JP2003130444A - Temperature controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a temperature controller fully satisfying the desire for a comfortable living environment. SOLUTION: A Peltier element 1 is provided as a first detection means in a position where a user of a shower head 12 can touch it with his palm. A mixing device 10 is provided with a thermistor 2 as a second detection means for detecting the temperature of hot water, and a water temperature regulator 4 as a water temperature regulating means for varying the temperature of the hot water. The controller 3 drives the water temperature regulator 4 according to the temperature of the user detected by the Peltier element 1 and the water temperature detected by the thermistor 2.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a temperature control device. This temperature control device is suitable for use in a hot water supply device or a bathtub lid.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a thermostat mixed faucet capable of discharging hot water of a desired temperature from a water outlet has been known. This thermostat mixing faucet detects the temperature of hot water that is about to be discharged from the spout by the thermostat, and adjusts the mixing ratio of hot water supplied from the water heater etc. and water supplied from the water pipe by this detection signal. It is like this.

If this thermostat mixed water faucet is incorporated in, for example, a shower unit as one of hot water supply devices, hot water is used in a kitchen, for example, during a shower, whereby the amount of hot water supplied from the water heater or the like to the shower unit. Even if the amount decreases, the temperature change of the hot water discharged from the shower head can be minimized, so that the shower can be comfortably used.

[0004]

However, the above-mentioned conventional temperature control device still cannot sufficiently satisfy the recent demand for a comfortable living environment.

That is, in the above conventional temperature control device,
The temperature of the hot water is simply controlled to approach the set temperature via the thermostat. In the first place, the temperature at which you feel comfortable differs depending on individual differences and physical conditions, and the above conventional temperature control device that does not take this into consideration is said to still fully satisfy the recent desire for a comfortable living environment. It ’s hard to say

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional circumstances, and it is an object to be solved to provide a temperature control device that can more fully satisfy the desire for a comfortable living environment. There is.

[0007]

The temperature control device of the present invention comprises a first detection means comprising a Peltier element having one surface capable of transmitting a human body temperature and the other surface which is not easily affected by the one surface.
Second detection means for detecting the temperature of hot water present inside,
It is characterized by further comprising control means for issuing a drive signal based on the body temperature detected by the first detection means and the water temperature detected by the second detection means.

In the temperature control device of the present invention, the body temperature of the person is transmitted to one surface of the first detecting means composed of the Peltier element, and the other surface is less likely to be affected by the one surface. Therefore, the body temperature is detected by the first detection means. Further, the water temperature of the hot water existing inside is detected by the second detection means. Then, the control means issues a drive signal based on the water temperature of the warm water and the human body temperature. Therefore, by using this drive signal, it is possible to provide a temperature control device that considers individual differences and physical conditions.

Therefore, according to the temperature control device of the present invention, the desire for a comfortable living environment can be more sufficiently satisfied.

The temperature control device of the present invention preferably comprises a water temperature adjusting means for changing the water temperature of the hot water according to the drive signal. In this case, the temperature control device itself takes into consideration individual differences and physical conditions for hot water. Such a temperature control device is suitable for being incorporated in a hot water supply device such as a shower unit equipped with a mixed faucet.

It is also preferable that the temperature control device of the present invention comprises a display means for displaying information corresponding to the water temperature of the hot water by the drive signal. In this case, the user can know from the temperature control device whether or not the hot water is suitable for him / herself. Such a temperature control device is suitable for being incorporated in a bathtub lid, for example.

The display means is preferably an LED.
This is because the Peltier element is not loaded because the LED consumes less power.

In the above temperature control device, the first detecting means can also serve as the second detecting means. In this case, the number of parts is reduced and the cost can be reduced.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments 1 and 2 embodying the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) As shown in FIG. 1, the temperature control device of the first embodiment is incorporated in a shower unit which is a hot water supply device. In this shower unit, the wall surface 9
The shower tower 6 is fixed to 0. The shower tower 6 is provided with an elevating part 7 that can be moved up and down by a motor 5. Further, there are provided a hot water supply pipe 8 connected to a water heater (not shown) and capable of supplying hot water, and a water supply pipe 9 connected to a water pipe and capable of supplying water. These hot water supply pipes 8 and 9 are provided. It is connected to a mixing device 10 that mixes hot water and water into hot water.

The mixing device 10 is provided with a thermistor 2 as a second detecting means for detecting the water temperature of the hot water and a water temperature regulator 4 as a water temperature adjusting means for changing the water temperature of the hot water. The mixing device 10 is connected to a shower head 12 via a shower hose 11. The shower head 12 can be held by the holding portion 7 a of the elevating portion 7.

The shower head 12 is provided with a Peltier element 1 as a first detecting means at a position where it can come into contact with the palm of the user. The Peltier element 1 is electrically connected to a control device 3 as control means. Further, the thermistor 2, the water temperature regulator 4, and the motor 5 are also electrically connected to the control device 3.

In the shower unit constructed as described above, the user sets the water temperature of the hot water with the adjusting device (not shown) provided in the mixing device 10, and the hot water is discharged from the shower head 12. At this time, the user may use the shower head 1
By gripping 2, the body temperature of the user is transmitted to one surface of the Peltier device 1. On the other hand, since the other surface of the Peltier element 1 is in contact with the air in the cavity of the shower head 12, it is maintained at a substantially constant temperature. Thus, an electromotive force due to the body temperature of the user is generated in the Peltier device 1, and this electromotive force is input to the control device 3 as the body temperature of the user. Further, the water temperature of the hot water is input to the control device 3 by the thermistor 2.

Then, the control device 3 judges whether or not the temperature of the hot water discharged from the shower head 12 is appropriate, based on the body temperature of the user and the water temperature of the hot water. Control device 3
Determines that the water temperature of the hot water is not appropriate, that is, if the water temperature of the hot water is too high or too low compared to the body temperature, a drive signal corresponding to that degree is output to the water temperature adjuster 4. As a result, the ratio of hot water to hot water supplied from the hot water supply pipe 8 and the water supply pipe 9 to the mixing device 10 is adjusted. In this way, the water temperature of the hot water discharged from the shower head 12 is finely adjusted according to the body temperature of the user. Therefore, in this shower unit, the water temperature of the hot water is finely adjusted due to individual differences and physical conditions.

Therefore, according to this shower unit, the desire for a comfortable living environment can be more sufficiently satisfied.

The shower head 12 can be moved up and down along the shower tower 6. That is, first, the shower head 12 is held by the holding unit 7 a of the elevating unit 7. Then, a shower up / down switch provided on a remote controller (not shown) is pressed. As a result, a drive signal is output from the control device 3 to the motor 5. When the motor 5 is driven, the rotary motion of the motor 5 is converted into a linear motion by the lifting unit 7 and the shower tower 6, and the lifting unit 7 moves up and down along the shower tower 6. In this way, the shower head 12 held by the holding portion 7 a of the elevating portion 7 also moves up and down along the shower tower 6.

Further, a Peltier element for generating an electromotive force due to a temperature difference between hot water and water is arranged between the hot water supply pipe 8 and the water supply pipe 9, and the water temperature regulator 4 and the motor 5 are driven by the electromotive force generated by the Peltier device. Can also be controlled.

(Second Embodiment) As shown in FIG. 2, the temperature control device of the second embodiment uses a bath 91 as a temperature display device.
It is incorporated into the bathtub lid 20 of. The temperature display device includes a device body 21 and a water temperature transfer unit 22 that can contact the hot water W stored in the bath 91.

As shown in FIG. 3, an LED 24 for displaying the water temperature of the hot water W and a body temperature transfer section 23 for transferring the body temperature of a person are attached to the upper surface of the apparatus main body 21. LE
D24 is 5 LEDs 24 that correspond to the indications of "thin", "slightly warm", "appropriate temperature", "slightly hot", and "hot".
a to 24e.

As shown in FIG. 4, the electrical construction of this temperature display device comprises a water temperature transfer section 22, a body temperature transfer section 23, a Peltier element 25, a constant voltage circuit 26, a comparison circuit 27, a drive circuit 28 and an LED 24. . One surface 25a of the Peltier element 25 is connected to the body temperature transfer section 23, and the other surface 25b is connected to the water temperature transfer section 22. In addition, the Peltier element 25
The positive terminal and the negative terminal of are connected to the constant voltage circuit 26 and the comparison circuit 27. The comparison circuit 27 is connected to the drive circuit 28, and the drive circuit 28 is connected to the LED 24. Here, the Peltier device 25 serves as a power source, and also serves as a first detection unit and a second detection unit. Further, the comparison circuit 27 is a control means, and the LED 24 is a display means.
The Peltier device 25, the constant voltage circuit 26, the comparison circuit 2
7 and the drive circuit 28 are built in the apparatus main body 21.

In the temperature display device constructed as described above, when the warm water W is stored in the bath 91, the water temperature transfer section 22
Comes into contact with warm water W. Then, the heat of the hot water W is transferred to the other surface 25b of the Peltier element 25 via the water temperature transfer unit 22. On the other hand, since the one surface 25a is in contact with the outside air via the body temperature transfer portion 23, the temperature of the outside air is maintained. Therefore, the temperature difference between the other surface 25b and the one surface 25a becomes large, and an electromotive force is generated in the Peltier device 25. This electromotive force is input to the constant voltage circuit 26. Thus, the Peltier device 25 plays a role of a power source.

The constant voltage circuit 26 generates a constant voltage from the electromotive force input from the Peltier element 25, and applies the voltage to the comparison circuit 27, the drive circuit 28 and the LED 24.

The electromotive force generated in the Peltier element 25 is also input to the comparison circuit 27. The comparison circuit 27 compares a comparison voltage, which is a voltage based on the electromotive force input from the Peltier device 25, with five types of reference voltages corresponding to the LEDs 24a to 24e. Then, based on the comparison result, the drive signal is output to the drive circuit 28.

The drive circuit 28 amplifies the drive signal and
To 24. Based on this, the LED 24
One of 24a to 24e is turned on. This LED
Since the power consumption of 24a to 24e is small, the Peltier device 25 is not loaded.

Here, for example, the reference voltages of the comparison circuit 27 corresponding to the LEDs 24a to 24e are 2 ° C., 3 ° C., and 4 ° C., respectively.
Set to ° C, 6 ° C and 8 ° C. When the human body does not touch the body temperature transfer unit 23 of the device body 21, when the warm water W is stored in the bathtub 91, the comparison voltage based on the electromotive force of the Peltier element 25 is the same as the temperature of the outside air and the water temperature of the warm water W. The difference is shown. That is, the Peltier element 25 plays a role as the second detecting means. This is a Peltier element 25
This is because the temperature of the outside air is transmitted to the one surface 25a via the body temperature transfer portion 23, and the heat of the hot water W is transferred to the other surface 25b via the water temperature transfer portion 22. Therefore, the comparison voltage becomes larger than all the reference voltages, and the "hot" LED 24e lights up. As a result, hot water W is added to the bathtub 91.
It is also possible to announce that the water has been stored. in this case,
It is more effective to turn on the LED 24e and sound the electronic buzzer.

Next, when the person trying to take a bath touches the body temperature transmitting portion 23 of the apparatus body 21, the Peltier element 25
The comparison voltage based on the electromotive force indicates the difference between the body temperature of the person and the water temperature of the warm water W. That is, the Peltier element 25 plays a role as the first detection means. This is because the body temperature of the person is transmitted to the one surface 25a of the Peltier element 25 via the body temperature transfer portion 23, and the heat of the hot water W is transferred to the other surface 25b via the water temperature transfer portion 22. Therefore, LED2 corresponding to the reference voltage that matches the comparison voltage
One of "lubricate", "slightly lukewarm", "suitable temperature", and "slightly hot" of 4a to 24e is lit. Thus, in this temperature display device, considering individual differences and physical condition,
It is possible to display whether or not the water temperature of the warm water W is appropriate. Further, since such information is displayed by the LEDs 24a to 24e, it is easy to visually grasp the temperature of the hot water.

Therefore, according to this temperature display device,
Similar to the shower unit of the first embodiment, the desire for a comfortable living environment can be more sufficiently satisfied.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shower unit according to the temperature control device of the first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a bath according to the temperature control device of the second embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a device body according to the temperature control device of the second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a temperature display device according to the temperature control device of the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 25 ... First detecting means (Peltier element) 2, 25 ... Second detecting means (2 ... Thermistor, 25 ... Peltier element) 3, 27 ... Control means (3 ... Control device, 27 ... Comparison circuit) 4 ... Water temperature Adjusting means (water temperature adjuster) 24 ... Display means (LED) 20 ... Bathtub lid

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A first detecting means composed of a Peltier element having one surface capable of transmitting a human body temperature and the other surface which is not easily affected by the one surface, and a second detecting means for detecting a water temperature of hot water existing inside. And a control means for issuing a drive signal based on the body temperature detected by the first detection means and the water temperature detected by the second detection means. 2. The temperature control device according to claim 1, further comprising water temperature adjusting means for changing the water temperature of the hot water according to the drive signal. 3. The temperature control device according to claim 2, which is incorporated in a hot water supply device. 4. A display means for displaying information corresponding to a water temperature of hot water by a drive signal.
The temperature control device described. 5. The temperature control device according to claim 4, wherein the display means is an LED. 6. The temperature control device according to claim 4, wherein the temperature control device is incorporated in a bathtub lid. 7. The temperature control device according to claim 1, wherein the first detection means also serves as the second detection means.