JP2003232568A - Hot water supply apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem of probably causing the disadvantages such as dry heating of a heating vessel and water leakage from the heating vessel when a water supply valve or a quantity detecting means for water supply gets out of order. <P>SOLUTION: This hot water supply apparatus is provided with a monitoring means 12 for monitoring the opening and closing status of the water supply valve 2 and the quantity of water supply detected by the quantity detecting means 3 of hot water, whereby dry heating of the heating vessel 13, water leakage from the heating vessel 13 or an electric shock can be prevented so as to provide a user with a hot water supply apparatus having high safety and reliability. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hot water supply device connected to a water pipe.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 2, a conventional hot water supply apparatus includes a heating unit having a heating container for heating water, and a water supply valve provided in a water supply path from a water pipe to the heating container for controlling water supply. A water supply amount detecting means for detecting the water supply amount to the heating container was provided.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional configuration, when water cannot be supplied even though the water supply valve is opened and the water supply operation is performed due to a failure of the water supply valve or water interruption, it cannot be detected. There was a possibility that the water supply valve would be deteriorated by baking the heating container or continuously driving the water supply valve. Also, due to a malfunction of the water supply valve, when the water supply valve is closed and water supply is stopped, water cannot be detected and water may overflow from the heating container, resulting in electric shock. It was

[0004]

In order to solve the above conventional problems, the present invention is provided with a monitoring means for monitoring the operation of the water supply valve and the water supply amount detected by the water supply amount detecting means.

[0005]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The invention according to claim 1 comprises a heating unit having a heating container for heating water, and a water supply valve for controlling water supply provided in a water supply path from a water pipe to the heating container. A water supply amount detecting means for detecting the water supply amount to the heating container, and a monitoring means for monitoring the water supply valve or the water supply amount detecting means from the opening / closing state of the water supply valve and the water supply amount detected by the water supply amount detecting means. The water heater is equipped with.

According to this structure, it is possible to detect an abnormality when the water supply valve is closed but water is being supplied, and to detect an abnormality when the water supply valve is open but not supplying water. It becomes possible.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the monitoring means, the water supply valve is opened to perform the water supply operation.
The hot water supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein heating is stopped when the water supply amount detected by the water supply amount detecting means for a predetermined time is equal to or less than a predetermined amount.

According to this structure, it is possible to prevent the heating container from being idled by stopping the heating.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the monitoring means, the water supply valve is closed to stop the water supply.
The hot water supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein heating is stopped when the water supply amount detected by the water supply amount detecting means for a predetermined time is equal to or more than a predetermined amount.

According to this structure, even if the water supply is continued due to a failure of the water supply valve or the like, and the water in the heating container overflows and leaks water, the heating is stopped and the electric shock can be prevented.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the monitoring means, the water supply valve is opened to perform the water supply operation.
The hot water supply device according to claim 1, wherein the water supply is stopped when the water supply amount detected by the water supply amount detecting means for a predetermined time is equal to or less than a predetermined amount.

According to this structure, when the water supply valve is opened due to water cutoff or the like, but water is not being supplied, deterioration due to continuous opening of the water supply valve can be prevented.

The invention as set forth in claim 5 is any one of claims 2 and 4 in which the water supply amount detecting means detects the water supply amount after a predetermined time has elapsed after the water supply valve was opened. Use the water heater as described.

According to this structure, the water supply amount is unstable immediately after the water supply valve is opened, and a stable water supply amount can be detected by detecting after a lapse of a predetermined time after the water supply valve is closed. Goes up.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the hot water supply apparatus according to the third aspect, wherein the water supply amount detecting means detects the water supply amount after a predetermined time has elapsed since the water supply valve was closed. To do.

According to this configuration, there is a possibility that the water will be slightly supplied immediately after the water supply valve is closed, and the detection accuracy is improved by detecting after a predetermined time has elapsed since the water supply valve was closed.

The invention according to claim 7 is the hot water supply apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 6, further comprising an informing means for informing of stop of heating or stop of water supply.

According to this configuration, the user can confirm that the water supply valve or the water supply amount detecting means is abnormal or the water supply is interrupted, and the user can treat that part without checking the other part.

[0019]

EXAMPLE 1 Example 1 of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a hot water supply device incorporated in a kitchen unit. In FIG. 1, 1 is a water pipe, 2 is a water supply valve for controlling water supply to the heating container 13 by opening and closing the valve, and 3 is a water supply amount detecting means for detecting the amount of water passing through. When the water passes, the water amount detecting means 3 rotates the internal blades, attaches a magnet to the rotating shaft, and determines the number of times the magnet passes through the Hall IC.
And the amount of passing water is detected by counting the number of pulses from the Hall IC. 5
Is a heating unit of the water heater housed inside the kitchen unit 11, and has a heating container 13 for putting water therein.

A water supply passage 4 branched from the water pipe 1 is connected to a heating container 5 via a water supply valve 2 and a water supply amount detecting means 3. A heater 8 for heating water and a thermistor 9 for detecting the hot water temperature of the heating container are attached to the bottom of the heating container 5. Reference numeral 6 is a water level detecting means for detecting the water level and detects the presence or absence of water by the current flowing between the common electrode rod 6a and the opposing electrode rod 6b. Further, a pump 7 for guiding the water or hot water in the heating container 13 to the upper part of the kitchen unit 13 is attached, and water or hot water is discharged from the hot water outlet 10. Reference numeral 12 is a monitoring unit that monitors the open / closed state of the water supply valve 2 and the amount of water supply obtained from the signal from the water amount detection unit 3, and closes the water supply valve or stops heating or outputs a signal to the notification unit according to the result. .

The actual operation will be described with reference to FIG. When the power is turned on, the water supply valve 2 opens and water is supplied from the water pipe 1 to the heating container 13 through the water supply path 4. The water supply amount detecting means 3 provided on the way of the water supply path 4 detects the passing water amount and sends a signal to the monitoring means 12.

Further, a predetermined voltage is applied between the common electrode rod 6a and the electrode rod 6b of the water level electrode 6, water is supplied from the empty state of the heating container 13, and the water reaches the tip of the electrode rod 6b. Then, a current flows between the common electrode 6a and the electrode rod 6b, and the current is detected to detect that the water level has reached the position of the electrode rod 6b. The monitoring means 12 opens the water supply valve 2, detects the position of the water level 6b, and then closes the water supply valve 2 to stop the water supply when a predetermined water supply quantity is detected by a signal from the water supply quantity detection means 3.

When the water level 6b is detected, the heater 8
To heat the water in the heating container 13. Thermistor 9
When the detected temperature reaches 95 ° C., the heater 9 is turned off, and then the temperature is kept on and off. When the user drives the pump to discharge the water in the heating container 5 and the water level becomes lower than the position of the electrode rod b, the water supply valve 2 is opened again to start water supply.

After the water supply valve 2 is opened by the monitoring means 12, the number of pulses from the water supply amount detecting means 3 is kept for a predetermined time (for example, 1).
When the number is less than a predetermined number (for example, 10 pulses) within seconds, it is recognized as an abnormality, and the water supply valve is closed to stop the water supply, stop heating, or notify the abnormality by the notification means 14. In the above example, the amount of water supply is detected immediately after the water supply valve is opened, but it is also possible to detect it after a predetermined time (for example, 10 seconds) has elapsed after opening the water supply valve 2.

After the water supply valve is closed by the monitoring means 12,
If the number of pulses from the water supply amount detecting means 3 is a predetermined time (for example, 1
When a predetermined number (10 pulses) or more within a second), the abnormality is recognized, and the notification of the stop of heating or the abnormality 14 is given.
By. In the above example, it may be considered that the detection is performed after a predetermined time (for example, 10 seconds) has elapsed after closing the water supply valve 2.

[0026]

As described above, according to the present invention, by monitoring the open / closed state of the water supply valve and the water supply amount detected by the water supply amount detecting means, it is possible to detect the water cutoff or the water supply valve or the water supply amount detecting means. Failure can be detected, heating can be stopped or water supply can be stopped to prevent emptying of the heating container, overflow of water from the heating container, or electric shock, and a safe and highly reliable water heater for users. Can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a water circuit configuration diagram of a hot water supply device incorporated in a kitchen unit according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a conventional water heater.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 water pipe 2 Water supply valve 3 Water supply amount detection means 4 water supply routes 5 heating units 12 Monitoring means 13 heating container 14 Notification means

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Yutaka Tanaka             1006 Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric             Sangyo Co., Ltd.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A heating unit having a heating container for heating water, a water supply valve for controlling water supply provided in a water supply path from a water pipe to the heating container, and a water supply for detecting an amount of water supplied to the heating container. A hot water supply apparatus comprising: a water amount detection means; and a monitoring means for monitoring the water supply valve or the water supply amount detection means from the opening / closing state of the water supply valve and the water supply amount detected by the water supply amount detection means. 2. The monitoring means stops heating when the water supply valve is opened and the water supply operation is performed, but when the water supply amount detected by the water supply amount detecting means for a predetermined time is equal to or less than the predetermined amount. The water heater according to 1. 3. The monitoring means stops heating when the water supply amount is not less than a predetermined amount detected by the water supply amount detecting means in spite of the fact that the water supply valve is closed and water supply is stopped. The water heater according to 1. 4. The monitoring means stops the water supply when the water supply amount is less than or equal to a predetermined amount detected by the water supply amount detecting means, although the water supply valve is opened to perform the water supply operation. The water heater according to 1. 5. The hot water supply apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the water supply amount detecting means detects the water supply amount after a predetermined time has elapsed since the water supply valve was opened. 6. The hot water supply apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the water supply amount detecting means detects the water supply amount after a predetermined time has elapsed since the water supply valve was closed. 7. The hot water supply apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising an informing means for informing a stop of heating or a stop of water supply.