JPH07232016A - Circulating hot bath - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a circulating hot bath device preventing a person from bathing in the state of running out of a cleaning solution by providing circulating hot bath in which the remaining quantity of the cleaning solution can be checked, starting an alarm display or an alarm sound and informing that the cleaning solution reaches a given quantity and stops at least a part of functions of a feed pump and the like. CONSTITUTION:The remaining quantity of cleaning solution in a circulating hot water bath device can be checked visually by providing a tank 5 for storing the cleaning solution, a sensing section 104 for sensing the liquid quantity of cleaning solution in the tank 5 and a display panel 98 for displaying the liquid quantity sensed by the sensing section 104.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a circulating hot bath machine for circulating bath water in a bath to purify and keep it warm.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a circulating warm bath machine (commonly called a 24-hour bath) for bathing at a desired bath water temperature at a desired time has been provided at home. The circulating hot bath is a device for purifying the bath water by circulating the bath water between the inside of the main body of the circulating hot bath and between the baths, and controlling the temperature of the bath water so as to reach a desired temperature.

This circulating hot water bath machine has a pump for pumping up bath water, a septic tank for purifying the bath water pumped by the pump, a purified bath water which is heated and adjusted to a predetermined temperature, and the inside of the bath tub is adjusted. It is mainly composed of a heater for keeping the bath water at a desired temperature. Further, the circulating hot bath has a hose for connecting the main body and the bath,
A control panel for setting the temperature of the bath water,
It is equipped with a temperature sensor.

As a method for purifying bath water, generally, a purification method in which activated carbon or ore or the like is used to remove contaminant particles mixed in the bath water and biological purification using aerobic bacteria are combined. Method is used. For biological purification, a septic tank composed of porous ceramics in which aerobic bacteria are propagated is installed, and the bath water is circulated in the septic tank to decompose the contaminants dissolved by the bacteria in the bath water. Is the way to do it.

In addition to the above, a method is provided in which rough stones or the like for producing mineral components are provided, organic substances are precipitated and aggregated by the eluted mineral components, and the organic substances are purified by filtering in a septic tank made of a porous material such as ceramics. There are some with. In this method, the amount of minerals extracted from a fixed amount of rough stones is very small, so the device itself for extracting minerals requires a very large volume. In order to solve this point, as described in Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 1-44363, there is an apparatus configured by using a purification solution in which a mineral component is extracted from a natural mineral. This is to deposit organic substances by mixing a certain amount of cleaning solution into bath water.
This is a method of aggregating, and the device for eluting the aforementioned mineral components can be miniaturized. The circulating warm bath machine of the type in which the above-mentioned purification solution is added to the bath water to precipitate and agglomerate the organic substances in the bath water is the method of replenishing the purification solution by replacing the container containing the purification solution. It was easy and convenient for the user to exchange.

[0006]

However, the conventional circulating hot bath machine as described above cannot confirm the remaining amount of the cleaning solution, and therefore, it can be used in the state where the cleaning solution is exhausted. there were. In such a case, the bath water would be circulated without being purified, and the piping and bathtub of the circulating hot bath machine might be dirty and the pump for pumping the bath water might be damaged. In addition, since the bath water can be bathed without being purified, the user may feel uncomfortable.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and provides a circulating warm bath machine capable of confirming the remaining amount of the cleaning solution.

Further, when the amount of the cleaning solution is less than a predetermined amount, there is no cleaning solution by notifying by an alarm display or sounding an alarm, or by stopping at least a part of the function of the circulating warm bath machine. It is an object of the present invention to provide a circulating warm bath machine that prevents a user from bathing unknowingly in a state.

[0009]

In order to achieve this object, the circulating hot bath machine of the present invention mixes a certain amount of the purification solution into the bath water by the storage means storing the purification solution, and the bath water is always kept. An appropriate water quality is provided, and is provided with a liquid amount detection means for detecting the remaining amount of the purification solution, and a display means for displaying the liquid amount of the purification solution detected by the detection means. Further, the determination means for determining whether or not the remaining amount of the purification solution detected by the liquid amount detection means has reached a predetermined amount, and notifies when the determination means determines that the purification solution has reached a predetermined amount. A notification means may be provided.

Further, it may be provided with a control means for stopping at least a part of the function of the circulating hot bath when the judging means judges that the amount of the cleaning solution has reached a predetermined amount.

[0011]

According to the circulating hot water bath of the present invention having the above structure, the liquid amount detecting means detects the remaining amount of the cleaning solution, and the display means displays the detected amount of the cleaning solution, The user can confirm the remaining amount of the cleaning solution.

Further, the judging means judges whether or not the remaining amount of the cleaning solution detected by the liquid amount detecting means reaches a predetermined amount, and the notifying means determines the cleaning solution by a predetermined amount by the judging means. The user is notified when it is determined.

Further, the control means stops at least a part of the function of the circulation warm bath machine when the determination means determines that the remaining amount of the cleaning solution has reached a predetermined amount.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the circulating hot bath of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

First, an outline of the circulating hot water bath of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

The circulating hot bath in this embodiment is a bath 55.
Is installed above and has a function of purifying the bath water 60 in the bath 55 and adjusting the temperature. In the method for purifying the bath water 60 of the circulating warm bath machine of this embodiment, a solution of a natural mineral group containing various types of metal ions in high concentration is injected into the bath water to precipitate and agglomerate organic matter, and this is filtered. By doing so, the bath water is constantly purified to maintain an optimum bathing condition.

FIG. 1 shows the detailed configuration of the circulating hot water bath of this embodiment.
It will be described with reference to FIGS.

The circulating hot water bath according to the present embodiment has a suction unit 10 for sucking bath water into the apparatus body 1 and a storage unit 10 for storing a purified solution composed of a mineral group solution.
2, a filtering unit 40 for filtering organic substances deposited and condensed by the cleaning solution, a heating unit 80 for adjusting the temperature of the bath water, and a discharging unit for discharging the purified bath water into the bath. 11, water channels 18, 19, 81, 87 for connecting the above-mentioned respective components, a detection unit 104 for detecting the amount of the purification solution, and a circulating hot bath when the detection unit has no remaining amount of the purification solution. It comprises a control circuit 100 for stopping at least a part of the function of the machine, a main body cover 120 for protecting these, and a display panel 98 for displaying the remaining amount of the cleaning solution.

The main body cover 120 is made of a material such as plastic. The main body cover 120 is made of a material such as plastic.
8 are installed.

The suction part 10 is a filter 14 for removing large dust such as hair floating in the bath water.
A suction port water passage 12, a pump 45 for pumping the bath water into the apparatus body 1, and a suction cup 16 for fixing the pump 45. The filter 14
Is formed of a material such as plastic into a disk shape, is provided with a plurality of slits, and is fixed to an inlet portion of a suction port water passage 12 described later.

The suction water passage 12 is made of a material such as plastic and is formed into a cylindrical and substantially L-shape. Both ends are open so that bath water can pass through, and the upper portion is a pump described later. It is connected to 45.

Further, the pump 45 has a suction cup 16 on its side surface.
Is attached, and is fixed by a suction cup 16 at a position corresponding to the vicinity of the center of the side surface of the bath 55.

The water channels 18 and 19 are formed of a material such as plastic into a cylindrical shape, and both ends thereof are open so that bath water can pass through. The water channel 18 has a lower end connected to an upper portion of a pump 45 and an upper end. The part is connected to a water channel 81 described later. On the other hand, the water channel 19 has a water channel 87 whose upper end will be described later.
, And the lower end is connected to the discharge part 11. The water channel 81 is formed of a material such as an acid-resistant plastic in a cylindrical shape, and the upper portion thereof is bent to the right in FIG.
The upper end of the water channel 81 is connected to the hole 41 of the container 42 described later, and the lower end is connected to the water channel 18. A pipe 76, which will be described later, is connected to the central portion of the water channel 81 so that the purification solution can flow in. The water channel 87 is made of a material such as plastic and is formed in a substantially U-shaped cylindrical shape. In FIG. 1, the lower left end is connected to a heating unit 80 described later, and the lower right end is connected to the water channel 19. .

Next, the storage section 102 is composed of a tank guide cylinder 89, a pipe 76, and a supply pump 70.

The tank guide tube 89 is used to install the tank 5 described later in the apparatus main body 1, and is formed of a material such as plastic into a hollow substantially rectangular column shape. It is installed inside the left side. The upper portion of the tank guide cylinder 89 is open for inserting and removing the tank 5. Further, at the bottom of the tank guide cylinder 89, a solution outlet 71 is provided to let out the cleaning solution stored in the tank 5. In addition, a long hole is formed in a side wall on which a liquid amount measuring sensor 92 described later is installed so that the liquid amount measuring sensor 92 can contact an ammeter 99 described later.

The supply pump 70 sends out the cleaning solution stored in the tank 5 to a pipe 76 described later, and is fixed below the solution outlet 71. The pipe 76 is for flowing the purification solution delivered from the supply pump 70 into the water channel 81, and is formed in a cylindrical shape with a material such as an acid-resistant plastic because the purification solution is acidic, and both ends are Open to allow the cleaning solution to drain. The left side is connected to the supply pump 70,
The right side is connected to the water channel 81.

The tank 5 as a storage means is for storing the cleaning solution, is formed of a material such as plastic capable of withstanding the acidic solution into a substantially square column shape, and has a main body 1 of the apparatus.
It can be stored in the storage part 102. In FIG. 1, the tank 5 has a protrusion 52 formed in the lower portion, and when mounted on the apparatus main body 1, the purification solution inside the tank 5 flows out from the protrusion 52. Also,
A handle 51 is formed on the top of the tank 5. Further, the liquid volume measuring sensors 92, 93 are formed in a square shape with a material such as stainless steel, and in FIG. 1, the liquid volume measuring sensors 92 are arranged at equal intervals on the left side wall, and the liquid volume measuring sensor 93 is on the right side. It is located at the bottom.

The filtering section 40 is composed of a container 42 and a filtering agent 47 for removing the organic substances deposited and aggregated by the cleaning solution. The container 42 is
It is for accommodating the filtering agent 47, is formed of a material such as plastic into a substantially cylindrical shape, and is installed on the right side of the storage section 102 in FIG. The upper portion of the container 42 is opened so that the filtering agent 47 can be taken out, and is closed by a lid 44 when the apparatus body 1 is used. Further, the lower portion is opened so that the filtered bath water flows into a heating unit 80 described later. Furthermore,
In FIG. 1, a circular hole 41 is formed in the upper left part of the container 42 so that bath water flows into the container 42. Inside the container 42, a filtering agent 47 is provided with a water channel 81,
A net 48 is installed at the bottom and in the vicinity of the hole 41 so as not to flow out to 43.

The filtering agent 47 is made of a material such as ceramic and is spherical and porous. Next, the heating unit 8
0 is the heating container 95, the heater 82, and the thermistor 8
3 and 3. The heating container 95 supports the heater 82 and the thermistor 83,
It is formed of a material such as plastic into a columnar shape, and is installed under the filtering section 40. In the heating container 95, circular holes for inflowing and outflowing bath water are formed at upper portions of both ends in FIG.
It is connected to the. Further, the heater 82 is for maintaining a predetermined temperature, and is a tube 84 formed in a U shape with a material such as stainless steel having high heat conductivity, and the tube 84.
And a heating element 85 provided inside, and is installed at the right end of the heating container 95. Further, the thermistor 83 measures the temperature of the bath water, is arranged at the bottom of the heating container 95, and is connected to a controller (not shown) of the main body.

The discharge part 11 includes a nozzle 13 and a suction cup 1.
7 and 7. The nozzle 13 is provided for increasing the flow velocity of the bath water discharged into the bath and stirring the bath water, and is installed at the tip of the water passage 19. Further, the suction cup 17 is for fixing the discharge part 11 in the bath, and is installed on the right side of the nozzle 13 in FIG.

The display panel 98 as a display means for displaying the amount of the cleaning solution is formed in a rectangular shape with a material such as plastic and is installed on the upper left side of the main body cover 120 in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the display panel 98 has a rectangular shape.
One green light emitting diode 21 and one red light emitting diode 22 also formed in a rectangular shape are provided. The six green light emitting diodes 21 have different lengths corresponding to the remaining amount of the cleaning solution, the longest time when the tank 5 is filled with the cleaning solution, and the remaining amount of the cleaning solution decreases. The length of the light emitting diode is shortened, and the light emitting diode corresponding to the remaining amount of the cleaning solution is turned on. Further, the red light emitting diode 22 lights up when the cleaning solution in the tank 5 is exhausted.

The detection section 104 as a liquid amount detection means.
Is composed of an ammeter 99 corresponding to each liquid amount measuring sensor, a current measuring circuit 95, a power source 96, and an electric wire connecting them.

In the detection unit 104, a constant voltage supplied from the power source 96 is passed through the cleaning solution in the tank 5 and six liquid amount measuring sensors 92 and one liquid amount measuring sensor 93 are arranged on the side surface of the tank 5. Applied to. In FIG. 1, the liquid amount measuring sensor 92 is arranged at a constant interval on the left side of the tank 5, and the liquid amount measuring sensor 93 is arranged at a lower position on the right side. The liquid amount measuring sensor 92 on the left side surface, which is arranged at a constant interval, serves as a scale for measuring the liquid amount of the cleaning solution. When the cleaning solution is contained in the tank 5, the liquid amount measuring sensor 92 on the left side and the liquid amount measuring sensor 93 on the right side, which are below the surface of the cleaning solution, are energized. Indicates that it is energized. Since the liquid amount measuring sensor 92 on the left side and the liquid amount measuring sensor 93 on the right side, which are above the liquid level of the cleaning solution, do not energize, the corresponding ammeter 99 indicates non-energizing. By checking the ammeter 99 by the current measuring circuit 95, the liquid amount of the cleaning solution can be known in stages.

Further, when the tank 5 is taken out from the apparatus main body 1, the liquid amount measuring sensor 93 and the liquid amount measuring sensor 92 that conducts electricity do not exist, so that the control circuit 100 described later cleans the inside of the tank 5. Judge that there is no solution.

The control circuit 100 receives the information from the power supply measuring circuit 95, and controls the sounding of a buzzer (not shown) as an informing means when the amount of liquid runs out. Further, control is performed to stop the supply pump 70 that supplies the cleaning solution to the bath water.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

When a start button (not shown) is pressed, the pump 45 operates and the bath water flows through the slit 14 into the water channel 81 of the apparatus main body 1. On the other hand, the control circuit 100 drives the supply pump 70 at preset time intervals, and the purification solution in the tank 5 flows out into the water channel 81. Then, the bath water and the purification solution are mixed in the water channel 81, the organic matter in the bath water is deposited and aggregated, and the deposited and aggregated organic matter and bath water flow into the filtration container 42. In the filtration container 42, only the precipitated and agglomerated organic substances are adsorbed by the filtering agent 47, whereby the bath water is purified. The purified bath water flows to the heating unit 80, and the main body control device (not shown) causes the heater 82 to function so that the temperature is set by the temperature setting button (not shown). Whether the temperature has reached the set temperature is input to the main body control device by the thermistor 83. The bath water flowing to the heating unit 80 is a water channel 87,
It is discharged from the nozzle 13 into the bathtub through 19.

When the main body of the circulating hot water bath is turned on, the control circuit 100 measures the remaining amount of the cleaning solution (step 1, hereinafter, step is represented by S). It is checked whether or not there is a measured remaining amount (S2). If there is no remaining amount measured, an alarm bell (not shown) is rung (S
3) stop driving the supply pump 70 (S4),
The processing shifts to S1.

When the measured liquid amount is still present, the light emitting diode of the display panel 98 corresponding to the remaining amount of the cleaning solution is turned on (S5).

Further, in the processing step of S4, it is checked whether or not the supply pump 70 is stopped (S6), and if it is stopped, the supply pump 70 is started to be driven (S7). Then, the process proceeds to S1. Control these while constantly checking the volume of the cleaning solution.

The processing step of S2 functions as a judgment means for determining whether or not the remaining amount of the cleaning solution reaches a predetermined amount, and further, in the processing step of S4, the cleaning solution reaches the predetermined amount. If it is determined that the function of the circulating hot bath machine is stopped, it functions as a control unit. As at least a part of the functions, the function of stopping the supply pump 70 for supplying the cleaning solution to the bath water, heating the other, and the function of circulating the bath water are working. Therefore, the bath water does not cool, and the bath can be immediately bathed by supplementing the purification solution.

When the cleaning solution may not be replenished for a long time, simply stopping the supply pump 70 causes the unpurified bath water to circulate, and the piping of the circulating hot water bath may be contaminated. The supply pump 70 and the pump 45 for circulating the bath water may be stopped. By doing so, the user can immediately know that the bath water is not circulated and therefore not purified.

Further, it is possible to stop all the functions such as the heating function. By doing so, the bath water is not kept warm and is cooled, so that the user does not enter the unpurified bath.

Further, in this embodiment, the case where the purification solution is used up as the predetermined amount has been described, but the predetermined amount can be set variably by the control panel.

As is clear from the above description, the circulating hot water bath of this embodiment is provided with the display means for displaying the remaining amount of the cleaning solution in stages, so that the remaining amount of the cleaning solution can be easily confirmed. be able to.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described in detail above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

For example, the display means in this embodiment is configured to use a plurality of light emitting diodes and to make the light emitting diodes corresponding to the remaining amount of the cleaning solution emit light.
It is also possible to use one light emitting diode instead of the plurality of light emitting diodes to emit light of a plurality of colors. With such a configuration, the space for arranging the light emitting diodes of the display panel can be reduced, and the size can be further reduced.

Furthermore, instead of a plurality of light emitting diodes,
Using the liquid crystal display, each of the liquid quantity measuring sensors 9
It is also possible to display the remaining amount of the cleaning solution corresponding to 2 as a numerical value. With this configuration, the user can immediately know the remaining amount of the purification solution more accurately.

Further, although the notification means of this embodiment is constituted by a buzzer, it is also possible to configure the light emitting diode to be turned on or blinked instead of the buzzer. With this configuration, even a hearing-impaired user can understand that the remaining amount of the cleaning solution has reached a predetermined amount.

Further, it is also possible to make the buzzer sound and simultaneously turn on the light emitting diode as the notification means. With this configuration, even a user who is visually and visually impaired can understand that the remaining amount of the cleaning solution has reached the predetermined amount.

Further, the liquid amount detecting means of the present embodiment is configured to measure the remaining amount of the purified solution by energizing the liquid amount measuring sensors 92, 93, and the liquid amount measuring sensor 92, 93 It is also possible to use a weight detection sensor instead of 93 and measure the liquid amount by the weight of the tank 5. With this configuration, it is possible to easily perform a more stepwise liquid amount detection.

Further, instead of the liquid amount measuring sensors 92 and 93, a light-emitting body is provided on one side of the tank guide tube 89, and a light receiving sensor is provided on the opposite side of the tank guide tube 89 with the tank 5 interposed therebetween. The remaining amount may be detected by the position where the light of the light emitter enters the light receiving sensor.

Further, by using the weight detecting sensor or the light emitting body and the light receiving sensor as the liquid amount detecting means and using the liquid crystal display as the displaying means, the remaining amount of the cleaning solution can be determined in real time. It is possible to obtain the effect that it can be displayed as a numerical value.

[0054]

As is apparent from the above description,
Since the circulating hot water bath of the present invention includes the display means for displaying the remaining amount of the cleaning solution in a stepwise manner, the remaining amount of the cleaning solution can be easily confirmed.

Further, since the notifying means for notifying when the amount of the cleaning solution reaches a preset amount is provided, the user can confirm the remaining amount of the cleaning solution without going to the place where the circulation warm bath machine is installed.

Further, since the control means for stopping the function of the circulating warm bath machine when the amount of the cleaning solution reaches a preset amount is provided, the user takes a bath in the bathtub where the cleaning solution is insufficient and cannot perform the cleaning function. It is possible to obtain the effect of being able to prevent this.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a circulating hot water bath of this embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a tank storing a cleaning solution.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a heating unit.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a display panel.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing of a control circuit.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an installation state of a circulating hot water bath in a bath.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Device Main Body 5 Tank 21 Green Light Emitting Diode 22 Red Light Emitting Diode 98 Display Panel 100 Control Circuit 104 Detector

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A circulating hot bath machine in which a certain amount of the purification solution is mixed into the bath water from a storage means storing the purification solution so that the bath water always has an appropriate water quality. A circulating hot bath machine, comprising: a liquid amount detecting unit for detecting the liquid amount; and a display unit for displaying the liquid amount of the cleaning solution detected by the liquid amount detecting unit. 2. Judgment means for judging whether or not the remaining amount of the purification solution detected by the liquid amount detection means has reached a predetermined amount, and when the determination means has determined that the purification solution has reached a predetermined amount. The circulating hot bath machine according to claim 1, further comprising an informing unit for informing. 3. The control unit according to claim 2, further comprising a control unit for stopping at least a part of the function of the circulating hot water bath when the determination unit determines that the amount of the purified solution reaches a predetermined amount. Circulating bath machine.