JPH06237844A - Switching valve for air mattress - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve sleeping quality of an air mattress by allowing air pressure to remain in an air chamber upon exhaustion. CONSTITUTION:By setting a throttle valve (83) in an exhaust path (82) for discharge of compressed air from an air chamber of an air mattress, it is made possible to control the volume of exhaust air upon exhaustion allowing air pressure to remain in the compressed air chamber. Thus, the compressed air chamber may still sustain part of weight of enbedded person and sleeping quality of the air mattress is improved without harming the bedsore preventive effect, etc., of the inflated mattress.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a switching valve for switching air supply / discharge to / from an air mat used as a bed for sleeping or a bed for preventing bedsores.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Air mats are used as bedclothes for preventing bed sores, sleeping, and the like. Air is enclosed in an air mat consisting of a plurality of air-filled chambers, and the weight of a recumbent placed on the mat by the pressure of the air is reduced. It supports. The air mat has a characteristic that it disperses and absorbs the body weight of a lying person, and since a high supporting pressure is not applied to a specific part of the lying person, it is effective in preventing bed sores and sleeping.

This air enclosing chamber is divided into a plurality of systems, and compressed air is alternately supplied and discharged for each system to change the air enclosing chamber for supporting a lying person. FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram of this type of air mat.

As shown in FIG. 10, in the air mat 20 of this example, a plurality of cylindrical air-filled chambers 22 that are long in the left-right direction of the lying person 21 are arranged side by side in the up-down direction of the lying person 21. . The air enclosing chamber 22 is divided into a first system without hatching and a second system shown with hatching, and compressed air is alternately supplied and discharged for each system to enclose each air. Expansion and contraction of the chamber 22 are repeated in a constant time cycle (for example, a 5-minute cycle). Figure 10 (b)
Indicates that air is supplied to the air enclosing chambers 22 belonging to the first system and they are expanded, while the air enclosing chambers 22 of the second system are contracted. In this state, the air enclosing chamber 22 of the first system supports the lying person 21. On the other hand, in FIG. 10C, on the contrary, the air sealing chamber 22 of the first system is contracted and the air sealing chamber 22 of the second system is expanded, and in this state, the second system is closed. The air enclosure chamber 22 supports the lying person 21. Incidentally, 23
Is a pillow.

In this air mat 20, the position of the lying person 21 is periodically changed even if the lying person 21 does not move. Therefore, for example, a bed sore caused by poor blood circulation due to long-term compression of the lying person 21. It can be effectively prevented, and an effect such as good sleep is also produced.

Conventionally, the switching of the air pressure is performed by using FIG.
It was performed by the rotary type switching valve shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a partially cutaway side view of a rotary valve according to a conventional example, FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line XII-XII of FIG. 11, and FIG.
3 is a sectional view taken along line XIII-XIII in FIG. 11, and FIG. 14 is an explanatory view of its action.

In FIG. 11, 24 is a drive motor with a reduction gear, 25 is a switching valve, and the switching valve 25 has a disk-shaped fixed portion 26 and a rotating portion 27.

The fixed portion 26 of the switching valve 25 is fixed to the frame of the drive motor 24, and the drive shaft 28 of the drive motor 24 is rotatably penetrated through a hole formed at the center thereof. As shown in FIG. 12, on the upper surface of the fixed portion 26 (the surface that contacts the lower surface of the rotating portion 27), an air introduction hole 30 communicating with an air supply source (air pump) not shown through a pipe 29 and a pipe 31 are provided. The first air supply hole 32 that communicates with the air enclosure chamber 22 that belongs to the first system described above, and the second air supply hole 3 that communicates with the air enclosure chamber 22 that belongs to the second system described above through the pipe 33.
And 4 are provided. The first and second air supply holes 32 and 34 are located on the same circumference around the drive shaft 28, and the air introduction hole 30 is located on a circumference different from these.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 11, the switching valve 2
The rotating portion 27 of No. 5 is located above the fixed portion 26, the drive shaft 28 of the drive motor 24 penetrates through a hole formed in the center thereof, and the pin 35 fixed to the drive shaft 28 is attached to the rotating portion 27. The groove 36 is recessed. A spring 37 is wound around the drive shaft 28 protruding upward, and one end of the spring 37 is attached to the tip of the drive shaft 28.
And the other end engages with the rotating portion 27 to press the rotating portion 27 against the fixed portion 26. Therefore, when the drive shaft 28 is rotated by the operation of the drive motor 24, the rotating portion 27 is rotated while being in pressure contact with the fixed portion 26 along with the rotation.

As shown in FIG. 13, a fan-shaped groove 39 is formed on the lower surface of the rotating portion 27 (the surface contacting the upper surface of the fixed portion 26).
And a circular arc-shaped exhaust hole 40 are formed. The fan-shaped groove 39 is used for the air introduction hole 30
And one of the first and second air supply holes 32 and 34. The exhaust hole 40 is located on the same circumference as the first and second air supply holes 32 and 34.

In such a switching valve 25, the drive motor 24 rotates the rotating portion 27 once at a constant speed, for example, for 10 minutes. Now, as shown in FIG.
When the fan-shaped groove 39 of the fixed portion 26 is in the rotation position including the air introduction hole 30 and the second air supply hole 34 of the fixed portion 26, the compressed air supplied through the pipe 29 passes through the holes 30 and 34 to the pipe 33. Is supplied to the air enclosure chamber 22 belonging to the second system and expanded. On the other hand, the rotating portion 27 rotates and the fan-shaped groove 39 causes the air introduction hole 30 and the first air supply hole 32.
If the compressed air from the pipe 29 is included in the holes 30 and 3,
It is supplied to the other pipe 31 via 2 and the air enclosure chamber 22 belonging to the first system is expanded. Also, the exhaust hole 4
When 0 overlaps with the air supply holes 32 and 34, the compressed air in the air enclosure chamber 22 passes through the exhaust holes 40 and the rotating portion 27.
Is exhausted upward, and the air enclosure chamber 22 contracts. Then, by repeating these, the air enclosure chambers 22 of the first system and the second system alternately expand and contract.

FIG. 15 shows the above-mentioned air mat 20.
6 is a graph showing changes over time in the air pressure in the air enclosure chambers 22 of the first system and the second system in FIG.

[0014]

Conventional switching valve 25
The compressed air is alternately supplied to and discharged from the air enclosing chambers 22 of the first and second systems. However, as shown in FIG. 15, when the compressed air is supplied to one, the other compressed air is discharged at once. It was something that ended up. As a result, in the above-described conventional air mat 20, the lying person 21 is always supported by the air enclosing chamber 22 that is placed every other one.

This is rather natural if attention is paid only to the function of the air mat 20 for preventing bedsores. On the other hand, when a healthy person sleeps on the air mat 20, the interval is as if the person were to sleep. In some cases, it feels like you are sleeping on logs that have been opened and lined up, making you feel uncomfortable.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and an air mat switching valve capable of improving sleeping comfort by allowing air pressure to remain in the air filled chamber even when exhausting air. It is intended to be provided.

[0017]

An air mat switching valve according to the present invention for achieving the above object is an air mat composed of a plurality of air enclosing chambers divided into a plurality of systems. In the air mat switching valve which is attached to the air enclosing chamber and switches the compressed air supplied to and discharged from the air enclosing chamber for each system, the flow rate of the air flowing through the passage to the exhaust passage of the compressed air discharged from the air enclosing chamber is changed. A throttle valve for suppressing is provided.

[0018]

The throttle valve suppresses the flow rate of compressed air discharged from the air sealing chamber through the exhaust passage, and regulates the amount of air discharged in a predetermined period. As a result, the air pressure remains in the air-filling chamber even when exhausting, supporting a part of the weight of the lying person.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an air supply unit for an air mat. As shown in FIG. 2, the inside of the housing frame 51 is partitioned into two chambers by a partition wall 52, and an air pump 53 as an air supply source is housed in one chamber, and
A main switching valve 54, electric components 55, etc. are arranged in the other chamber.

A pipe 57 is attached to the inlet passage 56 of the switching valve 54, and a hose 58 is connected to the pipe 57. The hose 58 is connected to the air pump 53 through the hole 59 of the partition wall 52, and compressed air is constantly supplied from the air pump 53 to the inlet passage 56 through the hose 58 during operation.

A branch passage 60 is formed in the inlet passage 56, and a relief valve 61 is provided in the branch passage 60. The relief valve 61 has a truncated cone-shaped valve body 62, a spring 63 for urging the valve body 62, and an adjusting screw 64 for adjusting the urging force of the spring 63. The adjusting screw 64 is rotatably operated from the outside of the frame 51. You can adjust the relief pressure with. This adjustment is performed so that the optimum air pressure is supplied according to, for example, the weight of the lying person. Further, in FIG. 2, 65 is a start switch and 66 is a pilot lamp.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the switching valve 54.
3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of the operation of this switching valve.

In FIG. 1, 67 is a drive motor with a reduction gear similar to the conventional one, and the switching valve 54 has a fixed portion 69 integrally fixed to a frame 68 and a rotating portion 70.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the fixed portion 69 has an upper surface of the inlet passage 56 and the fixed portion 69 (rotating portion 70).
An air introduction hole 71 communicating with the lower surface of the first air supply hole), and the fixing portion 69 further includes a first air supply hole 72, a second air supply hole 73, and a first air discharge hole. Hole 74, second air discharge hole 75, common discharge hole 76
Has been drilled. The holes 71 to 76 are located at different distances from the drive shaft 77 of the drive motor 67.

The first air supply hole 72 and the first air discharge hole 74 are provided with a first space 78 formed in the frame 68.
The void 78 communicates with a pipe 79 formed in the frame 68. The pipe 79 is connected to an air enclosure chamber belonging to the first system of the air mat (not shown).

Similarly, the second air supply hole 73 and the second air supply hole 73
The air discharge hole 75 of the frame 68 communicates with the second space 80 formed in the frame 68, and this space 80 is connected to the frame 6
8 communicates with the pipe 81 formed (see FIG. 1).
And this pipe 81 is the second of the air mat which is not shown.
It is connected to the air enclosure that belongs to the system.

The common exhaust hole 76 communicates with an exhaust passage 82 formed in the frame 68. A throttle valve 83 is arranged at the outlet end of the exhaust passage 82, and the throttle valve 83 can suppress the flow rate of air flowing through the exhaust passage 82. That is, this throttle valve 83
Includes a valve body 85 having a conical tip portion and a screw formed in the rear portion and screwed into the pipe 84, a conical hole 86 facing the conical portion, and an exhaust port 87 communicating with the conical hole 86. By advancing and retracting the valve body 85, the gap between the conical portion and the hole 86 is changed to variably control the flow rate of air discharged to the exhaust port 87.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, on the lower surface of the rotating portion 70 (the surface contacting the upper surface of the fixed portion 69), the distance from the rotation center of the drive shaft 77 to the air introduction hole 71 is the same. A ring-shaped groove 88 having a radius and a plurality of first air supply grooves 89 provided on the circumference having the same radius as the distance from the rotation center of the drive shaft 77 to the first air supply hole 72.
Similarly, a plurality of second air supply grooves 90 provided on the circumference having the same radius as the distance from the center of rotation of the drive shaft 77 to the second air supply hole 73 are recessed. The first air supply grooves 89 have different arc lengths, and the second air supply grooves 90 also have different arc lengths. First air supply groove 89 and second air supply groove 90
The mutual phase angle positions of the second air supply groove 90 and the second air supply hole 73 are the same when any one of the first air supply grooves 89 overlaps the position of the first air supply hole 72. Is displaced, and conversely, when any one of the second air supply grooves 90 overlaps with the second air supply hole 73, the first air supply groove 89 is different from the first air supply hole 72. The positions are displaced.

The ring-shaped groove 88 and the first and second air supply grooves 89 and 90 are connected to each other by a plurality of communication grooves 91.

Further, the drive shaft 7 is provided on the lower surface of the rotating portion 70.
A ring-shaped discharge groove 92 having the same radius as the distance from the rotation center of 7 to the common exhaust hole 76, and a circle having the same radius as the distance from the rotation center of the drive shaft 77 to the first air discharge hole 74. A plurality of first air discharge grooves 93 provided,
A plurality of second air discharge grooves 94 provided on the circumference having the same radius as the distance from the rotation center of the drive shaft 77 to the second air discharge hole 75 are recessed. These arc-shaped air discharge grooves 93, 94 are arcs having the same angle formed by a line connecting both ends of the air discharge grooves 93, 94. Further, the angular position where they are formed is the first when the first air supply groove 89 overlaps the position of the first air supply hole 72.
When the second air supply groove 90 is displaced from the first air discharge hole 74 and the second air supply groove 90 overlaps the position of the second air supply hole 73, the second air discharge groove 94 is moved to the first air discharge groove 94. The position is different from that of the second air exhaust hole 75.

Further, the ring-shaped discharge groove 92 and the first and second
The air discharge grooves 93 and 94 are connected to each other by a plurality of communication grooves 95.

On the other hand, similarly to the conventional example of FIG. 11, the drive shaft 77 of the drive motor 67 penetrates the fixed portion 69 so as to be rotatable, and the drive shaft 77 is a pin 96 (see FIG. 2).
It is adapted to rotate integrally with the rotating part 70. Further, a spring 98 is interposed between a stopper 97 attached to the tip of the drive shaft 77 and the rotating portion 70, and is biased by the spring 98 so that the fixed portion 69 and the rotating portion 70 come into contact with each other. There is.

In such a structure, the drive motor 67
Rotates the rotating unit 70 once at a constant speed, for example, for 10 minutes. Now, as shown in FIG. 5, when one of the second air supply grooves 90 of the rotating portion 70 overlaps with the second air supply hole 73 of the fixed portion 69, the compressed air introduced from the inlet passage 56 is From the air introduction hole 71 to the ring-shaped groove 88 of the rotating portion 70, and is supplied to the pipe 81 through the communication groove 91, the second air supply groove 90, the second air supply hole 73, and the void 80. The air enclosure chamber belonging to the second system of the air mat is expanded.

At this time, one of the first air discharge grooves 93 overlaps with the first air discharge hole 74, and the compressed air sealed in the air sealing chamber belonging to the first system is
The first air exhaust hole 74, through the pipe 79 and the space 78,
The throttle valve 8 passes through the first air exhaust groove 93, the communication passage 95, the ring-shaped exhaust groove 92, the common exhaust hole 76, and the exhaust passage 82.
3 is discharged from the discharge port 87. Here, the discharge period of the compressed air is constant depending on the rotation speed of the rotating unit 70, but the amount of air discharged during the constant time can be controlled by adjusting the throttle condition of the throttle valve 83. Therefore, it is possible to leave a desired air pressure in the air sealing chamber when the discharging period ends.

Next, when the rotating portion 70 rotates and the first air supply groove 89 overlaps with the first air supply hole 72 of the fixed portion 69, the compressed air is similarly supplied to the first air mat of the air mat through the pipe 79. The air enclosure chamber belonging to the system is expanded. At this time, one of the second air discharge grooves 94 overlaps the second air discharge hole 75, and the compressed air sealed in the air sealing chamber belonging to the second system is pipe 81,
After passing through the void 80, the second air exhaust hole 75, the second air exhaust groove 92, the communication passage 95, the ring-shaped exhaust groove 92, the common exhaust hole 76, the exhaust passage 82, and the exhaust air through the throttle valve 83. It is discharged from the outlet 87. In this case also, similarly to the above, the throttle valve 83 suppresses the discharge of the compressed air.

In this way, the rotating portion 70 of the switching valve 54 is
The air enclosing chambers of the first system and the second system alternately expand and contract with the rotation of, but in this switching valve 54, a throttle valve 83 is provided in the discharge passage 82 to suppress discharge. FIG. 6 is a graph showing changes over time in the air pressure in the air enclosures of the first system and the second system in the air mat.
As shown in (3), the air pressure remains even during contraction and exhaust, and supports a part of the weight of the lying person. Incidentally, FIG.
The imaginary line represents the pressure when the throttle valve 83 is not provided.

Further, in the present embodiment, the throttle valve 83 can change the throttle amount, so that the person lying on the bed can prefer
It is possible to adjust the residual pressure as needed. Further, the adjustment can be performed easily because the valve body 85 screwed into the pipe 84 formed on the frame 68 which is the fixing member can be rotated.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, a plurality of first and second
Since the lengths of the air supply grooves 89 and 90 are different from each other, the cycle of expansion and contraction of the air enclosing chamber is not constant, and the irregular expansion and contraction movement can provide a feeling of sleep and peace of mind. .

By the way, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the throttle valve 83 is provided on the fixed side to facilitate the adjustment, and
Although the expansion and contraction of the air mat is made irregular so that a natural feeling can be obtained, the present invention is not limited to this, and the conventional switching valve as shown in FIG. It is also possible to apply. Hereinafter, such an embodiment will be described.

FIG. 7 is a partially cutaway side view of a switching valve according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII of FIG. In addition, in FIG. 7 and FIG.
The same parts as those of the conventional device shown in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, in the present switching valve 25, instead of forming the exhaust hole 40 in the rotating portion 27, an arc-shaped exhaust groove 100 is provided as a recess, and the exhaust passage 101 is formed in the center thereof. Has been drilled. A throttle valve 102 is arranged in the opening of the exhaust passage 101 on the upper surface of the rotating portion 27.
Similar to the above, the throttle valve 102 has a valve body 103 having a conical tip portion and a screw formed at the rear portion and screwed into the rotating portion 27, and a conical hole 1 facing the conical portion.
04 and an exhaust port 105 communicating therewith, by moving the valve element 103 forward and backward, the gap between the conical portion and the hole 104 is changed to variably control the air flow rate discharged to the exhaust port 105. . Therefore, even in the above-described configuration, the exhaust amount can be controlled by adjusting the degree of throttling of the throttle valve 102, and the air pressure remains even in the contracted exhaust of the air filled chamber so that the contracted air filled chamber remains. Can support a part of the weight of a lying person.

FIG. 9 is a graph showing the change over time in the air pressure in the air enclosing chambers of the first system and the second system in the air mat using the switching valve described above. Incidentally, FIG.
The imaginary line represents the pressure when the throttle valve 102 is not provided.

In each of the above embodiments, the throttle valve 83,
Although 102 is a variable throttle valve, the present invention is not necessarily limited to the variable throttle valve, and may be a fixed throttle valve intended to maintain a constant pressure during exhaust.

[0044]

As described above in detail with reference to the embodiments, according to the present invention, a throttle valve is provided in the exhaust passage of the compressed air discharged from the air sealing chamber of the air mat to provide the contracting air sealing chamber. Since the air pressure is made to remain, the comfort of sleeping by the air mat can be improved without impairing the bed slip prevention effect of the expanded and contracted air mat.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a switching valve according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an air supply unit for an air mat according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG.

4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of its operation.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing a change over time in the air pressure in the air enclosures of the first system and the second system in the air mat of the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a partially cutaway side view of a switching valve according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

8 is a sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a graph showing the change over time of the air pressure in the air enclosures of the first system and the second system in the air mat of the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram of an air mat.

FIG. 11 is a partially cutaway side view of a rotary valve according to a conventional example.

12 is a sectional view taken along line XII-XII of FIG.

13 is a sectional view taken along line XIII-XIII in FIG.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of its operation.

FIG. 15 is a graph showing changes with time of the air pressures in the air enclosing chambers of the first system and the second system in the air mat according to the conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 20 air mat 22 air filling chamber 25, 54 switching valve 82, 101 exhaust passage 83, 102 throttle valve

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An air mat attached to an air mat formed by collecting a plurality of air enclosing chambers divided into a plurality of systems, and switching compressed air supplied to and discharged from the air enclosing chambers for each system. A switching valve for an air mat, wherein a throttle valve for suppressing a flow rate of the air flowing through the passage is provided in an exhaust passage of the compressed air discharged from the air sealing chamber.