JPH1034150A - Ion water generator - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To prevent and notify abnormal temperature rise in a main body with a low-cost configuration without using a special safety device. A current detection unit detects an operation time and a pause time of electrolysis. The detected times are each multiplied by a preset correction coefficient, and the control time is subtracted from the value stored in advance by the control unit 46, and the pause time is added. Control unit 46
Determines whether the subtracted or added value exceeds a predetermined value and determines an abnormal temperature rise in the control device 30;
The notification unit 44 notifies the outside to the outside, and the control unit 46 sends an electrolysis stop signal to the drive circuit 43.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ionic water generating apparatus having an electrolytic cell for electrolyzing water to generate alkaline ionized water and acidic ionized water.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an ionic water generating apparatus, an ionic water generating apparatus provided with an electrolytic cell for electrolyzing water to generate alkaline ionic water and acidic ionic water is known.
In such an ion water generation device, an electrolysis transformer or the like is housed in a main body case in order to obtain a voltage when the voltage is applied to the electrolytic cell. The main body case has a waterproof structure in order to enhance hermeticity.

In such an ion water generator, if used continuously for a long period of time, the temperature of the electrolysis transformer and the drive circuit inside the main body of the ion water generator abnormally rises. In order to avoid destruction, a thermocut or a thermal fuse is provided as a device for preventing overheating. For example, a thermocut or a thermal fuse is provided in an electrolysis transformer or a radiating fin of a drive circuit inside the main body, and a current is supplied to the electrolytic cell via the overheat prevention device. When the battery is used continuously and the temperature becomes abnormally high, the electrolysis is forcibly stopped by the shut-off action of the overheating prevention device to avoid the danger of the main body. Further, a device has been developed in which the internal temperature is measured using a thermistor, and when the internal temperature of the main body case rises abnormally, the electrolysis is stopped by a control circuit.

[0004]

However, in a configuration employing a thermocut or a thermal fuse, there is a possibility that the mounting location is restricted because the component itself is large. Further, the thermocut has a drawback that the temperature rises so that it cannot be used unless the temperature drops considerably once the temperature rises because the temperature difference between ON and OFF of the operating temperature is large.
Further, the thermal fuse has a disadvantage that it cannot be restored once it operates. In addition, since the overheat prevention device (thermo-cut and temperature fuse) is used in a circuit for directly shutting off the electrolytic current irrespective of the control device, the electrolysis stop is not understood by the user, and it is difficult to use.

[0005] Further, in the overheat prevention device using a thermistor, it is possible to stop the electrolysis and to inform the user of the abnormality, but it is necessary to add a comparator or A / D conversion as a part. The control circuit becomes complicated, for example, the CPU must be used, which is not preferable from the viewpoint of the apparatus configuration such as cost increase.

[0006] In the above-described safety device, normally unnecessary parts must be used for the safety device, which raises costs and increases the complexity of the device configuration.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and provides an ionized water generation apparatus which can prevent abnormal temperature rise inside the apparatus main body due to electrolysis with a simplified configuration. The purpose is to:

[0008]

In order to achieve this object, an ion water generating apparatus according to claim 1 comprises an electrolytic cell for electrolyzing water to generate alkaline ionized water and acidic ionized water; Calculation means for calculating the operation time and pause time of decomposition, determination means for determining whether or not the electrolysis operation time calculated by the calculation means has reached a predetermined value, and electrolysis operation time having reached the predetermined value by the determination means Control means for stopping the electrolysis of the electrolytic cell when it is determined that the electrolysis cell has been stopped, and time setting means for increasing or decreasing the length of the continuous electrolysis time of the electrolytic cell according to the length of the pause time of the electrolytic cell.

Therefore, the electrolytic cell electrolyzes water to produce alkaline ionized water and acidic ionized water. The calculating means is
Calculate the electrolysis run time and downtime. The determination means determines whether or not the electrolysis operation time calculated by the calculation means has reached a predetermined value. The control means stops the electrolysis of the electrolytic cell when the determination means determines that the electrolysis operation time has reached a predetermined value. The time setting means automatically increases or decreases the length of the continuous electrolysis time of the electrolytic cell according to the length of the pause time of the electrolytic cell. Thus, the temperature change accompanying electrolysis is grasped by the operation state, and the electrolysis is controlled based on the operation state.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ion water generating apparatus, comprising: an operation means for measuring an electrolysis current flowing through the electrolytic cell and calculating an operation time and a pause time. Calculate the pause time. In this way, in the operation which is normally performed during the electrolysis control of measuring the current, the operation time relating to the temperature change is increased or decreased.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ion water generating apparatus including time setting means for performing an operation of subtracting an electrolysis operation time from a preset continuous operable time and adding an electrolysis suspension time. Then, the time setting means performs an operation of subtracting the electrolysis operation time from the preset continuous operable time and adding the electrolysis suspension time. Thus, the limitation of the operation time is automatically changed according to the driving situation.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ion water generating apparatus including a time setting means for increasing a continuous operable time within a range not exceeding a preset upper limit. The time setting means increases the continuous operable time within a range not exceeding a preset upper limit. Therefore, the operation time falls within the time scheduled for the electrolytic cell.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ion water generating apparatus including a time setting means for multiplying a preset correction coefficient by a continuous electrolysis of the electrolytic cell or a pause time. The time setting means multiplies a preset correction coefficient by the continuous electrolysis or the pause time of the electrolytic cell.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ion water generating apparatus including a time setting means using a correction coefficient in which the electrolysis operation time is 1 and the electrolysis suspension time is 0.5 or less. The time setting means sets the electrolysis operation time to 1 and the electrolysis suspension time to 0.1.
A correction coefficient of 5 or less is used.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ionic water generating apparatus including an informing means for informing the outside when the determining means determines that the electrolysis operation time has reached a predetermined value. The notification unit notifies the outside when the determination unit determines that the electrolysis operation time has reached a predetermined value.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the state of use of the ionic water generating apparatus of the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical connection of the apparatus and the connection of the water channel, and FIG. 3 is the electrical diagram of the apparatus. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the control device.

As shown in FIG. 1, the ionic water generator 1 of this embodiment includes a faucet side device 10 and a control device 30.

As shown in FIG. 1, a faucet side device 10 is provided with a nut 9 at the tip of a water discharge pipe 91 of a water tap as a water source.
2 and a joint with packing (not shown). As shown in FIG. 2, the faucet side device 10 includes a water inflow channel 11 and a raw water discharge channel 1 as flow channels through which water flows.
2. A water outlet 13 is provided. The water inflow path 11 is a flow path through which tap water from the water discharge pipe 91 flows into the faucet-side device 10. The raw water discharge passage 12 is a flow passage that discharges tap water from the water inflow passage 11 toward the raw water discharge port 14 below. The water outflow path 13 is a flow path for sending out tap water from the water inflow path 11 to the septic tank 21.

As shown in FIG. 2, the faucet side device 10 includes a switching lever 15, a flow path switching valve 16, and a detection sensor 17. The switching lever 15 can be positioned at either the raw water position or the ionized water position by a rotating operation. The flow path switching valve 16 is formed on the shaft of the switching lever 15 and switches between flowing the tap water from the water inflow path 11 to the raw water discharge path 12 and the water outflow path 13. That is, when the switching lever 15 is positioned at the raw water position, the flow path switching valve 16 allows the tap water flowing from the water inflow channel 11 to flow toward the raw water discharging channel 12, and when the switching lever 15 is positioned at the ion position. The flow path switching valve 16 flows tap water that has entered from the water inflow path 11 to the water outflow path 13. still,
The switching lever 15 turns on the water pressure switch 25 of the posterior operation only when it is positioned at the ionized water position. The detection sensor 17 is a sensor that outputs a detection signal to the control unit 46 of the control device 30 when the switching lever 15 is positioned at the ionized water position.

Further, the faucet side device 10 has a water purification tank 21 and an electrolytic tank 23 built therein. The water purifying tank 21 includes an activated carbon and a hollow fiber membrane filter, and is disposed so that water flowing through the water outflow passage 13 can pass therethrough. on the other hand,
The electrolytic cell 23 includes a pair of electrodes 231 and 232 and both electrodes 2.
An electrolytic cell (not shown) is provided between the cells 31 and 232, and the electrolytic cell 23 is divided into two chambers by this cell. The electrolytic cell 23 is arranged so that water (purified water) flowing through the water purifying tank 21 can pass therethrough. Further, a hydraulic switch 25 is provided on one of the electrodes 231 and 232 of the electrolytic cell 23. This water pressure switch 25
Is a switch that is turned on only when the switching lever 15 is positioned at the ionic water position and water is supplied to the electrolytic cell 23. Further, the faucet side device 10 includes each electrode 2 of the electrolytic cell 23.
An alkaline ionized water discharge port 26 communicating with 31, 232;
An acidic ionized water discharge port 27 is provided. The detailed internal configuration is described in Japanese Patent Application No. 7-256 filed by the present applicant.
See No. 436.

The control device 30 is installed directly on the upper surface of the sink 90 as shown in FIG. For this reason, the control device 30 is improved in hermeticity so as to isolate various contained devices from water. It has a so-called waterproof structure. This control device 30, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3,
The operation panel 40, the power supply unit 41, the current detection unit 42 (part of the calculation means of the second aspect of the present invention), the drive circuit 43, the notification unit 44 (the notification means of the seventh aspect of the invention), the control unit 46
(Computing means, determination means, control means, time setting means of the present invention).

The operation panel 40 has a pH intensity input section 40a and a display section 40b, as shown in FIGS. The pH intensity input unit 40a is an operation switch that switches the pH intensity in three stages of strong, medium, and weak.
An H intensity signal is output to the control unit 46. The display unit 40b
This LED indicates whether the pH intensity is set to strong, medium, or weak by the pH intensity input unit 40a.

As shown in FIG. 3, the power supply unit 41 transforms the voltage of the external power supply into two types of secondary voltages using a transformer 41a, rectifies the voltages with rectifier circuits 41b and 41b, respectively, and controls the control unit 46 and the electrolytic cell. 23 to supply power.

The drive circuit 43, as shown in FIG.
Amplifying circuit 4 for amplifying the duty signal from control unit 46
3a and FET which is turned on / off based on the duty signal
43b. That is, the drive circuit 43
The current flowing between the electrodes 231 and 232 of the electrolytic cell 23 is adjusted by a duty signal.

The current detecting section 42 is a detecting circuit for detecting a current flowing between the electrodes 231 and 232 of the electrolytic cell 23, as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3, the notification section 44 sounds and stops the buzzer 44b through a buzzer drive circuit 44a according to a signal from the control section 46. The buzzer 44b is for notifying that the temperature inside the main body is abnormally rising when the device is continuously used.

When a pH intensity signal is input from the pH intensity input unit 40a, the control unit 46 changes the display state of the display unit 40b according to the input pH intensity signal, or executes current control described later. Or to execute the abnormal temperature rise prevention control described later.

The control section 46 has a storage area in which a set current value (current control) is stored for each pH intensity signal.

In the schematic cross-sectional view of the control device 30 shown in FIG. 4, the control board 51 includes rectifier circuits 41b, 41b, a current detection unit 42, a drive circuit 43, an alarm unit 44, and a control unit 46. Are provided, and a key input / display substrate 52 is provided.
Is provided with a circuit portion of the operation panel 40. or,
The control device 30 is provided with radiation fins 53 for efficiently cooling the inside. The control unit 46 includes a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM as shown in FIG.
The program of the flowchart shown in FIG. 8 is stored in the program storage area of the ROM. Also RAM
Is provided with a subtraction time area, an operable time storage area, and the like used during the operation of the program.

Next, the operation of the ionized water generator 1 of this embodiment will be described.

When the switching lever 15 is positioned at the raw water position and tap water is supplied from the water discharge pipe 91,
The tap water passes through the raw water discharge passage 12 from the water inflow passage 11 of the faucet side device 10 via the flow path switching valve 16 and is supplied to the raw water discharge outlet 1.
It is released from 4 as it is.

When the switching lever 15 is positioned at the ionized water position and tap water is supplied from the water discharge pipe 91, the tap water flows from the water inflow path 11 of the faucet-side device 10 through the flow path switching valve 16 to the water flow. It circulates to the outgoing route 13 and the water purification tank 21
To the electrolytic cell 23. Then, the water pressure switch 25 is turned on, and a current flows between the electrodes 231 and 232 of the electrolytic cell 23. Further, the detection sensor 17 outputs a detection signal indicating that the switching lever 15 has been positioned to the ionized water position to the control unit 46.

At this time, the control unit 46 of the control device 30
Start current control. In other words, the pH intensity input unit 40a recognizes which of the strong, medium, and weak stages has been set, reads a set current value corresponding to that stage, and reads the set current value and the current value detected by the current detection unit 42. And the duty is controlled so as to match. Here, the current detection unit 42
Detects a current value based on a peak current value and a duty width (a conduction time in one cycle). The set current value is p
It is determined that the H intensity is the highest value in the case of the strong stage, and becomes smaller as it goes to the middle stage and the weak stage. For this reason, when the pH intensity is high, a large amount of current flows, so that electrolysis is promoted and highly alkaline ionic water is released, and when the pH intensity is low, only a small amount of current flows, so that the electrolysis is suppressed and low alkaline ionic water is reduced. Released. By such feedback control, the pH intensity of the alkaline ionized water discharged from the alkaline ionized water outlet 26 changes according to the stage set by the pH intensity input section 40a.

Next, control for preventing abnormal temperature rise will be described. FIG. 5 is a temperature graph in the control device 30 according to the electrolysis operation time and the electrolysis suspension time. The temperature in the control device 30 is controlled by the transformer 41a, the rectifier circuit 41b,
The temperature of the FET 43b and the like increases, and accordingly, the internal temperature also increases. Further, the internal temperature is lowered by radiating heat through the outer case due to the suspension of electrolysis. The temperature rise due to the electrolysis operation and the temperature decrease due to the suspension of the electrolysis are performed by the controller 3
Although it depends on the degree of sealing of 0, the heat dissipation characteristics are generally poor, and the temperature rise during the electrolysis operation time must be reduced unless the electrolysis suspension time is longer than the electrolysis operation time. Not tend to. The temperature rise and the temperature fall in the control device 30 are closely related to the electrolysis operation time and the electrolysis suspension time, and the internal temperature can be estimated by detecting the electrolysis operation time and the electrolysis suspension time.

FIG. 6 is a graph of the continuous operable time of the present invention in the repetition of the operation and the stop of the electrolysis.

The initial data storage area provided in the control unit 46 of the control device 30 stores T as a continuous operable time in advance.
1 (> 0: preset upper limit value according to claim 4) is stored. When the water pressure switch 25 is turned on and the current detection unit 42 detects the current, the control unit 46 measures the time during which the current is flowing as the electrolysis operation time T2 (> 0), and obtains a value obtained by multiplying the time by the correction coefficient α. It subtracts from the continuous possible operation time T1 and stores it as a new continuous possible operation time T11 in the subtraction time storage area provided in the control unit 46.

T1− (T2 × α) = T11 At this time, if the supply of tap water from the water discharge pipe 91 is stopped or the switching position of the switching lever 15 is switched to the raw water position, the current detecting unit 42 detects the current. The control unit 46 measures the time during which no current is flowing as the electrolysis suspension time T3, and adds it to the stored continuous operable time T11 as a value multiplied by the correction coefficient β to newly enable continuous operation. The time T12 is stored in the operable time storage area.

T11 + (T3 × β) = T12 As described above, each time the electrolysis is started or stopped, the above operation is repeated, and the latest continuous operable time is calculated and stored.
Thus, the temperature change accompanying electrolysis is grasped by the operation state, and the electrolysis is controlled based on the operation state. In addition, the operation time limit is automatically changed in accordance with the driving situation. Specifically, after a long-time electrolysis that is considered to have caused an increase in temperature, the next continuous electrolysis time is shortened. On the other hand, when it is considered that the temperature does not rise so much, the next continuous electrolysis time becomes longer. Since the measurement is based on the current measurement as described above, the operation time related to the temperature change is increased or decreased in the operation that is normally performed during the electrolysis control of measuring the current. Therefore, there is no need to provide a thermistor serving as a sensor, a circuit associated therewith, a harness, and the like, and the configuration is simplified.

The addition of the electrolysis suspension time T3 to the continuous operation possible time T12 is controlled by the control unit 46 so as not to exceed the continuous operation possible time T1 stored in advance.

(T12 ≦ T1) As described above, since the upper limit of the operation time is provided, the operation time falls within the scheduled time.

When the control unit 46 determines that the continuous operable time has reached the predetermined value T0 (<T1) by repeating the operation and stop of the electrolysis, the control unit 46 sends a signal to the notifying unit 44 to drive the buzzer. The buzzer 44b is sounded through the circuit 44a to notify the outside that the temperature inside the main body is abnormally high. Further, at this time, the control unit 46
An electrolysis off signal is sent to No. 3 to stop the electrolysis by turning off the FET 43b, thereby preventing the temperature inside the control device 30 from abnormally rising.

Since the temperature rise curve and the temperature fall curve (degree of inclination) in the apparatus do not always coincide with each other, it is desirable to calculate and store them as a value obtained by multiplying each of them by a correction coefficient, and change the correction coefficient according to the state of the apparatus. It is possible to easily achieve the optimum use state only by using the above. Specifically, the curve of the temperature rise and temperature fall of the device generally depends on the degree of sealing of the device, but the curve of the temperature drop is a gentler curve, and the internal temperature gradually increases with the same correction coefficient. There is a tendency. By setting the correction coefficient of the electrolysis suspension time to 0.5 or less, temperature rise and temperature fall can be matched.

If the above correction coefficient α is “1” or more and the correction coefficient β is “0 <β ≦ 0.5”, the longer the continuous electrolysis time or the shorter the pause time, the next continuous The electrolysis time (T12) can be automatically set short.

[0045]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the ionic water generating apparatus of the first aspect, the temperature change accompanying the electrolysis is grasped by the operation state, and the control of the electrolysis is performed based on the operation state. Since it is performed, the temperature state can be accurately grasped, and safety can be improved.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the operation time related to the temperature change is increased or decreased in the operation normally performed during the electrolysis control of measuring the current, it is not necessary to provide a special device separately. The electrolysis can be safely controlled with a simple configuration.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the limit of the operation time is automatically changed according to the operation condition, the operation time can be flexibly increased or decreased, and the safety is further improved. Can be done.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the continuous operation possible time is increased within a range not exceeding a preset upper limit, the operation time falls within the scheduled time, Safety can be reliably ensured.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the preset correction coefficient is multiplied by the continuous electrolysis of the electrolytic cell or the pause time, and the temperature rise and temperature decrease curves (degrees of inclination) inside the apparatus. However, even if they do not always match, the optimum use state can be easily realized only by changing the correction coefficient according to the state of the apparatus.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the operation time is set by using the correction coefficient in which the electrolysis operation time is 1 and the electrolysis suspension time is 0.5 or less. Even if the curve of the temperature decrease is gentler than that of the temperature increase, it is possible to favorably control both the rise and the fall.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, when the determination means determines that the electrolysis operation time has reached the predetermined value, the notification means notifies the outside to the outside.
The user can know the suspension of electrolysis and is convenient.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a state of use of an ionized water generator according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical connection and a connection of a water channel of the ionized water generator of the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an electric circuit diagram of the ionized water generator of the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view of a control device of the ionized water generator of the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a temperature graph according to electrolysis operation time and electrolysis suspension time in the control device of the ionized water generator of the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a graph of a continuous operable time in the repetition of the operation and the stop of the electrolysis of the ionized water generator of the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a control unit of the ionized water generator of the present embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing control of the ionized water generator of the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ionized water generator 10 Faucet side device 15 Switching lever 21 Water purifier 23 Electrolyzer 25 Water pressure switch 30 Control device 41 Power supply unit 42 Current detection unit 44 Notification unit 44a Buzzer drive circuit 44b Buzzer 46 Control unit

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An electrolytic cell for electrolyzing water to produce alkaline ionized water and acidic ionized water, an operation unit for calculating an electrolysis operation time and an electrolysis suspension time of the electrolytic cell, and an electrolysis operation by the operation unit Determining means for determining whether or not the time has reached a predetermined value; control means for stopping electrolysis of the electrolytic cell when the determining means determines that the electrolysis operation time has reached a predetermined value; and Time setting means for increasing or decreasing the length of the continuous electrolysis time of the electrolytic cell according to the length of the pause time of the tank. 2. The ionic water generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said arithmetic means measures an electrolysis current flowing through said electrolytic cell to calculate an operation time and a pause time. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the time setting means performs an operation of subtracting the electrolysis operation time from a preset continuous operable time and adding the electrolysis suspension time. Ion water generator. 4. The ionic water generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said time setting means increases the continuous operable time within a range not exceeding a preset upper limit value. 5. The ionic water generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said time setting means multiplies a preset correction coefficient by a continuous electrolysis or a pause time of said electrolytic cell. 6. The ionic water generator according to claim 5, wherein the correction coefficient is such that the electrolysis operation time is 1 and the electrolysis suspension time is 0.5 or less. 7. The ionic water generating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a notifying means for notifying to the outside when the determining means determines that the electrolysis operation time has reached a predetermined value.