Microbubble generator

Abstract

To provide a microbubble generator that can ensure a sufficient amount of microbubbles and water volume by designing it to take into account the flow velocity distribution within the piping. [Means for Solving the Problem] The microbubble generator 1 discharges water containing microbubbles, and has multiple throttling channels (T1, T2) in the flow path in which the area of ​​the outlets (B1, B2) is smaller than the area of ​​the intakes (A1, A2), and is characterized in that the area of ​​the intakes (A1, A2) of the multiple throttling channels (T1, T2) is changed according to the flow velocity of the water flowing in the channel. In other words, by making the area of ​​the intakes at positions with slow flow velocity wider than the area of ​​positions with high flow velocity in the pipeline, it is possible to maintain the flow velocity regardless of the position of the outlets and generate stable microbubbles.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a microbubble generator that generates microbubbles in a water flow by being connected to a pipe.

Background Art

[0002] In systems for supplying tap water and circulating water, various devices for improving the functions of water are known. For example, there are a microbubble generator described in Patent Document 1, a magnetized water production device described in Patent Document 2, and the like. The functions of water to be improved include various things such as improving the cleaning effect of shower water, improving the washing function, improving the cleaning function and deodorizing function of toilets, reducing detergents in dishwashers, reducing scale rust, reducing sliminess, extending the life of the pipes of water heaters, and improving the car washing function.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Devices for generating microbubbles include, for example, those of a type that are attached to the attachment part of a shower head or a faucet of a tap water supply. By providing one hole or a plurality of holes of the same diameter in the flow path, they are configured to generate microbubbles. Many such microbubble generating devices for shower heads and faucets are intended to be attached to the end appliances that discharge water, and often the discharge flow rate of water decreases. Therefore, when trying to install a similar device on the upstream side of a waterway, the flow rate will decrease at all parts on the pipe after the device.

[0005] Microbubbles can be generated by passing water through tiny pores, but this reduces the surface area through which the water flows, thus decreasing the flow rate per unit time. For this reason, they are not suitable for permanent installation (attaching them upstream in piping), and some kind of modification was necessary if permanent installation was required. Furthermore, the flow velocity distribution within the piping is not uniform; the flow velocity is higher in the center, and decreases closer to the pipe walls, resulting in a decrease in flow rate. Therefore, without taking these properties into account, it is impossible to provide a microbubble generator that can ensure a sufficient amount of microbubbles and water volume.

[0006] This invention was made in view of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a microbubble generator that can ensure a sufficient amount of microbubbles and water volume by designing it to take into account the flow velocity distribution within the piping. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To solve the above problems, the present invention has the following configuration. That is, A microbubble generator that adds fine bubbles to the water that is introduced and then discharges it, The flow path has multiple constricted channels in which the area of ​​the outlet is smaller than the area of ​​the intake. A microbubble generator characterized by changing the area of ​​the intake port of the multiple constricted flow channels according to the flow velocity of the water flowing through the channels.

[0008] Furthermore, in the microbubble generator described above, The system comprises a cylindrical housing, a microbubble generating body having multiple throttling channels mounted inside the housing, and a holding means for holding the microbubble generating body inside the housing. The holding means is characterized by having a space inside through which water that has passed through the microbubble generating body passes, and having a mounting part for which a magnet that exerts a magnetic field on the space is attached.

[0009] Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that, in the microbubble generator, a water flow swirling means is attached to the holding means. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] The microbubble generator according to the present invention is characterized by varying the area of ​​the intake port of the throttling channel that generates microbubbles according to the flow velocity distribution in the pipeline. That is, by making the area of ​​the intake port at positions with slow flow velocity wider than at positions with high flow velocity in the pipeline, the flow velocity is kept constant regardless of the position of the discharge port, thereby enabling the stable generation of microbubbles. Furthermore, by incorporating the function of generating magnetized water within the microbubble generator, which is formed in a compact external form, it is possible to provide water of improved quality. Moreover, since the water flow discharged by the microbubble generator is a swirling flow that circulates along the inner circumference of the pipeline, the generated microbubbles are agitated and dispersed in the water, and it has the effect of giving the user the impression of a richer flow rate than a non-swirling direct flow. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This shows an external perspective view of the microbubble generator according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] This shows a central cross-sectional view of the microbubble generator according to this embodiment. [Figure 3] This shows an exploded perspective view of the microbubble generator according to this embodiment. [Figure 4] This is an explanatory diagram showing the shape of the inlet-side end face of the microbubble generator incorporated in the microbubble generator according to this embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the figures. Figure 1 shows an external perspective view of the microbubble generator 1, and Figure 2 shows a central cross-sectional view of the microbubble generator 1. The microbubble generator 1 is formed to resemble a fitting, with a female thread 2 for pipe connection on the upstream side and a male thread 3 for pipe connection on the downstream side, so that it can be connected to the upstream piping of a water supply system, for example. The microbubble generator 1 has a housing 4 with a hexagonal prism-shaped exterior, and is configured to have a microbubble generation function and other functions by mounting various components inside the housing 4.

[0013] One end of the housing 4 has a female thread 2 formed thereon, which connects to the upstream side of the water supply piping. The female thread 2 is of the G3 / 4 standard. The end of the housing 4 with the female thread 2 is the upstream side of the water flow. Note that the shape and size of the fitting are not limited to the example shown. The housing 4 incorporates various mechanisms for generating microbubbles, magnetizing, and swirling water currents. These mechanisms are installed from the downstream side of the housing 4, which is the end face opposite to the upstream side where the female thread 2 is located.

[0014] Figure 3 shows an exploded perspective view of the microbubble generator 1. Inside the housing 4 are a rubber flat packing 10, a stainless steel microbubble generator 11, a rubber flat packing 12, a neodymium magnet 13, and a stainless steel retaining means 14. A stainless steel water flow swirling means 15 is mounted in a recess 17 formed at the end of the retaining means 14, which constitutes the discharge end of the microbubble generator 1. The rubber flat packings 10 and 12 are provided on the upstream and downstream sides, respectively, so as to sandwich the microbubble generating body 11 which is installed inside the housing 4, and the microbubble generating body 11 is fixed in a watertight manner by the attachment of the retaining means 14 to the housing 4.

[0015] Furthermore, the holding means 14 has four holes 16 on its upstream end face that contacts the flat packing 12 for inserting cylindrical neodymium magnets 13, and the means for holding the neodymium magnets 13 is formed by inserting the neodymium magnets 13 into the holes 16. Inside the holding means 14, a cylindrical space 21 is provided, which constitutes a water flow path for water passing through the fine bubble generator 11. The space 21 is a flow path surrounded by the neodymium magnet 13 and is an area where the strong magnetic field generated by the neodymium magnet 13 acts. As a result, the water passing through the space 21 after passing through the fine bubble generator 11 is modified into magnetized water. Water passing through a magnetic field is called magnetized water, and it is known to have an effect of improving water quality such as making iron less likely to rust and reducing the precipitation of scale. The fine bubble generator 1 is a compact device that has the function of generating magnetized water.

[0016] The structure of the fine bubble generator 11 will be described in detail. The fine bubble generator 11 has a thick disk-shaped outer shape and is formed to have an outer diameter substantially the same as the inner diameter of the pipe constituting the flow path. The fine bubble generator 11 is provided with a plurality of throttle flow paths T1, T2 penetrating through from the front to the back. The throttle flow paths T1, T2 are formed such that the opening area of the jet outlet formed on the downstream side surface is smaller than the opening area of the water intake formed on the upstream side surface, and are water flow paths provided with a reduced-diameter portion formed in a mortar shape so that the passage area inside becomes smaller toward the downstream side.

[0017] In this embodiment, the upstream side and the downstream side of the fine bubble generator 11 are in contact with rubber flat gaskets 10, 12. The space formed by the openings of the flat gaskets 10, 12, although short in distance, is the flow path with which the upstream side and the downstream side of the fine bubble generator 11 are in contact. Showing specific dimensional values, the inner opening diameter inside the flat gaskets 10, 12 is a circular opening with a diameter of 24 mm, so a state approximated to the front and back of the fine bubble generator 11 being connected to a pipe with an inner diameter of 24 mm is formed.

[0018] The microbubble generator 11 is provided with throttling channels T1 and T2 that penetrate both sides from upstream to downstream. In this embodiment, there is a throttling channel T1 located near the outer circumference and a throttling channel T2 located near the center. The throttling channel T1 located on the outer circumference of the microbubble generator 11 has a circular intake A1 with a diameter of 6 mm on the upstream side, and the diameter of the passage is narrowed inside to form a circular outlet B1 with a diameter of 1.5 mm on the downstream side. Furthermore, the constricted channel T2 located on the central side of the microbubble generator 11 has an upstream intake A2 with a diameter of 4 mm, and the diameter of the passage is narrowed internally to form a downstream outlet B2 with a diameter of 1.5 mm. The thickness (length in the direction of the channel) of the microbubble generator 11 is 11 mm.

[0019] Figure 4 is an explanatory diagram of the microbubble generator 11 built into the microbubble generator 1, viewed from the inlet side (upstream side), and is an explanatory diagram for explaining the arrangement of aperture channels T1 and T2. Eight aperture channels T1 are provided at equal angles along the circumference C1 with a diameter of 18 mm near the outer edge, and four aperture channels T2 are provided at equal angles along the circumference C2 with a diameter of 7 mm near the center. In a cylindrical pipe, the velocity of flowing water, whether laminar or turbulent, is faster in the center far from the inner wall and slows down as it approaches the wall. This velocity distribution within a pipe is a well-known model of water flow in fluid dynamics.

[0020] In the microbubble generator 11 according to this embodiment, the area of ​​the intake port A1 of the throttling channel T1, which is located near the outer periphery where the flow velocity is expected to be slower and closer to the side wall, is smaller than the area of ​​the intake port A2 of the throttling channel T2, which is located near the center where the flow velocity is expected to be faster and further from the side wall. Conversely, the area of ​​the intake port A1 of the throttling channel T1, which is located near the outer periphery, is larger than the area of ​​the intake port A2 of the throttling channel T2, which is located near the center.

[0021] To generate fine bubbles or microbubbles in a water flow using an opening such as an orifice, a cavitation effect associated with the discharge of a high-velocity water flow is necessary. On the other hand, as mentioned above, the velocity distribution within a pipe is faster in the center and slower towards the outer periphery near the inner wall. Therefore, if the shape of the throttling channels is identical throughout, it is expected that the quality and quantity of microbubbles will differ between the throttling channels at the outer periphery and those near the center.

[0022] In view of the above, in the microbubble generator 11 according to this embodiment, the area of ​​the intake port A1 of the throttling channel T1 located near the outer periphery is made larger than the area of ​​the intake port A2 of the throttling channel T2 located near the center. That is, the intake port area is made larger for throttling channels located in areas with low flow velocity, and smaller for throttling channels located in areas with high flow velocity. By changing the intake port area in this way according to the flow velocity distribution, it is possible to stably generate microbubbles in the water flow discharged from each outlet.

[0023] In this embodiment, the outer diameter of the microbubble generator 11 is formed in a cylindrical shape as an optimal example, but it is not necessarily required to be cylindrical and may be polygonal in shape. Also, although an example using two types of throttling channels has been described, multiple types may be provided, not just two. Furthermore, the shape and size of the microbubble generator, and the arrangement and type of throttling channels should be set to the optimal conditions as appropriate according to the specifications of the device and the piping to be connected, so it goes without saying that this is not limited to the above-described embodiment.

[0024] Next, the retaining means 14 will be described. The retaining means 14 is a means for watertightly fixing the flat packing 10, the microbubble generating body 11, and the flat packing 12 inside the housing 4. In addition, a hole 16 is provided on the upstream end face of the retaining means 14 that is in contact with the flat packing 12, which constitutes the mounting portion for the neodymium magnet 13. A male thread 18 is formed on the upstream outer diameter portion of the retaining means 14, which has a hole 16. After housing the flat packing 10, the microbubble generating body 11, and the flat packing 12, it is screwed into the female thread 23 inside the housing 4. In addition, a hexahedral outer shape 19 is provided in the middle portion of the retaining means 14, which can be gripped with a wrench. A male thread 20 is formed on the outer diameter of the tip. The male thread 20 at the tip constitutes the connection portion with the pipe fitting.

[0025] Furthermore, a water flow swirling mechanism 15 is attached to the downstream end face of the holding mechanism 14. The water flow swirling mechanism 15 has a disc-shaped outer form and is provided with four water channels 30 that allow water to pass from the upstream side to the downstream side. The discharge ports of these four water channels 30 are offset relative to the inlets. That is, the water channels are inclined so that the direction of water flow in the pipeline from the upstream side to the downstream side involves a swirling motion with respect to the center of the pipeline. The swirling water flow has the effect of giving the user the impression that the flow rate is more abundant than a straight, non-swirling flow, and it also has the effect of diffusing the generated fine bubbles in the water.

[0026] The microbubble generator 1 described above is characterized by changing the area of ​​the intake port of the throttling channel that generates microbubbles according to the flow velocity distribution in the pipeline. In other words, by making the area of ​​the intake port at locations with slow flow velocity wider than at locations with high flow velocity in the pipeline, the flow velocity is kept above a certain level regardless of the position of the nozzle, thereby enabling the stable generation of microbubbles. Furthermore, in addition to the microbubble generation function described above, the microbubble generator 1 is equipped with a function to generate magnetized water within a housing 4 that is compact in size, about the size of a pipe fitting. This magnetized water function has the effect of providing water with improved quality. Furthermore, since the water flow discharged by the microbubble generator 1 is a swirling flow that circulates along the inner circumference of the pipe, the generated microbubbles are agitated and evenly dispersed in the water, giving the user the impression of a more abundant flow rate than a non-swirling direct flow. [Industrial applicability]

[0027] This invention can be used in devices and equipment that provide water containing microbubbles, also known as fine bubbles. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0028] 1. Microbubble generator 2 Female threads 3 Male screw 4 Housing 10, 12 flat packing 11 Microbubble Generator 13 Neodymium magnets 14 Retention means 15. Water flow swirling means 16 holes 17 recess 18 Male screw 19 External shape 20 Male screw 21 Space A1, A2 water intake B1, B2 spout C1, C2 circumference T1, T2 aperture channel

Claims

1. A microbubble generator that adds fine bubbles to the water that is introduced and then discharges it, The flow path has multiple constricted channels in which the area of ​​the outlet is smaller than the area of ​​the intake. A microbubble generator characterized by changing the area of ​​the intake port of the multiple throttling channels in accordance with the flow velocity of the water flowing through the channels.

2. The system comprises a cylindrical housing, a microbubble generating body having multiple throttling channels mounted inside the housing, and a holding means for holding the microbubble generating body inside the housing. The microbubble generator according to claim 1, characterized in that the holding means has a space inside through which water that has passed through the microbubble generator passes, and has a mounting part for mounting a magnet that exerts a magnetic field on the space.

3. The microbubble generator according to claim 2, characterized in that a water flow swirling means is attached to the holding means.

Images