Sanitary Washing Nozzle Flow Channel Scale Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sanitary washing apparatuses face clogging issues due to scale formation in the flow channel, particularly when electrolyzed water with high pH and calcium carbonate precipitates, leading to reduced efficiency and maintenance challenges.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a contraction portion in the flow channel with a smaller cross-sectional area downstream of the electrolytic cell and a strainer to capture and precipitate scale, along with a material with low surface energy for the strainer to prevent adhesion and clogging, and strategically positioning the strainer to manage turbulence and pH stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an electrolytic cell is provided downstream of the warm water tank to produce sterilizing water, then effective cleaning and sterilization is achieved, but calcium carbonate scale is produced easily and adheres to the electrodes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of scale production into a beneficial separation process. By introducing a contraction portion downstream, the scale that would normally adhere to electrodes is instead precipitated in the flow channel and captured by a strainer, transforming the harmful byproduct into a manageable sediment that can be easily removed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the scale separation function from the electrolytic cell system by adding a dedicated strainer component. The strainer is specifically designed to capture scale particles in the flow channel, separating them from the sterilizing water before it reaches the electrodes and nozzle, thus protecting the electrolytic cell while maintaining sterilization effectiveness.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If polarity reversal is used to remove scale from electrodes, then scale removal is achieved, but the flow channel may clog due to peeling scale
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by placing the strainer in the flow channel before the scale can reach and clog critical components like the electrolytic cell and nozzle. The strainer proactively captures scale particles as they are produced and transported by the flow, preventing them from causing downstream blockages.
Solution Approach 2:
The strainer acts as an intermediary component between the flow channel and the electrolytic cell/nozzle system. It mediates the scale removal process by intercepting scale particles in the water flow, allowing the polarity reversal to effectively remove scale from electrodes without risking flow channel clogging from peeling scale.
3Productivity
If the electrolytic cell is positioned proximal to the nozzle, then efficient utilization of wash water is achieved, but scale production on electrodes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful scale production into a beneficial separation opportunity. The contraction portion creates controlled turbulence that promotes scale precipitation, and the strainer captures this precipitated scale, transforming the harmful byproduct into a separated sediment that can be easily removed while maintaining efficient wash water utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating a specific zone with different flow characteristics downstream of the electrolytic cell. The contraction portion introduces localized turbulence and flow contraction that promotes scale precipitation in this specific region, while the rest of the system maintains laminar flow for efficient wash water delivery to the nozzle.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Effectively suppresses scale precipitation and growth, reducing the risk of clogging and maintaining the efficiency of the washing apparatus by capturing scale before it causes blockages, while allowing for regular cleaning and maintenance of the strainer.
Implementation Method 1
an electrolytic cell provided at an intermediate portion of the flow channel, the electrolytic cell being capable of producing sterilizing water
Implementation Method 2
a contraction portion being formed downstream from the electrolytic cell, a flow channel cross-sectional area being smaller at the contraction portion than upstream from the electrolytic cell
Implementation Method 3
a strainer being disposed in the flow channel further downstream from the contraction portion
Data Source
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AI summary
According to an aspect of the invention, a sanitary washing apparatus, characterized by: a nozzle having a water discharge port, the nozzle being configured to wash a body of a user by squirting water from the water discharge port; a flow channel configured to guide water supplied from a water supply source toward the water discharge port; an electrolytic cell provided at an intermediate portion of the flow channel, the electrolytic cell being capable of producing sterilizing water; and a nozzle wash unit configured to wash or sterilize the nozzle with the sterilizing water produced by the electrolytic cell, a contraction portion being formed downstream from the electrolytic cell, a flow channel cross-sectional area being smaller at the contraction portion than upstream from the electrolytic cell, a strainer being disposed in the flow channel further downstream from the contraction portion. Clogging of the flow channel due to scale can be suppressed.