Water discharge device

Abstract

To efficiently sterilize a flow passage of a water discharge device.SOLUTION: A water discharge device comprises a body 28 attached to an edge part of a bathtub, and a flow passage 90 formed inside the body 28. The flow passage 90 comprises a storage chamber 91 into which hot water W flows, a narrow flow passage 92 having a smaller flow passage cross sectional area than that of the storage chamber 91, and a discharge port 93 for discharging the hot water W toward the bathtub, in order from an upstream side. A sterilizing device 60 constitutes a partial wall part of the flow passage 90.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a water discharging device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a technique of providing a water discharging device at the upper edge of a bathtub and discharging hot water toward a bather from the water discharging device is known.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] According to the above technique, hot water can be discharged to a bather to enhance the relaxation effect and the like. The present inventors focused on the fact that there is room for further improvement in such a water discharging device. Specifically, the present inventors focused on the fact that it would be more hygienic and preferable if hot water flowing through the flow path of the water discharging device and the wall portion of the flow path could be efficiently sterilized.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to efficiently sterilize the flow path of the water discharging device.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The present disclosure is a body attached to the edge of a bathtub, a flow path formed inside the body and having, in order from the upstream side, a storage chamber into which hot water flows, a throttle flow path having a smaller flow path cross-sectional area than the storage chamber, and a discharge port for discharging hot water toward the bathtub, a sterilization device constituting a part of the wall portion of the flow path, and relates to a water discharging device having the same.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of the water discharge device and bathtub according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a side cross-sectional view of the bathtub and its surrounding area. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view of the water discharge device. [Figure 4] This is a disassembled perspective view of the water discharge device. [Figure 5] This is a diagram showing the configuration of the water discharge device. [Figure 6] This is a side cross-sectional view of the water discharge device. [Figure 7] This is a diagram showing the configuration of the water discharge device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 8] This is a side cross-sectional view of the water discharge device. [Figure 9] This is a diagram showing the configuration of the water discharge device according to the third embodiment. [Figure 10] This is a side cross-sectional view of the water discharge device. [Figure 11] This is a diagram showing the configuration of the water discharge device according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 12] This is a side cross-sectional view of the water discharge device. [Figure 13] This is a diagram showing the water discharge device of the fifth embodiment as viewed from above. [Figure 14] This is a side cross-sectional view of the water discharge device. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] The embodiments of this disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, this disclosure is not limited in any way to the embodiments described below, and may be implemented with appropriate modifications without departing from the spirit of this disclosure.

[0009] [First Embodiment] As shown in FIG. 1, the bathtub 200 is rectangular in a plan view seen from above. The water discharge device 2A has a body 28 attached above the upper edge portion 210 of a portion constituting the short side of the bathtub 200, and a flow path 90 formed inside the body 28. Hereinafter, the horizontal direction orthogonal to the flow direction of the hot water W in the flow path 90 is referred to as the "lateral direction", and the shape extending in the lateral direction is referred to as "horizontally long".

[0010] The water discharge device 1A is horizontally long and flat, and the downstream end of the flow path 90 constitutes a horizontally long discharge port 93. From the discharge port 93, the hot water W is discharged in a horizontally long film shape toward the bathtub 200, specifically, toward the shoulders of the bather.

[0011] As shown in FIG. 2, a water supply system 300 for supplying the hot water W of the bathtub 200 to the water discharge device 1A is provided between the bathtub 200 and the water discharge device 1A. The water supply system 300 has, in order from the upstream side, a suction port 301, a first water supply pipe 302, a pump 303, and a second water supply pipe 304. The suction port 301 is provided on the inner surface of the lower portion of the bathtub 200. The first water supply pipe 302 connects the suction port 301 and the pump 303. The second water supply pipe 304 connects the pump 303 and the water discharge device 1A. The pump 303 sucks the hot water W of the bathtub 200 through the first water supply pipe 302 and pumps it to the water discharge device​​​​​​​​​​ The second body 40 is attached with a horizontally long sterilizing device 60 and a horizontally long front cover 70. The second body 40 is combined with the first body 30 from above and is coupled by screws or the like. A horizontally long storage chamber 91, a horizontally long throttle passage 92, and a horizontally long discharge port 93 are formed between the first body 30 and the second body 40. An introduction hole 90h communicates with the bottom surface of the storage chamber 91. A plurality of columns 34 for passing the aforementioned screws are protruding on the first body 30. The columns 34 pass through the inside of the storage chamber 91.

[0015] A horizontally long rectifying disk 35 is installed in the storage chamber 91. The rectifying disk 35 has rectifying holes 36 penetrating in the vertical direction arranged in the horizontal direction and has screw through-holes 37 for passing the aforementioned screws arranged in the horizontal direction. The throttle passage 92 communicates with the side surface of the storage chamber 91 on the bathtub 200 side. The throttle passage 92 has a smaller flow path cross-sectional area than the storage chamber 91. The end of the throttle passage 92 on the bathtub 200 side communicates with the discharge port 93.

[0016] In the present embodiment, the first body 30 is a molded product such as resin, but it may be otherwise. Specifically, for example, the first body 30 may be formed by welding a plurality of divided bodies. Also, for example, the first body 30 may be made of metal or the like. Similarly, the second body 40 may be a molded product such as resin or may be otherwise.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 5, the flow path 90 has, in order from the upstream side, an introduction hole 90h, a storage chamber 91, a throttle passage 92, and a discharge port 93. Hereinafter, the portion of the storage chamber 91 located below the rectifying disk 35 is referred to as the "lower chamber of the storage chamber 91", and the portion of the storage chamber 91 located above the rectifying disk 35 is referred to as the "upper chamber of the storage chamber 91".

[0018] An inlet 90h is connected to the lower chamber of the storage chamber 91, and a throttling channel 92 is connected to the upper chamber of the storage chamber 91. The hot water W supplied to the lower chamber of the storage chamber 91 from the inlet 90h spreads laterally and is supplied to the upper chamber of the storage chamber 91 while being rectified as it passes through the rectifying holes 36 which are arranged in parallel in the horizontal direction. This makes it easier for the hot water W to spread evenly in the horizontal direction. After that, the hot water W passes through the horizontally elongated throttling channel 92 and is discharged in a horizontally elongated film shape from the horizontally elongated discharge port 93.

[0019] Hereinafter, the flow direction in the throttling channel 92 and the discharge port 93 will be referred to as "forward," and the left, right, and rear sides when facing forward will be referred to as "left," "right," and "rear," respectively.

[0020] In this embodiment, the three components of the first body 30, the second body 40, and the sterilization device 60 constitute the entire wall of the flow path 90. In other words, these three components constitute the entire wall of the inlet hole 90h, the entire wall of the storage chamber 91, the entire wall of the throttling flow path 92, and the entire wall of the discharge port 93.

[0021] "The entire wall of the inlet hole 90h" refers to the entire inner surface around the flow direction in the entire section of the inlet hole 90h in the flow direction. In other words, since the flow direction of the inlet hole 90h is upward, "the entire wall of the inlet hole 90h" refers to the entire inner surface around the vertical direction in the entire section of the inlet hole 90h in the vertical direction.

[0022] "All walls of the storage chamber 91" refers to the bottom surface, ceiling surface, left inner surface, right inner surface, front inner surface, and rear inner surface of the storage chamber 91.

[0023] "The entire wall of the aperture channel 92" refers to the entire inner surface around the direction of flow in the entire section of the aperture channel 92 in the direction of flow. In other words, since the direction of flow in the aperture channel 92 is forward, "the entire wall of the aperture channel 92" refers to the bottom surface, left inner surface, top surface, and right inner surface of the aperture channel 92.

[0024] "The entire wall of the discharge port 93" refers to the entire inner surface around the flow direction in the entire section of the discharge port 93 in the flow direction. In other words, since the flow direction of the discharge port 93 is forward, "the entire wall of the discharge port 93" refers to the bottom surface, left inner side surface, top surface, and right inner surface of the discharge port 93.

[0025] Of the three components, the first body 30 comprises the entire wall of the inlet hole 90h, the lower wall of the storage chamber 91, the lower wall of the throttling channel 92, and the lower wall of the discharge port 93. The second body 40 comprises the upper wall of the storage chamber 91, the portion of the upper wall of the throttling channel 92 other than the portion composed of the sterilization device 60, and the portion of the upper wall of the discharge port 93 other than the portion composed of the sterilization device 60. For example, the "lower wall of the storage chamber 91" consists of the entire bottom surface of the storage chamber 91 and the lower parts of the left inner surface, right inner surface, front inner surface, and rear inner surface of the storage chamber 91.

[0026] The sterilization device 60 consists of a portion of the ceiling wall of the throttling channel 92 other than the portion formed by the second body 40, and a portion of the ceiling wall of the discharge port 93 other than the portion formed by the second body 40.

[0027] As shown in Figure 6, a horizontally elongated through-hole 46 is provided at the end of the second body 40 on the bathtub 200 side, penetrating vertically. The sterilization device 60 is installed in this through-hole 46. The front cover 70 is attached to the second body 40 and closes the through-hole 46. The sterilization device 60 has an irradiating element 62 and an irradiating element cover 63. The irradiating element 62 is a UV LED or the like, which emits light including ultraviolet light. The irradiating element cover 63 is a waterproof and ultraviolet-transmitting cover that covers the irradiating element 62. The irradiating element cover 63 constitutes a part of the wall of the flow path 90. That is, the lower end surface of the irradiating element cover 63 constitutes a part of the ceiling wall of the throttling flow path 92 and the discharge port 93.

[0028] The sterilization device 60 irradiates ultraviolet light downwards, that is, toward the throttling channel 92 and the discharge port 93. The wavelength of the ultraviolet light irradiated by the sterilization device 60 is approximately 200 nm or more and 380 nm or less. This is used to perform sterilization. In this specification, "sterilization" does not merely mean killing bacteria, but also includes destroying, removing, or inhibiting the growth of pathogenic microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses. Therefore, in this specification, "sterilization" broadly includes meanings such as disinfection, sterilization, germ removal, sanitization, and detoxification.

[0029] A watertight packing P is provided between the first body 30 and the second body 40. Similarly, a packing (not shown) is provided between the sterilization device 60 and the first body 30, that is, between the irradiation body cover 63 and the inner surface of the through hole 46.

[0030] A through-hole 211 is provided in the upper edge of the bathtub 200, extending vertically. A connecting member 10 is inserted into the through-hole 211. A male screw 10a is provided on the outer surface of the connecting member 10, and a nut 11 is screwed onto the male screw 10a from below, thereby attaching the water discharge device 1A to the upper edge 210 of the bathtub 200.

[0031] The configuration and effects of this embodiment are summarized below.

[0032] The sterilization device 60 forms part of the wall of the flow path 90. Therefore, the flow path 90 can be formed using the sterilization device 60, and sterilization can be performed from a close distance to the hot water W flowing through the flow path 90. As a result, sterilization can be performed efficiently. Since the sterilization device 60 forms part of the wall of the flow path 90, the installation space for the sterilization device 60 can be saved.

[0033] The sterilization device 60 is an irradiator that emits light including ultraviolet light. Therefore, it can irradiate the hot water W flowing through the channel 90 with ultraviolet light from a close distance, enabling efficient sterilization.

[0034] The waterproof and UV-transparent irradiator cover 63, which covers the irradiator 62, constitutes a portion of the wall of the channel 90. Therefore, the irradiator cover 63 can be effectively utilized to constitute a portion of the wall of the channel 90.

[0035] The sterilization device 60 forms part of the wall of the constricted channel 92, which has a small channel cross-sectional area within the channel 90. Therefore, sterilization can be performed efficiently in this respect as well. The sterilization device 60 irradiates ultraviolet light into the inside of the water discharge device 2A. Therefore, compared to irradiating outwards, it is easier to set the ultraviolet light to be stronger, that is, to have a shorter wavelength of ultraviolet light.

[0036] The storage chamber 91, the throttling flow 92, and the discharge port 93 each extend in a lateral direction, which is perpendicular to the flow direction of the hot water W in the flow path 90. Therefore, a film-like layer of hot water W can be efficiently formed.

[0037] Other embodiments are described below. The following embodiments will be described based on the specified embodiment, focusing on the differences, and explanations of aspects that are the same as or similar to the specified embodiment will be omitted as appropriate.

[0038] [Second Embodiment] The water discharge device 2B of the second embodiment will be described based on the first embodiment. As shown in Figure 7, in this embodiment, the sterilization device 60 is attached to the first body 30 instead of the second body 40. The sterilization device 60 constitutes a part of the bottom wall of the throttling flow path 92 and a part of the bottom wall of the discharge port 93.

[0039] Specifically, as shown in Figure 8, the end of the first body 30 on the bathtub 200 side is provided with a horizontally elongated through-hole 36h that penetrates vertically. A sterilization device 60 is installed in this through-hole 36h, and a hole cover 37h is attached to it. The upper end surface of the irradiation body cover 63 forms part of the bottom wall of the throttling flow 92 and the discharge port 93. This embodiment can be suitably adopted when it is easier to install the sterilization device 60 in the first body 30 than in the second body 40.

[0040] [Third Embodiment] The water discharge device 2C of the third embodiment will be described based on the first embodiment. As shown in Figure 9, the sterilization device 60 is attached to the ceiling of the storage chamber 91. Specifically, as shown in Figure 10, a horizontally elongated through-hole 46 that penetrates vertically is provided in the part of the second body 40 that constitutes the ceiling wall of the storage chamber 91. The sterilization device 60 is attached to the through-hole 46, and a hole cover 47 is also attached. The lower end surface of the irradiation body cover 63 constitutes a part of the ceiling wall of the storage chamber 91.

[0041] According to this embodiment, the sterilization device 60 constitutes a portion of the wall of the storage chamber 91. Therefore, it is expected that not only the hot water W but also the wall of the storage chamber 91 can be sterilized.

[0042] [Fourth Embodiment] Next, the water discharge device 2D of the fourth embodiment will be described based on the previous third embodiment. As shown in Figure 11, the body 28 does not have a through hole for installing the sterilization device 60, and the sterilization device 60 is sandwiched vertically between the first body 30 and the second body 40 on the side opposite to the bathtub 200 side of the storage chamber 91. The end face of the sterilization device 60 on the bathtub 200 side constitutes part of the side wall of the storage chamber 91. In other words, the sterilization device 60 is sandwiched in a predetermined direction between the first body 30 and the second body 40, and the end of the sterilization device 60 on the side perpendicular to the predetermined direction constitutes part of the wall of the flow path 90.

[0043] According to this embodiment, by installing the sterilization device 60 between the first body 30 and the second body 40, the sterilization device 60 can be installed inside the body 28 without providing through holes or the like in the body 28.

[0044] [Fifth Embodiment] The water discharge device 2E of the fifth embodiment will be described based on the previous fourth embodiment. Figure 13 is a configuration diagram of the water discharge device 2E viewed from above. The sterilization devices 60 are provided on both sides of the flow path 90 in the lateral direction. The side surface of each sterilization device 60 facing the flow path 90 constitutes the wall of the flow path 90. Thus, each sterilization device 60 constitutes the lateral side wall of the storage chamber 91, the lateral side wall of the throttling flow path 92, and a part of the lateral side wall of the discharge port 93. In other words, the lateral inner surface of the sterilization device 60 constitutes the wall of the flow path 90. According to this embodiment, sterilization can be performed from both sides in the lateral direction that surround the flow path 90.

[0045] [Change form] The embodiments described above can be modified as follows, for example: The sterilization device 60 may be changed from an irradiation device that emits ultraviolet light to an irradiation device that emits ultrasonic light, or a sterilization device that contains silver ions, etc. The rectifier valve 35 may be omitted if the hot water W can be discharged in a sufficiently clean, elongated film shape without it. A second flow path separate from the flow path 90 may be provided to discharge the hot water W towards the neck of the bather. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0046] 2A Water discharge device of the first embodiment, 2B Water discharge device of the second embodiment, 2C Water discharge device of the third embodiment, 2D Water discharge device of the fourth embodiment, 2E Water discharge device of the fifth embodiment, 28 Body, 30 First body, 40 Second body, 60 Sterilization device, 90 Flow path, 91 Storage chamber, 92 Constriction flow path, 93 Outlet, 200 Bathtub, W Hot water

Claims

1. A body that attaches to the edge of the bathtub, A flow path formed inside the body, having, in order from the upstream side, a storage chamber into which hot water flows, a constricted flow path having a smaller flow path cross-sectional area than the storage chamber, and a discharge port for discharging hot water toward the bathtub, It has a sterilization device, The body is provided with a through hole, and the sterilization device is installed in the through hole. The sterilization device comprises an irradiator that emits light including ultraviolet light, and a waterproof and ultraviolet-transmitting irradiator cover that covers the irradiator. The irradiator cover constitutes a part of the wall portion of the flow path. Water dispensing device.

2. A body that is attached to the edge of the bathtub, A flow path formed inside the body, having, in order from the upstream side, a storage chamber into which hot water flows, a constricted flow path having a smaller flow path cross-sectional area than the storage chamber, and a discharge port for discharging hot water toward the bathtub, It has a sterilization device, The body includes a first body and a second body, and the sterilization device is sandwiched between the first body and the second body. The sterilization device comprises an irradiator that emits light including ultraviolet light, and a waterproof and ultraviolet-transmitting irradiator cover that covers the irradiator. The irradiator cover constitutes a part of the wall portion of the flow path. Water dispensing device.

3. The sterilization device is sandwiched between the first body and the second body in a predetermined direction, The end portion of the sterilization device on the side perpendicular to the predetermined direction constitutes a part of the wall portion of the flow path. The water discharge device according to claim 2.

4. The water discharge device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the sterilization device constitutes at least a portion of the wall of the constricted flow path.

5. The water discharge device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the sterilization device constitutes at least a portion of the wall of the storage chamber.

6. The water discharge device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the storage chamber, the throttling channel, and the discharge port each extend in a lateral direction, which is a horizontal direction perpendicular to the flow direction of hot water from the storage chamber to the discharge port.

7. A water discharge device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, The aforementioned bathtub, A bathtub equipped with a water dispensing device.

Images