located rotated by 45 ° in the clockwise direction from the cleaned state, and the adjacent connection ports 32 and 25 are located in the hot water flow groove 34, and 26 and 2.
7 corresponds to the hot water flow groove 35, and 28 and 29 match to the hot water flow groove 36.

As a result, as shown in the parentheses of the corresponding hot water flow passage in FIG. 3, the hot water flow passage 20 connects the hot water flow pipe 35 and the pump inflow pipe 12 to the hot water flow passage 20. Groove 3
6 forms a hot water flow passage 21 connecting the pump outflow pipe 13 and the tank outflow pipe 8, and a hot water flow groove 34 forms a hot water flow passage 22 connecting the tank inflow pipe 7 and the hot water discharge pipe 16.

Since the adjacent connection ports 30 and 31 are closed so as not to coincide with any of the hot water flow grooves, the hot water flow to the pump outflow branch pipe 14 and the hot water pipe 15 is cut off, as shown in FIG. A hot water circulation path for backwashing is formed.

Finally, a state in which a rinsing circulation path for washing the filter medium by circulating the water in the forward direction while discharging the hot water out of the bath will be described with reference to FIG.

In this state, the valve element 33 is located at a position further rotated by 45 ° in the clockwise direction from the backwash state,
Adjacent connection ports 25 and 26 match the hot water flow groove 35, 27 and 28 match the hot water flow groove 36, and 31 and 32.
And coincide with the hot water flow groove 34.

As a result, the hot water flow passage 17 connects the hot water suction pipe 3 and the tank inflow pipe 7 with the hot water flow passage 17 as shown by the corresponding hot water flow passage in FIG. Groove 36
Forms a hot water flow passage 18 that connects the tank outflow pipe 8 and the pump inflow pipe 12, and the hot water flow groove 34 makes the pump outflow branch pipe 1
4 forms a hot water flow passage 23 that connects the hot water discharge pipe 16 and the hot water discharge pipe 16.

Since the adjacent connection ports 29 and 30 are closed and the flow of hot water to the pump outflow pipe 13 and the spout pipe 15 connected to these connection ports is cut off, the order shown in FIG. A wash circuit is formed.

[0069]

The present invention has the above-described structure and operation, and the dirt on the filter medium is automatically removed by backwashing at a predetermined interval, so that the effect is always obtained without spending time and money for maintenance. There is provided a bath water purifying device provided with a filtering device capable of performing effective filtration.

Moreover, the backwash is carried out with a large amount of air flowing into the filter tank together with the hot water, and the filter layer is broken and the filter medium is disassembled. Therefore, the dirt attached to the filter medium is very effectively removed. Can be removed.

After backwashing, rinsing is carried out by pouring hot water in the forward direction, which removes some of the dirt remaining in the tank that has been discharged from the filter medium but is not discharged to the filter medium again. Since the rinsing is carried out while adhering, the rinsing is very effective as compared with the rinsing in which the hot water is poured in the opposite direction, which has no force for adhering dirt to the filter medium.

As a result, even if rinsing is performed immediately after restarting the cleaning, there is no fear that the dirt still remaining in the tank will flow into the bathtub and the hot water will be polluted.

Further, as a device for effectively performing backwashing, it is sufficient to simply provide an air tank and a compressor for sending air to the air tank, so that the cost of the device is low and there is almost no risk of failure. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a piping diagram of an embodiment,

[Fig. 2] Circulation path of hot water at the time of cleaning,

[Fig. 3] Hot water circulation during backwashing,

[Fig. 4] Circulation path of hot water during rinsing,

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a switching valve,

FIG. 6 is a switching switching state of the switching valve,

FIG. 7 is a backwash switching state of the switching valve,

FIG. 8 shows a rinsing switching state of the switching valve.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Bathtub 2 Hot water 3 Hot water suction pipe 4 Check valve 5 Switching valve 6 Filtration tank 7 Tank inflow pipe 8 Tank outflow pipe 9 Air tank 10 Compressor 11 Circulation pump 12 Pump inflow pipe 13 Pump outflow pipe 14 Pump outflow branch pipe 15 Hot water pipe 16 Hot water discharge pipe

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. Cleaning of bath water for continuously keeping the bath water clean by pumping the hot water in the bathtub with a circulation pump through a hot water pipe, filtering dirt in a filtration tank, and returning it again to the bathtub with a hot water pipe In the gasification device, a switching valve that switches the circulation path of the hot water between the cleaning circulation passage flowing in the filtration tank in the forward direction and the backwash circulation passage flowing in the reverse direction is provided. An apparatus for purifying hot water in a bath, wherein an air tank for storing air and a circulation pump are sequentially arranged in a circulation path. 2. The air is stored in the air tank only when the switching valve is switched to the backwash circulation path, and the air stored in the air tank is backfilled with hot water for backwashing during backwashing. A method for cleaning hot water in a bathtub, which comprises introducing the water into a bath to wash the filter medium.