JPH08280771A - Air bubble generator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide an air bubble generator capable of preventing the clogging of a cavitation generation means by the dirt of bath water and generating fine air bubbles at all times. CONSTITUTION: From the bath water inside a bathtub 12 pumped up by a circulating pump 22 from a pump-up port 14, fine foreign matters or the like are removed in a purifying tank 24. Thereafter, the gas of the outside introduced from a gas introduction port 30 is pressure-dissolved in the bath water by the pressure of the circulating pump 22 and the fine air bubbles are generated in the bathtub from an ejection port 18 by pressure decrease by a deceleration member provided in the ejection port 18.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bubble generator for generating fine bubbles when the air in the atmosphere is dissolved in bath water and the bath water is returned to the bath.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional bubble generator, bath water is pumped out of a bath by a circulation pump, air is sucked from the atmosphere, and air is dissolved in the bath water in the circulation pump. At this time, the bath water does not completely dissolve the inhaled air, and includes air that cannot be dissolved in the bath water. Therefore, it is necessary to separate the bath water in which the air is dissolved and the surplus air in the accumulator installed on the downstream side of the circulation pump as the gas-liquid separating means.
Here, the surplus air separated from the bath water is discharged to the outside of the device as it is, or is introduced to a pipe line connected to the upstream side of the circulation pump, like the air newly introduced from the atmosphere, It is again dissolved in the bath water under pressure by the circulation pump.

The bath water in which air is dissolved in this way is
It is discharged into the bathtub from a discharge port having a cavitation generating means provided in the bathtub. This bath water causes cavitation by a cavitation generating means such as a net filter, a porous body having fine holes, and a honeycomb filter, so that fine bubbles are generated in the bath.
The bath water in the bathtub becomes opalescent.

[0004]

However, in the above-described conventional bubble generator, in order to reliably generate cavitation at the discharge port, the flow velocity of the bath water circulating at the inlet of the discharge port is reduced. It was necessary to install fine mesh cavitation generating means at the deceleration member and the outlet of the discharge port.

In this case, since the cavitation generating means, for example, a mesh-like wire mesh has fine meshes, if it is used for a long time, clogging due to hair, scales, etc. easily occurs, and the burden on the circulation pump and the generation of bubbles due to cavitation are reduced. occured. Furthermore, it has been necessary to remove the foreign matter adhering to the cavitation generating means relatively frequently.

Further, there is a problem that the water temperature of the bath water is lowered due to the generation of fine bubbles.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to prevent the cavitation generating means from being clogged with stains in bath water and to constantly generate fine bubbles. Is intended to provide.

[0008]

In order to achieve this object, the bubble generating apparatus of the present invention uses a circulation pump to pump up bath water in a bathtub from a pumping port, and to introduce a gas provided in the preceding stage of the circulation pump. Introduce an external gas from the mouth, pressurize and dissolve the gas in the bath water by the pressure of the circulation pump, and then generate fine bubbles in the bath by the cavitation generating means provided at the discharge port. Therefore, between the pumping port and the discharge port, there is provided a purifying means for removing fine foreign matters contained in the bath water to purify them.

Further, it is desirable that the purifying means be installed between the pumping port and the circulation pump.

Further, heating means for heating the bath water may be provided between the pumping port and the discharge port.

Further, it is preferable that the heating means is installed between the pumping port and the circulation pump.

Further, it is desirable that a valve whose opening portion can be controlled to be opened and closed is installed at the gas inlet.

It is desirable that a gas-liquid separating means for separating undissolved excess gas in the bath water discharged from the circulation pump is provided between the circulation pump and the discharge port.

[0014]

The bubble generating device of the present invention having the above-mentioned structure is
The bath water in the bathtub is pumped up from the pumping port by the circulation pump, and the external gas is introduced from the gas inlet provided in the preceding stage of the circulation pump, and the gas is pressurized and dissolved in the bath water by the pressure of the circulation pump. Let's then
When fine air bubbles are generated in the bathtub from the discharge port by the cavitation generation means provided at the discharge port, the purification means removes and cleans fine foreign matters contained in the bath water.

Further, by installing the purification means between the pumping port and the circulation pump, the bath water in which the gas is pressurized and dissolved by the circulation pump is affected by the change in water pressure except at the discharge port. Therefore, it is possible to ensure the generation of bubbles by the cavitation generating means provided at the discharge port.

By heating the circulating bath water by the heating means, the outside air is introduced, and this is dissolved in the bath water under pressure, and then a series of treatments are performed in which fine bubbles are generated by cavitation. Prevents a drop in bath water temperature.

Further, by providing a heating means between the pumping port and the circulation pump, the solubility of the gas in the bath water can be increased and the amount of fine bubbles generated can be increased.

When it is desired not to generate bubbles in the bath, the gas inlet is closed by the valve.

Further, the gas-liquid separating means prevents the excess gas, which cannot be dissolved in the bath water by the circulation pump and is discharged, from being discharged from the discharge port.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a bubble generating device embodying the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, the structure of the bubble generating apparatus of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

The bubble generating apparatus in this embodiment comprises an apparatus body 10, a pumping port 14 for sucking bath water from the bathtub 12, and a water supply pipe 16 for supplying the bath water taken from the pumping port 14 to the apparatus body 10. And a discharge port 18 for returning the bath water in which air is dissolved by the circulation pump 22 to the bathtub 12 again, and a water distribution pipe 20 that connects the discharge port 18 and the apparatus main body 10 to each other. As a result, the bath water in the bathtub 12 is drawn from the pumping port 14 to the water supply pipe 1
It is supplied to the apparatus main body 10 through 6 and again returned to the bathtub 12 from the discharge port 18 via the water distribution pipe 20 and circulated.

By the way, the discharge port 18 is, as shown in FIG. 2, at the inlet side of the discharge port 18 to which the drainage pipe 20 is connected, and has a coarse porous structure for reducing the flow velocity of the bath water in which air is dissolved. The deceleration member 18a is provided, and the fine mesh 18b is provided on the outlet side. The deceleration / depressurization of the flow velocity and water pressure of the bath water in which air is dissolved is ensured to generate fine bubbles due to the cavitation effect. It can be configured. Further, the pumping port 14 is provided with a coarse filter (not shown). In addition, the discharge port 18 is the bathtub 12
It is installed in the bathtub 12 by penetrating the hole provided in the. O-rings 43 block the bath water so that the bath water does not leak from the holes of the bath tub 12.

The apparatus body 10 includes a circulation pump 22 for pumping and circulating bath water and for dissolving air introduced from the outside into the bath water under pressure, and foreign matter and ammonia contained in the pumped bath water. , A septic tank as a purifying means for removing and purifying proteins, etc.
And a heating tank 26 as a heating means for heating and keeping the circulating bath water warm, and an accumulator 28 as a gas-liquid separating means for separating the bath water in which air is dissolved and the surplus air which is not dissolved. There is.

Of these, the suction port of the circulation pump 22 is provided with an air inlet 30 as a gas inlet for introducing air from the outside and a valve 32 capable of controlling the opening / closing of the opening of the air inlet 30. Therefore, air to be dissolved under pressure by the circulation pump 22 can be introduced into the circulating bath water as needed. In addition, the septic tank 24 filters foreign matters not removed by the filter installed in the pumping port 14 and breeds aerobic bacteria that decomposes organic pollutants such as ammonia and proteins dissolved in the bath water. It contains a large number of porous ceramic particles. Further, a heater 36 (shown in FIG. 3) is installed in the heating tank 26, and the bath water filtered and purified in the purification tank 24 is heated by supplying power to the heater 36. There is.

Further, a temperature sensor 34 for detecting the temperature of the circulating bath water is provided in the flow path from the bathtub 12 to the heating tank 26, and a predetermined heating is performed based on the detection result of the temperature sensor 34. You can do it. In the case of the present embodiment, the temperature sensor 34 is installed near the inlet of the heating tank 26. In addition, a flow rate sensor 50 that detects the presence or absence of circulation of bath water is installed in the flow path, and an H drive circuit 40 (shown in FIG. 3) that drives the heater 36 based on the detection result of the flow rate sensor 50. ON / OFF
It can be controlled. Here, the flow rate sensor 50 is installed in the flow path from the outlet of the heating tank 26 to the air introduction port 30.

Next, the electrical circuit configuration of this embodiment will be described with reference to the block diagram shown in FIG.

The electric circuit of this embodiment includes an earth leakage breaker for preventing an earth leakage accident, a main switch, a transformer for converting a household AC voltage into a desired voltage, and a DC voltage for rectifying an output voltage of the transformer. A power supply circuit 38 including a rectifying circuit that generates the H, a H drive circuit 40 that drives the heater 36 installed in the heating tank 26, a P drive circuit 42 that drives the circulation pump 22, and an air inlet. The valve drive circuit 44 is installed in the valve 30, and drives the valve 32 that opens and closes the opening. The valve drive circuit 44 controls the H drive circuit 40, the P drive circuit 42, and the valve drive circuit 44.

Of these, the power supply circuit 38 is the H drive circuit 4
0, P drive circuit 42, valve drive circuit 44 and control circuit 46
, Are connected so that appropriate power can be supplied.
Further, in the control circuit 46, by switching the open / close state of the valve 32 installed in the air introduction port 30, a foaming mode for introducing air from the air introduction port 30 to generate fine bubbles in the bath water, or an air introduction mode. A selection switch 48 for selecting a circulation mode in which the mouth 30 is closed to simply circulate the filtered and kept warm bath water, a temperature sensor 34 for detecting the circulating bath water temperature, and whether or not the bath water is circulating. The flow rate sensor 50 for detecting is connected by a signal line.

Next, the operation of each of the above components will be described.

First, when the apparatus main body 10 is powered on, the bath water in the bathtub 12 is pumped up by the circulation pump 22, and the apparatus main body is drawn from the pumping port 14 installed in the bathtub 12 through the water supply pipe 16. Supplied within 10. The bath water that has flowed into the apparatus main body 10 is first purified by the septic tank 24.
After that, the heating tank 26, the circulation pump 22, and the accumulator 28 are passed through in this order, and the drainage pipe 20 returns to the bath 12 from the discharge port 18 again.

At the same time, the temperature sensor 34 installed near the inlet of the heating tank 26 detects the water temperature of the circulating bath water, and the flow sensor 50 installed at the outlet side of the heating tank 26 detects the temperature of the bath water. It is detected whether or not water is actually circulating, and information signals based on these are output to the control circuit 46, respectively. Further, the control circuit 46 outputs a command signal for driving the circulation pump 22 to the P drive circuit 42 when the power is turned on, and
The valve 32 installed in the air inlet 30 is closed to output a command signal to the valve drive circuit 44 to prevent air from being introduced from the outside.

That is, after the power is turned on, unless the foaming mode for introducing air from the outside is selected by the selection switch 48, the bath water circulates between the bath 12 and the apparatus body 10 and is cleaned by the septic tank 24. And heating tank 26
It becomes a circulation mode in which heating and heat retention are performed by.

At this time, the control circuit 46 controls the temperature sensor 3
Only when the detection value of the temperature of the bath water according to 4 is lower than a preset reference value and the information signal corresponding to the circulation of the bath water is output from the flow rate sensor 50, the H drive is performed. A command signal for supplying power to the heater 36 is issued to the circuit 40. As a result, it is possible to prevent empty cooking by the heater 36, and the circulating bath water is appropriately heated and kept warm.

Here, when the user selects the foaming mode with the selection switch 48, the information signal corresponding to this is output from the control circuit 46. That is, the control circuit 46 outputs a command signal to the valve drive circuit 44 to open the valve 32 installed in the air introduction port 30 and allow the air to be introduced from the outside. As a result, the suction force of the circulation pump 22 causes the outside air to be drawn from the air inlet 30 into the flow path of the bath water. After this, the air is pressurized and compressed with the bath water in the circulation pump 22 and dissolved in the bath water. At this time, the bath water pressurized and sent out from the circulation pump 22 is a mixture of bath water in which air is dissolved and surplus air remaining without being dissolved in the bath water.

The bath water of such a mixture is supplied to the accumulator 28 arranged on the downstream side of the circulation pump 22. Here, the excess air and the bath water in which the air is dissolved are separated. Of these, the excess air is the air inlet 3
0 is reused as air that is mixed with the circulating bath water through the air reflux pipe 52 that communicates the flow path upstream of the installation position of 0 and the accumulator 28, and is pressurized and dissolved in the bath water by the circulation pump 22. To be done. On the other hand, the bath water in which the air is dissolved is pressure-fed to the discharge port 18 installed in the bathtub 12 via the drain pipe 20. At this discharge port 18,
The bath water in which the air is dissolved is first reduced in flow rate and decompressed by the coarse porous deceleration member 18a installed at the inlet of the discharge port 18. Further, cavitation is sufficiently generated by passing through a fine mesh 18b installed at the outlet of the discharge port 18, and the cavitation is from several μm to several 1
Fine bubbles of 0 μm are generated in the bath water, and the bath water in the bath 12 becomes opalified.

Next, the operation of the bubble generating apparatus of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG.

First, when the user turns on the power, the control circuit 46 outputs a command signal for driving the circulation pump 22 to the P drive circuit 42. As a result, the circulation pump 22 starts pumping out the bath water (step 1:
Hereinafter, the step is represented by S). Further, the control circuit 46
A command signal for closing the valve 32 installed in the air inlet 30 to prevent air from being introduced from the outside is output to the valve drive circuit 44. As a result, the opening of the air inlet 30 is closed (S2), air cannot be introduced, and the circulation pump 22 immediately after turning on the power makes it easier to draw the bath water.

The bath water that has been pumped flows in the order of the septic tank 24, the heating tank 26, the circulation pump 22, and the accumulator 28, and is discharged from the discharge port 18 through the drain pipe 20 again.
Return to Then, it is determined whether or not the time after the power is turned on reaches a preset time (S3). When the time after the power is turned on reaches a preset time (Y in S3), the control circuit 46 determines whether or not the user inputs the device stop (S4). When there is an input to stop the device (S4: Y), the circulation pump 22 and the heater 36 are stopped, and further, in order to close the opening of the air inlet 30, P
A subroutine for performing stop processing such as outputting a command signal to the drive circuit 42, the H drive circuit 40, and the valve drive circuit 44 is called (S14).

On the other hand, if there is no input for stopping the device (S4:
N), the control circuit 46 determines whether or not the bath water is actually circulating based on the information signal from the flow rate sensor 50 corresponding to the flow rate of the bath water (S5). When it is determined that the bath water is not circulating (S5: N), the control circuit 4
6 outputs an error signal to a display device (not shown) (S6). On the other hand, when it is determined that the bath water is circulating (S5: Y), the control circuit 46 is in the circulation mode,
Alternatively, one of the foaming modes in which air is introduced from the outside to perform foaming is determined based on the information signal from the selection switch 48 (S7).

When the foaming mode is selected by the user (S7: Y), the control circuit 46 opens the valve 32 installed in the air inlet 30 so that air can be introduced from the outside. A command signal for setting the state is output to the valve drive circuit 44. This opens the valve 32 (S
8) The air is drawn from the air inlet 30 into the flow path of the bath water. The circulation pump 22 pressurizes air together with bath water in the pump to dissolve the air in the bath water. At this time, the bath water discharged from the circulation pump 22 is separated into excess air and bath water in which the air is dissolved by an accumulator 28 arranged on the downstream side of the circulation pump 22, and the excess air is returned to the air return pipe 52. Is fed to the bath water which circulates through again. On the other hand, the bath water in which the air is dissolved returns to the bathtub 12 from the discharge port 18 via the drain pipe 20. At this time, fine bubbles are generated due to cavitation occurring at the discharge port 18, and the bath water is opalified.

By the way, the valve 32 used in this embodiment is a so-called normally-off electromagnetic valve, and the valve can be opened by energizing its solenoid. Therefore, the valve 32 is closed by turning on the power supply of the device as well as when the foaming mode in which air is introduced from the outside is switched to the circulation mode in which air is not introduced from the outside.

That is, when the foaming mode is not selected by the user or when the foaming mode is switched to the circulation mode (S7: N), the control circuit 46 prevents the air from being introduced from the outside. , And outputs a command signal for closing the valve 32 installed in the air inlet 30 to the valve drive circuit 44. As a result, the valve 32 is closed (S9), and air is not drawn into the flow path of the bath water.

Subsequently, the control circuit 46 uses the preset temperature of the bath water as a reference based on the information signal relating to the water temperature of the bath water from the temperature sensor 34 installed near the inlet of the heating tank 26. The state of change in the temperature of the circulating bath water is determined (S10). In this case, the control circuit 46 stores information that corresponds to the water temperature, which means abnormal heating of the bath water, and information that is changeable and that corresponds to the heat retention temperature of the bath water. In this embodiment, the water temperature, which means abnormal heating of bath water, is 50 degrees Celsius.

When the control circuit 46 determines that the temperature of the circulating bath water is 50 degrees Celsius or higher (S10:
A), the control circuit 46 outputs a command signal for stopping the power supply to the heater 36 to the H drive circuit 40, and outputs a command signal for stopping the circulation pump 22 to the P drive circuit 42.
To the valve drive circuit 44 and an error signal corresponding to this error state to a display device (not shown). Yes (S11). As a result, the heating and circulation of the bath water and the introduction of air from the outside are stopped, and a display corresponding to the error state is displayed.

When the control circuit 46 determines that the temperature of the circulating bath water is not higher than the abnormal temperature but is equal to or higher than the heat retention temperature (S10: B), the control circuit 46 causes the heater 3 to operate.
A command signal for stopping the power supply to 6 is output to the H drive circuit 40 (S12). As a result, the heating of the bath water by the heater 36 is stopped. After that, the process returns to the step S4 and the operation described so far is repeated.

Further, when the control circuit 46 determines that the temperature of the circulating bath water is lower than the heat retention temperature (S10:
C), the control circuit 46 outputs a command signal for starting power supply to the heater 36 to the H drive circuit 40 (S).
13). As a result, the heater 36 starts heating the bath water. After that, the process returns to the step S4 and the operation described so far is repeated.

As is clear from the above description, according to the bubble generating apparatus of the present invention, the bath water pumped up from the bath water in the bathtub 12 by the circulation pump 22 from the pumping port 14 is finely divided in the septic tank 24. Foreign matter is removed, and then the external gas introduced from the gas inlet 30 is dissolved under pressure in the bath water by the pressure of the circulation pump 22,
The bath water from which the surplus gas has been removed by the accumulator 28 is decompressed by the speed reducing member 18a provided at the discharge port 18 to generate fine bubbles from the discharge port 18 in the bath, so that the speed reducing member 18a is prevented from being clogged. It is possible to reduce the maintenance of the speed reduction member 18a.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, in the present embodiment, the heating tank 26 as the heating means and the accumulator 28 as the gas-liquid separating means are provided, but they are not necessarily provided. In this case, since minute bubbles and large bubbles are generated from the discharge port 18, the heat retaining effect due to the minute bubbles cannot be expected. However, it is possible to perform heat retention by heating with a heating means provided in the bath.

A septic tank 24 as a purifying means may be installed between the circulation pump 22 and the discharge port 18. In this case, in the septic tank 24, the shape is formed in the same manner as the pipe so that the pressure of the bath water is not reduced, or in order to increase the pressure of the bath water, the pipe from the septic tank 24 to the discharge port 18 is further added. It is necessary to make it thinner or install a pressure pump.

In the present embodiment, the components are installed in the apparatus main body 10 in the order of the septic tank 24, the heating tank 26, the circulation pump 22, and the accumulator 28, but it is not necessary to be particular in this order, but the septic tank is not required. It is best to install 24 on the pumping port 14 side. This is because dirty bath water is purified by the septic tank 24, so that the components installed after the septic tank 24 are not polluted.

[0052]

As is clear from the above description, according to the bubble generating apparatus of the present invention, the circulation pump pumps the bath water in the bathtub from the pumping port, and the gas introduction provided in the preceding stage of the circulation pump. Introduce an external gas from the mouth, pressurize and dissolve the gas in the bath water by the pressure of the circulation pump, and then generate tiny bubbles in the bath from the outlet by the cavitation generating means provided at the outlet. At the time of cleaning, since the cleaning means removes fine foreign matter contained in the bath water to clean, it is possible to prevent clogging of the cavitation generating means.
Moreover, the maintenance of the cavitation generating means can be reduced.

By installing the purification means between the pumping port and the circulation pump, the bath water in which the gas is pressurized and dissolved by the circulation pump is affected by the change in water pressure except at the discharge port. The bubbles can be reliably generated by the cavitation generating means provided at the discharge port.

Further, since the circulating bath water is heated by the heating means, it is possible to prevent the water temperature of the bath water from lowering due to fine bubbles generated from the cavitation generating means.

Further, by providing a heating means between the pumping port and the circulation pump, the solubility of the gas in the bath water can be increased and the amount of fine bubbles generated can be increased.

Further, since the gas inlet can be opened and closed by the valve, bubbles can be generated in the bath according to the preference of the bather.

Further, when the external gas is pressure-dissolved in the bath water by the circulation pump, the surplus gas that could not be dissolved in the bath water is discharged to the outside of the apparatus by the gas-liquid separating means, so that fine air bubbles are excessive. It is possible to obtain effects such as being able to prevent absorption by gas.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a bubble generator.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a discharge port of a bubble generating device.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electric circuit configuration of a bubble generating device.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the bubble generating device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Device Main Body 18 Discharge Port 22 Circulation Pump 24 Septic Tank 26 Heating Tank 28 Accumulator 30 Air Inlet 32 Valve 34 Temperature Sensor 46 Control Circuit 50 Flow Rate Sensor

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A circulation pump pumps up bath water in a bathtub from a pumping port, and an external gas is introduced from a gas inlet port provided in the preceding stage of the circulation pump. In a bubble generator for generating a fine bubble in a bath by cavitation generating means provided in a discharge port after melting gas under pressure, between the pumping port and the discharge port, in the bath water. An air bubble generating device comprising a purifying means for removing fine foreign matters contained therein and cleaning the same. 2. The purifying means is installed between the pumping port and the circulation pump.
The bubble generating device according to. 3. Between the pumping port and the discharge port,
The bubble generating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising heating means for heating the bath water. 4. The heating means is installed between the pumping port and the circulation pump.
The bubble generating device according to. 5. The bubble generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a valve whose opening portion can be controlled to be opened and closed is installed in the gas introduction port. 6. A gas-liquid separating means for separating undissolved excess gas in the bath water discharged from the circulation pump is provided between the circulation pump and the discharge port. 1. The bubble generator according to 1.