JP2005102852A - Washing apparatus and air bubble generating nozzle used in the apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a washing apparatus for washing laundry by fine air bubbles having a particle size of about 1 to 20 μm. <P>SOLUTION: The washing apparatus is provided with a washing tub 7 for putting the laundry in, an air bubble generating nozzle 19 for supplying the fine air bubbles into the washing tub 7, and a saturated solution producing apparatus 15 for supplying a saturated solution to the air bubble generating nozzle 19. The washing tub 7 is provided freely rotatably inside an outer tub 5 and the air bubble generating nozzle 19 is provided near the bottom part of the outer tub 5. Then, the saturated solution producing apparatus 15 sucks water inside the washing tub 7 and supplies the saturated solution to the air bubble generating nozzle 19. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a washing apparatus and a bubble generating nozzle, and more particularly to a washing apparatus using fine bubbles having a bubble particle size of 1 to 20 μm and a nozzle that generates fine bubbles.

  A conventional washing apparatus includes a washing tub rotatably in an outer tub provided in an outer box. By adding laundry and water to the washing tub, adding a detergent, and rotating the washing tub. Generally, the laundry is washed.

As described above, a configuration has been developed in which bubbles are supplied from the bottom of the washing tub into the washing tub when the laundry tub is rotated to wash the laundry (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2000-37590 A

  When washing is performed by rotating the laundry basket as in the prior art, there is a problem that the laundry is entangled and fabrics such as cloth are easily damaged. Moreover, since a detergent is used, there are problems that it takes time to rinse and consumes a large amount of water.

  And in the structure which concerns on the said patent document 1, it is the structure which produces | generates a bubble one by one by sending air into a bubble discharge pipe from a bubble pump, and sending air into water from the small hole provided in this bubble discharge pipe. Therefore, the generated bubbles have a large particle size of several mm, and there is a problem that the bubble diameter is large in order to allow the bubbles to penetrate into the fibers of the laundry.

  The present invention has been made in view of the conventional problems as described above, a washing tub for putting laundry, a bubble generating nozzle for supplying fine bubbles into the washing tub, and the bubble generating It is the structure provided with the saturated solution manufacturing apparatus for supplying a saturated solution with respect to a nozzle.

  Moreover, this invention is the said washing | cleaning apparatus, The said nozzle for bubble generation is the structure provided in the bottom part vicinity of the said washing tub.

  In the washing apparatus, the washing tub is rotatably provided in the outer tub, and the bubble generating nozzle is provided near the bottom of the outer tub.

  Moreover, this invention is a structure which the said saturated solution manufacturing apparatus sucks the water in the said washing tub, and supplies a saturated solution with respect to the said nozzle for bubble generation in the said washing | cleaning apparatus.

  Further, the present invention is a bubble generating nozzle for generating fine bubbles from a saturated solution supplied from a saturated solution manufacturing apparatus, in a flow path of the saturated solution supplied from the saturated solution manufacturing apparatus. A fine mesh member is provided on the downstream side of the arranged orifice, and a flow direction bent portion for bending the flow direction of the fluid after passing through the mesh member is provided in the flow path, and the flow direction bent portion is provided. It is the structure provided with the convection chamber which convects the fluid which passed.

  According to the present invention, fine bubbles adhere to the laundry, penetrate into the laundry fibers, and further, fine vibrations caused by ultrasonic waves generated when the fine bubbles are ruptured. Since the adhered dirt particles are removed, the dirt on the laundry can be effectively removed. Further, since washing can be performed without using a detergent, rinsing is easy and water consumption is reduced.

  As conceptually and schematically shown in FIG. 1, a washing apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an outer box 3, and an outer tub 5 is provided in the outer box 3.

  A washing tub 7 made of, for example, a punching board or a net member is rotatably provided in the outer tub 5. That is, the rotating shaft 11 rotated by the motor 9 and the washing tub 7 are interlocked and connected.

  The bottom 7A of the washing tub 7 has a structure having a large number of holes or a net shape, and a stirring blade 13 is provided on the bottom 7A. The stirring blade 13 may be configured to rotate integrally with the washing tub 7 or may be configured to rotate separately from the washing tub 7.

  Further, the washing apparatus 1 includes a saturated solution production device 15 for producing a saturated solution, and the suction side of the saturated solution production device 15 is connected to the inside of the outer tub 5 via a filter 17 and a suction nozzle 18. Communicated. The discharge side of the saturated solution manufacturing apparatus 15 is connected to a bubble generating nozzle 19 for generating fine bubbles.

  The saturated solution manufacturing apparatus 15 has a function of dissolving air in a pressurized fluid (water) sucked and discharged by a pump, for example. Since this kind of saturated solution manufacturing apparatus 15 is known, the saturated solution manufacturing apparatus 15 Detailed description of the solution manufacturing apparatus 15 is omitted.

  The bubble generating nozzle 19 (detailed configuration will be described later) includes a discharge port for discharging the saturated solution supplied from the saturated solution manufacturing apparatus 15 into the outer tub 5 and the washing tub 7. When the saturated solution is discharged from the discharge port, fine bubbles having a particle size of about 1 to 20 μm are generated. In addition, the code | symbol 23 in a figure is the on-off valve provided in the drainage channel.

In the above configuration, when the laundry is put into the washing tub 7 and water is supplied from the water supply unit 21 and then the saturated solution manufacturing apparatus 15 is driven, the water in the tub is sucked from the suction nozzle 18 and the air is saturated. Saturated water (saturated solution) dissolved in is produced and discharged from the bubble generating nozzle 19 into the tub. At this time, a large amount of fine bubbles having a particle diameter of about 1 to 20 μm are generated in the bubble generation nozzle 19 (about 8 liters / min, the density is 10,000 to 15,000 / cm ³ ), and the inside of the washing tub 7 is finely formed. Fill with white bubbles to make it cloudy.

  The fine bubbles in the washing tub 7 have a very small particle size, and therefore the rising speed is small, and the fine bubbles easily adhere to the laundry and easily penetrate into the fibers of the laundry. The dirt on the laundry is removed by adhering to the surface of the fabric and flowing out of the fiber, and by fine vibrations caused by ultrasonic waves generated when fine bubbles burst. Then, as the fine bubbles gradually rise, the dirt floats upward. Therefore, when the dirt floated by supplying water from the water supply unit 21 overflows from the outer tub 5, the dirt is discharged to the outside.

  At this time, if necessary, the motor 9 is driven for a short time to rotate the washing tub 7 and the agitating blade 13 gently, whereby the laundry in the washing tub 7 is agitated. It can be contacted evenly. The water in the tank can be discharged by opening the on-off valve 23, and washing and rinsing can be repeated as in the conventional case.

  As will be understood from the above description, fine bubbles are allowed to penetrate into the fibers of the laundry, and since the dirt is removed by the fine vibration caused by the ultrasonic waves generated when the bubbles burst, no detergent is necessary. Compared with the case where a detergent is used, rinsing can be performed in a short time, and water consumption can be reduced. Moreover, since it is not necessary to perform washing while stirring the laundry at a high speed as in the prior art, the washing can be performed without damaging the fabric as in the case of soaking.

  In the above description, the case where the washing tub 7 is configured to rotate about a vertical axis is illustrated, but the washing tub can be configured to rotate about a horizontal axis or an inclined axis. is there. In addition, in the case where the laundry is simply removed, as in the case of soaking, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which a bubble generating nozzle is directly attached in the vicinity of the bottom of the washing tub for storing the laundry. . That is, the present invention can be implemented with various modifications.

  Next, the configuration of the bubble generating nozzle 19 for generating fine bubbles will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the bubble generating nozzle 19 includes a nozzle body 25 that can be attached to the outside of the outer tub 5, and an inner body 31 that is detachable from the inner side of the outer tub 5 with respect to the nozzle body 25. Is provided.

  The nozzle body 25 includes an outer body 29 attached to the outside of the outer tub 5. The outer body 29 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and includes a flange portion 33 that can be brought into contact with the outer surface of the outer tub 5. The inner main body 31 includes a cylindrical portion 37 that passes through a hole 5H formed in the outer tub 5 and can be screwed into a screw portion formed on the inner peripheral surface of the large-diameter hole 35 of the outer main body 29. The outer tub 5 is sandwiched between the flange portion 33 of the outer body 29 and a flange portion 39 is provided.

  Accordingly, the outer body 29 is positioned corresponding to the hole 5H of the outer tub 5 and the cylindrical portion 37 of the inner body 31 is screwed into the screw portion of the large-diameter hole 35 of the outer body 29 from the inside of the outer tub 5. The nozzle body 25 can be attached to the outer tub 5 by tightening firmly.

  An inlet 45 that forms a flow path for a saturated solution (pressure-dissolved water) supplied from the saturated solution manufacturing device 15 is formed in the bottom portion (the back portion of the large-diameter hole 35) 41 of the outer body 29. It is. The inflow port 45 communicates with a cylindrical hollow pipe 47 projecting from the bottom 41 into the large diameter hole 35. The inner hole 47H of the hollow pipe 47 constitutes a flow path that is continuous with the inflow port 45.

  An orifice 65 having an appropriate number of small holes 65H is detachably fitted and fixed in the inner hole 47H as a flow path. The orifice 65 is seen in the flow direction of the fluid flowing in from the inlet 45. A net member 67 is detachably arranged on the downstream side (left side in FIG. 2).

  The mesh member 67 has a configuration in which a plurality of thin mesh bodies having a mesh size of, for example, about 30 to 60 mesh are overlapped. As shown in FIG. 2, it is desirable that the mesh member 67 is in contact with the downstream surface of the orifice 65 or is provided integrally therewith. However, the mesh member 67 is located downstream from the orifice 65. It can also be set as the structure arrange | positioned suitably in the side.

  In order to fix the orifice 65 and the net member 67, a fitting pipe 57 in which the inner wall 57 </ b> H is closed by a back wall 69 is screwed and fixed to the tip of the hollow pipe 47. A flow direction bending portion for bending the flow direction of the fluid in the inner hole 57H is provided at a position slightly upstream from the inner wall portion 69 (right side in FIG. 2). That is, the peripheral wall of the fitting pipe 57 is provided with a plurality of openings 71 that open toward the large-diameter hole 35 as a convection chamber. The opening 71 can be formed in a large through hole. The opening 71 includes a configuration having a net member similar to the net member 67 or a plurality of small holes (for example, a diameter of several mm). It is desirable to have a configuration.

  The large-diameter hole 35 as the convection chamber functions to convect and stir the fluid that has flowed in through the opening 71, and corresponds to the convection chamber (large-diameter hole 35). A disk-like cap 75 having a plurality of outlets 73 is detachably screwed and fixed. The outlet 73 may be provided with a mesh member having a fineness similar to that of the mesh member 67. It is desirable that the outlet 73 be a small hole having a diameter of several millimeters.

  In the configuration as described above, the bubble generating nozzle 19 has the orifice 65 and the mesh member 67 fitted into the inner hole 47H of the hollow pipe 47 in the nozzle body 25, and the fitting pipe 57 is connected to the hollow pipe 47. The orifice 65 and the mesh member 67 are fixed by screwing into the tip. And it uses in the state attached to the outer tank 5 by the outer side main body 29 and the inner side main body 31 integrally.

  In the above configuration, when the suction nozzle 18 and the inlet 45 are connected to the saturated solution manufacturing apparatus 15 and the saturated solution manufacturing apparatus 15 is driven, the water in the outer tub 5 passes through the suction nozzle 18 and the filter 17. The saturated solution producing device 15 is sucked.

  Then, in the saturated solution manufacturing device 15, pressurized dissolved water (saturated solution) in a state where air is dissolved and pressurized in water is manufactured, and the bubble generating nozzle 19 is supplied from the inlet 45 of the nozzle body 25. Will flow into. The saturated solution (pressure-dissolved water) that has flowed into the bubble generating nozzle 19 passes through the inner hole 47H of the hollow pipe 47 and is sprayed from the small hole 65H of the orifice 65 provided in the inner hole 47H toward the net member 67. The

  Since the saturated solution jetted from the small hole 65H of the orifice 65 is suddenly released and depressurized, air dissolved in the saturated solution is generated as bubbles. At this time, the bubbles are subdivided by passing through the mesh member 67 of a fine mesh, and after colliding with the inner wall 57H of the inner hole 57H in the fitting pipe 57 (crash) after passing through the mesh member 67. The

  Further, the fluid in the inner hole 57H of the fitting pipe 57 collides with the inner wall portion 69, the flow direction is bent by 90 °, and the convection chamber (volume from the outlet 71 is relatively larger than that of the inner hole 57H). Into the large-diameter hole 35), the pressure is further released to reduce the pressure and collide with the inner peripheral surface of the inner body 31, and further bubbles are generated from the saturated solution by the convection and stirring action in the convection chamber. To do. Then, the bubbles are further subdivided by the stirring action. At this time, when the fine bubbles pass through the outlet 71 by forming the outlet 71 into a small hole having a diameter of several millimeters, or by providing the outlet 71 with a fine mesh body. Further subdivided.

  As described above, the bubbles refined by the action of convection in the convection chamber, stirring, and colliding with the wall surface (inner peripheral surface) of the convection chamber pass through the outlet 73 of the cap 75, and the particle size is 1 to 20 μm. The fine bubbles are ejected into the outer tub 5 as fine bubbles. Fine bubbles in the outer tub 5 enter the washing tub 7 from the bottom of the washing tub 7, etc., penetrate into the fibers of the laundry in the washing tub 7, and clean the laundry as described above. It is.

1 is a schematic explanatory diagram conceptually and schematically showing a washing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional explanatory drawing of the nozzle for bubble generation.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Washing apparatus 5 ... Outer tub 7 ... Washing tub 15 ... Saturated solution manufacturing apparatus 19 ... Bubble generation nozzle

Claims (5)

  A washing tub for putting laundry, a bubble generating nozzle for supplying fine bubbles into the washing tub, and a saturated solution manufacturing apparatus for supplying a saturated solution to the bubble generating nozzle A washing apparatus characterized by that.   The washing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bubble generating nozzle is provided near a bottom of the washing tub.   2. The washing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the washing tub is rotatably provided in the outer tub, and the bubble generating nozzle is provided near a bottom of the outer tub. apparatus.   4. The washing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the saturated solution manufacturing apparatus is configured to suck water in the washing tub and supply the saturated solution to the bubble generating nozzle. And laundry equipment.   A nozzle for generating bubbles for generating fine bubbles from a saturated solution supplied from a saturated solution manufacturing apparatus, downstream of an orifice arranged in a flow path of the saturated solution supplied from the saturated solution manufacturing apparatus And a flow direction bent portion for bending the flow direction of the fluid after passing through the mesh member is provided in the flow path, and the fluid passing through the flow direction bent portion is convected. A nozzle for generating bubbles, comprising a convection chamber.

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