Suspended matter removing device

Abstract

To enhance the removal efficiency of suspended matter in a suspended matter removing device for collecting the suspended matter by involving it in the flow of hot water jetted upward from the water surface of a bathtub.SOLUTION: This hot water supply device is provided with a water intake part 11 for taking in hot water near the water surface of a bathtub and an injection part 13 for injecting the hot water toward the water intake part, the hot water is pressure-fed to the injection part by a pump 25, and the hot water taken in from the water intake part is filtered by a filter 40. Also, in the state of being disposed in the bathtub, the open surface of the intake part that is open upward is positioned higher than the water surface of the bathtub, the injector is provided at the vicinity of the water surface of the bathtub, and at least a portion of the flow (the injection flow) of the hot or cold water injected from the injector toward the intake part is connected to the water surface of the bathtub. An inclined surface 14 rising toward the water intake part is provided, and the hot water jetted from the jetting part flows along the inclined surface to reach the water intake part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a floating matter removal device for removing floating matter from the surface of water in a bathtub. [Background technology]

[0002] When bathing, dirt, hair, and other floating debris on the surface of the bathtub water are unhygienic and uncomfortable. Therefore, devices for removing such floating debris have been proposed. For example, the device described in Patent Document 1 sprays hot water into the air from a nozzle placed underwater in the bathtub toward the water surface, creating a water column. The sprayed water is then passed through a filter placed above the water surface, which removes any floating debris caught in the sprayed water. The water that passes through the filter is then discharged directly back into the bathtub. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-259734 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the device described in Patent Document 1, the hot water sprayed into the air from the submerged nozzle is easily affected by factors such as the shaking (waves) of the water surface in the bathtub, and the direction of the spray is unstable, so the sprayed hot water does not always reach the filter, resulting in a problem in that the efficiency of removing floating matter is low.

[0005] This invention has been made in response to the above-mentioned problems in conventional technology, and aims to provide technology that can improve the efficiency of removing floating matter in a floating matter removal device that collects floating matter by entraining it in the flow of hot water sprayed above the water surface of the bathtub. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the floating matter removal device of the present invention employs the following configuration. <First aspect> A floating matter removal device for removing floating matter from the surface of bathtub water, A water intake section for taking in hot and cold water near the water surface of the bathtub; a filter capable of filtering the hot and cold water taken in from the water intake section; A jetting unit for jetting hot and cold water toward the water intake unit; a pump that pressure-feeds hot water to the jetting portion; Equipped with When the floating matter removal device is placed in the bathtub, the open surface of the water intake section that opens upward is located above the water surface of the bathtub, and The jetting unit is provided near the water surface of the bathtub, At least a part of the jet of hot and cold water jetted from the jet portion toward the water intake portion is connected to the water surface of the bathtub, a slope that rises toward the water intake section, The hot and cold water sprayed from the spray section flows down the inclined surface and reaches the water intake section. It is characterized by:

[0007] In this first type of floating matter removal device, the hot water sprayed from the spray unit located near the water surface of the bathtub, as well as the hot water near the water surface that is caught in the spray, can be guided to the water intake unit by the inclined surface, making it possible to stabilize the intake of hot water from the water intake unit compared to when there is no inclined surface.As a result, by taking in the hot water near the water surface from the water intake unit, the floating matter can be filtered and removed more efficiently.

[0008] <Second aspect> In the floating matter removal device of the first aspect, The jetting section is located below the water surface of the bathtub when the floating matter removal device is placed in the bathtub, and is provided across the width of the inclined surface. It is characterized by:

[0009] In this second type of floating matter removal device, hot water is sprayed from a spray section that is installed across the width of the inclined surface, and the spray flow is directed along the entire inclined surface, thereby increasing the amount of hot water near the surface of the bathtub water that is caught in the spray flow, making it possible to efficiently take in floating matter along with the hot water from the water intake section.

[0010] <Third aspect> In the floating matter removal device of the first aspect, When the floating matter removal device is placed in the bathtub, the lower end side of the inclined surface is located below the water surface of the bathtub, The ejection portion is shorter than the width of the inclined surface, and is located on the lower end side of the inclined surface and protrudes from the inclined surface. It is characterized by:

[0011] In this third type of floating matter removal device, not only when the injection section is submerged in the water in the bathtub, but also when the top of the injection section is above the water surface due to the influence of the shaking (waves) of the water surface in the bathtub, the water near the surface of the bathtub is caught up in the injection flow of the injection section from the side of the injection section, making it possible to take in floating matter along with the water from the water intake section.

[0012] <Fourth aspect> In the floating matter removal device of any one of the first to third aspects, A plurality of the jetting portions and the inclined surfaces corresponding to the jetting portions are provided around the water intake portion. It is characterized by:

[0013] In this fourth aspect of the floating matter removal device, when placed in a bathtub, the floating matter floating on the surface of the surrounding bathtub water can be efficiently taken in from the water intake section along with the hot and cold water.

[0014] <Fifth aspect> In the floating matter removal device of the fourth aspect, A partition portion is provided between the adjacent inclined surfaces. It is characterized by:

[0015] If the flow of hot water (jet flow) sprayed from the spray section or the flow of hot water caught in the jet flow from near the water surface in the bathtub deviates from the inclined surface corresponding to the spray section onto the adjacent inclined surface, the flow of hot water along that adjacent inclined surface will be obstructed, reducing the efficiency of taking in hot water and floating matter from the water intake section.In the fifth aspect of the floating matter removal device, adjacent inclined surfaces are separated by partition sections, so the flow of hot water between adjacent inclined surfaces does not interfere with each other, making it possible to more efficiently take in hot water and floating matter from the water intake section.

[0016] <Sixth aspect> In the floating matter removal device of any one of the first to fifth aspects, The pump is capable of sucking hot and cold water taken in from the water intake section and passing it through the filter. It is characterized by:

[0017] In this sixth embodiment of the floating matter removal device, the pump is used not only to pressurize the hot water to the injection section, but also to suck up the hot water taken in from the intake section, thereby promoting the filtration of the hot water in the filter, thereby making it possible to further improve the efficiency of removing floating matter taken in together with the hot water from the intake section. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which the floating matter removal device 1 of the present embodiment is disassembled. [Figure 2] 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the upper unit 10, the filter 40, and the intermediate unit 30 of the present embodiment. FIG. [Figure 3] 3 is a cross-sectional view of the pump-forming member 34 and the impeller 21 cut along a horizontal plane. FIG. [Figure 4] 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the removal of floating matter floating on the surface of the water in a bathtub by the operation of the floating matter removal device 1 of this embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an enlarged view of the injection part 13 of the present embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the upper unit 10 of the present embodiment as viewed from above. [Figure 7] 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an enlarged view of an ejection section 13 in a flotage removal device 1 of a first modified example. FIG. [Figure 8] 10 is an enlarged perspective view of an intermediate unit 30 and a filter 40 in a floating matter removal device 1 of a second modified example. FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing how floating matter floating on the water surface of a bathtub is removed by operation of the floating matter removal device 1 of the second modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the disassembled state of the floating matter removal device 1 of this embodiment. The floating matter removal device 1 of this embodiment, which is used in a bathtub, is roughly composed of an upper unit 10 located at the top, a lower unit 20 located at the bottom, and an intermediate unit 30 located between them, and is disassembled. First, the upper unit 10 has a water intake section 11 for taking in hot and cold water near the water surface of the bathtub, and multiple float sections 12 (three in this embodiment) are provided at equal intervals around the upwardly open water intake section 11, generating buoyancy that causes the floating matter removal device 1 to float in the water in the bathtub. Then, a cover plate 17 is attached to cover the water intake section 11 and the float sections 12 from above. In addition, a spray section 13 is provided between the float sections 12 for spraying hot and cold water toward the water intake section 11, as described below.

[0020] A recess 31 is provided on the upper surface of the intermediate unit 30 to receive the hot and cold water taken in from the water intake section 11. A filter 40 is attached to cover the top of this recess 31, and the hot and cold water taken in from the water intake section 11 is filtered by passing through the filter 40. Note that by separating the upper unit 10 and the intermediate unit 30, the filter 40 can be removed from the intermediate unit 30 and cleaned.

[0021] Furthermore, a plurality of (three in this embodiment) open sections 33 that communicate with the inner recess 31 and are open to allow hot and cold water to be let in and out are provided at equal intervals on the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate unit 30. In addition, a plurality of (three in this embodiment) water intake sections 36 are provided that are located below the open sections 33 on the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate unit 30 and communicate with the intake side of a pump described below so as to be able to suck in hot and cold water from the bathtub. Furthermore, a plurality of (three in this embodiment) pressure-feed passages 39 that send hot and cold water discharged from the built-in pump to the spray section 13 are provided in the intermediate unit 30 at equal intervals around the recess 31.

[0022] An impeller 21 that constitutes the pump is installed on the upper surface of the lower unit 20, and a motor 22 that drives this impeller 21 is incorporated into the lower unit 20. Although not shown, the lower unit 20 also incorporates a battery that supplies power to the motor 22, a power receiving coil for wirelessly charging the battery, and the like. Note that a dry cell battery may be used as the power source instead of a battery.

[0023] Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the upper unit 10, filter 40, and intermediate unit 30 of this embodiment. Fig. 2 shows the upper unit 10, filter 40, and intermediate unit 30 cut along a vertical plane passing through the center of the water intake section 11. As shown in the figure, the float section 12 of the upper unit 10 of this embodiment has a space 12a with an open top, and buoyancy is ensured by the air within this space 12a. A cover plate 17 is attached to cover the top of the float section 12, preventing hot and cold water from entering the space 12a.

[0024] In addition, an inclined surface 14 is provided between the float sections 12, rising from the outer periphery of the upper unit 10 towards the central water intake section 11. The jet section 13 is located on the lower end side of the inclined surface 14 and protrudes from the inclined surface 14. As will be described in more detail later, the hot water jetted from the jet section 13 reaches the water intake section 11 by flowing down the inclined surface 14.

[0025] In the intermediate unit 30, a plurality of (three in this embodiment) communication passages 32 are formed at equal intervals around the recess 31, connecting the open portion 33 provided on the outer peripheral surface with the inner recess 31. The communication passages 32 and the pressure-feeding passages 39 are alternately arranged around the recess 31, and the recess 31 and the communication passages 32 are covered from above by a filter 40.

[0026] The filter 40 is constructed by attaching a fine mesh 40b to the upper surface of a lattice-shaped frame body 40a, and has a circular portion 41 that covers the upper part of the recess 31 and a fan-shaped portion 42 that covers the upper part of the connecting passage 32.

[0027] A pump-forming member 34 is fitted into the intermediate unit 30 from below. The pump-forming member 34 is provided with a pump chamber 35 that houses the impeller 21, and an inlet passage 37 that guides hot and cold water from the bathtub from the water intake section 36 to an intake hole 35a formed in the upper surface of the pump chamber 35. A discharge passage 38 extends from the circumferential surface of the pump chamber 35 and is connected to a pressure-feed passage 39. Although not shown, a packing made of an elastic material such as rubber is interposed between the intermediate unit 30 and the pump-forming member 34 to ensure watertightness. The pump-forming member 34 is fixed to the intermediate unit 30 using screws or the like (not shown).

[0028] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the pump-forming member 34 and impeller 21 cut along a horizontal plane. The impeller 21, housed in the pump chamber 35, has multiple blades 21a arranged radially about the rotation axis. When the impeller 21 rotates, centrifugal force causes the hot and cold water in the pump chamber 35 to flow from the inside to the outside of the impeller 21, discharging the hot and cold water into the discharge passage 38 extending from the circumferential surface of the pump chamber 35. Accordingly, hot and cold water from the bathtub is drawn into the pump chamber 35 from the water intake section 36 through the inlet passage 37 and the suction hole 35a. The hot and cold water discharged from the pump chamber 35 by the rotation of the impeller 21 is then supplied to the pumping passage 39 through the discharge passage 38 as indicated by the bold arrow in the figure. The pump chamber 35 and the impeller 21 together constitute the pump 25 of this embodiment. Also, although not shown in the figure, a filter for filtering the hot water in the bathtub may be provided in the path before it is sucked into the pump chamber 35. For example, by installing a filter covering the outside of the water intake section 36 (see Figure 1), it is possible to prevent foreign matter from clogging the pump 25.

[0029] Figure 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the removal of floating matter floating on the water surface of a bathtub by the operation of the floating matter removal device 1 of this embodiment. Figure 4 shows a cross section of the floating matter removal device 1 cut along a vertical plane passing through the center of the water intake section 11. The dashed-dotted line in the figure represents the water surface, and the diamonds and rectangles in the figure schematically represent floating matter such as dirt and hair floating on the water surface of the bathtub.

[0030] The floating matter removal device 1 of this embodiment is designed to float in the water in the bathtub due to the buoyancy of the float part 12, and while floating in the water in the bathtub, the open surface of the water intake part 11, which opens upward, is located above the water surface of the bathtub. Also, in the example shown, the jet part 13, which is located on the lower end side of the inclined surface 14, is located below the water surface of the bathtub.

[0031] As described above, when impeller 21 housed in pump chamber 35 is rotated by motor 22, hot and cold water is discharged from pump chamber 35 into discharge passage 38, and hot and cold water from the bathtub sucked in from water intake section 36 is drawn into pump chamber 35 through inlet passage 37, as indicated by the dashed arrow in the figure. Then, as indicated by the thick arrow in the figure, the hot and cold water discharged into discharge passage 38 is sprayed from jet section 13 toward water intake section 11 through pressure-feed passage 39 and flows into water intake section 11 along inclined surface 14. At this time, around the flow of hot and cold water sprayed from jet section 13 (hereinafter referred to as the jet flow), pressure decreases with the flow rate of the jet, creating negative pressure, and because the jet flow is connected to the water surface in the bathtub, the hot and cold water near the water surface in the bathtub is caught up in the jet flow together with floating particles, as indicated by the dashed arrow in the figure, and flows down inclined surface 14 into water intake section 11.

[0032] When hot water is taken in from water intake section 11 in this way, the water level inside water intake section 11 becomes higher than the water level in the bathtub, causing a water level difference. To eliminate this water level difference, the hot water inside water intake section 11 is released to the outside from open section 33 as shown by the dashed arrow in the figure, via connecting passage 32 connected to recess 31. Therefore, the hot water taken in from water intake section 11 together with floating matter has the floating matter removed as it passes through filter 40 that covers the recess 31 and the upper part of connecting passage 32.

[0033] FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an enlarged view of the jet unit 13 of this embodiment. First, FIG. 5(a) shows a cross section of the jet unit 13 and the inclined surface 14 cut along a vertical plane passing through the center of the water intake unit 11. As mentioned above, the jet unit 13 is located on the lower end side of the inclined surface 14 and protrudes from the inclined surface 14. In the illustrated example, the upper part of the jet unit 13 protrudes from the water surface of the bathtub, and the upper part of the jet unit 13 may temporarily be positioned above the water surface of the bathtub due to the influence of the turbulence (waves) on the water surface of the bathtub. In this case, the jet of hot and cold water from the jet unit 13 is unlikely to overflow the upper part of the jet unit 13 and be drawn in, so only a small amount of hot and cold water is drawn in by the jet of hot and cold water from above the jet unit 13.

[0034] On the other hand, Figure 5(b) shows the state of the jetting portion 13 as seen from the front, facing the inclined surface 14. As shown in the figure, the jetting portion 13 of this embodiment is shorter than the width of the inclined surface 14, and is positioned approximately in the center of the left and right sides of the inclined surface 14. As a result, even if the top of the jetting portion 13 is above the water surface in the bathtub, hot water near the water surface in the bathtub is caught up in the jet of hot water from the jetting portion 13 from both sides of the jetting portion 13 that protrudes from the inclined surface 14.

[0035] 6 is a plan view of the upper unit 10 of this embodiment, viewed from above. As shown in the figure, the upper unit 10 is provided with multiple (three in this embodiment) jetting sections 13 and inclined surfaces 14 surrounding the water intake section 11. This allows floating objects floating on the water surface around the floating object removal device 1 placed in the bathtub to be efficiently taken in from the water intake section 11 along with the hot and cold water. Furthermore, since the adjacent inclined surfaces 14 are separated by the float section 12, the jet of hot and cold water from the jetting section 13 and the flow of hot and cold water caught in the jet from near the water surface of the bathtub can be prevented from diverging from the inclined surface 14 corresponding to the jetting section 13 to the adjacent inclined surface 14. The float section 12 in this embodiment corresponds to the "partition section" of the present invention.

[0036] As described above, the floating matter removal device 1 of this embodiment includes a water intake section 11 for taking in hot water near the water surface of the bathtub and a jet section 13 for spraying the hot water toward the water intake section 11. The pump 25 is operated (rotating the impeller 21 in the pump chamber 35) to pump the hot water to the jet section 13, and the hot water taken in from the water intake section 11 is filtered by the filter 40. Furthermore, when the floating matter removal device 1 placed in the bathtub floats on the hot water in the bathtub, the open surface of the water intake section 11, which opens upward, is located above the water surface of the bathtub, and the jet section 13 is located near the water surface of the bathtub, so that the flow of hot water (jet flow) sprayed from the jet section 13 toward the water intake section 11 is connected to the water surface of the bathtub. The device also has an inclined surface 14 that rises toward the water intake section 11, so that the hot water sprayed from the jet section 13 flows down the inclined surface 14 to reach the water intake section 11.

[0037] In the floating matter removal device 1 of this embodiment, in addition to the hot water sprayed from the spray unit 13 provided near the water surface of the bathtub, the hot water near the water surface of the bathtub that is caught in the spray flow can be guided to the water intake unit 11 by the inclined surface 14, making it possible to stabilize the intake of hot water from the water intake unit 11 compared to when there is no inclined surface 14. As a result, by taking in the floating matter from the water intake unit 11 together with the hot water near the water surface, it is possible to increase the efficiency of filtering and removing the floating matter with the filter 40.

[0038] Furthermore, in the floating matter removal device 1 of this embodiment, when placed in a bathtub and floating in the water in the bathtub, the lower end side of the inclined surface 14 is located below the water surface in the bathtub, and the jetting portion 13 is shorter than the width of the inclined surface 14 and is located at the lower end side of the inclined surface 14, protruding from the inclined surface 14. In this way, not only when the jetting portion 13 is submerged in the water in the bathtub, but also when the upper part of the jetting portion 13 is above the water surface in the bathtub due to the influence of the shaking (waves) of the water surface in the bathtub, the water near the water surface in the bathtub is caught up in the jet flow of the jetting portion 13 from the side of the jetting portion 13, making it possible to take in floating matter from the water intake portion 11 together with the water.

[0039] Additionally, in the floating matter removal device 1 of this embodiment, a plurality of jetting sections 13 and inclined surfaces 14 corresponding to the jetting sections 13 are provided surrounding the water intake section 11. This makes it possible to efficiently take in floating matter floating on the water surface of the surrounding bathtub together with the hot and cold water from the water intake section 11, with the water intake section 11 of the floating matter removal device 1 placed in the bathtub as the center.

[0040] Furthermore, if the flow of hot water (jet flow) sprayed from the spray section 13 or the flow of hot water caught in the jet flow from near the water surface in the bathtub deviates from the inclined surface 14 corresponding to the spray section 13 to the adjacent inclined surface 14, the flow of hot water along the adjacent inclined surface 14 will be obstructed, reducing the efficiency of taking in hot water and floating matter from the water intake section 11. In the floating matter removal device 1 of this embodiment, the float section 12 separates adjacent inclined surfaces 14, and the flow of hot water does not interfere with that of adjacent inclined surfaces 14, making it possible to more efficiently take in hot water and floating matter from the water intake section 11.

[0041] The floating matter removal device 1 of the present embodiment described above also has the following modified examples. The following describes the modified examples, focusing on the differences from the above embodiment. In the description of the modified examples, the same components as those in the above embodiment are given the same reference numerals and will not be described again.

[0042] Fig. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an enlarged view of the jetting unit 13 in the floating matter removal device 1 of the first modified example. First, Fig. 7(a) shows the jetting unit 13 as seen from the front facing the inclined surface 14. As shown in the figure, the jetting unit 13 of the first modified example is provided across the width of the inclined surface 14.

[0043] 7(b) shows a cross section of the jetting portion 13 and the inclined surface 14 cut by a vertical plane passing through the center of the water intake portion 11. The floating matter removal device 1 of the first modified example is placed in a bathtub and floats on the water in the bathtub, with the jetting portion 13 positioned below the water surface of the bathtub. Therefore, when hot water is sprayed from the jetting portion 13, the hot water near the water surface in the bathtub, which is located above the jetting portion 13, is mainly caught up in the spray flow, and hot water also passes over the jetting portion 13 and is caught up from behind the jetting portion 13 in the direction of water spray (to the left in the figure).

[0044] In this way, in the floating matter removal device 1 of the first variant, hot water is sprayed from the spray section 13 provided across the width of the inclined surface 14, and by directing the spray flow along the entire inclined surface 14, the amount of hot water near the surface of the bathtub water that is caught up in the spray flow can be increased, making it possible to efficiently take in floating matter along with the hot water from the water intake section 11.

[0045] FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the intermediate unit 30 and the filter 40 in the floating matter removal device 1 of the second modified example. FIG. 8 shows the intermediate unit 30 and the filter 40 cut along a vertical plane passing through the center of the suction hole 35a of the pump chamber 35. In the intermediate unit 30 of the previously described embodiment, the water intake portion 36 capable of drawing in hot and cold water from the bathtub was connected to the suction hole 35a of the pump chamber 35 via the inflow passage 37 (see FIG. 2). In contrast, the intermediate unit 30 of the second modified example does not have the water intake portion 36 or the inflow passage 37. Instead, the recess 31 on the top surface is formed in a cone shape, and the bottom hole 31a formed in the bottom surface of the recess 31 is connected to the suction hole 35a of the pump chamber 35. Incidentally, around the recess 31 of the second modified example, the communication passages 32 and the pumping passages 39 are alternately arranged, as in the previously described embodiment.

[0046] The filter 40 has a circular portion 41 that covers the upper part of the recess 31 and a sector-shaped portion 42 that covers the upper part of the communicating passage 32, and a mesh 40b is provided on the upper surface of the frame body 40a of both the circular portion 41 and the sector-shaped portion 42. In addition, a circular plate 43 formed in a substantially circular shape is provided below the circular portion 41 of the filter 40 of the second modification and substantially parallel to the frame body 40a, and the outer diameter of the circular plate 43 is smaller than the outer diameter of the circular portion 41 and larger than the inner diameter of the bottom hole 31a.

[0047] Fig. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the removal of floating matter floating on the water surface of a bathtub by the operation of the floating matter removal device 1 of the second modified example. Similar to Fig. 4, Fig. 9 shows a cross section of the floating matter removal device 1 cut along a vertical plane passing through the center of the water intake section 11. As with the floating matter removal device 1 of the previously described embodiment, the floating matter removal device 1 of the second modified example also floats in the bathtub water due to the buoyancy of the float section 12, with the open surface of the water intake section 11 positioned above the water surface of the bathtub. Furthermore, in the illustrated example, the jet section 13, located at the lower end of the inclined surface 14, is positioned below the water surface of the bathtub.

[0048] When impeller 21 housed in pump chamber 35 rotates, hot water discharged into discharge passage 38 is sprayed from spray section 13 toward water intake section 11 through pressure-feed passage 39, as shown by the thick arrow in the figure, and flows down inclined surface 14 into water intake section 11. At this time, around the flow of hot water (jet flow) sprayed from spray section 13, pressure decreases with the flow rate of the spray, creating negative pressure, and because the jet flow is connected to the water surface in the bathtub, the hot water near the water surface in the bathtub is caught up in the jet flow together with floating matter, as shown by the dashed-dotted arrow in the figure, and flows down inclined surface 14 into water intake section 11. The hot water taken in from water intake section 11 in this way is sucked into pump chamber 35 through bottom hole 31a of recess 31, and floating matter is removed as it passes through filter 40.

[0049] Furthermore, a circular plate 43 having an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter of the bottom hole 31a is installed below the filter 40 of the second modified example, covering the top of the bottom hole 31a. As a result, the flow of hot water that has passed through the filter 40 flows around the outside of the circular plate 43 and is drawn into the pump chamber 35 through the bottom hole 31a, so that even if a vortex occurs above the filter 40, the vortex can be prevented from reaching the bottom hole 31a. As a result, it is possible to prevent air from being mixed into the pump chamber 35 by the vortex, which would otherwise cause a drop in the pressure of the hot water discharged from the pump chamber 35.

[0050] Furthermore, in the second variant of the floating matter removal device 1, in addition to the hot water sprayed from the spray section 13, the hot water near the water surface in the bathtub that is caught up in the spray flow flows in from the water intake section 11, which tends to result in an excess amount of hot water being taken in from the water intake section 11 compared to the amount of hot water sprayed from the spray section 13.However, an open section 33 is provided at the end of the connecting passage 32 connected to the recess 31, and excess hot water is released to the outside from the open section 33 as shown by the dotted arrow in the figure, so it is possible to prevent the water level inside the water intake section 11 from becoming higher than the water level in the bathtub.

[0051] On the other hand, when the floating matter removal device 1 is floated in the water in the bathtub at the start of use, the water in the bathtub flows from the open part 33 through the connecting passage 32 into the recessed part 31 and is supplied to the pump chamber 35. This eliminates the need for the user to fill the water in the water intake part 11 with water and supply it to the pump chamber 35 (the so-called priming operation). Also, if the amount of water taken in from the water intake part 11 is less than the amount of water sprayed from the spray part 13 due to factors such as the swaying of the water surface in the bathtub, the water in the bathtub can be sucked in from the open part 33 to replenish the water, so that the spray of water from the spray part 13 can continue and the intake of water from the water intake part 11 can be promoted.

[0052] In this second modified floating matter removal device 1, as in the floating matter removal device 1 of the previously described embodiment, the hot water sprayed from the spray section 13 and the hot water near the surface of the bathtub water that is caught in the spray flow are guided along the inclined surface 14 to the water intake section 11, thereby stabilizing the intake of hot water from the water intake section 11. In the second modified floating matter removal device 1, the pump 25 is used not only to pump hot water to the spray section 13 but also to suck up the hot water taken in from the water intake section 11, thereby promoting the filtration of hot water by the filter 40, and making it possible to further improve the efficiency of removing floating matter taken in together with hot water from the water intake section 11.

[0053] The above describes the embodiment and modified examples of the floating matter removal device 1, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and modified examples, and can be implemented in various forms within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

[0054] For example, the floating matter removal device 1 in the above-described embodiment floats in the water in the bathtub due to the buoyancy of the float portion 12. However, the floating matter removal device 1 is not limited to a float type that floats in the water in the bathtub, and may be fixed to the inner wall surface of the bathtub. For example, one end of a flexible stand having multiple arms and joints connecting the arms may be fixed to the floating matter removal device 1, and the other end may be fixed to the inner wall surface of the bathtub. The angle between the arms may be adjusted using the joints to align the floating matter removal device 1 vertically with respect to the water surface of the bathtub, or to position the floating matter removal device 1 approximately vertically. In this case, the float portion 12 of the upper unit 10 may be omitted.

[0055] Furthermore, in the floating matter removal device 1 of the above-described embodiment, the jetting unit 13 was provided in contact with the inclined surface 14. However, a gap may be provided between the jetting unit 13 and the inclined surface 14. Furthermore, if the jetting unit 13 is provided near the water surface of the bathtub, not only when the jetting unit 13 is located below the water surface of the bathtub, but also when the jetting unit 13 is above the water surface of the bathtub, the negative pressure generated around the jetting unit 13 by the jetting of hot and cold water may attract the water surface of the bathtub, causing the jet of hot and cold water from the jetting unit 13 to connect with the water surface of the bathtub. Furthermore, if at least a portion of the flow of hot and cold water (jet flow) jetted from the jetting unit 13 connects with the water surface of the bathtub, the hot and cold water near the water surface of the bathtub will be entrained in the jet flow together with the floating matter, thereby facilitating the intake of hot and cold water and floating matter from the water intake unit 11. However, if the injection section 13 is located above the water surface in the bathtub, not only the hot water near the water surface in the bathtub but also the air will be easily caught in the jet flow, whereas if the injection section 13 is located below the water surface in the bathtub, a larger amount of hot water will be caught in the jet flow, making it possible to more efficiently take in floating objects from the water intake section 11 along with the hot water near the water surface in the bathtub.

[0056] Furthermore, in the floating matter removal device 1 of the second modified example described above, mesh 40b was provided in both the circular portion 41 and the sector-shaped portion 42 of the filter 40 (see FIG. 8). However, as long as mesh 40b of filter 40 is provided in at least circular portion 41, mesh 40b of sector-shaped portion 42 may be omitted. In this case, when hot water from the bathtub is sucked in through open portion 33 and replenished, the replenished hot water passes through mesh 40b of circular portion 41 of filter 40, thereby removing floating matter. However, if mesh 40b is provided in sector-shaped portion 42 in addition to circular portion 41 as in the second modified example described above, all of the hot water taken in from water intake portion 11 will pass through mesh 40b, which is desirable for removing floating matter. [Explanation of symbols]

[0057] 1...floating matter removal device, 10...upper unit, 11...water intake section, 12...float portion, 12a...space, 13...injection portion, 14...inclined surface, 17...cover plate, 20...lower unit, 21... impeller, 21a... blade, 22... motor, 25... pump, 30... intermediate unit, 31... recess, 31a...Bottom hole, 32...Communication path, 33...Opening part, 34... pump forming member, 35... pump chamber, 35a... suction hole, 36...water suction section, 37...inflow passage, 38...discharge passage, 39... pressure feeding passage, 40... filter, 40a... frame body, 40b...mesh, 41...circular portion, 42...fan-shaped portion, 43...Circular plate.

Claims

1. A floating matter removal device for removing floating matter from the surface of bathtub water, A water intake section for taking in hot and cold water near the water surface of the bathtub; a filter capable of filtering the hot and cold water taken in from the water intake section; A jetting unit for jetting hot and cold water toward the water intake unit; a pump that pressure-feeds hot water to the jetting portion; Equipped with When the floating matter removal device is placed in the bathtub, the open surface of the water intake section that opens upward is located above the water surface of the bathtub, and The jetting unit is provided near the water surface of the bathtub, At least a part of the jet of hot and cold water jetted from the jet portion toward the water intake portion is connected to the water surface of the bathtub, a slope that rises toward the water intake section, The hot and cold water sprayed from the spray section flows down the inclined surface and reaches the water intake section. A floating matter removal device characterized by:

2. The floating matter removal device according to claim 1, The jetting section is located below the water surface of the bathtub when the floating matter removal device is placed in the bathtub, and is provided across the width of the inclined surface. A floating matter removal device characterized by:

3. The floating matter removal device according to claim 1, When the floating matter removal device is placed in the bathtub, the lower end side of the inclined surface is located below the water surface of the bathtub, The ejection portion is shorter than the width of the inclined surface, and is located on the lower end side of the inclined surface and protrudes from the inclined surface. A floating matter removal device characterized by:

4. The floating matter removal device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, A plurality of the jetting portions and the inclined surfaces corresponding to the jetting portions are provided around the water intake portion. A floating matter removal device characterized by:

5. The floating matter removal device according to claim 4, A partition portion is provided between the adjacent inclined surfaces. A floating matter removal device characterized by:

6. The floating matter removal device according to claim 1, The pump is capable of sucking hot and cold water taken in from the water intake section and passing it through the filter. A floating matter removal device characterized by:

Images