Ozone water supply system

Abstract

To provide a novel ozone water supply device that prevents malfunctions of the ozone water generator 8 and maintains the amount of ozone in the ozone water. [Solution] A timer 10 for measuring the continuous operating time of the ozone water generator 8 and a water level drop detection means (flow sensor 22) for detecting a decrease in the water level in the water storage tank 4 are provided. At least the ozone water generator 8, the timer 10, and the water level drop detection means (flow sensor 22) are connected to the control means 16. When the continuous operating time of the ozone water generator 8 exceeds a predetermined time, the control means 16 stops the operation of the ozone water generator 8. When the water level drop detection means (flow sensor 22) detects a decrease in the water level in the water storage tank 4, the control means 16 restarts the operation of the ozone water generator 8.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an ozone water supply device.

Background Art

[0002] Since ozone has excellent sterilization characteristics, ozone water in which ozone is dissolved is widely used for cleaning purposes. Ozone water is also used for cleaning dishes. Patent Document 1 below shows an example of an ozone water supply device for supplying ozone water to a sink and pre-washing dishes and the like with the ozone water. Such an ozone water supply device includes a city water supply means, an ozone water generator for dissolving ozone in the city water supplied by the city water supply means, a pump for pumping up the ozone water in which ozone is dissolved, and a nozzle for injecting the ozone water pumped up by the pump.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the ozone water supply device shown in Patent Document 1 above, the ozone water generator is likely to fail when continuously operated for a long time. Further, since ozone (O3) is an unstable gas, even if ozone is dissolved, it is decomposed into oxygen in a relatively short time. Therefore, in order to maintain the amount of ozone in the ozone water, the ozone water generator must be periodically operated.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above facts, and its main technical problem is to provide a novel and improved ozone water supply device in which the failure of the ozone water generator is prevented and the amount of ozone in the ozone water is maintained. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] As a result of diligent research, the inventors have found that the main technical problem described above can be solved by arranging a timer for measuring the continuous operating time of the ozone water generator and a water level drop detection means for detecting a decrease in the water level in the water storage tank, connecting at least the ozone water generator, the timer, and the water level drop detection means to a control means, stopping the operation of the ozone water generator when the continuous operating time of the ozone water generator has elapsed for a predetermined period of time, and restarting the operation of the ozone water generator when the water level drop detection means detects a decrease in the water level in the water storage tank.

[0007] In other words, according to the present invention, as an ozone water supply device that solves the above-mentioned main technical problems, the present invention provides an ozone water supply device that supplies ozone water to a sink, The system comprises a water storage tank, a water supply means for supplying tap water to the water storage tank, an ozone water generator disposed in the water storage tank for dissolving ozone in the tap water supplied to the water storage tank, a timer for measuring the continuous operation time of the ozone water generator, a pump for drawing up the ozone water containing dissolved ozone from the water storage tank, a nozzle for spraying the ozone water drawn up by the pump, a water level drop detection means for detecting a decrease in the water level in the water storage tank, and a control means. An ozone water supply device is provided, wherein the control means is connected to at least the ozone water generator, the timer, and the water level detection means, and when the continuous operation time of the ozone water generator has elapsed for a predetermined period of time, the control means stops the operation of the ozone water generator, and when the water level drop detection means detects a drop in the water level in the water tank, the control means restarts the operation of the ozone water generator.

[0008] Preferably, if the water level in the reservoir is lower than that of the ozone water generator, the control means stops the operation of the ozone water generator. The water level drop detection means may be a level sensor that detects the water level in the reservoir. The nozzle is equipped with a nozzle operating lever that switches between spraying and stopping the ozone water, and the water level drop detection means may be the nozzle operating lever. A flow sensor that detects the flow of the ozone water is disposed between the pump and the nozzle, and the water level drop detection means may be the flow sensor. The reservoir is equipped with a drainage means disposed at the bottom of the reservoir for draining the water inside the reservoir, and the drainage means has a drain pipe and a drain valve that opens and closes the drain pipe, and it is preferable that the drain valve is opened when the main power is cut off. In this case, it is preferable that the drain valve is a normally open valve that opens when the power supply is cut off. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] In the ozone water supply device of the present invention, a timer for measuring the continuous operating time of the ozone water generator and a water level drop detection means for detecting a decrease in the water level in the water storage tank are provided. At least the ozone water generator, the timer, and the water level drop detection means are connected to a control means. When the continuous operating time of the ozone water generator exceeds a predetermined time, the control means stops the operation of the ozone water generator. When the water level drop detection means detects a decrease in the water level in the water storage tank, the control means restarts the operation of the ozone water generator. This prevents malfunction of the ozone water generator and maintains the amount of ozone in the ozone water. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] A schematic diagram showing a preferred embodiment of an ozone water supply device configured according to the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of an ozone water supply device configured according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the attached drawings which schematically show such embodiments.

[0012] Referring to Figure 1, the ozone water supply device, shown as number 2 overall, comprises a water storage tank 4, a water supply means 6, an ozone water generator 8, a timer 10, a pump 12, a nozzle 14, a water level drop detection means, and a control means 16. In the illustrated embodiment, the ozone water supply device 2 further comprises a heater 18, a level sensor 20, a flow sensor 22, and a drainage means 24, with the water level drop detection means being composed of the flow sensor 22. A control box 28 is stacked above the water storage tank 4, and the control means 16 and the like are housed in this control box 28.

[0013] The water supply means 6 includes a water injection pipe 32, one end of which is connected to the upper part of the side wall of the water storage tank 4 and the other end of which is connected to the water supply source 30, and a water injection valve 34 that opens and closes the water injection pipe 32. When the water injection valve 34 is opened, water is supplied to the water storage tank 4. The water injection valve 34 is an electromagnetic valve and is a normally closed valve that closes when the power supply is cut off, and is electrically connected to the control means 16.

[0014] The ozone water generator 8 is installed inside the water storage tank 4 and is electrically connected to the control means 16. When the ozone water generator 8 is activated, it releases ozone gas, which dissolves in the tap water supplied to the water storage tank 4. When ozone is dissolved in the tap water, the tap water becomes ozonated water. The ozone water generator 8 may be any well-known device, for example, a device manufactured and sold by Earthwalker Trading Co., Ltd. under the product name "Ozone Buster".

[0015] The timer 10 is housed in the control box 28 and is electrically connected to the control means 16. The timer 10 measures the continuous operating time of the ozone water generator 8.

[0016] The heater 18 is installed inside the water storage tank 4 and is electrically connected to the control means 16. The heater 18 can heat the water (tap water and / or ozonated water) inside the water storage tank 4.

[0017] The level sensor 20 is installed inside the water storage tank 4 and is electrically connected to the control means 16. The level sensor 20 is a so-called float-type water level gauge that detects the water level in the water storage tank 4. In the illustrated embodiment, the level sensor 20 detects an upper limit position (water level shown by a solid line in Figure 1) that is somewhat below the water supply pipe 32 of the water supply means 6, and a lower limit position (water level shown by a dashed line in Figure 1) that is below this upper limit position and somewhat above the ozone water generator 8.

[0018] The pump 12 and flow sensor 22 are housed in a control box 28 and are both electrically connected to a control means 16. The pump 12 is connected to a pipe 36, one end of which faces the bottom of the water tank 4 in close proximity, and the other end of which is connected to a nozzle 14. When the pump 12 is operated, ozonated water is pumped up from the water tank 4 through the pipe 36 and pressurized to the nozzle 14. The flow sensor 22 is positioned between the pump 12 and the other end (i.e., the nozzle 14) and detects the flow of ozonated water in the pipe 36.

[0019] The nozzle 14 is equipped with a nozzle operating lever 37 electrically connected to the control means 16. By operating the nozzle operating lever 37, the spraying and stopping of ozonated water from the nozzle 14 is switched on and off. When the nozzle operating lever 37 is not operated in any way, the nozzle 14 is closed.

[0020] The drainage means 24 includes a drain pipe 38, one end of which is connected to the bottom wall of the water storage tank 4 and the other end of which is connected to a drain outlet (not shown), and a drain valve 40 that opens and closes the drain pipe 38, and can drain the water (ozonated water and / or tap water) in the water storage tank 4. The drain valve 40 is an electromagnetic valve and is a normally open valve that opens when the power supply is cut off, and is electrically connected to the control means 16.

[0021] The control means 16 is housed in the control box 28 as described above. The control means 16 is a control board on which the necessary circuits are arranged, and power is supplied to it from a main power supply (not shown). This power can be switched on and off by a main power switch (not shown).

[0022] Such an ozone water supply device 2 supplies ozone water to a sink 102 arranged adjacent thereto. The sink 102 is provided with drain means 104. The drain means 104 includes a drain pipe 106 having one end connected to the bottom wall of the sink 102 and the other end connected to a drain groove (not shown) and a drain valve 108 for opening and closing the drain pipe 106, and can drain water (ozone water and / or tap water) in the sink 102. The drain valve 108 may be any valve.

[0023] Subsequently, the operation of the ozone water supply device 2 will be described. When the main power switch of the control means 16 is in the off state, the water injection valve 34 of the tap water supply means 6 is closed and the drain valve 40 of the drain means 24 is open, and there is no water in the water storage tank 4.

[0024] When the main power switch of the control means 16 is connected, power is supplied to the water injection valve 34 and the drain valve 40, the water injection valve 34 opens and the drain valve 40 closes, and tap water is supplied from the tap water supply source 30 through the water injection pipe 32 into the water storage tank 4 and stored. The supply of tap water is stopped when the water level in the water storage tank 4 reaches the upper limit position. The water level may be detected by the level sensor 20 or, for example, by another water level gauge arranged on the side wall of the water storage tank 4.

[0025] Even when the main power switch of the control means 16 is connected, if the water level in the water storage tank 4 is lower than the ozone water generator 8, that is, if it does not exceed the lower limit, the control means 16 will not operate the ozone water generator 8. This is to prevent damage to the electrodes of the ozone water generator 8, which may be damaged if the ozone water generator 8 is operated without being submerged in water (so-called dry-firing). The control means 16 will then operate the ozone water generator 8 after the water level in the water storage tank 4 has risen above the ozone water generator 8. The water level may be detected by the level sensor 20, or by another water level gauge, for example, installed on the top surface of the ozone water generator 8. When the ozone water generator 8 is operated, ozone gas is supplied from the ozone water generator 8 to the tap water in the water storage tank 4. The tap water becomes ozonated water as the ozone gas dissolves into it. When the ozone water generator 8 starts operating, the timer 10 measures the continuous operating time of the ozone water generator 8, and when this continuous operating time has elapsed to a predetermined time (for example, 20 minutes), the control means 16 stops the operation of the ozone water generator 8.

[0026] When the main power switch of the control unit 16 is connected, the heater 18 also operates. The heater 18 is controlled by the control unit 16 to heat the temperature of the tap water or ozonated water in the water tank 4 to about 30 degrees Celsius. When the water temperature is about 30 degrees Celsius, the ozone gas dissolves well into the tap water.

[0027] When the main power switch of the control means 16 is connected, the pump 12 and flow sensor 22 also operate. As described above, the pump 12 draws up ozonated water from the water storage tank 4. The control means 16 causes the pump 12 to operate continuously until the flow sensor 22 no longer detects the flow of ozonated water. Therefore, as long as the nozzle 14 is closed by the nozzle operating lever 37, the ozonated water present between the pump 12 and the nozzle 14 in the piping 36 is pressurized.

[0028] Then, when the user operates the nozzle operating lever 37 to open the nozzle 14, the pressurized ozonated water in the piping 36 is sprayed from the nozzle 14 towards the sink 102. By spraying the ozonated water onto dishes or immersing the dishes in the ozonated water stored in the sink 102, the dishes are thoroughly cleaned. When the ozonated water is sprayed from the nozzle 14, the pressure of the ozonated water between the pump 12 and the nozzle 14 is reduced and it flows towards the nozzle 14. The flow sensor 22 detects this flow, and the control means 16 operates the pump 12 to draw up ozonated water from the water storage tank 4. When the flow sensor 22 detects this flow, the control means 16 further restarts the operation of the ozonated water generator 8 and opens the water supply valve 34 to supply tap water. As described above, the continuous operation time of the ozonated water generator 8 is limited to the predetermined time, and the supply of tap water is stopped when the water level in the water storage tank 4 reaches the required level.

[0029] In the ozone water supply device of the present invention, a timer 10 for measuring the continuous operating time of the ozone water generator 8 and a water level drop detection means (a flow sensor 22 in the illustrated embodiment) for detecting a decrease in the water level in the water storage tank 4 are provided. At least the ozone water generator 8, the timer 10, and the water level drop detection means (flow sensor 22) are connected to the control means 16. When the continuous operating time of the ozone water generator 8 exceeds a predetermined time, the control means 16 stops the operation of the ozone water generator 8. When the water level drop detection means (flow sensor 22) detects a decrease in the water level in the water storage tank 4, the control means 16 restarts the operation of the ozone water generator 8. This prevents malfunction of the ozone water generator 8 and maintains the amount of ozone in the ozone water.

[0030] Here, the flow sensor 22 detecting the flow of ozonated water pumped up by the pump 12 means that the water level in the water tank 4 decreases, so the flow sensor 22 can constitute a water level decrease detection means that detects the decrease in the water level in the water tank 4. If desired, the water level decrease detection means may be made up of a level sensor 20. The level sensor 20 can also detect the decrease in the water level in the water tank 4. Alternatively, the water level decrease detection means may be made up of a nozzle operating lever 37. This is because when the nozzle operating lever 37 is operated and the nozzle 14 opens, ozonated water is sprayed out, and this also causes the water level in the water tank 4 to decrease.

[0031] After the required work is completed, it is preferable for the water in the sink 102 and the water storage tank 4 to be drained for hygienic reasons. The water in the sink 102 is drained by opening the drain valve 108. In the illustrated embodiment, the water in the water storage tank 4 is automatically drained by turning off the main power switch of the control means 16. When the main power switch of the control means 16 is turned off, the power supply to the water inlet valve 34 of the water supply means 6 and the drain valve 40 of the drainage means 24 is cut off, so the water inlet valve 34, which is a normally closed valve, is closed and the drain valve 40, which is a normally open valve, is opened.

[0032] Although an ozone water supply device configured according to the present invention has been described in detail above with reference to the attached drawings, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and appropriate modifications and changes can be made without departing from the present invention. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the drain valve 40 was a normally open valve that opens when the power supply is cut off, but it may also be a normally closed valve that closes when the power supply is cut off. If the drain valve 40 is a normally closed valve, as described above, in order to maintain hygiene in the water storage tank 4, it is preferable that the drain valve, which is a normally closed valve, be opened for a certain period of time by the control means even after the main power switch of the control means 16 is turned off. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0033] 2: Ozone water supply device 4: Water storage tank 6: Means of supplying tap water 8: Ozone water generator 10: Timer 12: Pump 14: Nozzle 16: Control means 20: Level Sensor 22: Flow sensor (means for detecting water level drop) 37: Nozzle operating lever

Claims

1. An ozone water supply device that supplies ozone water to a sink, The system comprises a water storage tank, a water supply means for supplying tap water to the water storage tank, an ozone water generator disposed in the water storage tank for dissolving ozone in the tap water supplied to the water storage tank, a timer for measuring the continuous operation time of the ozone water generator, a pump for drawing up the ozone water containing dissolved ozone from the water storage tank, a nozzle for spraying the ozone water drawn up by the pump, a water level drop detection means for detecting a decrease in the water level in the water storage tank, and a control means. An ozone water supply device, wherein the control means is connected to at least the ozone water generator, the timer, and the water level detection means, and when the continuous operation time of the ozone water generator has elapsed for a predetermined period of time, the control means stops the operation of the ozone water generator, and when the water level drop detection means detects a drop in the water level in the water tank, the control means restarts the operation of the ozone water generator.

2. The ozone water supply device according to claim 1, wherein the control means stops the operation of the ozone water generator when the water level in the water storage tank is lower than the ozone water generator.

3. The ozone water supply device according to claim 1, wherein the water level drop detection means is a level sensor for detecting the water level in the water storage tank.

4. The ozone water supply device according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle is equipped with a nozzle operating lever for switching between spraying and stopping the ozone water, and the water level drop detection means is the nozzle operating lever.

5. The ozone water supply device according to claim 1, wherein a flow sensor for detecting the flow of the ozone water is disposed between the pump and the nozzle, and the water level drop detection means is the flow sensor.

6. The ozone water supply device according to claim 1, comprising a drainage means disposed on the bottom surface of the water storage tank for draining the water in the water storage tank, wherein the drainage means has a drain pipe and a drain valve for opening and closing the drain pipe, and when the main power supply is cut off, the drain valve is opened.

7. The ozone water supply device according to claim 6, wherein the drain valve is a normally open valve that opens when the power supply is cut off.

Images