JP2002004367A - Feed water equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide feed water equipment which mixes water and hot water by means of a mixing valve to spout mixed water from a discharge port, detects the temperature of the mixed water at a downstream location of the mixing valve by means of a temperature sensor, and adjusts the position of a valve body of the mixing valve by feeding back the detected temperature to a control section, wherein mixing operation of the mixing valve is appropriately carried out. SOLUTION: The feed water equipment (electric water heater) 18 is provided with the mixing valve 18 for mixing water and hot water to spout mixed water, a temperature sensor (thermistor) 46 arranged in a channel at a downstream location of the mixing valve 34, for detecting the temperature of the mixed water, and the control section 48 for controlling the operation of the mixing valve 34. According to the feed water equipment 18, a flow sensor 36 is arranged in the channel at a location between the mixing valve 34 and the temperature sensor 46. The flow sensor 36 functions to detect water flow, based on the operation of a mobile operative piece placed in the channel.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a water supply device suitable for use in a mixing faucet, an electric water heater or the like, and more particularly to a mixing valve for mixing water and hot water, and a temperature for detecting the temperature of the mixed water. The present invention relates to a sensor including a sensor and a flow sensor for detecting water flow.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a small electric water heater has been installed inside a cabinet of a washbasin or a vanity stand or a kitchen cabinet, and an electric water is supplied to a hot water side (hot water inlet) of a mixing faucet installed on a counter or the like. It has been practiced to supply hot water from a water heater, mix hot water and water in a mixing faucet at a predetermined ratio, and discharge mixed water at an appropriate temperature from a discharge port.

[0003] Alternatively, a mixing valve for mixing hot water from a hot water tank and water from a water supply source is assembled on the water heater main body side of an electric water heater installed in a cabinet, and mixed water from the mixing valve is mixed. Supply to the discharge port on the counter,
From there, a predetermined appropriate temperature of mixed water is discharged. In this way, even when the vanity table or the like is installed at a position far from the water heater, hot water or mixed water at a desired temperature can be immediately discharged from the discharge port.

[0004] In these water supply devices such as mixing faucets and electric water heaters, a temperature sensor is provided on a flow path downstream of the mixing valve, and the detection result of the temperature sensor is sent to a control unit for controlling the operation of the mixing valve. It is conceivable to feed back and adjust the operation state of the mixing valve, specifically, the position of the valve element. This makes it possible to more accurately adjust the temperature of the water discharged from the discharge port to the desired temperature.

On the other hand, if a flow sensor is provided on the one flow path and the drive circuit of the mixing valve in the control unit is activated based on the detection of water flow by the flow sensor, the mixing valve is activated only when the water supply device is used. The driving circuit can be in the activated state, and unnecessary power consumption can be suppressed.

However, even when the mixed water from the mixing valve is detected by the temperature sensor as described above, and the mixing valve is feedback-controlled based on the detected temperature, water and hot water are downstream of the mixing valve. If the mixing is not sufficiently uniform, there is a problem that the operation of the mixing valve cannot be properly controlled, and the temperature of the mixed water from the discharge port cannot be adjusted to the set temperature with high accuracy.

[0007]

The water supply device of the present invention has been devised to solve such a problem. According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mixing valve that mixes water and hot water to flow out mixed water, and a temperature sensor that is provided on a flow path downstream of the mixing valve and detects a temperature of the mixed water. And a control unit for controlling the operation of the mixing valve, wherein the operation of a movable action piece located in the flow path at a position on the flow path between the mixing valve and the temperature sensor. And a flow sensor for detecting water flow based on the flow sensor is provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the control unit activates the drive circuit of the mixing valve based on the detection of water flow by the flow sensor.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first and second aspects, the water supply device is an electric water heater.

[0010]

As described above, the present invention has a flow sensor provided at a position between the mixing valve and the temperature sensor for detecting the flow of water based on the operation of the working piece in the flow path. In the water supply device of the present invention, the stirring action of the flow sensor in the downstream portion of the mixing valve allows the water and hot water to be mixed sufficiently uniformly based on the stirring action of the working piece. The temperature of the mixed water can be detected by a temperature sensor.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the temperature detection by the temperature sensor can be accurately performed, and the control of the operation of the mixing valve by the control unit can be performed with high accuracy.
The temperature of the mixed water from the discharge port can be accurately adjusted to a desired temperature.

In the present invention, it is possible to provide a flow sensor merely for the purpose of mixing water and hot water. According to claim 2, the flow sensor is used to activate a drive circuit of the mixing valve. It is desirable that the number of required parts be small if the switch is used as a switch for the purpose.

If the drive circuit of the mixing valve is driven based on the detection of water flow by the flow sensor, power is supplied to the drive circuit of the mixing valve until the water supply device is not used, so that the power is wasted. The inconvenience of consuming much can be eliminated at the same time. The present invention is particularly suitable when applied to an electric water heater as a water supply device (claim 3).

[0014]

An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a small electric water heater installed in a cabinet will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a wash basin, which has a wash basin 12 as a water tank and a cabinet 14 below the wash basin, and is installed in a state where they are in contact with a wall 16. Reference numeral 18 denotes a small electric water heater of the present embodiment (hereinafter simply referred to as an electric water heater) having a water heater main body 20, and the water heater main body 20 is installed inside the cabinet 14.

The water heater main body 20 has a casing 22, and a hot water tank 24 is housed inside the casing 22. Inside the hot water tank 24, a heater 25 for heating the supplied water is incorporated.

Reference numeral 26 denotes a primary water supply pipe, on which a pressure reducing valve 28 is provided. Further, a water inlet pipe 30 and a secondary water supply pipe 32 branch out and extend from the downstream side of the pressure reducing valve 28. The water inlet pipe 30 is connected to the hot water tank 24, and the secondary water supply pipe 32 is connected to a mixing valve 34.

The mixing valve 34 is connected to a tapping pipe 38 for supplying hot water from the hot water tank 24. The mixing valve 34 mixes the hot water from the hot water tank 24 and the water from the secondary water supply pipe 32 at a predetermined ratio. The mixed water is supplied to the supply pipe 40
The water is sent to the water discharge section 42 provided on the basin 12 through the basin. The water discharge section 42 is provided with a water discharge stop valve 44 as shown in FIG. 2, and when the operation section is opened, the water discharge stop valve 44 is opened and mixed water of an appropriate temperature is discharged from the discharge port. Water is discharged toward the basin 12.

A thermistor (temperature sensor) 46 for detecting the temperature of the mixed water is provided on the supply pipe 40.
The temperature of the mixed water detected by the thermistor 46 is fed back to the control unit 48, and the control unit 48 adjusts the position of the valve element of the mixing valve 34 based on the temperature detected by the thermistor 46.

On the supply pipe 40, a flow sensor 36 is provided at a position between the mixing valve 34 and the thermistor 46. The flow sensor 36 is for detecting the flow of water in the supply pipe 40. When the flow sensor 36 detects the flow of water, the flow sensor 36 is turned on and sends a signal to a control unit 48 described later.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the flow sensor 36. In the flow sensor 36, the operation piece 102 is disposed rotatably around the axis of the shaft 103 in the flow path 100, and when water flows in the flow path 100, the water flow causes the operation piece 102 to move. It rotates upward in the direction indicated by the arrow in the figure.

A magnet 104 is mounted on the working piece 102, and when the working piece 102 rotates upward,
Reed switch 106 disposed outside channel 100
Detects the approach of the magnet 104, turns on, and outputs a detection signal of the water flow.

FIG. 5 shows still another embodiment of the flow sensor 36. The flow sensor 36 shown in FIG.
A rotating blade-type operating piece 108 is provided in 00, and when a water flow is generated in the flow path 100, the operating piece 108 rotates around the axis of the shaft 110. Then, a signal generated based on the rotation is output through a signal line 112. These flow sensors 36 function to uniformly mix the water and hot water from the mixing valve 34 by the stirring action of the action pieces 102 and 108.

The control section 48 has a drive circuit for the mixing valve 34, and the drive circuit is activated by the ON signal of the flow sensor 36. That is, when there is water flow in the supply pipe 40, that is, when water is discharged from the water discharge section 42, the drive circuit is started up for the first time.

Reference numeral 50 denotes a remote controller for remotely operating the mixing valve 34, which is electrically connected to the control unit 48. Here, the remote controller 50 is provided on the casing 22 of the water heater main body 20 with its operation surface exposed to the outside.

FIG. 1B shows an operation surface of the remote controller 50. The electric water heater 18 is provided on a front panel 51.
And a temperature switch 5 for setting or changing the mixing temperature in the mixing valve 34.
4 are provided. Further, a display unit 56 for displaying a temperature and a display unit 58 for displaying whether or not power is supplied to the heater 25 are provided.

In this embodiment, the mixing valve 34 comprises an electromagnetic proportional control valve which continuously changes the position of the valve body by continuously changing the input signal. The specific configuration is shown in FIG.
In detail. As shown in FIG.
4 has water side and hot water side inlets 60 and 62,
Further, a spool valve body 64 for changing the mixing ratio of the water and hot water flowing from the inflow ports 60 and 62 is provided inside the body 65.

The spool valve element 64 has a water-side valve portion 66 and a hot-water-side valve portion 68. The valve portions 66, 68 slide in the left-right direction in the drawing while being inscribed in the cylindrical sliding surface. It is possible to move. Thus, the spool valve element 64 is
The opening movement between the water-side opening 70 communicating with the water-side inflow port 60 and the hot-water-side opening 72 communicating with the hot-water-side inflow port 62 is changed by the axial movement of 6, 68 to change the opening degree. The flow rate of the water and hot water into the mixing chamber 74 is controlled according to the above, and the temperature of the mixed water is adjusted accordingly.

The mixing valve 34 has a plunger 76 made of a magnetic material and provided so as to move integrally with the spool valve body 64 in the axial direction, and a solenoid coil 78 for applying electromagnetic attraction to the plunger 76. are doing.

In the case of the mixing valve 34, the plunger 7 is moved in accordance with a change in the amount of current supplied to the solenoid coil 78.
6, the amount of movement of the spool valve body 64 in the left direction in the drawing is continuously changed.

The plunger 76 and the water-side valve portion 66 have one ends of springs 80 and 82 in contact with each other. The spool valve body 64 and the plunger 76 are turned in opposite directions by the pair of springs 80 and 82. Being energized.

In the mixing valve 34, the spool valve 6
4, during normal operation, the hot water side valve portion 68 completely closes the hot water side opening 72 and the water side valve portion 66 as shown in FIG.
Is in a state where the water-side opening 70 is opened. When the solenoid coil 78 is energized in this state, the spool valve body 64 is moved leftward in the drawing by the electromagnetic attraction. The amount of movement at that time is determined according to the magnitude of the amount of current supplied to the solenoid coil 78.

FIG. 3 (II) shows a state in which the spool valve element 64 is moved to the left by a fixed amount by the electromagnetic attraction force of the solenoid coil 78, and the water side opening 70 and the hot water side opening 72 are opened. . In this state, the mixing chamber 7
Water and hot water flow into 4 and are mixed there, and the mixed water flows out from outlet 84.

Further, as shown in (III), the spool valve body 64 moves to the left, the water-side valve portion 66 completely closes the water-side opening 70, and the hot-water-side valve portion 68 moves to the hot-water side. When the opening 72 is completely opened, only the hot water flowing from the inlet 62 flows out from the outlet 84. That is, in this state, the hot water flowing into the mixing valve 34 flows out of the outlet 84 without being mixed with the water.

In the case of this example, when water is not being discharged from the water discharging section 42, the spool valve body 64 is in the state shown in FIG. 3 (I).
As shown in FIG. 6, when the flow sensor 36 is turned on, the drive circuit of the control unit 48 is activated for the first time, and the solenoid coil 78 corresponds to the temperature set by the temperature switch 54 of the remote controller 50. Energized by the amount
The spool valve body 64 moves to the set position.

In the electric water heater 18 of this embodiment, the water and the hot water are sufficiently uniformly mixed by the agitating action of the flow sensor 36 downstream of the mixing valve 34, and then the temperature of the mixed water is detected by the thermistor 46. You.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the temperature can be accurately detected by the thermistor 46, and the control unit 4
8, the operation of the mixing valve 34 can be controlled with high accuracy. Thus, the temperature of the water discharged from the discharge port can be accurately adjusted to the desired temperature.

Since the drive circuit of the mixing valve 34 is started based on the detection of water flow by the flow sensor 36, the mixing valve 3 is not used until the electric water heater 18 is not used.
4 is supplied to the drive circuit No. 4 and the inconvenience of wasting a large amount of power can be eliminated at the same time.

FIG. 7 shows still another embodiment of the present invention. In this example, as shown in FIG.
No. 6, the sensor 90 provided near the discharge port 88 detects the human body, more specifically, the electromagnetic open / close valve 92 is opened by detecting the outstretched hand, and an automatic faucet for automatically discharging water from the discharge port 88 is assembled. An example is shown in the case where the present invention is applied to an object.

In this example, the water spouting section 86 of the automatic faucet is provided upright on the counter 89, while its functional section is provided below the counter 89 and separated inside the cabinet. And the mixing valve 34
Is supplied to the water discharge section 86 via the flow sensor 36 provided on the supply pipe 40, the thermistor 46, and the electromagnetic opening / closing valve 92 as a water stop valve.

The other structure is basically the same as the above embodiment. However, in this example, a relief valve 94 is provided on a pipe communicating with the water inlet pipe 30, and the hot water tank 24
Is discharged to the outside through the relief valve 94. In the above embodiment, it is of course possible to provide such a relief valve 94.

In the case of this example, when the user puts out his hand in front of the water discharge section 86, the sensor 90 detects this and the control section 48 opens the electromagnetic switching valve 92. Then, the flow of water is detected by the flow sensor 36, and based on this, the control unit 48 activates the drive circuit of the mixing valve 34, energizes the solenoid coil 78, and moves the spool valve body 64 to a predetermined position.

The embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, but this is merely an example. For example, the present invention can of course be applied to an electric water heater installed in a kitchen cabinet, or can also be applied to an electric water heater installed in another cabinet. .

The present invention can be applied to a mixing faucet provided with a mixing valve for mixing water and hot water. For example, the present invention can be configured in various modified forms without departing from the gist thereof. is there.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment when the present invention is applied to an electric water heater.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control system in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the mixing valve in FIG. 1 together with its operation.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an embodiment of the flow sensor in FIG.

5 is a diagram showing an example of a form of the flow sensor in FIG. 1 different from that in FIG. 4;

6 is a time chart showing the operation timing of the flow sensor in FIG. 1 and the timing of energizing the mixing valve.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 18 small electric water heater 34 mixing valve 36 flow sensor 46 thermistor (temperature sensor) 48 control unit 100 flow path 102, 108 action piece

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Yasumasa Kozen 5-1, Koiehonmachi, Tokoname-shi, Aichi F-term in Inax Co., Ltd. (Reference) 2D060 BC02 CA04

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A mixing valve for mixing water and hot water to flow out mixed water, and provided on a flow path at a downstream portion of the mixing valve,
In a water supply device including a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of mixed water and a control unit for controlling operation of the mixing valve, the flow path is provided at a position on the flow path between the mixing valve and the temperature sensor. A water supply device provided with a flow sensor for detecting water flow based on the operation of a movable working piece located in the inside. 2. The water supply device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit activates a drive circuit of the mixing valve based on water flow detection by the flow sensor. 3. The water supply device according to claim 1, wherein the water supply device is an electric water heater.