JPH1057261A - Hot water circulator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To restrict the propagation of unwanted miscellaneous germs and microbes in the filter device of a hot water circulator. SOLUTION: For the filter device 20 of a hot water circulator 10, which circulates bathing water so that the bathing water, taken from inside a bathtub 32, is purified by the filter device 20, heated to a predetermined temperature, and then returned to the bath tub 32, a sterilizing heating means 28 is provided which heats the inside of the filter device 20 while preventing the bathing water from flowing inside the filter device 20 by closing a switching valve 19 provided in an intake piping system. The inside of the filter device 20 is heated, within the range of temperatures in which purifying germs excellent in heat resistance characteristic, that multiply in the filter device 20, can live on, and up to the temperature for extinguishing miscellaneous germs or microbes other than the purifying microbes, so as to restrict the propagation of unwanted miscellaneous germs or microbes.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

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

[0002]

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

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

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

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

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

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

[0008]

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

In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to newly provide a hot water circulator capable of restricting the propagation of unnecessary bacteria and microorganisms in a filtration device.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hot water circulator for removing bath water in a bath tub, purifying the bath water with a filtration device, heating the bath water to a predetermined temperature, and returning the bath water to the bath tub. A hot water circulator that circulates bath water through a piping system, wherein a valve for opening and closing is provided at a portion of the piping system on the water intake side from the filtration device so as to be able to control the flow of bath water to the filtration device, While operating the valve for opening and closing so that the bath water does not flow into the filtration device, a temperature within a temperature range at which purifying bacteria having excellent heat resistance and growing in the filtration device can inhabit. And sterilization heating means for directly heating the inside of the filtration device up to a temperature for killing unnecessary germs other than the purified bacteria or microorganisms, and the bathtub side of the piping system from the filtration device. Part in front of the filtration device during normal use And a switching valve for flowing the bath water to the bathtub side and switching and draining the bath water from the filtration device to the outside when the sterilizing heating means performs the sterilizing heating operation. I do.

With the above-described structure, the inside of the filtration device is heated to a required temperature by the heating means for sterilization in a state where the opening / closing valve is operated so that the bath water does not flow into the filtration device. In this way, it is possible to kill unnecessary germs or microorganisms and keep the bath water returned to the bathtub clean while keeping useful purification bacteria alive, and to switch the switching valve to the side that drains to the outside. Thereby, the hot water in the filtration device can be drained to the outside, and hot water can be prevented from entering the bathtub.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the bath water in the bath tub is taken, the bath water is purified by a filtration device, heated to a predetermined temperature, and then returned to the bath tub through a piping system. A hot water circulator that circulates, a bypass pipe connected so as to be able to flow bath water by bypassing a part of the filtration device of the pipe system, and a pipe in normal use of the pipe system for bath water;
Or a valve that can be switched to any one of the bypass pipes, and a valve that has been operated in the valve so that bath water flows through the bypass pipe, and has excellent heat resistance characteristics that are multiplied in the filtration device. A sterilizing heating means that directly heats the inside of the filtration device to a temperature within which a purifying bacterium can live, and to a temperature for killing unnecessary germs other than the purifying bacterium or microorganisms; It is characterized by having been provided.

[0013] With the above configuration, during the operation of heating and sterilizing the inside of the filtration device, the bath water is switched to the bypass piping of the piping system, and the bath water is bypassed to the portion of the filtration device so that the bath tub is flown. The bath water taken from is heated while passing through the heater, passes through a bypass pipe, and is sterilized by an ultraviolet sterilizer. Since the heated and sterilized bath water is returned to the bath tub in this manner, it is possible to perform the heat sterilization operation of the filtration device while maintaining the bath water in the bath tub at an appropriate bathing temperature.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the bath water in the bath tub is taken out, the bath water is purified by a filtration device, heated to a predetermined temperature, and then returned to the bath tub through a piping system. A circulating hot water circulator, wherein at least a portion of the piping system including the pump and the filtration device and the heater or the filtration device equipped with a heater is provided in the middle of the piping system so as to form a closed fluid circuit. A bypass pipe connecting the locations, and a temperature range in which bath water is allowed to circulate in a closed fluid circuit passing through the bypass pipe so that purified bacteria having excellent heat resistance and growing in the filtration device can inhabit. Inside, and while setting the bath water to be able to be heated by the heater to a temperature for killing unnecessary germs other than the purification bacteria or microorganisms, the bath water is used for piping in the piping system during normal use. Shed Characterized by providing a valve to be set, to.

With the above-described configuration, during the cleaning operation, the bath water is caused to flow in the closed fluid circuit including the filtration device so as to circulate, and the bath water is heated many times by the heater to increase the temperature. By flowing the high-temperature bath water for a required time, various bacteria in the entire inside of the closed fluid circuit including the filtration tank are killed. Further, excess floc generated in the filtration tank is dissolved in the circulating bath water to purify the filter medium and to purify the entire inner wall of the closed fluid circuit which is in contact with the bath water.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the hot water circulator according to any one of the first to third aspects, the purified bacterium having excellent heat resistance is a bacterium belonging to Bacillus subtilis. And

With the above-described structure, the bacteria belonging to Bacillus subtilis can inhabit even at extremely high temperatures of 100 degrees Celsius.
By setting the temperature to 00 ° C or lower, unnecessary germs and microorganisms can be sufficiently sterilized.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A schematic configuration of a first embodiment of a hot water circulator according to the present invention is shown in FIG. Part 1
2, a pump 16 for pumping bath water taken from the water intake unit 12 and circulating the bath water again into the bathtub 32, an ultraviolet sterilizer 18 as a sterilizer for sterilizing bacteria in the bath water, and a valve 19 for opening and closing. A large number of filter media 34, such as natural stones such as barley stone, for purifying the bath water, or granular ceramics formed by crushing and sintering such natural stones to form porous ceramics as a whole. A filtration tank 20, which is a filtration device, a switching valve 21, a heater 22 for heating the bath water to adjust the temperature of the bath water, and a discharge unit 24 for returning the purified and sterilized bath water to the bath 32. , Is provided.

The filtration tank 20 includes the filtration tank 2.
A heater 28 as a heating means for sterilization capable of heating the bath water within 0 to a temperature equal to or higher than the appropriate bathing temperature (100 degrees Celsius in the present embodiment) is mounted. The heater 28 includes a power supply 29 and a heating wire 31 connected to the power supply 29 and arranged in a coil shape in the filtration tank 20 so as to heat the bath water.

The water intake section 12, the pump 16,
Ultraviolet sterilizer 18, opening / closing valve 19, filtration tank 20, switching valve 21, heater 22, discharge unit 2
4 is connected by piping 26 constituting a series of piping systems, so that bath water is sent and circulated in these order,
In addition, in order to supply and drain the bath water, the water intake unit 12 and the discharge unit 2
4 is installed in the bathtub 32.

Further, the water intake section 12 of the hot water circulator body 10
A hair catcher 14 made of a material having open cells such as urethane foam is provided detachably with respect to the water intake unit 12 as a pre-filter for removing coarse dust such as hair in bath water. In the circulation path of the bath water of the hot water circulator body 10 in which the bath water is circulated, Ba is a bacterium belonging to Bacillus subtilis having excellent heat resistance.
cillus Subtilis ATCC6633 is attached.

As described above, if purified bacteria consisting of bacteria belonging to Bacillus subtilis adhere to the circulation path of the hot water circulator body 10 (for example, the filter medium 34 or the urethane foam of the water intake section 12), the bath is hot water. As the water circulates, the purified bacteria dissolve into the bath water. This purifying bacterium is used as a filter medium 34 such as granular ceramics in the filtration tank 20.
Surface, inside the porous pores of granular ceramics, and
It propagates in the peripheral part of the granular ceramic and further in other parts. As a result, organic matter secreted from the body in the bath water is decomposed and purified by the propagated purified bacteria.

Here, Bacillus Subtilis ATCC 6633 applied to the hot water circulator body 10 according to the present embodiment is as follows.
Like other bacteria belonging to Bacillus subtilis, it is a fungus that decomposes organic substances and certain inorganic substances and reproduces these organic substances and certain inorganic substances as nutrient sources. Also, Bacill
us Subtilis ATCC 6633, like other bacteria belonging to Bacillus subtilis, is capable of inhabiting in a high-temperature atmosphere.For example, it has a heat-resistant property that it can inhabit in hot water of 70 to 100 degrees Celsius. Have.

The bacterium belonging to Bacillus subtilis is
By applying a liquid containing a water-soluble paste such as vinyl acetate and a bacterium belonging to Bacillus subtilis, followed by drying, the liquid can be adhered to various parts.

[0025] Of the unnecessary bacteria or microorganisms having no heat resistance other than purifying bacteria such as those belonging to Bacillus subtilis used in hot water circulators, for example, Escherichia coli and staphylococci are 45 degrees Celsius to 50 degrees Celsius. Death in degrees.

Next, the operation and use of the hot water circulator of the first embodiment configured as described above will be described.

First, in a normal use state, the pump 16 is operated, and the hair catcher 14 removes relatively large debris such as hair, towel lint, and a portion of red deposits from the water intake section 12 in the bathtub 32. The bath water is taken in and sent to the ultraviolet sterilizer 18 through the pipe 26. UV sterilizer 18
Then, the bath water is irradiated with ultraviolet rays and sterilized. The sterilized bath water is sent to a filtration tank 20 via an opening / closing valve 19 opened through a pipe 26.

In the filtration tank 20, the filtration tank 20
The filter medium 34, which is a porous granular ceramic such as barley stone or Chris Pearl, filled in the inside, contains organic substances (for example, amino acids and proteins contained in body fluids, or keratinized skin, sweat, ammonia, Color components, odor components, germs, etc.) are adsorbed. Thus, the organic matter adsorbed on the porous granular ceramics is decomposed by the action of purifying bacteria such as bacteria belonging to Bacillus subtilis growing in the filtration tank 20, and the bath water is purified.

The bath water filtered in the filtration tank 20 is sent to a heater 22 through a switching valve 21 through a pipe 26, where it is heated to an appropriate temperature for bathing (about 42 to 43 degrees Celsius). Then, it is returned from the discharge section 24 into the bathtub 32 through the pipe 26.

As described above, the bath water is circulated through the hot water circulator, whereby the bath water in the bath tub 32 is sequentially purified and maintained at a predetermined hot water temperature.

If the above-mentioned use condition is continued for a long period of time, various bacteria and the like which could not be completely sterilized by the ultraviolet sterilizer 18 flow into the filtration tank 20 and grow there. In such a case, a heat sterilization switch (not shown) of the hot water circulator is turned on. Then, the pump 16 is stopped by a command from a control unit (not shown) or manually, the opening / closing valve 19 is closed, and the bath water is prevented from being supplied into the filtration tank 20. Also,
The switching valve 21 is switched to the drain port 23 side, so that the bath water in the filtration tank 20 can be drained to the outside.

In this state, the heater 28 of the filtration tank 20
, The heating wire 31 is energized for a predetermined time from the power source 29,
The bath water in the filtration tank 20 is heated to about 50 degrees Celsius to about 100 degrees Celsius, and heat sterilization for killing various bacteria and unnecessary microorganisms is performed for about one hour. At this time, even in the hot water of 50 degrees Celsius to 100 degrees Celsius, since the bacteria belonging to Bacillus subtilis live without dying, even if the bath water is circulated again after the end of the heat sterilization work, The purification effect of bath water by bacteria belonging to Bacillus subtilis is not impaired. Heating temperature and heating time for this heat sterilization, depending on the type of bacteria or microorganisms to be heat sterilized,
It can be changed and set as appropriate. Heating time ends and heater 28
Is stopped, the opening / closing valve 19 is opened, and the pump 16
Is operated to feed the bath water into the filtration tank 20, and the hot water in the filtration tank 20 is drained from the drain port 23 to the outside.

In this way, when the hot water is no longer drained from the filtration tank 20, the switching valve 21 is switched so that the bath water flows to the heater 22 side, and the bath water discharged from the filtration tank 20 is passed through the heater 22 to an appropriate temperature. Then, the state is returned to the normal use state in which the water is refluxed in the bathtub 32. Further, since the hot water is not refluxed into the bathtub 32 as described above, the bathwater in the bathtub 32 can be prevented from becoming higher than a predetermined temperature.
During the bathing, heat sterilization of the filtration tank 20 can be performed.

In the first embodiment described above, the heater 22 for heating the bath water is provided separately from the heater 28 of the filtration tank 20, but this heater 22 is omitted and the heater of the filtration tank 20 is omitted. By 28, the bath water in the bathtub 32 may be configured to be maintained at a predetermined temperature.

Next, a hot water circulator according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to a schematic configuration diagram of a piping system in FIG. In the second embodiment, during heat sterilization in the filtration tank, only the portion of the filtration tank in the piping system is switched to the bypass pipe so that the bath water does not pass therethrough, and the circulation of the bath water is continued while the circulation of the bath water is continued. It is configured to perform heat sterilization.

That is, in the piping system of this hot water circulator,
The piping 26 is connected so that bath water taken from the bathtub 32 is sent to the pump 16 through a check valve 34. Further, the pump 16 is connected to the heater 22 by a pipe 26, and is connected to the filtration tank 20 through the first three-way valve 36 by the pipe 26. At the same time, the pipe 26 is connected from the filtration tank 20 to a second three-way valve 38 and a check valve 40 that is connected downstream of the second three-way valve 38.
The check valve 40 is connected to the ultraviolet sterilizer 18 by a pipe 26A, and the ultraviolet sterilizer 18 is connected by a pipe 26 to return bath water to the bathtub 32. Further, a bypass pipe 42 is provided from the first three-way valve 36 to a part of a pipe 26A downstream of the check valve 40 and upstream of the ultraviolet sterilizer 18. Further, a drain pipe 44 is connected to the second three-way valve 38.

Next, the operation and the method of use of the hot water circulator according to the second embodiment configured as described above will be described.

In a normal use state for bathing the hot water circulator, the first three-way valve 36 is manually operated so that bath water flows from the pipe 26 connected to the heater 28 to the pipe 26 connected to the filtration tank 20. Alternatively, it is switched by a control device (not shown). Further, the second three-way valve 38 is connected to the filtration tank 2
The flow is switched manually or by a control device (not shown) so that bath water flows from the pipe 26 connected to zero to the pipe 26 connected to the check valve 40.

In this state, the pump 16 is operated, and the bathtub 3
2 is withdrawn, the check valve 34 and the pump 16
Then, it is sent to the heater 22 and heated to a proper bathing temperature in the heater 22. The bath water heated by the heater 22 is sent to the filtration tank 20 through the first three-way valve 36 and is filtered. The heated and filtered bath water is used for the second
Through the three-way system 38 and the check valve 40, the ultraviolet sterilizer 1
It is sent to 8 and sterilized. Thereby, the heated, filtered, and further sterilized bath water is returned into the bathtub 32.

Next, the case of performing the heat sterilization treatment in the filtration tank 20 will be described. In this case, the first three-way valve 36 is connected to the heater 2 manually or by a control device (not shown).
The flow is switched so that bath water flows from the pipe 26 connected to 6 to the bypass pipe 42.

Thus, the operation of the pump 16 allows the bathtub 3
The bath water taken from the pump 2 passes through the check valve 34 and the pump 16 and is heated while passing through the heater 22.
Then, it passes through the bypass pipe 42 and the pipe 26A, and is sent to the ultraviolet sterilizer 18 to be sterilized. The bath water heated and sterilized in this manner is returned to the bathtub 32.

At the same time, a heater (not shown) in the filtration tank 20 is energized, and the bath water inside the filter tank 20 is cooled to 50 degrees Celsius.
To about 100 degrees Celsius, and heat sterilization for killing various germs and unnecessary microorganisms for about 1 hour, and thereafter, the second three-way valve 38 is manually or by a control device (not shown) to set the filtration tank 20 in the filtration tank 20.
Is switched so that the bath water flows from the pipe 26 connected to the drain pipe 44 to the drain pipe 44. Thereby, the bath water heated to a high temperature for heat sterilization in the filtration tank 20 is drained to the outside. Next, the first three-way valve 36 and the second three-way valve 38 are returned to the above-described normal use state for bathing, and the heat sterilization process in the filtration tank 20 is completed.

Since the structure, operation, and effect of the second embodiment other than those described above are the same as those of the first embodiment, the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the details thereof will be described. Detailed description is omitted.

Next, a hot water circulator according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the schematic configuration diagrams of a piping system shown in FIGS. The third embodiment is configured to circulate and wash water only inside the hot water circulator.

In the piping system of the hot water circulator, the bath water taken from the bathtub 32 is sent to the check valve 46 through the pipe 26, and is sent from the check valve 46 to the pump 16 by the pipe 26B. Further, the heater 22 is connected to the pump 16.
, And then connected to the filtration tank 20 and subsequently to the ultraviolet sterilizer 18 by pipes 26 respectively. From this ultraviolet sterilizer 18, the first
Connected to the three-way valve 48 and further connected to the second three-way valve 50
6 are connected. The pipe 26 is connected to the second three-way valve 50 so as to return the bath water to the bathtub 32.

Further, on the downstream side of the check valve 46, the pump 16
A portion of a pipe 26 </ b> B corresponding to the upstream side of the valve and the second three-way valve 50 are connected by a bypass pipe 52. Further, a drain pipe 54 is connected to the first three-way valve 48.

Next, an operation and a method of using the hot water circulator according to the third embodiment configured as described above will be described.

In a normal use state for bathing in the hot water circulator, the first three-way valve 48 is connected to the pipe 26 connected to the ultraviolet sterilizer 18 from the pipe 26 connected to the second three-way valve 50.
The flow is switched manually or by a control device (not shown) so that the bath water flows. Further, the second three-way valve 50 is
The flow is switched manually or by a control device (not shown) so that the bath water flows from the pipe 26 connected to the three-way valve 48 to the pipe 26 fed to the bathtub 32.

In this state, the pump 16 is operated, and the bathtub 3
The bath water in 2 is taken and sent from the check valve 46 to the heater 22 through the pump 16 through the pipe 26B.
In the bath is heated to a proper temperature. The bath water heated by the heater 22 is sent to the filtration tank 20 and is filtered. The heated and filtered bath water is sent to the ultraviolet sterilizer 18 for sterilization. Thereby, the heated, filtered, and further sterilized bath water is returned to the bathtub 32 through the first three-way valve 48 and the second three-way valve 50.

Next, the case of performing the heat sterilization treatment in the filtration tank 20 will be described. In this case, the control is switched manually or by a control device (not shown) so that the bath water flows from the pipe 26 connecting the second three-way valve 50 to the first three-way valve 48 to the bypass pipe 52.

Thus, the pump 1 is installed in the hot water circulator.
6, heater 22, filtration tank 20, ultraviolet sterilizer 1
8, the first three-way valve 48, and the second three-way valve 50 in order,
A closed fluid circuit that returns to the pump 16 again is configured. The operation of the pump 16 causes the bath water to continuously circulate in the closed fluid circuit.

As described above, when the bath water circulates in the closed fluid circuit, the bath water is heated many times by the heater 22 and the bath water is not cooled. Gradually rises to a high temperature of about 50 to 100 degrees Celsius. The high-temperature bath water is supplied to the filtration tank 2
When the water is flowed for about 1 hour in the filter tank 20, various bacteria other than the purified bacteria that can survive even in high-temperature bath water can be killed in the filtration tank 20. Furthermore, various bacteria other than the purified bacteria can be killed also in the entire inside of the closed fluid circuit.

Further, the high-temperature bath water flows through the filtration tank 20, so that the excess flocs generated in the filtration tank 20 are dissolved into the circulating bath water to purify the filter medium. Further, the entire inner wall of the closed fluid circuit that contacts the bath water can be purified.

During the heat sterilization treatment, the heating amount of the heater 22 is increased to improve the sterilizing action, the water supply power of the pump 16 is improved, the flow rate of the bath water is increased, and the purifying action is improved. May be. In addition, the filtration tank 20
, A heater may be independently provided, and the bath water may be heated by this heater.

After the above-mentioned sterilization treatment is performed for a predetermined time,
After performing sufficient sterilization and purification, the first three-way valve 48 is
The bath water is switched manually or by a control device (not shown) from the pipe 26 connected to the ultraviolet sterilizer 18 to the drain pipe 54, and the bath water containing excess flocs and other contaminants in the closed fluid circuit is discharged to the outside. To prevent dirt from entering the bathtub.

After the above-mentioned heat sterilization operation is completed,
The first three-way valve 48 and the second three-way valve 50 return to the above-described normal use state for bathing, and return to the normal use state.

If this heat sterilization treatment is carried out every required period, such as every other month, the generation of turbidity and odor due to various bacteria in the bath water can be suppressed. Further, the filtration tank 20
Since the floc attached to the filter medium inside is also reduced, the operation of manually cleaning the filter medium can be omitted.

In each of the above embodiments, the purifying bacteria
Although it was a configuration using Bacillus Subtilis ATCC 6633, other microorganisms belonging to Bacillus subtilis, or other microorganisms not belonging to Bacillus subtilis, can decompose the above-mentioned organic substances, and furthermore, such as staphylococci and E. coli. As long as it is a microorganism that can live even at a temperature at which various bacteria can be sterilized, it may be used instead of Bacillus Subtilis ATCC 6633.

[0059]

According to the present invention, there is an excellent effect that unnecessary germs and microorganisms can be restricted from growing in a filtration device in a hot water circulator.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a conceptual configuration of a first embodiment of a hot water circulator according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a fluid circuit diagram showing a conceptual configuration of a piping system in a hot water circulator according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a fluid circuit diagram in a normal use state showing a conceptual configuration of a piping system in a third embodiment of the hot water circulator according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a fluid circuit diagram showing a conceptual configuration of a piping system in a third embodiment of a hot water circulator according to the present invention, when bath water circulates through a closed fluid circuit.

FIG. 5 is a fluid circuit diagram when a bath water is drained from a closed fluid circuit showing a conceptual configuration of a piping system in a third embodiment of the hot water circulator according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Hot water circulator main body 16 Pump 19 Opening / closing valve 20 Filtration tank (filtration device) 21 Switching valve 22 Heater 23 Drain outlet 26 Piping 28 Heater (sterilization heating means) 32 Bath tub 36 First three-way valve (Valve) 38 Second three-way valve (valve) 42 Bypass pipe 44 Drain pipe 48 First three-way valve (valve) 50 Second three-way valve (valve) 52 Bypass pipe 54 Drain pipe

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Agency reference number FI Technical indication location C02F 3/10 B01D 35/02 J F24H 1/00 302 0391-3L F24H 1/00 602L

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A hot water circulator for taking bath water in a bath tub, purifying the bath water with a filtration device, heating the bath water to a predetermined temperature, and then circulating the bath water through a piping system so as to return the bath water to the bath tub. An opening / closing valve provided at a portion of the piping system on the water intake side of the filtration device so as to be able to control the flow of bath water to the filtration device; and operating the opening / closing valve to enter the filtration device. In a state where the bath water is prevented from flowing, the temperature is within a temperature range in which the purified bacteria having excellent heat-resistant properties grown in the filtration device can inhabit, and unnecessary bacteria other than the purified bacteria, Or a sterilizing heating means for directly heating the inside of the filtration device to a temperature for killing microorganisms, to a portion of the piping system closer to the bathtub than the filtration device, and from the filtration device to the bathtub side during normal use. Pour bath water, and the sterilizing heating means A hot water circulator, comprising: a switching valve that switches and drains bath water from the filtration device to the outside when the sterilizing heating operation is performed. 2. A hot water circulator for taking bath water in a bath tub, purifying the bath water with a filtration device, heating the bath water to a predetermined temperature, and then circulating the bath water through a piping system so as to return the bath water to the bath tub. A bypass pipe connected so as to allow bath water to flow around the filtration device in the pipe system, and the bath water can be switched to one of a pipe for normal use of the pipe system and a bypass pipe for flowing. And a valve within which the purified water having excellent heat-resistant properties, which has been grown in the filtration device, can inhabit, in a state in which the valve is operated so that bath water flows through the bypass pipe. And
And a heating means for sterilization for directly heating the inside of the filtration device to a temperature for killing unnecessary germs or microorganisms other than the purified bacteria. 3. A hot water circulator for taking bath water in a bath tub, purifying the bath water with a filtration device, heating the bath water to a predetermined temperature, and circulating the bath water through a piping system so as to return the bath water to the bath tub. A bypass pipe connecting at least two points in the piping system so that a pump and a part including the filtration device and a heater or the filtration device with a heater are formed as a closed fluid circuit. Flowing bath water in a closed fluid circuit passing through the bypass pipe so as to circulate, within a temperature range in which purified bacteria having excellent heat resistance and growing in the filtration device can inhabit,
And, while setting the bath water to be able to be heated by the heater to a temperature for killing unnecessary germs other than the purifying bacteria or microorganisms, the bath water is set to flow through the pipe of the pipe system during normal use. A hot water circulator characterized by comprising: 4. The hot water circulator according to claim 1, wherein the purifying bacterium having excellent heat resistance is a bacterium belonging to Bacillus subtilis.