Sanitary cleaning equipment

Abstract

To provide a sanitary washing device capable of preventing coming-out of a hose in a water circuit without providing a relief valve.SOLUTION: A sanitary washing device includes: a flow-rate sensor 188 which measures a water flow rate flowing to a nozzle 500 through a pressure-reducing valve 184; a hose 302 which has flexible one end connected to the nozzle 500 and through which water flows from the flow-rate sensor 188 toward the nozzle 500 therein, and a control device 190. The control device 190 performs a first step of acquiring a flow rate by using the flow-rate sensor 188, and a second step of switching an on-off valve 183 from an open state to a closed state, when the on-off valve 183 is in an open state and the flow rate acquired by using the flow-rate sensor 188 is equal to a flow rate threshold of 200 mL / min or when an abnormal state of less than that is continued for a predetermined period of 3 seconds or more.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a sanitary cleaning device that cleans a part of the human body with water sprayed from a nozzle.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in a sanitary cleaning device that uses reduced primary water pressure, when the nozzle is blocked or water passes through when the flow control valve is closed, the pressure in the water circuit increases, and hose detachment in the water circuit may occur. To avoid such hose detachment, Patent Document 1 describes a sanitary cleaning device provided with a relief valve that opens the water circuit at a predetermined pressure on the upstream side of the nozzle as a safety device.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] <000002�>However, since the water circuit is housed in the main body of the sanitary cleaning device attached to a part of the upper edge of the toilet bowl, it is difficult to attach a large relief valve, and a small relief valve must be attached, which complicates the assembly of the sanitary cleaning device.

[0005] In order to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a sanitary cleaning device that can prevent hose detachment in the water circuit without providing a relief valve.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To achieve the above objective, one of the present inventions is a sanitary washing device that includes a nozzle for discharging water toward a part of a seated human body, a water supply connection port configured to be connected to a water pipe, an on-off valve that can be switched between an open state in which water supplied from the water pipe through the water supply connection port flows toward the nozzle and a closed state in which the flow of water is stopped, a pressure reducing valve for reducing the pressure of water flowing through the on-off valve in the open state, a flow sensor for measuring the flow rate of water flowing toward the nozzle through the pressure reducing valve, a hose having one flexible end connected to the nozzle and through which water flows from the flow sensor toward the nozzle, and a control device. The sanitary washing device does not include a relief valve for the water flowing toward the nozzle through the flow sensor. The control device performs a first step of acquiring the flow rate using the flow sensor, and a second step of switching the on-off valve from the open state to the closed state if an abnormal condition in which the on-off valve is in the open state and the flow rate acquired using the flow sensor is equal to or less than a flow rate threshold of 200 mL / min continues for a predetermined period of 3 seconds or more. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The sanitary cleaning device according to the present invention does not have a relief valve, and even if a malfunction such as a clogged nozzle occurs, the hose is prevented from coming off. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing a sanitary cleaning device attached to a toilet bowl. [Figure 2] This is a circuit diagram showing the water circuit of a sanitary cleaning device. [Figure 3] This is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the control device. [Figure 4] This graph shows the internal pressure of the water circuit when the nozzle tip is blocked. [Figure 5] This is a flowchart of the control device's operation. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The embodiments of the sanitary cleaning apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments are provided as examples to illustrate the present invention and are not intended to limit it. For example, the shapes, structures, materials, components, relative positional relationships, connection states, numerical values, formulas, the content of each step in the method, and the order of each step shown in the following embodiments are examples and may include content not described below. Furthermore, geometric expressions such as parallel and orthogonal may be used, but these expressions do not indicate mathematical rigor and include substantially acceptable errors and deviations. Similarly, expressions such as simultaneous and identical also include substantially acceptable ranges.

[0010] Furthermore, the drawings are schematic diagrams that have been appropriately emphasized, omitted, or had their proportions adjusted to illustrate the present invention, and therefore differ from the actual shape, positional relationships, and proportions. Also, the X, Y, and Z axes shown in the drawings represent orthogonal coordinates arbitrarily set for the purpose of explaining the drawings. In other words, the Z axis is not necessarily an axis along the vertical direction, and the X and Y axes are not necessarily located in the horizontal plane.

[0011] Furthermore, in the following, multiple inventions may be described comprehensively as a single embodiment. Also, some of the content described below is described as an optional component relating to the present invention.

[0012] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a sanitary washing device 100 attached to a toilet bowl. Figure 2 is a circuit diagram showing the water circuit of the sanitary washing device. The sanitary washing device 100 is equipped with a nozzle 500 that discharges water toward the private parts of a seated person's body. The sanitary washing device 100 is equipped with a main body 101 that houses a nozzle drive unit (not shown) that moves the nozzle 500 forward or backward. In other words, the nozzle drive unit (not shown) moves the nozzle 500 forward from the main body 101 and discharges water toward the private parts of a seated person's body, and then the nozzle drive unit (not shown) moves the nozzle 500 backward from the main body 101 and the nozzle 500 is stored inside the main body 101.

[0013] The sanitary washing device 100 is attached to the toilet bowl 200. Water regulated by the water circuit 180 is discharged from the nozzle tip 110 towards the genitals of a person seated on the toilet seat 108. In Figure 1, the toilet lid is not shown. The sanitary washing device 100 according to this embodiment preferably includes a toilet seat 108 that is rotatably attached to the main body 101 and a toilet lid (not shown) that is closably attached to the main body 101. The water circuit 180 is housed inside the main body 101. As used herein and in the claims, the term "water" includes hot water. The nozzle tip 110 is provided at the tip of the nozzle 500.

[0014] The water circuit 180 comprises, in order from upstream, a water supply connection port 181, a strainer 182, an on-off valve 183, a pressure reducing valve 184, a vacuum breaker 185, a flow sensor 188, a heat exchanger 140, and a nozzle 500. Furthermore, the sanitary cleaning device 100 includes a control device 190. The control device 190 controls the opening and closing of the on-off valve 183 based on a signal from the flow sensor 188.

[0015] The water supply connection port 181 is configured to be connected to a water pipe (not shown). Water flowing through the water pipe (not shown) passes through the strainer 182 and flows into the shut-off valve 183. The strainer 182 prevents debris contained in the tap water from flowing in.

[0016] The shut-off valve 183 is located upstream of the pressure reducing valve 184 and can open and close the flow of water from the water pipe (not shown). Based on the user's operation on the control panel 109 of the sanitary cleaning device 100, the control device 190 controls the shut-off valve 183. By opening the shut-off valve 183, water is supplied to the water circuit 180. In this way, water is discharged from the nozzle tip 110. This state is called the "open state". On the other hand, by closing the shut-off valve 183, the supply of water to the water circuit 180 is stopped. In this way, the discharge of water from the nozzle tip 110 is stopped. This state is called the "closed state".

[0017] As described above, the on-off valve 183 is configured to be switchable between an open state and a closed state. The term "open state" means a state in which water supplied from a water pipe (not shown) through the water supply connection port 181 flows toward the nozzle 500. On the other hand, the term "closed state" means a state in which the flow of water supplied from a water pipe (not shown) through the water supply connection port 181 is stopped by the on-off valve 183.

[0018] The on-off valve 183 is connected to the water supply connection port 181 via the first pipe 201. Due to the water pressure of the water supplied from a water pipe (not shown) through the water supply connection port 181, water flows through the inside of the first pipe 201. An example of the on-off valve 183 is a stop solenoid valve. An example of the first pipe 201 is a straight water adapter.

[0019] The pressure reducing valve 184 is disposed upstream of the flow rate sensor 188. The pressure reducing valve 184 reduces the pressure of the water supplied from a water pipe (not shown) through the water supply connection port 181 to the pressure reducing valve 184, and keeps the pressure of the water flowing out from the pressure reducing valve 184 toward the nozzle 500 constant. Thus, the pressure reducing valve 184 reduces the pressure of the water flowing through the on-off valve 183 in the open state.

[0020] The pressure reducing valve 184 is connected to the on-off valve 183 via the second pipe 202. Due to the water pressure of the water supplied from a water pipe (not shown) through the water supply connection port 181, water flows through the inside of the second pipe 202. Note that the pressure of the water flowing from the water supply connection port 181 to the on-off valve 183 is substantially the same as the water supply pressure. In practice, the second pipe 202 may not exist, and the on-off valve 183 and the pressure reducing valve 194 may be integrally formed.

[0021] The vacuum breaker 185 prevents the water inside the water circuit 180 from flowing backward into a water pipe (not shown) by introducing outside air into the inside of the water circuit 180 when the water pipe (not shown) connected to the water supply connection port 181 becomes negative pressure due to water cut-off.

[0022] The vacuum breaker 185 is connected to the pressure reducing valve 184 via the third pipe 203. Water with reduced pressure due to the pressure reducing valve 184 flows through the inside of the third pipe 203.

[0023] The flow sensor 188 is located upstream of the nozzle tip 110 and measures the flow rate of water flowing (i.e., supplied) from the pressure reducing valve 184 toward the nozzle tip 110. As an example of the type of flow sensor 188, the flow sensor 188 measures the flow rate based on the rotation of a water turbine located in the water circuit 180. In this way, the flow sensor 188 measures the flow rate of water flowing through the pressure reducing valve 184 toward the nozzle 500.

[0024] The flow sensor 188 is connected to the vacuum breaker 185 via the fourth pipe 204. Water that has a reduced pressure due to the pressure reducing valve 184 and has passed through the vacuum breaker 185 flows through the inside of the fourth pipe 204.

[0025] The heat exchanger 140 heats water supplied from a water pipe (not shown) to produce hot water. As an example of the heat exchanger 140, it is a heating device that instantly heats water supplied from a water pipe (not shown). The heat exchanger 140 is equipped with a buffer tank 141 that stores the water heated in the heat exchanger 140. The temperature of the water stored inside the buffer tank 141 is maintained uniformly.

[0026] The nozzle tip 110, located at the end of the nozzle 500, is equipped with a nozzle that sprays water, adjusted by the water circuit 180, towards a specific part of the human body.

[0027] One end of the hose 302 is connected to the nozzle 500. In other words, one end of the hose 302 is attached to the nozzle 500. One end of the hose 302 is flexible. In this invention, the problem caused by the flexibility of one end of the hose 302 (hose detachment due to overpressure) is solved. This will be explained in detail later. Generally, since the entire hose 302 is made of resin, the entire hose 302 is flexible.

[0028] The nozzle 500 is connected to the flow sensor 188 via the hose 302. Water that has passed through the flow sensor 188 flows through the inside of the hose 302 towards the nozzle 500. If a heat exchanger 140 is provided, as shown in Figure 2, the nozzle 500 is connected to the heat exchanger 140 via the hose 302, and the heat exchanger 140 is connected to the flow sensor 188 via the fifth pipe 205.

[0029] Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the control device 190. The control device 190 operates to switch the on-off valve 183 from the open state to the closed state if the on-off valve 183 is in the open state and the flow rate obtained using the flow sensor 188 is equal to or less than the flow rate threshold of 200 mL / min (i.e., the flow rate is 200 mL / min or less) for a predetermined period of 3 seconds or more. As an example, the flow rate threshold value is 150 mL / min.

[0030] The control device 190 includes a processor made of semiconductors. The control device 190 includes a flow rate acquisition unit 191, a timing unit 192, an abnormal stop unit 193, and an opening / closing unit 194, which are implemented by having the processor execute a program.

[0031] The flow rate acquisition unit 191 acquires the flow rate of water flowing toward the nozzle tip 110 based on the signal from the flow rate sensor 188.

[0032] The control device 190 controls a flow control valve (not shown) so that the water flow rate specified on the operation panel 109 is ejected from the nozzle tip 110. The flow control valve is located inside the nozzle 500.

[0033] The abnormal stop unit 193 acquires the status that the on / off unit 194 is controlling the on / off valve 183, monitors the water flow rate acquired by the flow rate acquisition unit 191 from the flow rate sensor 188, and if an abnormal condition in which the on / off valve 183 is in the open state and the flow rate is below the flow rate threshold continues for a predetermined period of time, it switches the on / off valve 183 to the closed state via the on / off unit 194.

[0034] For example, the abnormal stop unit 193, while the opening / closing unit 194 is maintaining the opening valve 183, obtains from the timing unit 192 the time when the water flow rate acquired by the flow rate acquisition unit 191 falls below the flow rate threshold, and obtains the time during which the flow rate below the flow rate threshold is maintained based on the time information from the timing unit 192. If the time during which the flow rate below the flow rate threshold is maintained exceeds a predetermined period, the unit determines that an abnormal condition has occurred and outputs a stop command to the opening / closing valve 183, which will switch the opening / closing unit 194 to the closed state.

[0035] The opening / closing unit 194 is a processing unit that controls the opening / closing valve 183. Normally, the opening / closing unit 194 opens the opening / closing valve 183 in response to an instruction from the operation panel 109 to supply water to the water circuit 180 and spray water from the nozzle tip 110, and closes the opening / closing valve 183 in response to an instruction from the operation panel 109 to stop the water supply.

[0036] In the sanitary cleaning device 100, a flexible hose 302 is connected to the nozzle 500, and a relief valve may be provided between the nozzle 500 and the flow sensor 188 (or between the nozzle 500 and the heat exchanger 140). In a typical sanitary cleaning device 100, the water pressure of the tap water passing through the water supply connection port 181 is approximately 500 kPa. The pressure reducing valve 184 reduces the water pressure from approximately 500 kPa to approximately 100 kPa.

[0037] Generally, the relief valve activates (i.e., opens) when an abnormal situation occurs, such as when the water pressure from the flow sensor towards the nozzle reaches approximately 220 kPa (or higher). After the relief valve opens, the water is drained into the toilet bowl without being ejected from the nozzle. If the relief valve fails to open, the water pressure becomes extremely high, resulting in the problem of the flexible hose coming off the nozzle, i.e., the hose coming off problem. As will be described later, the sanitary washing device according to the present invention is equipped with a flexible hose, but the hose coming off problem is solved even without such a relief valve.

[0038] The inventors have obtained the following findings. Figure 4 is a graph showing the pressure inside the water circuit 180 when the nozzle tip 110 is blocked. In Figure 4, the vertical axis represents the pressure inside the water circuit 180. As mentioned above, as an example, water flows from a water pipe (not shown) through the water supply connection port 181 at a pressure of approximately 500 kPa. The horizontal axis in Figure 4 represents the time elapsed since a person began operating the control panel 109 (i.e., the time elapsed since a button on the surface of the control panel 109 was pressed). During the period of 0 to 3 seconds, the nozzle 500 moves forward from the main body 101 toward a local part of the seated person's body. During the period of 0 to 3 seconds, the on / off valve 183 is maintained in the closed state. Therefore, the flow rate measured by the flow sensor 188 is 0 mL / min, and the water pressure is also 0 kPa.

[0039] Next, the on-off valve 183 is switched from the closed state to the open state, and water flows from the on-off valve 183 towards the nozzle 500. As described above, the water pressure is reduced to approximately 100 kPa by the pressure reducing valve 184. In this embodiment, the water pressure is further reduced in the vacuum breaker 185, the flow sensor 188, and the heat exchanger 140, so water with a pressure of approximately 75 kPa is ejected from the nozzle tip 110. For a period of approximately 11 to 14 seconds in Figure 4, water with a pressure of 75 kPa is discharged from the nozzle tip 110. The flow rate of this water is approximately 450 mL / min. In other words, water is ejected from the nozzle tip 110 at a flow rate of 450 mL / min.

[0040] In Figure 4, it is assumed that a malfunction occurs after 15 seconds, causing the nozzle tip 110 to become blocked. As shown in Figure 4, when such a malfunction occurs, the pressure inside the water circuit 180 rises. However, if the on-off valve 183 is switched from the open state to the closed state within approximately 10 seconds (approximately 5 seconds in Figure 4) (i.e., the predetermined period), the pressure inside the water circuit 180 will not exceed 220 kPa during the predetermined period.

[0041] The inventors initially believed that the internal pressure of the water circuit 180 would change, as shown by the vertical line P in Figure 4, and therefore thought that a relief valve would be necessary. However, they found that by combining the check valve performance and flow rate abnormality detection of the pressure reducing valve, it is possible to close the valve at an internal pressure equivalent to the relief valve's operating pressure (220 kPa; see also "relief operating pressure" in Figure 14).

[0042] Based on the above findings, the inventors have discovered that if an abnormal condition where the flow rate obtained using the flow sensor 188 is 200 mL / min or less persists for a predetermined period of 3 seconds or more, the problem of hose detachment can be solved without the need for a relief valve by switching the on / off valve 183 from the open state to the closed state. In the above findings, the problem of hose detachment occurs when the predetermined period exceeds 10 seconds, so it is desirable that the predetermined period be 10 seconds or less. As an example, in the control device 190, the predetermined period is set to 4 seconds.

[0043] Figure 5 shows a flowchart of the operation of the control device 190. When a person starts operating the operation panel 109 (i.e., when a button on the surface of the operation panel 109 is pressed), the control device 190 starts executing the program described in the flowchart shown in Figure 5. In Figure 5, it is assumed that the flow rate of water is measured once every second by the flow sensor 188. When a person starts operating the operation panel 109 (i.e., when a button on the surface of the operation panel 109 is pressed), the counter is initialized to 0.

[0044] First, in step 101, the flow rate of water flowing through the pressure reducing valve 184 toward the nozzle 500 is measured using the flow sensor 188.

[0045] Next, in step 102, the control device 190 determines whether the on-off valve 183 is open or closed. If the on-off valve 183 is closed, the process returns to step 101. If the on-off valve 183 is open, the process proceeds to step 103.

[0046] In step 103, it is determined whether the water flow rate measured using the flow sensor 188 is 200 mL / min or less. If the water flow rate is greater than 200 mL / min (i.e., normal), the process returns to step 101. If the water flow rate is 200 mL / min or less, the process proceeds to step 104.

[0047] In step 104, 1 is added to counter t, and the process proceeds to step 105.

[0048] In step 105, it is determined whether the counter t is 3 or greater. In Figure 5, the flow rate of water is measured once per second by the flow sensor 188. If the counter t is 3 or greater, that is, if the water flow rate has been 200 mL / min or less for 3 seconds or more (i.e., if the abnormal condition has lasted for 3 seconds or more), the control device 190 switches the on / off valve 183 from the open state to the closed state in step 106. If the counter t is 2 or less, that is, if the time for which the water flow rate has been 200 mL / min or less is 2 seconds or less (i.e., if the abnormal condition has not lasted for 3 seconds or more), the process returns to step 101.

[0049] In this specification, the measurement of water flow rate using the flow sensor 188 is also included when the control device 190 calculates the water flow rate based on the signal from the flow sensor 188.

[0050] As described above, in the sanitary cleaning device according to this embodiment, if an abnormal condition in which the flow rate obtained using the flow sensor 188 is 200 mL / min or less continues for a predetermined period of 3 seconds or more, the on / off valve 183 is switched from the open state to the closed state, thereby resolving the hose detachment problem without the need for a relief valve.

[0051] In the above explanation, a control device 190 was used as an example in which each processing unit is realized by having a processor execute a program. However, the control device 190 may be realized by analog or digital circuits. [Industrial applicability]

[0052] As described above, the present invention provides a sanitary cleaning device.

[0053] The inventions derived from the above are listed below.

[0054] 1. A sanitary cleaning device 100, The aforementioned sanitary cleaning device 100 is A nozzle 500 that discharges water towards the private parts of a seated human body. A water supply connection port 181 configured to be connected to a water pipe, An on / off valve 183 that can be switched between an open state in which water supplied from the water pipe via the water supply connection port 181 flows toward the nozzle 500 and a closed state in which the flow of water is stopped. A pressure reducing valve 184 reduces the pressure of the water that flows through the open on / off valve 183. A flow sensor 188 measures the flow rate of water that flows through the pressure reducing valve 184 toward the nozzle 500. A hose 302 is provided inside, with one flexible end connected to the nozzle 500, through which water flows from the flow sensor 188 toward the nozzle 500, and Control device 190 It is equipped with, The sanitary cleaning device 190 does not have a relief valve for the water that flows through the flow sensor 188 toward the nozzle 500. The control device 190 is A first step of acquiring the flow rate using the flow sensor 188, and If the on-off valve 183 is in the open state and the flow rate obtained using the flow sensor 188 is equal to or less than the flow rate threshold of 200 mL / min, an abnormal condition persists for a predetermined period of 3 seconds or more, then a second step is taken to switch the on-off valve 183 from the open state to the closed state. Execute Sanitary cleaning equipment.

[0055] 2. A sanitary cleaning device as described in item 1 above, further heat exchanger It is equipped with, In the heat exchanger, the water flowing through the flow sensor 188 toward the nozzle 500 is heated. Sanitary cleaning equipment.

[0056] 3. A sanitary cleaning device described in either item 1 or 2 above, In the second step, the predetermined period is 10 seconds or less. Sanitary cleaning equipment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0057] 100 Sanitary cleaning equipment 101 Main Unit 108 toilet seats 109 Control Panel 110 Nozzle tip 140 Heat exchanger 141 Buffer Tank 180 Water circuit 181 Water supply connection port 182 Strainer 183 Shut-off valve 184 Pressure Reducing Valve 185 Vacuum breaker 188 Flow Sensor 190 Control device 191 Flow rate acquisition section 192 Timing section 193 Abnormal stop part 194 Opening / Closing Section 200 toilets 500 nozzles

Claims

1. A sanitary cleaning device, The aforementioned sanitary cleaning device is A nozzle that sprays water towards the private parts of a seated person's body. A water supply connection port configured to be connected to a water pipe, A switching valve that can be switched between an open state, in which water supplied from the water pipe via the water supply connection port flows toward the nozzle, and a closed state, which stops the flow of water. A pressure reducing valve that reduces the pressure of water flowing through the open valve, A flow sensor that measures the flow rate of water that flows through the pressure reducing valve toward the nozzle, A hose having one flexible end connected to the nozzle, through which water flows from the flow sensor towards the nozzle, and control device It is equipped with, The aforementioned sanitary cleaning device is It does not have a relief valve for the water that flows through the flow sensor toward the nozzle, The pressure reduced by the aforementioned pressure reducing valve causes water to be ejected from the nozzle. The control device is A first step of acquiring the flow rate using the flow sensor, and If the on-off valve is in the open state and the flow rate obtained using the flow sensor is equal to or less than the flow rate threshold of 200 mL / min, and this abnormal state continues for a predetermined period of 3 seconds or more and 10 seconds or less, then a second step is taken to switch the on-off valve from the open state to the closed state. Execute Sanitary cleaning equipment.

2. A sanitary cleaning device according to claim 1, further heat exchanger It is equipped with, In the heat exchanger, the water flowing through the flow sensor toward the nozzle is heated. Sanitary cleaning equipment.

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