Wall-built-in water faucet outlet with microbubble water generation function

Abstract

To provide a wall built-in water faucet outlet capable of generating a large number of microbubbles during water supply to a washing machine or the like.SOLUTION: A microbubble generator 20 is disposed on the inner periphery of a coupler 3. The microbubble generator 20 comprises a cylindrical main body 21 and disks 22 attached to an inlet and an outlet of the cylindrical main body 21, wherein a circumferential groove 23 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical main body 21. The disks 22 are formed with a plurality of through holes 24. An axis 24a of each through hole 24 is twisted relative to an axis 21a of the cylindrical main body 21, and a flow path cross-sectional area of each through hole 24 is designed to gradually decrease from the inlet toward the outlet.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a washing machine faucet with a microbubble generation function for connecting hoses such as household washing machines and showers.

Background Art

[0002] Recently, in condominiums and other apartment houses, washing machines are often placed indoors rather than outdoors. In this case, with a conventional water faucet, the protruding part in the indoor space is large and the appearance is poor. Therefore, socket-type water supply faucets provided on the wall surface have been proposed in Patent Documents 1 to 4.

[0003] The wall-mounted water supply faucets disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 4 all include a faucet body that forms a water supply path and has a valve mechanism, a handle attached to the faucet body, and a coupler attached to the faucet body for connecting a hose.

[0004] On the other hand, microbubbles (microbubbles with a diameter of 100 μm or less and nanobubbles with a diameter of 500 nm or less) have a negatively charged surface and diffuse and float in the microbubble water without merging with each other. In contrast, dirt caused by oil, sebum, fine foreign matters, etc. is usually positively charged and is electrically bonded to the object to be cleaned having a negative charge. Therefore, it is said that when microbubbles having a negative charge adsorb to the positively charged dirt, they are electrically neutralized and the dirt is easily separated from the object to be cleaned.

[0005] As an apparatus for generating microbubbles, as disclosed in Patent Documents 5 and 6, those that generate microbubbles by the cavitation effect (orifice effect) are known.

[0006] Patent Document 5 discloses a configuration in which a fine bubble generator is arranged at the base of a pipe. The fine bubble generator has a cylindrical shape, and at the upstream end, a disk member having a plurality of notches is provided. In the middle part, it is provided with a first water passage whose cross-sectional area of the flow path gradually decreases, and a second water passage having unevenness for further refining the bubbles generated on the upstream side of the first water passage.

[0007] Patent Document 6 discloses a structure in which a fine bubble generator similar to the above is provided at one end of a hose connecting a washing machine or a shower and a water supply faucet.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0008]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Patent Document 4

Patent Document 5

Patent Document 6

Disclosure of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0009] Since the hose connecting a washing machine or a shower and a water supply faucet is a member that deteriorates over time, it needs to be replaced regularly. In this case, if a fine bubble generator is incorporated in the hose, it is troublesome to take it out and it will be discarded as it is.

[0010] On the other hand, for a wall-mounted water tap, all members need to be stored in the limited space inside the wall, and there is no space to arrange a fine bubble generator.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0011] The wall-mounted faucet socket according to the invention for solving the above problems includes a faucet body that forms a water supply path and is provided with a valve mechanism, a handle attached to the faucet body, and a coupler attached to the faucet body and for connecting a hose. The wall-mounted faucet socket is characterized in that a fine bubble generator is disposed inside the coupler.

[0012] The fine bubble generator is provided with disk members at the upstream end and the downstream end of a cylindrical main body. A plurality of through holes are provided in the disk members. It is preferable that the axis of the through holes is twisted with respect to the axis of the cylindrical main body and the flow path cross-sectional area of the through holes gradually decreases from the inlet to the outlet.

Effect of the Invention

[0013] According to the present invention, a fine bubble generator can be incorporated into the faucet without causing any unreasonableness in the arrangement of each member of the wall-mounted faucet socket, and there is no problem when connecting the hose of the washing machine.

[0014] In particular, when the axis of the through hole formed in the disk member constituting the fine bubble generator is twisted with respect to the axis of the cylindrical main body of the fine bubble generator and the flow path cross-sectional area of the through hole gradually decreases from the inlet to the outlet, not only a swirling flow is formed but also the flow velocity in the through hole becomes faster, and the cavitation effect when exiting the through hole is enhanced. As a result, more fine bubbles can be generated compared with the conventional fine bubble generator.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0015]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0016] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the wall - built - in type faucet faucet according to the present invention includes a faucet body 1, a handle 2, a coupler 3, and a cover 4 fitted into a wall W.

[0017] The faucet body 1 forms a water supply passage 5. The upstream end of the water supply passage 5 is connected to a water pipe 6. An opening 7 is formed at the turning part of the water supply passage 5, and a valve body 8 for opening and closing the opening 7 is attached to the shaft of the handle 2.

[0018] A discharge port 9 is formed at the downstream end of the water passage 5, and the coupler 3 is arranged outside the discharge port 9. A check valve 11 biased by a spring 10 is arranged at the discharge port 9.

[0019] A flange portion 12 for preventing detachment when a hose is connected is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the coupler 3, and a fine bubble generator 20 is arranged on the inner periphery of the coupler 3. In the illustrated example, the fine bubble generator 20 is separate from the inner periphery of the coupler 3, but by forming a flange portion 12 on the outer peripheral surface of the fine bubble generator 20, it can be used as a coupler. In addition, in the illustrated example, the coupler 3 is directly attached to the faucet body 1, but by attaching it via a hook or the like, the replacement becomes easy.

[0020] The front end portions of the handle 2 and the coupler 3 are recessed toward the wall side from the front end surface 4a of the cover 4. By doing so, the coupler 3 will not be deformed when an object hits it and will not damage the furniture.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 3, the fine bubble generator 20 is made of a metal such as brass and includes a cylindrical main body 21 and disks 22 attached to the inlet and outlet of the cylindrical main body 21.

[0022] A plurality (four in the figure) of through holes 24 are formed in the disc 22. The axis 24a of the through hole 24 is twisted with respect to the axis 21a of the cylindrical body 21, and the flow path cross-sectional area of the through hole 24 is designed to gradually decrease from the inlet to the outlet.

[0023] By making the shape of the through hole 24 as described above, the water passing through the through hole 24 becomes a swirling flow, and the flow velocity increases inside the through hole 24. The cavitation effect at the portion where the water exits the through hole 24 becomes higher, and a large number of fine bubbles are generated in the water.

[0024] In particular, since a disc 22 with a through hole 24 is also provided at the outlet of the cylindrical body 21, the fine bubble generation effect is further enhanced. The groove 23 formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical body 21 further refines the generated bubbles.

[0025] Figure 4 shows another embodiment. In this actual example, a stopper 25 for urgently stopping the water supply when the hose is disconnected is disposed so as to slidably penetrate the fine bubble generator 20.

Industrial Applicability

[0026] In the embodiment, the washing machine and the shower hose are taken as examples for explanation, but the hoses to be connected are not limited to these.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0027] 1... faucet body 2... handle 3... coupler 4... cover 4a... front end face of the cover 5... water supply path 6... water pipe 7... opening 8... valve body 9... discharge port 10... spring 11... check valve 12... flange portion 20... fine bubble generator 21... cylindrical body 21a... axis of the cylindrical body 22…Disk 24…Through-hole 24a…Axis of the through-hole 25…Stopper

Claims

1. A built-in-wall type faucet assembly comprising a faucet body that forms a water supply passage and is provided with a valve mechanism, a handle attached to the faucet body, and a coupler attached to the faucet body for connecting a hose, wherein a fine bubble generator is disposed inside the coupler.

2. The built-in-wall type faucet assembly according to Claim 1, wherein the fine bubble generator is provided with disk members at the upstream end and the downstream end of a cylindrical body, a plurality of through holes are provided in the disk members, the axes of the through holes are twisted with respect to the axis of the cylindrical body, and the flow passage cross-sectional area of the through holes is set to gradually decrease from the inlet toward the outlet.

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