Fluid mixing device

Abstract

To provide a fluid mixing device capable of suitably adding fluids in a compact configuration.SOLUTION: A fluid mixing device includes a mixing unit 7, which comprises: a mixing chamber 7a forming a space having a circular cross-sectional inner peripheral surface; a first introduction passage 7b for introducing a first fluid (water) W into the mixing chamber 7a along a tangential direction of the circular cross-section; a second introduction passage 7c for introducing a second fluid (detergent) D into the mixing chamber 7a; and a discharge passage 7e for discharging the fluid from the mixing chamber 7a. The mixing chamber 7a further includes a rectification body 7f that is positioned at the center in the axial direction and forms an annular rotational flow path 7g along the inner peripheral surface in the circular cross-sectional shape of the mixing chamber 7a.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for mixing and dispensing multiple fluids. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a device that mixes detergent and air with water supplied from a tap and then discharges the water from a shower head or the like (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 listed below). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2009-155843 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2019-190782 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the above-mentioned device, detergent and air are mixed with water for the purpose of increasing the efficiency of cleaning, and it is of course desirable that these fluids are mixed thoroughly. For this purpose, it is effective to thoroughly mix fluids of different types and specific gravities so that they are mixed together. In particular, when mixing air with water with the intention of generating bubbles, it is important to increase the degree of mixing in order to obtain a large amount of fine bubbles. On the other hand, when considering using such a device in, for example, a general household bathroom, there is a space restriction, so it is required to perform efficient mixing using a device as compact as possible.

[0005] In view of the above circumstances, the present invention provides a fluid mixing device that has a compact configuration and is capable of suitably mixing fluids together. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention relates to a fluid mixing device characterized by comprising a mixing section having therein a mixing chamber forming a space with an inner circumferential surface of a circular cross section, a first inlet passage for introducing a first fluid into the mixing chamber along a tangent direction of the circular cross section, a second inlet passage for introducing a second fluid into the mixing chamber, and an outlet passage for discharging fluid from the mixing chamber.

[0007] The fluid mixing apparatus of the present invention can include a flow regulator located in the mixing chamber at a central portion as viewed from the axial direction and forming an annular rotational flow path along the inner circumferential surface of the mixing chamber having a circular cross section.

[0008] In the fluid mixing system of the present invention, the flow regulator may be located at one end side in the axial direction of the mixing chamber, and the inlet side of the outlet passage may be open at the other end side.

[0009] The fluid mixing apparatus of the present invention may further include a third inlet passage for introducing a third fluid into the mixing chamber.

[0010] In the fluid mixing system of the present invention, the outlet passage may be formed in a tapered shape so that the diameter increases from the inlet side to the outlet side.

[0011] The fluid mixing apparatus of the present invention may be configured such that a first flow path through which water as a first fluid flows is connected to an inlet side of the first introduction path. Effect of the Invention

[0012] According to the fluid mixing apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to obtain the excellent effect of suitably adding fluids with a compact configuration. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a piping configuration in a fluid mixing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view showing one example (first embodiment) of a configuration of a mixer portion. [Diagram 3] 3 is a front cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the mixer of the first embodiment, viewed from a direction different from that of FIG. 2. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of a mixing section of the first embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a front cross-sectional view showing another example (second embodiment) of the configuration of the mixer portion. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a side cross-sectional view showing still another example (third embodiment) of the configuration of the mixer portion. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0015] Figures 1 to 4 show an example (first embodiment) of a foam ejection device to which a fluid mixing device according to the present invention is applied, with Figure 1 showing the overall piping configuration in the device and Figures 2 to 4 showing the configuration of the mixing section in particular.

[0016] The fluid mixing device 1 is configured to include a first flow path 3 through which a first fluid (water) W, which is a liquid, flows in a housing 2, a second flow path 4 through which a second fluid (detergent) D, which is a liquid, flows, and a third flow path 5 through which a third fluid (air) A, which is a gas, flows. The first flow path 3 is disposed inside the housing 2 so as to connect a flow path inlet 3a through which the water W is drawn in and a flow path outlet 3b through which the water W is discharged. A pipe (not shown) is connected to the outside of the flow path inlet 3a, and the water W is supplied to the first flow path 3 from here. In addition, a hose, a shower head, or the like (not shown) is connected to the outside of the flow path outlet 3b, and the water W that has passed through the first flow path 3 is discharged from here.

[0017] The first flow path 3 branches into two flow paths (a first branch flow path 3c and a second branch flow path 3d) midway, and a switching valve 6 is provided at the branching point. The switching valve 6 is, for example, a three-way valve, and is capable of switching the flow path of the water W flowing from the upstream side to either the first branch flow path 3c or the second branch flow path 3d. The branch flow paths 3c and 3d merge again into a single first flow path 3 on the downstream side, and are connected to the flow path outlet 3b.

[0018] A mixer 7 for mixing a first fluid, water W, with a second and third fluid, detergent D and air A, is provided in the middle of the first branch flow path 3c, and the outlets of the second flow path 4 and the third flow path 5 are connected to the mixer 7. A foaming unit 8 for foaming the water W mixed with the detergent D and air A is provided downstream of the mixer 7 in the first branch flow path 3c.

[0019] The mixer 7 and its surrounding structure will be described. The mixer 7 is attached to the middle of the flow path (the first flow path 3 and the first branch flow path 3c as part of it) through which the water W flows, and constitutes part of the flow path of the water W. The mixer 7 has a function of mixing detergent D and air A into the water W, and can efficiently mix multiple types of fluids (here, detergent D and air A) into the water W with a compact structure.

[0020] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the mixing section 7 has a mixing chamber 7a that forms a space for introducing a fluid therein, and first to third inlet paths 7b to 7d and an outlet path 7e are provided as flow paths connecting the mixing chamber 7a, which is the internal space of the mixing section 7, to the outside of the mixing section 7.

[0021] The mixing chamber 7a in the first embodiment is cylindrical, and is provided with a cylindrical flow regulator 7f. The flow regulator 7f is formed to have a circular cross section similar to the circular cross section of the mixing chamber 7a, and its diameter and axial dimensions are set smaller than those of the mixing chamber 7a. In the first embodiment, the flow regulator 7f is formed as a cylindrical member that is one size smaller than the cylindrical mixing chamber 7a.

[0022] As shown in Fig. 3, the flow straightener 7f is disposed in the center of the cross section seen from the axial direction of the mixing chamber 7a, and the axis of the mixing chamber 7a and the axis of the flow straightener 7f are aligned. With this arrangement, an annular rotary flow passage 7g is formed between the outer peripheral surface of the flow straightener 7f and the inner peripheral surface of the mixing chamber 7a along the inner peripheral surface. In addition, with respect to the axial direction of the mixing chamber 7a, as shown in Fig. 2, the flow straightener 7f is disposed biased toward one end side (the right side in Fig. 2) with respect to the mixing chamber 7a.

[0023] The mixing chamber 7a does not necessarily have to be cylindrical as a whole, but in order to form a rotating flow by the introduced fluid as described later, it is preferable that at least a part of the inner circumferential surface has a circular cross section. The shape of this inner circumferential surface may be cylindrical, for example, a cylindrical surface of an oblique cylinder whose axial direction forms an oblique angle with respect to the circular cross section, or a conical surface. The same applies to the shape of the flow regulator 7f, and it is preferable to form it as a member with a diameter slightly smaller than that of the mixing chamber 7a in accordance with the shape of the mixing chamber 7a.

[0024] A hole is provided inside the flow straightener 7f that penetrates the flow straightener 7f along the central axis, and this hole forms the outlet passage 7e. The outlet passage 7e connects the inlet and outlet of the flow straightener 7f located inside the mixing chamber 7a (the left end surface in FIG. 2) in a straight line from the outside of the mixing section 7 to the outlet, and is tapered so that the diameter increases from the inlet side to the outlet side.

[0025] The first to third inlet passages 7b to 7d are provided in the mixing section 7 with the outside of the mixing section 7 as an inlet and the mixing chamber 7a as an outlet. The inlet side of the first inlet passage 7b and the outlet side of the outlet passage 7e are connected to the first branch passage 3c as a part of the first flow passage 3, and the inlets of the second inlet passage 7c and the third inlet passage 7d are connected to the outlet sides of the second flow passage 4 and the third flow passage 5, respectively. In other words, inside the mixing section 7, the first inlet passage 7b, the mixing chamber 7a, and the outlet passage 7e form a part of the first flow passage 3 to the first branch passage 3c through which the water W flows, and the detergent D and the air A are introduced therein from the second inlet passage 7c and the third inlet passage 7d.

[0026] The first inlet passage 7b opens at the upper surface of the mixing chamber 7a in Figures 2 and 3, the passage faces downward from that position, and the outlet opens at the left side of the rotating passage 7g as viewed from the left side (Figure 3). Of the outlet side of the first inlet passage 7b, the portion facing the mixing chamber 7a near the outlet side (in the case of this first embodiment, the entire first inlet passage 7b including this portion) is oriented along the circumferential direction of the annular rotating passage 7g, and the direction of the flow flowing through the first inlet passage 7b at the outlet side of the first inlet passage 7b is counterclockwise as viewed from the left side with respect to the rotating passage 7g.

[0027] The second inlet passage 7c opens at the bottom of the mixing chamber 7a in Figures 2 and 3, the passage faces upward from that position, and the outlet opens to the right side of the rotating passage 7g as viewed from the left side (Figure 3). The part of the second inlet passage 7c that faces the mixing chamber 7a near the outlet side (and the entire second inlet passage 7c including this part) also faces along the circumferential direction of the annular rotating passage 7g, and the direction of the flow through the second inlet passage 7c at the outlet side of the second inlet passage 7c is counterclockwise as viewed from the left side with respect to the rotating passage 7g, similar to the first inlet passage 7b. In other words, the directions of the first inlet passage 7b and the second inlet passage 7c that introduce the fluid into the mixing chamber 7a are the same with respect to the direction of rotation along the circular cross section of the mixing chamber 7a.

[0028] The third introduction passage 7d has an inlet opening on the left side of the mixing chamber 7a in Figures 2 and 3, the passage faces rightward from that position in Figure 2, and an outlet opening on the other side (opposite the side where the flow straightener 7f is provided) in the axial direction of the rotation passage 7g. The third introduction passage 7d is provided along the central axis of the cylindrical mixing chamber 7a (note that "along" in this specification does not only mean that the positions and angles of the two are completely the same, but also includes the cases where they are adjacent to each other, extend in roughly the same direction, or form roughly the same angle).

[0029] The other end of the mixing chamber 7a is not provided with the flow straightener 7f. In the flow straightener 7f, the outside of the outer circumferential surface and the central axis are set as flow paths (the rotational flow path 7g and the outlet path 7e, respectively), and these are separated by the cylindrical surface of the flow straightener 7f, but these flow paths are connected in the space on the other end side of the mixing chamber 7a where the flow straightener 7f is not provided (this space is referred to as the connecting flow path 7h).

[0030] When viewed from the rotation flow path 7g, one axial end of the mixing chamber 7a is a dead end, but the other end is connected to the outlet path 7e via the connecting flow path 7h. In the rotation flow path 7g, the outlet side of the second inlet path 7c for introducing detergent D opens to one axial end side (the opposite side to the connecting flow path 7h) of the outlet side of the first inlet path 7b for introducing water W. In addition, the outlet side of the third inlet path 7d opens to the connecting flow path 7h.

[0031] Since the first introduction passage 7b and the second introduction passage 7c are shifted from each other in position in the mixing section 7, the axis of the first introduction passage 7b and the axis of the second introduction passage 7c do not appear on the same plane in either the side cross section (cross section along the axial direction of the mixing chamber 7a) or the front cross section (cross section perpendicular to the axial direction of the mixing chamber 7a) of the mixing section 7, but for convenience of explanation, both the first introduction passage 7b and the second introduction passage 7c are shown in one cross section in Figures 2 and 3. The same is true in Figures 5 and 6 described later.

[0032] A constant flow valve 9 is provided in the first inlet passage 7b as a flow rate adjusting section for adjusting the flow rate of water W, which is a first fluid, so that water W supplied to the first flow passage 3 from a water supply or the like is supplied at a fixed flow rate into the mixer 7. The flow rate adjusting section may be any mechanism as long as it can appropriately adjust the flow rate of the first fluid, and may, for example, be a mechanism that allows the user to arbitrarily change the flow rate within a certain range.

[0033] The second flow path 4, the outlet of which is connected to the second inlet path 7c, has an inlet connected to a tank 10 that stores detergent D, and is provided with a pump 11 midway for sending the detergent D in the tank 10 to the mixing section 7. The pump 11 is, for example, an electromagnetic pump, and is capable of pressurizing and sending a set flow rate of detergent D into the second inlet path 7c.

[0034] The third flow path 5, the outlet of which is connected to the third inlet passage 7d, has an inlet connected to a pump 12 which is an air pump, so that air A, which is a third fluid, is pressurized and sent to the third inlet passage 7d.

[0035] A foaming unit 8 is provided downstream of the mixing section 7. In the present embodiment, the foaming unit 8 is directly connected to the outlet side of the outlet passage 7e in the mixing section 7.

[0036] The foaming unit 8 is a part having a generally cylindrical shape as a whole, and is configured with a plurality of mesh plates 8b and a plurality of inner cylinders 8c inside an outer cylinder 8a forming an outer shell, as shown in FIG. 2. The mesh plate 8b is a disk-shaped part configured with a mesh-like metal member, and its outer diameter is a size that fits just inside the inner circumference of the outer cylinder 8a. The inner cylinder 8c is a short cylindrical metal part, and its outer diameter is a size that fits just inside the inner circumference of the outer cylinder 8a. As shown in FIG. 2, nine mesh plates 8b and eight inner cylinders 8c are alternately accommodated inside the outer cylinder 8a so that the central axes of the mesh plates 8b and inner cylinders 8c coincide with or are parallel to the central axis of the outer cylinder 8a.

[0037] The inner space of the outer cylinder 8a constitutes a flow path for water W, and the water W, which is a mixture of air A and detergent D, flows in the axial direction inside the outer cylinder 8a. At that time, the water W passes alternately through the mesh plates 8b installed so as to cross the flow path and the space inside the inner cylinder 8c arranged between the mesh plates 8b. When the water W passes through the mesh plates 8b, the particles of air A and detergent D are broken down into smaller particles and mixed with the water W by the mesh structure of the mesh plates 8b, and then, in the space inside the inner cylinder 8c, the particles of detergent D and air A are agitated with the water W to generate bubbles. This is repeated over multiple stages (9 stages in the example shown here), generating very fine bubbles. The foamed water W flows from the outlet of the foaming unit 8 to the first branch flow path 3c on the downstream side, and is further discharged from the downstream side of the first flow path 3 to the flow path outlet 3b (see FIG. 1).

[0038] The flow of water W in the mixing section 7 and the introduction of detergent D and air A will be described. The water W flowing from the first inlet passage 7b into the mixing chamber 7a is introduced tangentially to the inner circumferential surface of the mixing chamber 7a, which has a circular cross section, and a rotating flow is generated along the inner circumferential surface of the mixing chamber 7a. A flow straightener 7f is disposed inside the inner circumferential surface of the mixing chamber 7a, and a rotating flow path 7g is formed between the two, so that the rotation of the rotating flow continues stably and the fluids are further mixed. A part of the water W forming the rotating flow is pushed out to the connecting flow path 7h on the other end side, and is further discharged to the outside of the mixing section 7 from the outlet path 7e.

[0039] Detergent D is further introduced from second introduction passage 7c in a tangential direction to the flow in rotary flow path 7g. Since the direction in which detergent D is introduced is along the direction of the above-mentioned rotating flow, detergent D is smoothly introduced into the rotating flow of water W. Furthermore, the two are agitated and thoroughly mixed by the rotating flow. Water W is introduced at a constant flow rate into mixing section 7 by constant flow valve 9, which serves as a flow rate adjustment section, and detergent D is introduced therein at a constant flow rate by pump 11, which is an electromagnetic pump, so that a mixed liquid in which the two are always mixed in an appropriate ratio can be prepared here.

[0040] Furthermore, when introducing the fluid from the first and second inlet passages 7b, 7c along a tangential direction to the circular cross section of the mixing chamber 7a, the direction of introduction does not have to be parallel to the circular cross section, and the first and second inlet passages 7b, 7c may be at an oblique angle to the circular cross section.

[0041] In the connecting flow passage 7h, the flow of water W and detergent D also rotates along the inner circumferential surface of the mixing chamber 7a, and air A, which is a third fluid, is introduced there. The fluid (a mixture of water W, detergent D, and air A) in the connecting flow passage 7h is pushed out to the outlet passage 7e that opens on the other end side of the flow straightener 7f while rotating. The outlet passage 7e is formed in a cone shape so that the diameter increases from the inlet side to the outlet side, and the pressure in the outlet passage 7e weakens as it moves downstream. As a result, the flow that enters the outlet passage 7e from the connecting flow passage 7h while rotating moves downstream while rotating so as to follow the conical surface, and is discharged from the outlet of the outlet passage 7e while maintaining the rotation. The discharged flow flows directly into the foaming unit 8, where it forms a large amount of fine bubbles and flows to the first branch flow passage 3c and the first flow passage 3 on the downstream side.

[0042] In this manner, in the fluid mixing device of the present embodiment, the first flow path 3, which is the flow path of the water W, is provided with the mixing section 7, and the second fluid, detergent D, and the third fluid, air A, are introduced and mixed into the same space (mixing chamber 7a) formed in one mixing section 7 with respect to the flow of the first fluid, water W. In the mixing chamber 7a to which the three types of fluids are introduced, the water W is introduced in a tangential direction to the annular rotating flow path 7g formed in the cylindrical mixing chamber 7a to form a rotating flow, and the remaining fluids, detergent D and air A, are introduced into this, so that these fluids are vigorously mixed and stirred by the rotating flow. Furthermore, since the stirred fluid is discharged while maintaining the rotating flow through the conical outlet path 7e, in the foaming unit 8 connected downstream, turbulence is generated by the flow introduced as the rotating flow, and the fluid is further stirred. When the fluid introduced into the foaming unit 8 is a mixture of water W and gas (air A) or a surfactant (detergent D), foam is efficiently formed by the vigorous stirring in the foaming unit 8.

[0043] For example, when assuming use in a bathroom or the like of a general household, such a device for mixing fluids is required to be as compact as possible and to perform mixing efficiently. In the fluid mixing device 1 of this embodiment, the first to third fluids (water W, detergent D, air A) are introduced into one space (mixing chamber 7a) provided inside the mixing section 7, and a rotating flow is formed by the shape of the mixing chamber 7a and the configuration of the first to third introduction paths 7b to 7d to mix and stir these fluids. In other words, since the piping is configured in such a way that the flow paths (first to third flow paths 3 to 5) of these fluids are collected in one mixing section 7, the entire device including the mixing section 7 and the first to third flow paths 3 to 5 can be configured compactly. The mixing section 7 itself can also be made so that the diameter and axial length of the mixing chamber 7a are each, for example, about 3 mm to 10 cm, and the mixing and stirring of the fluids can be sufficiently performed while being very compact. Furthermore, since the fluids are discharged while maintaining a rotating flow due to the configuration of the lead-out path 7e, if a foaming mechanism (foaming unit 8) is provided downstream, foaming can also be performed efficiently there.

[0044] Incidentally, the mixing chamber 7a formed inside the mixing section 7 is configured such that a flow regulator 7f with a smaller diameter is incorporated in a cylindrical space. When forming such a space with a complex shape inside the mixing section 7, it is effective to configure the flow regulator 7f as a separate member (insertion part 7j) from the main body part 7i of the mixing section 7, for example, as shown in FIG. 4. That is, a cylindrical space is formed in the main body part 7i from the outer surface to the inside by cutting work or the like, and the insertion part 7j equipped with a cylindrical flow regulator 7f is screwed therein to form a single mixing section 7. An annular packing 13 is sandwiched between the two to maintain liquid-tightness and air-tightness. When the foaming unit 8 is disposed downstream of the mixing section 7, the insertion part 7j can be configured as a part of the member on the foaming unit 8 side.

[0045] Fig. 5 shows another embodiment (second embodiment) of the mixing section 7. The mixing section 7 of this second embodiment basically has the same configuration as the first embodiment, but only the position of the third inlet passage 7d for introducing the third fluid (air A) into the mixing chamber 7a is different. In the first embodiment shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the third inlet passage 7d extends in the axial direction of the mixing chamber 7a and its outlet side opens into the connecting passage 7h, but in this second embodiment, the third inlet passage 7d is provided in the mixing section 7 in such a way that its outlet side opens into the rotating passage 7g, similar to the first and second inlet passages 7b and 7c.

[0046] In the second embodiment, the inlet side of the introduction passage 7c opens on the right side of the mixing chamber 7a in Fig. 5, the passage faces inward from that position, and the outlet side opens on the upper side of the rotary passage 7g. The portion of the third introduction passage 7d that faces the mixing chamber 7a near the outlet side (and the entire third introduction passage 7d including this portion) is oriented along the circumferential direction of the annular rotary passage 7g, and the flow direction of the third introduction passage 7d at the outlet side of the third introduction passage 7d is counterclockwise with respect to the rotary passage 7g when viewed from the left side. This flow direction (counterclockwise) is the same as that of the first introduction passage 7b and the second introduction passage 7c.

[0047] Even in this manner, the second and third fluids (detergent D, air A) can be suitably mixed with the first fluid (water W) forming a rotating flow in the mixing chamber 7a.

[0048] 6 shows yet another embodiment (third embodiment) of the mixing section 7. The mixing section 7 of this third embodiment also has a basically similar configuration to the first and second embodiments, but the position where the third fluid (air A) is added is different. Instead of the mixing chamber 7a of the mixing section 7, a third inlet passage 7d is connected to the downstream side thereof and air A is introduced therein. Even in this way, the first fluid, water W, can be suitably mixed with the second fluid, detergent D, and the third fluid, air A, can be further mixed therewith.

[0049] Thus, an important feature of the fluid mixing device 1 of the present invention is that a first fluid (water W) is introduced into the mixing chamber 7a, and then another fluid (a second fluid, detergent D, or a third fluid, air A) is introduced into the mixing chamber 7a. When two or more types of fluids are mixed with the first fluid, some of the fluids do not necessarily need to be introduced into the mixing chamber 7a, and may be mixed with the first fluid at a position upstream or downstream of the mixing chamber 7a.

[0050] As described above, the fluid mixing device 1 of each of the above-mentioned embodiments includes the mixing chamber 7a forming a space with an inner circumferential surface of a circular cross section, the first inlet passage 7b for introducing a first fluid (water) W into the mixing chamber 7a along the tangential direction of the circular cross section, the second inlet passage 7c for introducing a second fluid (detergent) D into the mixing chamber 7a, and the outlet passage 7e for discharging the fluid from the mixing chamber 7a. In this way, the fluids introduced into the mixing chamber 7a can be efficiently mixed by the rotating flow along the inner circumferential surface of the circular cross section of the mixing chamber 7a.

[0051] The fluid mixing device 1 of each embodiment includes a flow straightener 7f that is located in the center of the mixing chamber 7a when viewed from the axial direction and forms an annular rotational flow path 7g along the inner circumferential surface of the mixing chamber 7a with a circular cross section. In this way, the rotational flow formed between the inner circumferential surface of the mixing chamber 7a and the outer circumferential surface of the flow straightener 7f becomes stable, and the fluids can be mixed more efficiently.

[0052] In the fluid mixing device 1 of each embodiment, the flow regulator 7f is located at one end side in the axial direction of the mixing chamber 7a, and the inlet side of the outlet passage 7e is open at the other end side. In this way, the fluids are discharged from the outlet passage 7e while maintaining a rotating flow, so that the fluids can be mixed more efficiently.

[0053] In the fluid mixing apparatus 1 of each embodiment, the outlet passage 7e is formed in a tapered shape so that the diameter increases from the inlet side to the outlet side. In this way, the pressure of the fluid flowing through the outlet passage 7e weakens as it moves downstream, so that the flow that enters the outlet passage 7e while rotating is discharged from the outlet of the outlet passage 7e while maintaining its rotation.

[0054] Some of the fluid mixing devices 1 in the embodiments further include a third inlet passage 7d for introducing a third fluid (air) A into the mixing chamber 7a. In this way, the third fluid A is further mixed into the mixing chamber 7a which mixes the first and second fluids W and D, so that these fluids can be efficiently mixed with each other.

[0055] The fluid mixing device 1 in each embodiment is configured such that the first flow path 3, through which water W as a first fluid flows, is connected to the inlet side of the first inlet path 7b. In this way, other fluids can be efficiently mixed in the mixing section 7 provided in the flow path of the water W.

[0056] Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the fluids can be added appropriately with a compact configuration.

[0057] Incidentally, the fluid mixing apparatus of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and it is needless to say that various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0058] 1 Fluid mixing device 3 First flow path 7 Mixing section 7a Mixing chamber 7b Introductory path (first introductory path) 7c Inlet path (second inlet path) 7d Inlet path (third inlet path) 7e Derivative path 7f rectifier 7g Rotating channel A Air (third fluid, gas) D Detergent (second fluid, liquid) W Water (first fluid, liquid)

Claims

1. A mixing chamber having an inner circumferential surface with a circular cross section; a first inlet passage for introducing a first fluid into the mixing chamber along a tangential direction of a circular cross section; a second inlet passage for introducing a second fluid into the mixing chamber; an outlet for discharging fluid from the mixing chamber; The mixing section is provided with A fluid mixing device comprising:

2. The mixing chamber is provided with a flow straightener that is located in the center when viewed from the axial direction and forms an annular rotational flow path along the inner circumferential surface of the mixing chamber that has a circular cross section. The fluid mixing device according to claim 1 .

3. The flow regulator is located at one end side in the axial direction of the mixing chamber, and the inlet side of the outlet passage is opened at the other end side. The fluid mixing device according to claim 2 .

4. The outlet passage is tapered so that the diameter increases from the inlet side to the outlet side. The fluid mixing device according to claim 3 .

5. Further comprising a third inlet passage for introducing a third fluid into the mixing chamber. The fluid mixing device according to claim 1 .

6. A first flow path through which water as a first fluid flows is connected to the inlet side of the first introduction path. The fluid mixing device according to claim 1 .

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