JP4358382B2 - Electrolyzed water generator - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electrolyzed water generator for producing alkaline water and acidic water obtained by electrolyzing water.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Devices that electrolyze water and electrolyze it into alkaline water and acidic water have already been used. This apparatus can collect acidic water in the vicinity of the positive electrode and alkaline water in the vicinity of the negative electrode. For this reason, alkaline water and acidic water can be drained by draining from the vicinity of the electrode. This type of device uses alkaline water as drinking water and acid water as water having a bactericidal effect.
[0003]
The electrolyzed water generator is a direct drainage type in which a universal discharge pipe is connected to the casing and alkaline water is drained therefrom, and the alkaline water is drained from the faucet by being connected to a water tap through two hoses. There is a faucet drain type. In the direct drainage type device, the inflow side of the ionization tank is connected to a water tap through a hose, and the tap water supplied from the water tap to the ionization tank is separated into alkaline water and acidic water in the ionization tank. Then, the alkaline water is discharged from the free discharge pipe.
[0004]
The faucet drain type device connects the inflow side of the ionization tank and the inflow side of the faucet with one hose, and separates the alkaline water drainage path separated from the ionization tank and the discharge side of the faucet with another hose. It is connected. As with the direct drainage type, this device supplies tap water from the tap to the ionization tank, separates the supplied water with the ionization tank to make alkaline water, and transfers the alkaline water to the tap with a hose. Drain from the faucet.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The direct drainage type can be installed easily because the electrolyzed water generator is connected to the tap with a single hose. Also, the faucet drain type device can be conveniently used by draining both tap water and alkaline water by switching the switching valve from the same faucet. Furthermore, as an improved type of electrolyzed water generator, a device has been developed in which a hose is connected to a faucet drain type and is connected to a switching valve connected to the faucet.
[0006]
These electrolyzed water generators are used in a state suitable for the state of use, but when used for a long period of time, calcium may precipitate on the inner surfaces of the free discharge pipe and the faucet and the amount of drainage may be reduced. In particular, in a device in which a calcium layer for adding calcium to alkaline water is connected, calcium may clog the inner surface of a free discharge pipe or a faucet, and the amount of drainage may be extremely reduced. Calcium adhering to the free discharge pipe and faucet is extremely hard and cannot be easily removed. In addition, when the amount of drainage is reduced due to adhering calcium, there is also a drawback that the pH and redox potential of the alkaline water to be discharged are significantly changed. When the current between the positive electrode and the negative electrode is constant and the flow rate of water passing through the ionization tank decreases, the degree of water ionization increases, the pH increases, and the redox potential increases toward the negative side.
[0007]
The present invention was developed for the purpose of solving such drawbacks, and an important object of the present invention is to freely discharge the alkaline water discharge port when calcium is deposited on the free discharge pipe or the faucet. An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for generating electrolyzed water that can be restored to a predetermined flow rate and switched to a predetermined pH and oxidation-reduction potential by switching between a pipe and a faucet.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The electrolyzed water generator of the present invention includes a positive electrode 16 and a negative electrode 17, and a separator 13 that allows ions to pass between the positive electrode 16 and the negative electrode 17, so that the inside thereof has a positive electrode chamber 14 and a negative electrode chamber 15. An ionization tank 1 that is separated into two, a power supply 8 that applies a direct current to the positive electrode 16 and the negative electrode 17 of the ionization tank 1, a casing 4 that contains the power supply 8 and the ionization tank 1, and an ionization tank 1 The alkaline water drainage channel 3 connected to the negative electrode chamber 15, the acidic water drainage channel 2 connected to the positive electrode chamber 14 of the ionization tank 1, and one end attached to the casing 4 connected to the alkaline water drainage channel 3. The free discharge pipe 5 is provided.
[0009]
Furthermore, the electrolyzed water generator according to claim 1 of the present invention is characterized by having all the following configurations.
(A) The alkaline water drainage channel 3 is branched by a branch water channel 6 provided inside the casing 4, and one branch channel 6 </ b> A is connected to the free discharge pipe 5 via a connection pipe 20.
(B) The other branch path 6B of the branch water path 6 is connected to a detachable pipe 19 that detachably connects a discharge hose 21 connected to the faucet 7 via a switching valve 18.
(C) The inflow side of the ionization tank 1 is connected to a tap faucet 23 via a supply hose 22 and a switching valve 18.
(D) The switching valve 18 is switched between a direct connection position where the inflow side and the discharge side of the water supply are directly connected and a bypass position where the inflow side of the water supply is connected to the supply hose 22 and the discharge side is connected to the discharge hose 21. When the switching mechanism is built in and the switching mechanism is in the direct connection position, tap water is discharged from the faucet 7 without flowing into the ionization tank 1, and when the switching mechanism is switched to the bypass position, the tap water is discharged into the ionization tank 1. The alkaline water is separated into alkaline water and acidic water, and the alkaline water is discharged from one or both of the free discharge pipe 5 and the faucet 7.
[0010]
The electrolyzed water generator according to claim 2 of the present invention removes the branch cap 24 attached to one of the detachment pipes 19 connecting the discharge hose 21 and the end of the universal discharge pipe 5 or the universal discharge pipe 5. And an outlet cap 25 attached to the connecting pipe 20. In the electrolyzed water generator, the branch cap 24 is attached to the desorption tube 19 to discharge alkaline water from the free discharge tube 5, and the outlet cap 25 is attached to the tip of the free discharge tube 5 or the free discharge tube 5 is removed. The alkaline water is discharged from the faucet 7 by being attached to the connecting pipe 20.
[0011]
In the electrolyzed water generating apparatus according to claim 3 of the present invention, the power source 8 has a built-in switching circuit for applying a reverse voltage to the positive electrode 16 and the negative electrode 17 by inverting +-, The switching valve 18 is set as a bypass position so that acidic water can be drained from the faucet 7.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the Example shown below illustrates the electrolyzed water generator for materializing the technical idea of this invention, and this invention does not specify the electrolyzed water generator to the following.
[0013]
Further, in this specification, in order to facilitate understanding of the scope of claims, the numbers corresponding to the members shown in the embodiments are referred to as “claims” and “means for solving the problems”. It is added to the member shown by. However, the members shown in the claims are not limited to the members in the embodiments.
[0014]
The electrolyzed water generating device shown in FIG. 1 includes a filter 12, an ionization tank 1, a power source 8, a casing 4, an alkaline water drainage channel 3, an acidic water drainage channel 2, a universal drainage pipe 5, and a flow sensor. 9, a control circuit 10, and a calcium ion adder 11.
[0015]
The filter 12 filters the supplied tap water with a filter medium to remove malodorous components such as chlorine and foreign substances contained in the water. The filter 12 has a cartridge case filled with a filtering material. The filter media has excellent adsorption capacity, such as all that can filter water clearly and remove odorous components, such as activated carbon, porous natural stone, porous natural stone pulverized and sintered into granular form, etc. Granules can be used. For example, the average particle diameter of 0.2 to 5 mm, preferably 0.25 to 0.8 mmφ is used as the filter material.
[0016]
The ionization tank 1 includes a positive electrode 16 and a negative electrode 17, and a separator 13 through which ions can pass is disposed between the positive electrode 16 and the negative electrode 17, and the inside is separated into a positive electrode chamber 14 and a negative electrode chamber 15. is doing. The ionization tank 1 electrolyzes water that has passed through the filter 12 and ionizes it into alkaline water containing positive ions and acidic water containing negative ions. The electrolyzed water ionized in the ionization tank 1 is drained from the alkaline water drainage channel 3 and the acidic water drainage channel 2.
[0017]
The positive electrode 16 and the negative electrode 17 are disposed to face each other. When the positive electrode 16 connected to the positive side of the power source 8 electrolyzes water, negative ions such as chlorine ions and hydroxide ions gather, and the negative electrode 17 collects positive ions such as calcium ions and hydrogen ions. The positive electrode 16 is made of a material having sufficient corrosion resistance against chlorine ions. For the positive electrode 16, for example, a titanium surface coated with iridium dioxide is used.
[0018]
The separator 13 is disposed between the positive electrode 16 and the negative electrode 17, and partitions the ionization tank 1 into a positive electrode chamber 14 and a negative electrode chamber 15. The separator 13 is a microporous membrane having fine voids that allow ions to pass therethrough. The microporous film is a non-woven fabric, water-resistant paper, or a plastic sheet having fine voids. The separator 13 prevents ionized alkaline water and acidic water from being mixed between the positive electrode chamber 14 and the negative electrode chamber 15. In addition, an insulating sheet can be used for the separator 13 to prevent the positive electrode 16 and the negative electrode 17 from coming into contact with each other and causing a short circuit.
[0019]
Alkaline water and acidic water flowing out from the negative electrode chamber 15 and the positive electrode chamber 14 of the ionization tank 1 are separately separated and discharged from the alkaline water drainage channel 3 and the acidic water drainage channel 2. The alkaline water drainage channel 3 is branched by a branch water channel 6 provided inside the casing 4. In the branch water channel 6, one branch channel 6 </ b> A is connected to a connection tube 20 to which the universal discharge tube 5 is connected, and the other branch channel 6 </ b> B is connected to the faucet 7 through a switching valve 18. Are connected to a detachable tube 19 which is detachably connected.
[0020]
The universal discharge pipe 5 can be freely deformed so that the opening end of the tip can be moved to a preferred position, or can be connected so that the rear end of the metal pipe can be rotated, and the rear end is connected to the connecting pipe 20. Yes. A universal discharge pipe can also be connected to a connection pipe as a structure which can be removed so that attachment or detachment is possible.
[0021]
In the electrolyzed water generator shown in the figure, the inflow side of the ionization tank 1 is connected to a tap faucet 23 through a filter 12, a supply hose 22, and a switching valve 18. The switching valve 18 is connected to the discharge side of the water tap 23. The switching valve 18 switches the water discharged from the faucet 7 between tap water and alkaline water. Therefore, the switching valve 18 is switched between a direct connection position where the inflow side and the discharge side of the water supply are directly connected, and a bypass position where the inflow side of the water supply is connected to the supply hose 22 and the discharge side is connected to the discharge hose 21. Built-in switching mechanism.
[0022]
When the switching mechanism of the switching valve 18 is in the direct connection position, tap water is discharged from the faucet 7 without flowing into the ionization tank 1. When the switching mechanism is switched to the bypass position, the tap water flows into the ionization tank 1 and is separated into alkaline water and acidic water, and the alkaline water is discharged from one of the free discharge pipe 5 and the faucet 7. However, the alkaline water can be discharged from both the free discharge pipe 5 and the faucet 7.
[0023]
The electrolyzed water generator shown in the figure drains alkaline water in the following state.
(1) When alkaline water is drained only from the free discharge pipe, the discharge hose 21 is not connected to the desorption pipe 19 at this time. A branch cap 24 is attached to the desorption tube 19 so that alkaline water is not drained therefrom. The outlet cap 25 is not attached to the distal end of the free discharge pipe 5, and alkaline water is drained from the free discharge pipe 5.
[0024]
(2) When alkaline water is drained only from the faucet, at this time, the discharge hose 21 is connected to the desorption tube 19 and this drain hose 21 is connected to the switching valve 18 so that the alkaline water can be drained from the faucet 7. . An outlet cap 25 is attached to the distal end of the universal discharge pipe 5 so that alkaline water is not drained therefrom. However, the universal discharge pipe 5 can be removed from the casing 4 without attaching the outlet cap 25 to the tip, and the outlet cap 25 can be attached to the connecting pipe 20 as shown by the chain line in the figure. At this time, the connecting pipe 20 from which the free discharge pipe 5 has been removed is closed by the outlet cap 25, so that the alkaline water is not drained from here.
[0025]
(3) When alkaline water is drained from both the free discharge pipe and the faucet, at this time, the discharge hose 21 is connected to the desorption pipe 19 and the discharge hose 21 is connected to the switching valve 18 so that the alkaline water is discharged from the faucet 7. Allow to drain. Further, the outlet cap 25 is not attached to the distal end of the free discharge pipe 5 or the connecting pipe 20, so that alkaline water can be drained from the free discharge pipe 5.
[0026]
The apparatus for generating electrolyzed water having the above structure has a very simple structure using the outlet cap 25 and the branch cap 24 and can prevent the alkaline water from being discharged from one of the universal discharge pipe 5 and the desorption pipe 19. However, the electrolyzed water generator according to the present invention is not required to use the outlet cap 25 or the branch cap 24, but to connect the on / off valves (not shown) to both the branch water channels 6 to discharge alkaline water. Can also be stopped.
[0027]
The power source 8 causes an electrolytic current to flow between the positive electrode 16 and the negative electrode 17 in a state in which water flows into the ionization tank 1. The power supply 8 in the figure adjusts the secondary output voltage of the power transformer to adjust the current flowing through the electrodes. In the strong electrolysis mode in which the voltage between the electrodes is increased, for example, an electrolytic current of 4 to 8 A is passed through the positive electrode 16 and the negative electrode 17. When the electrolysis current passed through the positive electrode 16 and the negative electrode 17 is increased, the pH of the alkaline water is increased, and on the contrary, the pH of the alkaline water is decreased.
[0028]
The power supply 8 has a power switch (not shown). When the power switch is turned on, the power supply 8 applies a voltage between the electrodes. When the power switch is turned off, no voltage is applied between the electrodes. The power source 8 is connected to the primary side of the power transformer. The power switch is controlled to be turned on / off by the control circuit 10. The power switch is controlled to be turned on when discharging alkaline water and acidic water from the ionization tank 1 and turned off when discharging purified water.
[0029]
The acidic water drainage channel 2 is connected to the positive electrode chamber 14 of the ionization tank 1 and discharges the acidic water in the positive electrode chamber 14. The acidic water is discharged from the acidic water drainage channel 2 when the alkaline water is discharged from the alkaline water drainage channel 3.
[0030]
The flow sensor 9 detects whether water is passing through the ionization tank 1 and inputs the signal to the control circuit 10. In the illustrated apparatus, a flow sensor 9 is connected to the inflow side of the ionization tank 1. The flow sensor can also be connected to an alkaline water drainage channel on the discharge side of the ionization tank. As the flow rate sensor 9, one having a structure for rotating the impeller with flowing water can be used. In this flow sensor, a magnet is fixed to the rotating shaft of the impeller, and a magnetic sensor is disposed in the vicinity of the passage of the magnet. The magnetic sensor outputs a pulse signal of one pulse when the rotating shaft rotates once and the magnet passes. The flow sensor 9 rotates the impeller in proportion to the flow rate of water flowing into the ionization tank 1 and outputs a pulse signal proportional to the rotation of the impeller.
[0031]
The control circuit 10 determines that water is flowing into the ionization tank 1 when a pulse signal is input from the flow sensor 9, and water is not flowing into the ionization tank 1 when no pulse signal is input. Is determined.
[0032]
Furthermore, in the electrolyzed water generator of the present invention, the power supply 8 can also incorporate a switching circuit that inverts the + − output voltage. This power supply can invert +/- of the output voltage by a switching circuit and apply a reverse voltage to the positive electrode 16 and the negative electrode 17. When a reverse voltage is applied, the polarity of each electrode plate is reversed, and alkaline water and acidic water are discharged in reverse from each discharge path. This electrolyzed water generator drains acidic water from the faucet 7 when the switching valve 18 is in the bypass position while applying a reverse voltage. The acidic water can be discharged only from the faucet 7 by attaching the outlet cap 25 to the tip of the universal discharge pipe 5 or by removing the universal discharge pipe 5 and attaching the outlet cap 25 to the connecting pipe 20. It is also possible to discharge from both the free discharge pipe 5 and the faucet 7 without attaching the outlet cap 25 to the distal end of the free discharge pipe 5 or the connecting pipe 20. Furthermore, this generator can also drain acid water from only the free discharge pipe 5 by attaching the branch cap 24 without connecting the discharge hose 21 to the desorption pipe 19.
[0033]
【The invention's effect】
The apparatus for generating electrolyzed water according to the present invention can switch alkaline water between a free discharge pipe and a faucet when calcium is deposited and clogged in the free discharge pipe or the faucet. For this reason, when alkaline water is drained using either one of the free discharge pipe or faucet, when the free discharge pipe or faucet used is clogged with calcium and the flow rate drops, By switching to the drainage channel, it can be restored to a predetermined flow rate again. For this reason, the electrolyzed water generator of the present invention can maintain the drainage flow rate of alkaline water at a predetermined flow rate over a long period of time, reducing fluctuations in pH and redox potential due to changes in the flow rate of alkaline water, Stable alkaline water can be drained. The electrolyzed water generator of the present invention branches only the alkaline water drainage channel and does not branch the acidic water drainage channel. This is because, in the acidic water drainage channel, calcium or the like does not precipitate, so that the discharge amount of acidic water does not decrease even if it does not branch.
[0034]
Furthermore, the electrolyzed water generator according to claim 2 of the present invention is characterized in that alkaline water can be discharged by switching between the free discharge pipe and the faucet with a very simple operation. The generator has a branch cap attached to one of the detachable pipes connecting the discharge hose, and an outlet cap attached to the distal end of the universal discharge pipe or removed from the universal discharge pipe and attached to the connection pipe. Because it has. In this generator, the branch cap is attached to the desorption tube to discharge the alkaline water from the universal discharge tube, or the outlet cap is attached to the tip of the universal discharge tube, or the universal discharge tube is removed and attached to the connecting tube. Alkaline water can be discharged from the tap. Therefore, it is possible to discharge alkaline water from either one very easily and reliably by switching between the free discharge pipe and the faucet. Furthermore, this generator can also discharge | emit alkaline water from both a universal discharge pipe and a faucet in the state which does not use both a branch cap and an exit cap.
[0035]
Further, in the electrolyzed water generating apparatus according to claim 3 of the present invention, the power source has a built-in switching circuit for applying the reverse voltage to the positive electrode and the negative electrode by inverting +-, so that the reverse voltage is applied to each electrode. Then, alkaline water and acidic water can be reversed and discharged. Furthermore, this generator makes it possible to drain acidic water from the faucet with the switching valve as a bypass position. For this reason, this electrolyzed water generating device uses acid water conveniently by inverting +-in the switching circuit of the power source and discharging acidic water from the faucet by a very simple operation with the switching valve as a bypass position. There is a feature that can be.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electrolyzed water generator according to an embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Ionization tank 2 ... Acidic water drainage channel 3 ... Alkaline water drainage channel 4 ... Casing 5 ... Swivel discharge pipe 6 ... Branch water channel 6A ... Branch channel 6B ... Branch channel 7 ... Faucet 8 ... Power supply 9 ... Flow rate sensor 10 ... Control circuit DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Adder 12 ... Filter 13 ... Separator 14 ... Positive electrode chamber 15 ... Negative electrode chamber 16 ... Positive electrode 17 ... Negative electrode 18 ... Switching valve 19 ... Desorption pipe | tube 20 ... Connecting pipe 21 ... Discharge hose 22 ... Supply hose 23 ... Water tap 24 ... branch cap 25 ... outlet cap

Claims (3)

A positive electrode (16) and a negative electrode (17) are built in, and a separator (13) through which ions can pass is disposed between the positive electrode (16) and the negative electrode (17), so that the inside of the positive electrode chamber (14) and the negative electrode An ionization chamber (1) separated into a chamber (15), a power source (8) for applying a direct current to the positive electrode (16) and the negative electrode (17) of the ionization chamber (1), and the power source (8) The casing (4) containing the ionization tank (1), the alkaline water drainage channel (3) connected to the negative electrode chamber (15) of the ionization tank (1), and the positive electrode chamber ( 14) an acidic water drainage channel (2) coupled to the alkaline water drainage channel (3) and a universal drainage pipe (5) having one end attached to the casing (4). An electrolyzed water generator characterized by having all the following configurations.
(A) The alkaline water drainage channel (3) is branched by the branch water channel (6) provided inside the casing (4), and one branch channel (6A) is freely discharged through the connecting pipe (20). Connected to tube (5).
(B) The other branch passage (6B) of the branch water passage (6) is connected to the discharge hose (21) connected to the faucet (7) through the switching valve (18) so as to be detachable. It is linked to.
(C) The inflow side of the ionization tank (1) is connected to a water tap (23) through a supply hose (22) and a switching valve (18).
(D) The switching valve (18) connects the inflow side and the discharge side of the water supply directly, and connects the inflow side of the water supply to the supply hose (22) and connects the discharge side to the discharge hose (21). A switching mechanism that can be switched to the bypass position is built in.If the switching mechanism is in the direct connection position, tap water is discharged from the faucet (7) without flowing into the ionization tank (1), and the switching mechanism is moved to the bypass position. When switched, tap water flows into the ionization tank (1) and is separated into alkaline water and acidic water, so that the alkaline water is discharged from one or both of the free discharge pipe (5) and the faucet (7). It is composed. Branch cap (24) attached to the desorption tube (19) connecting the discharge hose (21) and the tip of the universal discharge tube (5) or by removing the universal discharge tube (5) The outlet cap (25) is attached to the pipe, and the branch cap (24) is attached to the desorption pipe (19) to discharge alkaline water from the universal discharge pipe (5), and the outlet cap (25) is free. The alkaline water is discharged from the faucet (7) by removing the universal discharge pipe (5) and attaching it to the connecting pipe (20) at the tip of the discharge pipe (5). Electrolytic water generator. The power supply (8) has a built-in switching circuit that reverses +-and applies a reverse voltage to the positive electrode (16) and the negative electrode (17). With the reverse voltage applied, the switching valve (18) is bypassed. The apparatus for generating electrolyzed water according to claim 1, wherein acid water can be drained from the faucet (7).

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