JP7680231B2 - Air bubble water generating unit - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a bubble-containing water generating unit capable of generating bubble-containing water containing fine bubbles such as ultrafine bubbles.

Conventionally, as described in Patent Document 1, an apparatus capable of producing a liquid containing fine bubbles is known. The apparatus described in Patent Document 1 is installed on the ground and is connected to a water tank by a raw water inlet pipe and a discharge pipe. This apparatus has a circulation pump and a pressure tank. Water from the water tank is pumped to the pressure tank by the circulation pump and stored in the pressure tank. A discharge pipe is connected to the pressure tank, and a fine bubble generator is provided downstream of the discharge pipe. In the process of discharging the water in the pressure tank through the discharge pipe into the water tank, fine bubble-containing water is produced, and the produced fine bubble-containing water is returned to the water tank.

Patent No. 4869922

As the conventional microbubble generating device described above is installed on the ground, conventional devices are often stationary. Devices equipped with a circulation pump and a pressure tank tend to be stationary and large in size. Such conventional stationary devices cannot be easily moved or transported. Therefore, for example, it has been difficult to apply such stationary devices outdoors (such as in a farm field) where there is no water source nearby.

The present invention aims to provide an aerated water generating unit that can be easily transported to a water source and generate aerated water even when aerated water is needed outdoors or in other places where there is no water source nearby.

The air-bubble-containing water generating unit (1) of the present invention comprises a pump (4) for sucking up water from a water source (S) via a water intake hose (30), a drive source (3) for driving the pump (4), an air bubble generator (20) for generating air bubble-containing water by circulating water through the pump (4), and a tank (2) for storing the air bubble-containing water, and the pump (4), drive source (3), air bubble generator (20), and tank (2) are mounted on a common portable base frame (10).

According to this air bubble-containing water generating unit (1), the set power sprayer (5), the air bubble generator (20), and the tank (2) are mounted on a common base frame (10), so that the base frame (10) can be easily transported to the vicinity of the water source (S). The air bubble-containing water generating unit (1) is installed near the water source (S), and the engine (3) drives the pump (4) to suck up water through the water intake hose (30), and the air bubble-containing water generated by the air bubble generator (20) can be stored in the tank (2). Therefore, even when air bubble-containing water is needed outdoors or in other places where there is no water source nearby, the air bubble-containing water generating unit (1) can be easily transported to the vicinity of the water source (S) to generate air bubble-containing water.

The air bubble-containing water generating unit (1) may further include a circulation line (L10) provided between the pump (4) and the tank (2) for circulating the water in the tank (2) by the pump (4), and the circulation line (L10) may incorporate an air bubble generator (20). In this case, the water drawn up by the water source (S) is temporarily stored in the tank (2), and then the water is circulated in the circulation line (L10) to generate air bubble-containing water, which can be stored in the tank (2). In other words, the circulation line (L10) is provided exclusively for generating air bubble-containing water. Even if it is difficult to generate air bubble-containing water simultaneously with water intake, air bubble-containing water can be reliably obtained. The air bubble-containing water generated using the circulation line (L10) has an increased concentration of air bubbles.

The air-bubble-water generating unit (1) may further include a switching valve (9) capable of switching the flow path for passing water in the tank (2) in either the negative pressure applying line (L4) connected to the water intake hose (30) for taking in water from the water source (S) or the circulation line (L10). By operating the switching valve (9), an operator can easily switch between the two modes of water intake and air-bubble-water generation.

The base frame (10) may have a portable bracket (14) that is attached to the underside of the tank mounting portion (15) on which the tank (2) is mounted, and into which the forks of a forklift can be inserted. The forks are inserted into the portable bracket (14) and the aerated water generating unit (1) is transported by a forklift, making the transportation of the aerated water generating unit (1) even easier. In particular, even when water is stored in the tank (2) (e.g., when the tank is full), the load of the aerated water generating unit (1) is supported by the underside of the tank mounting portion (15), making stable transportation possible. Even when the tank (2) is empty, the center of gravity of the aerated water generating unit (1) is closer to the set power sprayer (5), but the portable bracket (14) remains engaged with the fork of the forklift, making stable transportation possible.

According to the present invention, even when bubble-containing water is needed outdoors or in other places where there is no water source nearby, the bubble-containing water generating unit (1) can be easily transported to the vicinity of the water source (S) to generate bubble-containing water.

1 is a perspective view showing an aerated water generating unit according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a side view of the aerated water generating unit of FIG. 1; FIG. 2 is a front view of the aerated water generating unit of FIG. 1; FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view showing the pump and the air bubble generator of the air bubble-containing water generating unit of FIG. 1 . FIG. 2 is a piping diagram of the air bubble-containing water generating unit. FIG. FIG.

The following describes an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings.

With reference to Figs. 1 to 4, an aerated water generating unit 1 according to one embodiment will be described. The aerated water generating unit 1 is a portable unit, and is, for example, lifted by a forklift, placed on the platform of a vehicle such as a truck, and transported by being fixed thereto. Alternatively, the aerated water generating unit 1 may be transported in a lifted state by a forklift (when the transport route is horizontal). As shown in Fig. 1, the aerated water generating unit 1 includes a set power sprayer 5 having an engine 3 and a pump 4, and a tank 2 for storing fine bubble-containing water. The engine 3 is a driving source for driving the pump 4. The pump 4 is not particularly limited in type, but is, for example, a triple reciprocating pump. The engine 3 and the pump 4 are connected by a pulley, a belt, or the like provided between the output shaft of the engine 3 and the engine 3 and the pump 4. The pump 4 is driven by the engine 3 to pump water through each line described later. The engine 3 and pump 4 (set power sprayer 5) draw water from the water source S (see FIG. 5) through a water intake hose 30 (shown by a phantom line in the figure).

The bubble-containing water generating unit 1 includes a bubble generator 20 (see FIG. 4) incorporated in the discharge section of the pump 4. The bubble generator 20 generates water containing, for example, fine bubbles (bubble-containing water) by flowing water through the inside of the bubble generator 20. The bubble generator 20 includes, for example, an orifice section, and generates fine bubbles by the cavitation effect when water flows through it. The fine bubbles generated in the bubble generator 20 are, for example, ultra-fine bubbles (hereinafter referred to as UFB) with a diameter of less than 1 μm. The fine bubbles generated in the bubble generator 20 may be, for example, microbubbles with a diameter of 1 μm or more and less than 100 μm. A known UFB generator or the like may be used as the bubble generator 20.

The microbubble-containing water may contain a predetermined amount of a chemical. In this specification, "microbubble-containing water" or its higher-level concept "bubble-containing water" may mean water and microbubbles (air bubbles) drawn up from the water source S, or may mean water and microbubbles (air bubbles) plus a chemical.

The tank 2 is, for example, a plastic lorry tank. The tank 2 has a large circular top cover 2a on the top surface, and is provided with a water intake port 2b into which one end of a water intake hose 30 is inserted. In FIG. 1, a cap is attached to the water intake port 2b, but when the water intake hose 30 shown in phantom lines is inserted, the cap is removed. The tank 2 stores the microbubble-containing water generated by the pump 4 and the bubble generator 20. In the bubble-containing water generating unit 1 of this embodiment, the tank 2 first stores water (raw water) sucked up from the water source S. The tank 2 then stores the microbubble-containing water generated in the process of circulating the water. The capacity of the tank 2 may be determined appropriately, but may be, for example, within the range of 1000 L to 3000 L (typically 1000 L), or may be less than 1000 L.

The set sprayer 5, bubble generator 20, and tank 2 are mounted on a common base frame 10. The bubble generator 20 is a small device that can be incorporated into the set sprayer 5 (specifically, the pump 4), but the tank 2 and bubble generator 20 are relatively large devices and are heavy (the weight of the tank 2 naturally varies depending on the amount of water stored). As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the set sprayer 5 is installed on one end of the long side of the roughly rectangular base frame 10, and the tank 2 is installed on the other end of the long side (including the center).

Next, the configuration of the base frame 10 will be described with reference to Figs. 6 and 7. As shown in Fig. 6, the base frame 10 is made of, for example, a hollow steel material having a rectangular cross section. The base frame 10 has a frame body 11 including, for example, two first main frames 11a and two second main frames 11b forming a rectangular outer frame, and two subframes 11c spanning the first and second main frames to form a cross shape. The first main frame 11a forms the long side of the frame body 11 and is oriented in the long side direction described above. The second main frame 11b is oriented in the short side direction of the base frame 10. The first main frame 11a, the second main frame 11b, and the subframe 11c may be connected and fixed to each other by fastening members such as bolts and nuts, or may be connected and fixed by welding or the like. The top surfaces of the first main frame 11a, the second main frame 11b, and the subframe 11c are, for example, flush with each other with the same height.

6 and 7, the base frame 10 has a tank mounting section 15 on which the tank 2 is mounted, and a set sprayer mounting section 12 on which the set sprayer 5 is mounted. In a plan view, the tank mounting section 15 occupies more than half of a rectangular area including the center of the frame body 11. The tank mounting section 15 is composed of, for example, the entire second main frame 11b, parts of the two first main frames 11a, the entire (shorter) subframe 11c, and parts of the (longer) subframe 11c. The tank 2 may be mounted directly on the tank mounting section 15 (on the frame body 11), or may be mounted on the tank mounting section 15 (on the frame body 11) via a pedestal or the like.

The set sprayer mounting section 12 is provided, for example, at a corner on the frame body 11. The set sprayer mounting section 12 is composed of, for example, a base plate 13 that spans the remaining portion (other than the tank mounting section 15) of one first main frame 11a and the remaining portion (other than the tank mounting section 15) of one (longer) subframe 11c. The base plate 13 is fixed to each frame using screws, bolts, or the like. The set sprayer 5 including the engine 3 and pump 4 is fixed on the horizontal mounting surface of the base plate 13. The mounting surface of the base plate 13 is parallel to the above-mentioned flush tank mounting section 15.

The base frame 10 has a structure for fixing the tank 2, a structure for protecting the set sprayer 5, and a structure for transporting the set sprayer using a transport vehicle such as a forklift.

The base frame 10 has four fixing brackets 16 fixed to the first main frame 11a so as to protrude from the frame body 11. The fixing brackets 16 are provided symmetrically at the four corners of the tank mounting portion 15, for example. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, two belt-shaped bands 25 made of sheet metal or the like are laid along two tank fixing grooves 2e formed on the surface of the tank 2, and both ends (lower ends) of each band 25 are fixed to the fixing bracket 16 by tank fixing devices 26. The tank fixing device 26 fixes the tank 2 on the frame body 11 by tightening nuts on bolts. The bands 25 fit into the tank fixing grooves 2e, preventing the tank 2 from shifting position even during transportation of the air-bubble-containing water generating unit 1, and the tank 2 can be stably held.

The base frame 10 has a guard section 17 that is provided in an area corresponding to the set sprayer mounting section 12 and is erected on the frame body 11. The guard section 17 is erected at three locations, for example, one location on one first main frame 11a, one location on one (longer) subframe 11c, and one location on one second main frame 11b (opposite the tank mounting section 15), and is fixed to the frame body 11 using screws or bolts. The guard section 17 extends vertically and horizontally and includes an upper guard 17a that surrounds the outer periphery of the set sprayer 5, and a support 17b that is provided at the end of the upper guard 17a and fixed to the second main frame 11b.

As shown in FIG. 3, the support pillar 17b is oriented vertically and is positioned so that it overlaps the engine 3 when viewed from the front. The support pillar 17b does not overlap the pump 4 when viewed from the front, and is provided at a position that is retreated from the pump 4. The guard section 17 having such a simple configuration has a maintenance opening A formed between the upper guard 17a and the support pillar 17b. The manifold 4a of the pump 4 can be easily removed from this maintenance opening A (without interfering with the frame body 11 or the guard section 17).

1, 2 and 6, the base frame 10 has two portable brackets 14 attached to the underside of the tank mounting portion 15. The two portable brackets 14 are, for example, spanned across a pair of first main frames 11a, 11a and fixed to the underside of the first main frames 11a, 11a by welding or the like. The portable brackets 14 are, for example, steel members with a C-shaped cross section, and are fixed in a direction such that the upper surface is open. The two portable brackets 14 are arranged in parallel, and the distance between them corresponds to the distance between the forks of a forklift. Two forks can be inserted into the two portable brackets 14 from one end side of the portable brackets 14. Since both ends of the portable brackets 14 are open, access by a forklift is possible from either side of the aerated water generation unit 1. When the aerated water generating unit 1 is placed on a surface such as the ground or the bed of a truck, the two portable brackets 14 can serve as legs of the base frame 10, but an auxiliary frame 11e (see FIG. 2) having the same height as the portable brackets 14 is attached to the underside of one of the second main frames 11b (opposite the tank mounting portion 15). The two portable brackets 14 and the auxiliary frame 11e form three legs, and the aerated water generating unit 1 can be placed in a stable position even when water is stored in the tank 2, for example when it is full.

As shown in FIG. 6, a hose holder 18 for holding the water intake hose 30 wound in a circle is provided adjacent to the set power sprayer mounting portion 12. A hook portion 18a is provided at the upper end of the rod-shaped hose holder 18 that is provided to extend vertically from the first main frame 11a, and the water intake hose 30 can be hung on the hook portion 18a when not in use. The water intake hose 30 has a length of, for example, several meters to 10 meters, and after taking in water, it can be held in the hose holder 18 and stored compactly without taking up much space. The water intake hose 30 may be tied down with a Velcro band or the like.

Next, the piping system of the air bubble-containing water generating unit 1 will be described with reference to Figures 4 and 5. As shown in Figure 5, the pump 4 is connected to the tank 2 via a suction line L1, a discharge line L2, and a surplus water line L3. The discharge side of the pump 4 is connected to the discharge line L2 and a negative pressure applying line L4 that is connected to a connection part 30a of a water intake hose 30 to suck up water from a water source S. The connection part 30a is located near a jet pump part 31 provided at the tip. A pressure gauge 7 and a pressure adjusting valve 8 are provided at the discharge part of the pump 4.

Downstream of the pressure gauge 7, there is provided the above-mentioned bubble generator 20 and a switching valve 9 capable of switching the flow path to either the negative pressure applying line L4 or the discharge line L2. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the switching valve 9 has a lever 9a that can be operated by an operator. By turning the lever 9a to one side, the water intake line consisting of the suction line L1, the negative pressure applying line L4, and the water intake hose 30 is opened, and by turning the lever 9a to the other side, the circulation line L10 consisting of the suction line L1 and the discharge line L2 is opened. The surplus water line L3 is provided between the pressure adjusting valve 8 and the tank 2. A strainer 2d may be provided at the upstream end of the suction line L1.

As described above, the air bubble-containing water generating unit 1 is provided between the pump 4 and the tank 2, and includes a circulation line L10 that circulates the water in the tank 2 by the pump 4. The air bubble generator 20 is incorporated in this circulation line L10. The air bubble generator 20 is provided between the pump 4 and the discharge line L2. The air bubble generator 20 is also located between the pump 4 and the negative pressure applying line L4. When the water intake line formed by the negative pressure applying line L4 and the water intake hose 30 is opened, the water sent to the negative pressure applying line L4 passes through the air bubble generator 20. That is, the air bubble generator 20 is also incorporated in the water intake line. In other words, since the air bubble generator 20 is provided on the discharge side of the pump 4, between the pump 4 and the switching valve 9, the water passes through the air bubble generator 20 regardless of which flow path is switched to by the switching valve 9.

When the air bubble-containing water generating unit 1 of this embodiment is used, it is placed on the bed of a vehicle such as a truck and transported near the water source S. A small amount of water is stored in the tank 2 in advance. When the switching valve 9 is turned to open the water intake line and the pump 4 is driven, water is sucked up using negative pressure through the suction line L1, the negative pressure applying line L4, and the water intake hose 30. The water intake hose 30 is, for example, a jet pump hose, and has a jet pump section 31 at its tip. In addition, a check valve 32 is provided downstream (upper side when in use) of the connection section 30a to which the negative pressure applying line L4 is connected. After a predetermined time has passed, when the tank 2 is full of water, the pump 4 is stopped. After that, the switching valve 9 is turned to switch to the circulation line L10, and the pump 4 is driven again. As a result, fine bubble-containing water containing a high concentration of fine bubbles is generated and stored in the tank 2.

According to this air bubble-containing water generating unit 1, the set sprayer 5, the air bubble generator 20, and the tank 2 are mounted on a common base frame 10, so that the base frame 10 can be easily transported to the vicinity of the water source S. The air bubble-containing water generating unit 1 is installed near the water source S, and the engine 3 drives the pump 4 to suck up water through the water intake hose 30, and the air bubble-containing water generated by the air bubble generator 20 can be stored in the tank 2. Therefore, even when air bubble-containing water is needed outdoors or in other places where there is no water source nearby, the air bubble-containing water generating unit 1 can be easily transported to the vicinity of the water source S to generate air bubble-containing water. Since the tank 2 and the set sprayer 5 are integrated and built into the unit, there are no parts to be purchased separately. In addition, the tank 2 and the set sprayer 5 can be transported in just one trip.

The air bubble-containing water generating unit 1 further includes a circulation line L10 that is provided between the pump 4 and the tank 2 and circulates the water in the tank 2 by the pump 4, and an air bubble generator 20 is incorporated in the circulation line L10. Thus, the water drawn up by the water source S is temporarily stored in the tank 2, and then the water is circulated in the circulation line L10, generating air bubble-containing water that can be stored in the tank 2. In other words, the circulation line L10 is provided exclusively for generating air bubble-containing water. Even if it is difficult to generate air bubble-containing water simultaneously with water intake, air bubble-containing water can be reliably obtained. The air bubble-containing water generated using the circulation line L10 has an increased concentration of air bubbles.

The air bubble-containing water generating unit 1 further includes a switching valve 9 that can switch the flow path to either the negative pressure applying line L4 connected to the water intake hose 30 for taking in water from the water source S, or the circulation line L10. By operating the switching valve 9, an operator can easily switch between the two modes of water intake and air bubble-containing water generation.

The base frame 10 has a transport bracket 14 that is attached to the underside of the tank mounting portion 15 on which the tank 2 is mounted, and into which the forks of a forklift can be inserted. The forks are inserted into the transport bracket 14, and the aerated water generating unit 1 is transported by a forklift, making the transport of the aerated water generating unit 1 even easier. In particular, even when water is stored in the tank 2, for example when the tank 2 is full, the load of the aerated water generating unit 1 is supported by the underside of the tank mounting portion 15, allowing for stable transport. Even when the tank 2 is empty, the center of gravity of the aerated water generating unit 1 is closer to the set power sprayer 5, but the transport bracket 14 remains engaged with the fork of the forklift, allowing for stable transport.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments. For example, the portable bracket 14 is not limited to being attached to the underside of the tank mounting part 15, but may be attached to the underside of the set power sprayer mounting part 12. For example, one portable bracket 14 may be attached to the underside of the tank mounting part 15, and one portable bracket 14 may be attached to the underside of the set power sprayer mounting part 12. Two portable brackets 14 may be attached so as to cross the tank mounting part 15 and the set power sprayer mounting part 12.

A line including a water intake hose 30 and a negative pressure application line L4 for sucking up water from a water source S, and a circulation line L10 including a suction line L1 and a discharge line L2 may be provided separately. In this case, the switching valve 9 may be omitted.

The circulation line L10 does not have to be provided. Only a water intake line including the suction line L1, the water intake hose 30, and the negative pressure application line L4 may be provided, and the air bubble generator 20 may be incorporated into this water intake line. In this case, the efficiency of generating air bubble-containing water is lower than that of the configuration of the air bubble-containing water generating unit 1 described above (the configuration having the piping system shown in Figure 5), but the problem of the present application can be solved.

The pump 4 is not limited to being driven by the engine 3. An electric pump driven by a motor using electricity as a power source may also be used.

The structure of the base frame 10, i.e., the arrangement and combination of each frame, may be modified from the above embodiment. The layout on the base frame 10 may also be modified as appropriate.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Aerated water generation unit, 2...Tank, 3...Engine, 4...Pump, 5...Power sprayer set, 9...Switching valve, 10...Base frame, 12...Power sprayer set mounting section, 15...Tank mounting section, 20...Bubble generator, 30...Water intake hose, L1...Suction line, L2...Discharge line, L3...Overflow line, L4...Negative pressure line, L10...Circulation line, S...Water source.

Claims (4)

a pump (4) for drawing water from a water source (S) through a water intake hose (30);
A drive source (3) for driving the pump (4);
a bubble generator (20) for generating bubble-containing water by circulating the water therethrough using the pump (4);
A tank (2) for storing the air bubble-containing water,
The pump (4), the driving source (3), the bubble generator (20), and the tank (2) are mounted on a common portable base frame (10) to provide an aerated water generating unit (1). The bubble-containing water generating unit (1) according to claim 1, further comprising a circulation line (L10) provided between the pump (4) and the tank (2) for circulating the water in the tank (2) by the pump (4), and the bubble generator (20) is incorporated in the circulation line (L10). 3. The air-bubble-containing water generating unit (1) according to claim 2, further comprising a switching valve (9) capable of switching a flow path for passing the water in the tank (2) in either a negative pressure applying line (L4) connected to the water intake hose (30) for sucking up the water from the water source (S) or in the circulation line (L10). The aerated water generating unit (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the base frame (10) has a portable bracket (14) attached to the underside of the tank mounting portion (15) on which the tank (2) is mounted, and into which the forks of a forklift can be inserted.

Images