JPH0839056A - Sterilizing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a sterilizing apparatus sufficiently withstanding pressure corresponding to a water hammer in waterworks, low in production cost and extremely easy in the cleaning of a water pipe. CONSTITUTION:A water supply block 2 having a water supply chamber 6 and a drain block 3 having a drain chamber 7 are provided and one ends of respective three water pipes 4 arranged mutually parallelly in one row are allowed to communicate with the water supply chamber while the other ends thereof are allowed to communicate with the drain chamber and U-shape tubular ultraviolet lamps 5 are arranged on both sides of the water pipe row one by one in such a state that both ends of them are held to both blocks 2, 3 and a reinforcing plate 16 is stretched over both blocks 2, 3 and a cover 17 is provided so as to cover the water pipes and the ultraviolet lamps.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a sterilizer. More specifically, it is a sterilizer mainly for sterilizing liquids (especially water) by using an ultraviolet lamp, and by arranging the ultraviolet lamp outside the quartz glass tube for the fluid to be processed, the degree of freedom in design is increased. It relates to a significantly improved sterilizer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, drinking water is sterilized by a chemical containing chlorine, the coagulant is used in a septic tank to collect and collect impurities, and activated carbon is added to adsorb the impurities. Various sterilization and sterilization methods are adopted. However, in the sterilization with a drug, there is a concern that the drug may affect the human body when the water to be treated is used as a beverage. Also, other methods require large-scale water purification facilities.

Therefore, in anticipation of the solution of such a problem, an apparatus for sterilizing various bacteria in water by irradiating the water with ultraviolet rays from an ultraviolet lamp has been adopted. In general,
It irradiates the water to be treated with ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of 253.7 nm, which is said to have the strongest sterilizing power, and a glass tube made of quartz glass that can transmit such ultraviolet rays is used exclusively. This sterilizer is, for example, shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, a mercury vapor is enclosed in a closed quartz glass tube having a bottom, and an ultraviolet lamp 51 that emits the ultraviolet light by energizing a filament equipped inside with an AC power supply of usually 100 V voltage, This UV lamp 51
And a cylindrical cover 52 that covers the. The cylindrical cover 52 constitutes a passage through which the water to be treated passes (hereinafter referred to as a water passage pipe 52), and a water supply port 53 for communicating the inside and the outside is formed near one end thereof, and near the other end. Is formed with a drain port 54 that communicates the inside and the outside. With this configuration, the water to be treated is treated by the ultraviolet lamp 51 and the water pipe 5.
It sterilizes by flowing through the gap 55 with 2 while being irradiated with ultraviolet rays, so to speak.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional ultraviolet sterilizer, the ultraviolet lamp 51 and the water pipe 5 are used.
Since 2 and 2 form a double tube, the water pressure of the water to be treated is applied as an external pressure to the quartz glass tube forming the ultraviolet lamp 51. In order to increase the amount of water to be sterilized, it is necessary to use a water pipe having a larger diameter and, accordingly, a UV lamp having a large output, that is, a quartz glass pipe having a large diameter, which constitutes the lamp. However, the following problems arise due to such characteristics.

(1) In a general ultraviolet lamp, the quartz glass tube has an outer diameter of about 21.5 mm and a wall thickness of 1.5 mm.
Since it can withstand only an external pressure of about 5 atm, there is a great risk of breakage if it is installed upstream of the tap of the waterworks where the water hammer phenomenon of about 18 atm frequently occurs. If the UV lamp is damaged in water, problems such as leakage and mixing of mercury into the water will occur. Thus, it cannot be installed upstream of the tap of the water supply pipe. As a result, it is very inconvenient because it is necessary to connect a sterilizer that uses electricity and has a considerable volume downstream of the faucet.

(2) In order to withstand high water pressure, for example, if the wall thickness is set to about 4.0 mm without changing the inner diameter,
The price of the quartz glass tube will increase to about 10 times at once. The quartz glass tube has the same diameter, is considerably more expensive than a normal glass tube, and if the cost is increased, it becomes a completely uncompetitive product.

(3) When using a lamp with a large diameter as described above in order to increase the amount of water to be sterilized, not only the diameter of the quartz glass tube but also the wall thickness is naturally required, which is extremely expensive. It becomes a device.

(4) In order to remove impurities such as scales adhering to the sterilizer, the ultraviolet lamp and the water pipe are disassembled and both the outer peripheral surface of the ultraviolet lamp and the inner peripheral surface of the water pipe are brushed or the like. It is necessary to rub it with and there is a risk of damage.

The present invention has been made in order to solve such a problem, and since it can sufficiently withstand the pressure of a water hammer in waterworks, it can be installed upstream from a shutoff valve, and the manufacturing cost is low. Moreover, it is an object of the present invention to provide a sterilizing device in which the water pipe can be cleaned very easily.

[0010]

The sterilizer of the present invention comprises at least one quartz glass tube forming a passage for a fluid to be treated and an ultraviolet lamp arranged outside the quartz glass tube. It is characterized by having.

According to the sterilizing apparatus of the present invention having such a structure,
Since the UV lamp is installed outside the water pipe, no water pressure is applied to the UV lamp no matter how high the water pressure is applied. On the other hand, since the thickness of the water pipe is not substantially limited, if it is thin, it can withstand high internal water pressure.
Therefore, the degree of freedom in design is improved because it is only necessary to increase the number of water passages in order to increase the flow rate without increasing the flow velocity of the fluid to be processed. As a result, it is possible to avoid the exponential cost increase by increasing the pipe diameter and wall thickness, and since it is possible to install the sterilization device upstream of the tap of the water supply, for example, in general households and dental clinics, etc. It is possible to obtain the convenience that sterilized water can be used. Furthermore, the water pipe is a pipe independent of the ultraviolet lamp, and since water stains adhere only to the inner peripheral surface of the water pipe, it is easy to wash only the inner peripheral surface with a brush for cleaning the test tube, for example. .

The sterilizer is provided with a water supply block which constitutes a treated fluid supply chamber and a drainage block which constitutes a treated fluid discharge chamber, and one end of the quartz glass tube communicates with the treated fluid supply chamber, The other end of the quartz glass tube is communicated with a fluid discharge chamber, and a tubular ultraviolet lamp is disposed on at least one side of the outside of the quartz glass tube with both ends thereof being held by the blocks. It is preferable because it is simple, the deterioration of the ultraviolet transmission efficiency is prevented, and the inner peripheral surface of the water passage can be easily washed from any block.

Alternatively, the above sterilization apparatus is provided with a water supply block which constitutes a treated fluid supply chamber and a drainage block which constitutes a treated fluid discharge chamber, and a plurality of the quartz glasses arranged in parallel in a row. One end of each tube communicates with the treated fluid supply chamber, the other end of each quartz glass tube communicates with the treated fluid discharge chamber, and a plurality of tubular ultraviolet lamps are provided on at least one side outside the quartz glass tube. A plurality of sockets which are arranged in one row and parallel to each other while being held by a holding member and perpendicular to the quartz glass tube row, and at least one of the holding members is electrically connected to a tubular ultraviolet lamp. To increase the flow rate without increasing the flow velocity of the fluid to be treated,
In addition, it is preferable in that the reduction of the transmission efficiency of ultraviolet rays is prevented and that the exponential cost increase mentioned above is avoided.

It is preferable to provide a reflective cover that substantially covers the quartz glass tube and the ultraviolet lamp and has a reflective surface formed on the inner surface side thereof in order to prevent waste of electric energy supplied to the ultraviolet lamp.

The bridging of the reinforcing plate on both the blocks is
It is preferable mainly from the viewpoint of improving the rigidity of the entire device including protection of the water pipe and the ultraviolet lamp.

[0016]

Embodiments of the sterilizing apparatus of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing an embodiment of the sterilizing apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing another embodiment of the sterilizing apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a sterilizing apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing still another embodiment of the apparatus, and FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing still another embodiment of the sterilizing apparatus of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a sterilizer, and three water pipes 4 are arranged in a row in parallel between the water supply block 2 and the drainage block 3, and both sides of this water pipe line are arranged. In addition, an ultraviolet lamp 5 having a substantially U shape is arranged in parallel with the surface of the water pipe array. A water supply chamber 6 is formed inside the water supply block 2, and a drainage chamber 7 (the structure is the water supply chamber 6 is formed inside the water supply block 3.
(Not shown, not shown), because it is the same. Each chamber is sealed with a seal ring 8 to be watertight by closing lids 9 and 10. A water supply nipple 11 that connects the inside and the outside of the water supply chamber 6 is attached to the top of the water supply block 2, and a drain nipple 1 that connects the inside and the outside of the drainage chamber 7 is installed to the top of the drainage block 3.
2 are installed.

One end of each of the three water flow pipes 4 is connected to the water supply chamber 6 and the other end is connected to the drainage chamber 7. Thereafter, both ends are liquid-bonded to both blocks 2 and 3 by an adhesive. It is fixed in a dense state. The two U-shaped ultraviolet lamps 5 have a known shape such as a fluorescent lamp for illumination. That is, as shown in the drawing, the vicinity of one end of the two cylinders 5a and 5b is connected by a communication pipe 5c in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the cylinder. Further, the U-shaped tubular jack portions 14 on both end sides are detachably electrically connected to the socket 13 fixed to the drainage block 3. Of course, the socket 13 may be fixed to the water supply block 2 side.

Outer tube 5a for water pipe 4 and ultraviolet lamp 5
Both are made of quartz glass. This is because ultraviolet rays having a germicidal power and having a wavelength of 253.7 nm can be transmitted. On the other hand, both the water supply block 2 and the drainage block 3 are made of hard polyvinyl chloride. This is because it is empirically known to have a high resistance to ultraviolet rays. The water pipe 4 has an inner diameter of 9 mm and a wall thickness of 1, 5 mm. Experiments have shown that a water pipe of this size withstands an internal pressure of approximately 95 atmospheres.
The total of the three inner diameter side cross-sectional areas is about 190 square millimeters, and it sufficiently covers a domestic water supply pipe having an inner diameter of 13 mm (inner diameter side cross sectional area of about 133 square millimeters). on the other hand,
The outer cylinder 5a of the ultraviolet lamp 5 has a power of 30 watts, an outer diameter of 21.5 mm, and a wall thickness of 1, 5 mm, and is commercially available. The strength is sufficient because no water pressure is applied. In this embodiment, three water pipes 4 are provided, but the number of water pipes 4 is not limited to three.
One or two or four or more can be added depending on the amount of water to be treated. Along with that, it is necessary to additionally install the ultraviolet lamp 5.

As a guide, for example, based on a conventional ultraviolet sterilizer, an ultraviolet lamp output of 30 watts is sufficient for a water amount of 20 liters / minute. Therefore, the ratio of two UV lamps having an outer diameter of 21.5 mm to three water pipes having an inner shape of 9 mm and a wall thickness of 1, 5 mm may be used as a guide. Of course, various conditions are conceivable such as sterilization by ultraviolet irradiation for a short period of time, or conversely, constant irradiation, so that the above ratio may be appropriately changed.

However, if both 4 and 5 become a large number,
With the configuration shown in FIG. 1, a loss of electric energy occurs, and the overall outer shape becomes large and difficult to handle. Therefore, the configurations shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 are preferable.

As shown in the figure, a pair of upper and lower shelves 15 are formed on the surface of the water supply block 2 and the drainage block 3 which face each other. Reinforcing plates 1 made of aluminum alloy plates are attached to the shelves 15 from above and below, respectively.
6 is screwed. The reinforcing plate is not particularly limited to an aluminum alloy plate, and may be made of a material having excellent corrosion resistance and ultraviolet resistance such as a stainless steel plate. However, for example, a mirror-finished metal plate or a chrome-plated metal plate also has ultraviolet reflectivity, and is therefore preferable in that it can prevent the loss of ultraviolet light.

Further, a pair of semi-cylindrical mirror covers 17 are attached and detached from the lateral direction of the water pipe 4, the ultraviolet lamp 5, and the reinforcing plate 16 by a known clamp member or the like (not shown) so as to cover them. Can be freely attached.
The inner peripheral surface of the mirror cover 17 is a mirror, and the mirror cover 17 integrally has a cylindrical shape and reflects the ultraviolet light emitted from the ultraviolet lamp 5 substantially in the direction of its center line. That is, the water pipe 4 can be efficiently irradiated with ultraviolet rays. If the mirror cover is made of a high-strength material such as metal and is fixed to the blocks 2 and 3, the reinforcing plate 16 is not necessary.

Further, cleaning holes 18 for communicating the inside and outside of the chambers 6 and 7 are bored in the end faces of the blocks 2 and 3, respectively, and a seal ring (not shown) is interposed therebetween. It is liquid-tightly closed by the closing plug 19. Since the cleaning hole 18 just corresponds to the end position of the water pipe 4, the inner circumference of the water pipe 4 can be easily obtained by removing the closing plug 19 and inserting a long brush for cleaning the test tube. The surface can be cleaned. 2, 3
Other arrangements of the water pipe 4 and the ultraviolet lamp 5 are illustrated in FIG. 2 and 3 are cross-sectional views of the cylindrical sterilizer taken along a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. In FIG. 2, there are nine water passages 4 and eight ultraviolet lamps 5, and in FIG. 3, there are nine water passages 4,
There are four ultraviolet lamps 5. It should be noted that although water pipes of two different sizes are used in these examples, the water pipes are not limited to these and may be those having an inner diameter of 9 mm. The arrangement of the water pipe 4 and the ultraviolet lamp 5 is, of course, not limited to these arrangements but merely an example.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment. The sterilizer 21 has a suitable structure when the amount of water to be treated is large. That is, the water pipes 22 of the same size as the water pipes 4 in the above-described embodiment (FIG. 1) are installed in an increased number (19 in this embodiment). Along with this, the number of ultraviolet lamps 23 of the same size as the ultraviolet lamp 5 in the embodiment (FIG. 1) is also increased (30 in this embodiment).

In the sterilizer 21, a water supply block 25 having a water supply chamber 24 and a drainage block 27 having a drainage chamber 26 are both in the shape of an elongated bottomed cylinder, and the water pipes 22 are parallel to each other and Both ends are arranged in line and communicate with both chambers 24, 26.
That is, the nineteen water passages 22 are in a so-called flat state as a whole. Both ends of the water pipe 22 are fixed to both blocks 25 and 27 in a liquid-tight state by an adhesive.
A water supply nipple 28 that communicates the inside and outside of the water supply chamber 24 is fixed to the water supply block 25.
A drain nipple 29, which communicates the inside and outside of the drain chamber 26, is fixedly installed at 7.

Fifteen ultraviolet lamps 23 are arranged in parallel and in a row on each side of the row of water pipes 22, and a pair of elongated socket members 30 are provided at both ends.
Is detachably electrically connected to. Each socket member 30
There are fifteen sockets 30a arranged in a line.
Further, each of the ultraviolet lamps 23 has an electric connection terminal at each end thereof.

The water pipe 22 and the ultraviolet lamp 23 thus constructed are integrally fixed in, for example, a square frame (not shown) to form a sterilization panel, and a mirror and a reinforcing plate are provided on both sides of the panel. If a plate member that also has the function of is detachably attached, a sterilizer with a large capacity that is extremely convenient to handle is completed.

Of course, the numbers of the water flow pipes 22 and the ultraviolet lamps 23 are merely examples, and the numbers of the two pipes 22 and 23 can be increased or decreased according to the amount of fluid to be treated.
The standard of increase / decrease is as described above. The ultraviolet lamp 23 in the embodiment of FIG. 4 has an output of 15 watts.

Next, regarding the electric power supplied to the ultraviolet lamp, since an alternating current is required, it is 100 V for general household use.
It may be supplied from an AC power source via a transformer, or a DC battery (for example, voltage 6 to 12) may be provided in the device.
V) may be mounted and an inverter may be built in, whereby an alternating current may be supplied at high voltage.

Sterilizers 1, 21 constructed as described above
Since the water pipes 4 and 22 can sufficiently withstand the water pressure of a water hammer in a water supply pipe, for example, a shut-off valve for a mouthwash water supply pipe (usually directly connected to water supply) in a general home or a dental clinic. It is very convenient because it can be installed upstream. Furthermore, by using an operating system similar to a water heater that has been widely used these days, the power of the sterilizer is turned on by twisting the tap of the water supply to generate water.
It is also possible to use N.

[0033]

According to the present invention, the water pressure is not applied to the ultraviolet lamp even if it is applied at a high water pressure, and the thickness of the water passage pipe is practically unlimited. Can also endure. Therefore, the degree of freedom in design is improved because it is only necessary to increase the number of water passages in order to increase the flow rate without increasing the flow velocity of the fluid to be processed. As a result, it is possible to avoid the exponential cost increase by increasing the pipe diameter and wall thickness. Further, since water stains and the like adhere only to the inner peripheral surface of the water passage tube, it is easy to clean only the inner peripheral surface with, for example, a brush for cleaning the test tube.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing an embodiment of a sterilizing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing another embodiment of the sterilizing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing still another embodiment of the sterilizing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing still another embodiment of the sterilizing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a conventional sterilizer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 21 ... Sterilizer 2, 25 ... Water supply block 3, 27 ... Drainage block 4, 22 ... Water pipe 5, 23 ... Ultraviolet lamp 6, 24 ... Water supply chamber 7, 26 ... Drainage chamber 16 ... Reinforcement plate 17 ... Mirror cover

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A sterilizing apparatus comprising at least one quartz glass tube constituting a passage for a fluid to be treated and an ultraviolet lamp arranged outside the quartz glass tube. 2. A quartz glass tube comprising a water supply block constituting a treated fluid supply chamber and a drainage block constituting a treated fluid discharge chamber, wherein one end of the quartz glass tube is connected to the treated fluid supply chamber. The other end of the tube is communicated with a fluid discharge chamber, and a tubular ultraviolet lamp is disposed on at least one side outside the quartz glass tube with both ends thereof held by the both blocks. The sterilizer according to 1. 3. One end of each of the plurality of quartz glass tubes arranged in a row and in parallel, comprising a water supply block constituting a treated fluid supply chamber and a drain block constituting a treated fluid discharge chamber. Is communicated with the treated fluid supply chamber, the other end of each quartz glass tube is communicated with the treated fluid discharge chamber, a plurality of tubular ultraviolet lamps at both ends of at least one side outside the quartz glass tube A plurality of sockets which are arranged in a row and parallel to each other while being held by a holding member and perpendicular to the quartz glass tube row, and at least one of the holding members is electrically connected to the tubular ultraviolet lamp. The sterilizer according to claim 1, which comprises: 4. The sterilizer according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising a reflective cover that substantially covers the quartz glass tube and the ultraviolet lamp and has a reflective surface formed on an inner surface side thereof. 5. The sterilizer according to claim 2, wherein a reinforcing plate is bridged between the blocks.