Softening device

Abstract

To provide a water softening device.SOLUTION: A water softening device includes an ion exchange resin part having a cation exchange resin for softening water, a tank containing the ion exchange resin part, a casing member covering the tank, a water inlet part for supplying water to the interior of the tank, a water outlet part for allowing water to flow out from the interior of the tank to the exterior, and an inlet coupling for connecting the water inlet part to the water outlet part, and an inlet joint connected to the water inlet part and an outlet joint connected to the water outlet part, and a fine bubble generator for generating fine bubbles from water is provided between the inlet joint and the outlet joint.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to a technology for incorporating a fine bubble generator into a water softening device that removes hardness components from raw water, such as tap water, to soften it. [Background technology]

[0002] Generally, cation exchange resins are used to soften tap water and other types of water. As cation exchange resins continue to be used, their ion exchange capacity decreases, so they are regenerated by passing recycled water (for example, saltwater) through them. In water softening systems equipped with cation exchange resins, increasing the capacity of the cation exchange resin makes the system larger, but the frequency of cation exchange resin regeneration decreases. Conversely, decreasing the capacity of the cation exchange resin makes the system smaller, but the frequency of cation exchange resin regeneration increases.

[0003] Softened water has the effect of suppressing the formation of "soap scum," which is created when soap combines with hardness components, because the hardness components have been removed. Furthermore, this leads to improved soap lathering, resulting in benefits such as "less dirt around the sink," "reduced use of soap and shampoo," and "gentler on hair and skin." In particular, after showering, there is no soap residue on the skin, and it is covered with fatty acids similar to the sebum film, making it gentle on the skin.

[0004] On the other hand, in water, bubbles with a diameter of less than 100 μm are called fine bubbles, and among them, bubbles with a diameter of 1 μm or more but less than 100 μm are called microbubbles, and bubbles with a diameter of less than 1 μm are called ultrafine bubbles. Fine bubbles have various characteristics such as weak buoyancy, cleaning effect, and physiological activity, and are being applied to household showers.

[0005] In particular, fine bubble generators that produce fine bubbles using cavitation or ejector methods are used in household shower systems, either placed in the middle of the shower piping or built into the shower head. The cavitation method, without drawing in air from the outside, uses Bernoulli's principle to narrow the flow path, accelerate the flow velocity, cause a rapid pressure decrease and cavitation, and then gradually opens the flow path to increase the pressure and collapse the bubbles that have expanded, thus miniaturizing them. The ejector method creates negative pressure with a high-speed jet from a nozzle, draws in outside air, and applies a large shear force while mixing the gas and liquid to create turbulent mixing and miniaturize the bubbles.

[0006] Patent Document 1 discloses a technology for a shower water softening device that has the ability to soften the shower water by branching off from a mixing faucet in the bathroom (for showers). On the other hand, Patent Document 2 discloses a technology for a fine bubble generator that is placed inside the liquid delivery pipe using a cavitation method. Furthermore, Patent Document 3 discloses a technology for placing a cavitation-type fine bubble generator in the shower hose and shower head. In addition, Patent Document 4 discloses a technology for integrating an ejector-type fine bubble generator into the shower head. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2017-18892 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2017-136590 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2019-25451 [Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-11034 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0008] The technology described in Patent Document 1 is a water softening device in which the inlet and outlet fittings are provided on the upper surface of the casing member, making it easy to connect from a mixing faucet and to a shower head via a shower hose. When the shower side of the mixing faucet is opened, softened water is discharged from the existing shower head. As mentioned above, when showering with soap, no soap residue is left on the skin, and fatty acids are present, resulting in a slippery feeling for the user. In this state, if you bathe in a bathtub filled with tap water, the hardness components such as calcium ions in the tap water react with fatty acids, turning into soap scum. Users will then feel the squeaky, rough texture of the soap scum. If you bathe in a bathtub after showering, soap scum will remain on your skin, and this remaining soap scum cannot be removed by showering with soft water alone.

[0009] The technology described in Patent Document 2 is a cavitation-type microbubble generator, in which an O-ring is fitted around the outer circumference of a cylinder equipped with a microbubble generation path, and has a structure that can be easily constructed inside a liquid delivery pipe. Furthermore, by providing a flange at the end of the cylinder equipped with the microbubble generation path, it has a structure that can be easily fixed in position inside the end of an existing liquid delivery pipe, and is a technology that can be attached to an existing liquid delivery pipe. On the other hand, the configuration described in Patent Document 2 requires that the liquid delivery pipes have corresponding structures, which presented a problem in developing products with added microbubble generation capabilities, as each product had to be uniquely designed. Furthermore, in the case of a structure in which the flange is locked internally, it is impossible to remove the pipe from the outside (the side where the liquid is delivered), which presented a problem in terms of the effort required for maintenance.

[0010] The technology described in Patent Document 3 is a cavitation-type microbubble generator that can be connected between existing equipment such as shower heads and their dedicated hoses, but it has the problem that it cannot be built into other devices. However, it has the advantage that existing shower heads can be used as is. In addition, when showering with tap water using soap while generating microbubbles with this microbubble generator, there is a problem that soap residue remains on the skin and cannot be easily removed.

[0011] The technology described in Patent Document 4 is an ejector-type fine bubble generator, which incorporates the fine bubble generator into a showerhead. However, in order to stably generate fine bubbles within the showerhead, the structure is complex, and there were problems with the showerhead being specialized and expensive. Furthermore, when using this showerhead to generate fine bubbles and showering with soap and tap water, there was a problem that soap residue remained on the skin and was difficult to remove.

[0012] This invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and aims to provide a water softening device for showers that incorporates a fine bubble generator, thereby exhibiting a synergistic effect of soft water and fine bubbles that cannot be achieved with soft water alone or fine bubbles alone. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] The present invention has the following configuration as a means for solving the above-mentioned problems. (1) The water softening device according to the present invention comprises an ion exchange resin section having a cation exchange resin for softening water, a tank housing the ion exchange resin section, a casing member covering the tank, a water inlet section for supplying water into the tank, a water outlet section for draining water from the inside of the tank to the outside, an inlet joint connected to the water inlet section, and an outlet joint connected to the water outlet section. The water outlet section and the outlet joint In between, a fine bubble generator is provided to generate fine bubbles from water. The fine bubble generator comprises an outlet adapter connected to the water outlet, a plate member built into the upstream side of the outlet adapter for swirling the water flow, and a fine bubble generating member fixed to the inner surface of the outlet adapter downstream of the plate member, wherein the outlet end of the outlet adapter is detachably fitted into the straight pipe portion of the outlet joint. characterized in that ru.

[0014] (2) in the water softening device according to the present invention ( 1 ), the inlet joint and the outlet joint extend upward from the upper surface of the casing member, and the inlet joint and the outlet joint each have a straight pipe portion extending upward from the upper surface of the casing member and a bent portion that bends and extends in a direction along the upper surface of the casing member from the upper end of the straight pipe portion. The inlet joint and the outlet joint have the same shape and the same dimensions, and it is preferable that the straight pipe portion of the inlet joint and the straight pipe portion of the outlet joint are rotatable about the axis of the straight pipe portion with respect to the casing member.

[0015] ( 3 ) In the water softening device according to the present invention (1) or (2) , it is preferable that the fine bubble generator is built in such that the plate member and the fine bubble generating member can be inserted and removed from the outlet end side of the outlet adapter. ( 4 ) In the water softening device according to the present invention (1) or (2) , it is preferable that the outlet end of the fine bubble generating member has a notch groove with a predetermined width and a predetermined depth.

[0016] ( 5 ) In the water softening device according to the present invention (1) or (2) , the outlet adapter includes a plate storage portion for storing the plate member on the upstream side and an internal thread for fixing the fine bubble generating member on the downstream side of the plate storage portion. The fine bubble generating member has an external thread that fits with the internal thread on the outer periphery of the upstream side and a first flow path whose inner diameter gradually narrows from the upstream end to the central portion on the inner surface side, a second flow path connected to the first flow path, and a third flow path connected to the second flow path and whose inner diameter gradually widens toward the downstream end. It is preferable that the fine bubble generating member is provided with these components.

Advantages of the Invention

[0017] The water softening device according to the present invention utilizes an existing showerhead and offers the effect of suppressing the generation of soap scum through softened water, as well as the added benefit of being combined with fine bubbles. In particular, a shower of softened water with fine bubbles can remove soap scum that remains on the skin after showering with soap and then bathing with tap water. The number and concentration of fine bubbles is higher when the fine bubble generator is installed on the outlet side of the water softener. Furthermore, even with a built-in fine bubble generator, by making the inlet and outlet fittings the same shape and dimensions on the upper surface of the casing member, and by making the straight pipe portion of the fitting rotatable relative to the casing member, connection from a mixing faucet and connection to a shower head via a shower hose can be easily made, similar to conventional shower water softeners. The fine bubble generator has a structure that allows the plate member in the socket member and the fine bubble generating member to be attached and detached from the outlet side, eliminating the need to disassemble the entire device in the event of maintenance. The fine bubble generating component can be easily attached and detached by inserting a tool into the notched groove at the outlet end. The internal shape of the fine bubble generating component conforms to Bernoulli's principle by gradually narrowing the flow path and then gradually opening it, allowing for stable generation of fine bubbles under typical household water supply pressures of 0.15 MPa or higher. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0018] [Figure 1] A cross-sectional view showing a water softening device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] A perspective view of the front side of the water softening device. [Figure 3] A perspective view of the rear side of the water softening device. [Figure 4] An enlarged cross-sectional view of the first type of fine bubble generator incorporated into the water softening device. [Figure 5] An enlarged cross-sectional view of the second type of fine bubble generator incorporated into the water softening device. [Figure 6] A diagram showing the installation of a bathroom equipped with a water softening device according to the first embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0019] "First Embodiment" The water softening apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The scope of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments, and can be arbitrarily modified within the scope of the technical idea of ​​the present invention. In addition, in the following drawings, the scale and number of components in each structure may differ from the actual structure in order to make each structure easier to understand.

[0020] <Water softening equipment> Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of the water softening device 1 according to the first embodiment. Figures 2 and 3 are perspective views of the water softening device 1. The water softening device 1 comprises a tank 5 having an upper tank 5a and a lower tank 5b, an ion exchange resin section 3 housed inside the tank 5, a water inlet section 6 for supplying water into the tank 5, an inlet joint 11 connected to the water inlet section 6, a water outlet section 7 for discharging water from the inside to the outside of the tank 5, an outlet joint 14 connected to the water outlet section 7, and a casing member 19 covering the tank 5. The inside of tank 5 serves as a water channel for softening the water. The water to be softened flows into the tank 5 from the water inlet 6 at the bottom of tank 5, passes through the ion exchange resin section 3, and flows out to the outside from the water outlet 7 at the top of tank 5.

[0021] The water softening device 1 includes a regeneration liquid inlet 8 for introducing regeneration liquid into the tank 5, a regeneration liquid inlet valve 16 that covers the regeneration liquid inlet 8 and can be opened and closed by other means, a drain port 9 for discharging the regeneration liquid, and a detachable drain port cap member 18 that covers the drain port 9. The regeneration liquid regenerates the ion exchange capacity of the cation exchange resin. Note that the details regarding regeneration are irrelevant to this application and will therefore not be explained. The following describes in detail each part of the water softening device 1.

[0022] <Ion exchange resin part> The ion exchange resin section 3 has a cation exchange resin 2 for softening water and a case member 4 that forms the cation exchange resin 2 in its internal space. In FIG. 1, only a part of the cation exchange resin 2 is shown, which is different from the actual accommodation state. The actual cation exchange resin 2 fills more than 90% of the internal space of the case member 4.

[0023] The cation exchange resin 2 removes calcium ions (Ca 2+ ) and magnesium ions (Mg 2+ ) in tap water. As an example, in the initial stage, the matrix of the cation exchange resin 2 has a cation Na - bonded to an anion (R-SO3 + ). When tap water is introduced into the cation exchange resin, ion exchange begins, and Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ are adsorbed by the cation exchange resin 2, and Na + is released instead. As a result, the hardness components Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ are removed and the water is softened.

[0024] Also, since the cation exchange capacity of the cation exchange resin 2 decreases when it continues to be used, it is regenerated by passing regenerated water (e.g., brine) through it. When, for example, a high-concentration brine of 5 - 20% is passed through the cation exchange resin 2, the ion exchange capacity is reversed, Na + is adsorbed by the cation exchange resin 2, and Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ are released instead. As a result, the cation exchange resin 2 is restored to its initial state and the cation exchange function is regenerated. The water softening device is used by repeating such softening and regeneration.

[0025] The case member 4 houses the cation exchange resin 2. The case member 4 is housed in the tank 5 and fixed in the middle of the tank 5 in the vertical direction. Therefore, storage spaces 5d and 5e are formed inside the tank 5 above and below the case member 4. The case member 4 has a box-shaped body 4d that opens to the top and a lid 4c that covers the opening of the box-shaped body 4d. The joint surface between the lid 4c and the box-shaped body 4d is welded to prevent the cation exchange resin 2 from flowing out. The side wall portion 4e of the box-shaped body 4d is in contact with the inner surface of the tank 5. The entire surface of the lid 4c and the bottom surface of the box-shaped body 4d are made of mesh members 4a and 4b. The mesh members 4a and 4b are made of polyester, for example, with a wire diameter of 45 μm and a mesh opening size of 96 μm.

[0026] Water flowing from bottom to top inside the tank 5 passes through the mesh member 4a on the bottom surface of the case member 4 and flows into the interior of the case member 4. This water comes into contact with the cation exchange resin 2 inside the case member 4 and is softened. Furthermore, this water passes through the mesh member 4b of the lid 4c of the case member 4 and flows out of the case member 4 to the outside.

[0027] The capacity of the cation exchange resin 2 is preferably 90% or more of the volume between the mesh members 4a and 4b (i.e., the internal volume of the case member 4). In this embodiment, the cation exchange resin 2 is housed in a fixed bed where the cation exchange resin 2 hardly flows due to the passage of water. Therefore, the capacity of the cation exchange resin 2 can be 90% or more of the volume of the case member 4, and the volume of the tank 5 relative to the capacity of the cation exchange resin 2 can be kept to a minimum. In other words, a compact water softening device 1 can be provided.

[0028] Furthermore, it is preferable to use a fine-particle type of cation exchange resin 2, where 95% or more of the particle size distribution is between 150 μm and 355 μm. Generally, the particle size of the cation exchange resin 2 is appropriately blended with particles ranging from 300 to 1180 μm. If the particle size of the cation exchange resin 2 is large, the ion exchange performance will decrease when the flow rate of water passing through is high. In contrast, if the particle size of the cation exchange resin 2 is small, the ion exchange performance can be improved even when the flow rate of water passing through is high. In this embodiment, the ion exchange resin section 3 can have its ion exchange performance improved by using a fine-particle type of cation exchange resin 2.

[0029] <tank> Tank 5 has a two-part structure consisting of a box-shaped upper tank 5a opening downwards and a box-shaped lower tank 5b opening upwards, with the openings of the two tanks overlapping and fixed together to form the internal space. Edges are formed around the openings of both the upper tank 5a and the lower tank 5b. The lower tank 5b has an inner step 5c below the middle in the vertical direction, and the case member 4 is mounted on the inner step 5c. The outer surface of the case member 4 is fitted onto the inner surface of the lower tank 5b. Furthermore, the edge of the upper tank 5a is fitted over the edge of the lid 4c of the case member 4 via a packing 10. The edges of the upper tank 5a and the lower tank 5b are fixed together by welding to prevent water leakage. Because the packing 10 is provided between the upper tank 5a and the case member 4, all of the water passing through the tank 5 from bottom to top passes through the inside of the case member 4 (i.e., within the layer of cation exchange resin 2). A storage space 5e is formed between the bottom of the case member 4 and the bottom wall 5f of the lower tank 5b. Additionally, a storage space 5d is formed between the top wall 5g of the upper tank 5a and the lid 4c of the case member 4.

[0030] Tank 5 serves as a water passage while also functioning as a water storage section within the flow path for water softening by the ion exchange resin section 3. Therefore, a time lag occurs between the time water begins flowing into Tank 5 and the time Tank 5 is filled with water, as water does not flow out of the water outlet section 7. To minimize this time lag, it is preferable to reduce the volume of Tank 5. For example, when using a shower with a flow rate of 10 liters per minute, a 2-liter tank will result in a time difference of 12 seconds, a 3-liter tank will result in 18 seconds, and a 4-liter tank will result in 24 seconds. It is desirable to set the volume of tank 5 to 2 liters or less to keep the time difference to 12 seconds or less.

[0031] Tank 5 can be constructed from thermoplastic resin, thermosetting resin, or metal such as stainless steel. Tank 5 is made of a material capable of withstanding the passage of hot water up to 50°C to allow water for the shower to pass through. Because Tank 5 serves as a water flow path, it is repeatedly subjected to loads associated with pressure loss from the cation exchange resin 2 and the shower. Therefore, it is preferable that Tank 5 be reinforced with ribs or the like. Furthermore, if Tank 5 is made of resin, inorganic materials such as glass fibers may be added to increase its material strength.

[0032] <Water inlet section, inlet joint> The water inlet section 6 is located below the ion exchange resin section 3 and is situated on the lower side of the tank 5 (more specifically, the lower tank 5b). The inlet fitting 11 is connected to the water inlet section 6 via a water conduit 12 and an inlet adapter 13.

[0033] The water conduit 12 is an L-shaped pipe, having a horizontal section 12a extending laterally from the side of the tank 5 and a vertical section 12b extending upward from the tip of the horizontal section 12a. The horizontal section 12a of the water conduit 12 and the water inlet section 6 are connected via a packing or the like to prevent water leakage. An inlet adapter 13 is fixed to the upper end of the vertical section 12b of the water conduit 12.

[0034] The inlet adapter 13 is connected to the water conduit 12 at one end and to the inlet fitting 11 at the other end. The other end of the inlet adapter 13 is exposed from the upper surface 19a of the casing member 19. An O-ring sealing surface 13a and a female thread 13b are provided on the inner circumference of the other end of the inlet adapter 13.

[0035] The inlet fitting 11 is a 90-degree elbow pipe extending upward from the upper surface 19a of the casing member 19. The inlet fitting 11 has a straight pipe section 11e extending upward from the upper surface 19a of the casing member 19, and a bent section 11f extending from the upper end of the straight pipe section 11e in a direction along the upper surface 19a of the casing member 19.

[0036] An O-ring insertion groove 11a is provided on the outer circumference of the end of the inlet fitting 11 on the straight pipe section 11e side, and a male thread 11b is provided at the tip of the groove. The end of the inlet fitting 11 on the straight pipe section 11e side is connected to the inlet adapter 13 by screwing the male thread 11b into the female thread 13b of the inlet adapter 13. The O-ring insertion groove 11a of the inlet fitting 11 and the O-ring sealing surface 13a of the inlet adapter 13 are positioned opposite each other. An O-ring 11d is fitted into the O-ring insertion groove 11a to prevent water leakage between the inlet fitting 11 and the inlet adapter 13. The O-ring sealing surface 13a is set to be several times the length of the thread pitch of the male thread 11b in the axial direction of the inlet adapter 13. This ensures that the inlet fitting 11 is watertight with the inlet adapter 13 and rotates freely along the thread without detaching from the inlet adapter 13. Since the inlet adapter 13 is fixed to the casing member 19 via other members, the inlet fitting 11 is rotatable relative to the casing member 19. That is, the straight pipe portion 11e of the inlet adapter 13 is rotatably installed around its central axis.

[0037] The outer circumference of the end of the inlet fitting 11 on the bent portion 11f side is provided with, for example, a nominal G1 / 2 parallel pipe thread 11c. A connecting hose extending from the faucet is connected to, for example, the parallel pipe thread 11c. By configuring the inlet fitting 11 to be rotatable, the opening direction of the inlet fitting 11 can be directed towards the faucet regardless of the orientation of the water softener 1 relative to the faucet. This allows the connecting hose between the faucet and the inlet fitting 11 to be shortened, enabling a compact installation of the water softener 1.

[0038] <Water outlet section, outlet joint> The water outlet section 7 is located above the ion exchange resin section 3. In this embodiment, the water outlet section 7 is provided on the upper wall 5g of the tank 5 (more specifically, the upper tank 5a). An outlet fitting 14 is connected to the water outlet section 7 via an outlet adapter 15.

[0039] In this embodiment, the outlet adapter 15 and the outlet joint 14 have the same structure as the inlet adapter 13 and the inlet joint 11, respectively. The outlet adapter 15 is connected to the water outlet section 7 at one end and to the outlet fitting 14 at the other end. The inner circumference of the other end of the outlet adapter 15 is provided with an O-ring sealing surface 15a and, further inside, a female thread 15b.

[0040] The outlet fitting 14 extends upward from the upper wall 5g of the tank 5, and further extends upward from the upper surface 19a of the casing member 19. The outlet fitting 14 is a 90-degree elbow pipe. The outlet fitting 14 has a straight pipe section 14e that extends upward from the upper surface 19a of the casing member 19, and a bent section 14f that bends and extends from the upper end of the straight pipe section 14e in a direction along the upper surface 19a of the casing member 19. An O-ring insertion groove 14a is provided on the outer circumference of the end of the outlet fitting 14 on the side of the straight pipe section 14e, and a male thread 14b that is screwed into a female thread 15b is provided on the tip side of the groove. An O-ring 14d is fitted into the O-ring insertion groove 14a. The outlet fitting 14 is rotatable relative to the casing member 19, similar to the inlet fitting 11. That is, the straight pipe section 14e of the outlet fitting 14 is supported so as to be rotatable around its central axis.

[0041] When the water softener 1 is installed in a bathroom and used for showering, the shower hose can be directly connected to the outlet fitting 14. In this case, since the shower hose is routed in various directions by the user, the outlet fitting 14 is configured to rotate freely so that it rotates in accordance with the movement of the shower hose 35. This reduces the load on the outlet fitting 14 and its connection point, preventing damage.

[0042] <Casing component> The casing member 19 covers the tank 5, the water inlet 6, the water outlet 7, the regenerating liquid inlet 8, the drain port 9, the regenerating liquid inlet valve 16, and the drain port cap member 18. As a result, none of the above parts are exposed, and a water softening device 1 with a highly aesthetic design that takes appearance into consideration can be constructed.

[0043] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the casing member 19 is composed of a base 20, a left side cover 21, a right side cover 22, an inner cover 23, an upper cover 24, and a front cover 25. In this embodiment, the casing member 19 is composed of a base 20, a left side cover 21, a right side cover 22, an inner cover 23, an upper cover 24, and a front cover 25, but any combination of these members may be integrated together.

[0044] As shown in Figure 1, the base 20 covers the bottom of the tank. The bottom of the tank 5 is fixed to the inner surface of the base 20 with screws. The tank 5 has a water inlet 6, a water outlet 7, a regeneration liquid input valve 16, a drain cap member 18, an inlet adapter 13, an outlet adapter 15, and a water conduit 12 fixed to it, so these are ultimately fixed to the base 20.

[0045] The base 20 has legs 26 extending downward from its bottom surface (towards the installation surface) from its four corners, for example, with a height of 30 mm, and the tips 26a of the legs 26 are in contact with the installation surface. When the water softener 1 is installed in a bathroom, dirt tends to accumulate between the bottom surface and the installation surface. By providing legs 26 extending from the bottom surface of the water softener 1, a gap is formed between the bottom surface and the installation surface, making it less likely for dirt to accumulate. The legs 26 may be integrated with the casing member or they may be separate. Also, if the water softener 1 does not have a base 20, the legs may extend downward from the tank 5. The dimensions of the gap should be around 30 mm so that a hand can fit in between, allowing the installation surface to be cleaned with cleaning tools such as a sponge. The installation surface may be the shower area of ​​the bathroom, the counter surface, or the upper edge of the bathtub.

[0046] The left side cover 21 and the right side cover 22 are fixed to the base 20. The left side cover 21 and the right side cover 22 cover both sides and the rear of the tank 5.

[0047] <First form of fine bubble generator> The first form of the fine bubble generator 36 can be installed between the inlet joint 11 and the outlet joint 14 of the water softener 1. Fine bubbles will be discharged from the shower regardless of where it is installed, but it is particularly preferable to install it on the outlet side because it increases the number and concentration of fine bubbles when the shower water is discharged. According to the inventor's experiments, when comparing the number concentration when the system is located on the outlet side versus the inlet side, it was found that the concentration is approximately seven times higher when it is located on the outlet side. This is because, when the system is located on the inlet side, the generated fine bubbles attenuate as they pass through the ion exchange resin section 3.

[0048] When the fine bubble generator 36 is installed on the outlet side, it is preferable to install it between the water outlet section 7 and the outlet joint 14, as this allows for efficient use of space in the structure of the water softening device 1. In particular, if a cavitation type generator is used, its structure is relatively simple, and by incorporating it inside the outlet adapter 15, the outlet joint 14 can be made to the same dimensions and shape as the inlet joint 11.

[0049] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a fine bubble generator 36 provided in the water softening device 1 of the first embodiment. The fine bubble generator 36 is built into the upstream side of the outlet adapter 15 and consists of a plate member 37 that creates a swirling water flow and a fine bubble generating member 38 that is screwed onto the internal thread 15c of the outlet adapter 15 downstream of the plate member 37 and fixed. The outlet end of the outlet adapter 15 is a female thread 15b that screws onto the male thread 14b of the outlet joint 14, and is further provided with an O-ring sealing surface 15a corresponding to the O-ring 14d, so that the straight pipe portion 14e of the outlet joint 14 can rotate relative to the casing member 19.

[0050] When assembling the plate member 37 and the fine bubble generating member 38 to the outlet adapter 15, the plate member 37 is stored from the downstream opening 15d of the outlet adapter 15 to the bottom of the storage step (plate storage section) 15e, which is larger than the upstream passage. Furthermore, the male thread (external thread) 38a at the upstream end of the fine bubble generating member 38 is screwed into the internal thread 15c from the opening 15d, and then brought into contact with the plate member 37 for fixation. This allows the fine bubble generator 36 to be built into the water softener 1.

[0051] With this assembly method, the plate member 37 and the fine bubble generating member 38 are inserted into and removed from the opening 15d. This allows for disassembly and assembly of the fine bubble generating member during maintenance simply by removing the outlet joint 14, without having to disassemble the entire water softener 1. In this case, by providing a notch groove 38b of a predetermined width and depth on the outlet end side of the fine bubble generating member 38, the notch groove 38b is exposed when the outlet joint 14 is removed during maintenance. Therefore, disassembly and assembly become easier by inserting a tool or coin into the notch groove 38b and rotating it. The notch groove 38b is preferably 2 mm wide and 2 mm deep so that a flathead screwdriver or coin can be inserted, and it is even more preferable to provide two notches facing each other.

[0052] Furthermore, the plate member 37 has an outer diameter that fits into the storage step portion 15e and a thickness corresponding to that, and has a plurality of intake holes 37a arranged in a circle at equal intervals on its plane, penetrating in the flow direction. Preferably, these plurality of intake holes 37a are oblique cylindrical holes in which the central axis of each is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the central axis of the flow from the upstream side to the downstream side. As a result, the incoming water passes through the intake holes 37a and becomes a swirling flow, which flows into the fine bubble generating member 38, making it easier to generate fine bubbles.

[0053] The fine bubble generating member 38 generates cavitation within the flow path without drawing in air from the outside. It narrows the flow path and then gradually expands it to refine the bubbles. Therefore, the fine bubble generating member 38 consists of a first flow path 38f on its inner surface, whose inner diameter gradually narrows from the upstream end towards the center; a second flow path 38g with a uniform inner diameter connected to the first flow path; and a third flow path 38h connected to the second flow path 38g, whose inner diameter gradually widens towards the downstream end.

[0054] As a guideline for the cavitation phenomenon, if p is the pressure in a field where the flow is not affected by the object, pv is the saturated water vapor pressure at the liquid temperature, ρ is the density of the liquid, and V is the relative velocity between the liquid and the object, then the cavitation coefficient k can be expressed by the following equation (1). k = (p - pv) / (ρV) 2 / 2) …Formula (1)

[0055] Equation (1) indicates that cavitation is more likely to occur when k is less than 1. Therefore, the inner diameter of the second channel 38g is important. Under the same pressure, cavitation is more likely to occur as the flow velocity V increases, that is, as Bernoulli's theorem dictates, the smaller the inner diameter. However, on the other hand, if the inner diameter is small, the pressure loss increases, and it may not be possible to secure the shower flow rate with the water supply pressure of a typical household (0.15 MPa). Therefore, assuming that the inner diameter of shower piping is about 11 mm, the water supply pressure is 0.1 MPa, the shower flow rate is 8 L / min, and the liquid temperature is 40°C, the inner diameter at which k ≈ 1 can be calculated to be 3.5 mm. In other words, it is preferable to set the inner diameter of the second channel 38g to 3.5 mm.

[0056] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a second form of fine bubble generator 36 applied to the water softener 1. The outlet adapter 15 can be divided into a first socket member 15f and a second socket member 15i, and the fine bubble generator 36 can be built inside them. The first socket member 15f and the second socket member 15i can be combined to form the same shape as the outlet adapter 15, which is attached to the water outlet 7 and to which the outlet joint 14 is attached. In this second form, the maintainability that was present in the structure of the first embodiment is lost, but it can be adopted as an example of how to provide a fine bubble generator 36 in the water softener 1.

[0057] The first socket member 15f has, on its inner surface, in order from the upstream side, a storage step portion 15e, a smaller diameter O-ring sealing surface 15h, and an even smaller diameter insertion hole 15k. Furthermore, it has a female thread 15b and an O-ring sealing surface 15a corresponding to the male thread 14b and O-ring sealing surface 15a of the outlet joint 14. The fine bubble generating member 38 and the plate member 37 are installed by passing through the insertion hole 15k of the first socket member 15f, with the flange 38e fitting into the storage step portion 15e and the O-ring groove portion 38c fitting into the O-ring sealing surface 15h and for mounting the O-ring 38d, in that order from the upstream side of the first socket member 15f. The flange 38e abuts against the step between the storage step portion 15e and the O-ring sealing surface 15h, and the plate member 37 is inserted upstream of it.

[0058] On the other hand, the upstream outer surface of the first socket member 15f is provided with an external thread 15l corresponding to the internal thread 15c and O-ring sealing surface 15g of the second socket member 15i. An O-ring 15m is fitted and screwed into the external thread 15l, thereby integrating the first socket member 15f and the second socket member 15i while incorporating the fine bubble member 38 and the plate member 37. At this time, the inner diameter of the upstream passage 15j of the second socket member 15i is made smaller than the outer diameter of the plate member 37, which prevents the plate member 37 from falling towards the water outlet 7.

[0059] Furthermore, by using the same shape as in the first embodiment for the inner surface of the fine bubble generating member 38, it is possible to generate cavitation and fine bubbles while ensuring a shower flow rate.

[0060] <Installation form> Next, the installation configuration of the water softener 1 will be described. Figure 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the water softener 1 installed in the bathroom 27. The water softening device 1 is installed in a bathroom 27 equipped with a mixing faucet 30 that is connected to a shower head 34 via a shower hose 35. In this embodiment, the water softener 1 is installed on the washing area 28 in the bathroom 27. When the water softener 1 is installed in the bathroom, it is installed between the existing mixing faucet 30 and the shower head 34, so that the user can use softened water with fine bubbles generated from the shower by operating the faucet. The water softener 1 is installed on the opposite side of the shower hook 29 from the mixing faucet 30. The shower hose 35 and shower head 34 are existing, and their positions are almost the same as before the installation of the water softener 1, so the installation of the water softener 1 does not significantly impair the usability of the shower.

[0061] In this embodiment, the water softening device 1 may further include a fixed unit 31 attached to the mixing faucet 30, an inlet-side connecting hose 32 connecting the fixed unit 31 to the inlet fitting 11, and an outlet-side connecting hose 33 connecting the fixed unit 31 to the outlet fitting 14. The user can use a shower of softened water with fine bubbles generated by opening and closing the mixing faucet 30.

[0062] The synergistic effect between softened water and fine bubbles was confirmed using the water softening device according to the present invention. <Experiment 1: Removal of soap scum by using a shower> Hands were washed with an additive-free soap containing a fluorescent whitening agent (Utamaro soap manufactured by Toho Co., Ltd.) in the shower and dried five times. Observations were made by utilizing the phenomenon of the soap residue remaining on the hands fluorescing under black light illumination in a dark room. At this time, the hardness of the tap water was 85 mg / L, the hardness of the water that had passed through a water softener (hereinafter referred to as softened water) was 0 mg / L, and the shower water temperature was 40°C. Three different experimental cases were conducted: Comparative Example 1 involved a shower using tap water containing fine bubbles; Comparative Example 2 involved a regular shower using softened water (without fine bubbles); and Example 1 involved a shower using softened water containing fine bubbles. The observation results of these experiments are shown in Table 1 below.

[0063] [Table 1]

[0064] As shown in Table 1, in Comparative Example 1, it was confirmed that soap scum could not be removed even with a shower containing fine bubbles. In Comparative Example 2 and Example 1, it was confirmed that no soap scum was present in the soft water.

[0065] <Experiment 2: Removal of soap scum when bathing> While water softeners can soften shower water, bathwater is often tap water because it is filled using a different method. Therefore, we conducted an experiment simulating a scenario where a person enters the bathtub after showering. Using the same soap as in Experiment 1, participants washed their hands with the shower, then immersed their hands in the bathtub, and then rubbed their hands with the shower, drying them. This process was repeated five times. All other conditions were the same as in Experiment 1. The results of the above experiment are shown in Table 2 below.

[0066] [Table 2]

[0067] As shown in Table 2, in Comparative Example 4, it was confirmed that fatty acids were converted into soap scum, and that this soap scum could not be removed by a soft water shower. On the other hand, in Example 2, it was confirmed that the soap scum could be removed.

[0068] <Skin moisture content comparison> Skin moisture content is generally measured using a bioelectrical impedance meter. In hot and humid environments, moisture content increases due to sweating, and differences under different conditions may not be clearly discernible. Therefore, we created an environment where sweating was not easily induced (room temperature 15-16°C, relative humidity around 50%) and evaluated the moisture content within that environment. In addition, to ensure a consistent environment for removing moisture from the skin after hand washing, we forcibly dried the skin with warm air using a hairdryer. The measuring device used was the "HKJ-SK03W Skin Care Moisture and Oil Checker" imported by HUNTKEY JAPAN Co., Ltd. The measurement values ​​are considered to indicate the following skin conditions: "31% or less - very dry, 32-36% - dry, 37-41% - normal, 42-46% - well-moisturized, 47% or more - very well-moisturized." The measurement was taken near the center of the back of the left hand.

[0069] <Experiment 3: Skin moisture content after showering> Using additive-free soap (Shabon-dama bath soap manufactured by Shabon-dama Soap Co., Ltd.), hands were washed in the shower, dried with kitchen paper, and the moisture content was measured (immediately after), forced drying for 1 minute, moisture content measured again (1 minute later), forced drying for 1 minute, and moisture content measured again (2 minutes later). Moisture content was measured at the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 10th, 15th, and 20th times, and the average moisture content of all 7 measurements was calculated. The results are shown in Table 3 below.

[0070] [Table 3]

[0071] In Comparative Example 5, it was confirmed that drying was accelerated. In Example 3, it was confirmed that the moisture level remained at a normal skin level even after 2 minutes of forced drying. Furthermore, it was confirmed that Example 3 maintained a higher moisture level after 2 minutes than Comparative Example 6.

[0072] <Experiment 4: Skin moisture content under the assumption of bathing> Similar to Experiment 2, the assumption was that participants would take a bath after showering. After washing with additive-free soap, participants immersed their hands in the bathtub, then rubbed their hands with a shower, dried them with a paper towel, measured the moisture content (immediately after), forced-dried for 1 minute, measured the moisture content again (1 minute later), forced-dried for 1 minute, and measured the moisture content again (2 minutes later). This process was repeated, and the average of the moisture content measured a total of seven times was calculated, as in Experiment 3. The results are shown in Table 4 below.

[0073] [Table 4]

[0074] In Comparative Example 8, it was confirmed that the fatty acids transformed into soap scum, and since this soap scum could not be removed by a soft water shower, drying was accelerated. On the other hand, in Example 4, it was confirmed that the removal of the soap scum allowed the moisture level to be maintained at a normal skin level even after 2 minutes of forced drying.

[0075] As described above, various embodiments of the present invention have been explained, but the configurations and combinations thereof in each embodiment are merely examples, and additions, omissions, substitutions, and other modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0076] 1...Water softening device, 2...Cation exchange resin, 3...Ion exchange resin section 4...Case component, 4a...Mesh component, 4b...Mesh component, 4c...Lid, 4d...Box-shaped body, 4e...Side wall part, 5...tank, 5a...upper tank, 5b...lower tank, 5c...inner section, 5d...storage space 5e...Storage space, 5f...Bottom wall, 5g...Top wall, 6...Water inlet, 7...Water outlet, 8...Regeneration liquid injection valve, 9...Drain port, 10...Packing 11...Inlet fitting, 11a...O-ring insertion groove, 11b...Male thread, 11c...Parallel pipe thread, 11d...O-ring, 11e...Straight pipe section, 11f...Bend section, 12...Water conduit, 12a...Horizontal section, 12b...Vertical section 13...Inlet adapter, 13a...O-ring sealing surface, 13b...Female thread, 14...Outlet fitting, 14a...O-ring insertion groove, 14b...Male thread, 14c...Parallel pipe thread, 14d...O-ring, 14e...Straight pipe section, 14f...Bent section, 15...Outlet adapter, 15a...O-ring sealing surface, 15b...Female thread, 15c...Internal thread, 15d...Opening, 15e...Storage step (plate storage section), 15f...First socket member, 15g...O-ring sealing surface, 15h...O-ring sealing surface, 15i...Second socket member, 15j...Upstream passage, 15k...Insertion hole, 15l...Male thread, 15m...O-ring 16...Regeneration liquid injection valve section, 17...Drainage chamber, 18...Drain outlet cap component, 19...Casing member, 19a...Top surface, 20...Base, 21...Left side cover, 22...Right side cover, 23...Inner cover, 24...Top cover, 25...Front cover, 26...leg part, 26a...tip part, 27...Bathroom, 28...Washing area, 29...Shower hook, 30...Mixing faucet, 31...Fixed unit, 32...Inlet side connection hose, 33...Outlet side connection hose, 34... Shower head, 35... Shower hose, 36... Fine bubble generator 37...Plate member, 37a...Water intake hole, 38... Fine bubble generating member, 38a... Male thread (external thread), 38b... Notched groove, 38c...O-ring groove, 38d...O-ring, 38e...Flange, 38f...First flow path 38g…second flow path, 38h…third flow path.

Claims

1. An ion exchange resin section having a cation exchange resin for softening water, A tank for housing the ion exchange resin section, A casing member covering the tank, The tank includes a water inlet for supplying water to the inside of the tank, A water outlet for draining water from the inside of the tank to the outside, The inlet joint connected to the water inlet section, It comprises an outlet joint connected to the water outlet section, A fine bubble generator for generating fine bubbles from water is provided between the water outlet section and the outlet joint. The fine bubble generator described above is A water softening device comprising an outlet adapter connected to the water outlet section, a plate member built into the upstream side of the outlet adapter for swirling the water flow, and a fine bubble generating member fixed to the inner surface of the outlet adapter downstream of the plate member, wherein the outlet end of the outlet adapter is detachably fitted to the straight pipe section of the outlet joint.

2. The inlet and outlet joints extend upward from the upper surface of the casing member, and the inlet and outlet joints have straight pipe sections that extend upward from the upper surface of the casing member. It has a bent portion that extends from the upper end of the straight pipe portion in a direction along the upper surface of the casing member, The inlet joint and the outlet joint are of the same shape and dimensions. The water softening apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the straight pipe portion of the inlet joint and the straight pipe portion of the outlet joint are rotatable with respect to the casing member about the axis of the straight pipe portion.

3. The water softening apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the fine bubble generator has the plate member and the fine bubble generating member built into it so that they can be inserted and removed from the outlet end side of the outlet adapter.

4. The water softening apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the outlet end of the fine bubble generating member has a notched groove of a predetermined width and depth.

5. The aforementioned outlet adapter The upstream side includes a plate storage section for housing the plate member, and the downstream side of the plate storage section is equipped with an internal screw for fixing the fine bubble generating member. The fine bubble generating member, The upstream outer circumference is provided with an external thread that engages with the internal thread, The water softening device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises, on its inner surface, a first channel whose inner diameter gradually narrows from the upstream end toward the center, a second channel connected to the first channel, and a third channel connected to the second channel whose inner diameter gradually widens toward the downstream end.

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