JP2007089710A - Shower equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a shower apparatus with excellent usability capable of appropriately switching the operation of application of dirt removing effects with microbubbles and the operation of efficiently rinsing off soap foam. <P>SOLUTION: The shower apparatus comprises a microbubble generating device 2 for generating microbubbles of 0.1-1,000 μm, and a switching means 4 for switching shower water sprayed from a shower head 3 either to microbubble-including water including microbubbles generated in the microbubble generating device 2 or to water without including microbubbles. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a shower apparatus.

  Conventionally, as shown in Patent Document 1, a shower device is provided with a fine bubble generating device that contains fine bubbles in a water supply channel leading to a shower head that discharges shower water, and the adsorption action of the fine bubbles acts on the skin surface. What is known to improve the dirt removal effect is known. Specifically, the fine bubble generating device includes a gas mixing unit that obtains gas mixed water by mixing gas into water flowing in the water supply channel from the upstream side to the water supply channel connected to the water pipe and reaching the shower head, the gas A fine bubble generating unit is provided in order to obtain fine bubbles by applying shearing force to the mixed water bubbles to subdivide the bubbles, that is, the shower device is water supplied to shower water. All contain fine bubbles.

  However, in general, the shower water is often used to wash away soap bubbles after washing the body with soap or the like, but shower water containing fine bubbles does not touch the skin even when applied to the body. Since it is soft, that is, the frictional resistance between the shower water and the skin surface is reduced, the soap bubbles cannot be washed away efficiently.

That is, in the above shower device, although it is possible to impart a dirt removal effect due to fine bubbles, it is not possible to efficiently wash out soap bubbles, and the usability is not good. The present condition is that the shower apparatus with the favorable usability which can provide a water | moisture content and can wash away soap bubbles efficiently is anxious.
JP-A-9-276170

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and has good usability that can be appropriately switched to impart a dirt removing effect due to fine bubbles or to efficiently wash away soap bubbles. It is an object of the present invention to provide a shower apparatus.

  In order to solve the above problems, a shower apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention includes a fine bubble generator 2 that generates fine bubbles of 0.1 to 1000 μm, and shower water discharged from the shower head 3. It is characterized by comprising switching means 4 for switching between water containing fine bubbles generated by the fine bubble generator 2 and water not containing fine bubbles. According to this, the shower water discharged from the shower head 3 by the switching means 4 is either water containing fine bubbles generated by the fine bubble generator 2 or water not containing fine bubbles. If you want to give the skin surface the effect of removing dirt due to fine bubbles, you can configure the shower water with water containing fine bubbles suitable for this, and if you want to wash away soap bubbles The shower water can be composed of water that does not contain fine bubbles suitable for this, and thus the shower water can be appropriately switched to water containing fine bubbles or water containing no fine bubbles. Can be provided with good usability.

  Moreover, the shower apparatus which concerns on Claim 2 provides the gas mixing part 6 which mixes gas in the water supply path 5 which reaches the shower head 3 in the said fine bubble generator 2 in Claim 1, and supplies a water supply path to the gas mixing part 6 The gas supply flow path 7 reaching 5 is provided, and the opening / closing means 8 for switching the opening and closing of the gas supply flow path 7 is provided, and the switching means 4 is configured by the opening / closing means 8. According to this, the presence / absence of gas mixing into the water supply channel 5 in the gas mixing section 6 can be switched by opening / closing the gas supply channel 7 by the opening / closing means 8, that is, the effect of removing dirt by fine bubbles is given to the skin surface. If desired, the gas supply flow path 7 can be opened by the opening / closing means 8 and gas can be mixed into the water flowing through the water supply path 5 so that the shower water can be composed of water containing fine bubbles suitable for this. When it is desired to wash away the soap bubbles, the gas supply flow path 7 is closed by the opening / closing means 8 so that the shower water is composed of water not containing fine bubbles suitable for this without mixing gas into the water supply path 5. Thus, the shower water can be appropriately switched to water containing fine bubbles or water containing no fine bubbles depending on the use, and the usability of the shower apparatus 1 can be improved.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a shower device according to the first aspect, wherein the fine bubble generating device 2 is mixed with a gas mixing unit 6 for obtaining gas mixed water by mixing a gas into the water flowing through the water supply channel 5, and a water supply channel. 5, a pump 9 for pumping the gas-mixed water, a dissolving portion 10 for dissolving the bubbles in the gas-mixed water in water under a high-pressure environment by the pump 9, and depositing the gas in the gas-solved water The precipitation section 11 for generating fine bubbles to obtain fine bubble-containing water is arranged in the water supply channel 5 from the upstream side. According to this fine bubble generating device 2, it is possible to generate extremely fine and highly uniform fine bubbles by depressurizing and precipitating gas after being dissolved under pressure.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the shower apparatus according to the third aspect is characterized in that the water supply channel 5 downstream of the melting portion 10 is constituted by the flexible hose 12 and the precipitation portion 11 is provided in the shower head 3. According to this, fine gas bubbles are generated in the precipitation part 11 of the shower head 3 by flowing gas dissolved water in the flexible hose 12, and the bubble diameter immediately after the generation is not united. Can be discharged from the shower head 3 as shower water. That is, since the gas-dissolved water flows through the flexible hose 12, the water containing fine bubbles containing fine bubbles immediately after deposition can be discharged from the shower head 3 regardless of the length of the flexible hose 12. It can apply suitably with respect to the shower apparatus 1 of the hand shower type which attaches the shower head 3 to the front-end | tip of the comparatively long flexible hose 12 with which it is equipped.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a shower device according to the first aspect, wherein the fine bubble generating device 2 comprises the gas mixing unit 6 for mixing the gas flowing into the water flowing through the water supply channel 5 to obtain gas mixed water, and the gas mixing. It is characterized by comprising a means for generating a fine bubble by generating a shearing force in the water bubble to refine the bubble. According to this fine bubble generating device 2, compared with the device 2 that once dissolves and precipitates to obtain fine bubbles, a large amount of external pressurization by the pump 9 or the like necessary for dissolution can be eliminated. Miniaturization and simplification are possible.

  A shower device according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the shower device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the bubble diameter adjusting means 13 for adjusting the bubble diameter of the fine bubbles included in the shower water is provided in the discharge portion of the shower head 3. It is characterized by that. According to this, the microbubbles immediately after being adjusted to the desired bubble diameter by the bubble diameter adjusting means 13 can be included in the shower water, and the highly uniform microbubbles having the desired bubble diameter and high uniformity can be included in the shower water. It can be done.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a shower apparatus according to any one of the second to sixth aspects, wherein a high voltage discharge unit 14 for generating ozone is provided in the middle of the gas supply flow path 7. According to this, fine bubbles of ozone can be contained in the water discharge, and the bactericidal effect and the organic matter decomposing effect of ozone can be effectively applied to the skin surface and the like, and the dirt removing effect can be enhanced.

  Further, the shower device according to claim 8 is characterized in that, in claim 7, a moisture absorption part 15 for dehumidifying the gas is provided upstream of the high voltage discharge part 14 in the gas supply flow path 7. . According to this, the generation efficiency of ozone in the high voltage discharge part 14 can be improved, and the dirt removal effect can be further enhanced.

  A shower device according to a ninth aspect is the shower device according to the seventh or eighth aspect, wherein an oxygen-enriched film 16 that imparts oxygen to the gas is provided upstream of the high-voltage discharge portion 14 in the gas supply channel 7. It is characterized by that. According to this, the generation efficiency of ozone in the high voltage discharge part 14 can be improved, and the dirt removal effect can be further enhanced.

  According to the present invention, according to the purpose of use, the effect of removing dirt on the skin surface by fine bubbles can be appropriately given, or soap bubbles can be efficiently washed away, and the shower device can be provided with good usability. Have advantages.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an example of an embodiment of the present invention. The shower apparatus 1 of this example connects the tip of a water supply pipe to which water or hot water is supplied to the shower head 3, and supplies the water supplied to the shower head 3 through the water supply pipe from the shower discharge hole 47 of the shower head 3. It is a device provided with a fine bubble generating device 2 that allows water to be discharged to the outside as shower water and contains 0.1 to 1000 μm fine bubbles in the shower water. As shower water, fine bubbles by the fine bubble generating device 2 are provided. Is provided with a switching means 4 that can be switched between normal water (tap water) that does not contain fine bubbles and normal water that does not contain fine bubbles.

  Specifically, the water supply path of the water supplied to the shower head 3 is a mixture of hot water and a hot water supply pipe 17 extending from a hot water supply section such as a water heater and a water supply pipe 18 extending from a tap water supply section such as a water pipe. A water supply path 5 connected to the inlet of the valve 19 and connected to the showerhead 3 is connected to the outlet of the hot water / water mixing valve 19, and a water supply flow rate valve 20 composed of an electromagnetic valve for controlling the amount of discharged water is disposed in the water supply path 5. And a fine bubble generator 2 is provided.

  The fine bubble generating device 2 includes a gas mixing unit 6 that obtains gas mixed water by mixing gas into water flowing through the water supply channel 5 from the upstream side, a pump 9 that pumps water into the water supply channel 5, gas A dissolution tank 10a constituting a dissolution unit 10 for obtaining gas dissolved water by dissolving bubbles in mixed water in water under a high pressure environment, and generating fine bubbles by depositing the gas in the gas dissolved water to contain fine bubbles The fine bubble generation nozzle 11a which comprises the precipitation part 11 which obtains water is provided in order, and is comprised. The microbubble generator 2 is driven and controlled by the control unit 21 and will be described in detail later.

  Although a forced mixing mechanism that pumps gas to water by an air pump can be adopted for the gas mixing section 6, in this example, since power is not particularly required, the configuration can be simplified and the water supply path 5 flows. An ejector mechanism that naturally draws gas into water by the ejector effect is adopted. Specifically, it is configured by connecting a gas supply flow path 7 that opens to a room to a negative pressure generating part formed by providing a throttle part in the water supply path 5 so that indoor air can be mixed into water. In addition, in this example, the volume ratio with respect to the water which flows into the said water supply path 5 of the amount of intake air by the said gas mixing part 6 is 0.1 to 10%. Thereby, since a small amount of mixed gas is required, the configuration of the fine bubble generating device 2 can be simplified without requiring an excessive apparatus for gas intake, and the mixed gas can be efficiently dissolved in water. , The density of the bubbles in the gas mixture water is small, the gap between adjacent bubbles is increased to avoid coalescence of adjacent bubbles as much as possible, and contribute to the miniaturization of the bubbles, and the pump through which the gas mixture water passes 9 is designed to reduce the burden placed on 9. Here, the gas supply flow path 7 is provided with a check valve 7 a for preventing a back flow of water and an opening / closing means 8 constituting the switching means 4. The opening / closing means 8 is a means for switching the opening and closing of the gas supply flow path 7 and is constituted by an opening / closing valve 8a comprising an electromagnetic valve in this example. The on-off valve 8a is also driven and controlled by the controller 21 as will be described later. That is, when the on-off valve 8a opens the gas supply channel 7, air can be mixed into the water supply channel 5, and the shower water can be constituted by fine bubble-containing water via the dissolution unit 10 and the precipitation unit 11 described later. When the gas supply flow path 7 is closed by the on-off valve 8a, air is not mixed into the water supply path 5 and the shower water can be composed of water that does not contain fine bubbles.

  The dissolution tank 10a is divided into a primary tank 22 (bubbling tank) and a secondary tank 23 (water level detection tank) by a partition wall 24 as shown in FIG. The side tank 23 has a structure in which the gas circulation part 25 at the upper part of the partition wall 24 and the water passage part 26 at the lower part of the partition wall 24 communicate with each other. An upstream water supply channel 5 is connected to the upper part of the primary tank 22 and a spray nozzle 27 is arranged. A downstream water supply channel 5 is connected to the bottom of the secondary tank 23 and a tank outlet 28 is arranged. An air vent valve 29 is provided on the side wall of the secondary tank 23. In the primary side tank 22, the gas-mixed water pumped by the pump 9 is jetted at high speed by the spray nozzle 27 to be bubbled in the tank, and the gas is dissolved in water under a high-pressure environment by the pump 9 pumping. The secondary tank 23 is a tank for obtaining gas-dissolved water. The secondary tank 23 raises bubbles that could not be dissolved up to the tank outlet 28 to the gas recirculation part 25 and removes excess gas by an air vent valve 29 to dissolve the tank. It is a tank for stabilizing the water level in 10a and achieving stable operation of the dissolution tank 10a.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1B, the fine bubble generating nozzle 11a includes a nozzle inlet 30 from the upstream side of the water supply channel 5, a small diameter path 31 communicating radially from the nozzle inlet 30, a vortex portion 32 communicating with the small diameter path 31, A nozzle outlet 33 communicating with the swirl portion 32 is provided in order. Here, in the small-diameter path 31, the pressure of the flowing water is suddenly reduced, and the boiling of the gas-dissolved water starts under reduced pressure, and the gas is precipitated from the gas-dissolved water as fine bubbles having a bubble diameter of 0.1 to 1000 μm. Have That is, the precipitation part 11 is substantially constituted by the small diameter path 31. Further, the vortex portion 32 has a function of generating a vortex flow of water inside and flowing only fine bubbles having a relatively small bubble diameter to the nozzle outlet 33. Specifically, a vortex as indicated by an arrow A is generated in the vortex portion 32. Since the central portion of the vortex has a lower flow velocity than the outer peripheral portion of the vortex, the pressure is reduced, and bubbles having a large diameter are formed in the central portion of the vortex due to collision of fine bubbles generated in the small diameter path 31. Since the shear force acts on the vortex due to the velocity gradient generated in the radial direction of the vortex, when a large bubble at the center of the vortex moves to the outer periphery of the vortex by centrifugal force, it is divided by the vortex shear force. It turns into a small bubble. The outer periphery of the vortex is preferentially discharged to the nozzle outlet 33 by the centrifugal force caused by the rotation of the vortex as indicated by an arrow B. As described above, a predetermined diameter from which bubbles having large diameters are removed is removed from the outer periphery of the vortex. Since the following microbubbles are present, microbubbles having a predetermined diameter or less are continuously discharged from the outer periphery of the vortex together with water. That is, according to this vortex part 32, the bubble whose bubble diameter became large for some reason after microbubble generation | occurrence | production can be excluded, and only the fine bubble with a bubble diameter of 0.1-1000 micrometers (preferably bubble diameter 150 micrometers or less) at least. It is possible to stably obtain water containing homogeneous fine bubbles composed of The size of the fine bubbles discharged through the vortex portion 32 is determined by the angular velocity of the vortex of the vortex portion 32, and smaller bubbles can be discharged as the angular velocity increases, and this vortex angular velocity flows into the vortex portion 32. Since it is variable depending on the flow velocity to be generated, desired fine bubbles having a bubble diameter of 150 μm or less can be generated by changing the flow velocity of the flow into the vortex section 32.

  Here, in this example, the fine bubble generating nozzle 11 a is provided in the shower head 3, that is, provided in the water supply path 5 inside the shower head 3. Therefore, the fine bubbles immediately after the precipitation can be contained in the water discharge, that is, the fine bubbles having a small and uniform bubble diameter from the shower head 3 before the large number of generated fine bubbles are united and the bubble diameter is increased. It can be contained in the water discharge. Moreover, the site | part of the water supply path 5 from the melt | dissolution part 10 comprised by the melt | dissolution tank 10a to the shower head 3 is comprised by the flexible hose 12 which has flexibility. Since the gas-dissolved water flows through the flexible hose 12, that is, the bubbles are dissolved in the water in the flexible hose 12, and the phenomenon that the bubbles are united does not occur. Regardless, it does not affect the fine bubbles generated in the shower head 3. Therefore, the present invention can be suitably applied to the hand shower type shower device 1 in which the shower head 3 is attached to the tip of a relatively long flexible hose 12 provided in a bathroom or the like.

  As described above, in the shower device 1 of the present example, the fine bubble inclusion device 2 having the above configuration includes only fine bubbles having a bubble diameter of 0.1 to 1000 μm (preferably a bubble diameter of 150 μm or less). Shower water can be constituted by water. In particular, the fine bubbles contained in the shower water are those immediately after being generated at the precipitation portion 11 provided in the shower head 3, and before the bubble diameter becomes large due to the coalescence of the generated many fine bubbles. The bubble diameter is as small as possible and is extremely uniform. These fine bubbles with a small bubble diameter and extremely uniform are high in specific surface area and internal pressure, so that they do not come out of the shower water immediately and are dispersed throughout the shower water. In addition, the shower water has a uniform appearance that is uniformly clouded without any bias, and a large amount of fine bubbles can be efficiently applied to the skin surface. Here, most of the dirt that adheres to the skin surface of the human body is sebum that comes from the body. This sebum is so-called hydrophobic dirt. When hydrophobic bubbles (fine bubbles) are applied to this hydrophobic dirt. The dirt adheres to the surface of the bubbles and can be peeled off from the skin surface, that is, the dirt can be effectively removed from the skin surface. Therefore, in the shower apparatus 1 of the present example that can efficiently apply a large amount of fine bubbles to the skin surface, the effect of removing dirt can be effectively applied to the skin surface. In particular, hydrophobic dirt such as cosmetics remaining in addition to sebum is also attached to the skin surface of the face, and effective washing of the face can be performed with the shower water of the shower apparatus 1 of this example. . In addition, shower water containing fine bubbles can reduce the frictional resistance between the shower water and the skin surface due to the fine bubbles, so that the impact of the shower water hitting the skin surface can be weakened and the skin contact can be improved. However, microbubbles burst when they collide with the skin surface, and there is an effect that the attached dirt can be peeled off and removed by the ultrasonic waves generated when the microbubbles collapse, improving the dirt removal effect It contributes to. Needless to say, the shower water containing fine bubbles can also have a dirt removing effect on the surface of the bathroom wash area, etc., when it does not hit the human body.

By the way, shower water containing fine bubbles has useful effects such as the effect of removing dirt on the skin surface as described above. However, as described in the section of the prior art, the skin contact is soft, that is, the water discharge and the skin surface. Since the frictional resistance is reduced, there is a risk that it will be disadvantageous to wash away soap bubbles that adhere to the skin efficiently using vigorous water discharge pressure, without containing fine bubbles in the shower water. You may want to use it. In the present invention, as described above, the shower water can be appropriately used by switching between the fine bubble-containing water containing fine bubbles by the fine bubble generator 2 and the normal tap water not containing fine bubbles. Since the switching means 4 is provided (in this example, the opening / closing means 8 is provided), the presence or absence of gas mixing in the water supply path 5 in the gas mixing section 6 by the opening / closing of the gas supply flow path 7 by the opening / closing means 8 Can be switched. Specifically, the switch SW connected to the control unit 21 of the fine bubble generating device 2 includes a fine bubble changeover switch for performing switching control of the switching means 4 in addition to the device drive switch for driving the pump 9 and opening / closing the water supply valve 20. Is provided. The fine bubble changeover switch of this example is a switch for opening and closing the on-off valve 8a. When the device drive switch is turned on and the micro-bubble switching switch is turned off by the user's operation, the on-off valve 8a is closed and the water supply valve 20 is opened and the pump 9 is driven via the control unit 21 to supply the water supply channel 5 In this case, shower water composed of water that does not contain fine bubbles is discharged. In addition to the ON state of the device drive switch, the fine bubbles can be switched by the user's operation. When the switch is turned on,
Water and gas flow through the water supply channel 5, and shower water composed of water containing fine bubbles is discharged. Here, the device drive switch and the fine bubble changeover switch provided in the switch SW may be button-shaped and can be directly operated by the user. For example, the device drive switch is a shower water discharge operation unit (not shown) provided in the currant. ) May be switched in conjunction with each other by the user's operation. The opening / closing means 8 may be constituted by an opening / closing cock or the like that can be directly opened and closed by the user. In this case, it is not necessary to provide a fine bubble changeover switch, so that the configuration of the control unit 21 is simplified. You can also. According to this, when it is desired to give the skin surface the effect of removing dirt due to fine bubbles, gas is mixed into the water flowing through the water supply channel 5 by the opening / closing means 8 and the shower water is composed of water containing fine bubbles suitable for this. In addition, when it is desired to wash away the soap bubbles, the shower water can be composed of water that does not contain fine bubbles suitable for this without mixing gas into the water supply channel 5. The shower water can be appropriately switched to water containing fine bubbles or water not containing fine bubbles depending on the application, and the usability of the shower apparatus 1 can be improved.

  FIG. 2 shows another example of the embodiment. The same parts as those in the previous example are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. In this example, the melting section 10 is constituted by a melting tube 10b instead of the melting tank 10a of FIG. The melting tube 10b can be constituted by a bellows tube having a continuous resistor 34 for suddenly changing the pressure and flow velocity on the inner surface, for example. The bellows tube is formed by continuously forming an annular recess 34a having an arc cross section in the axial direction of the melting tube 10b, and a connecting portion between adjacent annular recesses 34a becomes an annular projection 34b protruding into the melting tube 10b. Yes. That is, the melting tube 10b has the smallest diameter at the annular convex portion 34b and the largest diameter at the bottom portion of the annular concave portion 34a, and the diameter gradually changes during that time. When the gas-mixed water pressurized by the pump 9 flows into the tubular body provided with the resistor 34 continuously on the inner surface, the gas-liquid mixed water is greatly disturbed locally by the continuous resistor 34 one after another. The mixture is stirred and mixed in the pressurized state after passing. In this case, in the melting tube 10b formed of a bellows tube, as shown by an arrow C in FIG. 2 (b), the melting tube 10b hits the continuous annular convex portion 34b on the inner surface of the dissolving tube 10b and turns along the inner surface of the annular concave portion 34a. It is disturbed, and this disturbance is performed one after another over the entire inner circumference of the dissolving tube 10b. Further, as shown in FIG. 2 (c), since the annular convex portion 34b portion has the smallest diameter in the melting tube 10b, the portion including the annular convex portion 34b portion has a high flow velocity and a small pressure, Since the bottom portion of the annular recess 34a has the largest diameter, the portion including the bottom portion of the annular recess 34a has a slow flow rate and a large pressure, whereby the gas-liquid mixed water passing through the dissolution tube 10b has a flow velocity and pressure. The sudden change is repeated continuously. By these actions, when the gas mixture water passes through the dissolution tube 10b, it is continuously stirred and mixed, and the dissolution of the gas in the gas mixture water into water is greatly promoted. Further, when the gas-mixed water swirls and disturbs the annular recess 34a of the dissolution tube 10b, the dissolution of the gas in water is promoted as described above. In this case, the undissolved gas that has not been dissolved D accumulates at the bottom of the annular recess 34a. That is, the bottom of the annular recess 34a becomes a minute gas reservoir in which undissolved gas D is accumulated. And the water which flows while turning the annular recessed part 34a contacts the gas reservoir formed in the pressurized state, and the undissolved gas D is effectively dissolved in the water at the interface. This is the same function as that of the previous dissolution tank 10a, and it is possible to obtain gas-dissolved water in which the gas is effectively dissolved in water despite the fact that the dissolution tube 10b is constituted by a tube. Thus, the miniaturized bubble generator 2 can be reduced in size. Furthermore, in this example, the melting tube 10b is configured by the flexible hose 12, and the configuration of the shower device 1 as a hand shower can be simplified. In addition, in the fine bubble generator 2 which obtains fine bubbles by depressurizing and dissolving the gas as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. Compared with the apparatus 2 that generates fine bubbles by applying a shearing force to the mixed bubbles, there is an advantage that extremely fine and highly uniform fine bubbles can be generated.

  FIG. 3 shows still another example of the embodiment. In this example, the shearing force accompanying the pressure fluctuation is applied to the bubbles mixed in the water in the water supply channel 5 in the gas mixing unit 6 by the pressure sudden change unit 36 provided in the water supply channel 5. This is an example of a device configured to generate fine bubbles by making it fine by acting. Specifically, the microbubble generator 2 of this example is formed by providing the shower head 3 with a pressure reducing / pressurizing means 37 that constitutes the sudden pressure change portion 36. For example, a Venturi tube 38 can be used as the pressure reducing / pressurizing means 37. In the pressure reducing / pressurizing means 37, when the bubbles pass through the throat portion, the flow velocity is increased and the pressure is reduced and expanded, and thereafter the cross-sectional area is increased. The pressure increases and shrinks as it increases, but fine bubbles having a bubble diameter of 0.1 to 1000 μm are obtained by being refined so that the bubbles are divided by the shearing force generated at this time. It is preferable to dispose a mesh in the water supply channel 5 downstream from the pressure reducing / pressurizing means 37 and to pass water containing fine bubbles through the mesh because the bubble diameter of the fine bubbles can be further subdivided. Further, the vortex portion 32 may be provided downstream of the pressure reducing / pressurizing means 37, and relatively homogeneous water containing fine bubbles including fine bubbles having a predetermined diameter or less can be obtained in the vortex portion 32.

  FIG. 4 shows still another example of the embodiment. This example is an example in which the pressure abrupt change portion 36 is provided in multiple stages of the water supply channel 5 and the bubble miniaturization process is configured in multiple stages to achieve more efficient and advanced microbubble formation. Specifically, in this example, the pressure reducing / pressurizing means 37a and 37b as the pressure suddenly changing portion 36 are formed in two stages on the upstream side and the downstream side of the water supply channel 5, and against the shear force bubbles due to pressure fluctuations. In this way, fine bubbles having a smaller bubble diameter are generated by acting in two stages. Specifically, the upstream pressure reducing / pressurizing means 37a is provided with one venturi pipe 38 as a part of the water supply channel 5 (main channel 5a). The downstream decompression / pressurization means 37b branches the downstream side of the water supply channel 5 from the portion where the upstream decompression / pressurization means 37a is provided, into a plurality of branch flow paths 5b. A venturi tube 38 is provided. More specifically, the downstream venturi tube 38 is formed according to the diameter of the fine bubbles to be generated so as to be 1/2 the diameter of the upstream venturi tube 38 and the cross-sectional area is 1/4. Four passages 5b are formed, and each branch flow path 5b is provided with a venturi tube 38. The total cross-sectional area of the downstream venturi tube 38 is equal to the cross-sectional area of the upstream venturi tube 38. When the generated fine bubbles are concentrated at one place, they are connected to become larger bubbles, and in this example, the branched bubbles are branched into a plurality of branch flow paths 5b and downstream of each branch flow path 5b. In other words, it has been devised to suppress the generation of large bubbles by colliding a large number of fine bubbles at one location and making it possible to stably obtain fine bubbles of a predetermined diameter. ing. Incidentally, as in the examples of FIGS. 3 and 4, in the case of a device in which the fine bubble generating device 2 generates fine bubbles by making the fine bubbles by applying a shearing force to the bubbles in the gas-mixed water, precedent is given. Compared with the method in which the gas-containing water is once dissolved into water and then fine bubbles are generated by precipitation to obtain water containing fine bubbles, there is an advantage that the device can be simplified and the size can be reduced. Since a large power source is not required, the simplification and miniaturization of the apparatus can be promoted as the fine bubble generating apparatus 2 that uses the water pressure without the pump 9 as in the example of FIG.

  FIG. 6 shows still another example of the embodiment. This example is another example of the fine bubble generating apparatus 2 that generates fine bubbles by applying a shearing force to bubbles in the gas-containing water as in the previous example, and the fine bubble generating apparatus 2 is a gas. This is an example constituted by gas-liquid shear layer generating means 35 for forming a gas-liquid shear layer in the mixed water. The gas-liquid shear layer generating means 35 of this example is configured by means for generating a jet stream with a remarkably high flow velocity in the gas mixture water by, for example, constricting the water supply channel 5, and in the gas mixture water in the jet stream A shear force is generated at the gas-liquid interface (so-called gas-liquid interface becomes a gas-liquid shear layer), and bubbles are refined by this shear force to obtain fine bubbles. Specifically, in this example, the water flowing through the water supply channel 5 at the gas introduction portion of the gas mixing unit 15 is a jet stream, and the gas-liquid boundary between the bubbles and water is caused by the difference in velocity between the mixed bubbles and water. The surface becomes a so-called gas-liquid shear layer, and a shearing force is applied to the bubbles to make them finer to obtain fine bubbles.

  FIG. 7 shows still another example of the embodiment. This example is an example in which the fine bubble generating device 2 is configured by the gas-liquid shear layer generating means 35 for forming a gas-liquid shear layer in the gas mixture water as in the previous example. The gas-liquid shear layer generating means 35 of the present example uses the same structure as the fine bubble generating nozzle 18a described above, that is, a small-diameter path 31 having an extremely narrow channel width of the water supply path 5 through which the gas mixture water flows. The eddy current portion 32 is configured to continuously generate a swirl flow inside the small diameter path 31. That is, in the gas mixture water passing through the small-diameter path 31, a shear force is generated at the boundary surface between bubbles and water due to the velocity gradient in the cross-sectional direction (so-called gas-liquid boundary surface becomes a gas-liquid shear layer). Then, the bubbles are made finer, and the vortex generated in the vortex section 32 generates a shearing force at the boundary between the bubbles and water due to the velocity gradient inside and outside the vortex (so-called gas-liquid interface is This becomes a gas-liquid shear layer), and the bubbles are refined by this shearing force to obtain fine bubbles. The gas-liquid shear layer generating means 35 can be configured by at least one of the small diameter path 31 or the vortex section 32.

  FIG. 8 shows still another example of the embodiment as a modification of the example of FIG. In this example, the bubble diameter of the fine bubbles generated by making the flow path width of the small diameter path 31 of FIG. 7 variable is adjustable (the bubble diameter adjusting means 13 that makes the bubble diameter of the fine bubbles adjustable). Provided example). Specifically, in the fine bubble generating device 2 of this example, the protrusion 53 protrudes toward the axial center direction on the inner surface portion of the hollow cylindrical fixing member 52 whose axial direction is the flow direction of the water supply channel 5. In addition, leg portions 54 protrude in the axial direction toward the axial center at predetermined intervals on the inner surface portion of the fixing member 52 on the downstream side of the water supply channel 5 with respect to the protrusion 53. A threaded portion 55b engraved on the peripheral surface of a cylindrical movable member 55 whose axial direction is the flow direction is screwed into a threaded portion 54a engraved at the projecting tip of the leg portion 54 so that it can be screwed in the axial direction. The fixed member 52 is disposed in the downstream portion of the protrusion 53, and the opposing distance between the downstream end surface 53 a of the protrusion 53 forming the small diameter path 31 and the upstream end surface 55 a of the movable member 55 is movable. It is made variable by screwing the member 55 in the axial direction, that is, the small diameter path 31. Channel width is variable. When the flow path width of the small-diameter path 31 is reduced, the velocity gradient in the cross-sectional direction of the gas mixed water flowing through the small-diameter path 31 is increased and the shearing force acting on the bubbles of the gas mixed water is increased. It is promoted to generate fine bubbles having a relatively small bubble diameter. Conversely, when the flow path width of the small diameter path 31 is increased, fine bubbles having a relatively large bubble diameter can be generated for the reason opposite to the above. In addition, the fine bubble-containing water containing the fine bubbles whose bubble diameter is uniformly adjusted by the bubble diameter adjusting means 13 before the fine bubbles are united and become larger or non-uniform, It is preferable to use it as water discharge as it is. However, the bubble diameter adjusting means 13 of this example is provided in the shower head 3 to be discharged, and the discharged water contains fine bubbles whose bubble diameter is uniformly adjusted. Has been made possible. For example, when fine bubbles with a bubble diameter of 150 μm or less are contained in the water discharge by the bubble diameter adjusting means 13, the fine bubbles are spread into the sweat pores and the pores of the skin surface having a size of about 80 to 150 μm. It is possible to effectively remove sweat pores and dirt in the mouth. 7 to 9, the pressure loss in the device 2 can be reduced compared to the device that obtains the fine bubbles by the pressure sudden change portion 36 of the previous example, so that the pressure can be lowered. It has an advantage that can be applied.

  FIG. 9 shows still another example of the embodiment. In this example, the fine bubble generating device 2 includes an ultrasonic vibrator disposed in a gas mixing unit 6 for obtaining gas mixed water by mixing a gas into water flowing in the water supply channel 5 and a water supply channel 5 in which the gas mixed water flows. The ultrasonic vibrator 39 applies ultrasonic vibration to the gas-mixed water, shears the bubbles in the standing wave region, and refines them to obtain fine bubbles. This fine bubble generating device 2 has the advantage that almost no pressure loss occurs in the device 2, and further, the bubble diameter of the fine bubbles can be changed by changing the frequency of the ultrasonic waves generated by the ultrasonic transducer 39. (That is, the control means for the ultrasonic frequency generated by the ultrasonic vibrator 39 constitutes the bubble diameter adjusting means 13 for the fine bubbles).

  FIG. 10 shows still another example of the embodiment. In this example, a high-voltage discharge unit 14 that generates ozone is provided in the middle of the gas supply flow path 7. The high voltage discharge unit 14 is driven and controlled via the control unit 21 by operating an ozone-containing switch provided in the switch SW. That is, since the gas mixed in the water can be constituted by ozone, the fine bubbles containing ozone are obtained by generating fine bubbles of ozone through the fine bubble generating device 2, and the fine bubbles containing ozone are obtained. Water discharged from the contained water can be supplied to the wash bowl 3. Here, since ozone has a strong oxidizing power, it has a high bactericidal effect and an organic matter decomposing effect. Then, the fine bubbles generated by the fine bubble generator 2 can be dispersed without having to immediately come out of the water due to the high specific surface area and internal pressure as described above. The contact efficiency between the object to be cleaned and the bubble interface is also high. Thus, the synergistic effect of the two can dramatically increase the dirt removal effect. Furthermore, according to the fact that the stored water stored in the wash bowl 3 is composed of water containing fine bubbles containing ozone, the stored water itself and the surface of the wash bowl 3 can be sterilized and sterilized. The effect of removing urine stones and slime and the effect of preventing the adhesion of filth to the surface of the wash bowl 3 could be effectively enhanced.

  FIG. 11 shows still another example of the embodiment. In this example, a hygroscopic portion 15 in which silica gel or the like for dehumidifying gas is loaded in order from the upstream side in the upstream portion of the high-voltage discharge portion 14 in the gas supply flow path 7, oxygen enrichment for imparting oxygen to the gas This is an example in which a film 16 is provided. According to this, the gas dehumidified by the hygroscopic material can be introduced into the high voltage discharge part 14, and the ozone generation efficiency in the high voltage discharge part 14 can be improved. Further, the oxygen enrichment film 16 can increase the oxygen concentration of the gas (when the gas is air, the oxygen concentration is increased to 25 to 40%), and the ozone generation efficiency in the high voltage discharge unit 14 Can be improved. Thus, by increasing the ozone generation efficiency in the high voltage discharge section 14, the ozone concentration of the fine bubble-containing water can be increased to further enhance the sterilizing effect of ozone. The effect of preventing the adhesion of filth to the surface can be further enhanced. 10 and FIG. 11 is not limited to the fine bubble generator 2 of the type that obtains fine bubbles by shearing the bubbles in the gas mixture water as illustrated, but also the gas mixture water of FIGS. 1 to 3. Needless to say, the present invention can also be applied to a microbubble generator 2 of a type in which the bubbles are once dissolved and then precipitated to obtain microbubbles.

  12 and 13 show still another example of the embodiment. In this example, the microbubble generator 2 as shown in FIG. 4 is built in the shower head 3 (FIG. 12). And in this example, as shown in FIG. 13, the bubble diameter adjusting means 13 which adjusts the bubble diameter of the fine bubble generated previously and is contained in the water discharge at the shower discharge port at the tip of the shower head 3 is provided. It has been. Specifically, a water spray plate 46 having a large number of shower discharge holes 47a is disposed at the tip of the shower head 3. Similarly, the opening area adjusting cover 48 having a large number of shower discharge holes 47b is provided with the water spray. It is attached to the front end of the shower head 3 so as to be able to rotate and overlap with the plate 46. By rotating this opening area adjustment cover 48, the shower discharge hole 47 a of the water spray plate 46 and the shower discharge hole 47 b of the opening area adjustment cover 48. The size of the overlapping area (that is, the opening area of each shower discharge hole 47) can be changed. For example, if the opening area of the shower discharge hole 47 is reduced, the width of the pressure fluctuation can be increased, miniaturization of the fine bubbles can be promoted, and the bubble diameter of the fine bubbles can be adjusted to be small. As described above, according to the bubble diameter adjusting means 13, the water containing fine bubbles according to the user's purpose, application, and preference can be used as water discharge, and the usability of the shower device 1 can be improved.

  As the bubble diameter adjusting means 13, the one shown in FIG. The bubble diameter adjusting means 13 of this example is provided with an opening hole number adjustment cover 49 that allows the shower discharge hole 47 of the water spray plate 46 to be closed, and is attached to the tip of the shower head 3 so as to be slidable in the circumferential direction. By sliding the cover 49 in the circumferential direction, many shower discharge holes 47 of the water spray plate 46 are gradually closed in the circumferential direction so that the size of the opening area of the entire shower discharge hole 47 can be changed. For example, when the opening area of the shower discharge hole 47 as a whole is reduced, the width of the pressure fluctuation can be increased, miniaturization of the fine bubbles can be promoted, and the bubble diameter of the fine bubbles can be adjusted small.

  As the bubble diameter adjusting means 13, the one shown in FIG. The bubble diameter adjusting means 13 of this example is a bubble diameter adjusting unit 50 including a plurality of watering plates 46 that can be appropriately attached to the tip of the shower head 3 in a stacked state. Each water spray plate 46 is provided with a shower discharge hole 47. The shower discharge hole 47 is formed in a venturi shape having a pressure sudden change portion 36 as shown in FIG. As described in the example of FIG. 5, the bubble diameter can be gradually reduced stepwise by providing the pressure abrupt changes 36 in multiple stages. In the bubble diameter adjusting unit 50 of this example, as the number of the plurality of watering plates 46 to be stacked is increased, shearing force due to pressure fluctuation can be applied to the fine bubbles in multiple stages, and the miniaturization can be promoted. The diameter can be made small. That is, the user can obtain fine bubbles having a desired bubble diameter by appropriately selecting the number of the water spray plates 46 to be stacked (the number of the water spray plates 46 attached to the tip of the shower head 3). Although not shown in the present example, the attachment structure to the water spray plates 46 and the shower head 3 is a structure in which the members can be attached and detached by screwing, but other attachment structures such as locking are adopted. May be. In addition, the example of the said FIG. 12 thru | or FIG. 15 is not only the fine bubble generating apparatus 2 of the type which shears the bubble in the illustrated gas mixed water, and subdivides and obtains a fine bubble, but also the gas mixed water of FIG.1 and FIG.2. Needless to say, the present invention can also be applied to a microbubble generator 2 of a type in which the bubbles are once dissolved and then precipitated to obtain microbubbles.

  FIG. 16 shows another example of the switching means 4. Instead of the opening / closing means 8, the switching means 4 of the present example uses a water supply path 5 for supplying the bubble-containing water supply path 40 in which the fine bubble generating device 2 is provided and a normal water supply water in which the fine bubble generating apparatus 2 is not provided. In this example, the water supply path 40 for containing bubbles and the water supply path 41 for normal water are configured to be freely switchable by a flow path switching valve 42. The fine bubble changeover switch of the switch SW in this example is configured by a switch for changing the flow path of the flow path switching valve 42. That is, when the user operates the fine bubble changeover switch of the switch SW, the flow path switching valve 42 is switched via the control unit 21, whereby the shower water is supplied from the bubble-containing water supply path 40. Alternatively, it can be appropriately selected and used for any water (tap water) that does not contain fine bubbles from the normal water supply channel 41. In particular, in the switching means 4 of the present example, the shower water can be constituted by tap water flowing through the normal water supply channel 41 with no pressure loss without the fine bubble generating device 2 being provided. Can be efficiently used as the water discharge pressure, and soap bubbles can be efficiently washed away with a strong water discharge pressure.

  In the above embodiment, the shower device 1 used in the bathroom has been described as an example. However, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to, for example, a hand shower type shower device 1 constituting a sink of a sink or a kitchen sink. In this case as well, a uniform good appearance can be obtained in shower water containing fine bubbles, and a good dirt removing effect can be imparted to the skin surface of the hand, the surface of the sink or the wash bowl, tableware, etc. It is.

It is the shower apparatus of the example of embodiment of this invention, (a) is a schematic block diagram of a shower apparatus, (b) is a sectional side view of a fine bubble generation nozzle, (c) is the side of a dissolution tank It is sectional drawing. It is the shower apparatus of the other example of embodiment same as the above, (a) is a schematic block diagram of a shower apparatus, (b) is sectional drawing of a dissolution tube, (c) demonstrates the function of a dissolution tube. It is explanatory drawing. It is a shower apparatus of the further another example of embodiment same as the above, Comprising: (a) is a schematic block diagram of a water supply path | route, (b) is sectional drawing of a microbubble generator. It is sectional drawing of the microbubble generator in the shower apparatus of the further another example of embodiment same as the above. It is a schematic block diagram of the water supply path | route in the shower apparatus of the further another example of embodiment same as the above. It is a schematic sectional side view of the microbubble generator in the shower apparatus of the further another example of embodiment same as the above. It is a schematic sectional side view of the microbubble generator in the shower apparatus of the further another example of embodiment same as the above. It is the fine bubble generator of the shower apparatus of the further another example of embodiment same as the above, (a) is front sectional drawing, (b) is a side view. It is a schematic sectional side view of the microbubble generator in the shower apparatus of the further another example of embodiment same as the above. It is a schematic block diagram of the water supply path | route in the shower apparatus of the further another example of embodiment same as the above. It is a schematic block diagram of the principal part of a water supply path | route in the shower apparatus of the further another example of embodiment same as the above. It is a perspective view of the principal part of the shower apparatus of the further another example of embodiment same as the above. (A) is a disassembled perspective view of a bubble diameter adjustment means, (b) is operation | movement explanatory drawing of a bubble diameter adjustment means. It is another example of a bubble diameter adjustment means, and is operation | movement explanatory drawing. It is a further example of a bubble diameter adjustment means, (a) is an exploded perspective view, (b) is a sectional side view of a shower discharge hole. It is a schematic block diagram of the water supply path | route in the shower apparatus of the further another example of embodiment same as the above.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Shower apparatus 2 Fine bubble generator 3 Shower head 4 Switching means 5 Water supply path 6 Gas mixing part 7 Gas supply flow path 8 Opening and closing means 40 Bubble containing water supply path 41 Normal water supply path 42 Flow path switching valve

Claims (9)

A fine bubble generating device that includes a fine bubble generating device that generates 0.1 to 1000 μm fine bubbles, and water that is discharged from a shower head, containing fine bubbles generated by the fine bubble generating device, and fine bubbles A shower device characterized by comprising switching means for switching to either water containing no water. The fine bubble generating device is provided with a gas mixing part for mixing gas into the water supply path to the shower head, and the gas mixing part is provided with a gas supply flow path leading to the water supply path, and the gas supply flow path can be opened and closed freely. The shower device according to claim 1, wherein an opening / closing means is provided, and the switching means is constituted by the opening / closing means. The fine bubble generating device includes a gas mixing unit that mixes gas into water flowing through the water supply channel to obtain gas mixed water, a pump that pumps the gas mixed water into the water supply channel, and a gas mixed water under a high-pressure environment by the pump. A dissolving part for dissolving gas bubbles in water to obtain gas-dissolved water and a precipitation part for precipitating gas in gas-dissolving water to generate fine bubbles to obtain water containing fine bubbles are upstream of the water supply channel. The shower device according to claim 1, wherein the shower device is arranged from each side. The shower apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the water supply channel downstream of the melting part is constituted by a flexible hose, and the precipitation part is provided in the shower head. The fine bubble generating device includes a gas mixing unit that mixes a gas into water flowing through a water supply channel to obtain gas mixed water, and generates a shearing force in the bubbles of the gas mixed water to make the bubbles fine and fine bubbles. The shower device according to claim 1, comprising: The shower apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein bubble diameter adjusting means for adjusting a bubble diameter of fine bubbles to be included in the shower water is provided in a discharge portion of the shower head. The shower apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein a high-voltage discharge unit for generating ozone is provided in the middle of the gas supply channel. The shower device according to claim 7, wherein a moisture absorption part for dehumidifying the gas is provided at a position upstream of the high voltage discharge part in the gas supply channel. The shower apparatus according to claim 7 or 8, wherein an oxygen-enriched film for imparting oxygen to the gas is provided upstream of the high-voltage discharge section in the gas supply channel.

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