JPH0810307Y2 - Air mat air supply device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial field of application] The present invention relates to an air supply device for an air mat used as bedding for sleep, bedclothes for preventing bedsores, and the like.

[Conventional technology]

The air mat is used as bedclothes for preventing bed sores, sleeping, etc., and encloses air in an air mat composed of a plurality of air-filled chambers to support the load of a lying person on the mat by the pressure of the air. The air mat has a characteristic that it disperses and absorbs the load 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.

FIG. 7 shows a conventional bedding having an air mat, FIG. 1 (I) is a plan view of the same bedding, FIG. 2 (II) is a sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. 1 (I), and FIG. ) Is Y in the figure (I)
It is -Y sectional drawing. M in the figure is an air mat portion of this bedding, and a plurality of rod-shaped air enclosing chambers C are arranged side by side in parallel on a rectangular base material F, and these many air enclosing chambers C are Summarize every other, the entire system A
And second system B, and the holding pressure is alternately changed at intervals of several minutes. Note that G in the figure is an ordinary pillow provided in the bedding shown in the figure.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the air mat in use, where H is a lying person. At some point, as shown in Fig. 1 (I), air is press-fitted into the air sealing chamber of the first system A,
It is switched after a certain period of time, and the pressure is supplied to the air sealing chamber of the second system B as shown in FIG. In the figure, the blank air enclosure is the first system A and the hatched one is the second system B.

The above-mentioned method is said to have the effect of preventing pressure sores from occurring without disturbing sleep because the air-filled chambers evenly distribute the compression applied to the body and the compression sites switch with a reasonable time lag. There is.

As an air supply device for alternately changing the holding pressure between the first system A and the second system B, a fluid is supplied between the air inlets / outlets of a plurality of air sealing chambers and an electric pump for sending the fluid to the air inlets at a constant cycle. It is known that an automatic switching valve that alternately inflows and discharges is provided (Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 35-1894).

In addition, as a modification, a switch control unit is formed in the rotary unit of the switching valve, and a switch that is connected to the switch control unit and opens and closes the power supply thereof at a constant cycle so that the drive pump is driven only when air pressure is applied. A control device provided with is also proposed (Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 56-6106, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 56-18101).
Issue).

[Problems to be solved by the device]

The products shown in the above-mentioned prior art examples have effects such as support floor pressure distribution and prevention of bed sores by switching the compression parts, and reduction of the number of bedridden by reducing the feeling of pressure, but the cycle of air replacement is constant. Therefore, it cannot be said that the demands of the user are sufficiently satisfied from the viewpoint of "active creation of sleep."

The present invention was made in order to improve these points. By not only providing a bed sore preventive effect and a sleep effect due to the dispersion of the support pressure and the change of the compressed area, but also by giving a recumbent a "comfortable feeling". The purpose is to provide an air mat that creates a good night's sleep.

[Means for solving the problem]

The present invention solves the above problems and relates to an air supply device for an air mat having the following features.

(1) A rotary air switching valve that is connected to an air mat composed of a plurality of air sealing chambers divided into a plurality of systems and has a connection port to the air sealing chambers of the respective systems, and rotates the air switching valve. In an air supply device of an air mat equipped with a drive motor for driving and an air pump for supplying air to the air enclosing chamber via the air switching valve, a switch control unit provided in a rotating portion of the air switching valve. A switch for detecting the rotational position of the air switching valve adjacent to the switch control section, and a drive motor control for switching between rotation and stop of the drive motor at a cycle different from the previous cycle based on a signal from the switch. An air supply device for an air mat, which is equipped with a section.

(2) The air supply device for the air mat according to (1), wherein the drive motor control unit switches between rotation and stop of the drive motor at a cycle having a 1 / f fluctuation characteristic.

[Action]

In the present invention, the air switching valve is rotationally driven by the drive motor, and the system to which the air supplied from the air pump is connected is switched depending on the rotational position of the air switching valve. A switch control unit is provided in the rotating unit of the air switching valve, and a switch installed adjacent to the rotating unit is turned on / off depending on the rotation position. The drive motor controller detects the ON / OFF signal of the switch and controls the rotation / stop of the drive motor based on the ON / OFF signal. At this time, the rotation / stop of the drive motor is controlled by changing the switching cycle of the air supplied from the air pump to the plurality of systems each time.

Further, by incorporating a device for generating a 1 / f fluctuation characteristic in the drive motor control unit, the drive motor is controlled by changing the cycle of the 1 / f fluctuation characteristic.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the air supply device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an air supply device used by being connected to the conventional air mat shown in FIG. In the figure, 1 is a rotary air switching valve,
Connection port to the air enclosure chamber divided into A and B systems
It has a and b, a connection port p with the air pump 2, and an exhaust port e connected to an opening Ex to the atmosphere for discharging exhaust gas from the air sealing chamber. 3 is the air switching valve 1 is the rotating shaft 3A
It is a drive motor for rotationally driving via the drive motor, and its rotation / stop is controlled by a drive motor rotation stop control signal S ₁ from the drive motor control unit 4. Reference numeral 5 denotes a switch installed adjacent to a switch control unit formed in the rotating portion of the air switching valve 1, and sends an air switching valve rotation position signal S ₂ that changes depending on the rotation position of the air switching valve 1 to the drive motor control unit 4. are doing. The drive motor controller 4 determines the rotational position of the air switching valve 1 based on the signal S ₂ and sends the signal S ₁ . A microcomputer such as a random number generation unit is incorporated in the drive motor control unit 4 so that the "1 / f fluctuation" characteristic can be given. Signal S ₂ from switch 5
In response to this, the signal S ₁ having the “1 / f fluctuation” period is sent out, and the rotation of the drive motor 3 is stopped. In FIG. 1, electric signal lines are indicated by dotted lines, signal transmission directions are indicated by white arrows, air flow paths are indicated by solid lines, and air flow directions are indicated by black arrows.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the air supply device. In the figure, A,
Reference numeral B denotes each air enclosing chamber divided into two systems in the air mat M, which are connected to the air switching valve 1 by pipes 6 and 7, respectively. An air pump 2 is connected to the air switching valve 1 by a pipe 8. The rotating portion of the air switching valve 1 is provided with a switch control portion 13 (a kind of cam) whose diameter is increased, for example, as shown in the figure, and the rotation thereof causes the air switching valve 1 to rotate. Switch 5 installed near the
(A kind of limit switch) is driven. Switch 5
Signal S ₂ (that is, a signal indicating the rotational position of the air switching valve 1) is sent to the drive motor control unit 4 by the signal line 9, and the signal S ₁ for controlling the rotation / stop of the drive motor 3 is the signal line. Drive motor controller 4 to drive motor 3 by 10
Sent to

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of FIG. In the figure, 11 is a frame, and the drive motor 3 connected to the drive motor control unit 4 is installed in this frame. Reference numeral 12 is a rotating portion of the air switching valve 1, and a switch control portion 13 for driving the switch 5 is provided around the rotating portion. The rotating portion 12 is pressed against a fixed portion 14 of the air switching valve 1 fixed to the frame 11 by a spring 15 or the like to rotate while sliding. Connection ports a, b, p for the pipes 6, 7, 8 and an exhaust port e are formed in the fixed portion 14, and the air sealing chambers of the first system A and the second system B, the air pump 2, and Each is connected to an opening to the atmosphere.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the fixed portion 14 of the air switching valve.
In the figure, a, b and p are connection ports to the pipes 6, 7 and 8, respectively, and e is an exhaust port. The connection ports a and b communicate with the openings 16 and 17 formed on the same circumference around the rotation axis, and the connection port p is connected to the opening 18 located on another circumference having a smaller radius than the circle. Further, the connection port e communicates with an opening 19 located on another circumference having a larger radius than the first circle.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the rotating portion 12 of the air switching valve.
This is a portion that comes into close contact with the fixed portion 14. Grooves 20,21 are formed on the lower surface of the rotating portion 12 so as to communicate with the openings 16,17,18,19.
Are formed. The openings 16, 17, 18, and 19 communicating with the grooves 20 and 21 are opened and closed with the rotation of the rotating unit 12.

FIG. 6 is a timing chart of opening / closing of the opening part due to rotation of the rotating part 12 of the air switching valve. As shown in the figure,
As the rotating part 12 rotates, air is supplied to the air enclosing chambers A and B, and air is exhausted from the air enclosing chambers A and B. Assuming that the drive motor 3 is rotating at a constant speed, the air enclosure chamber of the first system A and the second system B shown in FIG.
The air supply and discharge to and from the air enclosure chamber will be repeated and executed at regular time intervals.
T _A , T _B , T _C , and T _D always have the same value at each repetition.

Here, by adjusting the shape of the switch control portion 13 provided on the rotating portion 12 and the mounting position of the switch 5 on the frame 11, as shown in FIG. 6, the rotating position (a) of the rotating portion 12 and The state of (e) can be detected. When the switch 5 detects the position of (a) or (e),
If the drive motor control unit 4 generates a signal S ₁ for stopping the drive motor 3 based on the detection signal S ₂ and holds the stop state for T _S time, and then cancels it, The times T _A , T _B , T _C , and T _{D in} FIG. 6 will change depending on the setting state of the time T _S. If the drive motor control unit 4 is adjusted so that the time T _S does not have a constant value but fluctuates with the well-known “1 / f fluctuation” characteristic, the time T _A , T _B , T _C , T _D Has a "1 / f fluctuation" characteristic, and the supply / exhaust of air to the first system air enclosing chamber A and the second system air enclosing chamber B, that is, the change in the compressed region to a lying person is "1 / f fluctuation. Will have the characteristics. Therefore, in addition to the bed rest prevention and sleep effect due to the dispersion of the support pressure of the lying person and the change of the pressed part, the lying person is given a "feeling of peace", and the sleeping person is created to have comfortable sleep.

The 1 / f fluctuation is a state in which, in a certain time-series signal, the relationship between the frequency f forming the signal and the energy E belonging to it is E∝1 / f. It is said that the stimulation from the outside is comfortable because there are 1 / f fluctuation characteristics in various repetitive signals and signal transmission characteristics in our body. Various 1 / f fluctuations related to the living body have been published. Heartbeat fluctuations and music are sound pressure stimuli that give people a pleasant sensation. The fluctuation of the acoustic power has a 1 / f spectrum. It is said that human beings tend to feel a stimulus with 1 · f fluctuation given from the outside as “pleasure”.

As described above in detail, the air mat equipped with the air supply device of the present embodiment can prevent the occurrence of bed sores by reducing the support pressure of the lying person and the change of the pressing site, and reduce the number of bedridden times, etc. Can promote sleep.
In addition to this, the switching cycle of the air supply to the air enclosures of the two systems can be changed by the signal from the drive motor control unit that can set the "1 / f fluctuation" characteristic. A positive feeling of sleep is given together with a "feeling of peace".

[Effect of device]

In the present invention, a switch control unit is provided in the rotating portion of the air switching valve, the rotational position of the air switching valve is detected by the switch, and the drive motor that drives the air switching valve is rotated / stopped at a cycle that changes each time by the signal. Since the control is performed, it is possible to prevent the bedridden of a lying person from occurring and to give a feeling of comfort. Furthermore, when the rotation / stop of the drive motor is controlled in a cycle having a 1 / f fluctuation characteristic, it is possible to give the lying person a more active creation of sleep.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the construction of the air supply device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the connected state of an air switching valve, a drive motor, an air pump, a switch control section, a switch, etc., and FIG. 2 is a vertical side view, FIG. 4 is a plan view of the fixed portion of the air switching valve, FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the rotating portion of the air switching valve, and FIG. 6 is associated with the rotation of the rotating portion of the air switching valve. FIG. 7 (I) is a plan view of a conventional bedding having an air mat, FIG. 7 (I) is a plan view of FIG. 7 (I), and FIG.
-X sectional view, the same figure (III) is a YY sectional view of the same figure (I), and FIGS. 8 (I) and (II) are operation explanatory views of the air mat. 1 ... Air switching valve, 2 ... Air pump, 3 ... Drive motor, 4 ... Drive motor control unit, 5 ... Switch, 6,7,8 ... Pipe, 9,10 ... Signal line, 11 ... Frame, 12 ... Rotating unit ,13…
Switch control part, 14 ... Fixed part, 15 ... Spring, 16,17,18,19
... Openings, 20,21 ... Grooves, a, b, p, e ... Connection ports, A ... First system air enclosure, B ... Second air enclosure, C ... Air enclosure, Ex ... Atmosphere Opening, E ... Energy, F ...
Base, G ... pillows, H ... recumbent person, M ... air mat, S ₁ ... drive motor rotation stop control signal, S ₂ ... air switching valve rotational position _{signal, T A, T B, T} C, T D ... Time Cycle, T _S … Stop state hold time.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Mamoru Tsuboi, 4-6-22 Kannon Shinmachi, Nishi-ku, Hiroshima-shi, Hiroshima Prefecture Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. Hiroshima Research Laboratory (72) Nobutaka Maeda 4-chome, Kannon Shinmachi, Nishi-ku, Hiroshima Prefecture 6-22 No. 22 Hiroshima Research Laboratory, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.

Claims (2)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A rotary air switching valve, which is connected to an air mat composed of a plurality of air enclosing chambers divided into a plurality of systems and has a connection port to the air enclosing chambers of the respective systems, and the same air switching valve. In the air supply device of an air mat equipped with a drive motor for rotating and driving the air, and an air pump for supplying air to the air enclosing chamber via the air switching valve, a switch control provided in a rotating part of the air switching valve. Section, a switch adjacent to the switch control section for detecting the rotational position of the air switching valve, and a drive for switching between rotation and stop of the drive motor at a cycle different from the previous cycle based on a signal from the switch. An air supply device for an air mat, comprising a motor control unit. 2. The air supply device for an air mat according to claim 1, wherein the drive motor controller switches between rotation and stop of the drive motor at a cycle having a 1 / f fluctuation characteristic.