JP2003052542A - Electric water heater - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically drain hot water remaining in a vessel with a simple configuration without turning over the vessel and without keeping pressing a hot water outflow means. SOLUTION: The electric water heater comprises a vessel 1 for accommodating liquid, a hot water outflow means 8 for discharging liquid in the vessel to the outside, and an operation means 9 for driving the hot water outflow means 8, thus driving the hot water outflow means 8 for specific time when the operation means 9 is turned on.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a drainage operation of residual hot water in an electric water heater that heats and keeps the temperature of a liquid contained in a container.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, an electric water heater of this type has not been so elaborately controlled for drainage. Therefore, in order to drain the residual hot water, the main body must be turned over, or the user must continuously turn on the hot water operation means and continue driving the hot water discharge means while the water is being drained by the user.

[0003]

However, with the recent increase in capacity of electric water heaters, the weight of fully filled hot water is considerable, and the user must turn the main body over to drain the water. It requires a considerable amount of power and is becoming an impossible operation. Therefore, it is difficult to adjust because it is forced to turn over, and the risk of burns etc. comes to be considered.

On the other hand, even when the hot water discharge operation means is continuously pushed, the hot water discharge operation means must be continuously driven for a long time in order to increase the capacity.

Further, the frequency of draining the hot water with full water is considerably increased under the situation of prompting the user by adding the washing mode of the container as a function, but the residual hot water cannot be drained easily. That has become one of the major complaints of users.

[0006] The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems of the prior art by automatically draining the remaining hot water in the container with a simple structure without turning over the container and without continuously pressing the tapping operation means. That is the purpose.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, an electric water heater according to the present invention comprises a container for containing a liquid, a hot water discharging unit for discharging the liquid in the container to the outside, and a hot water discharging unit. 1 is provided with an operating means for driving for a predetermined time.

With this construction, the tapping means can be continuously driven by turning on the operating means once, so that the same tapping path can be used without turning over the main body or continuously pressing the tapping operation means. Since it can be drained, the residual hot water in the container can be drained with a simple structure.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention according to claim 1 is provided with a container for containing a liquid, a tapping means for discharging the liquid in the container to the outside, and an operating means for driving the tapping means for a first predetermined time. As a result, the hot water discharge means can be continuously driven by turning on the operation means once, without turning over the main body or continuously pressing the hot water operation means.
Further, since the same hot water discharge path can be used for drainage, the residual hot water in the container can be drained with a simple configuration.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the first predetermined time is set to the time required to completely drain the liquid in the container, so that the residual hot water in the container can be surely drained. .

According to the third aspect of the invention, the first predetermined time is the time until the water amount detecting means provided for detecting that the liquid in the container is exhausted is detected as the water being exhausted. With this configuration, since the residual hot water in the container finishes draining, the driving of the hot water discharging means is stopped at the same time.
Since all the residual water can be discharged efficiently by driving the hot water discharging means for a short time, the durability performance of the hot water discharging means can be extended.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, the operating means is the second.
If the ON state is not maintained for more than a predetermined time, the hot water discharging means is configured not to start driving so that the user can be sure that he / she wants to drain the water, and it is easy to touch the operation means. You can avoid the risk of hot water coming out.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, when the operating means is turned on while the hot water discharging means is being driven, the driving of the hot water discharging means is stopped, so that even if the user mistakenly turns on the operating means. Since the driving of the tapping means can be immediately prohibited, the drainage can be easily stopped.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, when the input of the operating means is accepted, the notification is given, and the hot water outlet means is driven after the third predetermined time. Therefore, even when the operating means is erroneously turned on. It is possible to prevent accidental hot water discharge by notifying drainage immediately, but at the same time notifying the user that drainage will be started, and at the same time delaying the draining time enough to prohibit it. .

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, when the hot water discharging means is driven, the driving of the heating means for heating the inside of the container is stopped, so that the hot water having a temperature at which automatic hot water can be discharged is drained. At this time, it is possible to suppress useless use of electric power such as heating.

According to the invention described in claim 8, when the driving of the hot water discharge means is finished, the water supply is displayed and the heating means is kept stopped so that the inside of the container is empty when the automatic drainage is finished. Therefore, it is possible to prevent discoloration due to the temperature rise of the container by displaying a message prompting water supply and prohibiting heating.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electric water heater showing Embodiment 1 of the present invention, in which 1 is a container for containing a liquid and 2 is a heating means, which is in contact with the container 1 and is in the container. Similarly to the first heating means for heating, the second heating means having a smaller wattage output than the first heating means for heating and keeping the temperature of the liquid in the container is constituted.

Reference numeral 3 is a temperature detecting means which is in contact with the container 1 to detect the temperature of the liquid in the container, 4 is a boiling detecting means, 5 is a heating starting means, and 6 is an energizing means. The temperature detecting means 3 is constituted by a reheating means for detecting a temperature lower than a first predetermined temperature (which is about 90 ° C. in this embodiment) or forcibly starting heating, and the boiling detecting means 4 is inputted by these inputs. Drive. Boiling detection means 4
Means to drive the heating means 2 by controlling the energizing means 6, and when the boiling of water is started, the heating means 2 is driven to detect the temperature rising gradient from the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means 3 and It is configured to control the heating means 2.

Reference numeral 7 is a tapping means, 8 is a tapping means,
By turning on a lock release switch which constitutes a part of the hot water discharge operation means 7, the hot water discharge means 8 is brought into a hot water ready state. When the hot water discharge switch forming a part of the hot water discharge operation means 7 is turned on in the hot water dischargeable state, the hot water discharge means 8 can be driven while the hot water discharge switch is turned on. The tapping means 8 is composed of a water conduit 8a for sending the liquid from the bottom of the container 1 to the outside, a discharge part 8b composed of a pump part, and a motor 8c for driving the pump part. Is discharged to the outside.

Reference numeral 9 is an operating means for starting the continuous driving of the hot water outlet means 8, and 10 is a control means for receiving the input of the operating means 9 and continuously driving the hot water outlet means 8.

Next, the operation will be specifically described. Figure 2
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of an electric water heater according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, 13 is the boiling detection means 4
And a microcomputer for controlling the control section 8d of the hot water outlet means and the control means 10 and performing comparison determination.

Reference numeral 14 is a commercial power supply, and 15 is a DC power supply.
The DC power supply 15 is generated from the commercial power supply 14 through a rectifier circuit or a regulator, and even if the power is turned off, the voltage does not drop immediately and the fourth predetermined time (main (2, 3 seconds in the embodiment) is provided with a storage capacity capable of driving the microcomputer 13.

The heating means 2 includes a first heating element 2a for heating the liquid in the container, and a second heating element 2 for heating and keeping the liquid in the container with less heating power than the first heating element 2a.
b, which is controlled by the energizing means 6. The energizing means 6 includes relay contacts 6a and 6b connected in series with the commercial power source 14 and the relay contacts 6a and 6b.
It is composed of relay coils 6c and 6d for controlling b,
The relay coil controls the ports a and b of the microcomputer 13 so that a current flows and the relay contact is closed.

The temperature detecting means 3 creates a divided voltage value by the temperature sensitive element 3a for converting the temperature into a resistance value and the temperature sensitive element 3a and the resistor 3b, and converts it into a binary code. 3c is input. The AD converter 3c is about 30 to 120
The range of ℃ is a predetermined unit temperature width (about 0.5 in this embodiment).
The temperature is incremented by (° C.) and a signal is output to the microcomputer 13 each time the unit temperature rises. Based on the input, if the microcomputer 13 detects a boiling start temperature (about 80 ° C. in the present embodiment) or more while boiling water, the time for increasing the unit temperature range is repeated, and the measured time is Is a fifth predetermined time (about 20 seconds in this embodiment)
By measuring the above, it is considered that the temperature gradient has disappeared, boiling is detected, and if it is less than the sixth predetermined time (less than 1 second in this embodiment) during boiling, it is determined that there is no liquid in the container When cooking is detected, the heating means 2 is stopped.

On the other hand, the operation of the microcomputer 13 while the temperature is kept is set to the first predetermined temperature or the second predetermined temperature (about 95 ° C. in this embodiment) depending on the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means 3. It is determined whether the temperature is higher or lower, and when the temperature is lower than the first predetermined temperature, the heating means 2 is driven to perform boiling water, and at the time of heat retention, the first predetermined temperature and the second temperature are set.
When the temperature is within the predetermined temperature, the second heating element 2b is driven to maintain the heat retention temperature.

The reheating means which forms a part of the heating starting means 5 and forcibly reheats the liquid under heat retention is composed of a switch input 5a and resistors 5b and 5c, and the output thereof is detected by the microcomputer 13. By doing so, the boiling detection means 4 is driven.

The hot water outlet operating means 7 comprises a lock release switch 7a for inputting its output to the microcomputer 13, and a hot water outlet switch 7b for driving the motor 8c constituting the hot water outlet means 8.

The hot water outlet means 8 includes a hot water outlet switch 7b and a transistor 8d which are connected in series with the motor 8c.
And a hot water outlet forming section composed of the microcomputer 13 for controlling the transistor 8d, and resistors 8e, 8f for outputting a signal for judging whether or not the transistor 8d is turned on to the microcomputer 13 as follows. It operates like this.

When the unlock switch 7a is turned on, the microcomputer 13 detects the on / off state of the hot water switch 7b at that time. This is the hot water switch 7b
Since the electric potential between the motor 8c and the motor 8c is connected via the resistors 8e and 8f, if the input electric potential is "H", the hot water switch 7b is turned on, and the transistor 8d is turned on. Then, there is a possibility that the hot water will come out immediately, and for safety, the input of the lock release switch 7a is invalidated. When the input potential is "L", the hot water discharge switch 7b is in the off state, and therefore there is no possibility of immediate hot water discharge. Therefore, the transistor 8d is turned on (this state is called a hot water discharge waiting state in this embodiment). ). When the hot water discharge switch 7b is turned on in this state, hot water is discharged (this state is called a hot water discharge state in this embodiment). And
If the hot water discharge switch 7b is not turned on for a predetermined release time (10 seconds in the present embodiment) from the end of hot water discharge, the hot water discharge is finished and the transistor 8d is turned off again (automatic OFF operation) to cancel the hot water discharge waiting state ( This state is referred to as a hot water discharge prohibition state in this embodiment). When the hot water discharge prohibition state is reached, the hot water cannot be discharged only by turning on the hot water discharge switch 7b.

The operating means 9 includes a switch input 9a and a resistor 9
b, 9c, the output of which is detected by the microcomputer 13 to control the transistor 9b and the transistor 8d which are connected in parallel with the hot water switch 7b. By turning on these transistors 8d and 9b, the motor 8c can be continuously driven.

Reference numeral 11 is a water amount detecting means, which is the water conduit 8
It is composed of an electrode 11a mounted below a, and when water reaches the position of the mounted electrode, the electrode is energized and outputs "H". Although the water amount detecting means 11 is attached to the water conduit 16h for hot water discharge here, the water amount detecting means 11 is also attached to the water level pipe connecting the lower part of the container to the upper part of the container to detect with the same structure. Is something that can be done.

Reference numeral 12 is an informing means, such as a buzzer 12a for informing of the end of boiling or reception of each switch input, LEDs 12b, 12c for informing of boiling water, keeping warm or detecting empty cooking, and LCD or 7 The segment LED 12d is used to display the current temperature and the like.

Reference numeral 15 is a power source detecting means, and resistors 15a to 15
c, and outputs a square wave to the port e of the microcomputer 13 when the power is on and a "L" signal when the power is off.

By executing the program, the microcomputer 13 realizes the control between the respective means as described above.

3 to 4 are flowcharts of the temperature control and hot water discharge control portions of the program stored in the microcomputer according to the first embodiment of the invention, and the operation will be described based on these flowcharts.

FIG. 3 shows the basic operation of the electric water heater when the power is turned on. First, when the electric water heater is turned on, it is determined whether the temperature is equal to or higher than the first predetermined temperature or lower than the first predetermined temperature based on the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means 3 (step S1). Generally, the temperature is lower than the first predetermined temperature because water is put into the container 1 to start boiling. However, when the power is turned on at the first predetermined temperature or higher, the temperature is kept after step S12 described below. The control shifts to.

If the temperature is lower than the first predetermined temperature in step S1, a descaling switch for selecting whether or not to carry out the boiling extension maintaining operation performed to further increase the removal rate of the bleaching odor even after the boiling is detected in step S2. It is determined whether or not it is turned on, and if it is turned on, the calc flag is set in step S3.

Next, in step S4, the notification means 1
2 is set to the display at the time of boiling water, and the heating means 2 (only the first heating element 2a in this embodiment) is driven to start boiling water.

After that, the clocking time of the unit temperature width rise is repeatedly measured, and the determination of the above-mentioned boiling detection and the determination of the above-mentioned boiling detection are repeated from the boiling start temperature or more each time (steps S5 and S6). . Here, if it is determined that the rice is cooked empty, the process proceeds to the water supply process after step S16 described below.

When boiling is detected in step S6, the process proceeds to step S7, it is judged whether or not the bleaching flag is set, and if it is not set, step S7 is performed.
The control shifts from 12 onward during heat retention. On the other hand, if the Kalki flag is set, the counter for measuring the extension time is cleared to clear the Kalky flag (step S8). Next, the counter is clocked, and the driving of the heating means 2 is continued until a predetermined extension time (3 minutes in this embodiment) elapses while performing the blanking detection determination (steps S9 to S11). When the predetermined extension time has elapsed in step S11, the water heating is terminated and the control proceeds to step S12 and subsequent steps during heat retention.

In step S12, first, in the case where the transition has occurred due to the end of boiling (transition from step S7 or S11), the buzzer 1 of the notification means 12 is first activated.
It informs that it boiled by 2a. When the process moves from step S1, this boiling notification is omitted. After that, the heating means 2 is stopped, and the display of the LCD 12d and the LEDs 12b, 12c is changed to the display indicating that the temperature is maintained.

Next, in steps S13 and S14, it is judged whether or not the heating start switch or the descaling switch is input, and if there is a switch input, step S2
Then, the heating operation is performed again. If there is no switch input, it is determined in step S15 whether the temperature is higher or lower than the second predetermined temperature. When the temperature is low, the second heating element 2b is turned on, and when it is high, the heating means is turned off. Two
Is driven and the process returns to step S1. Step S when keeping warm
Even if it shifts to 1, the temperature is still higher than the first predetermined temperature. Therefore, the routine immediately shifts to step S12, and this operation is repeated.

Next, a description will be given of the processing when the empty cooking is detected. First, at the time of shifting from steps S5 and S10, the buzzer 12a of the notification means 12 notifies that the empty cooking has been detected. In the case of the shift from step S19, this empty heating notification is omitted. After that, the heating means 2 is stopped and the LCD 12d and the LED 12 are
The display of b and 12c is changed to the display at the time of empty cooking.

In the next steps S18 and S19, it is judged whether or not the heating start switch or the descaling switch has been input, and if there is a switch input, step S2
Then, the heating operation is performed again. If there is no switch input, the process returns to step S16 to repeat the operation at the time of empty cooking.

The above is the microcomputer 13 in the power-on state.
Is the operation content. During this operation, during any step processing, it is possible to perform the operation of the above-described hot water discharging means 8 to discharge hot water, and the wastewater treatment described below can also be operated in any situation. It is configured like this.

Next, the operation of wastewater treatment will be described with reference to FIG.

The operation means 9 is operated during execution of each step in FIG.
When is turned on, it is possible to immediately shift to the following processing by using interrupt processing or the like.

First, the counter for counting the first predetermined time (3 minutes in this embodiment) set by the time required to completely drain the liquid when the water is full is cleared, and the counter is cleared. To start the clock (steps S21 and S22). Next, the transistors 8d and 9b are turned on to drive the motor 8c to start automatic drainage (step S23). After that, when the first predetermined time is counted, the transistors 8d and 9b are turned off to return to the original processing of FIG. 3 (step S2).
4, S25).

By providing the operating means in this way,
Residual water in the container can be easily drained with a simple configuration using the same tapping path.

In this embodiment, the boiling water is controlled to be performed only by the first heating element 2a, but the second heating element 2b is controlled.
It is also possible to use a combination of the above and boiling water.

In this embodiment, the hot water discharge means 8 is driven at the same voltage during hot water discharge and during drainage. However, in order to prevent residual water from remaining as much as possible, the voltage during drainage is It is also possible to easily realize a configuration in which is set higher than when hot water is discharged.

(Embodiment 2) Next, Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. The same components as those described in Embodiment 1 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. Is omitted.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the present embodiment. The difference from the first embodiment is that the water amount measuring means 11 is provided, and this water amount measuring means 11 attached below the water conduit 8a. Is that the control means 10 is configured to stop the driving of the hot water outlet means 8 when it judges whether or not the water quantity is present and judges that the water quantity is exhausted.

FIG. 6 shows the microcomputer 1 in this embodiment.
3 is a program related to the wastewater treatment operation stored in 3.

As in the first embodiment, if the operating means 9 is turned on during execution of each step in FIG. 3, it is possible to immediately shift to the following processing by utilizing interrupt processing or the like.

When shifting to the wastewater treatment program, first, the hot water outlet means 8 is not driven immediately in order to prevent erroneous operation of the operating means 9, but the operating means 9 continues to operate for the second predetermined time (actual execution). In the example, it is set to 3 seconds) It is determined whether or not the button is held (step S3).
1 to S34). Here, when there is no input from the operating means 9 for the second predetermined time, the hot water outlet means 8 is not driven and the original processing of FIG. 3 is performed.

On the other hand, if the operating means 9 is kept pressed for the second predetermined time or longer, the transistors 8d and 9b are turned on in step S35 to turn on the motor 8c.
To start automatic drainage. Then, the drainage operation is maintained until the water amount detecting means 11 cannot detect the water amount (step S37). And step S3
When the water amount cannot be detected at 7, the transistor 8
It is configured to turn off d and 9b and return to the original processing of FIG. 3 (step S38).

During this automatic drainage, the operating means 9
When is input again, this time, it is possible to immediately shift to step S38 and immediately stop the automatic drainage (step S36).

In this way, by providing the operating means and the control mechanism in consideration of safety,
With a simple structure, the residual water in the container can be easily drained safely.

(Embodiment 3) A third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The same components as those described in the second embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 7 shows the microcomputer 1 in this embodiment.
3 is a program related to the wastewater treatment operation stored in 3.

If the operating means 9 is turned on during the execution of the steps shown in FIG. 3 as in the first embodiment, it is possible to immediately shift to the following processing by utilizing the interrupt processing or the like.

When shifting to the waste water treatment program, first, the hot water outlet means 8 is not driven immediately to prevent erroneous operation of the operating means 9, but the operating means 9 continues to be pushed for the second predetermined time or more. First, it is determined whether or not (steps S41 to S44). Here, when there is no input from the operating means 9 for the second predetermined time, the hot water outlet means 8 is not driven and the original processing of FIG. 3 is performed.

On the other hand, if the operating means 9 is kept pressed for the second predetermined time or more, the heating means 2 is surely turned off in step S45. By this, useless heating can be prevented in advance, and the temperature rise in the container at the end of drainage can be suppressed. Further, since the water is automatically discharged from now on, the buzzer 12a of the notifying means 12 is driven for a certain period of time (for example, until the end of the counting of the third predetermined period of time) in order to call more attention. Next, in steps S47 to S49, the third predetermined time (about 5 seconds in this embodiment) is clocked before the hot water outlet means 8 is driven. If the operating means 9 is turned on again during this time, the wastewater treatment is not stopped and the original treatment of 3 is restored. Thereby, drainage due to misuse can be prevented (step S48). If the operation means 9 is not turned on in step S48 and the third predetermined time is measured, the process proceeds to step S50 and the transistor 8
d and 9b are turned on to drive the motor 8c to start automatic drainage. Then, the drainage operation is maintained until the water amount detecting means 11 cannot detect the water amount (step S52). When the amount of water cannot be detected in step S52, the transistors 8d and 9b are turned off and the water supply process is started (steps S53 to S5).
5).

During the automatic drainage, the operating means 9
When is input again, it is possible to immediately move to step S38 and immediately stop the automatic drainage.

In this way, by providing the operation means and the control mechanism in consideration of safety,
With a simple structure, the residual water in the container can be easily drained safely.

In the present embodiment, the operation means is kept pressed for a certain period of time so that the drainage operation is not easily performed. However, a switch for unlocking the lock is additionally provided and the switch is not accepted until the switch is accepted. It is also possible not to accept the input from the operating means.

Further, when the temperature of the hot water during drainage is high, it is possible to notify the user because there is a great danger, or to take further safety measures such as prohibiting drainage unless the temperature falls below a certain temperature. .

[0071]

As described above, according to the invention described in claims 1 to 8, it is possible to easily discharge the residual water in the container with a safe structure without turning over the electric water heater. It is possible to provide an electric water heater that is easy to use.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electric water heater according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of the electric water heater.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the electric water heater when the power is turned on.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the drainage treatment operation of the electric water heater.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an electric water heater according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a wastewater treatment operation of the electric water heater.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a wastewater treatment operation of the electric water heater according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 container 7 Hot water start means 8 Hot water means 9 Operation means 10 Control means 11 Water volume detection means 12 Notification means

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F-term (reference) 4B055 AA32 BA03 BA37 CA65 CA66                       CA71 CD15 CD22 CD45 CD51                       CD58 CD61 DB01 GB12 GB15                       GB34 GB44 GC13 GC21 GC36                       GC38 GC40

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An electric water heater comprising: a container for containing a liquid; a tapping unit for discharging the liquid in the container to the outside; and an operating unit for driving the tapping unit for a first predetermined time. 2. The electric water heater according to claim 1, wherein the first predetermined time is set to a time required to completely drain the liquid in the container. 3. The first predetermined time is configured as a time until the water amount detecting means provided for detecting that the liquid in the container has been exhausted is detected as having run out of water. Electric water heater. 4. The electric water heater according to any one of claims 2 to 3, wherein the operation means does not start driving the hot water discharge means unless the operation means is kept in the ON state for a second predetermined time or longer. 5. The structure according to claim 2, wherein the driving of the tapping means is stopped when the operating means is turned on while the tapping means is being driven.
The electric water heater according to claim 4. 6. The electric water heater according to any one of claims 2 to 5, configured to give a notification when an input from the operating means is accepted and to drive the hot water outlet means after a third predetermined time. 7. The electric water heater according to claim 2, wherein the driving of the heating means for heating the inside of the container is stopped when the hot water discharging means is driven. 8. When the driving of the hot water outlet means is finished, a water supply indication is displayed and the heating means is kept stopped.
An electric water heater according to claim 7.