Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SPECIFICATION
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
Sanitary Cleaniny Equipment
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a sanitary cleaning
equipment wherein a warm cleaning water in a warm
water tank body is directed in a jet against an area
to be cleaned through a flushing nozzle by a pump,
which equipment being adapted to prevent damage due to
overheating by an idle or unloaded heating of the warm
water tank.
TECHNICAL BACK~ROUND
This kind o sanitary cleaning device is
generally used in combination with a Western-style
water closet and its principal function is to clean a
selected area of the user's body with jets of cleaning
water from a flushing nozzle thereof, The cleaning
water i~ usually withdrawn from a water tank in -the
lavatory or the like and supplied to a -flushing nozzle
by means of a pump, and in order to give a better
feeling of use, this cleaning water is warmed to a
temperature of about 45C in a warm water tank before
bèing fed to said flu,shing nozzle.
Now, the warm water tank of the prior art ,~.
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sanitary cleaning equipment has the construction
illustrated in Fig. 8. Thus, the warm water tank 1 is
constructed as a closed vessel in which a heater 2 and
a temperature sensor 3 are disposed. Moreover, a
sa~ety device 4 comprising a resetting-type thermostat
inserted in the circuit of said heater 2 is provided
externally of the tank in thermal coupling relationship.
Connected to this warm water tank 1 are a water
conduit pipe 5 from the pump (not shown) and a warm
water outlet 6 discharging into the nozzle (not
shown). It should be understood that said temperature
sensor 3 is adapted to actuate the thermostat (not
shown) in the electric circuit of said heater 2 and
thereby control the current supply so as to maintain
the warm water in the warm water tank 1 at a preset
temperature.
Moreover, a temperature fuse 10 is provided at an
exterior periphery near the bottom of such a
conventional warm water tank 1, while the top opening
of the tank 1 is covered with a plate 7. This
construction is generally such that the temperature
sensor 3 detectes the temperature of the cleaning
water ~hereinafter referred to as water temperature)
in the warm water tank to drive the thermostat and
thereby control the water temperature to a preset
level and if the temperature of the warm water tank 1
rises to an abnormal level, the safety device 4 is
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actuated to interrupt the supply of electric energy to
the heater 2.
However, the above construction has the following
problems. Thus, when it is used after installation or
a drainage from a drain 11 for preventing freezing in
the winder, the warm water tank 1 is empty and,
therefore, if the power supply is turned on, the
heater 2 generates heat while the pump has not
delivered enough water to the warm water tank 1 as
yet. Generally because of its inherent application,
the warm water tank 1 is of a small capacity
(approximately 1 liter), while the heater is of high
output (about 850W) with a fast temperature rise
characteristic and attains a temperature of about
200C almost instantly. The safety device 4 is
actuated at about 53C but since it is installed
externally of the warm water tank 1, its response is
delayed and the temperature sensor 3 is deteriorated
by heat before the safety device 4 is actuated. (The
above-mentioned sensor 3 is intended for strict
temperature detection but it gives rise to an error
due to the overheating by the heater ~). Moreover,
the overheating by said heater 2 causes an idle or
unloaded heating of the warm water tank and this means
that the warm water tank 1 cannot be constructed of a
synthetic resin or the like but must be made of metal,
thus adding to the cost of the equipment.
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To overcome the above disadvantages, the followingsequence may be contemplated.
(1) Heater 2 switch "OFF"
(2) Pump switch "ON"
(3) Water tank 1 full
(4) Heater 2 switch "ON".
However, this procedure is troublesome and if the heater 2
switch is ON to start with, the same problem as above arises
inevitably.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
This invention has as its object to prevent the heat
damage due to an idle or unloaded heating of the warm water
tank.
This object is achieved by the provision of a sanitary
cleaning equipment characterized by comprising a warm water
tank, a flushing nozzle connected to said warm water ~ank,
spouting mean for directing a jet of cleaning water from
said warm water tank against an area ~o be cleaned, said
warm water tank including therein a heater, a temperature
sensor and a cleaning water level sensor adapted to sense
the quantity of cleaning water in said warm water tank, and
a switch interposed in an electric circuit of said heater
and adapted to open when the ~uantity of said cleaning water
is below a preset level.
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The cleaning water level sensor can be a floa~
The main body of said warm water tank is preferably
made of synthetic resin.
The heater can be a sheathed heater comprising a
metallic pipe, a heat generating wire contained therein and
a non-heat-generating part at the end thereof, a temperature
fuse inserted in the electric circuit of said sheathed
heater being attached to said non-heat-generating part at
the end of said sheathed heater by way of a metallic heat-
sensitive plate. The metallic heat-sensitive plate can have
a bracing member which secures said temperature fuse in
position.
The temperature sensor can be a bar-shaped element
which is supported by a support segment having a plurality
of chucking members.
The cleaning water level sensor can comprise a float
disposed in said warm water tank, an actuating rod extending
upwards from said float and a switch which is opened and
closed by said actuating rod. A sealing member can be
provided at the actuating rod extending through a guide hole
of said warm water tank, said sealing member having a
resilient annular edge.
An embodiment of this invention will hereinafter be
described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is an exterior perspective view showing a
sani~ary cleaning equipment embodying the invention; Fig. 2
is a perspective view showing the same sanitary cleaning
equipment with its external casing removed; Fig. 3 is a
cross-section view showing the warm water tank of the same
sanitary cleaning equipment; Fig. 4a is a perspective view
showing the float in said warm water tank; Fig. 4b is a
cross-section view showing a
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cardinal portion of the same float; Fig. 5 is a
perspective view showing the connection of the
sheathed heater and temperature fuse of the same water
tank; Fig. 6 is a cross-section view showing the
temperature sensor holder of the same warm water tank;
Fig. 7 shows an important electric circuitry of the
same warm water tank; and Fig. 8 is a cross-section
view showing the conventional warm water tank.
BEST MOD~ FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Referring to Figs. 1 through 7, a sanitary
cleaning equipment body 9 is installed on a toilet
bowl 8. A flushing nozzle 12 of said sanitary
cleaning equipment 9 is extended to a toilet bowl 8
when a warm cleaning water is delivered, where it
delivers a jet of the water against a selected area of
the user's body to clean the same.
FigO 2 is a perspective view showing said
sanitary cleaning equipment body with its outer casing
removed. Disposed on a base 13 are a pump 14 ~or
withdrawing water from a low tank (not shown), a
solenoid valve 15 disposed on the delivery side of the
pump 14 and a warm water tank 16 disposed downstreams
of said solenoid valve 15, said ~lushing nozzle 12
leading out from this warm water tank 16. Also
disposed on said base 13 is a fan means (not shown),
as well as a blowout port 17 for the warm air current
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obtainable by said fan means and a heater (not shown)
and a suction port 18 for collecting an odoriferous
air from the toilet bowl 8 through the action of said
fan means. In addition, control sections 19, 20 are
disposed on both sides thereof.
The above-mentioned warm water tan]c 16 has the
construction illustrated in Fig. 3. Thus, a plate 22
of synthetic resin is disposed on a tank body 21 of
synthetic resin to provide a hermetically closed
structure. Disposed within this tank body 21 are a
sheathed heater, a temperature sensor 24 and a water
pipe 25 leading from the pump 14. And the plate 22
functions as a support for said sheathed heater 23,
temperature sensor 24 and water pipe 25. A float 26
is placed in the tank bod~. Provided at the top
portion of said float 26 is a sealing member 29 of
rubber or other elastic synthetic resin in such a
manner that it surrounds the base portion of an
actuating rod 27. This float will be described in
detail below with reference to Figs. 3 and 4.
The above-mentioned sealing member 29 has a
flared trumpet-shaped resilient annular edge 38 at its
peripheral top. Of course, this sealing member 29 has
an outer diameter greater than the diameter of the
guide hole 28 in the plate 22.
An annular groove is formed in the portion of the
actuating rod 27 of the float 26 which is extending
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above the plate 22 and a slip-preventive washer 40
having an outer diameter greater than the diameter of
the guide hole 28 is fitted into said groove 39.
Disposed atop the plate 22 is a switch 31 inserted
into the electric circuit of said sheathed heater 23
and an actuating member 32 thereof is associated with
the top of the actuating rod 27 of the float 26 in
such a manner that a~ the-actuating mem~er 27 is
pushed upwards, the above-mentioned switch 31 is
closed to energize the sheathed heater 23. The
above-mentioned plate ~Z is provided with a water
outlet 34, where a vacuum destruction valve 35 is
disposed. Moreover, a water oputlet pipe 36 is
connected to this water outlet 34. Disposed on one
side of the tank body 21 is a resetting-type
thermostat 33, while a drain 41 is formed at the
bottom of the tank body. Tllere is also provided a
temperature fuse 37 at the upper joint of the sheathed
heater 23. These thermostat 33 and temperture fuse 37
are respectively inserted into the electric circuit of
the sheathed heater 23 and function as safety
elements. The water pipe 25 is connected to the pump
14 for the supply of cleaning water, while the water
outlet plpe 36 is connected to the flushing nozzle 12.
The sheathed heater 23 will now be described in
detail. Referring to Fig. 3, the sheathed heater 23
has a heat-generating wire 23b in a metallic pipe 23a,
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with its non-heat-generating part 23c formed at the
end thereof projecting above said plate 22. As shown
in Fig. 5, this non-heat-generating part 23c above the
plate 22 is flanked by a metallic heat~sensitive plate
member 42 which is tightened with a screw 43 to
present a mechanically and thermally integral unit.
The above-mentioned metallic heat-sensitive plate
mern)~er 42 is formed with a bracing member 4~ which
supports the temperature fuse 37 inserted into the
electric circuit of said sheathed heater 23. The
temperature fuse 37 in this embodiment is provided
with a heat-conductive metal pipe 37a around its
periphery. While the sheathed heater 23 is supported
by the plate 22, this is assisted by said metallic
heat-sensitive plate member 42.
Referringl now, to Fig. 6, the temperature sensor
24 is a bar-shaped element, the top end of which is
supported by a support segment 45 formed as projecting
downwards from the underside of the plate ~2. The
support segment 45 has a plurality of downwardly
extending chucking members 26 which chuck the upper
periphery of the temperature sensor 24 to hold the
latter in position. The chucking members 46 are
resiliently biased inwards and the outer diameter of
the temperature sensor 24 is slightly larger than the
diameter of the opening defined by said plurality of
chucking members 46. Therefore, the temperature
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sensor 24 is adequately supported in position as it is
forced into the opening defined by the plurality of
chuckig members 46.
Fig. 7 is an electric circuit diagram and this
invention will now be explained with reference to this
dlagram.
Referring to the tank body 21 of said warm water
tank 16, when a sufficient amount of cleaning water is
available therein, the float 26 is at a high level so
that its actuating rod 27 keeps on the switch 31 shown
in Fig. 7. Therefore, as long as the power switch 30
is on, the sheathed heater 23 is supplied with
electric current so that the cleaning water is warmed.
And when the pump 14 is driven, the pressure causes
the warm water to flow from its water outlet 34 to the
flushing nozzle 12, from which the warm water is
directed in a jet against the body area to be cleaned.
The temperature of cleaning water in the above-
mentioned tank body 21 is sensed by the temperature
sensor 24 and the output signal is used to control the
thermostat, etc. in the circuit of the sheathed heater
23 to keep the warm water at a temperature of, ~or
example, 45C.
Usually, the above-mentioned float 26 is held in
the uppermost position within the tank body 21 by the
cleaning water filled up to capacity and forces the
sealing member 290 against the lower edge of the guide
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hole 28. Therefore, even if the tank body 21 is
supplied with water from the pump 14 and the water
pressure in the tank body 21 is increased, the
cleaning water in the tank body 21 does not emerge out
of the guide hole 28.
There may be cases at the time of operation start
in which the tank body 21 is supplied with water at a
very high velocity of flow so that the water lea7~s out
from the guide hole 28 but since the washer 40 provided
on the actuating rod faces the top of the guide hole
28, the high-velocity water bombards the washer 40 and
is deflected downwards so that it will not cause an
accident such as a short circuit which would otherwise
occur as the water drenches the switch 31 and other
elements. Moreover, when the float 26 is in the upper
position, there may be some change in the quantity of
cleaning water in the tank body 21 due to the use
thereof and this change is transmitted to the float
26. In such cases, the resilient annular edge 38
formed at the upper portion of the sealing member 29
of the float 26 is deflected so that the float 26 and
actuating rod 27 move up and down constantly in
response to changes in water quantity. This means
that the actuating rod 27 moves within the guide hole
28 and that, therefore, the actuating rod 27 will not
stick to the internal wall of the guide hole 28 even
if there is some water in the guide hole 28. Therefore,
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it does not happen that the float 26 is stuck up to
interfere with the operation of the switch 31.
Moreover, in accordance with the construction of
this embodiment, since the temperature sensor 24 is
held in position by the chucking members 46 of the
support segment 45 disposed on the underside of the
plate 22, the warm water in the tank body 21 contacts
the upper end of ~he temperature sensor 24 through the
clearances between the chucking members 46 so that the
sensitivity of the temperature sensor 24 is not
adversely affected by the support segment 45. Of
course, the water having a comparatively high
temperature in the upper zone of the tank body 21
contacts the temperature sensor 21 and this is a
favorable factor in temperature detection. The most
outstanding characteristics of this embodiment are as
follows.
In this construction, the cleaning water in the
tank body 21 is sensed by the float 26 and when there
is no water or only an insufficient amount of water
below a preset level, the float 26 descends to switch
off the switch 31. In such a situation, the sheathed
heater 23 does not generate heat. Therefore, if the
power supply is turned on when there is no sufficient
amount of water in the tank body 21 of the warm water
tank 16 after installation of the sanitary cleaning
equipment or when the equipment is restarted after
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drainage, the sheathed heater 23 does not function,
and when the tank body 21 has been supplied with a
sufficient quantity of water by the pump 14, the
sheathed heater 23 generates heat. This means that
the damage to the temperature sensor 24 or an idle
heating can be obviated. Of course, this leads to
cost reduction, for the tank body 21 can be made of a
synthetic resin that has a relatively low resis~ance
to heat.
Moreover, of the safety devices on the warm water
tank 16, the temperature fuse 37, in particular, is
thermally coupled by the metallic heat-sensitive plate
42 with the non-heat-generating part 23c located above
the plate 22 of the sheathed heater 23, so that if the
sheathed heater 23 develops abnormal heat due to some
accident or other, the high-temperature heat is
instantly transmitted to the temperature fuse 37 via
the metallic pipe 23a of the sheathed heater 23 to
fuse the fuse 37, thus ensuring safety.
Thus, the responsiveness of the temperature fuse
37 is improved. Of course, when there is a sufficient
quantity of water in the tank body 21, the heat
generated by the sheathed heater 23 is absorbed by
wate~ and the non-heat-generating part 23c of the
sheathed heater does not reach a temperature high
enough to fuse the temperature fuse 37 to cause a
faulty operation.
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INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
As described above, this invention is constructed
so that the heater does not generate heat when there
is no water or only an insufficient amount of water
below a preset level. Therefore, the thermal damage
to said warm water tank and other components can be
effectively precluded and the heter current control
can be automatically accomplished without resort to
any extraordinary procedure. Accordingly, the
convenience to the user is improved and no faulty
operation is allowed to occur. Moreover, there is no
thermal attack, so that the warm water tank can be
made of synthetic resin material. Thus, this
invention provides a very useful sanitary cleaning
equipment.
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