JPH11108439A - Circulation hot bathing apparatus and antibacterial operation method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform antibacterial operation of bacteria adhered to a purifying part and a circulation water passage and to improve energy efficiency and purification efficiency by a method wherein when antibacterial operation is effected, after the temp of bath water reaches a given value and a flow passage switching means forms a closed circuit, a circulation pump is operated by a control means and heated bath water is circulated through the closed circuit. SOLUTION: When a first flow passage switching valve 11 is changed over, a circulation pump 2 is continuously operated but when operation is stopped once, re-starting is effected. Heated bath water flows through a circulation water passage toward a nozzle part 14 and reaches the first flow passage switching valve 11. The first flow passage switching valve 11 is a thermally- actuated valve. Since heat water exceeding a set value is introduced, switching is effected, and a second circulation passage 6 and a circulation water passage 3 are communicated with each other to form a large closed circuit. The heat water is circulated through the large closed circuit and flows through the circulation water passage 3, the second closed circulation passage 6, and a purifying part 4 to increase the temperature of the whole.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a circulating warm water bath capable of purifying bath water by circulating the bath water while keeping it warm and heating, and circulating the heated bath water to carry out antibacterial action inside the bath and an antibacterial operation. It is about the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, circulating warm water baths have become widespread in pursuit of comfort and convenience of life.

In this circulating warm water bath, bath water is circulated, the bath water is filtered and purified in a purification section, and a heater is provided to keep the bath water warm and heatable, and in many cases, the bath can be bathed at any time for 24 hours.

[0004] A conventional circulating warm bath will now be described. FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional circulating warm bath. 1 is a tub, 2 is a circulating pump, 3 is a circulating water channel that sucks and circulates bath water in the tub 1 from a suction port by a circulating pump 2 and discharges the water to the bath tub 1 from a discharge port. It is a purification unit that purifies bath water. Reference numeral 15 denotes a suction port of the circulation channel 3 for sucking bath water in the bathtub 1, and reference numeral 16 denotes a discharge port of the circulation channel 1 for returning bath water after circulation and purification to the bathtub 1. Reference numeral 17 denotes a coarse filtration filter which is disposed in the bathtub 1 and removes hair and large dust from the bath water sucked from the suction port 15, and is composed of a porous sponge, a wound filter and the like. 3
Reference numeral 1 denotes a filtering material such as barley stone or a porous ceramic ball loaded in the tank of the purification unit 4; 32, a heater provided in the circulation channel 3 to maintain a constant temperature of circulating bath water; 33, a circulation pump 2; It is a main body of a circulating warm bath housing the purifying section 4 and the heater 32.

[0005] Purification of bath water in this conventional circulating bath will be described. When the circulation pump 2 is operated, the bath water is sucked through the suction port 15, and the coarse filter 17 removes large dust such as hair and lint. The bath water roughly filtered here is sent to the purification unit 4 by the circulation pump 2. The purifying section 4 is loaded with a filter medium 31 therein, and aerobic purifying bacteria are fixed to the filter medium 31.
These aerobic purification bacteria decompose and purify trash such as soluble organic matter and relatively small scale dissolved in bath water by organic matter decomposition.
Since this filtration is purification using microorganisms, it is called biological filtration. After the bath water is subjected to the biological filtration in this manner, the bath water is heated by a heater 32 provided in a main body 33 of the circulating water bath, is heated to a certain temperature, and is discharged from the bath 16 through the discharge port 16 through the circulating water passage 3. Will be returned within.

[0006]

As described above, in the conventional circulating warm water bath shown in FIG. 8, since the biological filtration is performed by the aerobic purification bacteria, the aerobic purification bacteria are naturally propagated on the filter medium 31 and the like. Must be fixed.

[0007] However, the types of purified bacteria that propagate naturally are:
It varies greatly depending on the quality of the bath water, the constitution of the bather, the local environment, etc.
It is very difficult to control the growth of unwanted or harmful bacteria for purification. Moreover, not only the purifying section 4 but also any equipment immersed in the bath water or the piping of the circulation water channel 3 proliferates bacteria and the like unnecessary for the purification, so that it is necessary to suppress these bacteria.

It is conceivable to use a chemical such as chlorine or to apply a germicidal material or the like in order to suppress the propagation of unnecessary bacteria. However, it is necessary to install large and complicated facilities in order to perform these. However, the cost is high and the practical problem remains. According to this method, bacteria can be removed from the piping of the circulation channel 3 and the like, which is convenient. However, the aerobic purification bacteria necessary for purification are all antibacterial in the purification unit 4, and the intended biological organism is removed. There was a problem that filtration could not be performed.

Therefore, instead of biological filtration, another conventional example has been proposed in which bath water is heated to produce hot water and circulated for antimicrobial activity (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-75446). In this conventional example, a hot water outlet path and a return path of a circulating warm water bath are connected by a bypass path, and this bypass path, a hot water outlet section and a part of the return path constitute an annular flow path, and switching means for switching the bypass path is provided. In addition, a heating source for heating hot water and a filtration section for filtering hot water are provided in the annular passage. In this conventional example, the filtration section and the conduit in the annular flow passage are reliably heated and antibacterial.

However, in this conventional example, when the annular flow path is antimicrobial by hot water, the volume of the annular passage to be antimicrobial becomes large, and the energy efficiency is greatly reduced due to heat dissipation by circulation. It was indispensable to raise the temperature of hot water and to require long-time heating. As a result, there is a problem that the operation cost is increased and the time for the purification operation is reduced, and the purification efficiency is relatively reduced. If the volume is reduced in an attempt to shorten the heating time, the channels that can be antibacterial are narrowed, and the contradiction cannot be achieved. In order to shorten the heating time while keeping the volume, there is no other choice but to provide a large-capacity heater, and at this time, there is a problem that the circulating warm bath becomes large, and the cost including the running cost increases. .

Therefore, the present invention solves such a conventional problem, and can surely perform antibacterial action on bacteria and the like adhering to a purification section and a circulation water channel, and has high energy efficiency and purification efficiency, and It is an object of the present invention to provide a low-cost, small-sized circulating warm bath and an antibacterial operation method which can be antibacterial.

[0012]

In order to solve such a problem, in the circulating warm water bath of the present invention, when performing antibacterial activity, the control means stops the circulating pump and then heats the heating means, When the bath water reaches a predetermined temperature and the flow path switching means forms a closed circuit, the control means operates the circulating pump to circulate the heated bath water in the closed circuit. Is repeated.

[0013] Thus, it is possible to reliably perform antibacterial action on bacteria and the like adhering to the purifying section and the circulating water channel, and to achieve high energy efficiency and purifying efficiency, antibacterial action in a short time, a low-cost, small-sized circulating warm water bath. Can be provided.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention described in claim 1 of the present invention is characterized in that a bath water in a bathtub is sucked and circulated from a suction port and circulated and discharged to the bathtub from a discharge port; A closed circulation path that connects the suction port side and the discharge port side to form a closed circuit, a circulation pump that sucks bath water from the bathtub and circulates the circulation water path, and a bath water provided in the circulation water path. A purifying unit for purifying water, heating means provided in the circulating water passage or the purifying unit for heating bath water, flow path switching means provided at a communication position between the circulating water passage and the closed circulating passage, and A pump and control means capable of controlling the heating means are provided, and when performing antimicrobial treatment, the control means stops the circulating pump, and then heats the heating means, so that the bath water reaches a predetermined temperature. The passage switching means forms a closed circuit The control means operates the circulating pump to circulate the heated bath water in the closed circuit, thereby completing one cycle, and further repeating this series of operation cycles. Therefore, by stopping the circulation and heating the heating means, the heat radiation from the bath water can be reduced, the energy efficiency can be increased and the purification efficiency can be increased, and the antibacterial can be reliably performed in a short time. Can be.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bath temperature detecting section capable of detecting a temperature of the bath water heated by the heating means, and when the bath water detecting section detects a predetermined temperature, the flow rate of the bath water is detected. Since the road switching means forms a closed circuit, the closed circuit can be automatically formed according to the temperature.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a circulating water passage for sucking and circulating bath water in a bath tub from a suction port and discharging the bath water from a discharge port to the bath tub, and for circulating the bath water from the bath tub. A circulating pump for circulating the water channel, a purifying unit provided in the circulating water channel for purifying bath water, heating means provided in the circulating water channel or the purifying unit for heating the bath water, and the suction port of the circulating water channel And two closed circuits that can selectively form two large and small closed circuits including the purifying section and the heating means by connecting the respective sides of the circulating water path and the two closed circuits. A channel switching unit provided at each communication position; and a control unit capable of controlling the channel switching unit and the heating unit. When performing antimicrobial, the control unit includes the channel switching unit. Switch one side of A small closed circuit is formed to stop the circulation of the bath water in the small closed circuit, and then the heating means is heated so that the bath water reaches a predetermined temperature and the other of the flow path switching means is turned into the large flow path. Is formed, the heated bath water is circulated in the large closed circuit by the operation of the circulating pump, one cycle is completed, and the cycle of this series of operations is repeated. Because it is a circulating water bath, in the purification section where bacteria easily inhabit, the circulation of bath water in a small closed circuit is stopped, heat is dissipated with little heat dissipation, and antibacterial heating is performed. The hot water in the closed circuit is circulated, and the temperature of the bath water circulating in the large closed circuit is gradually increased by repeating this series of operation cycles, and the circulating water path and the circulating water path are provided there. Heats almost all of the equipment to ensure It can be.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, when the control means switches one of the flow path switching means to form a small closed circuit, the operation of the circulation pump is stopped, and the flow path switching means is stopped. Before the other forms the large closed circuit, the control means starts the circulating pump, so that when the small closed circuit is formed, the circulating pump is stopped, so that the cut-off operation is not performed and power is saved. .

In the invention described in claim 5, the flow path switching means forming the large closed circuit is a thermally responsive valve which automatically switches the flow path when bath water having a predetermined temperature or higher is introduced. , Control becomes simple.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, when the cycle is repeated several times, the communication between the circulating water passage and the closed circulating passage is interrupted by the passage switching means, and the control means is connected to the circulating pump. Is operated to circulate the bath water, so that the cycle can be repeated several times to ensure that the antibacterial activity has taken place, and then automatically return to normal operation for purification.

According to the invention described in claim 7, since the operation time of the cycle is gradually reduced, the temperature of the bath water in the large closed circuit is gradually increased with the repetition of the cycle, and is minimized in the shortest time. Almost all of the circulating waterways and the equipment provided can be heated and antibacterial.

According to the invention described in claim 8, the bath water circulating in the circulating water channel provided with the purifying section and the heating means is stopped,
Heating the bath water by the heating means, closing the circulating water channel through a closed circuit, circulating the heated bath water through the closed circuit, ending one cycle, and repeating this cycle. The method is an antibacterial method for a circulating hot water bath characterized in that the inside of the circulating water channel is antibacterial, so that the bath water in a stationary state is heated, so that the heat radiation is small and the purifying section can be antibacterial, and this hot water is circulated in a closed circuit. Then, by repeating this cycle, the temperature in the closed circuit is gradually increased, so that the antibacterial can be surely performed in a short time.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG. (Embodiment 1) Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. 1 is a schematic overall view of a circulating warm water bath according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flow chart of bath water in a circulating operation mode of the circulating warm water bath of FIG. 1, and FIG. Flow diagram of the bath water when the circulation is stopped in the operation mode, FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of the bath water during the circulation operation in the heating antibacterial operation mode of the circulation warm bath of FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is a backwashing operation mode of the circulation warm bath of FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the state of aggregation of aluminum ions and suspended substances, FIG. 7 is a temperature change diagram of the circulating water bath in the heating antibacterial operation mode in one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 9 is a schematic circuit diagram of a conventional circulating warm water bath, FIG. 9 is a closed circuit diagram of a comparative example in which heating is continued for heating and antibacterial, and FIG. 10 is a temperature change diagram of the comparative example in FIG.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a bathtub, 2 is a circulation pump, 3 is a circulation channel, and 4 is a purification unit. Reference numeral 5 denotes a first closed circuit, 6 denotes a second closed circuit, and the first closed circuit 5 is communicated with the circulation channel 3 to form a small closed circuit. It is connected to the water channel 3 to form a large closed circuit. These closed circuits are selectively formed. 7
Reference numeral denotes a filter medium loaded in the tank of the purification unit 4, and reference numeral 8 denotes a heater for heating and raising the temperature of the bath water provided in the purification unit 4. In the first embodiment, the heating / heating heater 8 is provided in the purification unit 4, but this installation location may be provided in the circulation channel 3 in addition to the purification unit 4. However, the position must be included in the large and small closed circuits. The filter medium 7 is a ceramic ball in the first embodiment, but may be activated carbon. Although the particle size is desirably about 5 μm to 200 μm, it is preferable to appropriately determine the particle size in consideration of the filtration performance and the life. Reference numeral 9a denotes an aluminum electrode, and 9b denotes a stainless steel electrode. As described later, the inside of the purification section 4 is subjected to aluminum electrolysis to aggregate suspended substances, and the filter medium 7 filters the flocs formed as a result. The aluminum electrode 9a and the stainless steel electrode 9b are cylindrical electrodes. In addition, the stainless steel electrode 9b can be shared by grounding the tank itself of the purification unit 4 by using stainless steel. Reference numeral 10 denotes a bath water temperature detecting unit such as a thermistor for detecting that the bath water in the purifying unit 4 is heated by the heating heater 8, and 11 denotes a second closed circulation passage 6 for communicating with the circulation water passage 3. It is a first flow path switching valve provided at a communication position. Reference numeral 12 denotes a second flow path switching valve that is provided between the circulation pump 2 and the purification unit 4 and switches the flow of bath water in the circulation operation mode and the backwash operation mode. And a third flow path switching valve provided at a communication position between the two to communicate with the second flow path. In the first embodiment, the first flow path switching valve 11 is a thermally responsive valve having a valve body provided with an urging element (spring) made of a shape memory alloy, and a bath water having a predetermined temperature or higher flows. In this case, the flow path is switched to the second closed circulation path 6 side. Second flow path switching valve 12,
Each of the third flow path switching valves 13 is an electromagnetic valve.

Reference numeral 14 denotes a nozzle portion provided in the bathtub 1. Reference numeral 15 denotes a suction port of the bath water provided in the circulation channel 3, and reference numeral 16 denotes a discharge port of the bath water provided in the circulation channel 3, which is a jet nozzle for jetting the bath water into the bathtub 1. Reference numeral 17 denotes a coarse filtration filter provided in the nozzle portion 14, which is filled with activated carbon and filters large trash such as hair and lint in the bath water and adsorbs and removes impurities in the bath water. You can do it. The shape of the coarse filtration filter 17 may be a wound type, a pleated type, a granular shape,
Any of thread, non-woven fabric, fiber and the like can be used. P. And resins such as polyolefins and inorganic substances. Reference numeral 18 denotes a power supply unit for supplying power to the circulation pump 2, the electrodes 9a and 9b, the heater 8 for heating and heating, and the like. Reference numeral 19 denotes a control unit comprising a microcomputer, which controls the power supply unit 18 to control the power supply to the circulation pump 2 and the heating / heating heater 8. Reference numeral 20 denotes a main body of the circulating warm bath housing the circulating pump 2, the purifying section 4, the power supply section 18, the control section 19 and the like.

The operation of the circulating warm bath in this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. The operation of the circulating warm bath is basically (1) circulating operation mode,
(2) Heat antibacterial operation mode, and (3) Backwash operation mode. Therefore, (1) the circulation operation mode will be described first. As shown in FIG. 2, in this mode, the bath water in the bathtub 1 is sucked from the suction port 15 by the circulation pump 2, and large dust and impurities are removed by the coarse filter 17. The coarse filtration filter 17 is detachable (in the case of activated carbon, it is taken out and regenerated or replaced), and it is periodically removed to remove hair and the like adhering thereto, thereby preventing a decrease in the amount of circulating water. In this mode, the second closed circulation path 6 is shut off by the first flow path switching means 11, and the first circulation path 5 is shut off by the third flow path switching means 13. No circuit is formed, and the bath water is sucked from the bath tub 1, purified, and then returned to the bath tub 1. In FIG. 2, the arrows indicate the direction of the flow of the bath water, and the thick solid line indicates the flow path of the bath water.
The bath water discharged from the circulation pump 2 flows into the purification unit 4 via the second flow path switching unit 12.

In the purifying section 4, a DC voltage is applied by the power supply section 18 so that the aluminum electrode 9a serves as an anode and the stainless steel electrode 9b serves as a cathode. The power supply unit 18 is controlled by a control unit 19, and it is appropriate that the control unit 19 applies a voltage as constant current control in order to obtain a constant amount of electrolysis. As a matter of course, if the amount of suspended matter increases, it is necessary to increase the applied voltage for electrolysis. Aluminum electrode 9
When a voltage is applied to the positive electrode a and the stainless steel electrode 9b to the negative electrode, aluminum ions are eluted from the aluminum electrode 9a into the bath water in the purification section 4. FIG. 6 shows this state. Reference numeral 41 denotes a suspended substance such as an organic substance remaining in the bath water, and reference numeral 42 denotes aluminum hydroxide formed by the reaction of eluted aluminum ions with hydroxyl ions. By the way, this aluminum hydroxide 42
Is positively charged, but the suspended substance 41 is usually negatively charged. Therefore, the aluminum hydroxide 42 normally exhibits an aggregating effect on the suspended substance 41 by charge neutralization or crosslinking. Due to this agglomeration action, the suspended substance 41 is largely agglomerated into a floc state, and is easily filtered by the filter medium 7. Then, even the small suspended matter 41 that could not be filtered by the filter medium 7 can be surely filtered by the filter medium 7.

By the way, the power supply 18 is energized to the heater 8 based on a command from the controller 19, and the bath water in the bathtub 1 is heated so as to maintain a predetermined temperature. The purifying section 4 is provided with a bath temperature detecting section 10, which controls the detected temperature by feeding it back to the control section 19. The bath water, which has been removed to the minute suspended matter 41 in the purification unit 4 and heated to a predetermined temperature, returns to the nozzle unit 14 through the circulation water channel 3 and is jetted out of the discharge port 16 into the bathtub 1.

As described above, in the circulation operation mode, fine suspended substances 41 are removed from the bath water, and the temperature in the bathtub 1 is maintained at a predetermined bathable temperature so that the bath tank 1 can be used at any time for 24 hours. is there.

Next, the (2) heating antibacterial operation mode, which is a feature of the present invention, will be described with reference to FIGS. 3, 4, 7, 9, and 10. FIG. The heating antibacterial operation mode is a mode in which bacteria and the like that have propagated in each part of the circulating warm bath such as the purifying unit 4 and the circulating water channel 3 are periodically antibacterial. When operating in the circulation operation mode as described above, the control unit 19 switches the third flow path switching valve 13 at a predetermined timing to make the first closed circulation path 5 and the circulation water path 3 communicate with each other. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 3, a small closed circuit is formed in the first closed circulation path 5 and a part of the circulation water path 3. At this time, since the discharge side forms a small closed circuit, the circulation of the bath water existing in the small closed circuit is stopped even if the circulation pump 2 continues to operate. Of course, the control unit 19 may stop the operation of the circulation pump 2.
When the operation of the circulation pump 2 is continued, the pressure in the closed circuit becomes high due to the shut-off operation, and hot water of 100 ° C. or more can be produced by heating with the heater 8 for heating and heating. When the operation of is stopped, it can be used as a power-saving circulating warm bath.

Next, the control unit 19 controls the power supply unit 18 to increase the amount of power supplied to the heater 8 to heat the bath water to a temperature required for antibacterial treatment, for example, 70 ° C. Normal 7
If the heating state at 0 ° C. is continued for about 10 seconds, antibacterial activity of most bacteria can be performed. At this time, since the circulation of the bath water is stopped, the amount of heat radiated from the purification unit 4 provided with the heater 8 for heating and raising the temperature is small, and the bath water is rapidly cooled to a predetermined temperature (70 ° C.) in a short time. ) To rise.
This state is shown by the curve of the heating and heating up to the elapsed time of 20 minutes in the thin line in FIG. Bath water temperature detector 10
When the control unit 19 detects that the temperature has reached the predetermined temperature of 70 ° C., the control unit 19 stops energizing the heating temperature increasing heater 8. At the same time, the control unit 19 switches the third flow path switching valve 13 to release the small closed circuit to open the circuit.

When the first flow path switching valve 11 is switched as described above, the circulating pump 2 is continuously operated, or restarts once the operation is stopped. The bath water flows through the circulation channel 3 toward the nozzle portion 14 and reaches the first flow path switching valve 11. Since the first flow path switching valve 11 is a thermally responsive valve,
Hot water (60 ° C to 70 ° C) exceeding the set value (for example, 45 ° C)
Is switched, the second closed circulation path 6 and the circulation water path 3 are communicated, and a large closed circuit is formed. If the first flow path switching valve 11 is an electromagnetic valve,
After switching the third flow path switching valve 13, the first flow path switching valve 11 may be switched by a command from the control unit 19. The hot water is circulated through a large closed circuit, flows through the circulating water passage 3, the second closed circulating passage 6, the purifying section 4, and the like to raise the temperature of the whole. One cycle of the heating antibacterial operation is completed by the above series of operations.

The circulation of the first cycle is performed for a predetermined time (24 s)
When the control is performed, the control unit 19 returns to the third flow path switching valve 13 again.
To form a small closed circuit and
8, the heating value of the heater 8 is increased, and the bath water is heated to a temperature (70 ° C.) necessary for antibacterial activity. At this time, since the first flow path switching valve 11 is in the bathtub 1, the temperature has been lowered due to the effect of the hot water temperature, and the first flow path switching valve 11 has already been switched to open a large closed circuit. When the bath water temperature detecting section 10 detects that the bath water has reached a predetermined temperature, the control section 19 switches the third flow path switching valve 13 to release a small closed circuit, and again the first flow path switching valve 11 Are switched to form a large closed circuit. By circulating hot water through this large closed circuit, the entire temperature is raised again. According to FIG. 7, the temperature of the bath water in the large closed circuit is now raised to about 57 ° C.
Bacteria that are sensitive to heat are sufficiently antimicrobial at this temperature. This ends the second cycle.

When the hot water circulates for a further predetermined time (12 seconds), the control section 19 executes the third cycle. By performing the third cycle of hot water circulation (10 s), the temperature in the large closed circuit rises to 70 ° C. in the case of the first embodiment.
As a result, the circulation water channel 3 and the second closed circulation channel 6, the purification unit 4,
Bacteria adhering to almost all parts of the circulating warm bath such as the circulating pump 2 are antibacterial. When the large closed circuit is circulated for a predetermined time (10 s), the temperature of the hot water subsequently decreases due to heat radiation, the first flow path switching means 11 switches, and is discharged from the discharge port 16 into the bathtub 1. . When the first flow path switching valve 11 is an electromagnetic valve, the switching is preferably performed when the temperature of the hot water reaches the temperature of the bath water in the bathtub 1.

Incidentally, the comparative example shown in FIG. 9 corresponds to the conventional circulating warm water bath for performing the antibacterial heating described in the above description of the prior art, and is similar to the large closed circuit of the present invention. This is not a closed circuit including most of the circulating water channel 3 but a relatively small closed circuit including the circulating pump 2 and the purification unit 4. FIG. 10 shows a temperature change in the heating antibacterial operation mode of the comparative example of FIG. In this comparative example, after performing the circulation operation mode, antibacterial heating is performed in a closed circuit as shown in FIG. The temperature change of the bath water in the circulating water passage 3 and the like during the circulation of the hot water is as shown in FIG. 10. It is large, and it takes about 80 minutes after the temperature is gradually increased, and finally it rises to around 70 ° C. necessary for antibacterial.

On the other hand, in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 7, by repeating the cycle of the circulation stop, the heating and the temperature increase, and the circulation, the antibacterial effect is reduced by as much as 25% even though the antibacterial effect is larger than that of the comparative example. The antibacterial activity of the circulation channel 3 and all other devices was completed in 60 minutes. Because it heats in a stationary state, there is little heat dissipation and it can be heated quickly in a short time,
It can be seen that the energy efficiency is much better. And since the bath water cannot be purified while the heating antibacterial mode is running,
The purification time of the present invention can be relatively longer than that of the comparative example, and the quality of bath water can be maintained in a more favorable state.

Next, (3) the backwash operation mode will be described. In this backwashing operation mode, the flow in the purification section 4 is made to flow in the opposite direction to that in the circulation operation mode, and the suspended matter including the organic matter filtered in the purification section 3 is discharged out of the main body 20 and the filter medium 7 is removed.
Mode. When a predetermined timing comes, the control unit 19 switches the second flow path switching valve 12 and the third flow path switching valve 13 to form a flow path as shown in FIG. The bath water sucked by the circulation pump 2 flows into the purification unit 3 through the first closed circulation path 5 in a direction opposite to the direction in the circulation operation mode. The bath water guided to the purifying section 3 flows by winding up the filter medium 7, and at that time, suspending substances accumulated therein are washed out and discharged from the backwash water discharge path via the second flow path switching valve 12. By this operation, the filter medium 7 can be regenerated.

As described above, the circulating warm water heater according to the present embodiment (1) normally operates in the circulating operation mode. However, when the bather operates the operation unit (not shown) when taking a bath, (2). The mode can be shifted to the heating antibacterial mode and (3) the backwashing operation mode. Further, when a predetermined time comes by a 24-hour timer provided in the control unit 19, it is possible to automatically shift to (2) heating antibacterial mode and (3) backwashing operation mode at that timing. In the present embodiment, 12
(2) Heating antibacterial mode and (3) Backwashing operation mode are continuously performed once a time, but when bacteria are growing, etc. 2)
If the operation in the heating antibacterial mode and the operation in the (3) backwash operation mode every 12 hours are performed, a clean and effective purification operation can be achieved.

(Embodiment 2) In Embodiment 1 described above, the first closed circulation path 5 and the third flow path switching valve 1
3 to form a small closed circuit. However, although not shown, in the second embodiment, the first closed circulation path 5 and the third flow path switching valve 13 are omitted. The basic operations are all the same as in the first embodiment, and a detailed description is omitted for the first embodiment. The difference from the first embodiment is
The point is that the circulation stop of the bath water in the heating antibacterial operation mode is not performed by the small closed circuit, but is caused by the stop of the circulation pump 2.

During operation in the circulation operation mode, the control unit 19 stops the circulation pump 2 at the timing of setting the heating antibacterial operation mode. As a result, all the bath water in the circulation water channel 3 and the purification section 4 is stopped. Next, the controller 19 heats the heater 8 to raise the temperature of the nearby water to a predetermined temperature (for example, 7.
0 ° C). In the second embodiment, since the heating / heating heater 8 is provided in the purification unit 4,
The temperature of the bath water inside rises to 70 ° C. This is detected by the bath water temperature detector 10 and fed back to the controller 19, and the controller 19 stops energizing the heater 8 for heating and heating.
Subsequently, the control unit 19 restarts the circulation pump 2. In the case of the second embodiment, the first flow path switching valve 11 is switched by the sent hot water because it is a heat responsive valve,
The closed circulation path 6 is connected to the circulation water path 3 to form a closed circuit. Hot water is circulated in the closed circuit for a predetermined time to heat the internal bath water. This ends the first cycle,
By repeating this series of operation cycles, the temperature of the circulating hot water is gradually raised, and the bacteria adhering to the inside of the circulating water channel 3, the purifying section 4, and the circulating pump 2 are antibacterial.

The circulating warm water bath of the second embodiment can have a simplified system configuration as compared with the first embodiment.

[0041]

As described above, according to the circulating warm water bath and the antibacterial operation method of the present invention, the antibacterial effect of bacteria and the like adhering to almost all parts of the circulating warm water bath such as the circulating water channel and the purifying section can be reduced in a short time. It can be done reliably. The energy efficiency of the heating and antibacterial operation is high, the purification efficiency of the circulating hot water bath is high, and the low cost and small circulating hot water bath can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic overall view of a circulating warm water bath according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of bath water in a circulating operation mode of the circulating warm water bath of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of bath water when circulation is stopped in the heating antibacterial operation mode of the circulating warm bath in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of bath water during circulation operation in the heating antibacterial operation mode of the circulation warm bath of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of bath water in the backwashing operation mode of the circulating warm water bath of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an aggregation state of aluminum ions and suspended substances.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a temperature change in a heating and antibacterial operation mode of the circulating warm water bath in one embodiment of the present invention

FIG. 8 is a schematic overall view of a conventional circulating warm water bath.

FIG. 9 is a closed circuit diagram of a comparative example in which heating is continued for antibacterial heating.

FIG. 10 is a temperature change diagram in the heating antibacterial operation mode of the comparative example of FIG. 9;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Bathtub 2 Circulation pump 3 Circulation waterway 4 Purification part 5 1st closed circulation path 6 2nd closed circulation path 7 Filter medium 8 Heating and heating heater 9a Aluminum electrode 9b Stainless steel electrode 10 Bath temperature detection part 11 1st flow path switching valve 12 second flow path switching valve 13 third flow path switching valve 14 nozzle section 15 suction port 16 discharge port 17 coarse filtration filter 18 power supply section 19 control section 20, 33 main body 31 filtration material 32 heater

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A closed circuit that connects a circulating water passage that sucks and circulates bath water in a bath tub from a suction port and discharges the bath water from a discharge port to the bath tub through a suction port side and the discharge port side of the circulating water path. A closed circuit, a circulating pump that sucks bath water from the bath tub and circulates the circulated water path, a purifying unit provided in the circulated water path to purify the bath water, and the circulating water path or the purified unit. A heating means for heating the bath water provided; a flow switching means provided at a communication position between the circulation water path and the closed circulation path; and a control means capable of controlling the circulation pump and the heating means. When performing antibacterial, the control means stops the circulating pump, then heats the heating means, and when the bath water reaches a predetermined temperature and the flow path switching means forms a closed circuit, the control means Means for operating said circulating pump The heated the bath water to exit the cycle 1 by circulating the closed circuit, further circulating bath vessel and repeating the cycle of the series of operations. 2. A bath temperature detecting section capable of detecting a temperature of bath water heated by the heating means, and when the bath water detecting section detects a predetermined temperature, the flow path switching means forms a closed circuit. The circulating warm water bath according to claim 1, wherein 3. A circulating water passage for sucking and circulating bath water in a bath tub from a suction port and discharging the bath water from a discharge port to the bath tub, a circulating pump for sucking bath water from the bath tub and circulating the circulating water passage, A purifying unit provided in the circulating water channel for purifying bath water;
Heating means provided in the circulating water channel or the purifying section for heating bath water; and large and small 2 including the purifying section and the heating means by connecting the suction port side and the discharge port side of the circulating water path respectively. Two closed circulation paths capable of selectively forming two closed circuits, flow path switching means provided at respective communication positions of the circulating water path and the two closed circulation paths, the flow path switching means, and the heating means When performing antibacterial, the control means switches one of the flow path switching means to form a small closed circuit, and the bath water in the small closed circuit is controlled. The circulation is stopped, and then the heating means is heated. When the bath water reaches a predetermined temperature and the other of the flow path switching means forms the large closed circuit, the heated bath water operates the circulation pump. In the large closed circuit It has been cycled 1 cycle ends, further circulating bath vessel and repeating the cycle of the series of operations. 4. When the control means switches one of the flow path switching means to form a small closed circuit, the operation of the circulation pump is stopped, and the other of the flow path switching means switches to the large closed circuit. The circulating warm bath according to claim 3, wherein the control means activates the circulating pump before forming the circulating pump. 5. The thermal switching valve according to claim 3, wherein said flow path switching means forming said large closed circuit is a heat responsive valve which automatically switches a flow path when bath water having a predetermined temperature or higher is introduced. 4. The circulating warm water bath according to any one of 4. 6. When the cycle is repeated several times, communication between the circulating water channel and the closed circuit is interrupted by the flow path switching means, and the control means operates the circulating pump to circulate bath water. Claim 1 characterized by the fact that
5. The circulating warm bath according to any one of 5. 7. The circulating warm bath according to claim 1, wherein the operation time of the cycle is sequentially reduced. 8. The bath water circulating in a circulating water channel provided with a purifying section and a heating means is stopped, the bath water is heated by the heating means, and the circulating water channel is closed by a closed circuit. An antibacterial operation method for a circulating warm water bath, wherein heated water is circulated through the closed circuit to complete one cycle, and the cycle is repeated to antibacterialize the inside of the circulating water channel.