JP2003082729A - Automatic drain cock device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic drain cock device allowing pressing operation of a manual button only at power failure time and failure of electric equipment. SOLUTION: An electromotive power transmission means 5 is driven by touching a touch switch 7 of an operation panel arranged on a wall surface of a bathroom, a kitchen, and a living room, and a surface part of the manual button 12 unpressably supported by a lock means 6 usually, and the driving force is transmitted to a drain cock 1 by a transmission wire 4 to open and close the drain cock 1. The manual button 12 can be pressed only when releasing the lock means 6 since a driving source of the electromotive power transmission means 5 cannot be driven by power failure and failure.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic drain plug device for opening and closing a drain plug attached to the bottom of a container such as a bathtub or washbasin.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a drain plug device is provided with a manual button on the upper edge surface of a bathtub, and the transmission wire can be pushed by the manual button so that the plug lid is held by a holding means provided on the drain plug side or the operation section side. The structure in which the open state and the closed state are held alternately has been the mainstream. In the case of this manual type, opening and closing cannot be performed unless the pushing amount of the manual button is more than a certain amount. for that reason,
Old people, children, etc. may be weak and may not be able to open and close the drain plug reliably. Therefore, in recent years, a switch is provided on the wall of the bathroom, kitchen, living room, etc., and the switch lid is operated by a remote control to push the drain cap a predetermined amount to alternately open and close the electric cap. The ones are also widely used to ensure the opening and closing of drain plugs.

By the way, in the automatic drain faucet device capable of opening and closing the drain faucet by the manual operation as described above, for example, when cleaning the inside of the bathtub, it is closer to the bathroom wall than touching the switch on the bathroom wall located far away. Since it is easier to push and operate a certain manual button, there is a high tendency to manually open and close the drain plug.

Therefore, as in the conventional case, it is impossible to open and close the drain plug reliably due to individual differences. In order to prevent this, it can be proposed that, for example, a switch is provided on the upper edge surface of the bathtub, and the transmission wire is pushed by the electric power transmission means associated with the switch to open and close the drain plug. However, in this case, the drain plug cannot be opened or closed at the time of power failure or failure of the electric power transmission means. For the moment, it is suggested to open and close the drain plug either manually or electrically, but due to custom,
As the manual button is often pushed, it is not possible to cope with individual differences as a result, and the certainty of opening and closing the drain plug decreases.
It's not a kind design.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to automatically operate a manual button when a power failure or an electric equipment failure occurs. To provide a drain plug device.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] Technical means taken in order to solve the above-mentioned object are: a drain plug provided at the bottom, a manual button for performing a manual operation, and a drain button which receives an operation force thereof. An operating portion having a transmission wire for transmitting power to the side, holding means for alternately receiving the transmission force of the transmission wire and holding the stopper lid in the opened state and the closed state, and without moving the manual button. An electric force transmission means for reciprocating a transmission wire, a touch switch for remotely controlling a drive source of the electric force transmission means, and a releasable lock for supporting a manual button immovably at a predetermined position. And a means for pushing the transmission wire with a manual button when the locking means is released (claim 1).

According to the above means, the manual button, which is supported by the locking means so as not to be pushed, cannot be pushed at all times. Therefore, touch the touch switch of the operation panel installed on the wall surface of the bathroom, kitchen, living room, etc. to drive the electric power transmission means, and transmit the driving force to the drain plug with the transmission wire to open and close the drain plug. To do. Then, when the drive source of the electric power transmission means becomes inoperable due to power failure, failure, etc., and the lock means is released, the manual button can be pushed only for the first time, and the operating force is transmitted to the transmission wire to open / close the drain plug. To do.

Further, if the touch switch is provided on the front surface of the manual button, the operation for cleaning the container such as the bathtub and the washbasin becomes easy (claim 2).

As the lock means, the lock means is
A guide tube for a manual button having a flange exposed on the upper surface of the mounting surface in the form of a flange at the upper end, and a donut plate-shaped rotating body provided on the upper surface of the flange and rotatable on the flange,
A pusher provided with a protrusion projecting from the same circumference of the lower surface of the rotating body at an appropriate interval and projecting to the guide cylinder side at the tip, and a protrusion of the pusher that is opened in the flange is inserted. A guide hole having a large-diameter hole portion and a guide elongated hole communicating with the large-diameter hole portion, and for bending to be elastically pushed to the manual button side by the protrusion by the rotation of the rotating body formed on the peripheral wall of the guide cylinder. A lock part and a locking part formed on the peripheral wall of the manual button for locking the bent lock part may be provided (Claim 3), or a manual operation having a flange exposed on the upper surface of the mounting surface in the form of a brim. A configuration including a guide cylinder for a button and a lock body that is provided on a flange of the guide cylinder and slides to engage with an engagement portion formed on a peripheral wall of the manual button is used (claim 4).

According to the above means, in the case of the rotating body, the hook portion for bending which is formed on the guide cylinder is elastically deformed by the protrusion of the pusher hanging from the rotating body and is manually operated. Locking means is formed by locking to a locking portion formed on the peripheral wall of the button, and the rotary body is rotated to the peripheral wall side of the manual button of the lock portion for bending by the protrusion of the pusher. The manual button can be pushed by avoiding pushing of the button. Also, in the case of a sliding lock body, by sliding the lock body toward the manual button side, the tip of the lock body is locked to the locking portion formed on the peripheral wall of the manual button to form locking means. Slide the body away from the manual button to release the lock with the lock,
Make the manual button pushable.

The locking means is moved forward into the guide cylinder so that the manual button cannot be pushed when energized, and engages with the manual button. More preferably, it is a stopper that automatically retracts so as to release the engagement (Claim 5). For the stopper, it is effective to use a plunger of an electromagnet that moves forward into the guide cylinder when electricity is applied because the structure is simple. In the event of a power failure, the plunger is retracted by de-energizing and the manual button can be pushed. Further, when the electric equipment is in failure, it means, for example, when the electric motor fails to rotate. In that case, for example, a rotary encoder is provided as a detection unit for detecting the rotation failure of the electric motor, and when the rotary encoder detects the rotation failure, the energization to the electromagnet is stopped through the control unit, and the plan is set. It is possible to make the manual button pushable by using a control method of retracting the jar. Of course, in that case, the electric motor is replaced.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Next, an embodiment of the automatic drain plug device of the present invention will be described. FIGS. 1 to 8 show the first embodiment, and FIGS. 9 to 11 show the second embodiment. The form is further shown in FIG.
Shows the third embodiment, and FIG. 13 shows the fourth embodiment. First, the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 will be described. Reference numeral A is the automatic drain plug device.

This automatic drain plug device A is, as shown in FIG. 1, provided with a drain plug 1 provided at a bottom portion b1 of a bath B, an operating portion 2 for transmitting power to the drain plug 1 side, and a drain plug side provided therewith. Holding means 3 for alternately holding the opened state and the closed state,
Electric force transmission means 5 for reciprocating the transmission wire 4 without moving the manual button 12, and locking means 6 for the manual button 12.
Etc.

In the drain plug 1, as shown in FIG. 1, a drain port fitting 11 having a flange is attached to an opening provided in a bottom portion b1 of a bath B, and a guide cylinder 21 provided in the drain fitting 11 is attached. To the holding means 3 provided in the guide cylinder 21 thereof, and the driving force from the electric power transmission means 5 is transmitted via the transmission wire 4 to alternately open and close the cap lid 31. I am supposed to do it.

The holding means 3 uses a conventionally well-known thrust lock mechanism (which will be described with reference numerals below). This thrust lock mechanism 3 has a conventionally well-known structure in which the support shaft 41 supporting the stopper lid 31 is alternately locked and unlocked at the forward end by the forward movement of the transmission wire 4 to open and close the stopper lid 31, It is composed of a fixed ring, a rotary ring, engaging teeth, saw teeth, etc., and will not be specifically described.

The electric power transmission means 5 is composed of:
As shown in FIG. 8 and the like, it is housed in the guide tube 22 of the manual button 12 which is attached by locking the peripheral flange 221 to the upper edge surface b2 of the bathtub B, and the drive box 35 which is attached to the side surface of the guide tube 22. The electric motor 25 and the transmission portion 45 provided on the output shaft 251 of the electric motor 25 for pushing the transmission wire 4 and the like.

The electric motor 25 is attached to the side surface of the guide cylinder 22, the output shaft 251 is projected into the guide cylinder 22, and the arm that rotates at the tip of the output shaft 251 in the guide cylinder 22 in the vertical direction. 252 is pivoted.

The transmitting portion 45, as shown in FIGS. 2, 5, 6, and 8, has a block-shaped intermediate body 451.
Connecting shaft 452 inserted into the intermediate body 451 from below
And the upper end returns to the lower end of the connecting shaft 452 and the spring member 453.
And a transmission wire 4 connected via the.

The arm 252 has the structure shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 8, the engagement protrusion 25 facing the intermediate body 451.
It has 2a at its tip.

Further, the intermediate body 451 has the structure shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 5, a horizontal guide groove 451a for guiding the engaging projection 252a is opened on the surface facing the arm 252, and an insertion hole 451b for inserting the connecting shaft 452 is opened from the lower surface to a midway position. I am allowed.

One end (upper end) of the transmission wire 4 connects the outer tube to a small diameter cylindrical portion 22 'attached to the lower end of the guide cylinder 22, and the other end (lower end) thereof to the lower end of the guide cylinder 21. Only the inner wire body is projected into the small-diameter cylindrical portion 22 'and the guide cylinder 21, respectively, and the connecting shaft 45
When the return spring member 453 is pushed by 2 against the elastic force, the support shaft 41 is pushed up.

The length of the horizontal guide groove 451a is as shown in FIG.
As shown in (a), the distance (S) between the center of rotation of the arm 252 and the center of the engaging projection 252a is twice or more, and
The connecting shaft 452 is pushed by the amount of (2S), and accordingly, the transmission wire (specifically, wire body) 4 connected to the connecting shaft 452 is pushed to move the stopper lid 31 by the thrust lock mechanism 3 described above. It is designed to be locked alternately in an open state and a closed state.

The operating section 2 comprises the above-mentioned guide tube 22, a manual button 12 guided by the guide tube 22 so as to be vertically slidable, and an operating shaft 32 having an upper end connected to the manual button 12. The operation shaft 32 is opened in the upper surface of the intermediate body 451 so that the operation shaft 32 comes into contact with the upper end of the connecting shaft 452 in the block-shaped intermediate body 451 and is inserted through a hole 454 smaller than the insertion hole 451b. . This operation axis 3
2 has a cross-sectional shape other than circular so that it does not rotate,
Along with this, the hole 454 also has a cross-sectional shape that guides the operating shaft 32 such that it cannot rotate but can slide up and down.

The total height of the block-shaped intermediate body 451 is
By rotating the electric motor 35, the connecting shaft 452 and the operating shaft 32 are set to a height such that the connecting shaft 452 and the operating shaft 32 do not come out from the holes 451b and 454.

Therefore, FIGS. 1 and 2 show a closed state, and in this closed state, when the electric motor 25 is rotated once, the engaging projection 252a at the tip of the arm 252 is guided by the horizontal guide groove 451a and is intermediate. The connecting shaft 452 is pushed together with the body 451 at the bottom of the insertion hole 451b, the wire body 4 is advanced accordingly, the lid 31 is raised to lock the thrust lock mechanism 3, and the drain plug 1 is opened ( Figure 6
reference). In FIG. 6, the electric motor 25 is rotated by half and the drain plug 1
The state in which the intermediate body 451 is returned to the original state (closed state) with the remaining half rotation is shown by a two-dot chain line. Then, by rotating the electric motor 25 once again, the wire body 4 is advanced in the same manner, the stopper lid 31 is lifted to unlock the thrust lock mechanism 3, and the drain plug 1 is closed (see FIGS. 1 and 2). ).

A touch switch 7 for controlling the electric motor 25 is arranged on the front surface of the manual button 12. This touch switch 7 has "open",
There is one for "close", and the electric motor 25
Is rotated once and the drain plug 1 is alternately opened and closed, and is linked to a control unit (not shown) that communicates with the electric motor 25. It should be noted that “open” and “close” can be alternately performed by touch operation with one touch switch 7. Further, the touch switch 7 is provided not only on the front portion of the manual button 12 but also on the operation panel provided on the wall of the bathroom, kitchen, living room, etc., and the drain tap 1 is also remotely operated there.
It is also free to control the opening and closing of.

Further, the manual button 12 is provided with a lock means 6 which makes the push operation impossible at all times.

This locking means 6 is shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, a rotating body 16 having a donut plate shape and arranged on the upper edge surface b2 of the bathtub B which is the mounting surface so as to overlap the flange 221, and the rotating body 16 of the rotating body 16. The pushers 26 that hang down from the position on the same circumference at equal intervals, the guide holes 221a of the pushers 26 that are opened in the flange 221, and the peripheral wall 222 of the guide cylinder 22 are formed. Bending lock part 22
2a and a locking portion (locking groove) 122 formed on the peripheral wall 121 of the manual button 12.

As shown in FIG. 3, each pusher 26 has a protrusion 261 integrally formed at the lower end toward the guide cylinder 22.

The guide holes 221a ... Are provided in FIGS.
As shown in FIG.
An arc-shaped guide elongated hole 221a-2 which communicates with a large diameter hole portion 221a-1 which is opened so as to be inserted so as to be positioned at a lower position.
Is formed by opening.

On the other hand, on the peripheral wall 222 of the guide cylinder 22, the pusher 26 is rotated counterclockwise after the pusher 26 is inserted into the large diameter hole portion 221a-1 of the flange 221, as shown in FIG. The bent lock portion 222a that is elastically bent and deformed is formed in the guide cylinder 22 by the protrusion 261 in a state of being supported by being moved so as not to come off from the flange 221.

As shown in FIG. 3, the bent portion 222a of the bent portion is formed by connecting the peripheral wall 222 of the guide cylinder 22 to the guide hole 2 as described above.
21a is formed in a cantilever shape by notching in a U shape at equal intervals, and a protruding ridge portion 222a-1 protruding to the outside of the guide cylinder 22 is formed at its free end.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 7, the manual button 12 is provided on the peripheral wall 121 portion thereof with the protruding ridge 222a-1.
Corresponding to the above, a locking portion (locking groove) 122 is recessed.

Then, by rotating the rotating body 16 counterclockwise, the protruding portion 261 pushes the protruding ridge portion 222a-1 and the free end of the bent lock portion 222a is locked (engaged). It can be locked to the stop groove) 122 to disable the push operation of the manual button 12 (see FIG. 4). Therefore, the manual button 1
In the normal state in which the drain switch 1 is opened / closed electrically by touching the touch switch 7 of the operation panel arranged on the front wall of 2 and the wall of the bathroom, kitchen, living room, etc. 12 is supported so that it cannot be pushed, and the rotating body 1
6 is rotated clockwise to project the protrusion 22 against the protrusion 261.
By avoiding the pushing motion of 2a-1 and releasing the lock with the locking portion (lock groove) 122, the manual button 12 can be pushed for the first time (see FIG. 7). Therefore, the manual button 1
When 2 is pushed, only the connecting shaft 452 is pushed by the operating shaft 32 and the wire body 4 advances, so that the drain plug 1 can be opened and closed (FIG. 8). In addition, reference numeral 100 denotes mounting nuts for mounting the guide cylinder 22 to the upper edge surface b2 of the bathtub B.

Next, the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 to 11 will be described. This embodiment is another embodiment of the locking means 6 and shows a locking means by a sliding system. The locking means 6 has a notch 36 formed by notching a portion facing the flange 221 via the center to the upper end of the peripheral wall 222 of the guide cylinder 22, and the flange 22 thereof.
The guide groove 46 is provided at both edges of the notch on the first side, and the lock body 56 is engaged with and guided by the guide groove 46.

As shown in FIG. 10, the lock body 56 has a substantially stepped shape, and when the lock body 56 is slid toward the peripheral wall 121 side of the manual button 12, the locking portion whose front end is recessed in the peripheral wall 121 of the manual button 12 is provided. The manual button 1 is supported by being locked to the manual button 12 so that the manual button 12 cannot be pushed, and on the contrary, the manual button 1 is released by releasing the locking between the front end and the locking portion 122.
2 push operation is possible. That is, reference numeral 76 is a movement space of the tip of the lock body 56 used for engagement and disengagement.

The third embodiment shown in FIG. 12 will be further described. In this embodiment, the locking means 6 of the first and second embodiments is of a manual type, whereas the locking means 6 is of an automatic type. It shows the locking means of.

This locking means 6 is an electromagnet 6 ',
The plunger 66 (stopper) is attached to the lower surface of the upper edge surface b1 of the bathtub B or the outer surface of the guide tube 22, and the plunger 66 (stopper) approaches the lower surface of the manual button 22 when energized, or to a peripheral wall 121 extended as illustrated. It is configured to advance into the guide cylinder 22 so as to be engaged with the opened engagement hole 123, and to retract the plunger 66 (stopper) from the engagement hole 123 at the time of power failure.

Although not shown, detection means is provided for detecting the rotation failure of the electric motor 25 when the rotation failure occurs, and when the detection means detects the rotation failure, the electromagnet 6'is energized via the control section. Alternatively, the plunger 66 (stopper) may be stopped so that the plunger 66 (stopper) is retracted so that the manual button 12 can be pushed only in an emergency.

Next, the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 13 will be described. This embodiment shows an example in which the touch switch 7 is excluded from the front portion of the manual button 12. In this case, the touch switch 7 is arranged adjacent to the manual button 12 on the upper edge surface b2 of the bathtub B, or remotely arranged on the wall W of the bathroom, kitchen, living room or the like as in the conventional case. Set up.
The locking means 6 is not limited to the illustrated first embodiment, and the second and third embodiments may be used. Specific structures of other configurations are given the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

In all the embodiments, the holding means does not have to be provided on the drain plug side, but can be freely provided on the operating portion side.

[0042]

As described above, according to the present invention, the drain switch is opened and closed by touching the touch switch provided so as to be remotely operable,
Since the push operation of the manual button is configured so that it cannot be performed without releasing the locking means, the touch switch can be used to open and close the drain plug at all times, and the locking means must be released only in an emergency. Open and close the drain plug by operating a button. Therefore, the push operation by the manual button cannot be performed under normal conditions, and the drain button can be opened and closed by the manual button only when the locking mechanism is released during an accident such as a power failure or a failure of electrical equipment. It is possible to provide an automatic drain plug device that eliminates uncertainty due to individual differences in opening and closing of plugs. Moreover, if the touch switch is provided on the front of the manual button, it is not necessary to bother to reach for the bathroom wall when cleaning the contents of the bathtub, washbasin, etc., and the lock means is released to open and close the drain tap. Can be done without. Further, it is possible to lock and unlock by a rotating method using a rotating body and a sliding method using a lock body, and when enabling an operation with a manual button, it is possible to deal with it by a simple operation. In addition, when the locking means is a stopper that pushes forward and supports the manual button when it is energized and automatically retracts from the inside of the guide cylinder in the event of a power failure or failure of electrical equipment, in the event of a power failure Since the lock is automatically released only when the electric equipment fails, it is possible to prevent the lock means from being released by mischief or the like.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of an automatic drain plug device of the present invention, showing a closed state, a part of which is cut away and an intermediate part thereof is omitted.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing a relationship among a rotating body, a manual button, and a guide cylinder.

FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway view showing an enlarged plan view of an operation portion,
Indicates a locked state.

FIG. 5 shows the relationship between the block-shaped intermediate body, the output shaft of the electric motor, and the arm at the tip thereof, (a) being (5a)-(5
a) line enlarged sectional view, (b), (5b)-(5b) line enlarged sectional view.

FIG. 6 is a front cross-sectional view showing a state in which the electric motor is closed,
The state restored by rotation is shown by a two-dot chain line.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged plan view of the operation portion showing a state in which the lock means is released, which is partially cut away.

8 is a sectional view taken along line (8)-(8) of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a front sectional view of a main part showing a second embodiment,
The locking means which is a main part is shown.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the relationship between the flange of the guide cylinder and the slide.

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing a state in which the lock body is slid outwardly to release the lock means, and is partially cut away.

FIG. 12 is a front cross-sectional view of an essential part showing a third embodiment, showing a locking means which is the essential part.

FIG. 13 is a front cross-sectional view showing a fourth embodiment.

[Explanation of Codes] A: Automatic drain plug device 12: Manual button 1: Drain plug 2: Operation part 3: Holding means 5: Electric force transmission means 7: Touch switch 6: Locking means 4: Transmission wire 22: Guide tube 121 : Flange 16: Rotating body 26: Pusher 261: Projection 222a: Locked portion for bending 122: Locking portion (locking groove) 56: Locking body 6 ': Electromagnet (locking means) 66: Plunger ( stopper)

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An operating unit having a drain plug provided at the bottom, a manual button for performing a manual operation, and a transmission wire that receives the operating force to transmit power to the drain plug side, and the transmission wire. Holding means for alternately holding the cap lid in an opened state and a closed state in response to the transmission force of the transmission force, an electric force transmission means for reciprocating the transmission wire without moving the manual button, and a remote controllable arrangement. A touch switch for driving the drive source of the electric power transmission means, and a releasable lock means for supporting the manual button immovably at a predetermined position, and the transmission wire is operated by the manual button when the lock means is released. An automatic drain plug device characterized in that it can be pushed. 2. The automatic drain plug device according to claim 1, wherein the touch switch is provided on a front surface of the manual button. 3. The lock means comprises a guide cylinder for a manual button having a flange exposed on the upper surface of the mounting surface in the form of a collar at the upper end, and a rotatable donut plate-shaped rotating body provided on the upper surface of the flange. And a pusher provided with a protrusion projecting toward the guide cylinder side at the tip of the pusher so as to hang down from the same circumference of the lower surface of the rotating body at appropriate intervals, and a protrusion of the pusher which is opened in the flange. A guide hole having a large-diameter hole portion to be inserted and a guide elongated hole communicating with the large-diameter hole portion, and a folding member elastically pushed to the manual button side by the protrusion by the rotation of the rotating body formed on the peripheral wall of the guide cylinder. The automatic drain plug device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: a bending lock portion and a locking portion formed on a peripheral wall of the manual button to which the bending lock portion is locked. 4. The locking means comprises a guide cylinder for a manual button having a flange-like exposed flange on the upper surface of the mounting surface for a manual button, and a lock provided on the flange and slid on the peripheral wall of the manual button. The automatic drain plug device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: a lock body that is locked to the portion. [Claim 5] The lock means is a stopper that advances to the inside of the guide cylinder so as to make the manual button immovable when energized, and automatically retracts from the inside of the guide cylinder at the time of power failure or failure of electric equipment. The automatic drain plug device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that.