JPH0731977A - Electrolyzed ion forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To exactly know the service life of an electrode by increasing the number of the pulses being generated in response to the current value of a electrolysis current to a number larger than the pulse number proportional to this current value in response to the current value and informing when the integrated counted value of the pulse reaches to a prescribed value. CONSTITUTION:A power output (H) is obtained in order from comparators 20a-20d in response to the current value detected by an electrolysis current detector 22. Switches 21a-21d are switched by this power output in such a way, the pulse from the frequency divider which devides the power output of a pulse generator 24 is selected and inputted to a control circuit 19. This inputted pulse is counted by integrating, and when this counted value reaches a prescribed value, an indicator lamp 8 is lighted.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrolytic ion generator for producing acidic ionized water and alkaline ionized water from supplied tap water.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, among the electrolytic ion generators of this type, those using a metal, for example, platinum-plated titanium, as the electrode of the electrolytic cell have been used on the surface of the positive electrode due to long-term use of this generator. The plated platinum is lost and the electrolytic efficiency is extremely deteriorated. Therefore, there is a method in which the time during which the electrolytic voltage is applied to the electrodes is counted and when the predetermined count value is reached, this is notified. However, as described above, the life of the electrode due to the loss of platinum in the electrode is not simply obtained by the use time, but changes greatly depending on the magnitude of the electrolytic current, for example.

On the other hand, although not related to the above-mentioned notification of the electrode life, the following is also known. That is, in this type of electrolytic ion generating device, the use thereof causes the scale to adhere to the electrodes of the electrolytic cell to lower the electrolytic ability. Therefore, the electrolytic current flowing through this electrode is detected, and the integrated quantity of electricity is detected according to this current value, and when this detected value reaches a predetermined value, the electrode of the electrolytic cell has a polarity opposite to that in normal use. There is a system in which the above voltage is applied and this is reported (see Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 2-7676). In this way, it is conceivable to notify the life of the electrode as described above by detecting the integrated quantity of electricity and notifying when the detected value reaches a predetermined value.
However, as described above, the life of the electrode varies greatly depending on, for example, the magnitude of the electrolysis current, and therefore cannot be accurately determined even by the integrated electricity amount.

[0004]

The life of the electrode due to the disappearance of platinum as described above can be accurately obtained not only by the use time but also by the integrated value obtained by simply integrating the current value of the electrolytic current. Can not. If the life of the electrode is exhausted when the electrolysis current of 1 A is passed for 100 hours, the life will be exhausted in less than 50 hours instead of 50 hours, which is half when the electrolysis current is 2 A. I found out that That is, the higher the electrolysis current, the shorter the life of the electrode. In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electrolytic ion generation device capable of more accurately detecting the life of an electrode and notifying this.

[0005]

In order to solve the above problems, the electrolytic ion generator of the present invention comprises an electrolytic cell having a positive electrode and a negative electrode arranged via an ion exchange membrane, An electrolytic ion generator that supplies tap water to the electrolytic cell and applies an electrolytic voltage to the positive electrode and the negative electrode to generate acidic ion water and alkaline ion water from the supplied tap water. In the case where the electrode of the electrolytic cell is made of metal, a means for detecting an electrolytic current flowing in the electrode of the electrolytic cell and a pulse generating means for generating a number of pulses according to the current value detected by the means And a control means for controlling the number of pulses generated from the pulse generating means so that the number of the pulses corresponding to the current value is greater than the number of pulses proportional to the current value according to the current value, The above A counter for accumulating counts pulses from pulse generating means, when the count value of said counter reaches a predetermined value, is characterized in that a notifying means for notifying this. Further, instead of the detected current value, a set value of the electrolytic current flowing through the electrode of the electrolytic cell is used, and a number of pulses corresponding to the set value is generated by the pulse generating means, and tap water is supplied to the electrolytic cell. The pulse may be integrated and counted under the condition that the pulse is supplied.

[0006]

In the electrolytic ion generator configured as described above, the number of pulses generated according to the current value (or set value) of the electrolytic current flowing through the electrode of the electrolytic cell is the current value (or set value). The number of pulses is greater than the number of pulses in proportion to the current value (or set value). This pulse is integrated and counted, and when the count value reaches a predetermined value, it is notified, so that the life of the electrode can be known more accurately.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing a water channel system and an electric system of the electrolytic ion generating device, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an appearance of the electrolytic ion generating device of FIG. In FIG. 2, 1 is an electrolytic ion generator, 2 is a power cord, 3 is an alkaline ion water outlet, 4 is an acidic ion water outlet, 5 is an electrolytic level indicator lamp, 6 is an electrolytic level setting key, and 7 is a filter replacement , 8 is an indicator light for replacing the electrodes of the electrolytic cell, 9 is a cartridge lid, and 10 is a tap water inlet. 1, the same symbols as those in FIG. 2 indicate the same things. Reference numeral 11 is an electrolytic cell, 12 is a positive electrode, 13 is a negative electrode, 14 is an ion exchange membrane, and 15 is a filter cartridge. The filter cartridge 15 contains activated carbon, hollow fibers and the like, and is attachable to and detachable from the electrolytic ion generator 1. 16 is a flow rate sensor, 17 is a power supply circuit, 18 is a relay, and this relay 18 is the electrode 1
It is for reversing the applied voltage to 2 and 13.

Reference numeral 19 is a control circuit, and 20a to 20d.
Is a comparator, 21a to 21d are changeover switches, and these switches are the comparator 20a.
Only when a signal from ~ 20d is input, the signal is switched to the A side in the figure. Reference numeral 22 is a current detection device composed of a resistor. Reference numerals 23a to 23c are frequency dividers that reduce the cycle of the input pulse to, for example, one half. Reference numeral 24 is a pulse generator, which continuously generates one pulse per second, for example. And these are connected electrically or by the waterway as shown in the drawing.

In the electrolytic ion generator constructed as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the water passed through the tap water inlet 10 is filtered by the filter cartridge 15 to remove free chlorine and the like, and then the flow sensor 16 is operated. pass. As is well known, the flow rate sensor 16 generates a pulse in accordance with the amount of passing water, and is input to the control circuit 19 via the route a in the figure. After that, tap water is passed through the electrolytic cell 11, passes through the positive electrode 12 and the negative electrode 13 arranged with the ion exchange membrane 14 interposed therebetween, and is discharged from the alkaline ion water outlet 3 and the acidic ion water outlet 4, respectively. It On the other hand, when the number of pulses from the flow rate sensor 16 exceeds a predetermined number of pulses, this is detected by the control circuit 19 and the power supply circuit 17 is turned on by the route of b in the figure. This O
By N, an electrolytic voltage is applied to the electrodes 12 and 13 through the relay 18 which is normally OFF. still,
The relay 18 is temporarily turned on when cleaning the electrolytic cell 11 and inverts the polarity of the voltage applied to the electrodes 12 and 13, and is operated by the control line c in the figure. .

The power level circuit 17 is controlled by the electrolysis level setting key 6 via the control circuit 19, and thereby the voltage applied to the electrolysis cell 11 is controlled as described above. The electrolytic current detection device 22 composed of the above-mentioned resistor is inserted in the negative side of the power supply circuit 17, and the voltage corresponding to the current generated here is generated by the comparator 2.
0a to 20d are input. These comparators 2
A DC voltage is applied to the other input of 0a to 20d so that the magnitude of the electrolysis current can be divided into four levels. When this electrolysis current is small, the output of "H" is obtained only from the comparator 20d. Then, the outputs of the other comparators 20a to 20c become "L". As the electrolytic current increases, the output of the comparator 20a sequentially becomes "H".

These comparators 20a to 20d correspond to the switches 21a to 21d, respectively, and only the switch corresponding to the comparator whose output becomes "H" as described above is switched to the A side. When only the switch 21d is switched to the A side, the pulse generated from the pulse generator 24 is divided into ⅛ by the frequency dividers 23a to 23c, respectively, that is, a total of ⅛. It is input to the control circuit 19 through the route of the control line e and is integrated and counted. On the other hand, when the electrolytic current is large, the switch 21a is also switched to the A side, the pulse from the pulse generator 24 is not counted down, and is input to the control circuit 19 via the control line e to be integrated and counted. It

The electrolytic current detecting device 22 constitutes means for detecting the electrolytic current flowing through the electrodes 12 and 13 of the electrolytic cell 11, and the pulse generator 24 and the frequency divider 23a. 23c and switches 21a to 21d
The comparators 20a to 20d constitute pulse generation means for generating a number of pulses according to the current value detected by the means for detecting the electrolytic current. Then, the frequency dividers 23a to 23c and the switches 21a to 2c.
1d and comparators 20a to 20d control means generate from the pulse generation means such that the number of the pulses corresponding to the current value is greater than the number of pulses proportional to the current value according to the current value. The number of pulses applied is controlled. The pulses from the pulse generating means are integrated and counted by the counter in the control circuit 19 as described above.

When the integrated count value reaches a predetermined value, the indicator lamp 8 for notifying the replacement of the electrode of the electrolytic cell is turned on via the control line d, and the life of the positive electrode 12 is displayed. The control line f is for directly inputting a pulse from the pulse generator 24 to the control circuit 19, and this pulse is integrated and counted by another counter in the control circuit 19, and when it reaches a predetermined value, it is well known. In this way, the indicator light 7 for notifying the replacement of the filter is turned on.

In the above embodiment, the comparators 20a ...
The switches 21a to 21d are switched by the output of 20d. However, as shown in FIG. 3, a command from the control circuit 19 via the control lines g, h, i, j, that is, the electrolytic level setting key 6 is used. The switches 21a to 21d may be switched by a command corresponding to the set value of the electrolytic current supplied from the power supply circuit 17 to the electrodes 12 and 13 via the control circuit 19. Incidentally, in FIG. 3, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. In the case shown in FIG. 3, the pulse generator 2
4, the frequency dividers 23a to 23c, the switches 21a to 21d, and the control circuit 19 are the electrodes 12 of the electrolytic cell 11,
13 is a pulse generating means for generating a number of pulses according to the set value of the electrolytic current flowing through the control circuit 19, and the control means including the control circuit 19 and the frequency dividers 23a to 23c causes the number of the pulses according to the set value to be The number of pulses generated by the pulse generating means is controlled so as to be larger than the number of pulses proportional to the set value in accordance with the set value. Then, the pulses are integrated and counted under the condition that the supply of tap water to the electrolytic bath 11 is detected by the flow rate sensor 16.

In the above embodiment, the frequency dividers 23a to 23c are connected in series, but as shown in FIG. 4, the period of the input pulse is, for example, 1/2, 1/3, or 5 minutes. Separate frequency dividers 25a to 25c for setting 1 may be provided. In FIG. 4, the same symbols as those in FIG. 1 indicate the same components. still,
As described above, the switch 2 is set based on the set value of the electrolytic current.
In the case of switching 1a to 21d, the current detecting device 22 composed of a resistor is not required, so that the loss of electrolytic current due to this resistor is eliminated.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, but includes various modifications and the like without departing from the scope of the invention. Next, some of the other embodiments and modifications of the present invention will be described. In the above embodiment, the resistor was used to detect the electrolytic current,
It may be replaced with another one such as a semiconductor element, a coil, a wire rod or the like capable of detecting an electric current. In the above embodiment, the indicator lamp 8 is turned on to indicate the life of the positive electrode 12, but instead of or in addition to this, a warning sound is emitted, water supply to the electrolytic cell is stopped, etc. The operation of the electrolytic ion generating device may be stopped thereafter, for example, by stopping the discharge of alkaline ionized water or the like from the electrolytic cell to notify the user of the end of the above-mentioned life, that is, a notification may be given. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, from the power supply circuit 17 to the electrode 1
The switches 21a to 21d are switched by a command corresponding to the set value of the electrolysis current supplied to Nos. 2 and 13, but when this electrolysis current is an intermittent current, an average of the electrolysis currents is obtained. Means

[0017]

Since the electrolytic ion generator of the present invention is configured as described above, the number of pulses generated according to the current value (or set value) of the electrolytic current flowing through the electrodes of the electrolytic cell is , The number of pulses increases in proportion to the current value (or the set value) more than the number of pulses proportional to the current value (or the set value), and is notified when the count value obtained by cumulatively counting the pulses reaches a predetermined value. Therefore, the life of the electrode can be known more accurately.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention and is a schematic block diagram of a water channel system and an electrical system of an electrolytic ion generator.

FIG. 2 shows the first embodiment of the present invention, and is a perspective view showing the external appearance of an electrolytic ion generator.

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the present invention and is a schematic block diagram of a water channel system and an electrical system of the electrolytic ion generator.

FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of the present invention and is a schematic block diagram showing a main part of an electric system of an electrolytic ion generating device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Electrolyte ion generator 2 Power cord 3 Alkaline ion water outlet 4 Acidic ion water outlet 5 Electrolysis level indicator light 6 Electrolysis level setting key 7 Indicator light to inform filter replacement 8 Indicator light to inform electrode replacement of electrolyzer 9 Cartridge Lid 10 Tap water inlet 11 Electrolytic tank 12 Positive electrode 13 Negative electrode 14 Ion exchange membrane 15 Filter cartridge 16 Flow sensor 17 Power circuit 18 Relay 19 Control circuit 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d Comparator 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d Changeover switch 22 Current detection device 23a, 23b, 23c Frequency divider 24 Pulse generator 25a, 25b, 25c Frequency divider

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An electrolysis cell having a positive electrode and a negative electrode arranged via an ion exchange membrane, wherein tap water is supplied to the electrolysis cell and an electrolytic voltage is applied to the positive electrode and the negative electrode. Then, in the electrolytic ion generation device for generating acidic ionized water and alkaline ionized water from the supplied tap water, wherein the electrode of the electrolytic cell is made of metal, and flows to the electrode of the electrolytic cell. Means for detecting electrolytic current,
The pulse generation means for generating a number of pulses according to the current value detected by this means, and the number of the pulses according to the current value are larger than the number of pulses proportional to the current value according to the current value. Control means for controlling the number of pulses generated from the pulse generating means, a counter for integrating and counting the pulses from the pulse generating means, and when the count value of the counter reaches a predetermined value, An electrolytic ion generating device, comprising: an informing unit for informing. 2. An electrolysis cell having a positive electrode and a negative electrode arranged via an ion exchange membrane, wherein tap water is supplied to the electrolysis cell and an electrolytic voltage is applied to the positive electrode and the negative electrode. Then, in the electrolytic ion generation device for generating acidic ionized water and alkaline ionized water from the supplied tap water, wherein the electrode of the electrolytic cell is made of metal, and flows to the electrode of the electrolytic cell. A pulse generating means for generating a number of pulses corresponding to the set value of the electrolytic current, and the number of the pulses corresponding to the set value are greater than the number of pulses proportional to the set value according to the set value. Control means for controlling the number of pulses generated from the pulse generating means, a counter for integrating and counting the pulses from the pulse generating means, provided that tap water is supplied to the electrolytic cell, When the count value of Unter reaches a predetermined value, the electrolytic ion generating apparatus characterized by comprising a notification means for notifying this.