JP2002106957A - Automatic bath unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To keep the water level in a bathtub constant by solving the problem caused by the difference between detection values of the level of bathwater in the bathtub at the first filling of hot water using water temperature and at the second and succeeding filling of the hot water using a set temperature due to the temperature characteristic of a water level sensor. SOLUTION: An automatic bath unit is provided with an operating part 21 receiving the input of the set temperature of a bathtub 40 and the set amount of filling the hot water, a hot water feeding circuit 10 feeding the hot water into the bathtub 40, a temperature sensor 27 detecting the temperature of the feeding hot water to the bathtub 40, a flow rate sensor 12 detecting the feeding rate of the hot water into the bathtub 40, a water level sensor 25 detecting the water level in the bathtub 40 and a control part 30 feeding the hot water into the bathtub 40 to the set amount of filling the hot water. The control part 30 detects the water level by the water level sensor 25 after the completion of feeding the hot water into the bathtub 40 at the first filling of the hot water in the case of feeding the hot water by using the set temperature of the operating part 32 and redetects the water level of the hot water in the bathtub 40 by the water level sensor 25 after the completion of filling the hot water into the bathtub 40 at the second and succeeding filling of the hot water when the operating part 32 receives at least either the reset in put of the set temperature or the set amount of the filling the hot water.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic bath apparatus for automatically filling a bathtub with hot water.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 5 is a system configuration diagram of a conventional automatic bath apparatus 2, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the conventional automatic bath apparatus 2. As shown in FIG. 5, the automatic bath device 2
Is an apparatus for automatically controlling the filling, reheating, and adding hot water of the bathtub 80, and includes a pouring circuit 50, a reheating circuit 60, a control unit 70, a storage unit 71, and an operation unit 72.

The pouring circuit 50 includes an electric mixing valve 51 for mixing water and hot water, and a pouring on-off valve 52 for controlling pouring. In addition, the reheating circuit 60 includes a reheating pipe 6.
1 and a reheating pipe 62, and a reheating heater 63 is attached to the reheating pipe 61. Further, a temperature sensor 64, an electric valve 65, a flow switch 66, a circulating pump 67, and a water level sensor 68 are attached to the additional heating return pipe 62.

[0004] A bathtub adapter 81 is attached to the bathtub 80, and the reheating circuit 60 and the bathtub adapter 81 are connected by a bath going pipe 82 and a bath returning pipe 83. The pouring circuit 50 and the reheating circuit 60 are provided by the control unit 7.
0, and the input of the set amount and the like is received by the operation unit 72.

Next, the operation of the conventional automatic bath apparatus 2 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Operation unit 7
When the user inputs the water filling set water level and the water filling set temperature to the bathtub 80 in 2, it is stored in the storage unit 71 (S 1).
30). Next, when the user turns on the automatic operation start switch provided on the operation unit 72, the automatic operation is started (S131). In the automatic operation, first, water and hot water are mixed by the electric mixing valve 51, and the pouring on-off valve 52 is opened (S13).
2). By opening the pouring valve 52, the reheating circuit 6
The hot water is supplied to the 0 reheating pipe 61 and the reheating pipe 62, and the hot water pipe 82 and the hot water return pipe 83 are supplied.
The hot water is supplied to the bathtub 80 through the above steps. The hot water supply temperature is detected by the temperature sensor 64, and the electric mixing valve 51 is driven so as to reach the set hot water supply temperature.

During the filling of the hot water, the circulation pump 67 is operated at any time, and the reheating pipe 61 and the reheating pipe 6 are operated.
2. The air in the bath outgoing pipe 82 and the bath return pipe 83 is evacuated. In addition, while the hot water is being filled, the electric valve 65 is closed at any time, and the head pressure applied to the water level sensor 68 is measured in a state where the flow of the additional heating return pipe 62 is stopped (S13).
3). By this measurement, the water level in the bathtub 80 can be detected. Then, if it is determined that the hot water has accumulated in the bathtub 80 up to the hot water setting water level stored in the storage unit 71 based on the detected value (S134), the pouring on / off valve 52 is closed (S135).

When filling is completed at the set filling water level (S
136) The hot water in the bathtub 80 is circulated by the circulation pump 67, and the flow of the hot water is detected by the flow switch 66. Thereafter, when the temperature sensor 64 detects a decrease in the temperature of the hot water (S
137), the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub 80 is raised by the heat retaining heater 63 (S138).

When the water level sensor 68 detects a drop in the level of the hot water in the bathtub 80 (S139), the pouring on / off valve 5
2 is opened, and hot water in the bathtub 80 is supplied until the hot water level reaches the set water level (S140). Then, after a lapse of a predetermined time (S141), the automatic operation is terminated (S142). As other conventional techniques, there are JP-A-2-52945 and JP-B-6-68411.

[0009]

The water level sensor 68 has a temperature characteristic. The water level sensor 68 is used for test run filling (first filling) according to the water temperature, and for a set amount of filling at the set temperature (for the next and subsequent fillings). ), The detected value of the water level is different. For the water level filled with the set amount at the set temperature,
Depending on the water temperature, a test run is performed and the stored water level becomes higher or lower than the stored water level. If the stored water level becomes lower, the hot water is not automatically added, or the water level in the bathtub varies. It was a problem. The present invention has been made in order to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an automatic bath apparatus capable of maintaining a constant water level in a bathtub.

[0010]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automatic bath apparatus comprising: an operation unit for receiving an input of a set temperature of a bathtub and a set amount of hot water; a pouring circuit for supplying hot water to the bathtub; A temperature sensor that detects the temperature of hot water supplied to the bathtub, a flow sensor that detects the amount of hot water supplied to the bathtub from the pouring circuit, a water level sensor that detects the water level of the bathtub, and a hot water amount that is detected by the flow sensor A control unit for supplying hot water to the bath tub until the hot water reaches the set amount.When the hot water is supplied at the set temperature of the operation unit, the control unit controls the water level after the hot water is supplied to the bath tub for the first time. The water level is detected by the sensor, and at the time of the next hot water filling, when the input of resetting of at least one of the set temperature and the hot water setting amount is received by the operation unit, the water level sensor is provided after the hot water supply to the bathtub is completed. so And performing position rediscovery.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, when the amount of hot water in the bathtub decreases, the control section replenishes hot water based on the water level detected by the water level sensor.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is further provided a storage unit for storing water level data detected by the water level sensor.
When the water level sensor re-detects the water level, the data stored in the storage unit is updated using the re-detected water level data.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of an automatic bath apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an automatic bath apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the automatic bath apparatus 1 is an apparatus for automatically filling a bathtub 40, reheating, and adding hot water, and includes a pouring circuit 10 and a reheating circuit 2.
0, a control unit 30, a storage unit 31, and an operation unit 32.

The pouring circuit 10 includes an electric mixing valve 11 for mixing water and hot water, a flow sensor 12 for measuring a flow rate of the hot water mixed by the electric mixing valve 11, and a pouring opening and closing for controlling the amount of hot water to be poured. And a valve 13. The pouring circuit 10 and the reheating circuit 20 are connected by piping, and the hot water in the pouring circuit 10 flows into the reheating circuit 20 via the pouring valve 13.

The reheating circuit 20 includes a reheating pipe 2
1 and a reheating line 22. The reheating pipe 21 has an electric valve 23 for controlling the flow rate of hot water flowing from the pouring circuit 10, a flow switch 24 for detecting the flow of hot water in the pipe, and a bathtub 4 for measuring the water pressure in the pipe.
A water level sensor 25 for detecting a water level of 0 and a warming heater 26 for keeping warm water in the pipe are provided. Further, the reheating pipe 22 includes a temperature sensor 27 that detects the temperature of the hot water in the pipe, and a circulation pump 28 that circulates the hot water in the reheating circuit 20.

A bathtub adapter 41 is attached to the bathtub 40, and the reheating circuit 20 and the bathtub adapter 41 are connected by a bath going pipe 42 and a bath returning pipe 43. The pouring circuit 10 and the reheating circuit 20 are provided by the control unit 3.
0, and the input of the set amount and the like is received by the operation unit 32.

As shown in the block diagram of FIG.
0 is a value based on the flow rate sensor 12, the flow switch 24, the water level sensor 25, and the temperature sensor 27, and the setting value and the temperature of the hot water input from the operation unit 32. , The electric valve 23, the circulation pump 28 and the heat retaining heater 26 are controlled.

Next, the automatic bath apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment
Will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. When the user inputs the setting amount and the set temperature of the hot water in the bathtub 40 to the operation unit 32, the storage unit 31 stores them in the storage unit 31 (S100). Next, when the user turns on the automatic operation start switch provided on the operation unit 32, the automatic operation is started (S101).

In the automatic operation, first, water and hot water are mixed by the electric mixing valve 11, and the pouring on-off valve 13 is opened (S10).
2). By opening the pouring valve 13, the reheating circuit 2
The hot water is supplied to the 0 reheating pipe 21 and the reheating return pipe 22, and a bath outflow pipe 42 and a bath return pipe 43 are supplied.
The hot water is supplied to the bathtub 40 through the steps.

During the filling, the circulation pump 28 is operated at any time, and the reheating pipe 21 and the reheating pipe 2
2. Vent the air in the bath going pipe 42 and the bath returning pipe 43. Further, the control unit 30 monitors the hot water supply amount detected by the flow rate sensor 12 and supplies hot water up to the hot water set amount stored in the storage unit 31 (S103).
Is closed (S104).

[0021] Filling is performed at the set temperature (S105), and if the filling is the first filling (S106), the electric valve 23 is closed and the flow of the reheating line 22 is stopped. Then, the head pressure applied to the water level sensor 25 is measured (S107). By this measurement, the water level of the bathtub 40 can be detected. Then, the detected water level is stored in the storage unit 31 as the reference water level for the hot water operation (S10
8), the filling process is completed (S109).

In the case where the hot water is not filled at the set temperature (S105), for example, when the hot water is filled by the test operation, the process of detecting the water level shown in S107 and S108 is not performed (S116). Then, the filling process is completed (S109).

Further, hot water is filled at the set temperature (S10).
5) If the hot water is not the first hot water (S)
106), it is checked whether a new input has been made to the operation unit 32. Then, when a new hot water setting amount is input to the operation unit 32 (S110), the electric valve 23 is closed and the water level sensor 25 is The head pressure is measured (S112).
By this measurement, the water level of the bathtub 40 can be detected again. Then, the reference water level in the storage unit 31 is updated with the detected water level (S113), and the filling process is completed (S109).

Similarly, when it is not the first hot water filling (S10
6) When a new set temperature is input to the operation unit 32 (S111), the water level sensor 25 is closed in a state where the electric valve 23 is closed and the flow of the reheating line 22 is stopped.
Is measured (S114). By this measurement, the water level of the bathtub 40 can be detected again. Then, the reference water level in the storage unit 31 is updated with the detected water level (S11).
5), the filling process is completed (S109).

In the case where it is not the first hot water filling (S10
6) If there is no new input to the operation unit 32, the water level detection processing shown in S107 and S108 is not performed (S112), and the reference water level already stored in the storage unit 31 is subsequently added. As what is used in hot water operation,
The filling process is completed (S109).

When the filling process is completed (S109), the reheating circuit 20 performs automatic heat retention and hot water operation. The hot water in the bathtub 40 is circulated by the circulation pump 28, the temperature of the hot water is detected by the temperature sensor 27, and the flow switch 2
At 4, the flow of warm water is detected. Thereafter, when the temperature of the hot water falls below the set temperature (temperature preset by the user) (S117), the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub 40 is raised by the heat retaining heater 26 and stopped at the set temperature (S118). And
During the automatic operation, the operations of S117 and S118 are repeated.

Further, when the water level in the bathtub 40 is detected by the water level sensor 25, and it is determined that the water level of the hot water in the bathtub 13 has decreased by a predetermined amount as compared with the reference water level stored in the storage unit 31. (S119) The hot water supply opening / closing valve 13 is opened to supply hot water to the reference water level indicated by the detected water level (S120). Then, after a lapse of a predetermined time (S121), the automatic operation is terminated (S122).

As described above, according to the automatic bath apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the amount of hot water supplied to the bathtub 40 is detected by the flow rate sensor 12, and after the bathing of the bathtub 40 is completed, the water level sensor 25 Is used only once to measure the required reference water level in the subsequent hot water operation.

Here, the detection of the flow rate sensor 12 is based on
0 can be performed in parallel with the hot water supply process.
Does not delay the filling time. On the other hand, since the detection of the water level sensor 25 is performed by stopping the hot water supply process to the bathtub 40, the detection of the water level sensor 25 significantly delays the filling time. For this reason, the conventional automatic bath apparatus that detects the amount of hot water supplied to the bathtub 40 with the water level sensor at any time (ie, a plurality of times) requires a lot of time for filling, but the automatic bath apparatus according to the present embodiment 1
Since the water level sensor 25 is used only once, hot water filling can be performed in a short time. In addition, since the water level in the bathtub 40 is detected by the water level sensor 25 only when the bath is filled at the set temperature, the water level in the bathtub 40 can be accurately detected.

Further, the automatic bath apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment
According to the above, when hot water is supplied at the set temperature of the operation unit 32, the water level in the bathtub 40 is detected and stored at the time of the first hot water filling, and when the hot water setting amount is not changed in the next hot water filling, the hot water filling is performed. The water level is not detected at the time of completion, and the reference water level is set to the water level detected for the first time, so that the water level detection time can be omitted in the next and subsequent hot water filling, and the hot water filling time can be shortened.

Furthermore, according to the automatic bath apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the water level in the bathtub 40 is detected only when at least one of the set temperature and the hot water filling amount is changed, and the water level is stored for the first time. Since the water level is updated and the next filling is performed with the updated reference water level, the water level can be accurately detected even if at least one of the set temperature and the filling quantity is changed, and the next filling is performed. Thus, the water level detection time can be omitted, and the filling time can be shortened.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but may be modified as follows, for example, without departing from the spirit of the present invention. (1) In this embodiment, although the reheating circuit 20 is provided, the pouring circuit 10 and the bathtub adapter 41 are directly connected by piping without the reheating circuit 20 to add the pouring operation. It is good also as composition which performs only hot water operation. In this case, the water level sensor 25 is attached to this pipe, and the water level in the bathtub 40 is measured by the water level sensor 25. (2) In the present embodiment, the control unit 30 and the storage unit 31 are provided separately, but the storage unit 31 may be incorporated in the control unit 30. (3) In the present embodiment, the operation unit 32 is provided in the apparatus. However, the setting of the hot water filling amount and the like may be performed by remote control using wireless or wired communication.

[0033]

As described above, according to the automatic bath apparatus of the present invention, after detecting the amount of hot water supplied to the bathtub by the flow rate sensor, the reference water level is detected only once by the water level sensor. Therefore, the influence of the filling time delay caused by the operation of the water level sensor can be minimized. As a result, hot water filling can be performed in a short time. In addition, when hot water is supplied at the set temperature of the operation unit, the reference water level is detected by the water level sensor at the time of the first filling, so that the reference water level can be accurately detected without being affected by the temperature characteristics, and the next and subsequent fillings can be performed. If both the setting amount and the setting temperature are not changed, the water level is not detected when the filling is completed, so that the water level detection time can be omitted and the filling time can be shortened. In particular, the water level is always detected when the set temperature is changed in the next or subsequent hot water filling, so that the water level in the bathtub can always be kept constant without being affected by the temperature characteristics of the water level sensor.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an automatic bath device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an automatic bath apparatus according to Embodiment 1.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart (first half) showing an operation of the automatic bath apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart (second half) showing an operation of the automatic bath apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a system configuration diagram showing a conventional automatic bath apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of a conventional automatic bath apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Automatic bath apparatus, 10 ... Pouring circuit, 11 ... Electric mixing valve, 12 ... Flow sensor, 13 ... Pouring opening / closing valve, 20 ... Reheating circuit, 21 ... Reheating piping, 22 ... Reheating piping, 23 ... electric valve, 24 ... flow switch, 25 ...
Water level sensor, 26: heater, 27: temperature sensor, 2
8 circulating pump, 30 control unit, 31 storage unit, 32
Operating unit, 40: bathtub, 41: bathtub adapter, 42: bath going piping, 43: bath returning piping.

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Hidetoshi Owada 2-3-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo F-term (reference) 3L024 CC01 DD17 DD21 DD23 DD27 EE12 GG06 GG12 GG22 GG28 GG41 HH13 HH19 HH26 HH31

Claims (3)

[Claims] An operation unit for receiving an input of a set temperature of a bathtub and a set amount of hot water; a pouring circuit for supplying hot water to the bathtub; and a temperature for detecting a hot water supply temperature supplied to the bathtub from the pouring circuit. A sensor, a flow rate sensor for detecting an amount of hot water supplied to the bathtub from the pouring circuit, a water level sensor for detecting a water level of the bathtub, and the hot water setting amount based on the hot water amount detected by the flow rate sensor. A control unit for supplying hot water to the bathtub until the temperature reaches the temperature.In the control unit, when hot water is supplied at the set temperature of the operation unit, at the time of the first hot water filling, the water level sensor is used after completion of hot water supply to the bathtub. In addition to performing water level detection, in the next and subsequent hot water filling, when input of resetting at least one of the set temperature and the hot water setting amount is received by the operation unit, the hot water supply to the bathtub is terminated. An automatic bath apparatus, wherein the water level is detected again by the water level sensor after the completion. 2. The automatic bath apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller replenishes hot water based on a water level detected by the water level sensor when the amount of hot water in the bathtub decreases. 3. A storage unit for storing water level data detected by the water level sensor, wherein the control unit uses the re-detected water level data when the water level sensor re-detects the water level. 3. The automatic bath apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data stored in the storage unit is updated.