JPH1133543A - Bathtub hot water cleaning apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To rapidly and accurately detect the crack of the protective pipe of an ultraviolet lamp by arranging a dewing sensor to an ultraviolet sterilizing apparatus so that the dewing sensor does not cause malfunction by dewing or wetting or damages in maintenance. SOLUTION: This bathtub hot water cleaning apparatus is constituted so that a circuit case 29 housing an inverter board being a heat generation source is disposed so as to be connected to the lamp base 28 of an ultraviolet lamp 14 to form a lamp unit 25 and a UV lid 37 is attached to the upper end opening of a protective pipe 15 to form a protective pipe unit and a dewing sensor 22 is arranged to the side surface of the circuit case 29 to house the lamp unit 25 in the protective pipe unit 36 to form a UV unit freely detachable to a jacket through which hot water flows.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bath apparatus, and more particularly, to a purifying treatment such as filtration and sterilization while forcibly circulating hot water in a bathtub, and at the same time keeping the bath temperature at a bathing temperature to constantly clean the bathtub hot water. The present invention relates to a so-called 24-hour bath apparatus which can maintain a suitable temperature and take a bath at any time for 24 hours.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, bathtub hot water purifiers have been actively used, in which hot water in a bathtub is constantly kept clean and at an appropriate temperature so that bathing can be performed comfortably 24 hours a day and water can be saved.

[0003] An example of such a bathtub hot water purifier is shown in FIG. 8, wherein 1 is a bathtub, 2 is hot water, 3 is a hot water suction pipe for pumping hot water 2 in bathtub 1, and 4 is a hot water suction pipe. An apparatus main body in which devices for cleaning the hot water pumped up by the water suction pipe 3 are collectively provided, and 9 is a fountain pipe for ejecting the hot water treated by the apparatus main body 4 into the bathtub 1 again. .

[0004] The apparatus main body 4 is made of an ultraviolet sterilizer 5 for ultraviolet sterilizing hot water, and various types of granular filter media such as activated carbon, activated stones, and porous ceramic balls, and fibrous filters alone or in combination to remove dirt. Cleaning equipment such as a filtration tank 6, a circulation pump 7 for forced circulation, and a heater 8 for maintaining an appropriate temperature is connected in series and provided.

[0005] Reference numeral 10 denotes a prefilter attached to the end of the water suction pipe 3 for removing large dirt before being pumped to the apparatus main body 4. Reference numeral 11 denotes a jet flow of the hot water after the cleaning treatment as a high-speed jet flow in the bathtub 1. Suction pipe 1
Reference numeral 2 denotes a jet nozzle connected to the ejector unit.

An electromagnetic valve 13 for opening and closing a pipe is provided at the end of an intake pipe 12 connected to an ejector portion of the jet nozzle 11, and when the electromagnetic valve 13 is opened, the jet nozzle 1 is opened.
Air is sucked in from the intake pipe 12 by the suction force of 1, and the air is mixed into the hot water in the ejector section, and the air is jetted out of the jet nozzle 11 together with the hot water into the bathtub 1 to form a bubble bath.

In the apparatus configured as described above, when the operation is set by the operation panel, the hot water 2 in the bathtub 1 is cleaned with a pre-filter 10 to remove a large amount of dirt.
Then, the cleaning operation is started, in which the ultraviolet ray is sterilized by the ultraviolet sterilizer 5, filtered by the filtration tank 6, heated by the heater 8, and jetted out again from the jet nozzle 11 at the end of the fountain pipe 9 into the bathtub 1.

When the jet operation is set by the operation panel, the solenoid valve 13 is opened, and the air sucked from the intake pipe 12 is blown out of the jet nozzle 11 into the bathtub 1 together with the hot water so that the bather can enjoy the bubble bath. become.

In the case of using the ultraviolet sterilizer 5 as a sterilizer in the bathtub hot water purifier, if the ultraviolet lamp as an ultraviolet light source is in direct contact with the circulating hot water, the ultraviolet lamp completely waterproofs. If not, there is a danger of leakage due to the intrusion of hot water, and furthermore, since the hot water is heated to a high temperature, the temperature difference from the hot water is large, and there is a possibility that the hot water will break it.

[0010] For this reason, the ultraviolet lamp is housed in a protective tube made of quartz glass or the like, which is a transparent material having good transparency to ultraviolet light and excellent heat resistance, so that direct contact with hot water is cut off. The ultraviolet lamp housed in the protective tube is housed in a metal or plastic jacket having an inlet and an outlet for hot water.

However, even if the direct contact of the ultraviolet lamp with the hot water is cut off with a protective tube, the protective tube is formed of a glass tube because of the ultraviolet transmittance as described above, so that there is a problem that the protective tube is broken. If the protective tube is broken for some reason, there is a danger that the bath tub will leak electricity and the bather will get an electric shock, and furthermore, it will be scattered in the bath tub and may be injured by broken glass.

For this reason, conventionally, a pair of water detecting electrodes is provided in a protective tube, and when the protective tube is broken and hot water flows into the tube, conduction is established between the electrodes to detect a crack in the protective tube. Thus, the power supply to the ultraviolet lamp and the operation of the circulation pump are stopped.

However, when detecting a crack in a protective tube using a water detection electrode, the accuracy of detection is low and the electrode is expensive. There was a risk of electric leakage and electric shock.

For this reason, in order to quickly and accurately detect a crack in a protective tube by a detection circuit that does not cause an electric shock, an ultraviolet ray for detecting a crack in the protective tube using a condensation sensor as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-57253 is disclosed. Sterilizers have also been developed.

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of an ultraviolet sterilizer equipped with a dew sensor for detecting cracks in a protective tube. Reference numeral 14 denotes an ultraviolet lamp as a source of ultraviolet light for sterilization, and 15 denotes an ultraviolet lamp. A protective tube 16 to be stored is a jacket in which the upper end is opened and a hot water inlet 17 and a hot water outlet 18 are provided on the side surface and hot water flows while being sterilized by the ultraviolet lamp 14.

The jacket 16 is separated from the hot water inlet 17 by a partition plate 19 provided with a protective tube mounting hole 20 at the center to cut off the flow of hot water, and the ultraviolet lamp 14 is inserted into the protective tube mounting hole 20 of the partition plate 19. The stored protective tube 15 is inserted through the mounting ring 21, the dew condensation sensor 22 is provided in the space above the partition plate 19, and the upper end opening is closed by the lid 23.

As a result, the jacket 16 cuts off the flow of the hot water and, at the same time, the dew sensor 22 is disposed in the sensor chamber 24, which is a closed space that allows the atmosphere to pass through the inside of the protective tube 15. If the hot water invades the inside of the cracks 16 as well as the cracks and the internal humidity rises, this is quickly detected by the resistance change.

[0018]

However, in the above-mentioned ultraviolet sterilizer, when a shower is used in a bathroom, dew condensation occurs on the sensor surface to cause malfunction, or during maintenance, the sensor surface is wetted with water. There are two problems that need to be solved, such as the possibility that the device may malfunction due to touching and may be damaged by touching hands or objects.

That is, the first problem is that when a shower is used in a bathroom at room temperature of 20 ° C., the dew point in the bathroom becomes 30 ° C.
Condensation also forms on the surface of components having a temperature lower than 30 ° C. in the apparatus main body 4 provided in the bathroom, and the condensation sensor 22 is also provided in the sensor chamber 24 in the jacket 16, which is remote from the heat source, as described above. And the temperature is low,
Condensation on the surface may cause malfunction.

The second problem is that the dew condensation sensor 22 is provided at a position close to the upper end opening of the jacket 16 as described above.
If maintenance such as replacement or washing of the filter medium, washing of the protection tube 15, or filling with water is performed, the dew condensation sensor 22 may be wet with water and malfunction.

Further, when taking out the ultraviolet lamp 14 and the protective tube 15 from the jacket 16 for maintenance, there is a possibility that the dew sensor 22 may be damaged by touching the dew sensor 22 with a hand or an object.

The present invention solves the two problems of the prior art as described above, so that there is no fear of dew condensation on the surface even when the humidity in the bathroom rises due to the use of a shower. It is an object of the present invention to provide an ultraviolet disinfection device provided with the dew condensation sensor 22 in a state where there is no fear of the above.

[0023]

That is, the present invention provides an ultraviolet disinfection apparatus for detecting a crack in a protective tube in the vicinity of a heat source in a protective tube unit accommodating a lamp unit as an ultraviolet light emitting source. The first problem has been solved by disposing a high temperature condition so that the dew sensor does not malfunction due to condensation on the surface even when the humidity in the bathroom rises due to the use of a shower.

Next, the lamp unit is formed by connecting and providing a circuit case for accommodating an inverter board for applying lamp power to a lamp base attached to the upper opening of the ultraviolet lamp. A UV lid for accommodating the circuit case is attached to the UV lid, and the dew condensation sensor is attached to the UV lid near the inverter board as a heat source and at a position where there is no risk of getting wet or damaged during maintenance. The first and second problems are simultaneously solved by configuring the circuit case so as to be disposed on the side of the housed circuit case.

[0025]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, a front view of FIG. 1 and a partial longitudinal sectional view of FIG.
The lamp unit 25 as an ultraviolet light source will be described with reference to the plan view of FIG.

The ultraviolet lamp 14 is a straight tube type mercury lamp similar to the conventional example in which electrodes 27 are provided at the upper and lower ends of a straight tube lamp tube 26 having closed upper and lower ends. A lamp base 28 made of ceramic, PBT, or PC resin excellent in flame retardancy, ultraviolet resistance, etc., and having a conductive wire embedded in the electrode 27 is attached.

Reference numeral 29 denotes a circuit case, which is formed integrally with the lamp base 28 in this embodiment, but may be formed separately and fixed to the upper end of the lamp base 28, and connected to the lamp base 28. It is sufficient if deployed in a state where it has been done.

Reference numeral 30 denotes an inverter board, which is housed in a circuit case 29, is provided with a DC-AC inverter circuit, and is connected to two opposite electrodes 27 for discharge of the ultraviolet lamp 14 via a conductive wire. A high-frequency high-voltage power supply is applied to the lamp 14.

Reference numeral 31 denotes an inverter lid, and a flange 32 is provided on the outer periphery.
And a connector hole 33 is provided on the surface. The connector hole 33 is attached to the circuit case 29 with screws to completely close the opening at the upper end. Do not enter.

In order to connect the inverter board 30 and a control board (not shown) with a conductor, the inverter board 3
0, a connector 34 is fixed, and the inverter lid 31 is provided with a connector hole 33. The outer periphery of the connector 34 is covered with a connector packing 35 so that water and dust do not enter the circuit case 29 from the connector hole 33. It is.

Therefore, in the lamp unit 25, the circuit case 29 accommodating the inverter board 30 is completely waterproof, and at the same time, the opening of the ultraviolet lamp 14 is also closed by the inverter board 30 accommodated in the completely waterproof circuit case 29. It is completely waterproof.

The dew condensation sensor 22 has a circuit case 2 that can maintain a high temperature near the inverter board 30 as a heat source.
9 and is located at such a position that the atmosphere is communicated with the inside of the protective tube and that there is no fear of getting wet or damaged during maintenance as described later.

Next, the protection tube unit 36 for accommodating the lamp unit 25 will be described with reference to the front view of FIG. 4 and the plan view of FIG.

The protection tube unit 36 is attached to the upper end opening of the protection tube 15 by screwing a UV lid 37 using a UV packing 38 and a UV packing holder 39.
An O-ring 40 is fitted around the outer periphery of the fitting portion below the V lid 37 with the jacket.

With the protective tube unit 36 constructed as described above, the lamp unit 25 includes the UV lamp 14 in the protective tube 15 and the inverter case 31 in the circuit case 29 in the UV lid 37. The hot water never enters inside even if it is installed in a jacket through which hot water flows.

The protection tube unit 3 formed as described above
6, the inverter unit 31 and the UV unit 37 are screwed together to form a UV unit 41 as shown in a front view with a part cut away in FIG. 6 and a plan view in FIG. Although not shown, the UV unit 41
It is detachably attached to a jacket through which hot water flows in the same manner as in the prior art in a state in which hot water is completely prevented from flowing, thereby forming an ultraviolet sterilizer.

As described above, since the flange 32 is provided on the outer periphery of the inverter lid 31 of the lamp unit 25,
When the lamp unit 25 is stored in the protection tube unit 36, the UV lid 37 of the protection tube unit 36 has a drip-proof structure.

In the UV unit 41 configured as described above, the dew condensation sensor 22 is provided on the side surface of the circuit case 29 of the lamp unit 25, so that the temperature is kept high, there is no water wet, and when the maintenance is performed, Hands and objects are never touched.

That is, the condensation sensor 22 is connected to the lamp base 28 of the high-temperature ultraviolet lamp 14 and is disposed on the side of the circuit case 29 in which the inverter board 30 as a heat source is stored. High temperatures are constantly maintained.

Therefore, even when the humidity in the bathroom becomes high by using the shower, the dew sensor 22 does not condense on the surface and does not malfunction.

Even if the UV unit 41 is removed from the jacket to clean the protective tube 15 and the jacket, the circuit case 29 is housed in the UV lid 37, so that the dew sensor 22 does not touch the dew sensor 22 at all. Alternatively, the protection tube 15 can be cleaned without touching the condensation sensor 22 with any hand or object while the lamp unit 25 is attached to the protection tube unit 36.

As described above, even if maintenance such as cleaning of the protective tube 15 and the jacket is performed, there is no possibility that the dew condensation sensor 22 may be damaged by touching a hand or an object at this time.

Further, the UV lid 37 of the protection tube unit 36 is provided with a flange 32 on the outer periphery of the inverter lid 31 of the lamp unit 25.
Is provided and is completely sealed, so that even if water is applied to the UV unit 41 during maintenance, water does not enter the UV cover 37, and the dew condensation sensor 22 does not get wet with water and does not malfunction.

[0045]

The present invention is constructed as described above, and can be quickly and accurately detected by the dew condensation sensor which does not break the protective tube of the ultraviolet sterilizer, malfunctions, or gives a risk of electric shock.

Therefore, when an ultraviolet sterilizer equipped with such a dew sensor is installed in a bathtub cleaning device,
The bath water will be sterilized by UV light in a safe condition without the danger of electric shock, and you will be able to enjoy bathing in clean hot water 24 hours a day.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a lamp unit,

FIG. 2 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of a lamp unit,

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a lamp unit,

FIG. 4 is a front view of a protection tube unit,

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a protection tube unit,

FIG. 6 is a partially cutaway front view of a UV unit.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a UV unit,

FIG. 8 is a piping diagram of a bath tub hot water cleaning device,

FIG. 9 shows a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Bathtub 2 Hot water 3 Water suction pipe 4 Main body of apparatus 5 Ultraviolet sterilizer 6 Filtration tank 7 Circulation pump 8 Heater 9 Spouter pipe 14 Ultraviolet lamp 15 Protection pipe 22 Dew sensor 25 Lamp unit 28 Lamp base 29 Circuit case 30 Inverter board 31 Inverter lid 36 Protection tube unit 37 UV lid

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI F24H 9/00 B01D 35/02 J

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. Hot water in a bathtub is pumped up by a hot water suction pipe, and is cleaned, filtered, sterilized, and kept warm by an apparatus body provided with a filtration tank, an ultraviolet sterilizer, a heater and the like, and is discharged into the bathtub from a hot water pipe. In the bathtub hot water purifier, the ultraviolet sterilizer may be provided with a dew condensation sensor for detecting a crack in the protective tube in the vicinity of a heat source in a protective tube unit accommodating a lamp unit as an ultraviolet light emitting source. Bathtub hot water purifier. 2. A lamp unit comprising a lamp base mounted on an ultraviolet lamp, and a circuit case for accommodating an inverter board for applying lamp power connected to the lamp base.
2. The protection tube unit is formed by attaching a UV lid for accommodating the circuit case to an upper end opening of the protection tube, and a dew sensor is disposed on a side of the circuit case accommodated in the UV lid. Bath water purifier.