JPH1071098A - Hot water circulator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a hot water circulator which sterilizes unwanted bacteria. SOLUTION: A hot water circulator 10 is provided with a hot water supplier 60 connected to a purifying tank 30. A water line 70 which supplies cold water to the hot water supplier 60 is connected to a valve 40 under the purifying tank 30 via a pipe 72. When cold water is supplied from the water line 70 to the hot water supplier 60, the cold water is heated and changed into hot water in a short time in the hot water supplier 60, and the hot water is supplied to the purifying tank 30, and bacteria propagated in the purifying tank 30 excluding purifying bacteria is heat-sterilized. Hot water after sterilized is cooled by cold water supplied from the water line 70 to the valve 40 via the pipe 72 and drained from a drain pipe 74. This always keeps the purifying tank 30 clean, and bath water to be purified and reused can always be clean.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hot water circulator for removing and purifying bath water in a bathtub and returning the purified water to the bathtub again.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, hot water circulators, which purify hot water in a bathtub by the action of a filtering material and microorganisms, return the bathwater to the bathtub, and are always used, have been used at home.

[0003] The hot water circulator uses a pump to remove bath water from a water intake section arranged in a bath tub, from which relatively large debris such as hair, towel lint, and a portion of reds have been removed through a pre-filter. The collected bath water is passed through a sterilizer to sterilize bacteria in the bath water, and further passed through a filtration tank to adsorb ammonia, red, and fats in the bath water, and to decompose organic substances by the action of microorganisms, thereby purifying the bath. The water is heated to a required temperature by a heater and then returned to the bathtub through the discharge section. Thereby, the bath water is purified and heated without changing the bath water every day, so that the bath can be taken at any time for 24 hours, and the bath can be used very conveniently and water is saved.

[0004] The mechanism of purification of water quality of the hot water circulator is as follows. That is, coarse dust such as hair is filtered by a prefilter (for example, a hair catcher) made of urethane foam or the like.

[0005] Further, bacteria derived from the human body taking a bath are sterilized by a sterilizer that sterilizes with ultraviolet rays, ozone and the like.

[0006] In addition, organic substances (for example, amino acids and proteins contained in body fluids or keratinized skin etc.) secreted from the body in the bath water are decomposed in the filtration tank and continuously purified.

Here, the principle of purifying organic matter secreted from the body in a filtration tank will be described below. That is, the filter tank contains a natural stone such as barley stone or a filter medium such as a granular ceramic obtained by crushing such a natural stone and sintering it in a porous state. When bath water is circulated in the filtration tank, organic substances are adsorbed on the filter medium, and microorganisms propagate. Then, the purified microorganisms, which are the propagated microorganisms, decompose organic substances such as ammonia and proteins contained in the bath water, so that the bath water is purified.

[0008]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional hot water circulator, the microorganisms that propagate in the filtration tank are not only purified bacteria but also bacteria and the like in the bath water that could not be sterilized by the sterilizer. In some cases. In such a case, bath water mixed with various bacteria comes out from the filtration tank and is circulated into the bath tub.

In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a hot water circulator capable of sterilizing unnecessary germs.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hot water circulator having a water intake section disposed in a bath tub for taking bath water from the bath tub, and a bath disposed in the bath tub and having a water intake by the water intake section. A discharge unit that discharges water into the bath tub, and a heat-resistant purifying bacterium capable of decomposing organic substances contained in the bath water therein, and is provided between the water intake unit and the discharge unit, and is provided by the water intake unit. A purifying apparatus for purifying the taken-in bath water, hot water supply means for supplying the purifying apparatus with a predetermined temperature of hot water capable of inhabiting the purifying bacteria and sterilizing various bacteria other than the purifying bacteria, It has.

[0011] According to the hot water circulator of the above construction, when the bath water in the bath tub is withdrawn from the water intake section and sent to the purification device, the organic matter contained in the bath water (for example, amino acids and proteins contained in the body fluid, Or the keratinized skin) is decomposed by the purifying bacteria in the purifying device, thereby purifying the bath water. The bath water purified by the purifier is discharged from the discharge section into the bathtub and reused.

Further, the hot water circulator is provided with hot water supply means, and when hot water from the hot water supply means is supplied to the purification device, various germs propagated in the purification device are heated and sterilized by the hot water. Is done. Therefore, the purifying device can be kept clean, and the bath water purified by the purifying device can be kept clean. Further, since the temperature of the hot water is set to a temperature at which the purified bacteria can inhabit and sterilize various bacteria, the purified bacteria are not sterilized together with the various bacteria, and the purification effect by the purified bacteria can be secured.

A hot water circulator according to a second aspect of the present invention is the hot water circulator according to the first aspect, wherein the hot water from the hot water supply means and the bath water from the water intake section of the purification device are provided near an inlet of the bath water. An inlet-side waterway switching valve that opens and closes the other of the waterway between the hot water supply means and the purification device and the waterway between the water intake unit and the purification device and that can switch between the open and closed states is provided. It is characterized by that.

In the hot water circulator having the above configuration, the inlet-side water channel switching valve is provided near the inlet of the hot water and the bath water of the purifier, so that the bath water in the bathtub is purified by the present hot water circulator. When the water channel between the water intake unit and the purification device is opened by the inlet-side water channel switching valve and the water channel between the hot water supply means and the purification device is closed, the bath water in the bathtub taken from the water intake unit is supplied with the hot water supply device. The water is reliably supplied to the purification device and purified without flowing out to the side.

Further, when sterilizing various bacteria in the purifier, if the water channel between the hot water supply means and the purifier is opened by the inlet side water channel switching valve and the water channel between the water intake section and the purifier is closed, Hot water from the water supply means is reliably supplied to the purification device without flowing out to the water intake section.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the hot water circulator according to the first or second aspect, wherein the purifying device and the discharge portion are provided near an outlet of the hot water and the bath water of the purifying device. And an outlet-side waterway switching valve capable of opening and closing the waterway and drainage for discharging hot water from the purification device to the outside while closing and closing the other. I have.

In the hot water circulator having the above-described structure, the outlet-side water passage switching valve is provided near the outlet of the hot water and the bath water of the purifier, so that the bath water in the bathtub is purified by the present hot water circulator. When the water channel between the purification device and the discharge section is opened by the outlet-side water channel switching valve and the water channel communicating from the purification device to the external drain port is closed, the bath water purified in the purification device is drained out of the bathtub. The liquid is reliably discharged from the discharge section to the bathtub without being discharged.

Further, when sterilizing various bacteria in the purifier, when the water passage communicating from the purifier to the external drain port is opened by the outlet-side water passage switching valve and the water passage between the purifier and the discharge section is closed, heating is performed. Hot water after sterilization is reliably discharged from the drainage channel to the outside without being discharged into the bathtub through the discharge portion.

The hot water circulator according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the hot water circulator according to the third aspect, further comprising a chilled water supply unit that supplies cold water having a lower temperature than the hot water to the hot water passage from the purification device. It is characterized by:

According to the hot water circulator having the above-described configuration, the hot water discharged from the purifying device after sterilizing the inside of the purifying device is mixed with the cold water supplied from the cold water supply means in the hot water channel. For this reason, the hot water after sterilization is drained at a temperature lower than the temperature at the time of sterilization.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the hot water circulator according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the purifying bacterium is a microorganism belonging to Bacillus subtilis.

According to the hot water circulator having the above-described structure, a microorganism belonging to Bacillus subtilis such as Bacillus Subtilis ATCC6633 is used as a purifying bacterium. here,
Microorganisms belonging to Bacillus subtilis grow well at 20 to 40 degrees Celsius, and can live in a high-temperature atmosphere from 70 to 100 degrees Celsius. Even if hot water at a temperature required to sterilize various bacteria is supplied to the purification device, the purification bacteria (that is, microorganisms belonging to Bacillus subtilis) are not killed. For this reason, various germs can be sufficiently sterilized without reducing the purifying effect of the bacterium on the bath water.

[0023]

FIG. 1 shows an outline of a system of a hot water circulator 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in this figure, the hot water circulator 10 is connected to a water intake section 12.
It has. This water intake section 12 is installed inside a bathtub 14. Further, the water intake section 12 is connected to a pump 18 via a pipe 16, and the pump 18 is operated by operating a control device (not shown) of the hot water circulator 10, so that the inside of the bathtub 14 from the water intake section 12 is formed. It is possible to pump up the bath water.

A hair catcher 20 is detachably mounted inside the water intake section 12. The hair catcher 20 is formed of a material having open cells such as urethane foam. When pumping bath water in the bathtub 14 from the water intake unit 12, the hair catcher 20 captures coarse dust such as hair in the bath water. , And is configured to prevent inflow of coarse dust into the water intake section 12 and thereafter.

On the other hand, the other side of the pump 18 (ie, the discharge side) from the water intake section 12 is connected to an ultraviolet sterilizer 24 via a pipe 22, and the bath water pumped up from the water intake section 12 is supplied to the ultraviolet sterilizer 24. Can be sent inside. An ultraviolet sterilizing lamp (not shown) is housed inside the ultraviolet sterilizing device 24, and can sterilize various bacteria such as staphylococci and Escherichia coli in the bath water supplied from the pump 18.
The ultraviolet sterilizer 24 is connected via a pipe 28 to a valve 32 serving as an inlet-side waterway switching valve.
It is connected to the upper end of a purifying cylinder 30 as a purifying device via a pipe 34 connected to the valve 2 and the valve 32.

The purifying cylinder 30 has a cylindrical shape as a whole, and contains therein a natural stone such as barley stone or a filter medium 36 such as a granular ceramic obtained by grinding such a natural stone and sintering it in a porous state. Many are housed. Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633, a bacterium belonging to Bacillus subtilis, is attached to a part or all of the filter medium 36 as a purifying bacterium.

Bacillus Subtili used for this purifying bacterium
Bacteria belonging to Bacillus subtilis including ATCC 6633 are bacteria that are harmless to the human body, can live and reproduce at high temperatures, and secrete powerful proteolytic enzymes. Therefore, by putting bacteria belonging to Bacillus subtilis as a purifying bacterium into the purifying tube 30 in advance, organic matter such as white matter in secretions from the body in the bath water is decomposed. Even when the bacteria for cultivation are not sufficiently propagated, the turbidity of the bath water, which is the initial turbidity in the initial stage of the installation of the hot water circulator 10, is prevented. Furthermore, the bacterium belonging to Bacillus subtilis is an aerobic Gram-positive spore-forming bacillus, which is a spore in a dry state or at a high temperature and has a property of stopping its activity but not killing.

In order to attach such purified bacteria to the filter medium 36, it is conceivable to attach them in the form of vegetative cells or spores. Specifically, the following methods are available.

For example, a part or all of the filter medium 36 is immersed in a liquid containing a purifying bacterium, the cells are sufficiently adhered to the surface of the filter medium 36, and then dried. Put in 30.

The hair catcher 20 of the water intake section 12
The bacteria may be dissolved in the bath water as the bath water circulates, introduced into the purification tube 30, and adhered to the filter medium 36. In this case, as described above, if the filter medium 36 is in a porous state, the purifying bacteria can be more easily attached to the filter medium 36. Furthermore, the purifying bacteria can be attached to a rod-like fiber material such as dental cotton. Even when the wastewater is mixed in the filter medium 36 of the purification column 30, as the bath water circulates, the bacteria start to grow on the filter medium 36 on which the bacteria do not adhere.

As described above, by growing the purified bacteria on the surface of the filter medium 36, the organic matter in the bath water can be efficiently reduced and the bath water can be purified.

Escherichia coli, staphylococci and the like among bacteria or microorganisms that do not have heat resistance are 45 to 5 degrees Celsius.
Dies at 0 degrees.

The lower end of the purifying cylinder 30 is connected via a pipe 38 to a valve 40 as an outlet-side water channel switching valve, and furthermore, the valve 40 and a pipe 42 connected to the valve 40.
Is connected to the heater 44 via the.

The heater 44 can warm the bath water from the purification column 30 to a predetermined temperature (for example, a temperature suitable for bathing). A pipe 46 is connected to the heater 44 on a side opposite to the pipe 42, and is connected to a discharge unit 50 installed in the bathtub 14 via the pipe 46.

The hot water circulator 10 is provided with a water heater 60 constituting hot water supply means. This water heater 60
A pipe 66 is accommodated in the inside. This pipe 6
One end (upper end) of 6 is connected via a pipe 62 to a tap (faucet) 70 constituting hot water supply means together with a water heater 60. Further, a gas burner 68 as a heating means (heat exchanger) is arranged on a side of the pipe 66. That is, when the cold water supplied from the water supply 70 passes through the pipe 66, the water heater 60
Is a so-called gas instantaneous water heater that heats the cold water by the heat of the hot water and turns the cold water into hot water of a predetermined temperature in a short time.

The other end (lower end) of the pipe 66 is connected to the valve 32 via the pipe 64.
And a pipe 34 connected to the purification column 30. That is, the valve 32 is a so-called three-way valve to which three pipes 28, 34, and 64 are connected. Here, the valve 32 is provided between the pipe 28 and the pipe 34 (that is, a water passage between the water intake unit 12 and the purification column 30) and between the pipe 64 and the pipe 34 (that is, between the water heater 60 and the purification column 30). Can be opened and the other closed.
In addition, the switching between opening and closing is possible. That is, when the valve 32 is opened between the pipes 28 and 34, the valve 32 closes between the pipes 64 and 34,
When the space between the pipe and the pipe 34 is opened, the pipe 28 and the pipe 34
Between the two. The valve 32 is connected to the above-described control device, and the opening and closing of the valve 32 can be switched by operating the control device. In addition, this valve 3
Any valve such as an electric valve or a solenoid valve may be applied to 2.

The temperature of the hot water heated by the water heater 60 is at least 45 degrees Celsius in the purifier 30 and at a temperature at which the above-mentioned purifying bacteria can inhabit, specifically from 45 degrees Celsius to 70 degrees Celsius. The degree is preferably set to 50 to 60 degrees Celsius.

On the other hand, a pipe 72 branches from an intermediate portion of the pipe 62 connecting the water heater 60 and the water supply 70. This pipe 72 is connected to the valve 40. Therefore, not only can cold water from the water supply 70 be supplied to the water heater 60, but also cold water can be supplied to the valve 40 through the pipes 62 and 72. That is, the water supply 70 constitutes the hot water supply means together with the water heater 60, while also serving as the cold water supply means for supplying cold water to the valve 40 (that is, to the hot water passage from the purification column 30).

A drain pipe 74 is further connected to the valve 40 to which these pipes 38, 42, 72 are connected. The drain pipe 74 is connected to the bathtub 14 and the hot water circulator 1.
0, and open through the drain 40
The water sent to is drained.

Here, the valve 40 is connected to the pipe 38 and the pipe 4
2 (that is, a water channel between the purification column 30 and the discharge unit 50) and between the pipe 38 and the drain pipe 74 (that is, a water channel from the purification column 30 to the drain pipe 74). The other can be closed, and the switching between the open and closed states is made possible. Further, the valve 40 can be opened and closed on the pipe 72 side in conjunction with the switching of the opening and closing. Specifically, when the valve 40 is opened between the pipe 38 and the pipe 42, the valve 40 closes the space between the pipe 38 and the drain pipe 74 and closes the valve 72 on the pipe 72 side. Further, when the space between the pipe 38 and the drain pipe 74 is opened, the space between the pipe 38 and the pipe 42 is closed and the valve 72 side of the valve 40 is opened.

The valve 40 is connected to a control device and operates in conjunction with the valve 32. Specifically, when the control device is operated to operate the valve 32 to open the pipe 28 and the pipe 34, the valve 40 operates in conjunction with this to open the pipe 38 and the pipe 42. When the control device is operated to operate the valve 32 to open the space between the pipe 64 and the pipe 34, the valve 40 operates in conjunction with this to open the drain pipe 7 from the pipe 38.
4 is opened. This valve 4
As for the valve 32, any valve such as an electric valve or a solenoid valve may be used similarly to the valve 32.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. The bathtub 14 to which the hot water circulator 10 is applied purifies the bath water by the hot water circulator 10 at a rate of about once a week to about once a month. When purifying the bath water in the bathtub 14, first, a control device (not shown) of the hot water circulator 10.
To operate the valves 32 and 40 to open the space between the pipes 28 and 34 and between the pipes 38 and 42. In this state, the space between the pipe 64 and the pipe 34 is closed by the valve 32, and the space between the pipe 38 and the drain pipe 74 and the pipe 72 side of the valve 40 are closed by the valve 40.

Next, the pump 18 is operated and the water intake section 1 is operated.
The bath water in the bathtub 14 is pumped from 2. Further, when the bath water is pumped up, the hair catcher 20 captures and removes coarse dust such as hair in the bath water.

Further, the bath water that has passed through the hair catcher 20 is fed into the ultraviolet sterilizer 24, and is irradiated with ultraviolet rays from an ultraviolet sterilizer. Thereby, various bacteria such as staphylococci and E. coli in the bath water are sterilized. Further, the bath water that has passed through the ultraviolet sterilizer 24 is supplied to the inside of the purification column 30. Here, in this state, since the space between the pipe 64 and the pipe 34 is closed by the valve 32, the bath water is reliably supplied to the inside of the purification column 30 without flowing out to the pipe 64 side.

The bath water fed into the inside of the purifying tube 30 contains organic substances (for example, amino acids and proteins contained in body fluids, keratinized skin, etc.) contained in the bath water due to the purifying bacteria attached to the filter medium 36. ) Is decomposed. This purifies the bath water. Purified in the purification column 30
Is discharged to the heater 44. Here, in this state, since the space between the pipe 38 and the drain pipe 74 is closed by the valve 40, the bath water purified in the purification column 30 is reliably drained from the discharge pipe 74 without being drained from the heater 44. Sent to In this state, the valve 4
Since the pipe 72 side of the valve 40 is closed by 0, the bath water purified in the purification column 30 does not flow out to the pipe 72 side.

The bath water supplied to the heater 44 is supplied to the heater 4.
After being heated to a predetermined temperature (for example, a temperature suitable for bathing) by 4, it is discharged from the discharge unit 50 into the bathtub 14,
It is again provided as bath water for bathing.

On the other hand, when sterilizing various bacteria adhered to the purification column 30 without being completely sterilized by the ultraviolet sterilizer 24, first, the controller of the hot water circulator 10 is operated to operate the valve 32.
And actuate the valve 40, between the pipe 64 and the pipe 34,
Then, the space between the pipe 38 and the drain pipe 74 is opened. In this state, the space between the pipes 28 and 34 is closed by the valve 32, and the space between the pipes 38 and 42 is closed by the valve 40. In this state, the valve 4
0 is in the open state.

When cold water is discharged from the tap (faucet) 70 and the water heater 60 is operated in this state, the cold water supplied to the water heater 60 via the pipe 62 is heated, and the hot water of a predetermined temperature is heated in a short time. And supplied into the purification column 30 via the pipe 64, the valve 32, and the pipe 34. here,
Since the pipe 32 is closed between the pipe 28 and the pipe 34 by the valve 32, the hot water from the water heater 60 is reliably supplied into the purification column 30 without flowing out to the pipe 28 side. Thereby, germs such as staphylococci and Escherichia coli other than the purifying bacteria in the purifying cylinder 30 are surely heat-sterilized. In addition, water heater 60
The temperature of the hot water heated in the purification column 30 is 45 ° C. or more in the purification column 30 and the temperature at which the above-mentioned purification bacteria can inhabit, specifically, 45 ° C. to 70 ° C.
The temperature is preferably set to 50 degrees Celsius to 60 degrees Celsius, so that even if hot water is supplied into the cleaning column 30, the purifying bacteria do not die, and the purifying effect of the purifying bacteria on the bath water (ie, Organic matter decomposition effect by the purification bacteria) can be secured.

Further, the hot water supplied into the purification column 30 and used for sterilization is supplied from the purification column 30 to the pipe 38 and the valve 40.
And from the drain 74. Here, valve 4
0, the pipe 38 and the pipe 42 are closed, so that hot water containing dead bacteria is discharged from the discharge unit 50 through the pipe 42, the heater 44, and the pipe 46 to the bathtub 1.
4 is not discharged. For this reason, the bath water in the bathtub 14 can always be kept clean, and the sterilization inside the purification column 30 can be performed even during bathing.

Further, since a pipe 72 is branched from an intermediate portion of the pipe 62 connecting the water supply 70 and the water heater 60, the cold water from the water supply 70 is supplied to the water heater 60 and through the pipe 72. It is supplied to the valve 40. Thereby, the hot water from the purification column 30 and the cold water from the water supply 70 are mixed in the valve 40. Therefore, the hot water from the purification column 30 can be drained from the drain pipe 74 in a state of being cooled by the cold water.

As described above, the present hot water circulator 10
Then, the germs which cannot be completely sterilized by the ultraviolet sterilizer 24 and propagate in the purification tube 30 can be surely sterilized by the hot water from the water heater 60, and the purification tube 30 is always kept clean and the bath water to be reused is always kept clean. be able to.

Further, the temperature of the hot water from the water heater 60 is 45 ° C. or higher and a temperature at which purifying bacteria can inhabit, specifically, 45 ° C. to 70 ° C., preferably 50 ° C. to 60 ° C. , The purifying bacteria attached to the filter medium 36 in the purifying cylinder 30 do not die, and the purifying bacteria do not degrade the organic matter in the bath water and impair the purifying effect.

Further, since the valve 32 is provided on the pipe 34, the outflow of the bath water taken in the water intake section 12 to the pipe 64 side and the outflow of the hot water from the water heater 60 to the pipe 28 side can be prevented. , Bath water or hot water can be reliably fed (supplied) to the purification column 30.

Further, since the pipe 38 is provided with the valve 40,
The outflow of the bath water purified by the purifying tube 30 to the drain pipe 74 side can be prevented, and the bath can be reliably discharged from the discharge unit 50 to the bathtub 14. In addition, the hot water after the sterilization inside the purification column 30 is performed is prevented from flowing out to the pipe 42 side (that is, the hot water is discharged into the bathtub 14), and the drainage water can be reliably drained from the drain pipe 74.

Further, cold water from the water supply 70 is supplied to the water heater 60.
Not only supplied to the drain pipe 7 but also supplied to the valve 40 via the pipe 72 and mixed with hot water after sterilization.
The hot water from 4 can be drained in a cooled state.

In this embodiment, Bacillus Subtilis ATCC 6633 is applied to the purifying bacteria adhered to the filter medium 36. Therefore, compared with the case where other types of purifying bacteria are applied, the purifying tube 30 is sufficiently heated with hot water. Bacteria inside can be sterilized.

In the present embodiment, bath water or hot water is supplied (supplied) only to the purification column 30 by providing the valve 32. However, depending on various conditions such as the shape of the purification column 30, etc. Does not necessarily require the valve 32. For example, as in the hot water circulator 100 shown in FIG. 2, the pipe 28 and the pipe 64 are connected at different points of the purification column 30, whereby the outflow of bath water to the pipe 64 and the generation of hot water May be prevented from flowing out to the pipe 28 side.

In the present embodiment, four pipes of pipes 38, 42, 72 and a drain pipe 74 are connected to the valve 40, and the valve 40 is connected between the pipe 38 and the pipe 42 and drained from the pipe 38. Between the pipe 74 and the pipe 72 of the valve 40
However, for example, the hose 72 and the drain pipe 11 may be opened and closed as in a hot water circulator 110 shown in FIG.
2 and the hot water from the purification column 30 is drained from the drain pipe 11.
The rear end 112A may be mixed with cold water. Even in this case, the effects described above are not impaired.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the pipe 72 is branched from the pipe 62 to supply cold water from the tap water (faucet) 70 to both the water heater 60 and the valve 40. A water source for supplying water (cold water);
A configuration may be adopted in which a chilled water supply unit for supplying chilled water to the valve 40 is provided separately. In this case, since the amount of water to the water heater 60 and the amount of cold water to the valve 40 can be individually controlled, for example, when cooling of hot water discharged from the drain pipe 74 is unnecessary, the supply of cold water to the valve 40 is not required. And water (cold water) can be saved.

In the present embodiment, a hot water supply device (instantaneous water heater) 60 for heating the cold water flowing through the pipe 66 by the gas burner (heating means) 68 is applied to the hot water supply means. The configuration is not limited to this mode. That is, the hot water supply means only needs to be a configuration capable of supplying the above-described predetermined temperature hot water to the purification column 30. For example, the hot water supplied by electricity, gas, or solar heat is temporarily stored in the storage tank. And if necessary (ie,
A hot water supply system of a type that supplies hot water from the storage tank to the purification cylinder 30 (when sterilizing the inside of the purification cylinder 30) may be applied as the hot water supply means, and is further used for other facilities such as a kitchen. Hot water supply system may be used together.

Further, in the present embodiment, Bac
Although it was a configuration using llus Subtilis ATCC 6633, other microorganisms belonging to Bacillus subtilis may be applied as a purification bacterium, and even if other microorganisms not belonging to Bacillus subtilis are used, Any microorganism that can be decomposed and that can live even at a temperature at which various bacteria such as staphylococci and Escherichia coli can be sterilized may be used in place of the microorganism belonging to Bacillus subtilis.

In the present embodiment, the temperature of the hot water in the purification column 30 is 45 to 70 degrees Celsius, preferably 50 to 60 degrees Celsius, but the temperature of the hot water is It is not limited. That is, depending on conditions such as the heat resistance of the purifying bacteria to be applied, it may be better to make the temperature of the hot water different.

Further, in the present embodiment, the hot water circulator 10 purifies the bath water at a rate of once a week to about once a month. The interval of purification of the bath water naturally varies depending on various conditions such as the size of the bath or the user's preference. The hot water circulator 10 may be provided with a timer or the like to automatically and regularly purify the bath water, or the warm water circulator 10 may be manually operated to allow the user to purify the bath water. Purification of bath water may be performed only when it is determined that it should be.

[0064]

As described above, in the hot water circulator according to the first aspect of the present invention, by supplying the hot water from the hot water supply means to the purification device, it is possible to heat sterilize various germs propagated in the purification device. . Therefore, the purifying device can be kept clean, and the bath water purified by the purifying device can be kept clean. In addition, since the temperature of the hot water in the purification device is set at a temperature at which purifying bacteria can inhabit and at which sterilizing bacteria can be sterilized, it is possible to sterilize only various bacteria and to achieve an extremely excellent effect that the purifying effect by the purifying bacteria can be secured. Have.

In the hot water circulator according to the second aspect, the inlet-side water channel switching valve is provided near the hot water and bath water inlets of the purifier in the hot water circulator according to the first aspect. Not only the effect in the hot water circulator but also the hot water from the water intake section or the hot water from the hot water supply means is surely sent to only the purification device without flowing out to other directions (supply ) Can be achieved.

Further, in the hot water circulator according to the third aspect,
In the hot water circulator according to the first or second aspect, the outlet-side water channel switching valve is provided near the outlet of the hot water and the bath water of the purification device, so that the effect of the hot water circulator according to the first or second aspect is reduced. Not only can it be obtained, but the bath water purified by the purification device can be reliably returned to the bathtub without draining to the outside, and the hot water that has been sterilized inside the purification device can be reliably discharged without flowing into the bathtub. It has an extremely excellent effect of being able to drain water.

Further, in the hot water circulator according to the fourth aspect, since the hot water circulator according to the third aspect is provided with a chilled water supply means for supplying chilled water to a hot water channel from the purification device. Not only the effect of the hot water circulator described above is obtained, but also an extremely excellent effect that hot water from the purification device, that is, hot water obtained by sterilizing the inside of the purification device can be drained while being cooled by cold water.

Furthermore, in the hot water circulator according to the fifth aspect,
In the hot water circulator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the purification bacterium is a microorganism belonging to Bacillus subtilis capable of inhabiting in a high-temperature atmosphere. Not only the effect in the hot water circulator described above can be obtained, but also a very excellent effect that high-temperature hot water can be used for sterilization in the purification device and more sufficient sterilization can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a system of a hot water circulator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a modification of the hot water circulator according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a view showing another modification of the hot water circulator according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Hot water circulator 12 Water intake part 14 Bathtub 30 Purification cylinder (Purification apparatus) 32 Valve (Inlet-side waterway switching valve) 40 Valve (Outlet-side waterway switching valve) 50 Discharge part 60 Water heater (Hot water supply means) 70 Water supply (Heat) (Water supply means, cold water supply means) 74 drainage pipe 100 hot water circulator 110 hot water circulator 112 drainage pipe

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A water intake unit disposed in a bathtub for taking bathwater from the bathtub, a discharge unit disposed in the bathtub and discharging bathwater taken in by the water intake unit into the bathtub, A purifying apparatus having heat-resistant purifying bacteria capable of decomposing organic substances contained in the bath water, installed between the water intake unit and the discharge unit, and purifying the bath water taken by the water intake unit; A hot water circulator comprising: hot water supply means for supplying hot water having a predetermined temperature, at which bacteria can inhabit and which can sterilize various bacteria other than the purified bacteria, to the purification device. 2. A water passage between the hot water supply means and the purifying device, near the inlet of hot water from the hot water supply means and bath water from the water intake part of the purification device, and 2. The hot water circulator according to claim 1, further comprising an inlet-side water passage switching valve that opens and closes one of the water passages between the purifiers and closes the other. 3. A drainage channel for draining hot water from the purification device to the outside, in a vicinity of an outlet of the hot water and bath water of the purification device, The hot-water circulator according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising an outlet-side water channel switching valve that opens and closes the one and closes the other while allowing the switching between the open and closed states. 4. The hot water circulator according to claim 3, further comprising a chilled water supply unit that supplies chilled water having a lower temperature than the hot water to a channel of the hot water from the purification device. 5. The hot water circulator according to claim 1, wherein the purifying bacterium is a microorganism belonging to Bacillus subtilis.