JP2004148108A - Hypochlorous acid generating sprayer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a small and portable hypochlorous acid generating sprayer which can easily spray electrolyzed water having high electrolysis efficiency and high effective chlorine concentration.
A container (2) containing a solution of a chlorine compound, electrodes (30a, 30b) for electrolyzing the solution, and a spray device (3) for spraying a solution of hypochlorous acid or a salt thereof generated by the electrolysis. Means for making the voltage applied to the electrode variable, comprising:
[Selection diagram] Fig. 1

Description

  TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a hypochlorous acid generating sprayer which electrolyzes a solution of a chlorine compound and can immediately spray a generated solution of hypochlorous acid or a salt thereof.

  It is known that electrolyzed water generated by electrolysis is useful in fields such as agriculture and food. In particular, in recent years, focusing on the excellent sterilization and disinfecting effects of electrolyzed water, its use in the medical field and at home, for example, sterilization, disinfection of affected areas, incisions, percutaneous openings of indwelling catheters, kitchen appliances, and baby products It is being studied for use in disinfecting and disinfecting household items such as supplies, furniture, toilets, bathtubs and the like around the house.

  Such electrolyzed water is obtained by electrolyzing water (electrolyzed water) to which a solute that generates ions by dissolution, such as sodium chloride, and, if necessary, an acid for pH adjustment are added. . The electrolysis is performed using an electrolytic cell having an electrode pair composed of an anode and a cathode, or an electrolytic cell having a configuration in which a diaphragm is further disposed between the anode and the cathode.

  However, such a method requires a large-scale apparatus, and for example, it is difficult to easily perform sterilization, disinfection, and the like at a medical site or at home. From such a background, a portable small-sized electrolytic water sprayer has been proposed (Patent Documents 1 to 3).

JP 2000-79393 A JP 2000-197889 A JP 2001-276826 A

  However, with conventional sprayers, it is not possible to change the effective chlorine concentration in the electrolyzed water even though the spray amount can be changed. could not.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a small and portable hypochlorous acid generating sprayer which has high electrolysis efficiency and can easily spray electrolyzed water having different effective chlorine concentrations.

  The present invention provides a container containing a solution of a chlorine compound, an electrode for electrolyzing the solution, and a spray device for spraying a solution of hypochlorous acid or a salt thereof generated by electrolysis. The present invention relates to a hypochlorous acid generating sprayer comprising means for varying a voltage applied to the electrode.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the small portable hypochlorous acid production sprayer which can spray easily the electrolysis water from which effective chlorine concentration differs is provided.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same or equivalent components.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic view from the side of a hypochlorous acid generating sprayer 1 of the present invention provided with a trigger sprayer as a spraying device. The hypochlorous acid generating sprayer 1 comprises a liquid container 2 and a spraying device. It is composed of a certain trigger player 3. The liquid container 2 contains a chlorine compound solution inside.

  In the atomizer, a solution suction path between the container 2 and the trigger sprayer 3 is formed by a dip tube 11, and the dip tube 11 includes electrodes 30a and 30b for electrolyzing the solution. It is preferable that the tip of the dip tube 11 which is a tubular body has a tapered shape in terms of suppressing the backflow of the liquid. In addition, the dip tube 11 in which the electrode is inserted can be detachably installed together with the electrode in consideration of easy replacement of parts.

  FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing a main part T of the trigger sprayer 3. The trigger sprayer 3 is provided with a horizontal pipe 4 and a vertical pipe 5 communicating with each other and a piston / cylinder mechanism 12 for supplying a liquid material to the horizontal pipe 4 and the vertical pipe 5. A player main body 6, a trigger 7 rotatably mounted on the sprayer main body 6, a spin element 8 mounted on a front part of the horizontal conduit 4, and a spin element 8 mounted on a front part of the spin element 8. A nozzle member 9, an intake 10 attached to the vertical conduit 5, and a tube 11 attached to the intake 10, and the sprayer body 6 and the intake 10 are connected to the outside air inside the container body 2. Have outside air introduction holes 6a and 10a.

  The spray container 1 will be described in more detail. An insertion portion 4a is provided at a front portion of the sprayer main body 6 and at a distal end portion of the horizontal conduit 4. The insertion portion 4a is provided with the insertion portion 4a. The spin element 8 is fitted. A nozzle member 9 having a nozzle tip 9a is fitted to the tip of the spin element 8.

  At the lower position of the horizontal conduit 4, there are provided double cylindrical walls 13 and 14 constituting the cylinder S of the piston-cylinder mechanism 12. The outside air introduction hole 6a is formed below the cylindrical wall portion 13. In the cylinder S, a piston member 15 reciprocating in the cylinder S is provided via a coil spring 16.

  The trigger 7 is rotatably fitted inside the side wall of the sprayer body 6. On the rear surface of the trigger 7, a pressing projection 7a is provided which comes into contact with the front end of the piston member 15. By rotating the trigger 7, the piston member 15 can reciprocate in the cylinder S. It is done. When the sliding portion 15a of the piston member 15 moves rearward from the outside air introduction hole 6a, outside air flows into the container body 2 through the outside air introduction holes 6a and 10a.

  On the other hand, at the lower part of the sprayer body 6, double insertion walls 17 and 18 surrounding the lower end of the vertical pipe 5 are provided, and the vertical pipe 5 and the insertion wall 17 are provided. , 18 have the intake 10 fitted therein.

  The intake 10 has a fitting wall portion 10c fitted to the insertion wall portion 18 and a pipe fitted to the vertical conduit 5 and the insertion wall portion 17 at an upper portion of the board portion 10b. 10d, and a fitting wall portion 10e and a tube portion 10d which are fitted in the lower portion when the sprayer body 6 is mounted on the mouth portion 2b of the container body 2. And a tube portion 10f in which the upper end of the tube 11 is fitted. The outside air introduction hole 10a is formed in the top plate of the fitting wall 10c.

  The tube portion 10f is provided with a locking portion (not shown) for restricting rotation of the tube 11 described later. In the pipe 10d, communication holes 10g and 10h communicating with the horizontal pipe 4 and the cylinder S are formed, respectively. Further, a valve 20 is disposed above the inside of the pipe portion 10d. The flange portion 20a of the valve 20 is supported by the support wall portion 10i to prevent backflow of the liquid material from the horizontal pipeline 4 and increase the liquid pressure below the support wall portion 10i to a desired pressure. Sometimes, the inside of the pipe portion 10d communicates with the horizontal pipeline 4 so that a liquid material is supplied to the horizontal pipeline 4. A ball valve 21 is disposed below the valve 20. The ball valve body 21 is supported by the support wall portion 10j, prevents backflow of the liquid material from the inside of the cylinder S, and when the liquid pressure below the support wall portion 10j increases to a desired pressure, An object is supplied upward.

  A cap body 22 having a vertical insertion hole is mounted above the substrate 10b of the intake 10, and a female screw 22a of the cap body 22 and a male screw (not shown) on the outer periphery of the mouth of the container body 2 are provided. The sprayer 3 can be mounted on the container main body 2 by screwing the sprayer.

  The tube 11 is provided at its upper end with a locking portion (not shown) that engages with the tube portion 10f of the intake 10 and disables its rotation. It is immovably fitted.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a battery 32 is housed in the trigger sprayer 3, and a circuit section 33 is provided in a space at one end of the battery 32. The circuit section 33 boosts the voltage of the battery 32 and applies the boosted voltage to the electrodes 30a and 30b. In the circuit section 33, means for varying the voltage applied to the electrodes can be formed.

  As a material for forming the electrodes 30a and 30b, a platinum plate or a platinum-plated plate is preferably used from the viewpoint of corrosion resistance to hypochlorous acid.

  The magnitude of the voltage applied to the electrodes 30a and 30b may be adjusted according to the concentration of hypochlorous acid, the concentration of solution, and the concentration of hypochlorous acid suitable for obtaining a predetermined sterilizing power according to the spraying object, such as deodorization or sterilization. It is appropriately determined according to the volume of the solution to be decomposed and the like. For example, when an aqueous solution of 0.1N sodium chloride is used as a solution and 0.1 mL to 1 mL of a 1 ppm to 80 ppm hypochlorous acid solution is sprayed by one trigger operation, 2 to 10 V is applied to the electrodes 30a and 30b. .

The shape of the electrode may be a flat plate, but preferably includes at least one of the following (1) to (4).
(1) At least one of the anode and the cathode, preferably at least the cathode, and more preferably both have at least one protrusion projecting toward the other electrode and / or opposite to the other electrode.
(2) The area of the cathode is larger than the area of the anode.
(3) The anode and the cathode are arranged non-parallel.
(4) At least one of the anode and the cathode, preferably at least the cathode, and more preferably both have an opening through which the water to be electrolyzed flows.

  The switch for turning on / off the voltage application to the electrodes 30a and 30b is automatically turned on when the trigger 7 is pulled so that the voltage is applied to the electrodes 30a and 30b only when the hypochlorous acid generating sprayer 1 is used. The trigger sprayer 3 is provided in the trigger sprayer 3 so that when the trigger 7 is released, the switch is turned off.

Further, a mechanism for controlling the voltage applied to the electrodes 30a and 30b can be provided in order to generate constant hypochlorous acid regardless of the strength or speed of the trigger operation. Specifically, since it is easy to control the voltage by the energization time, for example, (1) after providing a timer circuit in the circuit unit 33, pulling the trigger 7 and turning on the switch, When the predetermined time T ₁ is elapsed electrodes 30a, it is possible to provide a mechanism for turning off the voltage applied to 30b to force. As a result, effects such as limiting the concentration of hypochlorous acid, preventing a decrease in battery life, preventing heat generation of the electrodes, and preventing damage to the device are obtained. Further, it is preferable that the mechanism (1) be such that the timer is reset when the trigger 7 is returned (by turning off the switch), and the switch is turned on when the trigger 7 is pulled again. Further, (2) Even if the switch back is triggered before the switch is turned on pulling the trigger 7 than the predetermined time T ₂ is turned off, until a predetermined time T ₂ electrodes 30a, the voltage 30b A mechanism (delay mechanism) that continues to be applied can be provided. As a result, it is possible to prevent a decrease in the concentration of hypochlorous acid in a case where spraying is performed quickly and many times. In addition, such a mechanism of (2) is incorporated in the circuit unit 33 as a timer circuit, and the time until the trigger returns slowly and the switch is turned off (electrolysis ends) even if the user releases his hand after pulling the trigger. as long as possible (in this case can be ensured for a predetermined time T ₂₎ control as the may be of mechanical utilizing such momentum wheel and a damper. Furthermore, (3) electrodes 30a, detects the voltage between 30b, it may be provided a control circuit for changing the time T ₁ to T ₂ of the order of the switch ON / OFF. A plurality of these mechanisms (1) to (3) can be combined.

  Further, the hypochlorous acid generating sprayer 1 of the present invention can have a means for indicating that the electrolysis is being performed. The means is preferably provided in the trigger sprayer 3. An example of the means is an LED lamp that is displayed during energization in conjunction with the operation of the trigger. Further, the display is more correct when linked to the voltage applied to the electrodes. As a result, the operation can be easily confirmed without newly detecting a current or the like. Further, a control circuit that detects the voltage between the electrodes in the circuit unit 33 and changes the lighting state of the LED lamp (color change, blinking, extinguishment, etc.) when the voltage falls below the set voltage to call the user's attention can be incorporated. . As a result, the battery replacement can be warned before the predetermined concentration of hypochlorous acid stops being generated due to the voltage drop, and the normal operation can be maintained.

  The hypochlorous acid generating sprayer 1 of the present invention operates as follows by operating the trigger 7. That is, first, when the trigger 7 is pulled toward the container 2 as shown by the arrow A, the switch is turned on and a current flows through the circuit. As a result, a current flows between the electrodes 30a and 30b. At this time, the water to be electrolyzed in the dip tube 11 is electrolyzed almost instantaneously and discharged to the outside by the piston / cylinder mechanism 12. That is, in the sprayer of the present invention, the electrolysis is performed in conjunction with the spraying operation (for example, the operation of the trigger).

  The nebulizer of the present invention includes means for varying the voltage applied to the electrodes (hereinafter, referred to as variable means). This makes it possible to spray electrolytic water having a desired effective chlorine concentration. That is, by varying the magnitude of the voltage applied to the electrodes 30a, 30b, depending on the use of the hypochlorous acid generating sprayer 1, the required sterilizing power, etc., hypochlorous acid or The concentration of the salt can be varied. Examples of the variable means include a circuit using a switching regulator. A transformer with a boost ratio of 1: 0.1 to 1:10 is preferred. The degree of voltage change depends on the power supply, but the above-mentioned step-up ratio is more preferable when the power supply is a battery. When the voltage is boosted, the boosted voltage is preferably set to 4 to 7V, particularly 4.5 to 6V. The reason is to use the dry cell effectively and generate an effective concentration of hypochlorous acid. In addition, since a trigger is used, hypochlorous acid is generated instantaneously. For example, using two AA batteries (3 V), the electrode voltage is raised to 5 to 6 V for normal sterilization to generate hypochlorous acid at a normal concentration, and the electrode voltage is increased for weak sterilization. By setting the voltage to 2.5 to 3 V (no pressure increase), a low-concentration hypochlorous acid can be generated. Although the installation position of the variable means is not limited, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, by providing the concentration changeover switches 301 and 301 'in the trigger sprayer, it is easy to adjust the effective chlorine concentration to a desired effective chlorine concentration at the time of use. Become. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 302 denotes an LED lamp indicating that electrolysis is being performed. In order to stabilize the concentration of hypochlorous acid while keeping the voltage between the electrodes constant, a mechanism for detecting the voltage between the electrodes and varying the boosting ratio so as to maintain the predetermined voltage may be provided.

  Note that the sprayer of the present invention may be configured such that the spraying device is other than the trigger sprayer, or that the container, the spraying device, the electrode, and the variable means are integrally formed, or that they are formed separately. Or any of them.

(Solution of chlorine compound)
As the solution contained in the container 2, an aqueous solution of a salt that generates hypochlorous acid by electrolysis is used. Such salts include, for example, one or more selected from sodium chloride, potassium chloride, magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, ammonium chloride and the like. Among them, sodium chloride, potassium chloride or magnesium chloride is preferred from the viewpoint of toxicity and the like. The concentration of the salt in the solution is preferably 0.1 to 10% by weight.

  If the solution is acidic, there will be more hypochlorous acid than hypochlorite due to the electrolysis of the solution, and if the solution is alkaline, there will be more hypochlorite than hypochlorous acid . In addition, the bactericidal power differs depending on the liquidity of the solution.In general, the bactericidal power of an acidic solution is higher than that of an alkaline solution in many cases. The bactericidal activity against fungi is higher in alkaline solutions than in acidic solutions. Therefore, it is preferable to appropriately adjust the liquidity of the solution to acidic or alkaline in order to improve the sterilizing power according to the spray target.

  When adjusting the solution to be acidic, if a strong acid is added to the solution and the acidity is excessively increased, hypochlorous acid is decomposed to generate chlorine gas, which impairs the oxidizing power that is responsible for the sterilizing power of hypochlorous acid. . In order to increase the sterilizing power while maintaining the oxidizing power of hypochlorous acid, the solution is preferably adjusted to pH 3 to 8, particularly pH 3 to 7, at 20 ° C. Further, in order to adjust the solution to such a pH, it is preferable to use a water-soluble organic acid of a weak acid having a low degree of dissociation from the viewpoint of easy control of the pH of the solution. Here, examples of the water-soluble organic acid include succinic acid, lactic acid, acetic acid, citric acid, tartaric acid and the like.

  On the other hand, when the solution is adjusted to be alkaline, it is preferable to use a water-soluble organic alkali from the viewpoint of easy pH control. Examples of the water-soluble organic alkali include amine compounds such as monoethanolamine, triethanolamine, and N-methylethanolamine.

  A surfactant may be added to the solution to further improve the bactericidal activity. When a surfactant is added to the solution, the wettability of the electrolyzed solution to the spray target is improved, and the affinity of the solution with the cell membrane of mold and fungi is also improved, so that the bactericidal effect is further improved.

  Examples of the surfactant include an anionic surfactant such as an alkyl benzene sulfonate and a polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfate, a cationic surfactant such as a benzalkonium chloride, and an amphoteric such as an amine oxide (eg, an alkyl dimethyl amine oxide). Surfactants, nonionic surfactants such as polyglycerin fatty acid esters and alkyl glycosides can be used. The concentration of the surfactant in the solution is preferably 0.01 to 10% by weight.

  In addition to the solution, alcohol may be added to improve the bactericidal power and refreshing sensation, and if necessary, a fragrance, a pigment, a bactericide other than a surfactant, a thickener, an enzyme , Bleaching agents, chelating agents, electrolytes other than chlorine compounds, builders, preservatives, rust inhibitors and the like may be added. In particular, it is preferable that the electrolyzed water contains a preservative from the viewpoint of storage stability.

  The hypochlorous acid generating sprayer of the present invention is widely used for deodorizing, disinfecting, bleaching, or disinfecting or disinfecting the human body, for example, fingers, for home or business use indoors, around water, tableware, clothing and the like. Can be.

  The hypochlorous acid generating sprayer of the present invention provided with a trigger sprayer as a spraying device can take various modes other than the illustrated one.

  Furthermore, there are various types of trigger sprayers, and the liquid flow path in the trigger sprayer and the position of the fulcrum of the trigger are different depending on the mechanism, but the hypochlorous acid generating sprayer of the present invention is It can be applied to any trigger sprayer.

According to the present invention described above,
A trigger sprayer 3 is attached to an opening of a container body 2 for accommodating a chlorine compound solution. The trigger sprayer 3 is provided with a horizontal pipe 4 and a vertical pipe 5 communicating with each other. A sprayer body 6 provided with a piston / cylinder mechanism 12 for supplying a liquid material to the pipe 4 and the vertical pipe 5; a trigger 7 rotatably mounted on the sprayer body 6; A spin element 8 mounted on the front part of the road 4, a nozzle member 9 mounted on the front part of the spin element 8, an intake 10 mounted on the vertical pipe 5, and a mounted on the intake 10 A tube 11, wherein the sprayer body 6 and the intake 10 have outside air introduction holes 6 a and 10 a for introducing outside air into the container body 2, A hypochlorite sprayed with a solution of hypochlorous acid or a salt thereof produced by electrolysis, comprising an electrode for electrolyzing the solution in 1, and a means for varying a voltage applied to the electrode; An acid generating sprayer is provided.

Example 1
FIG. 2 shows an electrode made of a platinum electrode having a length of 20 mm, a width of 5 mm, and a thickness of 0.1 mm, in which a cut is made in an end portion, the portion is bent, and a protrusion protrudes toward the other electrode. It was placed in the dip tube of such a trigger type sprayer. The distance between the electrodes is 3 mm. The nebulizer is configured so that the voltage can be increased or decreased by a variable resistor. Also, direct current flowed at the same time when the trigger was pulled. For the water to be electrolyzed, 50 ppm of lauryl dimethylamine oxide (Amphitol 20N, manufactured by Kao Corporation) is added to 1% by weight of saline, and the pH of the electrolyzed water sprayed with succinic acid is adjusted to 5 to 6. What was used was used. In this sprayer, 0.8 ml of electrolytic water is sprayed by one trigger operation (about 0.5 seconds).

  The effective chlorine concentration in the electrolyzed water when the voltage (power supply is as shown in Table 1) was changed as shown in Table 1 by a variable resistor and the bactericidal power of the sprayed electrolyzed water were measured by the following method. Was evaluated. Table 1 shows the results.

<Effective chlorine concentration>
It was measured according to JIS K-0101 “Iodine method”.

<Remaining bacterial count>
Bacillus cereus IFO13494 was used for heat treatment according to a standard method, and the obtained spores were subjected to a test. That is, the bacteria pre-cultured on an SCD agar medium (manufactured by Nippon Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) were scraped with a platinum loop, suspended in 1 ml of sterilized water, heat-treated at 65 ° C. for 30 minutes, and then centrifuged and washed twice. Was used for the test.

This test spore bacterium solution was adjusted to 10 ⁷ cells / ml, 0.1 ml was collected, and electrolyzed water was sprayed once from the above sprayer and contacted for 1 minute. After serial dilution, was spread on SCD agar medium. After culturing at 37 ° C. for 24 hours, the number of residual bacteria from the number of colonies was determined by a standard method.

It is the schematic from the side of the hypochlorous acid production sprayer of the present invention.

It is the schematic which shows the principal part of the trigger sprayer of the sprayer of FIG.

It is the schematic which shows a mode that the means which makes the voltage applied to an electrode variable was provided in the trigger sprayer of the sprayer of this invention.

Explanation of reference numerals

1: Hypochlorous acid generating sprayer
2: Container
3: Spray device
11: Dip tubes 30a, 30b: electrodes

Claims (7)

A container containing a solution of a chlorine compound, an electrode for electrolyzing the solution, and a hypochlorous acid generating sprayer having a spray device for spraying a solution of hypochlorous acid or a salt thereof generated by electrolysis. A hypochlorous acid generating sprayer comprising means for varying a voltage applied to the electrode. The hypochlorous acid generating sprayer according to claim 1, further comprising a suction path for the solution formed by a tubular body between the container and the spray device, wherein the electrode is provided inside the tubular body. 3. The hypochlorous acid generating spray according to claim 1, wherein the spraying device is a trigger sprayer. The hypochlorous acid generating sprayer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the means for changing the voltage is a transformer having a step-up ratio of 1: 0.1 to 1:10. The hypochlorous acid generating sprayer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising means for indicating that the electrolysis is being performed. The hypochlorous acid generating sprayer according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a power source for the electrolysis is a battery, and the battery has an accommodating means. The hypochlorous acid generation sprayer according to any one of claims 3 to 6, further comprising a switch for turning on and off application of a voltage to the electrode by operating the trigger.

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