JPH1114157A - Bathtub equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To sterilize or sterilize and purify various bacteria that grow in a bathtub water or a water circuit of the bathtub water. A bathtub apparatus for purifying bathtub water 1 comprises:
Means for disinfecting and purifying with the sparingly soluble silver salt 19 provided in a part of the water circuit, means for automatically heating by the heating source 7 and disinfecting at a high temperature,
A means for automatically backwashing and draining the contaminated components filtered and purified by the filter medium 9 of the filter tank 10 to regenerate the filter medium 9, and automatically supplying water from the water supply unit 6 via the circulation adapter 3 to dilute and replace the bathtub water 1. By purifying the bathtub water 1 and the water circuit of the bathtub water 1 by the combined effect with the means to perform, even if a plurality of people continuously enter the bath or use the bathtub water 1 continuously, the circulation water circuit is always clean, It can be kept clean.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bathtub device which can keep bathtub water clean by circulating and sterilizing and purifying bathtub water.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, circulating purification of bathtub water in a bathtub is shown in FIG.
It was a bathtub device as shown in FIG.

The bathtub water 1 contains a return pipe 4 connected to a return portion of a circulation adapter 3 attached to the bathtub 2, a circulation pump 5, a switching valve A6, a heating source 7, a switching valve B8, and a filtration tank filled with a filter material 9. 10, a circulation circuit 5 circulates a water circuit composed of an outgoing pipe 12 connected to an outgoing portion of the circulation adapter 3 through the switching valve C11, and filters the dirt components of the bathtub water 1 into the filtration tank 10 in the filtration tank 9. Purify by filtration. When the filter medium 9 of the filter tank 10 is clogged with a dirt component (relatively large scale particles or the like) of the bath water 1, the switching valve B8 and the switching valve C11 are switched to the backwash passage side, and the circulation pump 5 using the bath water 1 is used. The filter medium 9 was backwashed, washed and drained, and drained from the drain pipe 13.

[0004]

However, in the conventional bathtub apparatus, relatively large dirt particles (approximately 10 microns or more), which are merely dirt components of bathtub water, are filtered and purified by a filter tank provided in a water circuit. However, when a plurality of people take a bath continuously or use bath water continuously, various kinds of bacteria of fine particles (about 1 micron) generated by mixing various kinds of bacteria attached to the bather into the bath water. (General bacteria, Escherichia coli, etc.)
The filtration and purification of the relatively large scale particles (approximately 10 microns or more) due to insufficient filtration and purification ability
It is possible to achieve a certain turbidity, the turbidity being limited to 1.5-3 ° levels.

[0005] The water circuit is also liable to become dirty and unclean. Especially, the connection parts of the circulation pump, the heating source, the filtration tank, the various switching valves, the outgoing pipe, the return pipe, and the circulation adapter are formed by a concavo-convex structure. The flow of water is poor (large turbulence), and dirt, which is a nutrient source for various bacteria, tends to accumulate, making the environment easy for various bacteria to multiply. As described above, since the bathtub water is circulated in a state in which various bacteria multiply in the bathtub water, the number of general bacteria generally varies depending on various bathing conditions on the next day, although 10 ⁵
The turbidity rises to a level of 〜１０10 ⁶ / ml. In addition to turbidity, smell, and slime, dirt and general bacteria adversely affect dirt on a water line of a bath tub, and thus tend to be unclean.
In order to clean and clean them, the bathtub water must be constantly replaced and the bathtub must be cleaned or forcibly cleaned by adding a cleaning agent and circulating cleaning. This is a problem that the operation is troublesome.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides, as a bathtub device, means for disinfecting and purifying bathtub water using a sparingly soluble silver salt provided in a part of a water circuit, and a bathtub using a heating source. A means for automatically heating water to perform high-temperature sterilization and purification, a means for automatically back-washing and draining bath components from a bath tub to a filter medium, and a means for regenerating the filter medium, and a part of a water circuit. By automatically supplying water to the bathtub from the water supply unit via the adapter for circulation, and by means combined with means for diluting and replacing bathtub water,
It purifies not only the bathtub water but also the water circuit composed of the circulating adapter, return pipe, circulating pump, various switching valves, filtration tank and outgoing pipe.

According to the above invention, various bacteria in the bath water and the water circuit are brought into contact with the hardly soluble silver salt and sterilized or bacteriostatic by the silver ions eluted in a trace amount, and the dirt component such as the dirt of the bath water is filtered off by the filtration tank. Filtration and purification with filtration media, and backwashing and drainage of the filtered and filtered dirt components at regular intervals with bath water or water supply. In addition to suppressing the growth of various bacteria by reducing effect, fresh water is automatically supplied to the bathtub water at regular time intervals, so that bathtub water and dirt components in the water circuit can be easily filtered and purified by the filter tank, and fresh water is added to the bathtub. To dilute the turbidity of the bath water and visually reduce the turbidity. In addition, bath tub water is automatically heated at predetermined time intervals by a heating source, so that various bacteria in the outgoing passage of the water circuit can be sterilized by high-temperature heating. Thus, silver ion sterilization means,
Due to the combined effect of the backwashing drainage means, the water supply means and the heating means, the bathtub water and the water circuit can always be kept clean. In addition, by keeping the bathtub water and the water circuit clean and clean at all times, a plurality of people can continuously take a bath or use the bathtub water continuously.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention provides a circulating pump provided in a part of a water circuit for circulating bath water, a heating source for heating the bath water, a filtration tank for filtering the bath water, a bath and a water circuit. A circulation adapter for connecting the water circuit, a sparingly soluble silver salt for sterilizing the water circuit and bathtub water in a part of the water circuit, and a water supply unit for supplying water to the bathtub, and a means for automatically supplying water to the bathtub at regular intervals. ,
By providing a means for automatically backwashing and draining the filtration tank at regular intervals using water supply or bath water, and a means for automatically heating bath water at regular intervals using a heating source, the contact with the hardly soluble silver salt and In addition to the sterilization or bacteriostatic effect of various disinfections due to a small amount of eluted silver ions, dirt components such as bath water dirt are filtered and purified with a filter material in a filtration tank, and the filtered and purified dirt components are automatically backwashed at regular intervals. By washing and draining, the regeneration effect of the purification ability, and by automatically supplying water to the bathtub at regular intervals, sediments such as dirt on the uneven configuration portion of the water circuit are washed or reduced by the water supply capacity of the water supply and various bacteria are removed. Of the bathtub water and the dirt components in the water circuit are easily filtered and purified by the filter tank. Water supply to the bathtub water dilutes the turbidity and reduces the turbidity visually. Automatic heating Ri, and the high-temperature sterilization with hot water forward passage of the water circuit, these combined effects, always clean bath water or water circuit can be kept clean.

Further, by using granular silver chloride, a silver chloride plate, a silver chloride supporting cloth, and a silver chloride supporting nonwoven cloth as the hardly soluble silver salt, the granular silver chloride and the silver chloride plate pass through a water circuit, particularly a filtration tank. Fill the part between the tubes with a resin-made holder and replace it with a bathtub with no replacement for the long term and long service life. The silver-carrying cloth and the silver chloride-carrying non-woven cloth are mounted on a resin-made holder and installed on the bathtub wall. The combined effect of the silver chloride plate and the silver chloride-carrying cloth and the silver chloride-carrying non-woven cloth makes it possible to increase the contact area, facilitate contact sterilization or elute silver ions, and further enhance the sterilizing effect.

[0010] Further, after the water is automatically backwashed and drained using bath water, the bath water is heated to a set temperature by means of automatic heating, and the water is automatically supplied to the bath through a water circuit by a water supply unit, whereby the filtration bath is drained. Backwashing and draining of dirt components such as dirt that has been filtered and purified by a filter medium adds filtration capability to the regenerating effect and reduces the amount of bathtub water. Then, the bath water with a reduced bath water volume is heated to a set temperature to sterilize various bacteria in the bath passage and a part of the bath water at a high temperature by heating at a high temperature. Can be reduced, that is, energy can be saved.
Further, by supplying water to the bathtub through the water circuit by the water supply unit, the dilution ratio of turbidity is increased to reduce visual turbidity, and the set temperature of the bathtub water to be heated and sterilized as the high-temperature heat sterilization is about 30 to 30 ° C. The temperature of 40 ° C. and the bathable low temperature of about 35 to 40 ° C. is lowered from the generally-known high temperature range of the growth of various bacteria to a low temperature so as to suppress the growth of various bacteria, thereby making the bathtub water turbid. It is possible to reduce bad smell, slime and dirt on the waterline.

[0011] Further, as the water supply from a water supply unit provided in a part of the water circuit, water containing residual chlorine is supplied, and the supplied water containing residual chlorine reaches a circulation adapter via a water circuit. By supplying the residual chlorine-containing water to the entire water circuit, various bacteria growing in the water circuit are more effectively sterilized, and the residual chlorine-containing water is also supplied to a part of the bathtub water so that the bathtub is supplied. Various bacteria in the water can be sterilized or bacteriostatically purified at the same time.

Further, after the residual chlorine-containing water supplied from the water supply section reaches the circulating adapter through the water circuit, the water supply is stopped, and the residual chlorine-containing water is retained in the water circuit for a certain period of time. Various kinds of bacteria growing in the circuit can be more reliably sterilized, and the bath water has a low diffusion dilution ratio, so that various kinds of bacteria in the bath water can be more effectively sterilized and purified.

Further, by providing a means for heating the residual chlorine-containing water, various bacteria can be more reliably and effectively sterilized and purified by the combined use of heating and residual chlorine.

Further, after the residual chlorine-containing water heated by the heating means is supplied to the water circuit, the residual chlorine-containing water not heated by the heating means is supplied to the water circuit, whereby the heated residual chlorine-containing water is supplied. Use chlorine-containing water to reduce the adhesion of dirt etc. deposited on the uneven parts of the water circuit to make it easy to peel off, sterilize with heating and residual chlorine in combination, and supply unheated residual chlorine-containing water. In addition to cooling the components of the water circuit to improve the durability, the thermal decomposition of the residual chlorine is delayed, the residual chlorine concentration is maintained, and the sterilizing effect is further increased, and various sterilizations can be double-sterilized.

[0015] Further, by increasing the temperature of the feed water or the residual chlorine-containing water heated by the heating means to 55 ° C. or more, even if the residual chlorine concentration is reduced, various bacteria by the high-temperature heated water are sterilized at a high temperature, The synergistic effect of residual chlorine sterilization and high-temperature heat sterilization can shorten the sterilization time.

Furthermore, since tap water is used as the residual chlorine-containing water supplied from the water supply section, the water supplied to ordinary households can be used, so that purification is excellent in convenience and economy. Can be.

(Embodiment 1) Hereinafter, a purifying means of a bathtub apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
Note that the same components as those in the related art are denoted by the same reference numerals and will be described.

In FIG. 1, when a circulating pump 5 is operated by a signal from a control unit, a bath tube water 1 returns to a return pipe 4 connected to a return portion of a circulating adapter 3 attached to a bathtub 2 which is a part of a water circuit. Circulation pump 5, switching valve A6, switching valve D1
4. The filtration tank 10 passes through the heating source 7 for heating the bathtub water 1 and flows downward from the switching valve B8 in the upper passage 15 of the filtration tank 10.
A relatively large dirt particle contamination component is purified by the filter material 9 filled in the filter. The purified bathtub water 1 passes through the switching valve C11, and is provided with a resin holder 19 to which a silver chloride plate 18 having a rectangular cylindrical shape as a hardly soluble silver salt shown in FIG. . Since the resin holder 19 circulates the purified bathtub water 1 to remove dirt components such as dirt and hair in the bathtub water 1, the dirt components adhere to the surface of the silver chloride plate 18. Thus, silver ions can always be eluted quantitatively without any need for such treatment.
The bath water 1 containing the silver ions is supplied to the tubing 2 connected to the circulating adapter 3 attached to the tub 2 and returns to the tub 2 from the circulating adapter 3 until the circulating pump 5 is stopped by a signal from the controller. Water 1 circulates. Bathtub 2
As shown in FIG. 2 (b), a resin-made holding case 21 is provided with a silver chloride-supporting nonwoven fabric 20 having a corrugated shape as shown in FIG. 2 (b). Various bacteria in 1 are sterilized or sterilized by silver ions. When the filter medium 9 filled in the filter tank 10 is clogged with dirt components (relatively large dirt particles, etc.) of the bathtub water 1, the circulation pump 5 is temporarily stopped by a signal from the control unit, and the switching valve D14 is set to the bypass passage 16 side. Then, the switching valve B8 and the switching valve C11 are switched to the backwashing drainage side. Then, the circulation pump 5 is operated again to use the bathtub water 1, and the switching valve D14, the bypass passage 16, the lower backwash passage 1
7. After passing through the switching valve C11, the filter medium 9 filled in the filtration tank 10 is backwashed and washed in an upward flow, and the bathtub water 1 washed and backwashed is drained from a drain pipe 13 connected to the switching valve B8. When the bathtub water 1 in the bathtub 2 is drained for a certain period of time, the circulation pump 5 is stopped by a signal from the control unit, the switching valve A6 is switched back to the circulation water circuit side, and fresh water is supplied from the switching valve A6 at a constant rate. By passing a large amount of water, it is possible to wash and purify the accumulation of dirt, which is a nutrient source of various bacteria in the return circulation water circuit, and to supply water to the bathtub water 1, thereby diluting turbidity and visually reducing turbidity. be able to.

Next, the hardly soluble silver salt will be described in detail. The sparingly soluble silver salt has a very small amount of silver ions dissolved in ppm to ppb, and silver chloride, silver bromide, silver iodide and the like are common chemical substances. In the present invention, the bactericidal or bacteriostatic effect is taken into consideration, and particularly by using silver chloride, it is easily available and easily synthesized, relatively inexpensive, excellent in economic efficiency, high in safety, and excellent in processability. It is. First, by using granular silver chloride and silver chloride plate (rolled product) processed into arbitrary shape as silver chloride alone, even if the circulation flow rate of bathtub water is large, it will not be deformed or broken and powdered. In addition, it can be installed according to the service period of the equipment, and can be installed on the bathtub wall. On the other hand, as a short-time and short-life type, various cloths and various non-woven fabrics are used as a carrier, and a small amount of silver chloride is carried on the surface of the carrier. The non-woven fabric is soaked, and the non-woven fabric is dried after rolling in order to adhere a fixed amount of the non-woven fabric, and the dried non-woven fabric is immersed in an aqueous solution of sodium chloride to replace nitric acid groups with chloride groups and carry a small amount of silver chloride. Since it can be easily processed into any shape using the characteristics of cloth and non-woven fabric, it is installed in a holding case on a bathtub wall or the like so that it is cheaper and can be replaced at regular intervals than the silver chloride alone. can do. There is no difference in the dissolution amount of silver ions even when silver chloride is used alone or silver chloride is supported, and the bactericidal effect of various bacteria is excellent.

Next, means for backwashing and draining the filter medium in the filter tank will be described in detail. As the water for the backwashing and drainage, bath water or water supplied from a water supply unit provided in a part of the circulation water circuit is used. First, when using bath water, since the circulation pump is activated, the amount of stable backwash water is almost constant, the backwash time can be easily set, and dirt components such as dirt deposited on the filter media are reliably backwashed and washed. Thus, the purification capacity of the filter medium can be regenerated. On the other hand, in the case of using water supply, the backwash water amount becomes slightly unstable due to the water pressure of the water supply, but compared to bath water, the water supply is fresh water and has less dirt components, and is not described in detail in the filtration tank of FIG. However, it is possible to regenerate the purification ability of the filter medium by performing backwashing and washing cleanly without causing dirt components to adhere to the filter bed holding the filter medium and the filter medium. Next, as a backwashing drainage every predetermined time, 1 to 6 times / day, ie, every 4 hours
It is desirable to carry out every four hours. If the bath water is used within 4 hours, the bath water will be reduced due to backwashing and drainage within 4 hours from 7:00 pm to 11:00 which is a general bathing time, and the bath water will be further reduced. Therefore, water supply or hot water supply is required, and resource saving and energy saving cannot be performed. On the other hand, if it becomes longer than every 24 hours, the dirt component of the bath water becomes clogged and increased, the circulation flow rate is reduced, and the circulation purification effect is deteriorated. Considering the above disadvantages, 2
実 施 4 times / day, preferably between every 6 hours and every 12 hours. Next, the backwashing drainage time or amount is also important. Depending on the amount of backwashing drainage, in the case of a flow rate of 20-30%, which is generally referred to as backwashing drainage, the backwashing drainage is carried out at regular intervals. However, in a short time, reproduction can be performed with a fixed time of 0.5 to 2 minutes and a fixed amount of 10 to 40 l. In addition, when the constant time is long, the reproduction can be performed by increasing the constant amount to 1 to 4 minutes and the constant amount to 20 to 80 l.

Next, the means for supplying water from the water supply section will be described in detail. The water supply is desirably performed 1 to 6 times / day, that is, every 4 hours to every 24 hours, similarly to the backwashing drainage. In particular, in the case of backwashing drainage using bathtub water, a reduced amount of bathtub water is supplied, that is, 10-8.
It is desirable to supply 0 l of water. At this time, dirt components accumulated on the unevenness of the circulation water circuit are forcibly peeled off or reduced, and the circulation water circuit can also be cleaned and purified to keep it clean. It has the synergistic effect of diluting the turbidity of the bathtub water and visually reducing the turbidity.

FIG. 3 shows the purification effect of the present invention and the conventional method.
Changes in the turbidity of the bathtub water and the number of general bacteria are shown. In the present invention, a silver chloride plate is installed in the circulation water circuit, and detailed conditions are shown in Table 1. As is clear from the figure, in the present invention, even when the bath water is not changed for one week, the turbidity is at most 1.0 ° (conventional method 4.6 °) and 0.3 ° to 0.8 ° (conventional method). (1.2 ° -4.1 °) and can maintain the turbidity almost visually as fresh water level. The number of general bacteria is 4.5 × 10 ⁵ / ml at maximum (9.1 × 10 ^{5 in the} conventional method).
⁶ / ml), 10 ³ to 10 ⁵ / ml (conventional method 10 ⁵ to
10 ⁶ / ml) and about 2 orders. Although not shown, it has a remarkable effect on the smell of bathtub water, the slime of the bathtub wall, and the contamination of the waterline on the bathtub wall.

[0023]

[Table 1]

FIG. 4 shows a configuration of a circulating water circuit and a configuration of a purification determination plate for determining the purification effect of the present invention and the conventional method. (A) is a configuration diagram of a circulating water circuit, and purification determination plates 22 and 23 are return pipes 4 and 4 connected to a circulating adapter 3.
Each of the outgoing pipes 12 is provided. (B) is a top view configuration diagram of the purification determination plates 22 and 23, (c) is a cross-sectional configuration diagram of the purification determination plates 22 and 23, and a purification determination plate 24 (white resin having a width of 10 mm and a thickness of 1 mm). Plate) is attached to the return pipe 4 and the water pipe of the going pipe 12 via a sealing jig. Table 2 shows the purification effects of the present invention and the conventional method using the circulation water circuit configuration described in detail in FIG. The detailed conditions not described in the table were the same as those in Table 1, and the evaluation was made according to the evaluation index in Table 3 (five-grade evaluation of dirt index: color change = dirt, dirt accumulation was visually evaluated).

[0025]

[Table 2]

[0026]

[Table 3]

As is clear from Table 2, by supplying water, dirt components (dirt) that easily accumulate in the circulation water circuit can be reduced. In addition, generally referred to as water scale (one in which various bacteria have abnormally grown as a result of the use of scale as a nutrient source)
Is easy to occur at an evaluation index of 4 and the scale is small but is generated in the evaluation index of the return pipe of the conventional method. Therefore, it is possible to keep the circulation water circuit clean by supplying water. it can.

(Embodiment 2) A bathtub apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described based on the drainage, heating and water supply modes in FIG.

The flowchart of FIG. 5 will be described. When the operation switch of the remote controller 101 is turned on, the various switching valves 102 are first switched to the circulation passage side (to circulate from the return pipe 4 to the going pipe 12), and when the various switching valves are switched, the circulation pump 5 of 103 is turned on. . When the circulation pump 5 is turned on, the setting timer 104 for the drainage, heating and water supply modes starts counting, and the bathtub water 1 is circulated and purified until the setting timer reaches the set time. Purify dirt components such as dirt and hair in 1. When the set timer reaches the set time, the 105 circulation pump 5 is turned off.
The switching valve C11, the switching valve D14, and the switching valve B8 are switched, and when the circulation pump 5 of 107 is turned on, the drainage timer of 108 starts counting, and the filter medium 9 is backwashed and washed until the drainage timer reaches the set time. Drain bathtub water 1. That is, the bathtub water 1 flows into the bypass passage 16 and the lower backwash passage 1
7. Backwashing and washing of the dirt component accumulated on the filter medium 9 in the upward flow through the switching valve C11 (flow rate of about 130% expansion rate ...)
(A flow rate of about 20 to 25 l / min), and drains water from a drain pipe 13 connected to the switching valve B8. Next, when the bathtub water 1 is drained for a certain period of time, the circulation pump 5 of 109 is turned off, and 11
0 switching valve B8 and switching valve C11 to the circulation side, and switching valve D1
4 is switched to the heating source 7 side, and the circulation pump 5 of 111
When N, the heating source 7 of 112 is turned on and the bath water 1
Heat to the set temperature. When the bath water 1 is heated to the set temperature of 113 and heated, the circulation pump 5 of 105 is turned off, and the switching valve A6 of 115 is switched to the circulation side.
Start water supply (fresh water). When the water supply (fresh water) is started, the water flow timer 116 starts counting, and the water flow timer 116 cleans the water flow until a predetermined amount of water is supplied, that is, cleans the dirt components such as dirt deposited in the water circuit with the water force. Purify. 1 when a certain amount of water is supplied by the 116 water flow timer
After switching the switching valve A6 of No. 17 and stopping the water supply, 118
Is switched to the bypass passage side, and the circulation pump 5 of 119 is turned on to circulate and purify the bathtub water again. Then, the process returns to the timer of 104, and the above operation is repeated. At this time, the timer 104 checks the count even while the sequence is operating.

Next, the set temperature will be described. The set temperature in the present invention means the average temperature of the bathtub water 1, and is preferably a temperature slightly lower than the set temperature (about 35 to 40 ° C) which is a low temperature for bathing, that is, about 30 to 40 ° C. Because at least the outgoing passage from the outlet of the heating source 7 of the water circuit to the outlet of the circulation adapter 3 is intended for high-temperature sterilization and purification, it is not necessary to set the set temperature to a high temperature. This is not preferable because problems occur in the properties and durability of the bathtub 2. Further, when a trial calculation is made with the set temperature of the bathtub water 1 being set to 35 ° C. according to the type of the heating source 7, for example, gas combustion (1200
(0 kcal / hour) when the thermal efficiency of indirect heating (using a heat exchanger) is 75% and the circulation flow rate is 6 l / min: 12000 kcal / hour × 0.75 / 6 l / min / 60 minutes = 25 deg. Is the bath water setting temperature 35 ℃ +25
deg = 60 ° C., and a high-temperature sterilization / purification effect can be sufficiently expected (the high-temperature sterilization effect will be described later in detail). Although the description has been given of the gas heating source described above, the oil heating source and the electric heating source have the same effect.

Next, the set time of the timer 104 will be described. The set time of the timer is a drainage means, a heating means,
The water supply means is automatically carried out at regular intervals, and preferably at least once a day (24 hours).
It is preferable to carry out the above operation every hour, that is, about two to four times a day. A set time of 4 hours or less is effective for the purifying effect (backwashing cleaning, heat sterilization, cleaning), but increases the amount of drainage, heating, and water supply, and is not preferable in consideration of resource saving and energy saving. On the other hand, at the set time of 18 hours or more, the possibility of overlapping with the bathing time zone is large, and the bath tub water 1 volume decreases during bathing, and the bath tub water 1 temperature decreases due to water supply, and the bathing feeling deteriorates. It has disadvantages such as a slightly inferior purification effect, which is not preferred. Also, since the possibility of overlapping with the bathing time zone is large, if a means for manually or automatically heating to the bathing temperature is detected by the bather's intention, the heating means or the like of the embodiment is used within a certain time from the heating means. Although a combined control method for waiting for the purifying means is also possible and not described in detail, it is within the scope of the present invention.

(Embodiment 3) A bathtub apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 6, the difference from the first embodiment is as follows.
A water supply section provided in a part of the water circuit and water supplied from the water supply section to form residual chlorine-containing water. The water supply valve 25 is turned on / off in a part of the water circuit by a signal from the control section, and the residual chlorine is supplied. The water circuit is forcibly sterilized and purified by the residual chlorine contained in the water. At this time, the water supply valve 25 is turned ON / OFF by a signal from the control unit so that the residual chlorine-containing water is supplied to the circulation adapter 3 via the water circuit.

Next, the residual chlorine-containing water will be described in detail. Residual chlorine-containing water is fresh water containing 0.1 ppm or more of residual chlorine, in which chlorine gas is dissolved, sodium hypochlorite is dissolved, solid calcium hypochlorite or dichloisocyanur The solution in which the acid salt was dissolved was separately subjected to concentration control. As means for separately controlling the concentration, the chlorine gas-dissolved water or high residual chlorine concentration water such as aqueous sodium hypochlorite is quantitatively injected into feed water by a constant-rate pump or the like, and the concentration is controlled. The residual chlorine concentration of the feed water was 0.1 ppm or more, but copper and copper alloy, NBR and EPDM rubber,
PP and POM resins and the like are generally used, and considering the durability of these materials, the content is preferably 10 ppm or less. In addition, when the sterilizing effect is made effective in a short time and the reliability of the component materials is considered, the preferable residual chlorine concentration is 0.3%.
５5 ppm.

Next, a means for supplying residual chlorine-containing water from the water circuit to the circulation adapter will be described. The water circuit for supplying the residual chlorine-containing water includes (a) a return pipe 4 with a single water supply passage, (b) a single water supply path with the return pipe 12, and (a) a double water supply path with the return pipe 4 and (b) the return pipe 12. There is.
(1) (a) The return pipe 4 and the single water supply passage are the switching valve D14
By switching between the heating source 7 side and the bypass passage 1
6 is closed so that it does not flow to the side 6 and the bathtub water circulation purifying water circuit is set as a circulation purifying passage by the switching valve A6.
When 5 is turned on, water is supplied to the (a) return pipe 4 single water supply passage. (2) (b) The single supply water passage of the outgoing pipe 12 is connected to the return water pipe 4 by the switching valve A6 in the bathtub water circulation purifying water circuit.
The water is supplied to the heating source 7 or the bypass passage 16 depending on the purpose of use by closing the valve so as not to flow to the side and switching the switching valve D14. (3) (a) Return pipe 4
And (b) the double water supply passage of the outgoing pipe 12 switches all the switching valves to the circulating purification water circuit side of the bathtub water so as to supply water simultaneously or repeatedly to the (a) return pipe 4 and (b) the outgoing pipe 12.

(Embodiment 4) A bathtub apparatus according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention will be described based on the simultaneous water supply and residence mode shown in FIG.

In FIG. 7, the circulation pump 5 is turned on in response to a signal from the control unit (sequence number is omitted) while the bathtub water circulation purifying water circuit is in the circulation purifying mode.
At the same time as turning on the water supply valve 25 for supplying the residual chlorine-containing water, the water supply timer starts counting, and the water supply condition of the water circuit described in the second embodiment is (a) in (3). ) A fixed amount of water is simultaneously supplied to the return pipe 4 and (b) the total volume of the outgoing pipe 12 or more.
Turn OFF 5 to stop water supply. And the water supply valve 25 is O
When FF is performed, the retention timer starts counting, and the residual chlorine-containing water is retained in the water circuit to which the residual chlorine-containing water is supplied until the set time is reached. With the set residence time, various bacteria in the water circuit are brought into contact with the residual chlorine-containing water, so that the sterilizing and purifying effect can be increased and the bacteria can be surely sterilized.

Next, the retention time of the retention timer is determined by the residual chlorine concentration of the residual chlorine-containing water. Although the bactericidal concentration and time are different depending on various bacteria, in general, when the residual chlorine concentration is low, the setting time is long, and when the residual chlorine concentration is high, the setting time is short,
FIG. 8 shows the results of the sterilization evaluation performed by the present inventors. The sterilization evaluation conditions in FIG. 8 are as follows: water sample volume: 500 ml, water temperature:
20 ° C, initial general bacterial count: 5,000,000 cells / m
l, The residual chlorine concentration was tested under various conditions of 0, 0.1, and 0.52 ppm. As shown in FIG. 8, the residence time for reducing the number of general bacteria to 100 cells / ml or less based on tap water is about 15 minutes at 0.1 ppm and about 5 minutes at 0.5 ppm.
Can be sterilized in about 2 minutes at 2 ppm. Therefore, the preferred residence time depends on the residual chlorine concentration, but is at least 15 minutes.

(Embodiment 5) A bathtub apparatus according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

In FIG. 9, the circulation pump 5 is turned on in response to a signal from the control unit (sequence number is omitted) while the bathtub water circulation purification water circuit is in the circulation purification mode.
When the FF is stopped, the water supply valve 25 is turned on. Water supply valve 2
When 5 is turned on, the heating source 26 of the water supply / hot-water supply circuit is turned on.
Then, the water is heated to a preset high set temperature, and the water supply timer starts counting, which is the water supply condition of the water circuit, that is, the water circuit described in detail in the second embodiment (3).
(A) Simultaneously supply a fixed amount of water over the entire capacity of the return pipe 4 and (b) the outgoing pipe 12. When a fixed amount of water is supplied at the same time, the water supply valve 25 is turned off and the high-temperature water supply is stopped.
When 6 is turned off, the residence timer starts counting and keeps the high-temperature heated water in the water circuit until the set time is reached. The staying set temperature and the staying high-temperature water reduce the adhesion of dirt and the like accumulated in the water circuit, and at the same time, bring various bacteria into contact with the high-temperature heating water to sterilize at high temperature. Furthermore, by using residual chlorine-containing water as the heating water supply, the synergistic effect of the residual chlorine sterilization and the high-temperature heat sterilization makes it possible to further increase the sterilizing and purifying effect and to surely sterilize and purify. Further, since the heating supply water is high-temperature heating water, even if the residual chlorine concentration of the residual chlorine-containing water is reduced, high-temperature sterilization can be ensured. Although not described in detail in the embodiment, by repeatedly supplying water, especially after supplying high-temperature heated water, non-heated water (water temperature at the atmospheric temperature level) is supplied for a certain period of time, so that the durability of the components of the water circuit is improved. It is also within the scope of the present invention to allow for cooling in consideration of the properties and prevention of burns caused by the return pipe 4 and the forward pipe 12 connected to the bathtub 2.

Next, high-temperature sterilization will be described in detail. High-temperature sterilization is to sterilize various bacteria by utilizing the property of being weak to high temperatures, and the high-temperature sterilization temperature and the high-temperature holding time are different depending on the various bacteria, but generally, when the temperature is relatively low, the holding time is long. In the case of a long time and a high temperature, a short holding time is sufficient. The results of the high-temperature sterilization evaluation performed by the present inventors are shown in FIG. The high-temperature sterilization evaluation conditions in FIG.
Test volume: 100 ml, general bacteria: 5,000,000
コ / ml was placed in a beaker, and the thermocouple was immersed in the sample, heated in a microwave oven, heating temperature: 50, 55,
The test was performed at 60, 65, and 70 ° C. The heating temperature was the maximum temperature at which the temperature rose, with a tolerance of 2 deg or less, and was held in a constant temperature water bath for the holding time. The holding time is the time after the temperature reaches the maximum temperature and reaches a tolerance of 2 deg or less. As shown in FIG. 10, the heating temperature for reducing the number of general bacteria to 100 cells / ml or less, which is the standard of tap water, requires 55 minutes or more and 5 minutes or more. At 60 ° C., almost 100% high-temperature sterilization and purification can be performed when the temperature reaches 60 ° C.

(Embodiment 6) Purification of a bathtub water circulation water circuit according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 11, the switching valve A6 is switched by the signal of the control unit, and at the same time, the residual chlorine-containing water is used as the residual chlorine-containing water, and the tap water used in ordinary households is described in detail in the third embodiment. By simultaneously passing water through the return and outgoing circulation water circuit of 2), a purification method excellent in convenience and economy can be provided.

[0044]

As described above, the bathtub apparatus of the present invention comprises a circulating pump for circulating bathtub water in a water circuit, a heating source for heating bathtub water, a filtration tank for filtering bathtub water, a bathtub and water. A circulation adapter for connecting the circuit, a sparingly soluble silver salt for sterilizing the water circuit and bathtub water, and a water supply unit for supplying water to the bathtub are provided. Automatic water supply, automatic backwash drainage, and automatic heating are performed at regular intervals. In addition to the sterilization or bacteriostatic effect of the bath water by the sparingly soluble silver salt, the water supply can wash the sediment in the water circuit and suppress the growth of various bacteria. Further, the bath tub water and the water circuit can be kept clean at all times by the synergistic effect of high-temperature sterilization by heating and regeneration of purification ability by back washing of the filter tank.

Further, by using a silver chloride simple substance or a substance carried on a cloth as the hardly soluble silver salt, the contact area is increased to facilitate contact sterilization or elution of silver ions.
In addition, by using silver chloride, it is easily available, easily synthesized, relatively inexpensive, excellent in economic efficiency, and high in safety,
Excellent workability. In addition, by installing and filling a resin holder in a part between the filtration tank and the outflow pipe, the filtered bathtub water is circulated, so the silver chloride surface is less likely to be contaminated with dirt components, and it is always Various bacteria can be contact-sterilized with a clean silver chloride surface, and the elution of silver ions can be stably maintained.

Further, the backwashing drainage, heating,
By making the water supply priority means, after reducing the bathtub water volume, heating can be done with less heating energy,
Further, the dilution ratio of turbidity due to water supply can be increased.

Further, by supplying residual chlorine-containing water and supplying water to the entire water circuit, various bacteria growing in the water circuit can be sterilized with residual chlorine. Further, since the residual chlorine-containing water is supplied to a part of the bathtub water, various bacteria in the bathtub water can be sterilized or bacteriostatically purified at the same time, though partially.

Further, by supplying residual chlorine-containing water and supplying water to the entire water circuit, the remaining water is kept for a certain period of time, so that various bacteria growing in the water circuit can be more reliably sterilized.

Further, by heating the supplied residual chlorine-containing water, the synergistic effect of the combined use of the heat sterilization and the residual chlorine sterilization can be more reliably sterilized and purified.

After the residual chlorine-containing water is heated and supplied,
By supplying the residual chlorine-containing water without heating, the adhesion of dirt components such as dirt in the water circuit is reduced to facilitate peeling, and the combined use of heating and residual chlorine is sterilized. By supplying water, the components of the water circuit are cooled and the durability is improved.At the same time, the decomposition of residual chlorine is delayed and the residual chlorine concentration is maintained to increase the sterilizing effect. Can be.

Further, by setting the temperature of the residual chlorine-containing water to 55 ° C. or more, even if the residual chlorine concentration is lowered, various bacteria are sterilized at a high temperature by the high-temperature heated water, and the synergistic effect of the residual chlorine sterilization and the high-temperature sterilization is achieved. According to the effect, the sterilization time can be shortened.

Further, by using tap water as the residual chlorine-containing water, it is possible to perform sterilization and purification excellent in convenience and economy.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a bathtub apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 (a) Silver chloride plate shape used in the bathtub apparatus of Embodiment 1 of the present invention and configuration diagram of resin control holder (b) Silver chloride carrying non-woven fabric shape and resin used in bathtub apparatus of the same embodiment Configuration diagram

FIG. 3 is a comparison diagram of purification of the bathtub apparatus of the present invention and a conventional bathtub apparatus.

FIG. 4 (a) is a configuration diagram of a comparative test water circuit of the bathtub device according to the first embodiment of the present invention and a conventional bathtub device. (B) A top configuration diagram of a purification plate portion of the comparative test water circuit. Sectional configuration diagram of the purification plate part of the water circuit for comparative test

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing drainage, heating, and water supply modes of the bathtub apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a bathtub apparatus for supplying residual chlorine-containing water in the bathtub apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 7A is a configuration diagram of a bathtub apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7B is a flowchart showing a simultaneous water supply and retention mode of a water circuit of the bathtub apparatus.

FIG. 8 (a) is a diagram showing a sterilization evaluation effect of the bathtub apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention; and (b) a table showing the same sterilization evaluation effect.

9A is a configuration diagram of a bathtub apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9B is a flowchart showing a high-temperature residence mode of the bathtub apparatus.

FIG. 10 (a) is a diagram showing a high-temperature sterilization evaluation effect of the bathtub apparatus according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. (B) A diagram showing the same high-temperature sterilization evaluation effect.

FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram of a bathtub apparatus for supplying tap water according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram of a conventional bathtub apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Bath water 3 Circulation adapter 4 Return pipe 5 Circulation 6 Switching valve A 7 Heating source 8 Switching valve B 9 Filter material 10 Filtration tank 11 Switching valve C 12 Outgoing pipe 13 Drain pipe 14 Switching valve D 15 Upper backwash passage 16 Bypass Passage 17 Lower going passage 18 Silver chloride plate 20 Silver chloride supporting non-woven fabric 22, 23 Purification judgment plate part 24 Purification judgment plate 25 Water supply valve 26 Heat source

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification FI C02F 1/50 510 C02F 1/50 520L 520 531T 531 531M 540F 540 540B 550H 550 560Z 560 560A 1/76 A 1/76 B01D 35/02 J 1/00 302 F24H 1/00 602L (72) Inventor Tetsuro Aoki 1006 Odakadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Inside Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hiroaki Yamauchi 1006 Odakadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Inside

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A circulating pump provided in a part of a water circuit for circulating bath water, a heating source for heating the bath water, a filtration tank for filtering the bath water, and a circulation adapter for connecting the bath water to the water circuit. A sparingly soluble silver salt for disinfecting the water circuit and bathtub water in a part of the water circuit, a water supply unit for supplying water to the bathtub, means for automatically supplying water to the bathtub at regular intervals, and water supply or bathwater. A bathtub apparatus comprising means for automatically backwashing and draining a filter tank at regular intervals and means for automatically heating bathtub water at regular intervals. 2. The bathtub apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the hardly soluble silver salt is at least one of granular silver chloride, a silver chloride plate, a silver chloride supporting cloth, and a silver chloride non-woven fabric. 3. The bathtub apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bathtub water is heated to a set temperature by means of automatic heating after automatic backwashing and drainage using the bathtub water, and the water supply section automatically supplies water to the bathtub through a water circuit. . 4. A residual chlorine-containing water is supplied as water supplied from a water supply section provided in a part of a water circuit, and the supplied residual chlorine-containing water is supplied as water supplied to a circulation adapter via a water circuit. The bathtub apparatus according to claim 1. 5. After the residual chlorine-containing water supplied from the water supply section reaches the circulation adapter via the water circuit, the water supply is stopped,
The bathtub apparatus water according to claim 4, wherein the residual chlorine-containing water is retained in the water circuit for a predetermined time. 6. The bathtub apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for heating residual chlorine-containing water. 7. The residual chlorine-containing water heated by the heating means is supplied to the water circuit, and the residual chlorine-containing water not heated by the heating means is supplied to the water circuit.
The bathtub apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein 8. The temperature of feed water or residual chlorine-containing water heated by heating means is set to 55 ° C. or higher.
Or the bathtub apparatus according to any one of 3 to 7. 9. The bathtub apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the water containing residual chlorine supplied from the water supply section is tap water.