JPH091144A - Alkaline ionized water producer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide an alkaline ionized water producer haivng no danger of retaining water boiling, even in an electolysis tank. CONSTITUTION: This device is provided with a electrolysis tank 9 for electrolyzing the supplied raw water, a membrane for partitioning the electrolysis tank 9 into two electrode rooms, a pair of electrode plates arranged in respective electrode rooms, an ejection pie 10 connected with one side of the electrode rooms and ejecting produced water, and a discharge pipe 11 connected with the other side of the electrode rooms and discharging unrequired water simultaneously produced at the time of production of the produced water. A temp. fuse is provided in a circuit for impressing electrolysis voltage on an electrode plate and also another temp. fuse is attached on a surface of the electrolysis tank 9. An electric current fuse may be attached in place of the temp. fuse or both the temp. fuse and the electric current fuse may optionally be attached.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an alkali which produces alkaline ionized water for drinking and medical purposes and acidic ionized water for cleaning by electrolyzing raw water such as tap water and well water. It relates to an ion water conditioner.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a conventional alkaline ionized water device, and FIG. 6 is an electric circuit diagram of a main part of the conventional alkaline ionized water device. Reference numeral 1 is a raw water pipe for tap water or the like, and 2 is a faucet. Raw water is passed through the faucet 2 to the alkaline ionized water device 3, and the passed raw water is purified by passing through the water purification cartridge 4, and then calcium or the like is added in the calcium supply unit 5. Water to which calcium or the like has been added passes through the flow sensor 6. At this time, the control means 19 detects the passage of the raw water by the flow rate sensor 6 and prepares for the voltage supply to the electrode terminal 13 of the electrolytic cell 9. The raw water that has passed through the flow rate sensor 6 enters the electrolytic cell 9, and the control means 19 supplies a voltage to the electrode terminal 13 of the electrolytic cell 9 to start electrolysis. The electrolytic cell 9 is divided into two by a diaphragm 16 to form an electrode chamber. Electrode plates 14 and 15 are arranged in each electrode chamber, and alkaline ionized water is generated on the cathode side and acidic ionized water is generated on the anode side. When the alkaline ionized water is discharged from the discharge pipe 10, the control means 19 switches the relay 20 to supply a voltage so that the electrode plate 14 of the electrode chamber connected to the discharge pipe 10 serves as a cathode. Since acidic ionized water is simultaneously generated in the electrode chamber connected to the drainage pipe 11, the electromagnetic valve 8 is excited by the control means 19 and drained from the drainage port 12. When the acidic ionized water is discharged from the discharge pipe 10, the control means 19 switches the relay 20 to change the discharge pipe 1
The voltage is supplied so that the electrode plate 14 of the electrode chamber connected to 0 becomes the anode. At the same time, alkaline ionized water is generated in the electrode chamber connected to the drainage pipe 11, so that the solenoid valve 8 is excited by the control means 19 and drained from the drainage port 12. When the raw water is stopped by the faucet 2, the flow rate sensor 6
Then, the control means 19 detects the water stop, stops the voltage supply to the electrode terminal 13, and brings the solenoid valves 7 and 8 into the non-excited state. Water is retained inside the electrolytic cell 9 in order to prevent the diaphragm 16 from drying or to prevent mold.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional structure, the generation rate is extremely low when there is stagnant water in the electrolytic cell, but the voltage to the electrolytic cell is reduced due to the failure of the control circuit or the abnormality of the control software. In some cases, the state of being supplied may continue, which causes the accumulated water in the inside to boil, causing the discharge pipe to generate heat and causing the steam to come out of the discharge pipe.

In order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide an alkaline ionized water conditioner which does not have a risk of boiling the accumulated water even if there is accumulated water in the electrolytic cell.

[0005]

In order to solve the above problems, therefore, the alkaline ionized water device of the present invention is provided with a temperature fuse in the circuit for supplying an electrolytic voltage to the electrode plate and at the same time a temperature fuse is provided on the surface of the electrolytic cell. It is characterized by being attached.

Further, a current fuse is provided in a circuit for supplying an electrolytic voltage to the electrode plate.

It is preferable to provide a temperature fuse and a current fuse in the circuit for supplying the electrolytic voltage.

[0008]

With this configuration, in the thermal fuse,
By mounting on the surface of the electrolytic cell, the temperature on the surface of the electrolytic cell can be directly detected and the supply voltage to the electrode can be cut off before the accumulated water boils. Since the current fuse has a property that the electrolysis current increases as the temperature of the accumulated water rises, the voltage supplied to the electrode can be cut off by setting the current value before boiling.

[0009]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an alkaline ionized water device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an electric circuit diagram of a main part of the alkaline ionized water device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of an electrolytic cell of an alkaline ionized water device in one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a characteristic diagram of water temperature and electrolysis current.

Reference numeral 1 is a raw water pipe for tap water or the like, 2 is a faucet, and 3 is an alkali ion water conditioner connected to the raw water pipe via a water faucet 2. Bowl 3
Raw water is supplied to. Reference numeral 4 is a water purification cartridge, and the water purification cartridge 4 is provided therein with activated carbon that adsorbs residual chlorine in raw water, a hollow fiber membrane that removes general bacteria and impurities, and the like. 6 is a flow rate sensor, and the flow rate sensor 6 confirms the water flow from the water purification cartridge 4 and gives a control instruction to the control means 19. The flow rate sensor 6 is composed of an MR element, a Hall element, or the like, and a rotating body that is provided in the water passage and rotates when water is passed. The magnetism installed in the rotating body is transmitted to the control means 19 as a pulse by the MR element or the Hall element. It is something to send. Reference numeral 5 denotes a calcium supply part, which is a part for providing calcium ions such as calcium glycerophosphate and calcium lactate in the raw water to enhance the conductivity, and these calcium ions are provided to the purified raw water that has passed through the flow rate sensor 6. Reference numeral 9 denotes an electrolytic cell that electrolyzes the water, which has passed through the flow rate sensor 6 and to which calcium or the like has been added by the calcium supply unit 5. The electrolytic cell 9 is divided into two parts by a diaphragm 16 to form two electrode chambers. Electrode plates 14 and 15 are arranged in each electrode chamber to generate acidic ionized water on the anode side by electrolysis,
Generates alkaline ionized water on the cathode side. An electrode terminal 13 is connected to the electrode plates 14 and 15 inside the electrolytic cell 9, and an electrolytic voltage is supplied by the control means 19 so that the electrolytic cell 9 is supplied.
Then electrolysis is performed. A diaphragm 16 is made of polyethylene or the like and mainly moves only ions. Electrodes 14 and 15 are arranged in each electrode chamber divided by a diaphragm 16 into two electrode plates. A discharge pipe 10 discharges water on the electrode plate 14 side (alkali ion water when the electrode plate 14 is a cathode). If a flexible pipe is used as the discharge pipe 10, it becomes easy to use. 11 is a drainage pipe, an electrode plate 1
The water on the 5th side (acidic ion water when the electrode plate 15 is an anode) is discharged. Reference numeral 31 is an acid valve, and acidic ionized water is drainage pipe 11
When the water is further drained, the control means 19 excites the valve and opens the valve, and the acidic ion water is drained from the alkaline ion water conditioner 3 through the acidic port 35. A water shutoff valve 30 is excited by the control means 19 to open the valve when the alkaline ionized water is drained from the drainage pipe 11, and the alkaline ionized water is drained from the drainage port 12 to the outside of the alkaline ionized water device 3. To be done. Reference numeral 32 is a drain valve for draining accumulated water in the electrolytic bath 9 and cleaning water in which scales such as Ca and Mg dissolved in cleaning the electrode plate are dissolved. The drainage valve 32 and the water shutoff valve 30 are excited and opened by the control means 19, and the drainage port 1
The water is drained to the outside of the alkaline ionized water device 3 from 2.

The control means 19 controls the flow rate sensor 6, the electrode terminal 13, the acid valve 31, the water shutoff valve 30 and the like. The control means 19 is fixed to a case formed of a flame-retardant resin or the like, which constitutes an electric component on the substrate, and is potted to such an extent that the substrate is hidden by a urethane potting agent. At this time, the potting process serves as waterproofing, and defects due to moisture such as defective insulation of the substrate surface can be prevented. 1
Reference numeral 7 is a power-on plug, 18 is a transformer, and 21 is a DC power source for electrolysis. The AC power from the power-on plug 17 is mixed with the DC power source for electrolysis. 2
Reference numeral 2 is a control DC power supply unit in which the AC power supply from the power-on plug 17 is replaced with a DC power supply for the control circuit. Reference numeral 20 is a relay, and the electrode plate 14 is controlled by the control means 19.
It is controlled to switch the polarity (anode or cathode) of the electrode plate 15. 34 is a polarity detection circuit, which is the relay 20 described above.
Detects the switching state of. An electrolysis control circuit 24 controls the voltage supply to the electrode terminals 13 of the electrolytic cell 9.
Reference numeral 25 is a current detection circuit, which is a circuit for detecting a current flowing to the electrode terminal 13 to which a voltage is supplied. An operation display unit 23 is composed of an LED, a switch and the like, and displays an operation state of the alkaline ionized water device 3 and sets operation conditions and the like. Reference numeral 26 is a water shutoff valve drive circuit for driving the water shutoff valve 30. Further, 27 is an acid valve drive circuit for driving the acid valve 31, and 33 is a drain valve drive circuit.
2 is a circuit for driving 2. Reference numeral 28 denotes a temperature fuse, which is of a completely fusing type and is attached and fixed to the surface of the electrolytic cell 9. The surface temperature of the electrolytic cell 9 is the temperature fuse 28.
When the operating temperature exceeds the operating temperature, the temperature fuse 28 is blown and the voltage supply to the electrode terminal 13 is cut off. Reference numeral 29 is a current fuse, which is blown when the current flowing to the electrode terminal 13 exceeds the rated current of the current fuse 29, and
The voltage supply to 3 is cut off. Thermal fuse 2
8 and the current fuse 29 are provided in the line of the circuit that supplies the electrolytic current to the electrode terminal 13.

With respect to the alkaline ionized water conditioner configured as described above, the operation when the alkaline ionized water is produced will be described below.

The user operates the switch on the operation display unit 23 to set the alkaline ionized water production mode and open the faucet 2. The raw water passed from the faucet 2 is a water purification cartridge 4
After the odor of residual chlorine in the raw water and impurities such as general bacteria are removed, the water is passed through the flow rate sensor 6, calcium glycerophosphate or the like is added in the calcium supply unit 5, and the water is easily electrolyzed. Is passed to. On the other hand, AC100V is supplied from the power-on plug 17, and the voltage required for electrolysis is supplied by the electrolysis DC power supply unit 21 via the transformer 18. The voltage from the electrolysis DC power supply unit 21 is applied and supplied to the electrode terminal 13 through the electrolysis control circuit 24, the relay 20, the temperature fuse 28, and the current fuse 29, and is supplied to the electrode plates 14 and 15 in the electrolytic cell 9. Supplied. When the electrode plate to which a relatively positive voltage is applied is an anode and the electrode plate to which a negative voltage is relatively applied is a cathode, an electrolytic chamber 9 has an anode chamber and a cathode chamber partitioned by a diaphragm 16. The control means 19 reads the signal of the flow rate sensor 6 and detects the flow rate level by counting the pulses within a fixed time, and when it exceeds the fixed level, it judges that water is flowing.
The electrode plate of the electrode chamber to which the discharge pipe 10 is connected is the electrode plate 1.
If it is 4, the control means 19 switches the relay 20,
A negative voltage is supplied to the electrode plate 14 and a positive voltage is supplied to the electrode plate 15, and a voltage is supplied to the electrode terminal 13 by the electrolysis control circuit 24. As a result, the electrolytic cell 9 starts electrolysis. Alkaline ionized water is generated in the cathode chamber and acidic ionized water is generated in the anode chamber. Since the electrode chamber having the electrode plate 14 is the cathode chamber, alkaline ionized water is continuously obtained from the discharge pipe 10. When the user changes the setting of the operation display unit 23, the control unit 19 controls the electrolysis control circuit 24 and the relay 20 according to the setting, and the switching between the alkaline ionized water, the acidic ionized water, and the purified water can be performed. It is possible. That is, when the acidic ionized water is discharged from the discharge pipe 10, it is sufficient to supply a positive voltage to the electrode plate 14 and a negative voltage to the electrode plate 15 by the relay 20, and in the case of purified water, the electrode plate 14 by the electrolysis control circuit 24, It is only necessary to stop the voltage supply for 15. By the way, at the same time as the alkaline ionized water discharged from the discharge pipe 10, acidic ionized water is generated in the anode chamber. This is discharged from the acid port 35 by operating the acid valve drive circuit 27 by the control means 19 and driving the acid valve 31. Further, when the acidic ionized water is discharged from the discharge pipe 10, the water stop valve drive circuit 26 is operated to drive the water stop valve 30, and the water is drained from the drain port 12. In the case of purified water, since the electrolysis is not performed and there is no unnecessary water, the water stop valve 30, the acid valve 31, and the drain valve 32 are not driven, and the discharge is performed only from the discharge pipe 10.

Next, in the case of water stoppage, when the faucet 2 is closed, the flow of raw water stops and the pulse of the flow rate sensor 6 also stops. The control means 19 causes the electrolysis control circuit 24 to stop the voltage supply to the electrode terminal 13 by this signal.
Further, the water stop valve 30 and the acid valve 31 are not driven, and water stays in the electrolytic cell 9. The retention of water can prevent the diaphragm 16 required for the alkaline ionized water conditioner from drying and mold.

Here, the operation when an operation failure occurs will be described. The control means 19 can determine the state of the contact of the relay 20 by the polarity detection circuit 34. Therefore, when the user has set the generation of alkaline ionized water, but there is a defect in the relay 20 or a defect in the drive circuit, etc., and the acidic ionized water is being discharged from the discharge pipe 10, A warning can be issued with an error sound. In addition, when water is stopped due to a malfunction of the electrolysis control circuit 24 or the like, when voltage is supplied to the electrode terminal 13, if there is accumulated water in the electrolytic cell 9, current will flow to the electrode terminal 13. Therefore, the current detection circuit 25 controls the control means 19
Can be determined to be defective. In this state, the control means 19 can drain the accumulated water in the electrolytic bath 9 from the electrolytic bath 9 by driving the drain valve 32 and the water shutoff valve 30 and issue a warning with an error sound.

Even with such safety measures, it is difficult to secure absolute reliability in hardware and software. When the accumulated water remains for some reason and the voltage is continuously supplied to the electrode terminal 13, the temperature of the accumulated water in the electrolytic cell 9 rises. As the temperature rises, the temperature of the surface of the electrolytic cell 9 also rises. In this embodiment, a thermal fuse 28 having an operating temperature of 72 ° C. is attached to the surface of the electrolytic cell 9. This is because if it is 72 ° C or lower, it may be melted by being exposed to direct sunlight, and if it is 72 ° C or higher, it may boil inside. Therefore, in this embodiment, when the surface temperature of the electrolytic cell 9 exceeds 72 ° C., the thermal fuse 28 is blown and the voltage supply to the electrode terminal 13 is cut off. Further, there is a characteristic that the electric current at the time of electrolysis increases as the water temperature in the electrolytic cell 9 rises. As shown in FIG. 4, the water temperature and the electric current have a substantially proportional relationship. For example, if a current fuse 29 having a rated current of 7 A is connected, the accumulated water in the electrolytic cell 9 will be 70 ° C.
Since the current exceeds 7 A in the vicinity, the voltage supply to the electrode terminal 13 is cut off before the boiling state is reached.

As described above, when the voltage is continuously supplied to the electrode terminal 13 for some reason while the accumulated water is present in the electrolytic cell 9 when the water is stopped, either the temperature fuse 28 or the current fuse 29 described above is activated. Since the voltage supply to the electrode terminal 13 is cut off at the time of melting, it is possible to prevent boiling of the accumulated water in the electrolytic cell 9. Double security can be secured.

[0019]

According to the present invention, the voltage supply circuit for the electrode plate is provided with the temperature fuse or the current fuse or the temperature fuse and the current fuse, so that the voltage supply to the electrode plate is performed before the accumulated water in the electrolytic cell boils. Can be cut off, and the accumulated water can be prevented from boiling.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an alkaline ionized water device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an electric circuit diagram of essential parts of an alkaline ionized water device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of an electrolytic cell of an alkaline ionized water device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 4] Characteristic diagram of water temperature and electrolysis current

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional alkaline ionized water device.

FIG. 6 is an electric circuit diagram of a main part of a conventional alkaline ionized water device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Raw Water Pipe 2 Faucet 3 Alkaline Ion Water Conditioner 4 Water Purification Cartridge 5 Calcium Supply Section 6 Flow Rate Sensor 7 Solenoid Valve 8 Solenoid Valve 9 Electrolysis Tank 10 Discharge Pipe 11 Drain Pipe 12 Drain Port 13 Electrode Terminal 14 Electrode Plate 15 Electrode Plate 16 Diaphragm 17 Power supply plug 18 Transformer 19 Control means 20 Relay 21 DC power source for electrolysis 22 DC power source for control 23 Operation display 24 Electrolysis control circuit 25 Current detection circuit 26 Water stop valve drive circuit 27 Acid valve drive circuit 28 Temperature fuse 29 Current fuse 30 Water stop valve 31 Acid valve 32 Drain valve 33 Drain valve drive circuit 34 Polarity detection circuit 35 Acid port

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An electrolytic cell for electrolyzing the supplied raw water,
A diaphragm that divides the electrolytic cell into two electrode chambers, a pair of electrode plates disposed in each of the electrode chambers, a discharge pipe that is connected to one of the electrode chambers and discharges generated water, and the electrodes. A discharge pipe that is connected to the other of the chambers and discharges unnecessary water that is generated at the same time as the generated water is provided. An alkaline ionized water conditioner characterized by being attached. 2. An electrolytic cell for electrolyzing the supplied raw water,
A diaphragm that divides the electrolytic cell into two electrode chambers, a pair of electrode plates disposed in each of the electrode chambers, a discharge pipe that is connected to one of the electrode chambers and discharges generated water, and the electrodes. An alkaline ionized water conditioner comprising a discharge pipe connected to the other of the chambers for discharging unnecessary water generated at the same time as generated water, and a current fuse is provided in a circuit for supplying an electrolytic voltage to the electrode plate. . 3. The alkaline ionized water device according to claim 1, further comprising a current fuse provided in a circuit for supplying an electrolytic voltage.