JPH1018391A - Human body washing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To save water by controlling a heating means and a bubble mixing means to mix bubbles in wash water by taking in a signal of a temperature detecting means to detect a temperature of the wash water heated by the heating means. SOLUTION: When a washing switch 27 of a remote controller 30 is pushed, a water stop solenoid valve 9 is opened, and wash water is supplied from a water supply passage 8, and flows in a heating passage 12 of a heat exchanger 11 through a flow rate sensor 10. The wash water is heated by an electric heater 13, and a temperature is detected by a thermistor 14, and a signal is sent to a controller 26. The controller 26 varies a current-carrying quantity to the heater 13 by comparing a temperature of the wash water and a preset temperature inputted by the remote controller 30. The wash water reaches a flow control valve 15, and is set to a flow rate indicated by a flow rate variable switch 29 of the remote controller 30, and is blown out to the private parts of the human body from a blowout port 20 of a cleaning nozzle 19. The controller 26 also drives a pump motor 24, and supplies air to a bubble mixing part 22 of the nozzle 19 by an air pump 25, and mixes bubbles in the wash water.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a human body washing apparatus for washing a human body, such as a shower or a hot water washing toilet seat.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 5 shows a conventional human body washing apparatus of this type (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-33377).

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a supply system of cleaning water. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 1 denotes a pump, and a water supply pipe 2 is connected to an upstream side of the pump 1 and an aeration unit 3 is connected to a downstream side. A compressor 5 is connected to the aeration unit 3, and a cylindrical suction head 4 made of ceramic is provided inside. Further, a heat exchanger 6 and a nozzle device 7 are provided on the downstream side of the aeration unit 3. With this configuration, the wash water supplied from the water supply pipe is pressurized by the pump 1 and reaches the air mixing unit 3. In the aeration unit 3, the air supplied from the compressor 5 is made finer by the suction head 4 and flows into the wash water. Further, the washing water that has passed through the aeration unit 3 reaches the heat exchanger 6, where it is heated to an appropriate temperature and then jetted from the nozzle device 7. As a result, the cleaning water jetted from the nozzle device 7 contains bubbles, and a soft feeling can be obtained.

[0004]

However, according to the above-mentioned conventional structure, comfortable washing with a soft feeling can be performed by the foaming water containing fine bubbles. However, since the purpose is cleaning with foamed water, the amount of air to be mixed is naturally set to a relatively small amount, and a large reduction in the amount of cleaning water used and a power saving effect associated therewith cannot be expected. In addition, when the heat exchanger is of a hot-water storage type, energy loss due to heat radiation from the hot-water storage portion is large, running costs are high, and a plurality of fine bubbles contained in the washing water are integrated and formed in the heat exchanger. To increase the diameter,
The washing water spouted from the nozzle device has an intermittent feeling, and as a result, there is even discomfort during use.

When the heat exchanger is of an instantaneous type which can be constituted by a normal household power source, its boiling ability is not sufficient, and washing water containing no air bubbles or foam containing fine air bubbles is used. With water, it is difficult to obtain washing water having a flow rate and an appropriate temperature suitable for washing the human body. In other words, there is a problem that in use in winter in a cold region, it is not possible to obtain washing water at a temperature suitable for washing the human body, and it is necessary to reduce the amount of washing water itself. In addition, instantaneous heat exchangers typically use large capacity and watt density heaters,
If a large amount of air bubbles are mixed into the cleaning water to heat it to reduce the amount of cleaning water, the temperature distribution on the heater surface will be uneven, resulting in locally high temperature parts, resulting in a marked reduction in the life of the heater. There is a problem to do. Furthermore, if bubbles are mixed in from the upstream side of the heater, the bubbles may be integrated due to the long distance of the water supply system to the nozzle device, or the bubbles may expand due to the heating of the washing water by the heat exchanger, and the bubbles may be removed. Inconveniences such as an increase in the diameter and deterioration of the sensation during washing occur. Therefore, in order to prevent this inconvenience, it becomes necessary to mix very fine air bubbles into the washing water through a porous body such as ceramics, and as a result, a large capacity compressor or the like is required to mix a large amount of air. Is required, and problems such as an increase in the size of the apparatus arise.

[0006]

According to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the washing water is heated to an appropriate temperature by an instantaneous heating means, and a bubble mixing means provided downstream of the heating means is provided in the washing water. By forcibly mixing air bubbles,
The human body is cleaned with cleaning water containing a large amount of air bubbles.

According to the above invention, the volume of the fluid ejected from the cleaning nozzle is substantially equal to the volume of the bubble mixed in with the volume of the cleaning water by the bubble mixing means forcibly mixing the bubbles into the cleaning water. Therefore, the jetting speed of the washing water ejected from the washing nozzle is greatly increased. further,
After the flushing of the washing water, the bubbles contained in the flushing water expand, so that the flushing water is appropriately diffused and ejected. Therefore, even when the amount of the washing water is small, the momentum and the diffusion range of the washing water can be set to values appropriate for washing the human body. In other words, it is possible to clean a human body having very good bodily sensation and detergency even with a small amount of washing water. Furthermore, since the human body is washed with a small amount of washing water, sufficient boiling capacity can be obtained even as an instantaneous configuration in which the heat exchanger can be configured with a normal household power supply. Washing water at an appropriate temperature can be obtained in washing. As a result, a large amount of water can be saved, and a large amount of energy can be saved as compared with the case of using a hot water storage type heat exchanger. realizable.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention provides a water supply passage for supplying cleaning water, an instantaneous heating means having an electric heater, a temperature detecting means for detecting a temperature of the cleaning water heated by the heating means, A cleaning nozzle for jetting cleaning water, a bubble mixing means for forcibly mixing bubbles in the cleaning water, and a controller for taking in a signal of the temperature detecting means and controlling the heating means and the bubble mixing means It is.

Then, the bubble mixing means forcibly mixes a large amount of bubbles into the cleaning water heated by the instantaneous heat exchanger having the electric heater, thereby greatly increasing the flow rate of the cleaning water and moderately increasing the flow rate. By diffusing it, it is possible to perform comfortable human body washing with a very good bodily sensation and detergency even with a small amount of washing water and continuous tapping. As a result, water saving and significant energy saving can be achieved.

In addition, a water flow detecting means for detecting the flow of the cleaning water and a bubble mixing means are activated in conjunction with the flow of the cleaning water, and the bubble mixing means is stopped in response to the stop of the supply of the cleaning water. It is equipped with a controller for running.

In addition to eliminating noise and unnecessary power consumption when not in use, unnecessary operation of the bubble mixing means is eliminated even in abnormal situations such as when the supply of washing water from the water supply passage is interrupted, and the noise is generated from the washing nozzle. Generation of unpleasant noise can be prevented.

[0012] Further, a water supply channel for supplying cleaning water, water stopping means capable of interrupting the supply of cleaning water from the water supply channel, an instantaneous heating device having an electric heater, and heated by the heating device. Temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the washing water, a washing nozzle for jetting the washing water, a bubble mixing means for forcibly mixing air bubbles into the washing water, and a user transmitting at least one signal of starting or stopping the washing. Input means for inputting, and a controller for taking in signals from the temperature detecting means and the input means, and controlling the water stopping means, the heating means, and the air bubble mixing means, wherein the controller is provided with the input means. To start or stop the air bubble mixing means based on the input signal.

[0013] By activating or stopping the air bubble mixing means in response to the user's washing start and washing stop signals, noise and unnecessary power consumption when not in use are eliminated, and washing is started from the beginning of washing. A large amount of air bubbles are contained in water, so that comfortable human body washing with excellent detergency can be realized.

Further, the controller stops the bubble mixing means in response to the input of the washing stop signal by the input means, and then drives the water stopping means to cut off the supply of the washing water.

Then, by stopping the supply of the washing water after stopping the air bubble mixing means, it is possible to prevent the unpleasant noise generated from the washing nozzle at the end of washing, and to improve the comfort when washing the human body.

Further, the bubble mixing means is connected to the downstream side of the heating means. In addition, it is possible to prevent an increase in the diameter of the air bubbles, and to prevent the occurrence of temperature unevenness on the surface of the electric heater provided in the heating means even when a large amount of air bubbles are mixed, thereby improving the reliability of the heating means.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a human body cleaning apparatus showing one embodiment of the present invention. The water supply passage 8 for supplying the washing water is connected to a heat exchanger 11 as a heating means via a water shutoff solenoid valve 9 as a water stopping means and a flow rate sensor 10 as a water flow detecting means. Here, FIG. 2 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the heat exchanger 11. The heat exchanger 11 has a heating channel 12 inside, and an electric heater 13 is provided in the vicinity. In addition,
The surface of the heating channel 12 that is in contact with the electric heater 13 is formed of a material having excellent heat conduction, such as a copper plate in this embodiment, so that heat from the electric heater 13 is efficiently transmitted to the cleaning water in the heating channel 12. Further, the heating channel 12 has a waveform shape having a plurality of bending points in order to increase the contact area with the electric heater 13. In this embodiment, the electric heater 1
3 uses a plate-shaped ceramic heater having excellent heat density, but various applications such as a sheathed heater and a mica heater are conceivable. A thermistor 14 as a temperature detecting means is provided on the downstream side of the heating channel 12, and a nozzle unit 16 is connected via a flow rate control valve 15 for controlling a flow rate of the washing water. The flow control valve 15 has a motor 17.
Is fixedly mounted, and is configured to be rotationally driven by the motor 17.

The nozzle unit 16 includes the nozzle cylinder 1
8. The cleaning nozzle 19 is provided, and a jet port 20 is provided at the tip of the cleaning nozzle 19. Further, an internal flow path 21 communicating with the jet port 20 is provided inside the cleaning nozzle 19, and an internal flow path 21 is provided near the jet port 20.
Is provided with an air bubble mixing section 22 communicating with the air bubble. Bubble mixing section 2
An air pump 25 having a pump motor 24 as a bubble mixing means is connected to 2 via a connection hose 23. In this embodiment, the air bubble mixing means is an inexpensive positive displacement air pump that can easily adjust the discharge flow rate of air. However, various applications such as a reciprocating or turbo pump, a compressor, and an air fan are considered. Can be

The controller 26 reads the respective signals from the flow sensor 10 and the thermistor 14, and also controls the water stop solenoid valve 9, the electric heater 13, the motor 17 fixed to the flow control valve 15, and the air pump 25. The installed pump motor 24 and the like are controlled by electric signals. Further, the controller 26 exchanges signals with a remote controller 30 having a washing switch 27, a stop switch 28, a variable flow rate switch 29, and the like as input means using infrared rays. This is done by a plurality of input switches provided in.

The ejection port 20 and the internal flow path 21 provided in the cleaning nozzle 19 will be described. FIGS. 3A and 3B show the shape of the tip of the cleaning nozzle 19, and are partially sectioned for explanation. As is clear from FIG. 3A, the shape of the ejection port 20 is a rectangular shape having a long side in the front-rear direction of the nozzle, that is, in the front-rear direction of the user. FIG. 3 (b)
As is clear from FIG. 5, the internal flow path 21 is provided with a tapered portion 31 so as to gradually increase the area of the ejection port from a predetermined distance upstream of the ejection port 20.

In the above configuration, the operation of this embodiment will be described. First, when the user presses the washing switch 27 provided on the remote controller 30, the water stop solenoid valve 9 is opened, and washing water is supplied from the water supply channel 8. The supplied washing water flows into the heating channel 12 in the heat exchanger 11 via the flow sensor 10. At this time, the controller 26 starts energization of the electric heater 13 in response to the input of the cleaning start signal from the user, but it is recognized that the supply of the cleaning water has been stopped by the flow signal from the flow sensor 10. in case of,
By stopping the power supply to the electric heater 13, the electric heater 1 is stopped.
3 acts to prevent empty cooking. Electric heater 13
When the power supply is started, the washing water flowing through the heating flow path 12 absorbs the heat from the electric heater 13 and is gradually heated. The temperature of the cleaning water that has passed through the heating flow path 12 is detected by subsequently reaching the thermistor 14, and a signal is fed back to the controller 26. The controller 26 compares the fed back value with the set temperature input from the remote controller 30 to vary the amount of power supplied to the electric heater 13 and supply cleaning water at an optimum temperature for the user. Further, the washing water reaches the flow control valve 15, where the flow is reduced to match the flow indicated by the variable flow switch 29 provided on the remote controller 30. Where temperature,
The cleaning water whose flow rate has become the set value further reaches the nozzle unit 16, passes through the internal flow path 21 provided in the cleaning nozzle 19, and is jetted from the jet port 20 toward the human body. At that time, the pump motor 24 drives the air pump 25, so that a large amount of air is supplied to the bubble mixing section 22 provided in the cleaning nozzle 19 via the connection hose 23.
The supplied air becomes bubbles from the bubble mixing section 22 and is mixed into the washing water in the internal flow path 21.
From this, a gas-liquid two-phase flow containing bubbles is ejected.
Here, the air pump 25 can reliably mix a large amount of air even when the pressure in the internal flow path 21 is high, and can sufficiently increase the flow rate of the washing water ejected from the ejection port 20. You can do it. This makes it possible to remarkably increase the flow velocity of the jetted cleaning water as compared with the case of jetting only with the cleaning water. As a result,
It is possible to set the momentum and the diffusion area of the washing water to be the same as those of a conventional body part washing device. FIG. 4 is a graph schematically showing the relationship between the air mixing ratio and the momentum of the cleaning water when the mixing ratio of bubbles is varied while the cleaning water amount is constant. The horizontal axis indicates the air mixing ratio, and the vertical axis indicates the cleaning water. The momentum and the solid line represent the relationship between the two. The broken line in the graph represents an approximate value of the momentum of a conventional human body washing apparatus that ejects only the washing water having a flow rate about twice as large as the washing water flow rate in the present embodiment or the foam water. As is clear from this graph, even if the flow rate of the used washing water is about half, by increasing the amount of air bubbles mixed, the flow rate of the jetted washing water is increased, and as a result, the momentum is reduced. It can be raised to about twice that of a conventional body washing device. It should be noted that the momentum of the washing water has a great effect on the bodily sensation during washing. Further, the washing water is diffused and ejected from the ejection port 20 under the influence of bubbles.
Is formed in a rectangular shape having a long side in the front-back direction of the human body, so that the diffusion jet becomes wider in the front-rear direction than in the left-right direction of the human body, and an appropriate washing area can be obtained. Furthermore, since the tapered portion 31 is provided in the internal flow path 21 so as to gradually increase the area of the spout from the upstream side of the spout 20 to the spout 20, bubbles in the washing water spouted from the spout 20 are removed. It is possible to prevent swelling at once, and to prevent diffusion of washing water more than necessary, that is, scattering.

The controller 26 drives the pump motor 25 fixed to the air pump 25 in response to the input of the washing start signal from the user. When it is recognized that the cutoff is performed, the power supply to the pump motor 24 is stopped, and the flow of bubbles into the internal flow path 21 is stopped. Thus, unpleasant noise generated from the vicinity of the ejection port 20 provided in the cleaning nozzle 19 can be prevented. Further, when a compressor having a storage tank is used as the air bubble mixing means, it is possible to prevent the compressor from operating when not in use and generating noise.

The controller 26 closes the water stop solenoid valve 9 and stops power supply to the pump motor 24 for driving the air pump 25 in response to the input of the washing stop signal from the user. At this time, after stopping the power supply to the pump motor 24, the water stop solenoid valve 9 is closed after a predetermined time. As a result, the cleaning nozzle 1 particularly at the end of the cleaning is
Unpleasant noise generated from the vicinity of the ejection port 20 provided in the nozzle 9 can be prevented.

Since the air bubbles supplied from the air pump 25 are mixed in from the air bubble mixing section 22 provided in the cleaning nozzle 19, the cleaning water containing a large amount of air bubbles is supplied to the heating passage 12 in the heat exchanger 11. To the electric heater 13
The occurrence of temperature unevenness on the surface of the electric heater 13 can be prevented, the possibility of cracking of the electric heater 13 can be reduced, and the reliability can be improved.

According to the structure of this embodiment, the flow rate of the cleaning jet can be greatly improved by mixing a large amount of air bubbles into a small amount of cleaning water. Very excellent cleaning of the human body can be performed. Further, by using the air pump, a large amount of air bubbles can be surely mixed into the washing water, and the flow rate of the washing water to be used can be greatly reduced. As a result, even when low-temperature water in a cold region is heated by an instantaneous heating means having no hot water storage tank, sufficient boiling capacity is obtained,
Comfortable cleaning can be realized, and as a result, running costs can be reduced. In addition, there is an effect that a comfortable cleaning can be performed without occurrence of intermittent feeling and scattering of the cleaning water and no generation of unpleasant noise, and a highly reliable cleaning apparatus can be realized. In the present embodiment, a sanitary washing device for cleaning a local part of the human body has been described, but it is a matter of course that the present embodiment can be applied to a general human body washing device such as a shower or a faucet. is there.

[0026]

As is apparent from the above description, the human body cleaning apparatus of the present invention has the following effects.

(1) The bubble mixing means forcibly mixes bubbles into the washing water, so that the jetting speed of the washing water ejected from the washing nozzle is greatly increased, and after the washing water is ejected, it is contained in the washing water. Since the bubbles to be expanded expand, the washing water is appropriately diffused and ejected. For this reason, even a small amount of washing water can be used to wash a human body with very good bodily sensation and detergency. In addition, the instantaneous configuration of the heat exchanger, which can be configured with a normal household power supply, provides significant water savings and energy savings while obtaining clean water at an appropriate temperature even when washing the human body in cold climate conditions. As a result, a human body washing apparatus which is capable of continuous hot water supply and which is comfortable and has excellent washing power can be realized.

(2) Noise and unnecessary power consumption when not in use are eliminated, and unnecessary operation of the bubble mixing means is eliminated even in abnormal situations such as when the supply of washing water from the water supply channel is interrupted. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of the unpleasant noise that occurs and to perform comfortable human body washing.

(3) By activating or stopping the air bubble mixing means in conjunction with the washing start and washing stop signals from the user, noise and unnecessary power consumption when not in use are eliminated, and from the beginning of washing. A large amount of air bubbles are contained in the washing water, and a comfortable washing of the human body with excellent washing power can be realized.

(4) By stopping the supply of the washing water after stopping the air bubble mixing means, it is possible to prevent the unpleasant noise generated from the washing nozzle at the end of the washing and to improve the comfort when washing the human body. .

(5) By providing the bubble mixing means downstream of the heating means, it is possible to prevent the diameter of the bubbles from being increased, and even if a large amount of bubbles are mixed, the temperature of the surface of the electric heater provided in the heating means becomes uneven. This can be prevented, and the reliability of the heating means can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a human body cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a heat exchanger (heating means) of the cleaning device.

FIG. 3A is a plan view illustrating a cleaning nozzle of the cleaning device. FIG.

FIG. 4 is a graph schematically showing the relationship between the air mixing ratio and the momentum of the cleaning water when the mixing ratio of bubbles is varied while the cleaning water amount is constant in the cleaning apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional human body cleaning apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 8 water supply channel 9 water stop solenoid valve (water stop means) 10 flow rate sensor (water passage detection means) 11 heat exchanger (heating means) 13 electric heater 14 thermistor (temperature detection means) 19 washing nozzle 25 air pump (bubble mixing means) ) 26 Controller 27 Washing switch (input means) 28 Stop switch (input means)

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Shinoda ▲ Hide ▼ ▲ HO ▼ 1006 Kadoma, Oji, Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Inside Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Keisuke Ono 1006 Odaka, Kadoma, Kadoma, Osaka Inside Sangyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Shinichi Maruyama 1006 Oji Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A water supply path for supplying cleaning water, an instantaneous heating means having an electric heater, a temperature detecting means for detecting a temperature of the cleaning water heated by the heating means, and a cleaning for jetting the cleaning water. A human body cleaning apparatus comprising: a nozzle; a bubble mixing means for forcibly mixing bubbles into cleaning water; and a controller for taking in a signal from the temperature detecting means and controlling the heating means and the bubble mixing means. 2. A permeation detecting means for detecting permeation of washing water,
2. The human body cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a controller that activates the bubble mixing means in conjunction with the flow of the cleaning water and stops the bubble mixing means in conjunction with the stop of the supply of the cleaning water. 3. A water supply path for supplying cleaning water, water stopping means capable of shutting off supply of cleaning water from the water supply path, an instantaneous heating means having an electric heater, and heated by the heating means. Temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the washing water, a washing nozzle for jetting the washing water, a bubble mixing means for forcibly mixing air bubbles into the washing water, and the user sending at least one signal of starting or stopping the washing. Input means for inputting, and a controller for taking in signals from the temperature detection means and the input means, and controlling the water stopping means, the heating means, and the air bubble mixing means, wherein the control means A human body cleaning apparatus characterized in that the air bubble mixing means is started or stopped based on an input signal. 4. The controller according to claim 3, wherein the controller stops the air bubble mixing means by inputting a washing stop signal by the input means, and then drives the water stopping means to cut off the supply of the washing water. Human body cleaning device. 5. The human body cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the air bubble mixing means is connected to a downstream side of the heating means.