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EP-4516406-B1 - BUBBLE LIQUID GENERATING NOZZLE

EP4516406B1EP 4516406 B1EP4516406 B1EP 4516406B1EP-4516406-B1

Inventors

  • AOYAMA, YASUAKI
  • HIRAE, MASATERU
  • OKUMURA, TAKAHIRO
  • MIZUKAMI, YASUHIRO

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20220526

Claims (6)

  1. A bubble liquid generating nozzle (X1; X2; X3; Y1), comprising: a nozzle main body (1), which includes a tubular body (8) and a closing body (9) that closes one tube end (8A) of the tubular body (8), and in which an inflow space (δ) into which a liquid flows is formed inside the tubular body (8) between another tube end (8B) of the tubular body (8) and the closing body (9); a liquid jetting hole (2; 62) penetrating through the closing body (9) and communicating to the inflow space (δ); and a liquid guide (23; 34; 44; 64) formed in a three-dimensional shape having a pair of end faces (23A, 23B; 34A, 34B; 44A, 44B; 64A, 64B) and a side surface (23C; 34C; 44C; 64C) arranged between each of the end faces (23A, 23B; 34A, 34B; 44A, 44B; 64A, 64B) and arranged in the liquid jetting hole (2; 62), wherein the side surface (23C; 34C; 44C; 64C) of the liquid guide (23; 34; 44; 64) is formed in a shape of an uneven surface on which a convex portion (27; 35; 45; 65) and a concave portion (28; 36; 46; 66) are arranged, wherein the liquid guide (23; 34; 44; 64) is inserted into the liquid jetting hole (2; 62) from one end face (23A; 34A; 44A; 64A) of the liquid guide (23; 34; 44; 64) and is arranged so that the side of the other end face (23B; 34B; 44B; 64B) protrudes from the liquid jetting hole (2; 62) to the inflow space (δ), wherein the liquid guide (23; 34; 44; 64) is fixed to the nozzle main body (1) and is mounted in the liquid jetting hole (2; 62) so as to form a liquid flow path (ε; τ; σ; β1) between the side surface (23C; 34C; 44C; 64C) and an inner peripheral surface (2a; 62a) of the liquid jetting hole (2; 62), wherein the liquid flow path (ε; τ; σ; β1) communicates to the inflow space (δ), wherein the liquid having flowed out to the inflow space (δ) flows along the side surface (23C; 34C; 44C; 64C) on the side of the other end face (23B; 34B; 44B) and flows into the liquid flow path (ε; τ; σ; β1) from an entire circumference of the liquid jetting hole (2; 62), and the liquid flow path (ε; τ; σ; β1) ejects annular liquid from the liquid jetting hole (2; 62), wherein the closing body (9) is formed in a circular closing flat plate (9) having a pair of closing plate flat surfaces (9A, 9B), wherein the closing flat plate (9) is arranged concentrically with the tubular body (8) and closes the one tube end (8A) of the tubular body (8) so that one closing plate flat surface (9A) is brought into abutment against the one tube end (8A) of the tubular body (8), and wherein the liquid jetting hole (2; 62) penetrates through the closing flat plate (9) in a direction (A) of a tube center line (a) of the tubular body (8) to be opened to each of the closing plate flat surfaces (9A, 9B) of the closing flat plate (9), characterized in that the closing flat plate (9) is formed integrally with the tubular body (8) with a synthetic resin or the like, the liquid guide (23; 34; 44; 64) is inserted into the liquid jetting hole (2; 62) with a gap between the side surface (23C; 34C; 44C; 64C) and the inner peripheral surface (2a; 62a) of the liquid jetting hole (2; 62) so that the liquid flow path (ε; τ; σ ; β1) is formed in an annular shape over a circumferential direction of the liquid jetting hole (2; 62) between the convex portion (23; 35; 45; 65) of the uneven surface and the inner peripheral surface (2a; 62a) of the liquid jetting hole (2; 62), and wherein the liquid guide (23; 34; 44; 64) is mounted in the liquid jetting hole (2; 62) so that the one end face (23A; 34A; 44A; 64A) is arranged to be flush with the other closing plate flat surface (9B) of the closing flat plate (9).
  2. A bubble liquid generating nozzle (X4; Y2), comprising: a nozzle main body (1), which includes a tubular body (8) and a closing body (9) that closes one tube end (8A) of the tubular body (8), and in which an inflow space (δ) into which a liquid flows is formed inside the tubular body (8) between another tube end (8B) of the tubular body (8) and the closing body (9); a liquid jetting hole (2; 62) penetrating through the closing body (9) and communicating to the inflow space (δ); and a liquid guide (54; 74) formed in a three-dimensional shape having a pair of end faces (54A, 54B; 74A, 74B) and a side surface (54C; 74C) arranged between each of the end faces (54A, 54B; 74A, 74B) and arranged in the liquid jetting hole (2; 62), wherein an inner peripheral surface (2a; 62a) of the liquid jetting hole (2; 62) is formed in a shape of an uneven surface on which a convex portion (55; 75) and a concave portion (56; 76) are arranged, wherein the liquid guide (54; 74) is inserted into the liquid jetting hole (2; 62) from one end face (54A; 74A) of the liquid guide (54; 74) with a gap between a side surface of the liquid guide (54C; 74C) and the inner peripheral surface (2a; 62a), wherein the liquid guide (54; 74) is arranged so that the side of the other end face (54B; 74B) protrudes from the liquid jetting hole (2; 62) to the inflow space (δ) and is fixed to the nozzle main body (1), wherein the liquid guide (54; 74) is mounted in the liquid jetting hole (2; 62) so as to form a liquid flow path (λ; β2) between the side surface (54C; 74C) and the inner peripheral surface (2a), wherein the liquid flow path (λ; β2) is formed in an annular shape over a circumferential direction of the liquid jetting hole (2; 62) between the convex portion (55; 75) of the uneven surface and the side surface (54C; 74C) of the liquid guide (54; 74) and communicates to the inflow space (δ), and wherein the liquid having flowed out to the inflow space (δ) flows along the side surface (54C; 75C) on the side of the other end face (54B; 74B) and flows into the liquid flow path (λ; β2) from an entire circumference of the liquid jetting hole (2; 62), and the liquid flow path (λ; β2) ejects annular liquid from the liquid jetting hole (2; 62), characterized in that the closing body (9) is formed in a circular closing flat plate (9) having a pair of closing plate flat surfaces (9A, 9B), the closing flat plate (9) is arranged concentrically with the tubular body (8) and closes the one tube end (8A) of the tubular body (8) so that one closing plate flat surface (9A) is brought into abutment against the one tube end (8A) of the tubular body (8), wherein the closing flat plate (9) is formed integrally with the tubular body (8) with a synthetic resin or the like, the liquid jetting hole (2; 62) penetrates through the closing flat plate (9) in a direction (A) of a tube center line (a) of the tubular body (8) to be opened to each of the closing plate flat surfaces (9A, 9B) of the closing flat plate (9), and the liquid guide (54; 44) is mounted in the liquid jetting hole (2; 62) so that the one end face (54A; 74A) is arranged to be flush with the other closing plate flat surface (9B) of the closing flat plate (9).
  3. The bubble liquid generating nozzle (X1; X2; X3; X4) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the liquid guide (23; 34; 44; 54) is formed in a conical shape, and wherein the liquid jetting hole (2) is formed in a shape of a conical hole penetrating through the closing flat plate (9) while being reduced in diameter from the side of the inflow space (δ).
  4. The bubble liquid generating nozzle (Y1; Y2) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the liquid guide (64; 74) is formed in a columnar shape, and wherein the liquid jetting hole (62) is formed in a shape of a circular hole penetrating through the closing flat plate (9).
  5. The bubble liquid generating nozzle (X1; X2; X3; X4) according to claim 3, further comprising: a guide ring (21) arranged in the inflow space (δ) concentrically with the tubular body (8); and a plurality of guide ribs (22) arranged inside the guide ring (21) and fixed to the guide ring (21); a plurality of the liquid jetting hole (2); and a plurality of the liquid guide (23; 34; 44; 54) each arranged in each of the liquid jetting holes (2), wherein each of the liquid jetting holes (2) is arranged so as to be separated at hole angles (θS) between each of the liquid jetting holes (2) in a circumferential direction (C) of the tubular body (8), wherein each of the guide ribs (22) is arranged so as to be separated at rib angles (θP) between each of the guide ribs (22) in a circumferential direction (C) of the guide ring (22), to thereby form a communication hole (25) between each of the guide ribs (22), wherein each of the guide ribs (22) is arranged in the inflow space (δ) with a guide interval (δA) between each of the guide ribs (22) and the closing flat plate (9) in a direction (A) of a tube center line (a) of the tubular body (8), to thereby partition a flow path space (γ) between each of the guide ribs (22) and the closing flat plate (9), wherein each of the communication holes (25) communicates to the inflow space (δ) on the side of the other tube end (8B) of the tubular body (8) and the flow path space (γ), wherein each of the liquid guides (23; 34; 44; 54) is arranged so as to be separated at guide angles (θB) between each of the liquid guides (23; 34; 44; 54) in the circumferential direction (C) of the guide ring (22), wherein each of the liquid guides (23; 34; 44; 54) is inserted into each of the liquid jetting holes (2) from a conical upper surface (23A; 34A; 44A; 54A) of the liquid guide (23; 34; 44; 54) with the gap, and wherein each of the liquid guides (23; 34; 44; 54) is fixed to each of the guide ribs (22) so that a conical bottom surface (23B; 34B; 44B; 54B) is brought into abutment against each of the guide ribs (22).
  6. The bubble liquid generating nozzle (X1; X2; X3; X4) according to claim 5, wherein each of the liquid jetting holes (2) penetrates through the closing flat plate (9) while being reduced in diameter from the side of the inflow space (δ) to be opened to each of closing plate flat surfaces (9A, 9B) of the closing flat plate (9) in a direction (A) of a tube center line (a) of the tubular body (8), and wherein each of the liquid guides (23; 34; 44; 54) is mounted in each of the liquid jetting holes (2) so that the conical upper surface (23A; 34A; 44A; 54A) is arranged to be flush with the other closing plate flat surface (9B) of the closing flat plate (9).

Description

Technical Field The present invention relates to a bubble liquid generating nozzle that generates (produces) and ejects a bubble liquid. Background Art As a technology for generating a bubble liquid, in JP 2015 93219 A, there is a disclosure of a microbubble generating device. The microbubble generating device includes a holder, an inlet adapter, and a mixing adapter, and each of the adapters is mounted to the holder. The inlet adapter has a liquid throttle hole that is gradually reduced in diameter toward the mixing adapter in a liquid flow path. The mixing adapter has a liquid flow path that is gradually increased in diameter toward a liquid outflow port. The microbubble generating device causes a liquid to flow into the liquid throttle hole of the inlet adapter from a liquid inflow port and ejects the liquid into the liquid flow path of the mixing adapter. The microbubble generating device mixes the liquid with air on a jetting side of the liquid throttle hole to generate microbubbles in the liquid flow path of the mixing adapter. CN 208 177 697 U and US 2021/162429 A1 disclose showerheads. The showerhead disclosed in CN 208 177 697 U includes a bubble liquid generating nozzle as specified in the preamble of claim 1. US 2019/143345 A1 discloses a nozzle assembly for a liquid product sprayer. The nozzle assembly has the features specified in the preamble of claim 2. US 2012/168538 A1 discloses multi-spin core spray nozzle for a spray head. Summary of Invention Technical Problem In JP 2015 93219 A, a certain amount of microbubbles can be generated by ejecting the liquid from the liquid throttle hole and mixing the liquid with air, to thereby pulverize (shear) the air. However, it is desired that the amount of the microbubbles to be mixed and dissolved in the liquid be increased, and ultrafine bubbles be mixed and dissolved therein. An object of the present invention is to provide a bubble liquid generating nozzle capable of generating (producing) a bubble liquid in which a large amount of microbubbles and a large amount of ultrafine bubbles are mixed and dissolved and ejecting the bubble liquid. Solution to Problem According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bubble liquid generating nozzle as specified in claim 1. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bubble liquid generating nozzle as specified in claim 2. The dependent claims define further aspects of the present invention. Advantageous Effects of Invention According to the present invention, it is possible to generate (produce) a bubble liquid in which a large amount of microbubbles and a large amount of ultrafine bubbles are mixed and dissolved and eject (jet) the bubble liquid from a liquid flow path. According to the present invention, a soft annular liquid (annular liquid film or annular bubble liquid film) can be ejected to an ejection target by forming a bubble liquid into an annular (circular annular) liquid (liquid film) through an annular (circular annular) liquid flow path. In the international standard "ISO20480-1" of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), air bubbles of 1 micrometer (µm) or more and 100 micrometers (µm) are defined as "microbubbles", and air bubbles of less than 1 micrometer (µm) are defined as "ultrafine bubbles" (same below). Brief Description of Drawings FIG. 1 is a perspective view for illustrating a bubble liquid generating nozzle according to a first embodiment.FIG. 2 is a top plan view (top view) for illustrating the bubble liquid generating nozzle according to the first embodiment.FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view (bottom view) for illustrating the bubble liquid generating nozzle according to the first embodiment.FIG. 4(a) is an enlarged view of a B-portion of FIG. 2, and FIG. 4(b) is an enlarged view of a C-portion of FIG. 3.FIG. 5(a) is a sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG. 2, and FIG. 5(b) is an enlarged view of a D-portion of FIG. 5(a).FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of an E-portion of FIG. 5(a).FIG. 7 is a perspective view for illustrating a nozzle main body in a bubble liquid generating nozzle according to first to third embodiments.FIG. 8(a) is a top plan view (top view) for illustrating the nozzle main body in the bubble liquid generating nozzle according to the first to third embodiments, and FIG. 8(b) is a bottom plan view (bottom view) for illustrating the nozzle main body.FIG. 9(a) is a sectional view taken along the line F-F of FIG. 8(a), and FIG. 9(b) is an enlarged view of a G-portion of FIG. 9(a).FIG. 10 is a perspective view for illustrating a liquid guide body (for example, liquid guides) in the bubble liquid generating nozzle according to the first embodiment.FIG. 11(a) is a top plan view (top view) for illustrating the liquid guide body (for example, liquid guides) in the bubble liquid generating nozzle according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 11(b) is an enlarged view of an H-portion of FIG. 11(a).FIG. 12(a) is a