JP7702290B2 - Perforated plate - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to a strainer that is installed at the liquid outlet of a toilet bowl or the like.

As a method of detecting a clogged urinal, a technology has been proposed in which a sensor is incorporated into the urinal (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Patent Document 1 discloses a detection device that includes a Doppler sensor that generates a Doppler signal by transmitting a propagation wave to a water seal section provided in a part of the drain section and receiving the propagation wave reflected by the water seal surface of the water seal section, a water supply section that supplies water toward the drain section, and a detection section that controls the water supply section to supply water, obtains the time from when water is supplied until the width of the amplitude intensity of the Doppler signal becomes equal to or less than a first threshold, and detects that a clog has occurred in the drain section when the obtained time exceeds a second threshold.

JP 2016-61030 A

In order to detect clogged urinals using the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to replace existing urinals with the urinals disclosed in Patent Document 1, which can result in significant implementation costs. There is a need for technology that can accurately detect the drainage status of urinals and the like while keeping implementation costs down.

This disclosure has been made in light of these issues, and its purpose is to provide technology that can accurately detect the liquid discharge state.

To solve the above problem, the strainer of one embodiment of the present disclosure is a strainer that is installed at the outlet, and includes a main body having a shape that allows it to be installed at the outlet, a detection unit for detecting liquid, and a liquid guide unit for guiding the liquid flowing into the main body to the position of the detection unit.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a urinal according to an embodiment. FIG. 1 is a plan view of a urinal according to an embodiment. 1A and 1B are diagrams showing a configuration of a urinal according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the appearance of a strainer according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a perforated plate according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the state when wastewater is collected in the toilet bowl. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an estimation device according to an embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing another example of a perforated plate according to an embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing another example of a perforated plate according to an embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a schematic diagram of a flow of liquid in the perforated plate shown in FIG. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing another example of a perforated plate according to an embodiment.

As an embodiment of the present disclosure, a technology is described in which a detection device is incorporated into a strainer installed at the outlet of a urinal, the detection device comprising a detection unit for detecting drainage and a transmission unit for transmitting information related to the detection results by the detection unit to the outside.

Figures 1 to 3 show the configuration of a urinal according to an embodiment. Figure 1 is a front view of the urinal 1. Figure 2 is a plan view of the urinal 1. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the U-U portion in Figure 2. The urinal 1 comprises a urinal body 10, a toilet bowl 11, a water discharge portion 12, and a strainer 13.

The urinal body 10 has a top surface 10A, a left side surface 10B, and a right side surface 10C. The top surface 10A is flat and has a width in the front-to-back direction (front-to-back refers to the near side and far side in FIG. 1, the same applies below) and extends in the left-to-right direction (left-to-right refers to the left-to-right side in FIG. 1, the same applies below). The top surface 10A is curved and recessed in the rearward direction at the center of the left and right sides of the front end.

The left side surface 10B has a width in the front-rear direction and extends downward from the left end of the upper end surface 10A (the bottom is the bottom side in FIG. 1, the same applies below). The right side surface 10C has a width in the front-rear direction and extends downward from the right end of the upper end surface 10A. The dimension between the left side surface 10B and the right side surface 10C decreases as they go downward. The left side surface 10B and the right side surface 10C extend toward the left-right center while the front side of their lower ends protrude forward, and are connected to each other at the left-right center. The left-right center where the left side surface 10B and the right side surface 10C are connected recedes toward the bottom end. The rear ends of the upper end surface 10A, the left side surface 10B, and the right side surface 10C are formed on the same plane. This allows the urinal body 10 to be attached by abutting the rear ends of the top surface 10A, left side surface 10B, and right side surface 10C, which are formed on the same plane, against the wall surface W on which it is to be installed (see Figures 2 and 3).

The toilet bowl 11 has an opposing surface 11A, a pair of left and right flushing steps 11B, a drain 11C, and a convex portion 11D. The opposing surface 11A is curved and recessed in the rearward direction at the left and right central portion, and extends in the vertical direction facing forward. In detail, the opposing surface 11A has a left and right intermediate portion 11G that has a width in the left and right direction from the upper to lower parts of the left and right central portion and extends in the vertical direction. This left and right intermediate portion 11G is slightly curved and recessed in the rearward direction at the left and right central portion, and is formed in a substantially flat shape facing forward. In addition, the opposing surface 11A has a flat surface portion 11K formed in a flat shape at the upper end of the left and right intermediate portion 11G. In addition, the opposing surface 11A has a pair of curved surfaces 11H that are curved in the forward direction from both the left and right sides of the left and right intermediate portion 11G. These curved surfaces 11H are symmetrical to each other at the left and right center. These curved surfaces 11H are continuous with each other at the upper end of the left and right intermediate portion 11G and extend to the upper end of the opposing surface 11A. These curved surfaces 11H are continuous with each other at the lower ends of the left and right intermediate portions 11G and extend to the lower end of the opposing surface 11A. In the horizontal cross-sectional shape of the opposing surface 11A in the use state, the radius of curvature of the curved surface 11H gradually decreases downward. The toilet bowl 11 has a bowl-shaped portion 11J at its lower end, which expands upward into a bowl shape. The rear side of the bowl-shaped portion 11J is the lower end of the opposing surface 11A. The upper end of the opposing surface 11A of the toilet bowl 11 is connected to the front end of the upper end surface 10A of the urinal body 10. The left and right ends of the opposing surface 11A and the front upper end of the bowl-shaped portion 11J of the toilet bowl 11 are connected to the front ends of the left side surface 10B and the right side surface 10C of the urinal body 10, respectively. In addition, the opposing surface 11A has an insertion hole 11F that penetrates in the front-rear direction through a flat surface portion 11K formed at the upper end of the left-right intermediate portion 11G.

The pair of left and right cleaning steps 11B are provided on both the left and right sides of the toilet bowl 11, extending in the vertical direction. More specifically, the pair of left and right cleaning steps 11B are provided on the pair of curved surfaces 11H, symmetrically with respect to the left and right center. The upper ends of the pair of left and right cleaning steps 11B are located near both the left and right sides of the left and right intermediate portion 11G. The upper ends of the pair of left and right cleaning steps 11B are provided below the insertion hole 11F, with a predetermined distance between them and the insertion hole 11F provided in the flat portion 11K formed at the upper end of the left and right intermediate portion 11G of the opposing surface 11A. The pair of left and right cleaning steps 11B extend on the curved surface 11H of the opposing surface 11A, inclining downward and forward. More specifically, the pair of left and right cleaning steps 11B are curved and recessed downward, and extend downward and inclined (see FIG. 3). The dimension in the horizontal direction between the pair of left and right cleaning steps 11B increases from the upper end toward the vertical center (see FIG. 1). The left-right dimension between the pair of left and right flushing stages 11B decreases from the vertical center toward the bottom end (see FIG. 1). The bottom ends of the pair of left and right flushing stages 11B are connected to each other at the left-right center of the front side of the bowl-shaped portion 11J of the toilet bowl 11 (see FIG. 2).

The discharge outlet 11C is provided at the bottom end of the bowl-shaped portion 11J of the toilet bowl 11, opening in the vertical direction. In other words, the discharge outlet 11C is formed at the bottom end of the toilet bowl 11. The discharge outlet 11C is located behind the bottom ends of the pair of left and right flushing stages 11B. The discharge outlet 11C is connected to a drain pipe D drawn out from the wall surface W on which it is installed, via a discharge path 10K provided downstream of the discharge outlet 11C (see FIG. 3).

The convex portion 11D is formed in the left-right center of the opposing surface 11A in the use state, protruding forward and extending vertically. The upper end of the convex portion 11D is located below the upper end of the pair of left-right cleaning stages 11B and extends downward. In detail, the upper end of the convex portion 11D is located below the upper end of the pair of left-right cleaning stages 11B and near the upper end of the pair of left-right cleaning stages 11B (see FIG. 1). The lower end of the convex portion 11D extends to the lower end, which is the lower part of the opposing surface 11A. The convex portion 11D is formed to gradually protrude forward as it approaches the left-right center of the opposing surface 11A. In addition, the left-right dimension of the vertical center of the convex portion 11D is larger than the left-right dimensions of the upper end and lower end (see FIG. 1). In addition, the dimension of the vertical center of the convex portion 11D protruding forward is larger than the dimension of the upper end and lower end.

The water discharge section 12 has a spreader 12A which is a water discharge device. The spreader 12A is disk-shaped, and the central axis of the disk extends in the front-rear direction. The rear end surface of the disk-shaped spreader 12A is formed in a flat shape. The rear end surface of the spreader 12A abuts against the flat surface 11K formed at the upper end of the left-right intermediate portion 11G of the opposing surface 11A, and the spreader 12A is attached to cover the insertion hole 11F formed at the upper end of the opposing surface 11A from the front side. In this way, the spreader 12A is provided above the protrusion 11D and the pair of left and right cleaning stages 11B. The spreader 12A is also attached to the flat surface 11K formed at the upper end of the left-right intermediate portion 11G of the opposing surface 11A. A human body detection sensor is also provided on the disk-shaped front end surface of the spreader 12A.

The strainer 13 is disk-shaped with the central axis of the disk extending in the vertical direction. The outer diameter of the strainer 13 is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the drain outlet 11C. The strainer 13 has a plurality of protrusions (not shown) on the outer peripheral surface of the disk-shaped surface that extend radially outward. The plurality of protrusions have the same dimensions protruding from the outer peripheral surface. The strainer 13 is placed on the drain outlet 11C. At this time, the plurality of protrusions of the strainer 13 abut against the inner peripheral surface of the drain outlet 11C. As a result, the outer peripheral surface of the strainer 13 does not abut against the inner peripheral surface of the drain outlet 11C, and a predetermined gap can be provided between the outer peripheral surface of the disk-shaped surface and the inner peripheral surface of the drain outlet 11C. At this time, the convex portion 11D provided on the opposing surface 11A of the toilet bowl 11 has a gap between the lower end and the outer peripheral edge of the strainer 13.

Figure 4 shows the appearance of a strainer according to an embodiment. The strainer 13 comprises a strainer body 20 and a detection device 30 that is placed so as to fit inside the strainer body 20. The detection device 30 detects liquid present in the toilet bowl 11 above the discharge outlet 11C, and transmits information related to the detected results to an external estimation device. The transmitted information may be the detected results themselves, or may be information generated from the detected results. The estimation device estimates the discharge state at the discharge outlet 11C or the discharge path (discharge path 10K, drain pipe D, etc.) based on the information received from the detection device 30.

The detection device 30 may be configured integrally with the strainer body 20, or may be configured separately from the strainer body 20. In the former case, the technology of this embodiment can be applied simply by replacing the strainer of an existing urinal with the strainer 13 of this embodiment, without replacing or repairing the urinal itself, thereby reducing implementation costs. In the latter case, the detection device 30 may have a shape that allows it to be fitted or placed on the existing strainer body 20. This allows the technology of this embodiment to be applied simply by fitting or placing the detection device 30 of this embodiment on the strainer of an existing urinal, without replacing or repairing the urinal itself, thereby reducing implementation costs.

Figure 5 shows a schematic diagram of the configuration of the strainer according to the embodiment. The strainer body 20 has a bowl-like shape with a recess 21 on the inside, and the detection device 30 has an outer shape that fits into the recess 21 of the strainer body 20. The detection device 30 comprises a main body 31, a substrate 51 on which a communication device that functions as a transmitter is mounted, and a pair of electrodes 54 that function as a detector.

The main body 31 includes a cover 40, a storage section 50, and a bottom surface 60. The storage section 50 stores a substrate 51, electrodes 54, and a battery (not shown) that supplies power to the substrate 51. The substrate 51 includes a processing device 52 and a communication device 53. The processing device 52 includes an ammeter that measures the current flowing between a pair of electrodes 54. The processing device 52 generates communication data to be transmitted to the estimation device based on the measurement results of the ammeter. The processing device 52 may, for example, use the current value or resistance value measured by the ammeter as the communication data, or may count the time during which the current value measured by the ammeter is continuously equal to or greater than a predetermined value and use that as the communication data. The communication device 53 transmits the communication data generated by the processing device 52 to the estimation device via wireless communication.

The electrodes 54 are provided so as to protrude outside the storage section 50. When wastewater is present between the electrodes 54, the wastewater causes electrical continuity between the electrodes 54, and the current is detected by the ammeter. While the urinal 1 is in use, or while flushing water is being discharged after or when the urinal 1 is not in use, the wastewater flows inside the strainer 13, and the current is detected by the ammeter. If the condition of the outlet 11C and the discharge path is normal, the liquid level of the wastewater becomes lower than the electrodes 54 after a certain period of time, so that electrical continuity is no longer established between the electrodes 54, and the current is no longer detected by the ammeter. However, if the outlet 11C or the discharge path becomes clogged and the wastewater is not discharged normally, the time that the wastewater accumulates inside the strainer 13 increases, and the time that the current is detected by the ammeter increases. Therefore, in this embodiment, the state of drainage from drain 11C, such as whether drain 11C or the drain path is clogged, the degree of clogging, the amount of drainage remaining in toilet bowl 11, and overflow of drainage from toilet bowl 11, is estimated based on the time that the current is continuously detected. This allows the drainage state to be accurately estimated with a simple configuration, thereby reducing implementation costs.

Since urine contains more ions than the clean water used for the cleaning water, when urine is flowing between the electrodes 54, the resistance value measured by the ammeter is smaller than when only cleaning water is flowing. Therefore, by analyzing the current value or resistance value measured by the ammeter, the number of urinations, amount, time, components, etc. can be estimated. Even when wastewater is normally discharged, the ammeter continuously detects the current during the period when urination is taking place and the period when cleaning water is being discharged. However, since the time and amount of urination differ from person to person, the period during which the current is continuously detected by the ammeter also differs from person to person. Therefore, the period during which urination is taking place may be identified based on the current value or resistance value measured by the ammeter. This reduces the influence of individual differences in urination time, and allows the state of drainage to be more accurately estimated. When water containing detergent, rather than simply clean water, is used as cleaning water, the current value or resistance value of the cleaning water may be measured in advance.

The cover 40 has a cylindrical portion 41, an upper surface 42, and a water collection portion 45. The storage portion 50 is stored in a watertight space formed by the cylindrical portion 41, the upper surface 42, and the bottom surface 60. An opening 43 is provided between the upper surface 42 and the water collection portion 45 above the position of the electrode 54 of the cylindrical portion 41. The upper surface 42 is inclined so as to be lower toward the opening 43. An opening 44 is also provided between the upper surface 42 and the water collection portion 45 on the opposite side of the opening 43. The water collection portion 45 is formed in a donut shape so as to smoothly connect to the edge portion 22 of the strainer body 20. The upper surface of the water collection portion 45 is inclined so that the upper part of the opening 43 is lower. Wastewater flows from the edge portion 22 of the strainer body 20 to the water collection portion 45 and falls from the central opening of the water collection portion 45 to the upper surface 42. When a large amount of wastewater remains, it is discharged from both openings 43 and 44, but when the amount of wastewater becomes small, the remaining wastewater flows downward toward opening 43 due to the inclination of upper surface 42, and is discharged from opening 43 into between electrodes 54. This makes it possible to more reliably detect whether wastewater remains in the toilet bowl 11.

Figure 6 shows the state when wastewater accumulates in the toilet bowl. If the communication device 53 is submerged during drainage, the radio waves sent from the communication device 53 may attenuate, causing communication problems. Therefore, at least the communication device 53 is configured to float on water. In this embodiment, the board 51 on which the communication device 53 is mounted is accommodated in the accommodation section 50, which is stored in the main body 31, so that the entire detection device 30 is configured to float on water. In another example, only the communication device 53, or only the communication device 53 and a portion of the configuration, may be configured to float on water, and the other configuration may be configured to sink together with the strainer main body 20. With this configuration, the communication strength of the communication device 53 can be ensured and the stability of wireless communication can be improved. In addition, the power required for communication can be reduced, so that the battery can last longer.

A floating height detection unit may be further provided to detect the floating height when wastewater accumulates in the toilet bowl 11 and the configuration including the communication device 53 floats on the drainage. The floating height detection unit may include, for example, a resistance wire extending vertically and an ammeter that measures the resistance value of the resistance wire. In this case, the lower end of the resistance wire is attached to the strainer body 20 or a configuration that does not float on the water and maintains a submerged state together with the strainer body 20, and the configuration that floats on the drainage is provided with an electrical contact configured to change the conductive position with the resistance wire depending on the floating height. The floating position detection unit may be an ultrasonic sensor or a distance measurement sensor for detecting the height between the floating configuration and the strainer body 20, etc. Based on the floating height detected by the floating height detection unit, the water level of the wastewater accumulated in the toilet bowl 11 can be estimated, so that the discharge state of the wastewater can be more accurately estimated. In addition, it is possible to detect overflow of wastewater from the toilet bowl 11 and to issue a warning before the wastewater overflows from the toilet bowl 11.

Figure 7 shows the configuration of an estimation device 100 according to an embodiment. The estimation device 100 includes a communication device 101, a display device 102, an input device 103, a storage device 120, and a control device 110. The estimation device 100 may be a server device, a device such as a personal computer, or a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone terminal, a smartphone, or a tablet terminal.

The communication device 101 controls communication with other devices. The communication device 101 receives information from the communication device 53 of the detection device 30 via wireless communication. The communication device 101 may communicate with other devices via any wired or wireless communication method.

The display device 102 displays a screen generated by the control device 110. The display device 102 may be a liquid crystal display device, an organic EL display device, or the like. The input device 103 transmits instructions input by a user of the estimation device 100 to the control device 110. The input device 103 may be a mouse, a keyboard, a touch pad, or the like. The display device 102 and the input device 103 may be implemented as a touch panel.

The storage device 120 stores programs, data, etc. used by the control device 110. The storage device 120 may be a semiconductor memory, a hard disk, etc. The storage device 120 stores a detection information storage unit 121 and an estimation standard storage unit 122.

The detection information storage unit 121 stores information received from the detection device 30. The estimation criteria storage unit 122 stores estimation criteria for estimating the discharge state of the wastewater from the outlet 11C of the urinal 1.

The estimation criterion may be a criterion related to the time during which the presence of wastewater is continuously detected by the detection device 30. For example, if the time during which the presence of wastewater is continuously detected exceeds a predetermined threshold, it may be estimated that the outlet 11C or the discharge path is clogged. In addition, the degree of clogging of the outlet 11C or the discharge path may be estimated according to the time during which the presence of wastewater is continuously detected.

When the current value or resistance value is measured by an ammeter, the estimation criterion may be a criterion related to the measured current value or resistance value. For example, whether or not urination is occurring may be identified based on the measured current value or resistance value, and the time until the flushing water ejected after urination is discharged may be calculated by subtracting the period during which urination was occurring from the time during which the presence of wastewater was continuously detected, and the discharge state of the wastewater may be estimated based on the calculated time. The estimation criterion may be a criterion related to a statistical value, such as the average value, maximum value, minimum value, median value, rate of change, average value of the rate of change, or rate of change of the rate of change, calculated from the time-series current value or resistance value. The estimation criterion may be a criterion related to the shape of a waveform showing the change over time in the current value or resistance value.

The estimation criterion may be an algorithm that inputs detection information received from the detection device 30 or generated information generated from the detection information, and outputs the discharge state of the drainage water from the outlet 11C of the urinal 1. This algorithm may be realized by a neural network or the like, and may be learned by machine learning. In machine learning, a pair of past detection information or generated information and information indicating the drainage state at that time may be used as learning data. In this case, the intermediate layer of the neural network may be adjusted so that when past detection information or generated information is input to the input layer of the neural network, information indicating the drainage state at that time is output from the output layer of the neural network.

If there is a correlation between the detection information or the generated information and the water level of the drainage water accumulated in the toilet bowl 11, an estimation criterion for estimating the water level of the drainage water from the detection information or the generated information based on that correlation may be stored in the estimation criterion storage unit 122. This estimation criterion may be an algorithm that inputs the detection information or the generated information and outputs the water level of the drainage water. This algorithm may also be realized by a neural network or the like, and may be learned by machine learning. If the above-mentioned floating height detection unit is provided in the urinal 1, the water level of the drainage water may be estimated from the information detected by the floating height detection unit.

The control device 110 comprises a detection information receiving unit 111, a discharge state estimation unit 112, a water level estimation unit 113, an estimation result output unit 114, and an estimation standard setting unit 115. In terms of hardware, these components are realized by the CPU, memory, and other LSIs of any computer, and in terms of software, by programs loaded into memory, but here we depict functional blocks realized by the cooperation of these. Therefore, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that these functional blocks can be realized in various ways, such as hardware alone or a combination of hardware and software.

The detection information receiving unit 111 receives detection information from the detection device 30 and stores it in the detection information holding unit 121. If the estimation criterion held in the estimation criterion holding unit 122 uses generated information generated from the detection information received from the detection device 30, the detection information receiving unit 111 generates generated information from the detection information received from the detection device 30 and stores it in the detection information holding unit 121.

The discharge state estimation unit 112 uses the estimation criteria stored in the estimation criteria storage unit 122 to estimate the discharge state of the wastewater in the urinal 1 based on the detection information or generated information stored in the detection information storage unit 121. The discharge state estimation unit 112 estimates whether the discharge outlet 11C or discharge path of the urinal 1 is clogged or not, or the degree of clogging.

The discharge state estimation unit 112 may estimate the drainage state of the urinal 1 based on information that can be received from other devices, in addition to the information received from the detection device 30. For example, when the drainage state of the urinal 1 is estimated based on the time that drainage is continuously detected, the discharge state estimation unit 112 may estimate the drainage state of the urinal 1 by further acquiring information such as the time that a user was detected by the human body detection sensor of the urinal 1 and the time that flushing water was discharged from the water discharge unit 12. This allows the drainage state of the urinal 1 to be estimated more accurately.

The water level estimation unit 113 uses the estimation criteria stored in the estimation criteria storage unit 122 to estimate the water level of the drainage water accumulated in the toilet bowl 11 of the urinal 1 based on the detection information or generated information stored in the detection information storage unit 121.

The estimation result output unit 114 outputs the results estimated by the discharge state estimation unit 112 and the water level estimation unit 113. For example, the estimation result output unit 114 may display the estimation result on the display device 102, may output the estimation result as sound from a speaker not shown, or may transmit the estimation result to an external device via the communication device 101. The estimation result output unit 114 may determine the output destination depending on the content of the estimation result. For example, when the time during which the detection device 30 continuously detects drainage becomes longer than the first threshold value and there are signs of the drain outlet 11C or the drain path being completely clogged, the estimation result may be transmitted to a management entity or maintenance entity of the facility in which the urinal 1 is installed. When the drain outlet 11C or the drain path is clogged and the time during which the detection device 30 continuously detects drainage becomes longer than a second threshold value that is larger than the first threshold value, the estimation result may be transmitted to a cleaning company in charge of cleaning the urinal 1 in addition to the management entity or maintenance entity. Also, if it is estimated that the level of the drainage water accumulated in the toilet bowl 11 has reached a level that may cause overflow, or if it is estimated that the water level has already overflowed, the estimation result may be sent to a cleaning company in addition to the management or maintenance entity. This allows the appropriate entity to take appropriate measures depending on the drainage status of the urinal 1.

The estimation criterion setting unit 115 generates or acquires the estimation criterion used by the discharge state estimation unit 112 and the water level estimation unit 113 and stores it in the estimation criterion holding unit 122. The estimation criterion setting unit 115 may acquire the estimation criterion from an external device via the communication device 101. Also, the estimation criterion may be received from an administrator via the input device 103. The threshold time for which drainage is continuously detected, which should be assumed to be clogged in the discharge outlet 11C or the discharge path, may vary depending on the amount of flushing water discharged in the urinal 1, the discharge time, the attributes of the person using the urinal 1, the type of facility in which the urinal 1 is installed, the discharge performance of the discharge outlet 11C and the discharge path of the urinal 1, the volume of the toilet bowl 11 of the urinal 1, etc., so the estimation criterion may be set from an external device or the input device 103 via the estimation criterion setting unit 115. Also, the estimation criterion may be changed depending on changes in the usage status of the urinal 1, etc. If the algorithm of the estimation criterion is learned by an external learning device, the learned estimation criterion may be acquired from the learning device.

The estimation criterion setting unit 115 may perform machine learning of the estimation criterion using the detection information stored in the detection information storage unit 121 as learning data, and update the estimation criterion. The estimation criterion setting unit 115 may change the estimation criterion based on the history of the detection information stored in the detection information storage unit 121.

A part or all of the components of the estimation device 100 may be provided in the detection device 30. In this case, these components may be provided in the substrate 51 of the detection device 30, or may be realized by the processing device 52.

In the above embodiment, an example was described in which a detection device 30 is installed on the strainer 13 placed on the outlet 11C of a urinal 1, and the discharge state of wastewater from the outlet 11C is estimated, but the technology of this embodiment can also be used to estimate the discharge state of wastewater from the outlet of any toilet, washbasin, bathroom, bathtub, kitchen sink, etc. It can also be used to estimate the discharge state of liquid from any outlet for discharging liquid.

Figure 8 shows another example of a strainer according to an embodiment. In the example shown in this figure, the detection device is built into the strainer 13. Figure 8(a) is a top view of the strainer 13, and Figure 8(b) is a side view of the strainer 13. A circular recess 71 is formed near the center of the upper surface of the strainer 13, and an electrode 72 that functions as a detection unit for detecting liquid is provided at the bottom near the center of the recess 71. The peripheral portion 70 of the upper surface of the strainer 13 is inclined so that it becomes lower toward the end, and an opening 73 is provided on the inclined surface. The lower portion of the strainer 13 has a shape that fits into the discharge port 11C, and an electrode 54 is provided on the side below the opening 73.

The electrode 72 is provided on the upper surface of the strainer 13, and is configured so that when the user urinates, some of the urine collects in the recess 71, so that urination can be detected more reliably by the electrode 72. An opening may be provided in the recess 71 to allow the wastewater collected in the recess 71 to fall into the outlet 11C after the wash water is flushed after urination.

If wastewater remains in the toilet bowl 11, the electrode 54 can more reliably detect the wastewater falling from the opening 73 in the peripheral portion 70 of the strainer 13 toward the drain outlet 11C.

The processing device 52 and the communication device 53 are provided inside the strainer 13. The strainer 13 in this figure is also configured to float on water. This ensures the communication strength of the communication device 53 and improves the stability of wireless communication. In addition, the power required for communication can be reduced, which allows the battery to last longer.

Figure 9 shows another example of a strainer according to an embodiment. Figure 9(a) is a perspective view of the strainer 13 seen from diagonally above, and Figure 9(b) is a perspective view of the strainer 13 seen from diagonally below. In addition to the configuration of the strainer 13 shown in Figure 8, the strainer 13 shown in this figure is equipped with a liquid guide portion 74 for guiding liquid flowing into the strainer 13 to the position of the electrode 72.

The liquid guide portion 74 is provided on the peripheral portion 70 around the electrode 72 provided near the center of the upper surface of the strainer 13. The liquid guide portion 74 is provided at least in four places on the front, back, left and right of the electrode 72. The liquid guide portion 74 includes a protrusion protruding from the upper surface of the peripheral portion 70. The protrusion is provided along the radial direction from the end of the upper surface of the strainer 13 toward the center. In the example shown in this figure, two protrusions are provided facing each other along the radial direction at four places on the front, back, left and right of the electrode 72, forming a flow path from the end of the upper surface of the strainer 13 toward the center. This allows urine to be collected at the electrode 72 from the front, back, left and right directions of the electrode 72.

Figure 10 shows a schematic diagram of the flow of liquid in the strainer 13 shown in Figure 9. Liquid such as urine flowing from the toilet bowl 11 onto the top surface of the strainer 13 is guided by the liquid guide section 74 to flow toward the center of the top surface of the strainer 13, and flows down the inclined surface of the recess 71 to be collected at the position of the electrode 72. This allows even small amounts of urine to be detected more reliably. Furthermore, even if the orientation (rotation) of the strainer 13 cannot be fixed when the strainer 13 is installed, liquid such as urine flowing onto the top surface of the strainer 13 can be collected from all four sides at the position of the electrode 72 for detection, thereby improving detection accuracy.

Figure 11 shows another example of a strainer according to an embodiment. Figure 11 is a perspective view of the strainer 13 as seen from diagonally above. The strainer 13 shown in this figure has a liquid guide portion 74 that has a different shape from the strainer 13 shown in Figure 9.

In the example of FIG. 9, two liquid guide portions 74 are provided on each of the front, back, left and right sides of the electrode 72, but in the example of FIG. 11, one liquid guide portion 74 is provided on each of the four sides of the electrode 72. In this case, even small amounts of urine can be detected more reliably. Furthermore, even if the orientation (rotation) of the strainer 13 cannot be fixed when the strainer 13 is installed, liquids such as urine that flow onto the top surface of the strainer 13 can be collected from all four sides at the position of the electrode 72 and detected, improving detection accuracy.

The number, position, shape, height, etc. of the liquid guide sections 74 may be adjusted as desired depending on the shape and size of the upper surface of the strainer 13, the position of the electrode 72, etc.

The present invention has been described above based on the embodiments, but the embodiments merely show the principles and applications of the present invention. Furthermore, many modifications and changes in arrangement are possible to the embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention as defined in the claims.

1 urinal, 10 urinal body, 10K drainage passage, 11 toilet bowl, 11C drainage port, 12 water discharge section, 13 strainer, 20 strainer body, 21 recess, 22 edge, 30 detection device, 31 body, 40 cover, 41 tube, 42 top surface, 43 opening, 44 opening, 45 water collection section, 50 storage section, 51 substrate, 52 processing device, 53 communication device, 54 electrode, 60 bottom surface, 70 periphery, 71 recess, 72 electrode, 73 opening, 74 liquid guide section, 100 estimation device, 111 detection information receiving section, 112 discharge state estimation section, 113 water level estimation section, 114 estimation result output section, 115 estimation standard setting section, 121 detection information storage section, 122 estimation standard storage section.

Claims (5)

A perforated plate installed at a discharge port,
A main body having a shape that can be installed at the outlet;
A detection unit having an electrode that becomes conductive when drained, for detecting the presence of liquid;
a liquid guide portion for guiding the liquid flowing into the main body to the position of the detection portion;
A strainer equipped with a strainer. The strainer according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid guide portion includes a protrusion protruding from an upper surface of the main body. The detection unit is provided near the center of an upper surface of the main body,
The screen according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the liquid guide portion is provided around the detection portion. The strainer according to claim 3 , wherein the liquid guide portion is provided at least on the front, rear, left and right sides of the detection portion. The detection unit is provided in a recess in the upper surface of the main body,
5. A strainer according to claim 1, further comprising an inclined surface for allowing liquid to flow from the liquid guide portion towards the detection portion.

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