JP2001116354A - Bath heater - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a bath heater adapted to a plurality of bathtubs respectively having a function for automatically supplying hot water for a bath. SOLUTION: A hot water supplying drop pipe for dropping to a bathtub hot water heated by a heat exchanger for supplying hot water is connected to a circulating passage for connecting a heat exchanger for a bath for heating the water of bathtub to a first bathtub. The forward path and the return path of the circulating passage having a circulating pump are respectively provided with three-way valves. One side of each three-way valve is connected to the second bathtub. Remote controllers are respectvely provided in the vicinity of the first and second bathtubs. A controller is provided with a switch preventing means for preventing the three-way valve from being switched when the bathtub the remote controller of which is turned on is used by a user.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bath heating apparatus using gas, oil and electricity as fuel.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a bathtub with a hot water supply that can supply hot water to a plurality of bathtubs and reheat the water with a single heat source device. This apparatus uses a two-way valve or a three-way valve to switch the hot water supply path to one of the bath tubs to perform hot water supply or additional heating.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional bath water heater, since it is used by switching to one of the bathtubs, it is possible to use one of the bathtubs while bathing. When the automatic hot water supply operation is performed, there is a problem that the hot water supply and additional heating operations cannot be performed on the bathtub side where a person is taking a bath. In addition, when the automatic hot water supply operation on the other side is completed, unless the switch of the remote controller for the automatic hot water supply operation is turned off, the operation on one side is not accepted, and there is a problem that the usability is poor.

[0004] In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a bath heating apparatus which has a function of automatically filling a bath and is compatible with a plurality of bathtubs.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a bath heating apparatus according to the present invention comprises a heat exchanger for hot water supply to a circulation path connecting a bath heat exchanger for heating bath water and one bath tub. A hot water supply pipe for dropping hot water heated by a water heater into a bath tub, and a three-way valve is provided on each of the outward path and the return path of the circulation path provided with a circulation pump, and one side of each of the three-way valves is connected to two bathtubs. And remote controls are provided near the bathtubs 1 and 2 respectively, and when one of the remote controls is turned on and the bathtub on which the remote control is turned on is bathed. A first feature is that a controller having a switching preventing means for preventing switching of the three-way valve is provided. Further, the bath heating device of the present invention connects a hot water dropping pipe for dropping hot water heated by the hot water supply heat exchanger into a circulation path connecting the bath heat exchanger for heating bath water and the one bath tub. A three-way valve is provided on each of the outward path and the return path of the circulation path provided with the circulation pump, and one side of each of the three-way valves is connected to two bathtubs. A second feature is that a remote controller is provided, and a controller having a control means for starting the other operation after one of the remote controllers is operated when the operation of one of the remote controllers is completed is provided.

According to the first feature, a hot water supply path is connected to a plurality of bathtubs, and a remote controller is provided on each of the bathtubs.
It is a bath water heater that can be operated from either side, and when using one bath tub, it is impossible to supply hot water or reheat the other bath tub, and to improve usability. It was done. Further, according to the second feature, after the operation in one bathtub is completed, the remote controller in the bathtub does not have to be bothered (turned off), and the appliance is automatically turned on in the other bathtub. Driving becomes possible, and usability can be improved.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a bath heating device of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing another embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a bath heating device,
A heat exchanger 2 for hot water supply and a gas burner 3 provided therebelow, a heat exchanger 4 for a bath and a gas burner 5 provided therebelow, and a main body controller 6 for switching and controlling a three-way valve described later are provided therein. . Reference numeral 7 denotes a remote controller having a display unit for remotely controlling the bath heating device 1 and displaying the hot water supply temperature, time, operation state, and the like on a screen. The remote controller 7 is provided near one bathtub 8 and is used for hot water supply and additional heating operations. Reference numeral 9 denotes a remote controller provided in the vicinity of a second bathtub, which will be described later, which is used to supply hot water to the second bathtub and perform additional heating operations.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a water inlet pipe to the hot water supply heat exchanger 2;
Reference numeral 1 denotes a tapping pipe from a hot water supply heat exchanger 2 to a hot water supply curran (not shown). The water inlet pipe 10 is provided with a water amount sensor 13 for detecting the amount of water passing from an upstream side thereof and a water temperature sensor 14 for detecting an incoming water temperature. The tapping pipe 11 is provided with a temperature sensor 15 such as a thermistor as a temperature sensing member for detecting the temperature of the hot water heated by the hot water supply heat exchanger 2, and a water flow control valve 12 for controlling the flow rate. This temperature sensor 15
May detect the temperature of the hot water after mixing the hot and cold water.

Reference numeral 16 denotes a gas pipe leading to the gas burner 3.
The gas pipe 16 is provided with a gas solenoid valve 17 as a driving member for opening and closing a gas passage, a proportional valve, and the like. Reference numeral 18 denotes two bathtubs provided in the bathroom, and 19 denotes a circulation path of the bath heating device 1 connected to the bathtub 18. The circulation path 19 circulates a water flow sensor 20, a circulation pump 21, and a bathtub water. A bath temperature sensor 27 for detecting the temperature of the bath is provided. Reference numeral 22 denotes a hot water supply pipe branched from the hot water supply pipe 11 and connected to the circulation path 19, and an opening and closing solenoid valve 2
3. A pouring amount sensor 26 for measuring the pouring amount is provided.
When dropping, one or both of the outgoing pipe and the return pipe of the bath may be used. Reference numeral 24 denotes a gas solenoid valve provided in a gas passage 25 leading to the gas burner 5. Reference numeral 28 denotes a pressure sensor such as a semiconductor pressure sensor for detecting a water level in the bathtub.

Three-way valves 29 and 30 are provided on the outward and return paths of the circulation path 19, and one sides 31 and 32 of these three-way valves 29 and 30 are connected to the second bath 18. By switching these three-way valves simultaneously, hot water can be supplied to any one of the bathtubs and refired. And although the three-way valves 29 and 30 are provided near the bathtub, the present invention is not limited to this example, and the three-way valves 29 and 30 may be incorporated in the appliance as a single unit. In addition, a three-way valve is further added on the way of the circulation path 19, a washing machine is connected to the added three-way valve, and a circulating pump 21 in the appliance is driven when pouring the washing machine.
The remaining hot water in the bathtub may be used for washing. In addition, a four-way valve may be used instead of the three-way valve to pour the remaining hot water from any of the bathtubs into the washing machine. Furthermore, if the configuration of the three-way valves 29 and 30 is improved so that the water can be distributed to either of the bathtubs, hot water can be supplied to the two bathtubs at the same time. In addition, if a water amount sensor is provided in a flow path leading to each bathtub and distribution is stopped when a set amount is reached, automatic hot water supply to two bathtubs can be performed simultaneously. Further, a temperature sensor for detecting the return temperature to the appliance is provided on the return path side of each circulation path returning from each bathtub to the appliance side, and if this temperature sensor can be used to control the reheating temperature, two bathtubs can be controlled. Thus, boiling at different temperatures can be obtained.

The main body controller 6 and the remote controller are connected via a communication interface.
The state of the bath heating device main body is determined based on detection signals from various sensors other than the temperature sensor 15 and the water amount sensor 13, and each part of the bath water heating device main body (for example, a gas solenoid valve, The operation of the gas proportional valve is controlled. Each of the remote controllers 7 and 9 has a human body sensor 3 for detecting a human body such as a CCD camera, an artificial retinal sensor, an infrared sensor, and an ultrasonic sensor.
3, 34 are provided. When this human body sensor detects that one of the bathrooms is taking a bath, the remote control of the other bathroom or a separately provided kitchen remote control may display the bath by voice, screen display, or the like. Also,
It is also possible to notify the other remote controller by voice or the like when the bather leaves. Further, when the bather is stationary in the bathtub, it is difficult to determine by the human body sensor alone, so that in addition to the determination by the human body sensors 33 and 34, the pressure change by the pressure sensor 28 is detected so as to be used together. Misjudgment may be prevented.

Next, based on the flowchart of FIG.
A control example of the main body controller will be described. When filling with hot water, first, a switch or the like of the remote controller 7 is turned on (step S1). Next, the main body controller 6 determines whether or not an operation command such as automatic hot water supply is issued from any of the remote controllers (step S2). This determination is made by two-way communication or the like via the communication interface. For example, a specific signal may be transmitted from the remote controller to the main controller, the main controller may determine which signal is transmitted from which side to recognize the signal, and the result may be transmitted to the remote controller on the transmitting side.

Next, when the main controller 6 recognizes one remote controller (remote controller 7) (step S5).
3), a three-way valve 29 such that a flow path is formed on the side of one bathtub 8 by the main body controller 6;
30 is switched (step S4). If the three-way valve is located on the side of one bathtub 8 from the beginning, it is left as it is. Thereby, one bathtub 8 and three-way valve 2
9, the circulation pump 21, the bath heat exchanger 4, and the three-way valve 30 form a hot water supply circulation path in this order, so that the hot water can be dropped or refired.

In step S3, the main controller 6
However, if another remote controller, that is, the second remote controller (remote controller 9) is recognized instead of the one remote controller 7 (No in step S3), a flow path is formed on the second bathtub 18 side by the main body controller 6. Three way valve 2
9 and 30 are switched (step S5). As a result, a hot water supply circulation path is formed in the order of the second bath 18, the three-way valve 29, the circulation pump 21, the bath heat exchanger 4, and the three-way valve 30, so that the hot water can be dropped or refired. .

Next, it is determined whether the remote controller to which the operation command has been issued by the main body controller 6 is still operating, that is, whether the operation switch is on (step S6). If the remote controller is operating (step S6). If yes, it is determined whether or not an operation command such as a hot water supply operation is issued from the other remote controller (step S7). If there is a bather in the bathtub (Yes in step S8), the three-way valve opening the flow path on the side of the running bathtub is kept open by the switching prevention means, and the three-way valve is switched. Blocked (step S9). The presence or absence of a bather is determined by the human body sensors 33 and 34 and the like.

Thus, even if a hot water supply operation is performed by the remote controller 9 on the other bathtub 18 while the bath is being bathed on one bathtub 8 side, the three-way valves 29 and 30 are connected to the bathtub 8 side without switching to the other side. There is no need to wait until the use on the other side is completed, and the bath functions such as dropping hot water and additional heating can be used on the bathtub side where the bather is present (step S11).

Of course, if there is no bather in the running tub in step S8 (No in step S8)
In the meantime, the three-way valves 29 and 30 are switched so that the bath / hot water supply can be used in the other bathtub 18 (step S1).
0).

Next, a flow will be described in which when the bath water supply operation on one bathtub is completed, the appliance can be automatically operated on the other bathtub without turning off the remote control of the bathtub. This will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 3, the operation switch is turned on (step S12), and when one of the remote controllers 7 performs the switch operation of the bath water supply operation (step S13), the other remote controller 9 side is in the bath water supply operation via the main body controller 6. It is determined whether there is (Step S14). This determination may be made in the same manner as the above-described determination method. If the result of the determination by the main controller 6 shows that the remote controller 9 has not been operated (NO in step 14), the switch operation is accepted and the bath function is activated. That is, the hot water heated by the hot water supply heat exchanger 2 with the gas proportional valve or the like throttled to the set hot water temperature is supplied to the hot water dropping pipe 22.
, Is dropped into the circulation path 19 by both conveyances and the three-way valve 2
After passing through 9 and 30, the bathtub 8 is filled with hot water.

On the other hand, if the remote controller 9 is in operation (YES in step 14), the switch operation of the remote controller 7 is set in a standby state, and the user is told, for example, by voice or the like. The operation is started as soon as the operation is over. ", And the lamp of the remote control blinks (steps S15 and S16). The notification by voice may be performed by a speaker built in the remote controller. In addition to the bathroom, the remote control provided separately in the kitchen may be used to notify.

When the bath water supply operation by the remote controller 9 on the other side is completed (YES in step S17), the remote controller 7 uses voice or the like, for example, "The other operation has been completed. Now, the operation is started. "(Step S18), and then the bath water supply is automatically started to be dropped into the bathtub 8 on the remote control 7 side. As a result, even if the user does not bother to turn off the operation switch of the other remote controller after the bath operation of the other remote controller is completed, as long as the user turns on the bath switch of the one remote controller, the user does not Almost simultaneously with the end of bath water supply, hot water supply to one bathtub is automatically started. If the operation switch of the remote controller 7 is pressed again during standby by blinking of the lamp of the remote controller, the subsequent operation is canceled, so that the operation is convenient.

The above-described embodiment shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this, and various design changes can be made within the scope. For example, in this embodiment, the remote controller is connected by wire, but may be linked wirelessly. Also, the case where hot water is supplied to two bathtubs has been described, but the case of three or more hot water baths may be used.

[0023]

According to the present invention, the bath heating apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention has a circulation path connecting a bath heat exchanger for heating bath water and one bathtub. A hot water supply pipe for dropping hot water heated by the hot water supply heat exchanger into the bathtub is connected, and a three-way valve is provided on each of the outward path and the return path of the circulation path provided with the circulation pump, and one side of each of the three-way valves is provided. Is connected to the bathtub 2 and
Remote controls are provided in the vicinity of the bathtubs 1 and 2, respectively, and when one of the remote controls is turned on, and when the bathtub on which the remote control is turned on is bathing, the switching of the three-way valve is prevented. Since a controller having means is provided, a hot water supply path is connected to a plurality of bathtubs, a remote controller is provided on each bathtub side, and a bath water heater that can be operated from any side is used. In this case, it is possible to prevent the hot water from being supplied to the bathtub on the other side or to reheat it, thereby improving the usability. Further, according to the bath heating device of the second aspect, the hot water heated by the hot water supply heat exchanger is dropped into the bathtub in the circulation path connecting the bath heat exchanger for heating the bathtub water and the first bathtub. A three-way valve is provided on each of the outgoing path and the return path of the circulating path provided with a circulating pump, and one side of each of the three-way valves is connected to two bathtubs. A remote controller is provided near each of the bathtubs 2 and a controller having control means for starting operation of the other remote controller when one of the remote controllers is operating is provided if one of the remote controllers is operating. After the operation on the bathtub side is completed, the appliance can be automatically operated on the other side even if the remote control switch on the bathtub side does not have to be turned off, thereby improving the usability. Door can be.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a bath heating device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 bath heating device 2 hot water supply heat exchanger 4 bath heat exchanger 6 main controller 7 remote control 8 1 bathtub 9 remote control 18 bathtub 19 circulation path 21 circulation pump 22 hot water dropping pipe 29 three-way valve 30 three-way valve 33 human body sensor 34 Human body sensor

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Akira Yoshida 93 Edocho, Chuo-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo F-term in Noritz Co., Ltd. 3L024 CC06 DD06 DD13 DD27 EE03 GG38 GG42 HH19 HH54

Claims (2)

[Claims] A circulating pump for connecting a hot water dropping pipe for dropping hot water heated by the hot water supply heat exchanger into a bathtub to a circulation path connecting the bath heat exchanger for heating bathtub water and the first bathtub; A three-way valve is provided on each of the outward path and the return path of the circulation path, and one side of each of the three-way valves is connected to two bathtubs, and a remote controller is provided near each of the 1 and 2 bathtubs. And a controller having a switching preventing means for preventing switching of the three-way valve when one of the remote controllers is turned on and when bathing in the bathtub on which the remote control is turned on. Bath heating device. 2. A circulating pump for connecting a hot water dropping pipe for dropping hot water heated by the hot water supply heat exchanger into a bathtub to a circulation path connecting the bath heat exchanger for heating bathtub water and the first bathtub. A three-way valve is provided on each of the outward path and the return path of the circulation path, and one side of each of the three-way valves is connected to two bathtubs, and a remote controller is provided near each of the 1 and 2 bathtubs. A bath heating apparatus, comprising: a controller provided with a control unit that, when one of the remote controllers is operated, waits for the end of the operation and starts the other operation.