JPH09299274A - Hand washing device for fine gravity space - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress the blow-off of waterdrops from an insertion port and to maintain the stable flow of water and air by providing the ventilation part of the air from a circulation path to a hand washing chamber around the insertion port and constituting a flow passage for directing an air flow from the ventilation part into a direction for separating from the insertion port. SOLUTION: In the hand washing chamber 2, a hood 2a is connected to a front surface, the insertion port 2b for putting the hand in it from the front is opened at two parts and a housing 2c for forming an air flow passage is integrally formed on the entire periphery excluding the lower end part at the hood 2a. Then, on a surface where the housing 2c faces the inside of the hand washing chamber 2, a ventilation plate 6 for which many holes are distributed is extended on the entire surface and positioned. Also, the insertion port 2b is opened successively to the opening for insertion of the ventilation plate 6 and circulation air flow from ventilation holes is made to flow in the same direction as the direction for inserting the hand. That is, the air made to flow from the ventilation holes into the chamber 2 is made to flow in the direction for separating from the insertion port 2b and scavenged from a scavenging duct 4.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hand-washing device for a microgravity space which enables hand-washing with water even in an environment where gravity acts only slightly, such as in a spacecraft.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When the gravity is very small, for example, water discharged from a faucet floats in the form of water droplets due to its surface tension and has a strong adhesive property. However, even after the hand washing is finished, water droplets remain attached. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-181855 discloses a hand washing apparatus capable of performing hand washing in such a microgravity space to the same extent as that on the ground.

In this hand washing device, water supply and air supply nozzles are provided in a chamber having an opening through which a hand is inserted, and the accompanying flow for the high-speed air flow from the air supply nozzle with respect to the water supply from the water supply nozzle. As described above, by adjusting the streamline of the water supply, it is possible to wash the hands, and after rinsing, the hands are exposed to the air from the air supply nozzle to blow off the adhering water and dry the hands. In addition to the high-speed air flow from the air supply nozzle, a circulation blower is installed to constantly generate an air flow toward the tank side that collects and processes the supplied water and water, and circulates the air. It is supplied to the chamber as a flow.

The air flow from the circulating blower is supplied to the hand washing chamber through a large number of holes formed in a ventilation plate arranged so as to partition one surface of the hand washing chamber. Also, the water discharged from the water supply nozzle makes it easier to wash hands.

[0005]

However, in the one disclosed in the above publication, the ventilation plate is arranged above the insertion port for inserting the hand, and the air flow for circulation and the supply from the hole of the ventilation plate. The flow line of the high-speed air flow from the air nozzle is in a relationship substantially orthogonal to the insertion port. Therefore, when the air flow flows through the hand washing chamber, the air flow is likely to be blown out from the insertion port, and the cleaning water that is included in the air flow and may flow out from the insertion port.

On the other hand, if a ventilation plate is arranged around the insertion port to allow water and air to flow in the insertion direction of the hand, the air and the water flow will be away from the insertion port. It is possible to prevent air and water from being blown out from this insertion port. However, a stable air flow cannot be obtained unless the air flow is set to a uniform flow velocity or blowing strength from the ventilation plate around the insertion port, and a streamline flux of water suitable for hand washing is obtained. May be impaired.

Further, in the case where the two nozzles for water supply and air supply are separately arranged, the range occupied by the insertion port and the mounting portion of these nozzles becomes large in the ventilation plate. For this reason, the total opening area of the holes formed in the ventilation plate for forming the circulation flow of air is also limited, and the uniformization of the circulation air flow in the hand washing chamber tends to be insufficient. , Stable hand washing operation will be hindered.

As described above, in the conventional hand washing device provided for the microgravity space, there remains a problem to be solved regarding the flow of the washing water and the air supplied to the hand washing chamber.

The problem to be solved in the present invention is to provide a hand washing device for a microgravity space which can be more suitably used by suppressing the ejection of water droplets from the insertion port and at the same time maintaining a stable flow of water and air. To provide.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises a hand washing chamber having an opening for inserting a hand, a water supply means for supplying washing water to the hand washing chamber, and the hand washing chamber. A circulation path for supplying air for streamlining the water from the water supply means, and a recovery means disposed in the circulation path downstream of the hand-washing chamber for recovering and removing water from the air flow are provided. An air vent for the hand-washing chamber is provided around the insertion port, and the air flow from the vent is directed in a direction away from the insertion port.

In such a structure, the ventilation part is provided with a large number of ventilation holes formed in the ventilation plate for partitioning the hand-washing chamber from the outside, and the inside of the hand-washing chamber is controlled by a combination of size and / or arrangement distribution of these ventilation holes. The flow can be made uniform in the channel cross section.

Further, a discharge means capable of discharging air and water is provided so as to face the inside of the hand washing chamber, the water supply means is connected to the discharge means, and is connected to the air supply source through the flow path switching means. It is also possible to blow off the water droplets adhering to the hand after cleaning by the air flow discharged from the discharging means so as to be removable.

[0013]

When the water supply means supplies the water supply to the hand-washing chamber so as to discharge it, it is possible to let the water supply flow on the air flow by the air flow supplied from the circulation path to form a streamline flux and to make the water flow down. Allows you to wash your hands in the hand-washing chamber. Then, since the circulating air is discharged from the ventilation portion around the insertion port and flows in the direction away from the insertion port, the supplied water and air are prevented from blowing out from the insertion port.

Further, by appropriately adjusting the size and distribution of a large number of ventilation holes formed in the ventilation plate, the circulating air flow sent into the hand washing chamber from the outside can be made uniform within the cross section of the flow path, and the water supply means can be used. It can be supplied as a bundled stable flow without disturbing the streamline of the water.

Further, in the case where the discharge means which can be used by switching to the supply of water and air is exposed to the inside of the hand-washing chamber, if the high-speed air is discharged from this discharge means after cleaning, the drainer also discharges one. Even if the discharging means is provided by penetrating the ventilation plate, it is possible to secure the number of ventilation holes formed in the ventilation plate to the extent necessary for uniformizing the air flow. it can.

[0016]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an outline of an entire hand washing apparatus for a microgravity space according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view on the right side of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a water and air circulation system. FIG.

In the figure, a hand washing chamber 2 is arranged on the upper end side of a frame 1, and an air supply duct 3 is connected to the lower end of the front side of the hand washing chamber 2 and a scavenging duct 4 is coaxially installed on the rear side. A nozzle head 5 which is connected and further serves as water for cleaning and for discharging high-speed air after rinsing and also for air, is located facing the inside of the hand washing chamber 2 as a discharging means in this embodiment.

The hand washing chamber 2 has a hood 2a on its front.
Insertion port 2 for connecting and inserting hands from the front
A housing 2c for opening b in two places and forming an air flow path on the entire circumference of the hood 2a except the lower end thereof.
Are integrally formed. And housing 2c
On the surface facing the inside of the hand-washing chamber 2, a vent plate 6 having a large number of holes distributed therein is developed and positioned on the entire surface, as will be described later.

The air supply duct 3 is connected to a circulation fan 3a at a base end thereof. By operating the circulation fan 3a, air is supplied to the housing 2c and air is supplied from the ventilation plate 6 into the hand washing chamber 2. Supply. The scavenging duct 4 has a base end connected to be substantially coaxial with an intermediate position of a line connecting the centers of the insertion ports 2b, and has a terminal end bent downward to accommodate a gas-liquid separation filter or the like. Chamber 4
a is formed. And this processing chamber 4
The outlet of a and the inlet of the circulation fan 3a are connected by a connector duct 4b, and the air whose moisture has been removed by the processing chamber 4a is sucked by the circulation fan 3a and recirculated.

The nozzle head 5 is fixed to a sleeve 6a provided on the ventilation plate 6, and a supply pipe 5a for switching and supplying to water and air is connected to the base end thereof. A branch adapter 5b capable of switching a flow path is connected to a base end of the supply pipe 5a, and a water supply pipe 5c and an air supply pipe 5d are connected to the branch adapter 5b. The branch adapter 5b has a mechanism in which one of the water side and the air side is opened and the other is closed by a solenoid, for example.

At the lower end of the frame 1, there is provided a washing water tank 7 that stores water and can send out washing water by a built-in immersion pump or a pump (both not shown) incorporated in an external supply pipe. And the outlet of the washing water is connected to the water supply pipe 5c. Also, the connector duct 4b
The blower 8 is communicated by branching to the flow path to the circulation fan 3a side in the middle, and the air supply pipe 5c is connected to the discharge side of the blower 8.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the ventilation plate 6, around which a flange 6b to be inserted between the front end of the hand washing chamber 2 and the annular housing 2b is formed, and the flange 6b is provided with a connecting bolt. A bolt hole 6b-1 for passing (not shown) is opened, and a mounting hole 6a for fixing the sleeve 6a described above is provided at a position deviated to the upper end side in the center.
-1 is open. Then, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, two insertion openings 6c having an opening shape aligned with the insertion opening 2b formed in the hood 2a are provided.

A large number of vent holes 6d and 6e are formed in the portion excluding the mounting hole 6a-1 and the insertion opening 6c, which is included in the circled area shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. That is, in each of the insertion openings 6c, a line segment passing through the center is defined as a boundary, and a region along the edges on the upper and lower ends thereof is shaded by a dashed-dotted line to the right.
In addition to the distribution of the ventilation holes 6d shown in FIG. 5A, the area sandwiched between these regions and shaded by the one-dot chain line rising to the lower left is shown in FIG. The distribution of the pores 6e is provided respectively.

Ventilation holes 6d distributed in the upper half and the lower end
Has an inner diameter of about 3 mm and a pitch between adjacent ones of about 3.5 mm and is arranged in a zigzag pattern. On the other hand, the ventilation holes 6 provided in the remaining area
Similarly, the inner diameter of e is about 3 mm, while the ventilation hole 6
The pitch interval of e is about 4.4 mm. That is, in the region including the lower half circumference of the insertion opening 6c, the arrangement of the ventilation holes 6e is made rougher than that of the ventilation holes 6d arranged in the other upper and lower regions, and the attachment hole 6a-1 and the upper half of the insertion opening 6c are arranged. The circulation flow rate from the area including is larger than that around the lower half of the insertion opening 6c.

Further, the ventilation holes 6e formed in the area shown by the oblique line rising to the left may have a distribution as shown in FIG. 5 (c). In the illustrated example, the air holes 6e have an inner diameter of about 2 mm and are smaller than the other air holes 6d, and the air holes 6e are arranged in a staggered pattern with an arrangement pitch of about 3 mm. Even in this case, the flow rate distribution of the entire circulating air passing through the ventilation plate 6 can be set similarly to the combination of the ventilation holes 6d and 6e shown in FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b).

The operation of the circulation fan 3a, the switching of the flow path of the branch adapter 5b, the operation of the pump attached to the wash water tank 7, and the operation of the blower 8 are provided on the operation panel 10 fixed to the frame 1. It is performed by an operation switch and a changeover switch (neither is shown).
Then, for example, after the start switch is turned on before the hand is inserted into the insertion port 2b, the process of washing with water and the subsequent draining by air flow is continued for a certain period of time, and then automatically stopped. Control shall be established. Instead of such control, a sensor for detecting a human hand is provided in the hand washing chamber 2, and when the hand of a human hand is detected by this sensor, washing is automatically started. It may be controlled.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the circulation fan 3
A buffer 3b is provided in the flow path downstream of a and before the branch to the on-off valve 9. The buffer 3b is for temporarily relaxing the flow velocity of the air discharged from the circulation fan 3 and supplying it to the hand washing chamber 2 as a stable flow without pulsation.

In the above structure, when the hand of the operation panel 10 is turned on and the hand is inserted into the hand washing chamber 2 through the insertion port 2b, the water supply pipe 5b is connected to the water supply pipe 5a by the branch adapter 5b. Water is supplied from the wash water tank 7 via the nozzle and sprayed from the nozzle head 5 into the hand washing chamber 2. Then, at the same time as this ejection, the circulation fan 3a operates to send the air from the air supply duct 3 into the housing 2c, and the ventilation holes 6d of the ventilation plate 6
Air is discharged to the hand washing chamber 2 through 6e.

As shown in FIG. 2, since the nozzle head 5 is in a posture in which the nozzle head 5 is directed obliquely downward from the top of the insertion port 2b, the streamline of the washing water passes through the holes of the ventilation plate 6 and intersects with the airflow flowing down. Come to do. Therefore, by appropriately arranging the size and distribution of the holes formed in the ventilation plate 6, the cleaning water from the nozzle head 5 can be jetted out in a stream flux by the air flow, which makes it possible to discharge the washing water under the normal gravity. You can wash your hands in the same way.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the insertion port 2b is opened continuously to the insertion opening 6c of the ventilation plate 6, and the circulating air flow from the ventilation holes 6d and 6e flows in the same direction as the direction of inserting the hand. . That is, in the conventional case, the circulating air flow flows from the top to the bottom in front of the insertion port 2b,
The air flowing into the hand washing chamber 2 through the ventilation holes 6d and 6e flows in a direction away from the insertion port 2b and is scavenged from the scavenging duct 4. Therefore, the water discharged from the nozzle head 5 also quickly flows toward the scavenging duct 5 along with the circulating air flow, and the insertion port 2b is in the position opposite to the downward direction of these water and air, so that water drops and Blowing of air from the inlet 2b is prevented.

Here, the ventilation holes 6e having a coarse arrangement pitch are provided.
The amount of supplied air per unit area in the region including the lower half of the opening 6c for insertion that is opened is smaller than that in the portion where the ventilation holes 6d having a dense arrangement pitch and forming the remaining region are formed. That is, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the air supply duct 3 is connected to the lower end side of the hood 2a and flows through the ventilation holes 6d and 6e of the ventilation plate 6 via the annular housing 2c. Therefore, at the lower end side of the housing 2c, since the air flow velocity through the ventilation plate 6 is fast because it is close to the air supply duct 3, the ventilation hole 6d is passed from the upper end side through the housing 2c.
The flow path resistance acts on the air passing through the chamber to cause a difference in pressure loss. Therefore, with respect to the ventilation plate 6, the momentum of the air flow from the upper end side tends to be weaker than that of the lower side portion of the insertion opening 6c.

On the other hand, the strength of the circulating air flow from the housing 2c depends on the inner diameter, the arrangement pitch and the distribution of the vent holes 6d and 6e shown in FIGS.
It is possible to homogenize within. That is, in the area where the pressure loss is large, the ventilation amount is secured by the ventilation holes 6d that are densely arranged, and at the same time, the ventilation amount is narrowed from the group of the ventilation holes 6e that are roughly arranged, so that these ventilation holes 6d,
Even if e is spread over a wide range, the flow velocity distribution of the air flow passing through the hand washing chamber 2 can be smoothed. Further, the densely arranged ventilation holes 6d are located on the lower end side, and this is intended to compensate for the wall friction loss with respect to the air along the peripheral wall on the bottom side of the hand washing chamber 2. This also makes it possible to make the flow uniform.

When the cleaning process is completed, the supply of cleaning water from the cleaning water tank 7 is stopped, the flow path is switched to the air supply pipe 5d side by the branch adapter 5b, and then the blower 8 is operated to operate the nozzle. High-speed air is emitted from the head 5. Therefore, by exposing the hands to this air flow, the water droplets attached to the hands can be blown off, and draining is possible.

In this way, since the nozzle head 5 is also used for supplying water and air, it has two nozzles for water and air as in the conventional case.
It is not necessary to provide individual nozzles in the hand-washing chamber 2, and the ventilation plate 6 need only be provided with the sleeve 6a at one location. Therefore, the area for opening the vent holes 6d can be expanded as compared with the conventional structure, and the uniformity of the air flow due to the large number of vent holes 6d and 6e having a small inner diameter is further promoted.

In the above washing and draining process,
The water supplied to the hand washing chamber 2 flows down in the scavenging duct 4 while being mixed with the air flow, and after the gas-liquid separation process is performed in the process chamber 4a, the air is circulated from the connector duct 4b to the circulation fan 3a. Is sucked to the side and continuously circulates in the system. Further, the water is discarded as it is, or a filter for filtration is provided in the middle of the washing water tank 7 through a separate flow path between the processing chamber 4a and the filter, and the water is circulated for a certain period of time. Replace with fresh water.

[0036]

According to the present invention, since the air flow from the ventilation portion is directed toward the direction away from the insertion port of the hand, the air flow is oriented in the direction orthogonal to the insertion port as in the conventional structure. Compared with the flowing one, water droplets and air blown out from the inlet are surely prevented, and, for example, water droplets are prevented from diffusing into the inside of the spacecraft and equipment damage and accidents can be prevented.

Further, even if the flow in the hand washing chamber is made uniform by the combination of the size and distribution of the air holes in the ventilation plate, the flow of air and water in the hand washing chamber is stabilized and the cleaning effect is improved. Besides, it is possible to prevent the blowing from the insertion port more effectively.

Further, in the case of the one provided with the discharging means which can be used for discharging both air and water, the degree of interference with the region where the ventilation hole of the ventilation part is provided is reduced, and the air can be supplied from a wide range around the insertion port. This also stabilizes the flow of water and air in the hand washing chamber.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an outline of a hand washing device for a microgravity space according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a right side vertical cross-sectional view of the hand washing device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a water and air supply system to the hand washing chamber.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing a distribution of ventilation holes formed in a ventilation plate.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a main part showing the relationship between the size and arrangement pitch of the ventilation holes, and FIG. 5 (a) shows the size and arrangement of the ventilation holes formed in the upper half and lower end of the ventilation plate. (B) of the figure shows an example in which the ventilation holes provided in the remaining portion are roughened, and (c) in the figure shows an example in which the inner diameter of the ventilation holes provided in the remaining portion is made small.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: Frame 2: Hand-washing chamber 2b: Insertion port 3: Air supply duct 3a: Circulation fan 4: Scavenging duct 4a: Processing chamber 4b: Connector duct 5: Nozzle head 5a: Supply pipe 5b: Branch adapter 5c: Water supply pipe 5d: air supply pipe 6: vent plate 6a: sleeve 6c: insertion opening 6d: vent hole 6e: vent hole 7: wash water tank 8: blower 9: open / close valve 10: operation panel

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Mikio Horimoto 2-1, 1-1 Nakajima, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu City Totou Kikai Co., Ltd. Ceremony Company Nagoya Aerospace Systems Works (72) Inventor Kiyuki Takahashi 1-5 Otsuka, Inzai City, Chiba Prefecture 1 Takenaka Corporation Technical Research Institute (72) Inventor Yoshiaki Higuchi 1-5 Otsuka, Inzai City, Chiba Prefecture 1 Incorporated Takenaka Corporation Technical Research Institute

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A hand washing chamber having an opening for inserting a hand, water supply means for supplying water for washing to the hand washing chamber, and water flowing from the water supply means including the hand washing chamber. A circulation path for supplying air to be bundled, and a collecting means arranged in the circulation path downstream of the hand washing chamber for collecting and removing water from the air flow, and an aeration part for air from the circulation path to the hand washing chamber. Is provided around the insertion port, and has a flow path configuration that directs the air flow from the ventilation section in a direction away from the insertion port. 2. The ventilation part comprises a plurality of ventilation holes formed in a ventilation plate for partitioning the hand-washing chamber from the outside, and a combination of size and / or arrangement distribution of these ventilation holes allows the inside of the hand-washing chamber to be The hand washing device for microgravity space according to claim 1, wherein the flow in the cross section of the flow path can be made uniform. 3. A discharge means capable of discharging air and water facing the interior of the hand-washing chamber, the water supply means communicating with the discharge means, and an air supply source through a flow path switching means. 3. The hand washing device for microgravity space according to claim 1, wherein the hand washing device for microgravity space is capable of being blown off and removed by water flow adhering to a hand after cleaning by an air flow emitted from the discharging means.