JP2001041475A - Bath system with heating function - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prepare a bathroom at a temperature for a comfortable bath when water in a bathtub is warmed to a set temperature. SOLUTION: This bath system supplies warm water having a temperature lower than a set temperature when it supplies the warm water to a bathtub 18 from a hot-water supply system 2 using both of supply and return pipes, so as to additionally heat the warm water for a long period of time. After the bathtub 18 is filled with water up to a set level, the warm water is circulated through the supply and return pipes 20 and 21 of a circulation channel for additional heating therein, and the circulating water is further introduced to a heating unit 25 for warming the bathroom.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a bath apparatus with a heating function. Specifically, the present invention relates to a bath apparatus with a heating function that has functions of dropping and reheating water in a bathtub and heating a bathroom.

A bathroom heating device and a bathroom ventilation / drying device (hereinafter, referred to as a bathroom heating device) installed in a bathroom for drying clothes suspended in the bathroom by blowing out warm air and heating the bathroom. Has been used conventionally. In such a bathroom heating device, hot water is circulated in a built-in heat exchanger to exchange heat with air, and the air heated by the heat exchanger is blown out toward the bathroom.

Some of such hot water type bathroom heating devices are integrated with or linked to an automatic bath device. In an automatic bath apparatus having such a bathroom heating function, when both the automatic bath operation and the bathroom heating operation are turned on, the hot water is first dropped into the bath tub, and the hot water is filled to a certain level in the bath tub. The dropping of hot water is stopped, and then the hot water in the bathtub is reheated to the set temperature.At the same time as this bath reheating operation, the hot water in the bathtub is also circulated to the heat exchanger of the bathroom heater. So that the bathroom can be heated.

[0004] Therefore, such an automatic bath apparatus with a bathroom heating function can automatically boil the bath, and in winter, the bath is heated to an appropriate temperature at the same time as the bath is heated. Was.

[0005]

However, in such a conventional automatic bath apparatus, when the hot water is dropped into the bathtub, the reheating operation is performed after the hot water of the set temperature is dropped. The time was shorter than the time required for heating the bathroom. Therefore, even when hot water at a set temperature is filled to a predetermined water level in the bath tub and the automatic bath operation ends, and the bath is ready for bathing, the bathroom is often not sufficiently heated.

If there is residual water in the bath tub, if the heating operation is performed simultaneously with the bath reheating operation, low-temperature water circulates in the heat exchanger of the bathroom heating device. In some cases, lowering the efficiency of bathroom heating. As a result, bathroom heating took more and more time, and the difference between the heating time and the time required for bathroom heating was widening.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a bath apparatus with a heating function when the hot water in the bathtub is heated to a set temperature. The object is to perform efficient heating so that the bathroom is also heated to a temperature that is comfortable for bathing.

[0008]

A bath apparatus with a heating function according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a water heater having a function of dropping hot water into a bathtub and a function of reheating a bath, and a bath adapter for the bathtub. A hot water branch unit that branches hot water from a circulation path connecting the hot water heater and circulates hot water to the hot water heater is provided.When the hot water is dropped into the bath tub and the heating operation is performed at the same time, the hot water flows into the bath tub. It is characterized in that after the hot water having a lower temperature than in the case of performing the dropping alone is dropped into the bathtub, the heating operation is performed at the time of the bath reheating operation.

In the bath apparatus with a heating function according to the first aspect, when the hot water is dropped into the bathtub and the heating operation is performed at the same time, the hot water is dropped into the bathtub alone. Since the low-temperature hot water is dropped into the bathtub, the time for the bath reheating operation, that is, the time for the heating operation, becomes longer, and the bath is at a comfortable temperature for bathing at about the same time as the bath is heated. Can be heated up to.

A bath apparatus with a heating function according to a second aspect of the present invention is a hot water supply apparatus having a function of dropping hot water into a bathtub and a function of reheating a bath, and a hot water supply system which connects a bath adapter of the bathtub with the hot water supply apparatus. A hot water branch unit for circulating hot water to the hot water heater by branching the hot water into the bathtub and simultaneously performing the heating operation and when the hot water temperature in the bathtub is lower than a predetermined temperature, , And when the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub is higher than a predetermined temperature, a bath reheating operation and a heating operation are performed.

In the bath apparatus with a heating function according to the second aspect, the bathtub water is circulated to the hot water heater while there is residual water in the bathtub and the temperature of the bathtub water circulating in the circulation path is low. When the temperature of the bathtub water rises, it is circulated to the hot water heater so that the bathroom can be heated.Therefore, the temperature of the bathroom is not lowered by the low temperature bathwater, and the bathroom temperature is raised efficiently. can do. Therefore, when the hot water in the bathtub is heated, the bathroom is also heated to a temperature that is comfortable for bathing.

A third aspect of the present invention provides a bath apparatus with a heating function, comprising: a water heater having a function of dropping hot water into a bathtub and a function of reheating a bath; and a circulation path connecting a bath adapter of the bathtub and the water heater. A hot water branch unit that circulates hot water to the hot water heater by circulating hot water from the circulation path into the bathtub by both transports and simultaneously performs heating operation when hot water heated by the water heater is supplied to one side of the circulation path. From the other side of the circulation path into the bath tub through the hot water heater while the hot water heated by the water heater is passed directly into the bath tub. Here, both transports mean that hot water is simultaneously dropped into the bathtub from the going pipe and the returning pipe of the circulation path.

In the bath apparatus with a heating function according to the third aspect, hot water is dropped directly into the bathtub on one side of the circulation path and dropped into the bathtub via the hot water heater on the other side. Also, the bathroom can be heated even when the hot water is dropped, so that the bathroom temperature can be quickly increased. Therefore, the time difference between the heating of the hot water in the bathtub and the completion of heating the bathroom can be reduced.

A bath apparatus with a heating function according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the bath apparatus with a heating function according to the third aspect, in which when the hot water is dropped into the bathtub from the circulation path by both transports and the heating operation is performed simultaneously, It is characterized in that hot water dropped into the bathtub from one side of the circulation path via the hot water heater is reheated by the additional heating circuit and then sent to the hot water heater.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bath apparatus having a heating function, wherein the hot water discharged from the water heater is reheated by the additional heating circuit and then passed through the hot water heater to perform heating. The bathroom can be more efficiently heated when the hot water is dropped.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a bath apparatus 1 with a heating function according to one embodiment of the present invention. The bath apparatus 1 mainly includes a water heater 2 and a hot water branching unit 3. Water heater 2
Is composed of a main can body 4 having a relatively large combustion number and a sub-can body 5 having a relatively small combustion number. In the main can body 4, a heat exchanger 6 and a gas burner 7 are provided. A heat exchanger 8 and a gas burner 9 are also provided in the can 5. Main can 4
A water inlet pipe 10 into which water is injected from a water supply or the like is connected to a water inlet of a heat exchanger 5 provided therein, and a hot water heated by the heat exchanger 6 is cooled to a hot water outlet of the heat exchanger 6. A tapping pipe 11 for supplying to a tapping terminal 13 such as a showerhead or a shower head is connected, and a flow sensor 14 for detecting an amount of water flowing into the heat exchanger 6 is provided in the inlet pipe 10,
The heat exchanger 6 is provided with a can body temperature sensor 15 for detecting a can body temperature, and the tapping pipe 11 is provided with a tapping temperature sensor 16 for detecting the temperature of tapping water from the heat exchanger 6 and a flow rate. A control valve 17 is provided.

The inlet and outlet of the heat exchanger 8 provided in the sub-can 5 are connected to the bath adapter 1 of the bathtub 18 respectively.
9, a circulation path going pipe 20 and a circulation path return pipe 21 are connected to each other.
2. A bath water flow switch 23 and a circulation temperature sensor 24 are provided, and the circulation temperature sensor 24 can detect the temperature of hot water in the bathtub 18. A dropping pipe 12 branched from a tapping pipe 11 of the water heater 2 is connected to a circulation path return pipe 21 downstream of the circulation pump 22.

The gas burners 7, 9 in the main can 4 and the sub can 5 heat the heat exchangers 6, 8 by burning the combustible gas supplied through the gas supply pipe 36.

The hot water branching unit 3 branches a circulation path (20, 21) connecting the bus adapter 19 of the bathtub 18 and the water heater 2 to form a heating unit (for example, a bathroom heating unit having a heating function) installed in the bathroom. The hot water is supplied to the heat exchanger 26 in the device 25. That is, two three-way valves 27 and 28 are provided in the hot water branch unit 3,
One three-way valve 27 is connected in the middle of the circulation passage pipe 20, and the other three-way valve 28 is connected in the middle of the circulation return pipe 21. Also, a three-way valve 2 connected to the circulation passage pipe 20
7, the heating pipe 29 branches off, and the heating pipe 2
9 is a heat exchanger 2 provided in the heating unit 25.
6 hot water inlet. A heating return pipe 30 branches from a three-way valve 28 connected to the circulation path return pipe 21, and an air separator 31 is provided in the middle of the heating return pipe 30.
Is provided.

The air separator 31 has a space for storing hot water, a portion of the heating return pipe 30 on the three-way valve side is connected to the bottom of the air separator 31, and a portion of the heating return pipe 30 on the heating unit side is an air separator. 31 are connected to the side surface. Further, on the bathtub side of the three-way valve 27, an overflow pipe 32 branches off from the circulation path going pipe 20, and the overflow pipe 32 is connected to a water flow switch 33.
Is connected to the upper surface of the air separator 31 via the

In the figure, reference numeral 34 denotes a sensor for detecting the room temperature of the heating unit 25, reference numeral 35 denotes a controller of the hot water branch unit 3, and reference numeral 37 denotes a controller of the water heater 2.

Hereinafter, the operation of the bath apparatus 1 with the heating function having the above-described structure during automatic operation will be described with reference to the operation explanatory diagrams of FIGS. 2 to 5 and the flowchart of FIG. First, a case will be described in which a bath automatic operation switch and a bathroom heating switch are turned on by a remote controller (not shown) installed in a bathroom or a kitchen (S1). In this case, the ON signal for the automatic bath operation and the ON signal for the bathroom heating are sent to the controller 25 of the hot water branch unit 3. When this ON signal is received, the hot water branch unit 3
As shown in FIG. 2, each of the three-way valves 27 and 28 is opened on the bathtub side to inform the water heater 2 that the automatic bath operation and the bathroom heating operation are simultaneous operations.

When the water heater 2 recognizes that it is a simultaneous operation, the water temperature at the time of performing the automatic water cooling operation is reduced by ΔT (for example, 2 ° C.) from the set temperature Ts set by the remote controller or the like. A low temperature is set (S2). Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the water flowing from the water inlet channel 10 and heated to a temperature Ts−ΔT lower than the set temperature Ts by ΔT in the main can body 4 passes through a tapping channel 11 and a dropping pipe 12, It is dropped into the bathtub 18 from the circulation path going pipe 20 and the circulation path returning pipe 21 by both transports (S
3).

When the hot water is dropped into the bathtub 18 and filled to the set water level (S4), the dropping of the hot water is stopped (S5).

Next, the three-way valve 27 of the circulation passage pipe 20 provided in the hot water branch unit 3 is connected to the heating unit 2.
The mode is switched to the fifth side, and the bath reheating operation and the bathroom heating operation are started (S6). That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the hot water in the bathtub 18 is circulated by the circulation pump 22 so that the bath adapter 19 → circulation path return pipe 21 → heat exchanger 8 of the sub-can body 5 → circulation path going pipe 20 → three-way valve 27 → Heating pipe 29 →
The heat is circulated through the heat exchanger 26 of the heating unit 25 → the heating return pipe 30 → the air separator 31 → the overflow pipe 32 → the circulation path going pipe 20 → the bus adapter 19. Therefore, the hot water in the bathtub 18 is reheated by the sub-can body 5, and at the same time, the hot water in the bathtub 18 circulates through the heating unit 25, thereby heating the bathroom. .

While operating simultaneously in this manner, the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub 18 is detected by the circulation temperature sensor 24 to monitor whether or not the temperature has reached a set temperature (set temperature for heating) Ts.
Further, it is monitored by the room temperature detection sensor 34 in the heating unit 25 whether or not the interior of the bathroom has reached the heating set temperature Tr (S
7, S22).

If the hot water in the bathtub 18 has been heated up to the set temperature Ts (YES in step S7), the three-way valve 27 is located on the heating pipe 29 side and the three-way valve 28 is located on the air separator 31 side. After each switching, the reheating operation of the bathtub 18 is stopped, and the bathroom heating is operated alone (S
8). That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the hot water in the air separator 31 is
1 → three-way valve 28 → circulation path return pipe 21 → heat exchanger 8 of sub-can body 5 → circulation path going pipe 20 → three-way valve 27 → heating going pipe 29
→ heat exchanger 26 of heating unit 25 → heating return pipe 30 →
The air circulates along the path of the air separator 31, and the bathroom is heated.

When the temperature in the bathroom also reaches the set temperature Tr (S9), the combustion of the sub-canister 5 stops, the circulation pump 22 stops, and the indoor heating ends (S10). Then, a buzzer, a message, or the like is sounded by a remote controller or the like to notify the user.

When the temperature in the bathroom first reaches the set temperature Tr (in the case of YES in step S11), the three-way valve 27 is switched to the bus adapter 19 side, and the indoor heating operation is stopped. A reheating operation is performed (S12).
That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the hot water in the bathtub 18 is changed by the circulation pump 22 from the bath adapter 19 to the circulation path return pipe 21 → the heat exchanger 8 of the sub-can body 5 → the circulation path going pipe 20 → the bus adapter 19. Circulate by route. Therefore, bathtub 1
The hot water in 8 is refired in sub-can 5.

Thus, the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub 18 is also set at the set temperature Ts.
(S13), the combustion of the sub-can body 5 stops, the circulation pump 22 stops, and the reheating operation ends (S1).
4). Then, a buzzer, a message, or the like is sounded by a remote controller or the like to notify the user.

When the bath automatic operation is performed alone (S
In 1), as shown in steps S15 to S22, the temperature of the hot water is set equal to the set temperature Ts (S1).
5) After the hot water is dropped into the bathtub 18 to the set water level as shown in FIG. 2 (S16 to S18), the hot water in the bathtub 18 is refired as shown in FIG. S19 to S22).

When the bathroom heating operation is performed alone (S
In 1), the heating operation is performed until the temperature in the bathroom reaches the set temperature Tr as shown in steps S8 to S10 and FIG.

As described above, in the bath apparatus 1 of the present invention, when the automatic bath operation and the bathroom heating operation are performed simultaneously, the temperature of the hot water dropped into the bathtub 18 is lower than usual. Subsequent reheating time is longer than usual. Further, since the hot water being reheated in the middle of the operation is circulated to the heating unit 25 during the reheating operation, the hot water in the bathtub is radiated by the heating unit 25, and the time required for the reheating increases. As a result, it is possible to reduce the difference between the required time for the bathroom heating operation and the reheating operation time, and when the completion of the reheating is notified, the bathroom heating is terminated immediately before and after that, and the comfort is immediately provided. You will be able to take a bath in a good condition.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a description will be given of an embodiment which is characterized by processing when there is residual water in the bathtub. The configuration of the bath apparatus according to this embodiment is the same as that of FIG. In this embodiment, when the hot water is dropped into the bathtub 18 and the heating operation is performed simultaneously, the bathtub 18
The hot water temperature is within a predetermined temperature (for example, 5 ° C.
When the temperature is lower than (low temperature), the bath reheating operation is performed independently. When the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub 18 is higher than a predetermined temperature, the bath reheating operation and the heating operation are performed. . Therefore, when there is residual water in the bathtub 18 and the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub is low, the reheating operation is performed at the beginning of the reheating operation to avoid the flow of cold water to the heating unit 25. When the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub 18 becomes higher than the predetermined temperature due to the additional heating, the bathroom heating operation is performed simultaneously with the additional heating operation by switching the three-way valve 27.

Accordingly, while there is residual water in the bathtub and the temperature of the bathtub water circulating in the circulation path is low, the bathtub water is not circulated to the hot water heater, so that cold water flows through the heating unit 25 to cool the bathroom. Can be prevented and the bathroom can be heated efficiently. Therefore, when the hot water in the bathtub is heated, the bathroom is also heated to a temperature that is comfortable for bathing.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 7 is a view showing a state of a bath apparatus according to still another embodiment of the present invention when a bath is dropped. The specific configuration of the bath apparatus according to this embodiment is the same as that shown in FIG. 1, but here only the schematic diagram of FIG. 7 is shown. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, when the hot water is dropped, the three-way valve 27 is opened on the heating unit 25 side, the three-way valve 28 is opened on the bathtub 18 side, and heated by the main can body 4. The hot water is dropped into the bathtub 18 via the tapping pipe 11 and the dropping pipe 12 from the circulation path going pipe 20 and the circulation path return pipe 21 by both transports. That is, the hot water discharged from the main can 4 and having a temperature lower than the set temperature Ts by the predetermined temperature ΔT enters the circulation path return pipe 21 via the dropping pipe 12, and is connected to the bathtub 18 side in the circulation path return pipe 21. It is divided into the sub-can body 5 side. The hot water that has flowed into the circulation path return pipe 21 toward the bathtub 18 is dropped into the bathtub 18 directly from the bus adapter 19 through the circulation path return pipe 21.

On the other hand, the hot water which has flown into the circulation path return pipe 21 toward the sub-can body 5 is supplied to the circulation path return pipe 21 → the heat exchanger 8 of the sub-can body 5 during combustion → the circulation path going pipe 20 → the three-way valve. 27 → heating going pipe 29 → heat exchanger 26 of heating unit 25 → heating return pipe 30 → air separator 31 → overflow pipe 32
It is dropped into the bathtub 18 along the route of the circulation path going pipe 20 → the bus adapter 19. Therefore, in this route, the hot water discharged from the main can 4 is reheated to the set temperature Ts in the sub can 5 and then sent to the heating unit 25 to radiate heat into the room by the heating unit 25 and then to the bathtub 18 is dropped. After the hot water is filled to the set water level in this manner, the additional heating operation is performed as in the first embodiment.

In this manner, the bathroom can be heated even when the hot water is dropped, and the bathroom can be quickly warmed by reheating with the sub-can body 5, so that the time when the hot water in the bathtub is heated can be adjusted. The timing can be adjusted.

[0039]

According to the bath apparatus with a heating function according to the first aspect, when the hot water is dropped into the bathtub and the heating operation is performed at the same time, the hot water is dropped into the bathtub alone. Because the low-temperature hot water is dropped into the bathtub, the time for the bath reheating operation, that is, the time for the heating operation, becomes longer, and the bathroom is comfortable for bathing at about the same time as the bath is heated. Can be heated to temperature.

According to the bath apparatus with a heating function according to the second aspect, while there is residual water in the bathtub and the temperature of the bathtub water circulating in the circulation path is low, the bathtub water is not circulated to the hot water heater. When the temperature of the bathtub water rises, it is circulated to the hot water heater to heat the bathroom, so that the temperature of the bathroom is not lowered by the low temperature bathwater and the bathroom temperature is raised efficiently. be able to. Therefore, when the hot water in the bathtub is heated, the bathroom is also heated to a temperature that is comfortable for bathing.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the hot water is dropped directly into the bathtub on one side of the circulation path.
On the other hand, since the water is dropped into the bathtub via the hot water heater, the bathroom can be heated even when the hot water is dropped, and the rise in the bathroom temperature can be accelerated.
Therefore, the time difference between the heating of the hot water in the bathtub and the completion of heating the bathroom can be reduced.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the hot water discharged from the water heater is reheated by the additional heating circuit, and then is passed through the hot water heater to perform heating. Since the water is dropped, the bathroom can be heated more efficiently when the hot water is dropped, and the bathroom can be warmed more quickly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a bath apparatus with a heating function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view for explaining the operation of the above bath apparatus,
This shows the situation when the hot water is dropped.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the above bath apparatus,
This shows the situation when additional heating of the bath and heating of the bathroom are performed simultaneously.

FIG. 4 is a view for explaining the operation of the above bath apparatus,
This shows the situation when the hot water is dropped.

FIG. 5 is a view for explaining the operation of the above bath apparatus,
This shows the bathroom heating operation.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the above bath apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a view for explaining the operation of a bath apparatus with a heating function according to another embodiment of the present invention, and shows a state in which hot water is dropped and a bathroom is heated at the same time.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Hot water supply unit 3 Hot water branch unit 4 Main can body 5 Sub can body 6, 8 Heat exchanger 18 Bath tub 20 Circulation path going pipe (circulation path) 21 Circulation path return pipe (circulation path) 22 Circulation pump 25 Heating unit 26 Heating unit Heat exchanger 27, 28 Three-way valve 29 Heating pipe 30 Heating return pipe 35, 37 Controller

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A hot water heater having a function of dropping hot water into a bathtub and a function of reheating a bath, and branching hot water from a circulation path connecting a bath adapter of the bathtub and the water heater to circulate the hot water to the hot water heater. It has a hot water branch unit, and when performing the dropping of hot water into the bathtub and the heating operation at the same time, after dropping hot water of a lower temperature into the bathtub than when dropping hot water into the bathtub alone, the bath A bath apparatus with a heating function, wherein a heating operation is performed during a reheating operation. 2. A hot water supply device having a function of dropping hot water into a bathtub and a function of reheating a bath, and branching hot water from a circulation path connecting a bath adapter of the bathtub and the hot water supply device to circulate hot water to a hot water heater. It is equipped with a hot water branch unit, and when performing the dropping of hot water into the bathtub and the heating operation at the same time,
When the hot water temperature in the bathtub is lower than the predetermined temperature, the bath reheating operation is performed alone, and when the hot water temperature in the bathtub is higher than the predetermined temperature, the bath reheating operation and the heating operation are performed. A bath apparatus with a heating function, characterized in that: 3. A hot water supply having a function of dropping hot water into a bathtub and a function of reheating a bath, and branching hot water from a circulation path connecting a bath adapter of the bathtub and the water heater to circulate the hot water to the hot water heater. It is equipped with a hot water branch unit, and when hot water is dropped from the circulation path to the bathtub by both transports and heating operation is performed, hot water heated by the water heater is dropped directly into the bathtub from one side of the circulation path and heated by the water heater. A bath apparatus with a heating function, characterized in that the hot water passed through a hot water heater is dropped into the bathtub from the other side of the circulation path. 4. When the hot water is dropped into the bathtub from the circulation path by both transports and heating operation is performed at the same time, the hot water dropped into the bathtub from one side of the circulation path via the hot water heater is recycled by the additional heating circuit. 4. The bath apparatus with a heating function according to claim 3, wherein the bath apparatus is heated and then sent to the hot water heater.