JP2001263795A - Hot water supplier - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a hot water supplier which can simply control the quantity of hot water to be delivered without using a quantity-of-water sensor, a flow sensor, a temperature thermistor, etc. SOLUTION: In a hot water supplier which is equipped with a hot water storage tank 1, and is constituted so that it can supply hot water from this hot water storage tank 1 to bathtub 22, the supply of hot water is stopped by the time up signal of a timer which can set the time of hot water supply required to supply the above bathtub 22 with a required quantity of hot water.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hot water supply apparatus capable of easily controlling the amount of hot water supplied to a bathtub.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 6, there is a bath circuit for supplying hot water in a hot water storage tank 91 to a bathtub 93 via a hot water supply pipe 92. In this bath circuit, the amount of hot water supplied to the bathtub 93 is controlled by the water level sensor 94 and the flow rate sensor 9.
5. This is performed by a temperature thermistor 96 or the like.

The amount of hot water supplied by the water level sensor 94 is controlled by supplying hot water from the hot water storage tank 91 to the bathtub 93 and stopping the hot water supply when the hot water level in the bathtub 93 reaches a certain value. The amount of hot water supplied by the flow rate sensor 95 is controlled by supplying hot water from the hot water storage tank 91 to the bathtub 93, measuring the amount of hot water flowing through the hot water supply pipe 92, and stopping the hot water supply when the flowing hot water amount reaches a certain value. Do. The amount of hot water supply is controlled by the temperature thermistor 96 by stopping hot water supply when the hot water boundary 97 in the hot water storage tank 91 rises by a certain value.

[0004]

However, in order to control the amount of hot water supplied by the water level sensor 94, the water level sensor 94 is required.
And installation work of a pipe 98 for connecting the water level sensor 94 to the bathtub 93 is required. The flow sensor 9
In order to control the amount of hot water supply according to 5, a flow sensor 95 is required, and mounting work for mounting the flow sensor 95 in the middle of the hot water supply pipe 92 is required. In order to control the amount of hot water supplied by the temperature thermistor 96, a plurality of temperature thermistors 96
, And a special control mechanism for controlling the amount of hot water supplied by the signal of the temperature thermistor 96. For this reason, there is a problem in that controlling the amount of hot water supplied to the bathtub 93 by such a method requires many costs such as component costs and mounting costs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional disadvantages, and an object thereof is to provide a water volume sensor,
An object of the present invention is to provide a hot water supply device capable of easily controlling a hot water supply amount without using a flow rate sensor, a temperature thermistor, and the like.

[0006]

Therefore, a hot water supply apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention is provided with a hot water storage tank 1 in which a predetermined amount of hot water is supplied to the bathtub 22 in the hot water supply apparatus configured to supply hot water from the hot water storage tank 1 to the bathtub 22. A hot water filling means for stopping hot water supply in response to a time-up signal of a timer capable of setting a hot water supply time required for the hot water supply is provided.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided hot water filling control means for controlling a hot water supply amount by setting a timer for a hot water supply time required to supply a predetermined amount of hot water and controlling the hot water supply time. The bathtub 22 can be filled with hot water. For this reason, compared with controlling the hot water supply amount by the water level sensor 94, the flow rate sensor 95, and the temperature thermistor 96, the hot water supply can be performed with a simple configuration and at low cost.

In the hot water supply apparatus of the present invention, in the hot water filling means, a plurality of hot water supply times are set corresponding to a plurality of bath tub sizes. It is characterized by being configured to be selectable.

According to the hot water supply apparatus of the second aspect, the hot water supply time is set according to the bathtub size only by selecting the bathtub size by the switching means 61... You can make a bath. Therefore, the same type of hot water supply device can be used for different bathtub sizes. Even if the size of the bathtub is changed after the installation of the hot water supply device, it is possible to fill the bath according to the changed bathtub size without modifying the device itself, only by changing the selection of the switching means 61. Can be.

In the hot water supply apparatus according to a third aspect, the hot water filling control means includes a hot water amount adjusting switch 65 for increasing or decreasing the hot water supply time.
66, 67, the hot water amount adjustment switches 65, 66,
67 is provided on a remote controller operated by a user.

According to the hot water supply apparatus of the third aspect, the user operates the hot water level adjusting switches 65, 66, 67 provided on the remote controller according to the situation, so that the bathtub 22 can be operated.
Since the increase and decrease of the amount of hot water can be adjusted, convenience in use is improved.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, specific embodiments of the hot water supply apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

First, an overall configuration of a heat pump type hot water supply apparatus as a premise of one embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a water system and a refrigerant system of the heat pump water heater. First, a bath circuit in a water system will be described. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a hot water storage tank, in which three thermistors 11, 12, and 13 serving as temperature detecting means are arranged at different heights. Specifically, the first thermistor 11, the second thermistor 12, and the third thermistor 13 are arranged in this order at a predetermined interval from the upper part to the lower part in the figure. A water supply pipe 3 for supplying city water to the hot water storage tank 1 while applying water supply pressure is connected to a water supply port 2 provided at the bottom of the hot water storage tank 1. In order from the side, a pressure-reducing check valve 7 with a relief valve and a freezing prevention thermistor 6 are interposed. On the other hand, a hot water supply pipe 8 is connected to a hot water supply port 4 provided at the top of the hot water storage tank 1, and the tip thereof is connected to an inflow side 9 a of a mixing valve 9. Here, on the hot water storage tank 1 side of the hot water supply pipe 8, an air release valve 23 for releasing steam to the outside and a water release valve 24 for releasing expansion of water are provided. A water supply pipe 14 branched from the middle of the water supply pipe 3 is also connected to the inflow side 9a of the mixing valve 9, and the mixing valve 9 supplies hot water from the hot water supply pipe 8 and city water from the water supply pipe 14. Are mixed at a constant ratio. On the other hand, a branch pipe 16 is connected to the outflow side 9 b of the mixing valve 9, and is branched into a hot water supply pipe 17 for a bath and a tapping pipe 18 via the branch pipe 16. The hot water supply pipe 17 is connected to a bathtub 22 via a hot water supply solenoid valve 19 and a check valve 21, while the hot water supply pipe 18 is connected to a hot water outlet.

Next, a water heater circuit in the above water system will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, a water intake pipe 27 is connected to a water intake 26 provided at the bottom of the hot water storage tank 1, and the tip thereof is connected to an inlet side 29 a of a heat exchange path 29 via a circulation pump 28. It is connected. Here, the heat exchange path 29 is provided so as to be able to exchange heat with a triple tube type water heat exchanger 44 functioning as a condenser of a refrigerant circuit described below.
The hot and cold water flows from the inlet side 29a to the outlet side 29b. At this time, the leak detector 34 is attached to the water heat exchanger 44. A tapping pipe 31 is connected to the outlet side 29 b of the heat exchange path 29, and the tip thereof is connected to the hot water supply pipe 8 closer to the hot water storage tank 1 than the mixing valve 9. The water intake pipe 27 connecting the circulation pump 28 and the heat exchange path 29 has
An electric proportional valve 32 and an incoming water temperature detection thermistor 33 are interposed. A hot water supply temperature detecting thermistor 36 and a relief valve 37 are interposed in the tapping pipe 31 extending from the heat exchange path 29 to the hot water supply pipe 8. The bath circuit and the water heater circuit in the water system are respectively controlled by control means (not shown), and the control means is configured using a microcomputer having a CPU, a memory, an input / output interface, and the like. Things.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, the refrigerant system includes a compressor 41, a water heat exchanger 44, and an electric expansion valve 4.
5. The air heat exchanger 46 is configured by sequentially connecting the refrigerant pipes 50a to 50d. Further, a discharge pipe temperature thermistor 42 and an HPS 43 for pressure control are interposed on the discharge side of the compressor 41, and an air heat exchange temperature thermistor 47 and an outside air are provided near the air heat exchanger 46, respectively. A temperature thermistor 48 is provided. By the way, the compressor 4 is connected to the refrigerant circuit during the defrosting operation.
A bypass circuit for supplying the hot gas discharged from 1 to the air heat exchanger 46 is formed. That is,
As shown in the figure, a bypass pipe 51 via a defrosting electromagnetic valve 49 is branched from a refrigerant pipe 50a connecting the discharge side of the compressor 41 and the water heat exchanger 44, and the tip thereof is connected to the electric expansion valve. Refrigerant pipe 50 connecting the heat exchanger 45 and the air heat exchanger 46
The bypass circuit is formed by connecting to the terminal c. The refrigerant system circuit is also controlled by the control means (not shown).

Next, of the operation of the heat pump type hot water supply apparatus having the above configuration, a bath hot water supply operation will be described. First, in a state where hot water is stored in the hot water storage tank 1 shown in FIG. 1, the hot water supply solenoid valve 19 is opened. Then, the hot water of about 85 ° C. stored in the hot water storage tank 1 is pushed up by the water supply pressure of the water flowing through the water supply pipe 3, and flows into the inflow side 9 a of the mixing valve 9 from the hot water supply port 4 through the hot water supply pipe 8. I do. At this time, the water flowing through the water supply pipe 14 branched from the water supply pipe 3 also flows into the inflow side 9a of the mixing valve 9, where the water and the hot water are mixed at a constant ratio. And about 40 ° C-6 mixed above
The hot water of 0 ° C. is supplied from the outflow side 9 b of the mixing valve 9 through the branch pipe 16, one through the hot water supply pipe 17 to the bathtub 22, and the other through the hot water pipe 18 and the outlet. Supplied to

Further, a description will be given of a water heating operation in the heat pump type hot water supply apparatus. First, in a state in which the electromagnetic valve 19 for hot water shown in FIG. 1 is closed, the compressor 41 in the refrigerant circuit is driven, the water heat exchanger 44 functions as a condenser, and the air heat exchanger 46 is connected to an evaporator. Function as Next, the circulation pump 2 in the above water system circuit
Activate 8 Then, the stored water flows out of the water intake 26 provided at the bottom of the hot water storage tank 1, and flows through the heat exchange path 29 via the water intake pipe 27. This water is then heated by the water heat exchanger 44 functioning as a condenser,
The hot water is returned to the upper portion of the hot water storage tank 1 again through the hot water supply pipe 31 and the hot water supply pipe 8. By continuously performing such an operation, the hot water is gradually stored from the upper end side to the lower end side of the hot water storage tank 1. When the temperature of the hot water detected by the third thermistor 13 provided in the lower part of the hot water storage tank 1 becomes equal to or higher than the set temperature previously set by the control means (for example, 85 ° C. or higher), the whole amount is heated. Is completed, the above operation is terminated.

Next, the characteristic portions of the hot water supply apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described. The hot water supply apparatus sets a hot water supply time required to supply a predetermined amount of hot water to the bathtub 22 in advance. By the operation of starting hot water supply to the bathtub 22, a timer for controlling the hot water supply time is set, and at the same time as the timer is started, the hot water supply electromagnetic valve 19 is automatically opened, and hot water is supplied from the hot water storage tank 1 to the bathtub 22. Be started. By the output of the time-up signal from the timer due to the elapse of the set time, the electromagnetic valve 19 for hot water is closed and the supply of hot water to the bathtub 22 is stopped. This makes it possible to automatically fill the bathtub 22 with hot water. The hot water filling control means for controlling the hot water supply amount by controlling the hot water supply time, which is the time from when the hot water supply to the bathtub 22 is started to when it is completed, is provided in the above-described control means (not shown).

First, a method of determining a hot water supply time in the hot water filling control means will be described. The hot water supply time is determined by selectively operating dip switches 61... Which are switching means. FIG. 2 shows the dip switches 61. DIP switch 61
It is provided in an operable place in the main body. A plurality of DIP switches 61 are provided, and they are arranged in parallel. The reason why a plurality of dip switches 61 are provided is to make each dip switch 61 correspond to a different bathtub size. The bathtub size can be selected by selectively operating the dip switches 61. For example, bathtub size 2
The 200 liter dip switch is selectively operated for the 00 liter bathtub 22. By selectively operating the dip switches 61,..., The bathtub size is selected, and the hot water supply time is determined from the table 63 of the bathtub size and the basic setting time described below.

FIG. 3 shows a table 63 of bathtub size and basic set time. The table 63 of the bathtub size and the basic setting time is a table 63 in which the basic setting time is set for each bathtub size corresponding to the dip switch 61. The table 63 is stored in a control unit configured using a microcomputer having the CPU, memory, input / output interface, and the like.
By selectively operating the dip switches 61,..., The bathtub size is selected, and the basic setting time corresponding to the selected bathtub size is set according to the table 63. For example, by selectively operating 200 liters of dip switches 61... For a bath tub having a bath tub size of 200 liters, a basic tub corresponding to a bath tub size of 200 liters is obtained according to a table 63 of bath tub size and basic set time. A set time of 20 minutes is set. The set time of 20 minutes is a hot water supply time of a bath tub size of 200 liters.

FIG. 4 shows a remote control key switch 6 for setting the amount of hot water.
4 is shown. This hot water setting remote control key switch 6
Reference numeral 4 is provided on a remote controller attached to a bathroom wall or the like. By operating the hot water setting remote control key switch 64, the above hot water supply time can be increased or decreased, and the amount of hot water in the bathtub 22 can be increased or decreased. The water volume setting remote control key switch 64 is provided with "large", "normal", and "small" push button type water volume adjustment switches 66, 65 and 67. The user may select "more", "normal", or "less" push button type hot water amount adjustment switches 66, 65, 67 before hot water supply.
You can select from and set. For example, when the user selects and sets the "normal" push button type hot water amount adjustment switch 65, the basic setting time corresponding to the bathtub size (for example, 2 when the bathtub size is 200 liters).
The hot water supply time of 0 minutes is set, and the hot water supply to the bathtub 22 is automatically performed.

On the other hand, when the user selects and sets the "large" push button type hot water level adjusting switch 66 before hot water supply, the "normal" push button type hot water level adjusting switch 6
5, the amount of hot water can be increased as compared with the case where 5 is selected and set.
Is selected and set, the amount of hot water can be made smaller than when the "normal" push button type hot water amount adjustment switch 65 is selected and set. This detailed description will be described later in the description of hot water supply control.

Next, control of hot water supply to the bathtub 22 of the hot water supply device will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing hot water supply control of the hot water supply device. First, in Step S1, a hot water filling (hot water supply) start operation is performed. Step S
In 2, the hot water setting remote control key switch 64 sets the hot water. For example, when the “normal” push button type hot water amount adjustment switch 65 is selected and set,
Move to step S3. In step S3, by selectively operating the dip switches 61,...
The bathtub size is selected, and the basic setting time automatically set according to the table 63 of the bathtub size and the basic setting time becomes the hot water supply time. A timer for controlling this time is set and the timer is started. At the same time as the timer starts, the hot water supply solenoid valve 19 is automatically opened (step S4), and the hot water supply to the bathtub 22 is started.
Further, in step 5, it is determined whether or not the value of the timer is within the hot water supply time. If it is within the above-mentioned time, the hot water supply to the bathtub 22 is continued, and if the above-mentioned time has elapsed, the timer is immediately terminated and at the same time the electromagnetic valve 19 for hot water is supplied.
Is closed and hot water supply to bathtub 22 is stopped (step S
6).

In the step S2, when the "large" push button type hot water level adjusting switch 66 of the hot water level setting remote control key switch 64 is selected and set, the basic setting time is a fixed time (To = 3 to 5 minutes). ) Is the hot water supply time. At this time, a timer is set, and the process proceeds to steps 4 to 6 in the same manner as when the "normal" push button type hot water amount adjustment switch 65 is set. Hot water is supplied automatically. As a result, the time for supplying hot water to the bathtub 22 becomes longer than when the "normal" push button type hot water amount adjustment switch is selected and set, and
The amount of hot water in the bathtub 22 can be increased.

In step S2, when the "small" push button type hot water level adjusting switch 67 of the hot water level setting remote control key switch 64 is selected and set, a predetermined time (Ts = 3 to 3) from the basic setting time. 5 minutes) is the hot water supply time, at which time the timer is set, and the "normal" push button type hot water amount adjustment switch 6
Hot water is supplied to bathtub 22 in the same manner as when 5 is selected and set. As a result, the time for supplying hot water to the bathtub 22 becomes shorter than when the "normal" push button type hot water amount adjustment switch 65 is selected and set, and the hot water amount in the bathtub 22 can be reduced.

According to the above hot water supply apparatus, the hot water supply time required to supply the predetermined amount of hot water is set in the timer, and the hot water supply time is controlled to fill the bathtub. Therefore, the water level sensor 94, the flow rate sensor 95, and the temperature
The components of the flow sensor 95 and the temperature thermistor 96 become unnecessary, and the cost of components and the cost of mounting them can be reduced. Also, a connection pipe 9 for connecting the water level sensor 94 to the bathtub is provided.
8 and the temperature thermistor 96 do not require a control configuration, thereby reducing costs.

According to the above hot water supply apparatus, when the hot water supply apparatus is installed, the dip switch 6 provided in the main body is provided.
The hot water supply time is set according to the bathtub time only by selectively operating 1..., And it is possible to fill the bathtub according to the bathtub size for different bathtub sizes. Therefore, the same type of water heater can be applied to different bathtub sizes. Also, even if the bathtub size is changed after the installation of the hot water supply device, only by changing the selection of the dip switches 61 provided in the main body, the bathtub size can be changed without modifying the device itself. You can add hot water.

Further, according to the hot water supply apparatus, the user can set the "normal", "large" and "small" push button type hot water adjusting switches 65 provided on the hot water setting remote control key switch 64 according to the situation. , 66, 67 can be adjusted to increase or decrease the amount of hot water in the bathtub 22, thereby improving the convenience in use.

Although the specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and can be implemented with various modifications within the scope of the present invention. That is, in the present embodiment, the dip switches 61 are used in selecting the bathtub size, but a rotary type switch or the like may be used. Further, in the present embodiment, a heat pump is used as a heating source, but a heating device using another heat source such as a gas can be implemented in the same manner as described above.

[0030]

According to the hot water supply apparatus of the first aspect, since the hot water supply control means for controlling the hot water supply amount by controlling the hot water supply time is provided, a water level sensor for controlling the hot water supply amount is provided. The cost of parts such as the flow rate sensor and the temperature thermistor and the mounting cost are not required, and the amount of hot water can be controlled with a low-cost and simple control configuration.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the hot water supply time can be set in accordance with the size of the bathtub by selecting the switching means, the same type of hot water supply apparatus can be used for different size bathtubs. This makes it possible to reduce the production cost and installation cost of the hot water supply device. Also, even if the bath tub size is changed after the installation of the hot water supply device, it is possible to fill the bath according to the changed bath tub size without modifying the device itself, simply by changing the selection of the switching means. In addition, it is possible to suppress generation of remodeling costs due to a change in bathtub size.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the user can adjust the amount of hot water in the bathtub, thereby improving the convenience in use.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of a water system and a refrigerant system of a heat pump water heater according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a dip switch provided in the water heater according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a table of a bathtub size and a basic setting time for determining a hot water supply time of a hot water supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a hot water amount setting remote control key switch used in the hot water supply apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a control flowchart of a hot water supply amount of the hot water supply apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram for explaining a conventional example of a method of controlling the amount of hot water supplied from a hot water storage tank to a bathtub.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 hot water storage tank 22 bathtub 61 dip switch (switching means) 63 table of bathtub size and basic setting time 64 hot water setting remote control key switch 65 hot water adjusting switch 66 hot water adjusting switch 67 hot water adjusting switch

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A hot water supply apparatus comprising a hot water storage tank (1) and capable of supplying hot water from the hot water storage tank (1) to a bathtub (22), the hot water supply necessary for supplying a predetermined amount of hot water to the bathtub (22). A hot water supply device comprising hot water filling means for stopping hot water supply in response to a time-up signal of a timer capable of setting a time. 2. A hot water filling means, wherein a plurality of hot water supply times are set corresponding to a plurality of bath tub sizes, and one of the bath tub sizes can be selected by a switching means (61...). The hot water supply device according to claim 1, wherein the hot water supply device is provided. 3. The hot water supply device includes a hot water amount adjusting switch (65), (66), or (67) for increasing or decreasing the hot water supply time.
The hot water supply apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the hot water amount adjustment switches (65), (66), and (67) are provided on a remote controller operated by a user.