JP2003254623A - Electric kotatsu heater - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a highly safety electric kotatsu heater suppressing an unnecessary power consumption by detecting the presence/absence of a user in a heating space by a human body sensor and stopping the energization to the electric heater when unused by the user. <P>SOLUTION: The human body sensor 13 for detecting the presence/absence of the user in the heating space A is disposed inward a support leg 6a opposing to the other support leg 6b on a diagonal line inside the heating space A and an infrared sensor 13d of the human body sensor 13 detects the infrared ray irradiated by the human body in the heating space A so as to detect the presence/absence of the user. When the infrared irradiance is continuously unchanged for a prescribed time, it determines that the user is absent to cut off the energization to the load-side electric heater 5 and a blower 4 and stop the heating. When the human body sensor 13 detects the user during the stop of the energization to the load-side electric heater 5 and the blower 4, the energization to the load-side electric heater 5 and the blower 4 is restarted to start heating. <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 an electric kotatsu which is warmed in winter by utilizing the heat generated by an electric heater. More specifically, the present invention relates to an electric kotatsu that detects the presence or absence of a user and controls heat generation of an electric heater.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional electric kotatsu of this type is provided with an electric heater for heat generation in a rectangular main body form, and support legs are provided at four corners of the main body form to support the outer periphery of the main body form. Is covered with a futon to form a heating space.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-198149 discloses a device in which the presence or absence of a user is detected by an infrared sensor and the energization of an electric heater is stopped when the user is absent.

[0004]

However, the above publication does not disclose the mounting method or position of the infrared sensor. Therefore, it is possible to install an infrared sensor on the main body frame, but the detection sensitivity will decrease or an error will occur due to the temperature rise of the infrared sensor due to the conductive heat from the nearby electric heater, and the presence or absence of the user There were some problems that could not be determined accurately.

In view of the above points, the present invention detects the presence / absence of a user in a heating space by a human body sensor, and when the user is not in use, energizes the electric heater to suppress wasteful power consumption. It aims to provide a highly safe electric kotatsu.

[0006]

Therefore, the first invention is
In an electric kotatsu that forms a heating space by supporting the main body formwork equipped with an electric heater on the floor surface with a plurality of support legs,
A human body sensor that detects the presence or absence of a user in the heating space and stops the energization of the electric heater when the absence is detected is provided on one of the support legs.

A second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the human body sensor provided on any one of the support legs is arranged toward another support leg on a diagonal line in the heating space.

A third aspect of the invention is characterized in that the human body sensor is removably provided on the support leg and is provided in the middle of a power supply line for supplying power to the electric heater.

Further, a fourth invention is characterized in that an operation switch for switching the operation or stop of the human body sensor is provided.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. First, in FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an electric kotatsu which is placed substantially at the center of an electric carpet or the like, and which radiates air sucked from below into the substantially central lower portion of a top plate 3 provided in a rectangular main body formwork 2. A blower 4 that blows in the horizontal direction and a tungsten wire heater that glows red when energized in a quartz tube, for example, is a halogen compound,
An electric heater 5 containing an inert gas is provided.

A heating space A is formed by supporting the main body form 2 on the floor by support legs 6a, 6b, 6c and 6d arranged at the four corners. A table plate 8 is placed on the upper part of the main body form 2 via a kotatsu bedding 7 that covers the outside of the support legs 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d.

Further, a mesh-like protective cover 9 is provided to prevent direct contact with the electric heater 5 when the foot or body is put in the heating space A of the electric kotatsu 1 to cause burns and the like. Thermal resistance element 11 provided in the cover 9
And the combined resistance of the resistors set by the temperature adjusting volume 17C provided in the controller 17 described later controls the amount of power supplied to the electric heater 5 to adjust the temperature. Further, 12 is a temperature fuse for safety protection, which is activated when the space A in the protective cover 9 is in an abnormal overheat temperature state, and shuts off the electric power supply to the electric heater 5 and the blower 4.

Next, a method of mounting the human body sensor 13 for detecting a human body (user) and its operation will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 and 5. This human body sensor 13 has 1
The infrared sensor 13d is detachably fixed to a sensor mounting angle 14 provided on the heating space A side, which is the inner side of one of the supporting legs 6a, and the infrared sensor 13d faces toward the supporting leg 6b on the diagonal line of the heating space A. It is placed in the position.

The above-mentioned human body sensor 13 is formed by forming a vertically long synthetic resin front case 13a and a rear case 13b into a box-like shape. Two claw portions 13c are provided on the rear surface side of the case 13b so that they can be detachably fixed to the angle 14. Further, an infrared sensor 13d as a sensor for detecting a human body (user) is built in the lower part of the human body sensor 13, and the heating unit A is exposed to the outside from the front case 13a.
The presence / absence of a user is detected. In addition, in the center of the human body sensor 13, an operation switch 13e for selecting the operation and stop of the human body sensor 13 and switching the operation is provided, and at the upper part thereof, power is supplied from the controller 17 and the operation switch 13e is turned on. Operation lamp 13 consisting of an LED (light emitting diode) that lights up while the human body sensor 13 is operating
f is provided.

The angle 14 is made of metal such as stainless steel and has a crank shape in a side view, and a fixing portion 14b having a through hole 14a through which a bolt 15 for fixing the support leg 6a is formed at an upper portion thereof. Is formed. Then, with the bolt 15 and the through hole 14a of the angle 14,
The angle 14 is supported inside the support leg 6a by tightening together with the support leg 6a through the mounting holes 2c formed in the fixing metal fittings 2b for fixing the inner corner portions of the respective horizontal rails 2a constituting the main body formwork 2. It is hung and fixed on the heating space A side. Also,
A mounting portion 14c having a rectangular mounting hole 14d for detachably fixing the human body sensor 13 is formed in the lower portion of the angle 14, and the claw portion 13c of the rear case 13b is inserted into this hole 14d and moved downward. The human body sensor 13 is detachably fixed to the angle 14 by being engaged with each other.

Reference numeral 19 is a power supply line for supplying power to the electric heater 5, one end of which serves as a load for the electric heater 5 and the blower 4.
Load side plug 1 to connect with the negative ion generator 18
9a is connected to the power plug 19b for connecting the other end to the power outlet 20 of the AC100V commercial power supply 21 via the human body sensor 13 and the controller 17 in the middle.

The negative ion generator 18 is connected between a connection outlet for supplying power to the electric heater 5 and the blower 4 and the load side plug 19a of the power line 19.
The main body of the generator 18 is provided with a switch for selecting only whether or not to generate negative ions, so that it can be selectively set when unnecessary. Further, this negative ion generator 18 is an electric type, and electrons are emitted from the needle electrode (metal) to which a high voltage is applied to the surrounding air, and the electrons adhere to neutral molecules in the air to generate negative ions. To generate.

The controller 17 is an operation switch 17a for selecting and switching between operation and stop of the electric kotatsu 1.
And the operation lamp 17b that displays the operation status on the upper part
Is provided, and by closing this switch 17a,
Electric heater 5, blower 4, negative ion generator 1
8. The power is supplied to the human body sensor 13.

Next, the operation of the electric kotatsu 1 having the above-mentioned structure will be described. When the operation switch 17a of the controller 17 is closed (ON), the human body sensor 13, the negative ion generator 18, the electric heater 5, the blower 4
Power is supplied to the electric heater 5 and the electric heater 5
The temperature inside the electric kotatsu 1 is kept substantially constant by controlling the power supply amount by the sensed temperature of 1 and the setting of the temperature control volume 17C. In addition, the warm air heated by the electric heater 5 by the blower 4 and the negative ion generator 18
Negative ions generated by circulate in the heating space A in the electric kotatsu 1.

The human body sensor 13 has a driving switch 17a.
Infrared sensor 13d when power is supplied by closing the
Detects the infrared rays emitted by the human body in the heating space A, and starts detecting the presence or absence of the user in the space A. Then, when the amount of incident infrared rays does not change continuously for a predetermined time (for example, 30 minutes), the control circuit determines that the user is absent, and the negative ion generator 18 on the load side, the electric heater 5, and the blower 4 are supplied. Turn off the power and stop it.
After that, when the user puts his / her foot into the heating space A while the power supply to the load side is stopped by the human body sensor 13, the infrared sensor 13d detects this, and again the negative ion generator 18 on the load side, the electric heater 5, and the blower. Energize 4 to heat.

As described above, by detecting the presence or absence of the user and repeating the above-mentioned operation, even if the user forgets to turn off the operation switch 17a of the controller 17, the power supply to the load side is automatically cut off. Is configured as follows.

Since the load side is always energized when the power source is initially energized, for example, the controller 1
When no one warms up the heating space A in the electric kotatsu 1 simply by turning on the operation switch 17a of No. 7, after 30 minutes, which is the predetermined time for detecting the absence of the user, the negative ions on the load side are detected. Generator 18 and electric heater 5,
The power supply to the blower 4 is cut off and stopped.

Further, when the human body sensor 13 determines that the user is absent, the power supply to only the electric heater 5 on the load side may be stopped.

Further, the body sensor 13 main body may be provided with a selection switch for allowing the user to selectively set a predetermined time for detecting the absence of the user by the infrared sensor 13d.

As described above, in the electric kotatsu which forms the heating space A by supporting the main body form 2 having the electric heater 5 on the floor surface by the plurality of supporting legs 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, Since the human body sensor 13 for detecting the presence or absence of the user in the space A is provided inside any one of the support legs 6a, the human body sensor 13 can be easily installed in a place where it does not disturb the user.

The human body sensor 13 provided on the support leg 6a has another support leg 6b on the diagonal line in the heating space A.
The infrared sensor 13
Since the detection angle can be made narrower (about 110 °) than when d is attached to the top surface of the heating space A, it is possible to improve the detection accuracy and to determine whether or not there is a user in the heating space A. It can be reliably detected by the individual infrared sensor 13d.

Further, since the human body sensor 13 is provided on the support leg 6b, it is possible to prevent the temperature rise due to the conductive heat from the electric heater, so that the temperature rise of the human body sensor 13 lowers the detection sensitivity or causes an error. There is no.

Further, since the human body sensor 13 is detachably provided on the support leg 6a and is provided in the middle of the power supply line 19 for supplying power to the electric heater 5 and the blower 4, a dedicated wiring is not required and the wiring cost can be reduced. It can be stored together with the power line because it can be easily removed during storage.

Further, since the human body sensor 13 is provided with the operation switch 13e for switching the operation or the stop, this functional operation can be easily selected. For example, when the human body sensor 13 is out of order, the stop can be selected. Therefore, it can be used without using the human body sensor 13 function.

In the present embodiment, the human body sensor 1
Operation switch 13e for switching operation or stop to 3
And the operation lamp 13f is provided.
3e and the operation lamp 13f may be provided in the controller 17. This allows the user to check the operation and driving at hand.

Further, by energizing the electric heater 5 etc. by detecting the absence of the user for a predetermined time, after that,
Since the power supply to the load side of the electric heater 5 and the like is restarted when the user is detected, even if the user does not turn on the operation switch 17a at the time of reuse, the foot is placed in the heating space A of the electric kotatsu 1. It is very convenient because the electric power is re-energized to the load side such as the electric heater 5 and the heating is automatically performed only by inserting the part. Further, when the user forgets to turn off the operation switch 17a, by stopping the power supply to the electric heater 5 on the load side, the blower 4, etc., the load life can be extended and the life of the equipment can be extended, and wasteful power consumption can be achieved. It is possible to provide a highly safe electric kotatsu that can be suppressed and prevent a fire or the like from occurring by preventing continuous operation.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, various alternatives, modifications, and variations can be made by those skilled in the art based on the above description, and the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned alternatives. , Modifications or variations.

[0033]

As described above, according to the present invention, the presence or absence of a user in the heating space is detected by the human body sensor, and when the user is not in use, the electric heater is stopped and power is wasted. It is possible to provide a highly safe electric kotatsu while suppressing this.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of an electric kotatsu.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an electric kotatsu viewed from below.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a human body sensor attached to an electric kotatsu.

FIG. 4 is a view in which an angle is attached to an electric kotatsu.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing a human body sensor attached to an electric kotatsu.

[Explanation of symbols]

4 blower 5 Electric heater 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d Support legs 13 Human body sensor 13d infrared sensor 13e Run switch 13f driving lamp 18 Negative ion generator

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Akimasa Shintaku             670 Shinfukuji, Oyaku-gun, Gunma Prefecture             1 Within L-Tech Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kenjiro Nagata             670 Shinfukuji, Oyaku-gun, Gunma Prefecture             1 Within L-Tech Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 3L028 FA03 FB03 FC04 FD04                 3L087 AA15 AA17 BB12 BB18 CA01                       DA01 DA27

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An electric kotatsu in which a main body form having an electric heater is supported on a floor surface by a plurality of supporting legs to form a heating space, and the presence or absence of a user in the heating space is not detected. An electric kotatsu, which is provided with a human body sensor for stopping the power supply to the electric heater when any of the support legs is detected. 2. The electric kotatsu according to claim 1, wherein the human body sensor provided on any one of the support legs is arranged toward another support leg on a diagonal line in the heating space. 3. The electric kotatsu according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the human body sensor is detachably provided on the support leg and provided in the middle of a power supply line for supplying power to the electric heater. . 4. The electric kotatsu according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising an operation switch for switching between operation and stop of the human body sensor.