Nano-bubble generation stirrer

Abstract

To provide a nano-bubble generation stirrer capable of efficiently generating nano-bubbles by being slightly shaken in a vessel with a liquid and a gas.SOLUTION: In a nano-bubble generation stirrer to generate nano-bubbles by being slightly shaken in a vessel with a liquid and a gas,: openings 11, 21 are respectively disposed at one end side and the other end side in an axial direction X ; a vertical flow passage 41 to connect one end opening part 11 positioning at one end side to the other end opening part 21 positioning at the other end side is possessed inside; and vertical flow passages 41, 42 have a flow passage branch connection part 44 branching the flow passage into a plurality of flow passages in the middle of a flow passage from one end opening 11 to the other end opening 21 or a flow passage from the other end opening 21 to one end opening 11.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a nanobubble generating stirrer and a nanobubble generating container using the same. [Background technology]

[0002] There is a known technique for generating minute bubbles in liquids such as water. As minute bubbles, microbubbles with a particle diameter of 1 μm to 100 μm and nanobubbles with a particle diameter of less than 1 μm are known. In recent years, research on nanobubbles has been progressing, and it has been reported that nanobubbles have properties different from those of microbubbles. For example, microbubbles dispersed in transparent water appear cloudy, whereas nanobubbles are smaller than the wavelength of visible light and do not scatter light, making the water appear transparent. In addition, when dispersed in liquid, microbubbles rise due to buoyancy and then shrink and disappear, whereas nanobubbles have an extremely small volume and negligible buoyancy, so they oscillate randomly due to Brownian motion and are retained in the liquid for a long period of time without rising.

[0003] In order to include nanobubbles in products such as lotions, it is possible to fill containers with liquid in which nanobubbles have been generated in advance by a pressurized dissolution method, a swirling flow method, a micropore method, etc. However, even if the generated microbubbles are nanobubbles, the amount of nanobubbles may decrease significantly by the time a consumer uses the product due to factors such as the long retention period of the product, and the full effect of the nanobubbles may not be obtained. For example, it has been reported that the amount of nanobubbles decreases to less than half of the amount immediately after filling after one year has passed.

[0004] On the other hand, containers equipped with a nanobubble generating mechanism capable of generating microbubbles or nanobubbles when used by consumers are also known. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a spray device having a piston, a piston guide, and an outlet, which generates nanobubbles by shear collapse of the liquid while the liquid is delivered to the outlet through the gap between the piston and the piston guide. Patent Document 2 describes a bottle having a container body and a lid that covers the opening of the container body, and further having a hole former in which a plurality of through holes are formed in the container body. Patent Document 3 discloses a nanobubble cosmetic composition for external use, and describes, as an example of a container that contains the composition, a container that contains nanobubble-generating stirring balls that are hollow and have a plurality of holes through which the liquid passes on the wall of the hollow structure. Furthermore, a method of generating nanobubbles is also known in which the force of pulling the trigger of a trigger-type spray container or the water pressure of tap water applied to a shower head is used to generate a high-speed swirling flow. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-30171 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 6916959 [Patent Document 3] International Publication No. 2022 / 010000 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, the spray device described in Patent Document 1 has difficulty in applying a large shear force, and the amount of nanobubbles generated is insufficient. In addition, the spray device described in Patent Document 1 has the above-mentioned special configuration, and has the disadvantage that it cannot be applied to products that do not use a spray device having such a special configuration. In addition, since the bubble generating mechanism including the piston and piston guide is provided in a member attached to the opening of a bottle container that contains a medicine, there is a problem that the setting of the member to the bottle part is also affected. The bottle described in Patent Document 2 generates bubbles by shaking the bottle with a tube extending into the container body inserted into a cylindrical hole former. Therefore, it is necessary to set something other than the hole former in the bottle, which has the drawback of low productivity. In addition, it is unclear how much nanobubbles the bottle in Patent Document 2 and the nanobubble generating stirring ball described in Patent Document 3 can generate, and they are inferior in terms of efficiently generating nanobubbles at a high concentration.

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a nanobubble generating stirrer that can generate nanobubbles easily and at a high concentration, and a nanobubble generating container that uses the same and has a simple configuration. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The present invention relates to a nanobubble generating stirrer that generates nanobubbles by placing it in a container together with a liquid and a gas and shaking it. It is preferable that the nanobubble generating stirrer has an opening at each of one end side and the other end side in the axial direction, and has a vertical flow path therein connecting the one-end opening located at the one end side and the other-end opening located at the other end side. It is preferable that the vertical flow passage has a flow passage branching portion that branches the flow passage into a plurality of passages midway along the flow passage from the one end opening to the other end opening or midway along the flow passage from the other end opening to the one end opening.

[0009] The present invention relates to a nanobubble generating container including a container and a nanobubble generating stirrer housed in the container. The nanobubble generating stirrer is preferably the nanobubble generating stirrer described above. The nanobubble generating container preferably generates nanobubbles in the liquid by shaking the container with the liquid, gas, and the nanobubble generating stirrer housed therein. Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to the nanobubble-generating stirrer of the present invention, nanobubbles can be efficiently generated simply by placing it in a container together with liquid and gas and shaking it. The nanobubble generating container of the present invention has a simple configuration and can efficiently generate nanobubbles. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of the nanobubble generating stirrer of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is (a) a front view and (b) a plan view of the stirrer shown in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the stirrer shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a cross section taken along line AA in FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing one embodiment of the nanobubble generating container of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of the nanobubble generating stirrer of the present invention, where (a) is a perspective view, (b) is a front view, and (c) is a plan view. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a third embodiment of the nanobubble generating stirrer of the present invention, where (a) is a front view and (b) is a plan view. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the stirrer shown in FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a modified example of the nanobubble generating stirrer of the first embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing still another embodiment of the nanobubble generating stirrer of the present invention. [Figure 11] 11(a) to 11(d) are developments of the outer circumferential surface of a stirrer, showing other examples of the convex ridges or protrusions provided on the surface of the nanobubble-generating stirrer. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] The present invention will now be described based on preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. The nanobubble-generating stirrer of the present invention (hereinafter also referred to as "stirrer") can generate nanobubbles by putting it in a container 91 together with a liquid 92 and a gas 93 and shaking it by hand, for example, as shown in FIG. 5. The expression "putting it in a container together with a liquid and a gas" also includes a case where the liquid 92 is put in the container 91 so that a head space containing the gas 93 is generated in the container 91, and the stirrer 1 is put in the container 91. There is no particular limitation on the order in which the liquid 92 and the stirrer 1 are put in the container 91, and the stirrer 1 may be put in any of before, during, and after the liquid 92 is filled. The gas 93 is preferably air, and may be air that is present in the working environment in which the liquid 92 is filled, or air that naturally flows into the container 91. The gas 93 may be a gas other than air, such as nitrogen gas, or a mixed gas of air and another gas, or a mixed gas of gases other than air. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 1 denotes a stirrer housed in a container 91 .

[0013] 1 to 3 show a first embodiment of the nanobubble generating stirrer of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2(a), the stirrer 1A of the first embodiment has an opening at each of one end side and the other end side in the axial direction X. More specifically, the stirrer 1A has a cylindrical main body 30, and has a plurality of openings 11, 12 in an end region 10 located at one end side in the axial direction X, which is a direction along the central axis 3 of the main body 30, and also has a plurality of openings 21, 22 in an end region 20 located at the other end side in the axial direction X. The opening 11 located at one end side and the opening 21 located at the other end side are communicated by a vertical flow path formed in the stirrer 1A, and the opening 11 located at one end side and the opening 21 located at the other end side are communicated by a vertical flow path formed in the stirrer 1A. The vertical flow path is a flow path that extends roughly along the axial direction X. The stirrer 1A in this embodiment has end regions 10, 20 in the shape of a convex curved surface on both sides of the main body 30, and a plurality of types of openings 11, 12 having different shapes or distances from the central axis 3 are formed in each of the end regions 10, 20. The central axis 3 is not limited to the central axis when the stirrer 1A or its main body 30 is cylindrical or rotatable, but may be a straight line connecting the centers of the cross sections.

[0014] To further explain the stirring bar 1A of this embodiment, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the stirring bar 1A has a first portion 31 and a second portion 32 which are made up of different parts. As shown in Fig. 3, the first section 31 made of the part P1 has a first flow passage 13 and a second flow passage 14 formed as flow passages along the axial direction X. A plurality of first flow passages 13 are formed in an annular shape around the central axis 3, and each of the first flow passages 13 communicates with a one-end opening 11 that opens into the one end region 10. A plurality of second flow passages 14 are also formed in an annular shape around the central axis 3, and each of the second flow passages 14 communicates with a one-end opening 12 that opens into the one end region 10. The one-end openings 11 and the first flow passages 13 communicating therewith are formed at positions farther from the central axis 3 than the one-end openings 12 and the second flow passages 14 communicating therewith. In the second section 32 made of the part P2, a first flow passage 23 and a second flow passage 24 are formed as flow passages along the axial direction X, which are substantially the same as those in the first section 31. A plurality of first flow passages 23 are formed in an annular shape around the central axis 3, and each of the first flow passages 23 communicates with the other end opening 21 that opens in the other end region 20. A plurality of second flow passages 24 are also formed in an annular shape around the central axis 3, and each of the second flow passages 24 communicates with the other end opening 22 that opens in the other end region 20. In the second section 32, the other end opening 21 and the first flow passage 23 communicating therewith are formed at a position farther from the central axis 3 than the other end opening 22 and the second flow passage 24 communicating therewith.

[0015] The first part 31 and the second part 32 are integrated by joining the part P1 and the part P2 as shown in Fig. 1. When joining the part P1 and the part P2, they are aligned about the central axis 3 so that the first flow paths 13 in the first part 31 span across multiple first flow paths 23 in the second part 32 and the first flow paths 23 in the second part 32 span across multiple first flow paths 13 in the first part 31 as shown in Fig. 2(b) and Fig. 4. As a result, inside the stirrer 1A in which the first part 31 and the second part 32 are integrated, as shown in Figures 2(b) and 4(a), a plurality of first vertical flow paths 41 are formed as vertical flow paths connecting the one end opening 11 located at one end side in the axial direction X and the other end opening 21 located at the other end side, the plurality of first vertical flow paths 41 having a flow path branching section 43 that branches the flow path into multiple paths midway from the one end opening 11 to the other end opening 21, and a plurality of second vertical flow paths 42 having a flow path branching section 44 that branches the flow path into multiple paths midway from the other end opening 21 to the one end opening 11, as shown in Figure 4(b).

[0016] From the viewpoint of increasing the bonding strength between the parts P1 and P2, it is preferable to form a fitting protrusion 33 protruding along the central axis 3 and a fitting recess 34 into which the fitting protrusion 33 fits on the parts P1 and P2 to be bonded to each other. In addition, it is preferable to form an engagement protrusion 35 and an engaged portion 36 into which the engagement protrusion 35 engages on the parts P1 and P2 for alignment around the central axis 3 on the parts P1 and P2. The positions at which the fitting protrusion 33 and the engagement protrusion 35 are provided can be changed as appropriate. For example, for the purpose of increasing the bonding strength between the parts and / or for the purpose of alignment around the central axis 3, a fitting protrusion or an engagement protrusion can be provided on the outer peripheral wall of one of the two parts to be bonded to each other, and a corresponding fitting recess or an engagement recess can be provided on the outer peripheral wall of the other part. For example, only one fitting protrusion or the like can be provided on the outer peripheral wall in the circumferential direction of the stirrer, but it is preferable to provide multiple fitting protrusions at predetermined intervals. The parts P1 and P2 may be joined by adhesive, fusion or the like without providing a mating convex portion and a mating concave portion, and the engaging convex portion 35 and engaged portion 36 for alignment may also not be required.

[0017] As shown in Figure 4(a), the first vertical flow path 41 is formed by connecting one first flow path 13 in the first section 31 and two first flow paths 23 adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction Y of the stirrer 1 in the second section 32 in the axial direction X, and the end of the partition wall 26 between the two first flow paths 23 on the first section 31 side forms a flow path branch section 43 in the first vertical flow path 41. As shown in Figure 4(b), the second vertical flow path 42 is formed by connecting one first flow path 23 in the second section 32 and two first flow paths 13 adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction Y of the stirrer 1 in the first section 31 in the axial direction X, and the end of the partition wall 25 between the two first flow paths 13 on the second section 32 side forms a flow path branch section 44 in the second vertical flow path 44.

[0018] According to the stirring bar 1 of this embodiment, when the stirring bar 1 is placed in a container together with liquid and gas and shaken up and down or left and right, the liquid and gas are stirred, promoting the mixing of the liquid and gas. In addition, by shaking the container containing the stirring bar 1, a mixed flow of the liquid and gas flows inside the stirring bar 1. When a mixed flow of liquid and gas flows from one end opening 11 toward the other end opening 21, the mixed flow flowing in from one end opening 11 collides with the flow path branching portion 44 in the first vertical flow path 41 with great force and then flows out from the other end opening 21. As a result, shear force and mechanical crushing force act on the bubbles in the mixed flow, and nanobubbles are effectively generated by dispersion and mixing. Therefore, with the stirrer 1 of this embodiment, nanobubbles can be effectively generated by a simple action of, for example, placing it in a container 91 together with a liquid 92 and a gas 93 and shaking it by hand.

[0019] Moreover, the stirrer 1 of this embodiment is equipped with a first vertical flow path 41 and a second vertical flow path 42, and in either case where a mixed flow flows in a direction X1 from the one-end opening 11 toward the other-end opening 21 or where a mixed flow flows in a direction X2 from the other-end opening 21 toward the one-end opening 21, the bubbles in the mixed flow are repeatedly dispersed and mixed by the flow path branching section 43 or 44, so that nanobubbles can be generated more efficiently by a simple action of placing the stirrer 1 in a container 91 together with a liquid 92 and a gas 93 and shaking it up and down and left and right several times by hand, and a nanobubble-containing liquid containing nanobubbles at a high concentration can be easily obtained.

[0020] Furthermore, the stirrer 1 of this embodiment is formed so that the first flow path 23 in the first part 31 spans multiple first flow paths 23 in the second part 32 and the first flow path 23 in the second part 32 spans multiple first flow paths 13 in the first part 31. Therefore, a structure that can miniaturize the bubbles in the mixed flow can be realized with a simple configuration in both cases where the mixed flow flows in the direction X1 from the one end opening 11 to the other end opening 21 and where the mixed flow flows in the direction X2 from the other end opening 21 to the one end opening 21. Furthermore, when the first part 31 and the second part 32 are formed by joining separate parts, they can be manufactured using conventional manufacturing equipment such as injection molding, which makes it possible to reduce manufacturing costs, etc. A stirrer having a configuration similar to that of the stirrer 1 of this embodiment may be manufactured by integrally molding the first part 31 and the second part 32 using a 3D printer.

[0021] In this embodiment, the first vertical flow path 41 and the second vertical flow path 42 are described by conceptually dividing them into a case where the flow direction of the mixed flow of liquid and gas flowing inside the stirrer 1 is one direction X1 along the axial direction X and a case where the flow direction is another direction X2 along the axial direction X that is opposite to the one direction X1. The first vertical flow path 41 and the second vertical flow path 42 may be formed, for example, by the common first flow path 13 and second flow path 23 in the first part 31 and the second part 32.

[0022] The stirrer in the present invention may have a branching portion of the flow path when considering a flow in one direction X1 along the axial direction X, but may have only a vertical flow path having only a confluence of the flow paths without a branching portion of the flow path when considering a flow in the other direction X2, or may have a first vertical flow path having a branching portion of the flow path when considering a flow in one direction X1 and a second vertical flow path having a branching portion of the flow path when considering a flow in the other direction X2, as completely independent flow paths.

[0023] The first vertical flow passage 41 and the second vertical flow passage 42 in the stirrer 1 of this embodiment have horizontal flow passages 51, 52 between the one end opening 11 and the other end opening 21, which allow a portion of the fluid flowing through each vertical flow passage to flow in a radial direction perpendicular to the central axis 3. More specifically, the first vertical flow passage 41 has a first horizontal flow passage 51 in the vicinity of the flow passage branching portion 43. The first horizontal flow passage 51 communicates between the first vertical flow passage 41 and a peripheral opening 51a that opens on the outer peripheral surface of the stirrer 1. The second vertical flow passage 42 has a second horizontal flow passage 52 in the vicinity of the flow passage branching portion 44. The second horizontal flow passage 52 communicates between the second vertical flow passage 42 and a peripheral opening 52a that opens on the outer peripheral surface of the stirrer 1. The radial direction perpendicular to the central axis 3 is a direction away from the central axis 3, and is not limited to a direction parallel to a plane perpendicular to the central axis 3, but also includes a diagonal upward or downward direction at an angle to the plane.

[0024] When the vertical flow paths 41, 42 formed in the stirrer 1 have the horizontal flow paths 51, 52, the force for breaking down the bubbles can be applied more effectively to the mixed flow flowing in the vertical flow paths 41, 42, and nanobubbles and a high-concentration nanobubble-containing liquid can be obtained more effectively. From the viewpoint of increasing the efficiency of generating nanobubbles, the lateral flow paths 51, 52 are preferably formed in the vicinity of the flow path branching portions 43, 44, and the first vertical flow path 41 is preferably formed at least in the vicinity upstream of the flow path branching portion 43, and the second vertical flow path 42 is preferably formed at least in the vicinity upstream of the flow path branching portion 44. The lateral flow paths 51, 52 in this embodiment are formed by forming recesses 53 for forming the lateral flow paths intermittently in the circumferential direction in the outer peripheral wall of each of the parts P1 and P2 to be joined together, and joining the parts P1 and P2 so that the recesses 53 on one side face the portion 54 of the outer peripheral wall of the other side other than the recesses 53. Therefore, the lateral flow paths 51, 52 are formed in the vicinity of the joint 37 between the parts P1 and P2.

[0025] In addition, the lateral flow paths 51, 52 may be formed by opposing recesses 53 for forming lateral flow paths in different parts P1, P2, as in the lateral flow path 51 of the stirrer 1C shown in Figure 7, and may be formed at a location other than the joint between the parts. The joint 37 is a portion where the joined parts are adjacent to each other in the axial direction X of the stirrer, and the outer peripheral wall of the part P1 and the outer peripheral wall of the part P2 may or may not be joined. For example, the parts P1 and P2 may be joined only between the fitting convex portion 33 and the fitting concave portion 34 in Fig. 3, and the outer peripheral walls may not be joined to each other.

[0026] As shown in Fig. 2(b), the stirrer 1A of this embodiment has an outer annular arrangement section 45 in which the first and second vertical flow passages 41, 42 having the above-mentioned configuration are arranged in a ring shape around the central axis 3, and an inner annular arrangement section 47 in which the first and second vertical flow passages having the same configuration as the first and second vertical flow passages 41, 42 are arranged in a ring shape, closer to the central axis 3 than the outer annular arrangement section 45. In Fig. 2(b), the first vertical flow passage of the vertical flow passages that make up the inner annular arrangement section 47 is indicated by the reference symbol 46. The first vertical flow passage 46 constituting the inner annular arrangement portion 47 is formed by continuously forming one second flow passage 14 in the first part 31 and two second flow passages 24 adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction Y of the stirrer 1 in the second part 32 in the axial direction X, and the second vertical flow passage constituting the inner annular arrangement portion 47 is formed by continuously forming one second flow passage 24 in the second part 32 and two second flow passages 14 adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction Y of the stirrer 1 in the first part 31 in the axial direction X. In the first and second vertical flow passages constituting the inner annular arrangement portion 47, the end of the partition wall between the second flow passages 24 in the second part 32 on the first part 31 side or the end of the partition wall between the second flow passages 14 in the first part 31 on the second part 32 side serves as a flow passage branch portion 48 in the vertical flow passage.

[0027] By having the outer annular arrangement portion 45 and the inner annular arrangement portion 47 each composed of a plurality of vertical flow paths at different distances from the central axis 3, it is possible to efficiently arrange many vertical flow paths in the stirrer 1, and more bubbles in the mixed flow of liquid and gas can be dispersed and mixed, and more effectively atomized, so that the amount of nanobubbles generated by each stirrer 1 can be more efficiently increased. This makes it easier to obtain a nanobubble-containing liquid containing nanobubbles at a high concentration.

[0028] The stirrer 1A of this embodiment has an inner lateral flow passage that connects the vertical flow passage constituting the outer annular arrangement portion 47 and the vertical flow passage constituting the inner annular arrangement portion 45 in a radial direction perpendicular to the central axis 3. The inner lateral flow passage in this embodiment is formed by forming recesses 56 for forming the inner lateral flow passage intermittently in the circumferential direction in annular partition wall 55 that separates the first flow passage and the second flow passage in each of parts P1 and P2 to be joined to each other, and joining parts P1 and P2 so that the positions of the recesses 56 match. Therefore, the inner lateral flow passage is formed near the joint 37 between parts P1 and P2.

[0029] By providing the outer annular array section 45 and the inner annular array section 47, and providing an inner horizontal flow path that communicates between the vertical flow paths that constitute the outer annular array section 45 and the inner annular array section 47, the number of branching parts of the flow path in the stirrer 1 is increased, and the bubbles in the mixed flow of liquid and gas can be more effectively refined by dispersing and mixing in a more complex manner. Therefore, the amount of nanobubbles generated by each stirrer 1 can be more efficiently increased, making it easier to obtain a nanobubble-containing liquid that contains nanobubbles at a high concentration.

[0030] In the stirrer 1A of this embodiment, the aforementioned flow path branching portions 43, 44, the lateral flow path 51 opening onto the peripheral surface, and the inner lateral flow path are all formed near the joint 37 between the parts P1 and P2. When manufacturing a stirrer having a complex shape having one or more of a flow path branching portion, a lateral flow path opening on the peripheral surface, and an inner lateral flow path, the stirrer can be manufactured by combining multiple parts provided with recesses for forming them and partitions that serve as flow path branching portions, etc., thereby making it possible to manufacture the stirrer using general-purpose manufacturing equipment such as injection molding, which is advantageous from the standpoint of reducing manufacturing costs, etc. The stirrer may be formed from three or more parts instead of two parts.

[0031] In the stirrer 1A of the first embodiment, a cutout portion 56a is formed near the joint portion 7 in some of the partition walls 25, 26 between the first flow paths 13, 23 adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction of the first part 31 and the second part 32, which is continuous with the recess 56 for forming the inner lateral flow path and is cut to a depth similar to that of the recess 56, and in the some of the partition walls 25, 26, in addition to the end portion of the partition wall 25, 26, a part of the cutout portion 56a functions as the flow path branching portion 44, 45. The presence of such flow path branching portions 44, 45 makes the branching of the vertical flow paths more complicated, thereby further improving the nanobubble generation efficiency, but such cutout portion 56a may be omitted.

[0032] FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the stirrer of the present invention. Regarding the stirring bar 1B of the second embodiment, differences from the stirring bar 1A of the first embodiment will be described, and a description of similarities will be omitted. The stirring bar 1B of the second embodiment has an outer periphery 60 along the axial direction 3. The outer periphery 60 along the axial direction 3 is the outer periphery of a cylindrical main body 30. A plurality of ridges 61 extending along the axial direction 3 are formed on the outer circumferential portion 60, and grooves 62 are formed between the ridges 61 adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction Y.

[0033] When the stirrer 1B of the second embodiment is placed in a container together with liquid and gas and shaken up and down or left and right, a shear force and a mechanical crushing force act on the bubbles in the mixed flow of liquid and gas flowing inside the stirrer 1B in the same manner as the stirrer 1A of the first embodiment, and dispersion and mixing are performed, thereby producing nanobubbles and a nanobubble-containing liquid containing nanobubbles at a high concentration. Furthermore, by providing the outer circumferential portion 60 with a plurality of ridges 61 extending along the axial direction 3, the surface of the stirrer 1B becomes rough, generating turbulence around the stirrer 1B and further promoting the mixing of the mixed flow of liquid and gas. The stirred mixed flow passes through the vertical flow passage inside the stirrer 1B, which further increases the shear force due to dispersion and mixing, and nanobubbles and nanobubble-containing liquid containing nanobubbles at a high concentration can be obtained more efficiently. The protruding ridges 61 are preferably provided at intervals and with a protruding height such that grooves 61 are formed between adjacent protruding ridges 61 in the circumferential direction.

[0034] From the viewpoint of generating turbulence and improving the generation efficiency of nanobubbles, as shown in Fig. 6(c), it is preferable that the convex ridges 61 are distributed all around the outer periphery 60. From the same viewpoint, it is preferable that the number of convex ridges 61 formed on the outer periphery 60 is 10 or more. The convex rib portion 61 in the stirrer 1B has a length of 50% or more of the total length in the axial direction X of the main body 30 and the stirrer 1B, but as shown in Figure 11(a), multiple intermittent rib portions 61, each of which has a short length in the axial direction X and is arranged intermittently along the axial direction X, may be formed in the circumferential direction Y of the stirrer. In addition, the convex rib portion 61 of the stirrer 1B and the convex rib portion 61 shown in FIG. 11(a) are both arranged parallel to the axial direction X, but the convex rib portion provided on the surface, preferably the outer circumferential surface, of the stirrer of the present invention does not necessarily have to be arranged parallel to the axial direction X. For example, as in the convex rib portion 61 shown in FIG. 11(b) and (c), it may be angled with respect to the axial direction X or wavy. The wavy shape may be a zigzag shape, a continuous wave shape in which each corner of the zigzag shape is made into an arc shape, a continuous wave shape in which arcs of different directions are alternately connected in the longitudinal direction without corners, and the like. Instead of the convex rib portion 61 extending in one direction such as the axial direction X, a plurality of protrusions 63 arranged at intervals in one direction and in a direction perpendicular to the direction, for example, in the axial direction X and the circumferential direction Y, may be provided. An example of such a protrusion 63 is shown in FIG. 11(d). Figures 11(a) to (d) are developments of the outer peripheral surface of a stirrer showing an example of a convex rib portion or protrusion portion provided on the surface of the stirrer, and are developments of a portion of the outer peripheral surface in the circumferential direction of a cylindrical main body, for example, a half-circumference of the outer peripheral surface. The convex ridges 61 and the protrusions 63 do not need to be of the same shape and arranged at equal intervals, and may be of a combination of mutually different shapes and arranged irregularly.

[0035] In the stirrer 1B of the second embodiment, vertical ribs 65, 66 extending along the axial direction X are formed on the inner surface of the vertical flow passage that communicates between the opening of one end region 10 and the opening of the other end region 20. More specifically, vertical ribs 65 are formed on each of the surfaces that face each other in the radial direction intersecting with the axial direction 3 in the first flow passage 13 of the first part 31, and similar vertical ribs 65 are also formed on each of the surfaces that face each other in the radial direction of the first flow passage 23 of the second part 32. Furthermore, vertical ribs 66 are formed on each of the surfaces that face each other in the radial direction intersecting with the axial direction 3 in the second flow passage 14 of the first part 31, and similar vertical ribs 66 are also formed on each of the surfaces that face each other in the radial direction of the second flow passage 24 of the second part 32. Also in the stirrer 1B, as shown in FIG. 4, a first vertical flow path 41 having a flow path branching portion 43 is formed from one first flow path 13 in the first section 31 and two adjacent first flow paths 23 in the second section 31, and a second vertical flow path 42 having a flow path branching portion 44 is formed from one first flow path 23 in the second section 32 and two adjacent first flow paths 13 in the first section 31.

[0036] When the stirrer has a vertical flow path having vertical ribs 65, 66 on its inner surface, as in the stirrer 1B of the second embodiment, a larger mechanical crushing force acts on the bubbles in the mixed flow of liquid and gas flowing through the vertical flow path, and nanobubbles and a nanobubble-containing liquid containing nanobubbles at a high concentration can be obtained more efficiently.

[0037] 7 and 8 show a third embodiment of the stirring bar of the present invention. Regarding the stirring bar 1C of the third embodiment, differences from the stirring bars 1A and 1B of the first and second embodiments will be mainly described, and a description of similarities will be omitted. The stirrer 1C of the third embodiment differs from the stirrers 1A and 1B in the shape and number of openings formed in one and the other end regions. In addition, the vertical ribs 66 formed on the inner surface of the vertical flow passage 41 constituting the outer annular arrangement portion 45 are formed on two surfaces opposed to each other in the circumferential direction Y, not on two surfaces opposed to each other in the radial direction.

[0038] Examples of materials for forming the stirring bar of the present invention include synthetic resins, bioplastics, ceramics, metals, combinations of two or more of these, etc. Among these, synthetic resins and bioplastics such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, polyamide, acrylic resin, ABS resin, and polylactic acid are preferred. The total length of the stirrer in the axial direction is preferably 14 mm or more, more preferably 20 mm or more, from the viewpoint of efficient mixing and dispersion. There is no particular upper limit, but it is, for example, 35 mm or less, preferably 30 mm or less. The radial size of the stirrer is preferably 20 mm or less, more preferably 16 mm or less, from the viewpoint of facilitating insertion into a bottle container with a relatively small inner diameter of the neck, and from the viewpoint of improving stirring when multiple stirrers are inserted into a container. When the outline of the cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the axial direction X is not arc-shaped, the diameter is the diameter of the smallest circumscribed circle that is in contact with the outline. The diameter is the diameter of the part where the diameter is maximum (the main body 30 for the stirrer 1A), and the ratio of the total length in the axial direction X to the diameter is preferably 0.7 or more, more preferably 1.0 or more, and also preferably 3.5 or less, more preferably 2.0 or less.

[0039] 5, the nanobubble generating container of the present invention includes a container 91 and a nanobubble generating stirrer 1 housed in the container 91. In a preferred embodiment, the nanobubble generating stirrer 1 includes any of the stirrers 1A to 1C described above. To generate nanobubbles using the nanobubble-generating container of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 5, a liquid 92, a gas 93, and a nanobubble-generating stirrer 1 are placed in a container 91, the container is sealed with a cap, and the container is then held in the hand and shaken up and down or left and right multiple times. As a result, the liquid and the gas are mixed, and the mixed flow flows through the nanobubble-generating stirrer 1, and nanobubbles are efficiently generated. As a result, a nanobubble-containing liquid containing nanobubbles at a high concentration is obtained. The container 91 preferably contains a plurality of nanobubble-generating stirrers 1, for example, two or more and five or less. The nanobubble-generating stirrer 1 is usually used in a free state without being inserted into or fixed to other members.

[0040] There is no particular limitation on the type of liquid 92, and any liquid that is desired to contain nanobubbles can be used. Examples of liquids include water, lotion, milky lotion or serum for use on the skin, cleaning agents such as face washes, disinfectants such as hand disinfectants, cleaning agents for clothing and homes, etc. There is no particular limitation on the use of the nanobubbles or nanobubble-containing liquid generated by the stirrer or nanobubble generating container of the present invention. For example, the function of nanobubbles is the effect of enhancing detergency. An example of an application in which the detergency enhancement function is exerted is a detergent. By generating nanobubbles in a detergent containing water and a surfactant, a high detergency against stains containing oils and fats, such as sebum stains, can be expected even in a system with a small amount of surfactant.

[0041] The nanobubbles generated by the stirring bar or nanobubble generating container of the present invention have a particle diameter of less than 1 μm, preferably 250 nm or less, and more preferably 170 nm or less. The nanobubble-containing liquid obtained by the stirring bar or nanobubble generating vessel of the present invention preferably has a nanobubble concentration of 1.0×10 8 / mL or more, more preferably 2.0 × 10 8 ≥ 100 cells / mL.

[0042] Although the present invention has been described based on the preferred embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, as in the stirrer 1 shown in Fig. 9, it may have no lateral flow passages that connect the vertical flow passages with the openings that open to the outer circumferential surface, or it may have no inner lateral flow passages. Also, as in the stirrer 1 shown in Fig. 10, it may have only a single annular arrangement part consisting of multiple vertical flow passages at equal distances from the central axis. Furthermore, the flow passage connecting the opening at one end and the opening at the other end may be branched into three or four or more flow passages along the axial direction within the flow passage.

[0043] In addition, only one of the vertical flow passages constituting the outer annular arrangement portion 45 and the vertical flow passages constituting the inner annular arrangement portion 47 may have vertical ribs on the inner surface. Also, the vertical ribs on the inner surface of the vertical flow passage may be provided on only one of the surfaces opposing each other in the radial direction, or on only one of the surfaces opposing each other in the circumferential direction. The vertical ribs on the inner surface of the vertical flow passage do not necessarily have to be formed along the axial direction. In each of the above-described embodiments, the vertical flow paths and their openings constituting an annular arrangement portion such as the outer annular arrangement portion 45 or the inner annular arrangement portion 47 are arranged at equal intervals around the stirrer, but they do not necessarily have to be arranged at equal intervals.

[0044] As described above, the stirrer of the present invention can be integrally molded using a 3D printer or the like without joining multiple parts. In that case, flow paths that are not parallel to the axial direction X, such as the flow path branching parts 43 and 44, the lateral flow paths 51 and 52, and the inner lateral flow path, can be freely arranged at any position in the axial direction X, making it possible to design a stirrer with more complicated branches. EXAMPLES

[0045] The present invention will be further described below with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples in any way. Example 1 A stirring bar having the shape and configuration shown in Figs. 1 to 4 was manufactured. The material is acrylic resin, the total axial length is 21.8 mm, and the diameter of the main body is 16 mm. Example 2 A stirring bar having the shape and configuration shown in FIG. 6 was manufactured. The material is acrylic resin, the total axial length is 21.8 mm, and the diameter of the main body is 16 mm. Example 3 A stirring bar having the shape and configuration shown in FIG. 7 was manufactured. The material is acrylic resin, the total axial length is 21.8 mm, and the diameter of the main body is 16 mm.

[0046] (evaluation) For each of the stirring bars manufactured in Examples 1 to 3, a nanobubble generation test was carried out by the following method. (Test Method) The three stirring bars were placed in a bottle container with a height of 150 mm and an internal volume of 150 mL together with 120 mL of liquid, and the bottle container was sealed with a cap. The volume of the bottle container excluding the liquid portion was 30 mL. The bottle was held in the hand and shook up and down 15 times at a rate of one back and forth per second. The amplitude of the shaking was about 5 to 15 cm. The liquid was then transferred to a sample bottle and left for at least one day, after which the nanobubble concentration of the liquid was measured using the following method. (Method of measuring nanobubble concentration) Model used: NANOSIGHT NS300 (Malvern Panalytical), Number of integrations: N=3

[0047] The nanobubble concentration in Example 1 was set to 100, and the relative comparison values ​​for Examples 1 to 3 are shown below. Example 1: Example 2: Example 3 = 100:183:192 The nanobubble concentration was 5.0 × 10 in all of Examples 1 to 3. 7 The number of cells / mL or more was higher.

[0048] From the above results, it is found that the stirring bar of the present invention and the nanobubble generating container using the stirring bar can efficiently generate nanobubbles and efficiently generate a nanobubble-containing liquid containing nanobubbles at a high concentration. [Explanation of symbols]

[0049] 1, 1A-1C Nanobubble generating stirrer 10,20 End area 30 Main body 31 Part 1 13 First flow path 14 Second flow path 11, 12 Opening (one end opening) 32 Part 2 23 First Channel 24 Second Flow Stream 21, 22 Opening (other end opening) 41 First vertical channel 42 Second vertical channel 43,44 Flow path branch 45 Outer annular arrangement 46 Vertical flow passages constituting the inner annular arrangement 47 Inner annular arrangement 51,52 Lateral flow channel 53 Recess for forming lateral flow path 56 Recess for forming inner lateral flow passage

Claims

1. A nanobubble generation stirrer that generates nanobubbles by putting it into a container together with a liquid and a gas and shaking, It has openings at one end side and the other end side in the axial direction, and has a vertical flow path inside that connects the one end opening located at the one end side and the other end opening located at the other end side, The vertical flow path has a flow path branching portion that branches the flow path into a plurality of paths in the middle of the flow path from the one end opening to the other end opening or in the middle of the flow path from the other end opening to the one end opening. Nanobubble generation stirrer.

2. As the vertical flow path, a first vertical flow path having a flow path branching portion that branches the flow path into a plurality of paths in the middle of the flow path from the one end opening to the other end opening, and from the other end opening to the one end opening. The nanobubble generation stirrer according to claim 1, further comprising a second vertical flow path having a flow path branching portion that branches the flow path into a plurality of paths in the middle of the flow path.

3. The vertical flow path has a lateral flow path that flows a part of the fluid flowing through the vertical flow path in a radial direction orthogonal to the axial direction between the one end opening and the other end opening. The nanobubble generation stirrer according to claim 1.

4. The lateral flow path communicates between the vertical flow path and an opening that opens to the outer peripheral surface of the nanobubble generation stirrer. The nanobubble generation stirrer according to claim 3.

5. The lateral flow path is provided in the vicinity of the flow path branching portion. The nanobubble generation stirrer according to claim 3.

6. It has an outer peripheral portion along the axial direction, and a plurality of convex strip portions extending along the axial direction are formed on the outer peripheral portion, and groove portions are formed between the convex strip portions adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction. The nanobubble generation stirrer according to claim 1.

7. Vertical ribs extending along the axial direction are provided on the inner surface of the vertical flow path. The nanobubble generation stirrer according to claim 1.

8. The nanobubble generation stirrer according to claim 1, comprising: an outer annular array portion in which a plurality of the longitudinal flow paths are annularly arranged around a central axis; and an inner annular array portion located closer to the central axis than the outer annular array portion, in which a plurality of the longitudinal flow paths are annularly arranged.

9. The nanobubble generation stirrer according to claim 8, further comprising an inner lateral flow path that communicates in a radial direction orthogonal to the central axis between the longitudinal flow paths constituting the outer annular array portion and the longitudinal flow paths constituting the inner annular array portion.

10. The nanobubble generation stirrer according to claim 1, wherein the nanobubble generation stirrer is composed of two or more parts and satisfies at least one of the following (1) to (3). (1) A flow path branching portion is formed near a joint portion between the parts. (2) The longitudinal flow path has a lateral flow path that causes a part of the fluid flowing through the longitudinal flow path to flow in a radial direction orthogonal to the axial direction between the one end opening portion and the other end opening portion. The lateral flow path is formed near a joint portion between the parts. (3) Around the central axis of the nanobubble generation stirrer, there are an outer annular array portion in which a plurality of the longitudinal flow paths are annularly arranged, and an inner annular array portion located closer to the central axis than the outer annular array portion, in which a plurality of the longitudinal flow paths are annularly arranged. There is an inner lateral flow path that communicates in a radial direction orthogonal to the central axis between the longitudinal flow paths constituting the outer annular array portion and the longitudinal flow paths constituting the inner annular array portion, and the lateral flow path is formed near a joint portion between the parts.

11. The flow path along the axial direction has a first portion in which a plurality of flow paths are annularly formed around the central axis, and a second portion in which a plurality of flow paths are annularly formed around the central axis. The first portion and the second portion are integrated such that the flow paths in the first portion straddle a plurality of the flow paths in the second portion and the flow paths in the second portion straddle a plurality of the flow paths in the first portion. The nanobubble generation stirrer according to claim 1.

12. The nanobubble generation stirrer according to claim 11, wherein the first part and the second part are formed by joining separate parts.

13. A nanobubble generation container comprising a container and a nanobubble generation stirrer accommodated in the container, wherein the nanobubble generation stirrer is the nanobubble generation stirrer according to any one of claims 1 to 12, and the nanobubble generation container generates nanobubbles in the liquid by shaking the container in a state where the liquid, the gas, and the nanobubble generation stirrer are accommodated.

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