Microbubble generator

Abstract

To provide a microbubble generator that can discharge water as a standalone nozzle for watering. [Solution] The invention comprises a microbubble generator body 4, a nozzle 10 having a pipe connection means 2 at one end and a water outlet 30 at the other end, and a cylindrical member 5 attached to the opposite end of the microbubble generator body 4. The water channel 32 inside the nozzle 10 is formed so that its diameter gradually decreases and fine irregularities are provided on its inner surface. Two protrusions 34 and 35 are provided at the tip of the nozzle 10, and the lower ends of the wall surfaces 36 and 37, which form edges 38 and 39, block a portion of the water outlet 30. In addition, two grooves 41 parallel to the center line are arranged opposite each other on the inner surface of the water channel 32, and are configured to widen a portion of the water outlet 30 at the tip of the nozzle 10 that is not blocked by the wall surfaces of the protrusions 34 and 35. The present invention has a structure that increases the concentration of microbubbles and can be used as a watering nozzle.

Description

Technical Field

[0004] , , , , , , , ,

[0005]

[0001] The present invention relates to a fine bubble generator.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes microbubble generating means coupled to a shower head. Patent Document 2 describes a fine bubble generator in which an inlet portion having a gradually decreasing diameter from the inlet of a cylindrical body, an orifice continuous with the inlet portion, and a diameter-expanding portion continuous with the orifice are sequentially formed, and the boundary between the orifice and the diameter-expanding portion is a radial vertical surface. Patent Document 3 describes a union-type fine bubble water generator for water pipes. This is connected in the middle of a water supply pipe for a water supply system, and is configured to generate fine bubble water by providing a fine bubble water generating nozzle inside.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] It is known that fine bubbles contained in water improve the functions of water such as detergency and penetrability as the particle size becomes finer and the content concentration becomes higher. There are also many inventions of devices for generating water containing such fine bubbles. As described in the above various patent documents, there are various devices configured to generate fine bubbles in tap water used for bath showers, washing machines, etc. to improve the detergency. There are various types of such devices and methods for generating fine bubbles depending on the application.

[0005] The present invention aims to provide a structure for a microbubble generator that produces a high concentration of small-particle-sized microbubbles through a novel structure, and to provide various forms for its applications. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] To solve the above problems, the present invention has the following configuration. That is, a microbubble generator, The microbubble generator body is provided with a cylindrical nozzle having a nozzle in its core for ejecting incoming water, and the water channel provided inside the nozzle is formed so as to gradually decrease in diameter toward the nozzle, and the inner surface is textured to form fine irregularities, and the tip of the nozzle is provided with two protrusions having opposing wall surfaces, and the lower end of the wall surface, which forms an edge, is configured to block a part of the nozzle. Furthermore, as an example, if a connection means to a water supply system is provided on the water inflow side and an outlet or connection means is provided on the opposite side, the configuration will be as follows: That is, a microbubble generator body having a pipe connection means at one end and a cylindrical nozzle with a water outlet in the center of the opposite end, It has a cylindrical member attached to the opposite end of the main body of the microbubble generator, The water channel provided within the nozzle is formed so that its diameter gradually decreases towards the nozzle opening, and its inner surface is textured to create fine irregularities. The tip of the nozzle is provided with two protrusions having opposing wall surfaces, and is configured such that a part of the nozzle opening is blocked by the lower end of the wall surface which forms an edge. The cylindrical member is characterized by having a cylindrical socket portion on its inner surface, which is provided with a connecting means for connecting to other pipes or devices.

[0007] Furthermore, the present invention has the following configuration in the microbubble generator. That is, The nozzle is characterized in that two grooves are arranged opposite each other on the inner surface of the water channel, parallel to the center line of the water channel, and the ends of the two grooves are configured to widen a portion of the nozzle tip's outlet that is not blocked by the wall surface of the protruding part.

[0008] Furthermore, the present invention has the following configuration in the microbubble generator. That is, The opposing wall surfaces are characterized by being inclined in a direction that widens the gap between them from the edge towards the tip. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] The present invention provides a microbubble generator, which has the effect of increasing the concentration of microbubbles contained in water by forming the inside of a cylindrical nozzle so that the diameter gradually decreases towards the outlet and by forming fine irregularities on the inner surface. Furthermore, by providing two protrusions with opposing wall surfaces at the nozzle tip, and by configuring the nozzle to partially block the nozzle opening with an edge formed at the lower end of the wall surface, the water flow is limited to a planar direction, making it useful as a sprinkler. In addition, the cavitation effect generated by the edge can increase the concentration of fine bubbles. Furthermore, by forming grooves inside the nozzle, the function of diffusing the water flow in a planar direction is enhanced. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of the microbubble generator. [Figure 2] This is an exploded perspective view of a microbubble generator. [Figure 3] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the microbubble generator along the YY line. [Figure 4] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of the microbubble generator along the YY line. [Figure 5] Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view of the microbubble generator along line XX. [Figure 6] It is a side view of the microbubble generator as seen from the Y - Y line direction shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 7] It is measurement data of the microbubble generator according to the present invention. [Figure 8] It is measurement data of the microbubble generator without the components of the present invention. [Figure 9] It is a graph of the microbubble concentration distribution comparing the microbubble generator according to the present invention and the microbubble generator without the components of the present invention. [Figure 10] It is a table showing the relationship between the presence or absence of the elements constituting the present invention and the spread of water pressure and water flow. [Figure 11] It is a graph of the table shown in FIG. 10.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Hereinafter, the embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an external view of a microbubble generator (hereinafter referred to as "generator") 1. The generator 1 has a male screw 2, which is a pipe connection means, at one end, and a socket portion 23 in a cylindrical shape having a female screw 也是 a pipe connection means at the opposite end. The male screw 2 and the female screw 3 are formed according to the screw standards used for water supply pipes. Although the most suitable pipe connection means is a screw, a ball - lock type coupler or other connection means may be adopted. When connecting the male screw 2 to a pipe, an O - ring 6 is interposed to maintain watertightness. The generator 1 can be used as a nozzle for watering without connecting other devices. In that case, the configuration as the socket portion 23 having the female screw 3 is unnecessary, so it may be changed to a simple cylindrical member without a female screw. Incidentally, even if the female screw 3 is provided, it functions as a nozzle for watering.

[0012] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the external appearance of each means constituting the generator 1. The generator 1 has a generator body 4 with a male screw 2 formed at one end, and a cylindrical member 5 provided with a female screw 3, which is a pipe connection means, at one end. The generator body 4 is provided with a nozzle 10 protruding in a cylindrical shape having a fine bubble generating function at the opposite end to the side where the male screw 2 is provided. The opening (jet outlet 30) provided at the center of the tip of the nozzle 10 communicates with the water inlet 11 formed in the center of the male screw 2, and is capable of discharging the water obtained from the water supply pipe connected to the male screw 2.

[0013] Further, the generator body 4 has a cylindrical outer cylinder body 16 provided so as to cover the outer periphery of the protruding cylindrical nozzle 10. The space between the nozzle 10 and the outer cylinder body 16 covering the nozzle 10 is a groove-shaped space formed in an annular shape, and constitutes a fitting portion 12 that fits with a coupling portion 20 provided at one end of a cylindrical member 5 described later. Further, an engaging portion 14 for mounting a fixing member 13 having an E-ring shape is provided on the outer periphery of the outer cylinder body 16. The engaging portion 14 is formed as a groove-shaped notch for accommodating the fixing member 13 communicating from the outer peripheral portion to the inside. When the fixing member 13 is mounted after fitting the coupling portion 20 to the fitting portion 12, a convex portion 15 of the fixing member 13 engages with a groove 21 formed on the outer periphery of the coupling portion 20 as a retaining means, and the coupling state of the coupling portion 20 and the fitting portion 12 is maintained. Another groove 24 is provided in the coupling portion 20 in parallel with the groove 21, and an O-ring 25 is mounted in this groove 24. The O-ring 25 comes into contact with the inner surface of the outer cylinder body 16 so that the water ejected from the nozzle 10 does not leak from the engaging portion 14, the contact portion between the generator body 4 and the socket portion 23.

[0014] The cylindrical member 5 has a coupling portion 20 at one end and a socket portion 23 formed in a cylindrical shape at the opposite end. The outer shape of the socket portion 23 is formed with the same diameter as the outer shape of the generator body 4, and by coupling the generator body 4 and the cylindrical member 5, it is configured as an instrument having a short cylindrical appearance. A female screw 3 is provided inside the socket portion 23, and it functions as a connecting means for attaching a joint for pipe connection or a terminal instrument such as a shower head.

[0015] Next, the structure of the nozzle 10 will be described. Figure 3 is a perspective view of the longitudinal section (in the direction of the YY line shown in Figure 1) of the center of the generator 1, and Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of the center of the generator 1. Also, Figure 5 is a cross-section (in the direction of the XX line shown in Figure 1) of the center of the generator 1. The nozzle 10 has an outlet 30 that communicates with an inlet 11 formed on the end surface of the male screw 2. The flow path from the inlet 11 to the outlet 30 has a constricted section 31 that greatly reduces the opening area near the middle, and the flow path 32 from the inlet 11 to the constricted section 31 and the flow path 33 from the constricted section 31 to the outlet 30 are conical in shape with a gently sloping surface that reduces the opening area along the direction of water flow. By reducing the area through which the water flow passes using this constricted section 31 and flow path 32, the flow velocity at the outlet 30 is increased.

[0016] The surface of the flow path 32 inside the nozzle 10 is textured. Textured surfaces create a pattern of countless fine irregularities, giving the surface a rough, pearlescent texture. Various methods can be used for textured surfaces, including sandblasting, chemical treatment, transfer printing, and cutting. As an example, the surface roughness when using sandblasting is approximately 15 to 80 μm.

[0017] The nozzle 10's tip outlet 30 is provided with two protrusions 34 and 35, each having opposing wall surfaces 36 and 37 that project in the direction of ejection. At the lower ends of each of the opposing wall surfaces 36 and 37, there are edges 38 and 39 that protrude to block a portion of the approximately circular opening formed as the outlet 30. The edges 38 and 39 cause cavitation in the water flow and constitute an element of a microbubble generating means. Furthermore, the opposing wall surfaces 36 and 37 are closest to each other at their respective edges 38 and 39, and are inclined surfaces that are spaced apart in the direction of water ejection. These inclined surfaces serve as a limiting means to restrict the diffusion of the ejected water flow to a certain range.

[0018] Two grooves 40 and 41 are provided on the inner surface of the flow path 32 within the nozzle 10, facing each other and aligned with the direction of water flow. The grooves 40 and 41 are positioned at an angle of 90° different from the protrusions 34 and 35 that do not have protrusions 34 and 35. Since the flow path 32 is a narrowing channel, its inner wall surface is inclined, but the grooves 40 and 41 are parallel circular grooves aligned with the axial direction, and are formed to be deepest at the end face of the nozzle 30. In other words, the grooves 40 and 41 at the nozzle 30 have the effect of widening the opening of the nozzle 30 in one direction and have the effect of diffusing the water flow in the direction in which the grooves 40 and 41 are provided.

[0019] As mentioned above, the inner surface of the channel 32 in the nozzle 10 has a rough surface with fine irregularities formed by texturing. Figure 7 shows the data measured for microbubbles generated by the generator 1, and Figure 8 shows the data measured for microbubbles from a generator of the same shape but without texturing. The measurements were performed using Shimadzu Corporation's nanoparticle size distribution analyzer SALD-7500. Figure 9 is a graph showing the measurement data with texturing as shown in Figure 7 and the measurement data without texturing as shown in Figure 8, on the same scale. As is clear from the measurement data, both samples exhibit a high concentration of microbubbles with a particle size of approximately 0.1 μm. Furthermore, when comparing the case with and without the textured surface for these microbubbles of approximately 0.1 μm, it is clear that the case with the textured surface has a significantly higher concentration of microbubbles. In other words, it has become clear that applying a textured surface to the inner surface of the nozzle 10 has the effect of increasing the concentration of microbubbles.

[0020] Next, we will explain the planar spread of the water flow ejected from the nozzle 10. Figure 10 is a table showing the relationship between water pressure and water flow spread for three conditions: the first condition where grooves 40 and 41 and protrusions 34 and 35 are provided on the nozzle; the second condition where only protrusions 34 and 35 are provided and no grooves are provided; and the third condition where only grooves 40 and 41 are provided and no protrusions are provided. Figure 11 is a graph showing the results of the same table. Note that the water flow spread values ​​shown are those measured at a point 15 cm from the nozzle outlet 30. When protrusions 34 and 35 are absent, the water flow does not spread in the lateral (planar) direction, and the water flow spreads in the lateral (planar) direction only when protrusions 34 and 35 are provided. The generator 1 according to the present invention can be used as a sprinkler as is. In this case, by fulfilling all of the first, second, and third requirements described above, it becomes possible to provide a sprinkler that can release a water flow containing many fine bubbles in a way that diffuses it within a certain plane.

[0021] When water is ejected from the nozzle 10 described above, if the water flow spreads too much, it will hit the female thread 3 or the opening edge formed on the inner circumference of the cylindrical member 5, causing the water flow to drip from the opening edge instead of being propelled forward. The angle of spread in the planar direction is mainly determined by the depth of the grooves 40 and 41 in the opening, and in this embodiment, they are formed to an optimal depth to prevent water from dripping. Furthermore, the opposing wall surfaces 36 and 37 of the protrusions 34 and 35 are inclined surfaces that are spaced apart in the direction of water jet ejection. This allows the water jet, which is restricted to spreading in the planar direction upon contact with the edges 38 and 39, to spread at an appropriate angle adjusted with respect to the direction perpendicular to the restricted planar direction.

[0022] As described above, the water generator 1 can be used as a sprinkler that releases water, but if it is equipped with threads as pipe fittings at both ends, it can be installed in the middle of a pipe. In this case, it can be used by attaching end devices that use water, such as shower heads, kitchen showers, and washing machines. The water generator 1 can be used with end devices attached in this way, or it can be used as a sprinkler (sprinkler nozzle) on its own.

[0023] Furthermore, the microbubble generator according to the present invention may be incorporated into a shower head or other equipment as part of the components of the equipment. In such cases, joint means are not necessarily required on the inlet or outlet side. The equipment incorporating the microbubble generator is constructed by providing a cylindrical nozzle with the aforementioned outlet in its core, a water channel formed so that the diameter gradually decreases toward the outlet, fine irregularities formed on the inner surface of the water channel by a textured finish, two protrusions with opposing wall surfaces provided at the tip of the nozzle, and the lower end of the wall surface of the protrusion that blocks a part of the outlet formed as an edge.

[0024] The embodiments described above are merely examples and can be modified or replaced with other means as appropriate, as long as they do not exceed the scope of the claims. [Industrial applicability]

[0025] The present invention is a microbubble generator that can be used as a nozzle for watering, and can also be used as a means of supplying microbubbles to pipes and various end devices. Furthermore, it is possible to directly incorporate the microbubble generator into the flow path within the device. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0026] 1. Microbubble generator (generator) 2. Male thread (pipe connection means) 3. Female thread (pipe connection means) 4 Generator body 5. Cylindrical member 6 O-rings 10 nozzles 11 Inlet 12 Engagement part 13 Fixing member 14 Engagement part 15 Convex part 16 Outer cylinder 20 Joint 21 Groove 23 Socket part 24 groove 25 O-rings 30 spout 31 Aperture section 32 channels 33 channels 34, 35 Protrusion Wall surfaces 36, 37 38, 39 Edge 40, 41 groove

Claims

1. A microbubble generator body is provided with a cylindrical nozzle having a nozzle in the center for ejecting the incoming water, The water channel provided within the nozzle is formed so that its diameter gradually decreases towards the outlet, and its inner surface is textured to create fine irregularities. A microbubble generator characterized in that the tip of the nozzle is provided with two protrusions having opposing wall surfaces, and the lower end of the wall surface, which forms an edge, is configured to block a part of the nozzle opening.

2. Two grooves are arranged opposite each other on the inner surface of the water channel provided within the nozzle, parallel to the center line of the water channel. The microbubble generator according to claim 1, characterized in that the ends of the two grooves are configured to widen a portion of the nozzle tip's outlet that is not blocked by the wall surface of the protruding portion.

3. The microbubble generator according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the opposing wall surfaces are inclined in a direction that widens the gap from the edge toward the tip.

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