JPH06262174A - Device for forming elecrtrolyzed water - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To effectively use auxiliary use water when water supply to an electrolyzer where alkaline ionized water and acidic ionized water are formed by electrolysis to discharge them separately is stopped by providing a draining device for draining distilled water in the electrolyzer from a separate draining port. CONSTITUTION:When water is fed to a device for forming electrolyzed water 1 from a connecting pipe 97 connected to a faucet for city water, a moving body 56 in a switching valve 5 goes left by water pressure and water leaving a port 52 of the switching valve 5 is introduced into a water purifier 3 through a plug 14. Then the water filtered there is introduced into a backwash unit 4, where a piston 41 in a cylinder 40 is pressed down to open a valve body 43 which has closed a discharge port 44, and fed into an electrolyzer 2, where alkaline ionized water and acidic ionized water are formed on the discharge port 23 side and on the discharge port 29 side respectively. Then, when a switching device to which connecting pipes 97, 98 are connected is switched to feed water to the connecting pipe 98 side, the water purifier 3 is backwashed. At this time, water in the electrolyzer 2 is discharged from a drain port 64.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrolyzed water generator for electrolyzing tap water or the like to continuously produce alkaline ionized water and acidic ionized water.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an electrolyzed water generator as shown in FIG. 7 has been provided. This is a water purifier 3 including a filter medium 31 made of activated carbon and a filter medium 32 formed of a hollow fiber membrane,
It is composed of an electrolytic cell 2, and two kinds of electrodes 21, 22 are arranged in the electrolytic cell 2 in a state of being partitioned by an electrolytic diaphragm 20.

The water sent to the water purifier 3 from the switching unit 8 attached to the tap water faucet 99 is purified in the water purifier 3, and then electrolysis in which a DC voltage is applied to the electrodes 21 and 22. It is sent to the tank 2 and alkaline ionized water is produced on the side of the electrode serving as the cathode and acidic ionized water is produced on the side of the electrode serving as the anode. Of these two kinds of ionized water, the main use water (generally, alkaline ionized water used for drinks) is sent out from the discharge port 23, and the sub-use water (acidic ion water)
Is sent from the discharge port 24 to the drain port 64.

The voltage application to the electrodes 21, 22 of the electrolytic cell 2 is started by a pressure detection switch PS having a diaphragm 68 installed in a water channel connecting the switching unit 8 and the water purifier 3. Further, the water channel connecting the water purifier 3 and the electrolysis tank 2 is also connected to the drain port 64, but since the ball valve 66 is closed by the water pressure, the water going to the electrolysis tank 2 goes to the drain port 64. There is no direct flow.

When the supply of water from the switching unit 8 is stopped, the pressure detecting switch PS is turned off to cut off the power supply to the electrodes 21 and 22 of the electrolytic cell 2 and the water in the electrolytic cell 2 is shut off. Is discharged to the drainage port 64 through the ball valve 66 that is open because there is no water pressure difference between the front and back. In addition, in the electrolysis tank 2, the electrode 2 is subjected to long-term electrolysis.
While scales are deposited on the surface of 1 and 22,
Since this scale reduces the electrolysis capacity, when the water supply is stopped, the electrodes 21,
Instead of immediately stopping the voltage application to the electrode 22, a voltage having a reverse polarity to that of the electrode 2 is applied for about 30 seconds.
It is also known that the scale is eluted by performing the reverse polarity electrolysis applied to 1 and 22.

[0006]

Here, in the above-mentioned one, the drainage port 64, which discharges the sub-use water (usually acidic ionized water) at the time of electrolysis, is provided with the electrolytic cell 2 when the water is stopped.
Since it is also used to drain the alkaline ionized water and the acidic ionized water that have accumulated in the inside, when attempting to pump and use the sub-use water (acidic ionized water) drained from the drain port 64, This will lower the pH value of the by-use water. Especially when the reverse polarity electrolysis is carried out when the water is stopped,
H value tends to decrease.

Further, in the above electrolyzed water producing apparatus, the water purifier 3 is arranged in the preceding stage in order to suppress the amount of scale deposition. However, when the amount of water flow increases, the filter media 31, 32 of the water purifier 3 are increased. Particularly, due to the clogging of the filter medium 32 made of a hollow fiber membrane, the flow rate of the electrolytic water is reduced in a relatively short period of time, which is a new problem. In particular, with the pressure detection switch PS provided in the water passage leading to the water purifier 3, the electrodes 21 of the electrolytic cell 2,
In the case of controlling the energization to 22, the electrodes 21 and 22 are energized even though water is not flowing in the electrolytic cell 2 due to the clogging of the filter media 31 and 32 of the water purifier 3. Will end up.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and its main object is to provide an electrolyzed water generator capable of effectively utilizing by-use water, which is generally acidic ionized water. The other purpose is to provide an electrolyzed water generator that can perform problems such as clogging of the water purifier and reliable interruption of electricity to the electrodes of the electrolytic cell when water is not flowing. There is.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention, however, provides an electrolytic cell for generating alkaline ionized water and acidic ionized water by electrolysis and discharging the electrolyzed water separately, and a method for stopping water supply to the electrolytic cell. The main feature is that it is equipped with a drainage means for discharging the accumulated water in the electrolytic cell from a discharge port different from each discharge part of the both electrolytic water, and also in the water supply route to the electrolytic cell. , A hollow fiber membrane as a filtering material, and a backwashing means for backwashing the filtering material by backflowing the purified water that has passed through the filtering means back into the water purification means, in the flow path from the water purification means to the electrolytic cell Another feature is that it is provided with a control means for controlling the energization of the electrodes in the electrolytic cell in accordance with the water pressure.

[0010]

According to the present invention, since the sub-use water is discharged from the exclusive discharge part, it is not mixed with the accumulated water in the electrolytic cell drained by the drain means. At this time, if the discharge part of one of the electrolyzed water and the drainage path of the drainage means are connected to each other via a check valve that allows the discharge part side to flow into the drainage path side, the sub-use water is not used. If so, by closing the mouth of the discharge part, the sub-use water can be collectively treated with the accumulated water from the drainage port of the drainage means.

Further, when the water purifying means and the backwashing means are provided, it is possible to suppress the generation of scale, and at the same time, it is possible to suppress the problem of clogging in the water purifying means and control the energization of the electrodes of the electrolytic cell. If the water pressure of the water passing through the water purifying means is used, the electrodes will not be energized when the water purifying means is clogged.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the illustrated embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, this electrolyzed water generator 1 includes an electrolytic cell 2, a backwash unit 4, and a switching valve 5 in a housing 10. The cartridge block water purifier 3 is formed in a detachable manner in the housing 10 while housing the manifold block 6 and the manifold block 6.

Like the conventional example, the electrolytic cell 2 is provided with two kinds of electrodes 21, 22 and an electrolytic diaphragm 20 for partitioning the two, and has an inlet 25 on the bottom side and one electrode on the upper side. The discharge port 23 communicating with the space surrounding 22 and the other electrode 2
1 is provided with a discharge port 24 communicating with a space surrounding the discharge port 1. The discharge port 23 is formed flexibly through a plug 15 rotatably attached to an upper portion of the housing 10 and has a nozzle 18 attached to a tip thereof. It is connected to the pipe 17.

The outer surface of the plug 15 and the housing 10
The O-ring 16 provided between and is not for preventing water leakage, but for giving an appropriate resistance to the rotation of the plug 15. The flexible discharge pipe 17 is formed of, for example, a metal pipe such as stainless steel and the nozzle 18 is also formed of a metal pipe in order to suppress the propagation of various bacteria in the internal stagnant water due to external contamination such as bounce from the sink of the sink. Although it is made of metal, in this case, since the accumulated water in the pipe may be frozen in winter, a metal flexible pipe covered with a non-metal flexible pipe is used here. The flexible tube base 17a and the holding member 17b into which the nozzle 18 is screwed are also made of non-metal.

The water purifier 3 in the form of a cartridge has a filter medium 31 made of activated carbon and a filter medium 32 made of a hollow fiber membrane inside a case 30 and fixed to the housing 10 by means of ultrasonic welding or the like. It is housed in the storage case 11 and fixed by a lid 33 screwed onto the upper end of the storage case 11. Reference numeral 12 in the drawing denotes a cover 12 which is detachable from the housing 10. In the water purifier 3 housed in the housing case 11 of the housing 10 in this way, the two openings provided at the lower end of the water purifier 3 are water-tight to the two plugs 13 and 14 provided at the bottom of the housing case 11, respectively. Communicate. The drain pipe 39 having an upper end opened at the bottom of the storage case 11 and an opened lower end at the lower surface of the housing 10 has a capacity of removing water from the water purifier 3 when the cover 12 and the lid 33 are removed and the water purifier 3 is taken out. To prevent this water from flowing to the electrolytic cell 2 side.

The backwash unit 4 is a filter medium 3 in the water purifier 3.
It is for eliminating the clogging of 1, 32 by performing backwashing in which the purified water filtered by once passing through the water purifier 3 is backwashed to the water purifier 3. As shown in FIG. The cylinder 41 includes a piston 41 arranged in the cylinder 40, and an interlocking pin 42 slidably engaged with the piston 41 and pulling down the valve body 43 against the spring 45 as the piston 41 descends.
A port 46 connected to the water purifier 3 through the plug 13 is provided at the upper end of the valve body 43, and the valve body 43 opens when the valve body 43 descends.
And a discharge port 44 that is closed by the rise of the piston 41. The space below the piston 41 in the cylinder 40 communicates with the port 55 of the switching valve 5 described below.

The switching valve 5 mounted below the backwash unit 4 has ports 51 and 54 at both ends and three ports 52, 53 and 55 at axially offset positions on the circumferential surface. As the built-in movable body 56 moves by hydraulic pressure, the ports 51 and 52 shown in FIG. 3 communicate with each other, and the ports 55 and 53 communicate with each other through the outer peripheral space 57 of the movable body 56, and FIG. like,
The ports 54 and 55 communicate with each other and the outer peripheral space 57
The port 52 and the port 53 are connected to each other through. The port 52 is connected to the water purifier 3 via the plug 14.

The manifold block 6 has a port 60 connected to the port 44 of the backwash unit 4.
A port 61 connected to the inlet 25 of the electrolytic cell 2, a port 62 connected to the port 53 of the switching valve 5, and a port 63 connected to the outlet 24 of the electrolytic cell 2. And two drain ports 64,
The drainage port 64 communicates with the port 62, and the drainage port 65 communicates with the port 63. Further, a check valve 67 that allows water to flow into the drain port 64 side when the water pressure on the drain port 65 side is equal to or higher than a predetermined pressure is provided between the drain ports 64 and 65, and communicates with each other. Port 6
A ball valve 66 is provided between 0 and 61 and the drain port 64. Further, a pressure detecting switch PS is provided in a portion communicating with the ports 60 and 61, the contact of which is switched when the diaphragm 68 is bent by water pressure. The radiator 7 installed in the water passage that connects the discharge port 24 of the electrolysis tank 2 and the port 63 is for water cooling of the electrolysis power supply circuit D ₂ (in particular, full-wave rectifier) described later.

The electrolyzed water generator 1 thus formed is
Two ports 5 located at both ends of the switching valve 5
1, 54 are connected via connecting pipes 97, 98 to a switching unit 8 attached to the tap of the water supply, respectively. As shown in FIG. 6, the switching unit 8 has a main body 80 having an upper end portion fixed to the tip of the water discharge pipe of the faucet 89 and a valve chamber 81 inside, and a lower surface opening portion of the main body 80. A rotary valve 82 housed in the valve chamber 81, and a lever 83 for rotating the rotary valve 82.
Three water channels 84, 85, and 86 are formed in the water passage. When the water channel 84 shown in the figure communicates with the inflow port 90 surrounded by the fixing portion 89, the water from the discharge pipe flows into the inflow port 90 and the water channel 84. Through the discharge pipe 91 connected to the connection pipe 97,
When the water passage 85 is communicated with the inflow port 90, water flows to the discharge port 92 connected to the connecting pipe 98, and when the water channel 86 communicates with the inflow port, the water is formed in the side wall of the valve chamber 81.
3 to the discharge port 88 provided in the cover 87.
And the water channels 84, 85, 8 in the rotary valve 82
Water from the faucet is stopped here when 6 closes the inlet 90 at the open part.

Next, the operation will be described. First, the case of taking out electrolyzed water may be carried out by flowing water to the connecting pipe 97 in the switching unit 8. The water reaching the port 51 of the switching valve 5 of the electrolyzed water generator 1 from the connecting pipe 97 is moved by the water pressure of the movable body 56 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.
Is pushed to the left in the figure, enters the water purifier 3 from the port 52 through the plug 14, and after being filtered by the filter media 30 and 31, reaches the port 46 of the backwash unit 4. Then, the water that has entered the cylinder 40 from the port 46 first pushes down the piston 41 by the water pressure, opens the discharge port 44 that was closed by the valve body 43 until then, and from this discharge port 44 to the port 60 of the manifold block 6, After passing through 61, it reaches the inflow port 25 of the electrolytic cell 2 and is electrolyzed in the electrolytic cell 2. The energization of the electrolytic cell 2 is started when the pressure detection switch PS detects the water pressure of water that has entered the manifold block 6 from the backwash unit 4 through the port 60.

Two kinds of electrodes 21 in the electrolytic cell 2,
If a DC voltage is applied so that the electrode 21 serves as an anode and the electrode 22 serves as a cathode, the alkaline ionized water is discharged to the discharge pipe 17 communicating with the discharge port 23. The acidic ionized water is discharged to the drainage pipe 65 communicating with the outlet 24. In the switching unit 8, if water is made to flow to the connecting pipe 98, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, this water reaches the port 54 of the switching valve 5 and presses the movable body 56 to the right in the figure by the water pressure. , Through the port 55 into the space below the piston 41 in the backwash unit 4, pushing up the piston 41 to close the discharge port 44 with the valve body 43, and the filtered purified water accumulated in the space above the piston 41 into the port. Back flow from 46 to the water purifier 3 side. The backwash water backwashes the filter media 32 and 31 to wash away impurities adhering to the filter media 32 and 31, and then from the plug 14 to the ports 52 and 53 of the switching valve 5 and the port 62 of the manifold block 6. It is discharged from the drainage port 64. In addition,
The inflow of water from the connecting pipe 98 to the electrolyzed water generator 1 ends when the piston 41 in the backwash unit 4 is moved to the top dead center.

When such backwashing is performed or water is stopped in the switching unit 8, the water in the electrolytic cell 2 flows from the inflow port 25 through the port 61 into the manifold block 6.
Then, the water is discharged from the drainage port 64 through the ball valve 66 which is open because there is no water pressure difference. The backwash water of the water purifier 3 and the accumulated water in the electrolysis tank 2 are discharged from a drain port 64 different from the drain port 65 used when discharging the electrolytic water. Therefore, the electrolysis discharged from the drain port 65 is performed. Water has a pH
It does not decrease in value or become contaminated.
Further, the water that has entered the space below the piston 41 of the backwash unit 4 in order to push out the purified water in the backwash unit 4 is lowered by the piston 41 at the time of the next generation of electrolyzed water, so that the switching valve 5
Port 55 and port 53 and manifold block 6
It is discharged from the drainage port 64 through the port 62 of. In addition, if the electrolyzed water discharged from the drainage port 65 is not used, the drainage port 65 may be plugged so that the port 6 is generated when the electrolyzed water is generated.
Since the electrolyzed water that has entered the manifold block 6 from 3 flows to the drain pipe 64 side through the check valve 67, unnecessary water can be collectively processed in the drain pipe 64.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of the electrolyzed water generator 1 in which C is a controller constituted by a microcomputer, and the controller C to which the pressure detecting switch PS is connected has a power source. Switch SW ₁ ,
A changeover switch SW ₂ for manually reversing the applied voltage to the electrodes 21, 22, a switch SW ₃ for performing a rapid electrolysis operation, a selection switch SW ₄ for selecting an electrolysis voltage during normal electrolysis operation, and purified water Built-in switch SW ₅ for setting the integrated value of the usage time of the vessel 3, and a controller C that outputs a different alarm sound when the electrolytic water discharged from the discharge pipe 17 is alkaline ionized water and acidic ionized water the switch SW ₆ for on-off of the notification circuit is connected, the light-emitting display portion L ₁ ~L ₉ which lights flashing in response to the operation of these switches SW ₁ to SW ₆ are connected.

Further, the controller C has a relay Ry ₂ for switching the connection between a plurality of taps capable of extracting different voltages on the secondary winding side of the transformer T ₁ and the electrodes 21 and 22.
˜Ry ₆ , relays Ry ₇ and Ry ₈ for switching the polarity, and relay Ry ₁ for turning on and off the electrolysis operation are connected. In the figure, T ₂ is a transformer for taking out the power source for the controller C, D ₁ is a power source circuit for the controller C, and D ₂ is a DC power source for applying to the electrodes 21 and 22 from the secondary output of the transformer T _1. This is the power circuit, and this power circuit D
_The full-wave rectifier generating a large amount of heat in ₂ is water-cooled by the radiator 7 as described above. Although water cooling is performed in this way, the temperature of the electrolytic water from the discharge pipe 17 from which the main used water is discharged does not rise because the cooling is performed with the electrolytic water that is the sub-used water.

The comparator CP, into which the voltage across the resistor R having a low resistance value inserted in the power supply circuit D ₂ is input, compares the magnitude of the energizing current with a prescribed upper limit value according to the voltage drop at the resistor R. The current applied to the electrodes 21, 22
When the voltage exceeds the upper limit defined by the applied voltage to the controller C, an overcurrent detection signal is output to the controller C, and the controller C receives the signal and switches the relays Ry ₂ to Ry _6, thereby selecting the selection switch SW ₄ A voltage lower than the voltage selected in is applied to the electrodes 21 and 22. The switch SW ₃ for rapid electrolysis mentioned above is suitable for sterilizing alkaline ionized water having a pH value of about 11 but not suitable for drinking, but suitable for removing lye from vegetables, or a cutting board having a pH value of about 2.7. It is used when it is desired to obtain a suitable acidic ionized water, and when this switch SW ₃ is turned on, the voltage applied to the electrodes 21 and 22 becomes the highest.

With the power switch SW ₁ turned on,
As described above, when water is supplied from the switching unit 8 to the electrolyzed water generator 1 through the connecting pipe 97, the controller C turns on the voltage selected by the selection switch SW ₄ by turning on the pressure detection switch PS by purified water. The electrodes 21 and 22 are applied with the polarity set by the changeover switch SW ₂ to perform the electrolysis operation, and the pressure detection switch PS is turned off thereafter, so that a voltage having a polarity opposite to the above polarity is applied to the electrodes 21 and 22. The scale generated on the electrodes 21 and 22 is removed by applying for a short time. Since the operation of the electrolyzer 2 is controlled by the water pressure of the purified water after passing through the water purifier 3, it is not affected by the clogging of the water purifier 3 and the scale removing operation of the electrodes of the electrolyzer 2 is performed. Is done automatically.

[0027]

As described above, the present invention is provided with the drainage means for discharging the accumulated water in the electrolytic cell from the drain ports different from the discharge parts of the electrolytic water when the water supply to the electrolytic cell is stopped. Since the sub-use water is discharged from the dedicated discharge part, it is not mixed with the accumulated water in the electrolytic cell drained by the drainage means, and therefore the sub-use water can be effectively used. Is.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing generation of electrolyzed water according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the above-described backwash and water stoppage.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing generation of electrolyzed water by the above-mentioned backwash unit and switching valve.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the above-described backwash unit and the switching valve when backwashing and stopping water.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of the same.

FIG. 6 shows a switching unit, (a) is a cross-sectional view,
(b) is a vertical sectional view.

FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Electrolyzed water generator 2 Electrolyzer 64 Drain port 65 Drain port

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Noguchi 1048, Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Works Co., Ltd.

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An electrolytic cell for producing alkaline ionized water and acidic ionized water by electrolysis to discharge the electrolytic water separately, and the accumulated water in the electrolytic cell for both of the above cases when the water supply to the electrolytic cell is stopped. An electrolyzed water generation device, comprising: a discharge means for discharging the electrolyzed water from each discharge part, which is different from each discharge part. 2. The discharge part of one of the electrolyzed water and the drainage path in the drainage means are in communication with each other through a check valve which allows the flow from the discharge part side to the drainage path side. 1. The electrolyzed water generator according to 1. 3. A water supply path to the electrolyzer is provided with a water purifying means having a hollow fiber membrane as a filter medium and a backwashing means for backwashing the purified water having passed through the water purifying means to the water purifying means to backwash the filter medium. The electrolyzed water generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein 4. A water purification means using a hollow fiber membrane as a filter medium is provided in a water supply path leading to the electrolysis cell, and the electrodes to the electrodes in the electrolysis cell are supplied in accordance with the water pressure in the flow path from the water purification means to the electrolysis cell. The electrolyzed water generating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising control means for controlling energization. 5. The electrolyzed water generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the water discharge pipe for discharging the electrolyzed water is formed as a metal flexible pipe covered with a non-metal flexible pipe. 6. A water supply route to the electrolyzer is provided with a cartridge-type detachable water purifying means, and a mounting portion for accommodating the water purifying means is for water inlet / outlet water-tightly connected to the water purifying means. The electrolyzed water generating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a pair of connecting portions and a draining portion that opens to a bottom surface in the mounting portion. 7. A discharge pipe for discharging electrolyzed water is provided so as to swing freely, and an O-ring dedicated to setting a rotation torque is arranged on the rotation support portion. The electrolyzed water generator according to claim 1. 8. The electrolyzed water generator according to claim 1, further comprising a water-cooled heat radiation part for cooling the power supply circuit part for the electrode of the electrolytic cell. 9. The electrolyzed water generating apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the water used in the water cooling / radiating portion is a side of the electrolyzed water of both the alkaline ionized water and the acidic ionized water which is used as a sub-use. .