Mixing faucet, adapter, joint pipe, and method for modifying mixing faucet

Abstract

To provide a mixing faucet with a structure that makes it difficult for a fine bubble generator to be stolen.SOLUTION: The mixing faucet 10 comprises a faucet body 11 provided with a discharge part 13, and a pair of joint pipes 12 connected to a pair of inflow entrances 11a of the faucet body 11 and through which water to be supplied to the faucet body 11 circulates. In the mixing faucet 10, a fine bubble generator 40 that generates fine bubbles along with the circulation of water toward the faucet body 11 is provided in a range from an upstream end to downstream of the joint pipes 12 connected to the inflow entrances 11a, which is upstream of the inflow entrance 11a.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a micro-bubble generator that generates micro-bubbles in association with the flow of water. [Background technology]

[0002] Microbubbles with a diameter of less than 100 μm are attracting attention because they are useful for various applications. Microbubbles with a diameter in the micrometer range are called "microbubbles," and microbubbles with a diameter in the nanometer range are called "nanobubbles." They are also sometimes called Fine Bubbles (registered trademark) or Ultrafine Bubbles (registered trademark).

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a fine bubble water generator that can be easily attached to appliances and facilities that use household tap water. The fine bubble water generator is configured by arranging a columnar nozzle inside a cylindrical main body case. The fine bubble water generator is attached to the base of a shower head, for example. The fine bubble water generator is formed with a male thread for connecting to a shower hose and a female thread for connecting to the shower head. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7012482 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Incidentally, it is conceivable to attach a fine bubble generator to a mixer tap in a hotel or the like so that water containing fine bubbles is discharged. However, the fine bubble generator of Patent Document 1 is relatively easy to remove, and therefore there is a risk of it being stolen.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and has an object to provide a mixer faucet whose fine bubble generator is less likely to be stolen. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the first invention is a mixer faucet comprising a faucet body provided with a discharge portion, and a pair of coupling pipes connected to a pair of inlets of the faucet body through which water supplied to the faucet body flows, and a fine bubble generator is provided upstream of the inlets, in the range from the upstream end of the coupling pipe connected to the inlets to the downstream, for generating fine bubbles as water flows toward the faucet body.

[0008] In a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the micro-bubble generator is embedded in the upstream end or the downstream end of the connector pipe.

[0009] A third invention is the faucet according to the first invention, further comprising an adapter that connects the faucet body and the connector pipe, and the micro-bubble generator is embedded in the adapter.

[0010] The fourth invention is an adapter that is provided on a mixer faucet to connect the faucet body and a connector pipe, and has an embedded micro-bubble generator that generates micro-bubbles as water flows toward the faucet body.

[0011] The fifth invention is a coupling pipe that is provided on a mixer faucet and connected to the inlet of the faucet body, in which a micro-bubble generator is embedded that generates micro-bubbles as water flows toward the faucet body.

[0012] A sixth invention is a method for modifying a mixer tap, which includes the steps of removing the faucet body from a pair of joint pipes, modifying or replacing at least one of the pair of joint pipes with a joint pipe having an embedded micro-bubble generator that generates micro-bubbles as water flows through it, and attaching the faucet body to the pair of joint pipes.

[0013] The seventh invention is a method for modifying a mixer faucet, which includes the steps of removing the faucet body from a pair of joint pipes, preparing a pair of adapters including at least an adapter having an embedded micro-bubble generator that generates micro-bubbles as water flows through it, and connecting the faucet body and the pair of joint pipes via the pair of adapters. Effect of the Invention

[0014] In the present invention, a fine bubble generator is provided upstream of the inlet of the faucet body, in the range from the upstream end of the joint pipe connected to the inlet to the downstream. In order to remove the fine bubble generator, it is necessary to remove the faucet body, and removal of the faucet body usually requires specialized tools used by an installer. Therefore, it is possible to realize a mixer faucet in which the fine bubble generator is less likely to be stolen. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mixer tap according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2(a) is a side view of the mixer tap according to the embodiment, and FIG. 2(b) is a view partially showing the cross-sectional structure of a joint pipe of the mixer tap shown in FIG. 2(a). [Diagram 3] FIG. 3(a) is a side view of a mixer tap according to a modified embodiment, and FIG. 3(b) is a view partially showing the cross-sectional structure of a joint pipe of the mixer tap shown in FIG. 3(a). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiment is merely an example of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, its applications, or its uses.

[0017] This embodiment is a wall-mounted mixer faucet 10. The mixer faucet 10 is provided with a fine bubble generator 40 that generates fine bubbles as water flows toward the faucet body 11, located upstream of the inlet 11a of the faucet body 11 and in a range X (see FIG. 2(b)) from the upstream end of the joint pipe 12 connected to the inlet 11a to the downstream. Specifically, the fine bubble generator 40 is embedded in the downstream end of the joint pipe 12.

[0018] First, the mixer faucet 10 will be described. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the mixer faucet 10 includes a faucet body 11 provided with a discharge pipe 13, and a pair of joint pipes 12 connected to a pair of inlets 11a of the faucet body 11 and through which water supplied to the faucet body 11 flows. One of the pair of joint pipes 12 constitutes a water-side joint pipe through which water at normal temperature flows, and the other constitutes a hot-water-side joint pipe through which water heated to a high temperature (hot water) flows.

[0019] The faucet body 11 is formed in a generally cylindrical shape extending in the left-right direction. In addition to the discharge pipe 13 described above, the faucet body 11 is provided with a hose connection section 14 to which a shower hose 15 is connected. Water supplied to the faucet body 11 from one or both of the pair of joint pipes 12 is discharged from the discharge pipe 13 or the shower hose 15. The discharge pipe 13 corresponds to a discharge section having a discharge port from which water is discharged. Note that the discharge section may be configured such that a discharge port is provided in the generally cylindrical portion of the faucet body 11 without passing through a tube.

[0020] A switching handle 16 is provided at one end of the faucet body 11 in the left-right direction (the lower right side in Fig. 1) for switching the side from which water is discharged between the discharge pipe 13 and the hose connection part 14. A temperature adjustment handle 17 is provided at the other end of the faucet body 11 in the left-right direction (the upper left side in Fig. 1) for adjusting the mixing ratio of water supplied from the joint pipe 12 on the cold water side and water supplied from the joint pipe 12 on the hot water side.

[0021] The faucet body 11 is provided with a pair of connecting parts 11b to which a pair of joint pipes 12 are connected. Each connecting part 11b is formed in a cylindrical shape with a male thread formed on the outer circumferential surface, and protrudes from an inlet 11a on the back surface of the faucet body 11. On the back surface of the faucet body 11, the cold water side connecting part 11b is located at one end side (the lower right side in FIG. 1), and the hot water side connecting part 11b is located at the other end side (the upper left side in FIG. 1).

[0022] Each joint pipe 12 is formed in a crank shape with different bending directions at both ends. Each joint pipe 12 has a first bent portion 26 and a second bent portion 27. In each joint pipe 12, the upstream side of the first bent portion 26 constitutes the upstream portion 21, the portion between the first bent portion 26 and the second bent portion 27 constitutes the intermediate portion 22, and the downstream side of the second bent portion 27 constitutes the downstream portion 23. In each joint pipe 12, an internal flow path 12a is formed from the upstream end of the upstream portion 21 to the downstream end of the downstream portion 23. The upstream portion 21 and the downstream portion 23 extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the wall surface 5. The intermediate portion 22 extends along the wall surface 5. Note that instead of the crank-shaped joint pipe 12, a straight joint pipe 12 may be used.

[0023] An upstream portion 21 of the joint pipe 12 is attached to the outlet portion of the piping arranged inside the wall surface 5. A connecting member 24 (e.g., a rotating cap nut type) used for connecting to the faucet body 11 is detachably attached to a downstream portion 23 of the joint pipe 12.

[0024] The connecting member 24 has a head 31 having an outer circumferential surface that can be gripped with a tool such as a wrench, and a threaded portion 32 that is provided coaxially with the head 31 and protrudes from the head 31, with the head 31 being rotatably connected to the threaded portion 32. A male thread is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the threaded portion 32, which is screwed into the female thread of the threaded hole 23a at the downstream end of the downstream portion 23.

[0025] A through hole 25 is formed in the connecting member 24, penetrating in the axial direction. The head 31 side of the through hole 25 is a screw hole 25a. A female thread is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the screw hole 25a, into which the male thread of the connecting portion 11b of the faucet body 11 is screwed.

[0026] 2(a), an accommodation space 19 for accommodating a fine bubble generator 40 is formed in the downstream section 23, continuing from the upstream side of the screw hole 23a. The accommodation space 19 is a hole having a substantially cylindrical wall, and communicates with the internal flow path 12a of the coupling pipe 12. The diameter of the accommodation space 19 is smaller than the diameter of the screw hole 23a in the downstream section 23, and is larger than the diameter of the internal flow path 12a at the upstream end position of the accommodation space 19.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 2(b), the fine bubble generator 40 includes a cylindrical portion 41 whose inside is a water flow path, and a cavitation treatment portion 42 provided in the flow path inside the cylindrical portion 41. The cavitation treatment portion 42 has a structure that causes dissolved air to precipitate as fine bubbles (microbubbles or nanobubbles) by the decompression effect when water passes through at high speed. This structure is, for example, composed of a plurality of screws protruding from the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 41. When water flows inside the cylindrical portion 41, fine bubbles are generated by supersaturating and precipitating dissolved gas in the water due to the decompression effect when the water accelerates in the valley of the screw. As the fine bubble generator 40, for example, a cavitation core described in JP 2022-079413 A can be used, but is not limited thereto.

[0028] In the downstream section 23, a fine bubble generator 40 is fitted into the accommodation space 19 from the downstream end side. One end of the fine bubble generator 40 abuts against the upstream wall surface 19a of the accommodation space 19. In addition, in the downstream section 23, a retaining ring 45 is attached on the downstream side of the fine bubble generator 40 to restrict the position of the fine bubble generator 40.

[0029] In addition, the fine bubble generator 40 may be provided in only one of the pair of joint pipes 12 (for example, only the joint pipe 12 on the water side or only the joint pipe 12 on the hot water side), or the fine bubble generator 40 may be provided in both of the pair of joint pipes 12.

[0030] [How to modify a mixer tap] Next, a method of retrofitting an existing mixer faucet by providing a fine bubble generator 40 will be described. This retrofitting method involves, in this order, a removal step of removing the faucet body 11 from a pair of joint pipes 12, a main step of modifying or replacing at least one of the pair of joint pipes 12 with a joint pipe 12 having a fine bubble generator 40 embedded therein, and an installation step of attaching the faucet body 11 to the pair of joint pipes 12. By performing the installation step, a mixer faucet 10 equipped with a fine bubble generator 40 is constructed.

[0031] When the joint pipe 12 is modified in the main step, the accommodation space 19 is formed in the existing joint pipe 12 by cutting, and then the fine bubble generator 40 is attached. In this case, the cutting is performed in a state in which the existing joint pipe 12 is removed from the wall surface 5. Then, after the cutting, the fine bubble generator 40 is attached before or after the joint pipe 12 is attached to the wall surface 5, and then the attachment step is performed.

[0032] When replacing the joint pipe 12 in the main step, the existing joint pipe 12 is removed and replaced with a new joint pipe 12 in which an accommodation space 19 is formed. In this case, the fine bubble generator 40 is attached before or after the new joint pipe 12 is attached to the wall surface 5, and then the installation step is performed.

[0033] [Effects of this embodiment] In this embodiment, the fine-bubble generator 40 is provided upstream of the inlet 11a, in a range from the upstream end of the joint pipe 12 connected to the inlet 11a to the downstream (the range of X shown in FIG. 2(b)). In order to remove the fine-bubble generator 40, it is necessary to remove the faucet body 11, and typically, specialized tools used by an installer are required to remove the faucet body 11. Therefore, it is possible to realize a mixer faucet 10 in which the fine-bubble generator 40 is less likely to be stolen. In particular, in this embodiment, since the fine-bubble generator 40 is embedded in the joint pipe 12 and cannot be seen from the outside, it is possible to realize a mixer faucet 10 that is even less likely to be stolen.

[0034] The location of the fine-bubble generator 40 may be within the range of X described above. For example, the accommodation space 19 may be formed at the upstream end of the joint pipe 12 and the fine-bubble generator 40 may be embedded in the accommodation space 19, or the fine-bubble generator 40 may be embedded in the adapter 50 as described in the next modified example.

[0035] [Modifications of the embodiment] In this modification, the mixer faucet 10 further includes an adapter 50 provided between the faucet body 11 and the joint pipe 12, and the fine bubble generator 40 is embedded in the adapter 50. The adapter 50 is a component that connects the connecting portion 11b of the faucet body 11 and the joint pipe 12.

[0036] The adapter 50 has a head 51 having an outer peripheral surface that can be gripped with a tool such as a wrench, and a threaded portion 52 that is provided coaxially with the head 51 and protrudes from the head 51. The head 51 is joined to the threaded portion 52. The adapter 50 has a through hole 55 that penetrates in the axial direction. The head 51 side of the through hole 55 is a threaded hole 55a. The inner peripheral surface of the threaded hole 55a is formed with a female thread into which the male thread of the connecting portion 11b of the faucet body 11 is screwed. The outer peripheral surface of the threaded portion 52 is formed with a male thread that is screwed into the female thread on the inner peripheral surface of the threaded hole in the connecting member 24.

[0037] 3(a), in the through hole 55, an accommodation space 49 for accommodating the fine bubble generator 40 is formed continuing from the downstream side of the screw hole 55a. The accommodation space 49 is a hole having a substantially cylindrical wall, and communicates with the through hole 25 of the connecting member 24. The diameter of the accommodation space 49 is smaller than the diameter of the screw hole 55a and larger than the diameter of the through hole 25.

[0038] In the adaptor 50, the fine bubble generator 40 is fitted into the accommodation space 49 from the downstream end side. One end of the fine bubble generator 40 abuts against the upstream wall surface 49a of the accommodation space 49. In addition, in the adaptor 50, a retaining ring 45 is attached on the downstream side of the fine bubble generator 40 to restrict the position of the fine bubble generator 40.

[0039] The adaptor 50 may be configured so that the fine bubble generator 40 is fitted from the upstream end side. The fine bubble generator 40 may be provided in only one of the pair of adaptors 50 (for example, only the adaptor 50 on the cold water side or only the adaptor 50 on the hot water side), or the fine bubble generators 40 may be provided in both of the pair of adaptors 50.

[0040] [How to modify a mixer tap] Next, a method of modifying an existing mixer faucet 10 by providing a fine bubble generator 40 will be described. This modification method involves, in this order, a removal step of removing the faucet body 11 from a pair of joint pipes 12, a main step of preparing a pair of adapters 50 including at least an adapter 50 having a fine bubble generator 40 embedded therein that generates fine bubbles as water flows through it, and an installation step of connecting the faucet body 11 and the pair of joint pipes 12 via the pair of adapters 50.

[0041] The modification method according to this modification example includes a case where the existing mixer tap 10 is provided with a pair of adapters 50, and a case where the existing mixer tap 10 is not provided with a pair of adapters 50. In the former case, the adapters 50 are also removed together with the faucet body 11 in the removal step.

[0042] In the case where an existing mixer tap 10 is provided with a pair of adapters 50, the main step is to either modify at least one of the existing pair of adapters 50 to an adapter 50 having a fine bubble generator 40 embedded therein, or to replace at least one of the pair of adapters 50 with an adapter 50 having a fine bubble generator 40 embedded therein. In the former case, the existing adapter 50 is fitted with the fine bubble generator 40 after the accommodation space 49 is formed by cutting work. In this case, the fine bubble generator 40 is fitted before or after the adapter 50 is attached after the cutting work, and then the attachment step is performed. In the latter case, the adapter 50 is replaced with a new adapter 50 in which the accommodation space 49 is formed. In this case, the fine bubble generator 40 is fitted before or after the new adapter 50 is attached, and then the attachment step is performed.

[0043] If the existing mixer tap 10 is not provided with a pair of adapters 50, the main step is to prepare a new pair of adapters 50 including at least an adapter 50 with a fine bubble generator 40 embedded therein. In this case, the fine bubble generator 40 is attached before or after the new adapter 50 is attached, and then the installation step is performed. [Industrial Applicability]

[0044] The present invention is applicable to a microbubble generator that adds microbubbles to water. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 5. Wall 10 mixer faucet 11 Faucet body 11a Inlet 11b Connection part 12 Joint pipe 13 Discharge pipe (discharge part) 19 Containment Space 23 Downstream 24 Connecting members 40 Microbubble Generator 41 Cylindrical part 42 Cavitation treatment section 49 Containment Space 50 Adapter

Claims

1. A faucet body provided with a discharge portion; a pair of joint pipes connected to a pair of inlets of the faucet body through which water supplied to the faucet body flows; A mixer faucet has a fine bubble generator located upstream of the inlet, in the range from the upstream end of the coupling pipe connected to the inlet to the downstream, which generates fine bubbles as water flows toward the faucet body.

2. The mixer tap according to claim 1 , wherein the fine bubble generator is embedded in the upstream end or the downstream end of the joint pipe.

3. Further comprising an adapter for connecting the faucet body and the joint pipe; The mixer tap according to claim 1 , wherein the fine bubble generator is embedded in the adapter.

4. An adapter that is provided on a mixer faucet to connect a faucet body and a joint pipe, The adapter has a micro-bubble generator embedded therein, which generates micro-bubbles as water flows toward the faucet body.

5. A joint pipe that is provided in a mixer faucet and connected to an inlet of a faucet body, A joint pipe having a micro-bubble generator embedded therein, which generates micro-bubbles as water flows toward the faucet body.

6. A method for modifying a mixer tap, comprising: Removing the faucet body from the pair of joint pipes; A step of modifying or replacing at least one of the pair of joint pipes with a joint pipe having a micro-bubble generator embedded therein that generates micro-bubbles in association with the flow of water; A method for modifying a mixer faucet, comprising the steps of: attaching the faucet body to a pair of coupling pipes.

7. A method for modifying a mixer tap, comprising: Removing the faucet body from the pair of joint pipes; A step of preparing a pair of adapters including at least an adapter having a micro-bubble generator embedded therein that generates micro-bubbles in association with the flow of water; A method for modifying a mixer faucet, comprising the steps of: connecting the faucet body and the pair of coupling pipes via a pair of adapters.

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