JP2003294304A - Detecting method of pining abnormality for bathtub hot- water supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a detection method of piping abnormality for a bathtub hot-water supply device clearly displaying the piping abnormality, identifying the piping abnormality, and appropriately quickly repairing the piping abnormality, when the piping abnormality such as clogging, twisting or bending occurs in supply piping and return piping. <P>SOLUTION: This detecting method of piping abnormality in the supply piping 18 and the return piping 19 constituting the bathtub hot-water supply device automatically supplying hot water to a bathtub is such that water is supplied one side by one side to the supply piping 18 side and the return piping 19 side by switching an electric three-way valve 16, and when a flow sensor 14 is not operated, the piping is judged as abnormal and the judged data is stored in a memory 30, even when the flow sensor 14 is operated, if the flow rate of the flow sensor 14 is the specified flow or less, the piping is judged as abnormal, and the abnormality is synthetically judged from the abnormality detecting information in an abnormality state judging part 31, abnormal piping and an abnormal state of the piping are identified, and the abnormal piping and the abnormal state are displayed on the display means 28. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

The present invention relates to a piping abnormality detecting method for a bath water heater.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a bath water heater is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
As disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 1-132971, hot water supplied from a hot water supply source such as an electric water heater and water supplied from a water supply serving as a water source are mixed by a mixing valve to an appropriate temperature, and the mixture is mixed at this appropriate temperature. The hot water is sent to the electric three-way valve for switching the flow path through the check valve etc. by opening the water supply solenoid valve, and the forward piping, return piping, circulation pump connected between this electric three-way valve and the bathtub. , And so on.

[0003]

However, if one of the forward piping and the return piping used for circulating heat retention of hot water in the bathtub and the hot water of the bathtub is clogged, When the pump is circulated, the pump may not be circulated, and it may be erroneously determined that there is no water in the bath. In this case, the phenomenon that water overflows from the bath may occur depending on the control. Further, if any of the pipes is clogged from the beginning, normal hot water welding cannot be performed in many cases. Further, normally, when water is no longer flowing due to clogging of pipes, twisting, bending, etc., it is often the case that an abnormality is displayed for some component of the product or something abnormal on the control. However, with this abnormality display alone, the pipe is buried in the soil or passed through the wall and it is not possible to visually check it, so it makes misregistration such as replacing parts of the product, There was a problem that it could not reach the root cause or that it took time to reach the root cause.

The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and it has been proposed that the forward pipe and the return pipe are twisted, that is, twisted.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for detecting a piping abnormality in a bath water heater, which can display the piping abnormality clearly when there is a piping abnormality such as a bend and identify the piping abnormality and perform the repair accurately and promptly.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for detecting abnormalities in a pipe of a hot water supply system for a bath water heater, which is a method for detecting abnormalities in an outgoing pipe and a return pipe constituting a bath water heater that automatically supplies hot water to a bathtub. If the three-way valve is switched and water is supplied to each of the outgoing pipe side and the return pipe side, and the flow sensor does not operate, it is judged that the pipe is abnormal and stored in the storage unit. Even if the flow rate of the sensor is less than or equal to the predetermined flow rate, it is determined that the piping is abnormal, and the abnormality state determination unit comprehensively determines from these abnormality detection information,
Identify the abnormal pipe and the abnormal condition of the pipe,
The abnormal pipe and the abnormal state are displayed by the display means.

[0006] By this method, it is possible to accurately and promptly repair by identifying which one of the outflow pipe and the return pipe is in an abnormal state and by identifying the abnormal state.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for detecting abnormalities in a pipe of a hot water supply system for a hot water supply apparatus, which is a method for detecting abnormalities in a forward pipe and a return pipe constituting a bath water heater for automatically supplying hot water to a bathtub by switching an electric three-way valve. Side and return pipe side are simultaneously supplied with water, and if the water flow switch does not operate, it is judged that the outflow pipe is abnormal, and it is stored in the storage means. When no pressure is output to the pressure sensor, the return pipe is abnormal. Judgment, comprehensively judge from these detection information, identify abnormal piping,
This abnormal pipe is displayed by the display means.

With this method, it is possible to specify which of the outflow pipe and the return pipe is in an abnormal state, and perform the repair accurately and promptly.

In the method for detecting abnormalities in the pipe of the bath water heater according to the third aspect of the present invention, the method for detecting abnormalities in the bath water heater according to the first or second aspect of the present invention is applied when it is determined that both the outgoing pipe and the return pipe are abnormal. The flow rate sensor is judged to be abnormal and is displayed on the display means.

According to this method, in addition to the effect of claim 1 or claim 2, the abnormality of the flow rate sensor is also displayed.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a bath water heater, in which a bath tub 1 is provided in an indoor bathroom or the like, and a hot water source 2 and a hot water beam unit 3 as a water heater are provided outdoors.
The hot water supply source 2 is, for example, an electric water heater, a gas water heater, and a solar heat collector water heater, or a composite body combining them, and in any case, a pre-stop water supply hot water supply method is adopted, A pipe portion 6 of a water supply pipe 5 having a water supply tap 4 directly connected to a water supply serving as a water source is connected,
A hot water supply pipe 6 as a hot water supply path for guiding hot water is connected to the hot water beam unit 3 and a hot and cold water mixing tap of a kitchen. Then, when hot water is discharged from each hot water supply place, hot water boiled up to a set temperature by the hot water supply source 2 by the water supply pressure from the water supply pipe 5 is supplied through the hot water supply pipe 6.

When the hot water supply source is an electric water heater, the water introduced from the water supply pipe 5 is heated by boiling the hot water at 90 ° C. by a heater provided inside the hot water storage tank.

The hot water beam unit 3 also has an electric mixing valve 8 driven by a motor 7, and a water supply pipe 9, a hot water supply pipe 6 and a hot water discharge pipe 10 are connected to the mixing valve 8. There is. The hot water discharged from the hot water supply source 2 through the hot water supply pipe 6 and the water supplied through the water supply pipe 9 are mixed by the mixing valve 8, and the hot water is discharged from the hot water discharge pipe 10 according to the mixing ratio of these hot water and water. The temperature is adjusted.

A hopper 11 is connected in the middle of the tap pipe 10 of the mixing valve 8, and the tap pipe 1 is connected to the hopper 11.
Hot water is supplied through a water supply solenoid valve 12 that uses a solenoid or a motor as a drive source to open and close the 0 flow path, and a negative pressure operating valve 13 that shuts off the mixing valve 8 side and the bathtub 1 side when the water supply pressure decreases due to water cutoff or the like. A flow rate sensor 14 for detecting the amount of hot water supplied and a check valve 15 for allowing the flow of hot water from the mixing valve 8 side to the bath 1 and for restricting the reverse flow of hot water from the bath 1 side to the mixing valve 8 are provided. It is set up.

The tip of the hot water outlet pipe 10 of the mixing valve 8 is connected to a circulation path 17 via an electric three-way valve 16 as a flow path switching means. The circulation path 17 has a forward pipe 18 and a return pipe 19, and these forward pipes 1
8 and one end of the return pipe 19 are integrally connected to the circulation fitting 20 installed in the bathtub 1, and the other end side is the electric three-way valve 16
It is connected to the. The outflow pipe 18 has an electric three-way valve 16
Side to the bathtub 1 side, the circulation pump 21 for forcibly sending the hot and cold water in the piping 18 to forcibly circulate the hot and cold water in the circulation path 17, the water flow switch 22 for detecting the flow of the hot and cold water in the circulation path 17, and the circulation A bath thermistor 23 for detecting the temperature of hot water in the passage 17 and a heat retention heater 24 for heating and keeping hot water flowing in the circulation passage 17 are provided. The return pipe 19 has a pressure sensor (water level sensor) for detecting the water level of the bathtub 1.
25 are provided.

The electric three-way valve 16 includes a flow passage connecting the hot water discharge pipe 10 and the outgoing pipe 18, a flow passage connecting the hot water discharge pipe 10 and the return pipe 19, a hot water discharge pipe 10, the outgoing pipe 18 and the return pipe 19. The four flow paths are connected, and a flow path connecting the forward pipe 18 and the return pipe 19 is connected.

Reference numeral 26 denotes a remote controller, which is installed on the wall surface of the bathroom or the like to operate the hot water beam unit 3, and has an automatic hot water beam switch 27, time, bathtub 1 on the surface of the remote controller 26. It has display means 28 for displaying the water level, hot water temperature, etc. Also, this display means 28
Indicates whether or not there is a flow rate passing through the flow rate sensor 14,
Water flow switch 2 for detecting the flow of hot water in the circulation path 17
2. A change in the pressure value of the pressure switch (water level sensor) 25 for detecting the water level in the bathtub 1 is used to detect an abnormal piping condition such as bending, twisting, etc., in the outgoing pipe 18 and the return pipe 19, and the abnormal pipe is detected. It is also used as a display means for displaying the state.

Reference numeral 29 is a control device as an operation control means. This control device 29 opens the water supply solenoid valve 12 to start the hot water beam by operating the remote controller 26, and when the hot water beam is blown, the pressure sensor 25 is operated. When the hot water is poured to the set water level while monitoring the pressure value of, or when the hot water temperature of the bathtub drops, a hot water temperature signal is input from the bath sensor 23 and the electric three-way valve 16 is switched to the heat retaining circulation piping side to circulate the pump. Two
1 is controlled to control the hot water temperature. Further, the control device 29 stores a pipe abnormal state such as a bend, a twist, etc. of the outgoing pipe 18 and the return pipe 19 from the detection information of the flow sensor 14, the water flow switch 22, the pressure switch (water level sensor) 25, and the like. 30 and an abnormal state determination unit 31 that identifies a pipe abnormal state based on the abnormality detection information in the storage unit 30.

Next, the operation of hot water sprinkling into the bathtub 1 is shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to the block diagram of the bath water heater.

First, the automatic hot water beam switch 27 is turned on,
The water supply solenoid valve 12 is opened, and the hot and cold water mixed and adjusted by the mixing valve 8 to the set hot water discharge temperature is used as the hot water discharge pipe 10 and the circulation path 17.
Hot water is supplied to bathtub 1 through. Then, based on the hot water supply amount based on the detection of the flow rate sensor 14 or the water level of the bathtub 1 based on the detection of the pressure sensor 25, the hot water supply solenoid valve 12 is closed and the hot water supply is completed.

After the hot water has been poured, the electric three-way valve 1 is operated at predetermined intervals.
At 6 the flow path connecting the outgoing pipe 18 and the return pipe 19 is switched, the circulation pump 21 is driven, and the bath 1 and the circulation line 1 are connected.
Hot water is circulated between the bath 7 and the bath thermistor 23 to monitor the temperature of the bath 1. If the hot water temperature of the bathtub 1 is lower than the set temperature, the heat retention heater 24 is turned on to keep the temperature up to the set temperature.

Next, a pipe abnormality detection method for the first bath water heater will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, when the automatic hot water switch 27 of the remote controller 26 is kept pressed for a few seconds, the failure diagnosis mode starts,
The electric three-way valve 16 is switched to the outward pipe 18 side (step 1). Next, the water supply solenoid valve 12 is opened (step 2)
Hot water is sent to the tap pipe 10. Then, it is detected whether or not the flow rate sensor 14 is operated by the circulation of the hot water (step 3), and if there is no circulation of the hot water, it is determined that the outgoing pipe 18 is completely blocked, and the abnormality information of the control device 29 is detected. It is stored in the storage unit 30 (step 4). Also, the flow sensor 1
If hot and cold water flows in 4, the flow rate sensor 14 detects whether or not a predetermined amount of hot and cold water is flowing (step 5). If there is no circulation of a predetermined amount of hot and cold water, it is determined that the outgoing pipe 18 is incomplete, that is, bent or twisted, and the abnormality information is stored in the storage unit 30 of the control device 29 (step 6).

Next, the electric three-way valve 16 is switched to the return pipe 19 side (step 7), and it is again detected whether or not the flow rate sensor 14 is operated by the circulation of the hot water (step 8), and the circulation of the hot water is stopped. For example, it is determined that the return pipe 19 is completely clogged, and the abnormality information is stored in the storage unit 30 of the control device 29 (step 9). Further, if there is hot water flowing in the flow rate sensor 14, it is detected whether or not hot water of a predetermined flow rate is flowing in the flow rate sensor 14 (step 10). If there is no circulation of a predetermined amount of hot water, it is determined that the return pipe 19 is incomplete, that is, bent, twisted, etc., and the abnormality information is stored in the storage unit 30 of the control device 29 (step 11).

If it is determined that there is an abnormality in both the outgoing pipe 18 and the return pipe 19, the flow sensor 14 is determined to be abnormal, and the abnormality information is stored in the storage unit 30 of the control device 29. (Step 11).

Then, the abnormal condition judging unit 31 comprehensively judges each abnormal information of the outflow pipe 18, the return pipe 19 and the flow rate sensor 14 stored in the storage unit 30, and determines which pipe is in which abnormal condition. Determine if there is (step 1
2) The specified piping and its abnormal state are displayed on the display means 28 of the remote controller 26 as an identification code, for example (step 13). When the flow rate sensor 14 is displayed as abnormal, it is confirmed whether the water tap 4 is open or whether hot water is being supplied from the circulation fitting 20 of the bathtub 1.

In this way, since the abnormal states of the outgoing pipe 18 and the return pipe 19 are specified and displayed on the display means, the repair can be carried out accurately and quickly.

Next, a pipe abnormality detecting method for the second bath water heater will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, when the automatic hot water switch 27 of the remote controller 26 is pressed several times, the failure diagnosis mode is started, and the electric three-way valve 16 is switched so as to simultaneously supply water to the two pipes, the forward pipe 18 side and the return pipe 19 side. (Step 1). Next, the water supply solenoid valve 12 is opened (step 2), and hot water is sent to the hot water outlet pipe 10. Then, it is detected whether or not the water flow switch 22 is operated by the flow of the hot water (step 3), and if there is no flow of the hot water, the outgoing pipe 18 is blocked, that is, bent.
Alternatively, it is determined that the abnormality is caused by twisting or the like, and the abnormality information is stored in the storage unit 30 of the control device 29 (step 4). If hot water flows through the flow rate sensor 14, the pressure sensor 25 detects whether a predetermined pressure is applied (step 5). If the predetermined pressure is not output, the return pipe 19 is judged to be abnormal due to bending, twisting, etc., and the abnormality information is stored in the storage unit 30 of the control device 29 (step 6).

If it is determined that there is an abnormality in both the outgoing pipe 18 and the return pipe 19, the flow sensor 14 is determined to be abnormal, and the abnormality information is stored in the storage unit 30 of the control device 29. (Step 11).

Then, the abnormal condition judging unit 31 comprehensively judges the abnormal condition of the outgoing pipe 18 and the return pipe 19 stored in the storage unit 30 to determine what kind of abnormal condition the pipe has ( In step 7), the identified piping and its abnormal state are displayed on the display means 28 of the remote controller 26 as, for example, an identification code (step 8).

As described above, since the abnormal states of the outgoing pipe 18 and the return pipe 19 are specified and displayed on the display means, the repair can be performed accurately and quickly.

By the way, conventionally, when the water flow switch 22 provided in the circulation path 17 fails, when the hot water is poured into the bathtub 1, two pipes, the forward pipe 18 and the return pipe 19, are used. Since it was unclear how much hot and cold water was flowing, the water flow switch 22 was not judged to be abnormal.

Therefore, when the water flow switch 22 fails, it is determined that the hot water is circulating even though the hot water is not actually circulating in the bathtub 1, and the warming heater 24 is inserted or the warming heater 24 is turned on. Circulation pump 21
You may end up with a dry run. In addition, there is a problem that hot water is overflowed from the bathtub 1 by determining that there is no hot water remaining in the bathtub 1 and performing hot water refilling.

Therefore, according to the present invention, of the two pipes of the forward pipe 18 and the return pipe 19, the hot and cold water is made to flow through one pipe to which the water flow switch 22 is connected, so that It is proposed to increase the number and make an abnormality determination of the water flow switch 22.

Next, a method for detecting an abnormality of the water flow switch 22 will be described.

Pipe 1 to which the water flow switch 22 is connected
When the pipe is filled with hot water and the flow rate switch 14 is turned on and the flow rate sensor 14 is operating, or the water flow switch 22 is turned off and the flow rate sensor 14 is not operating, it is determined to be normal. Further, when the water flow switch 22 is turned off while the flow sensor 14 is operating, and when the water flow switch 22 is turned on while the flow sensor 14 is stopped, it is determined to be abnormal. This abnormality detection method of the water flow switch 22 is performed by the water flow switch 22 and the flow rate sensor 1
It is determined by turning on and off 4 for a certain period of time. In addition, although there is no problem with the above-described abnormality detection method alone, hot water is not poured into the bathtub 1, and
Water flow switch 2 when circulation pump 21 is not on
If 2 is turned on, it is easier to detect the abnormality by making the water flow switch 22 determine the abnormality.

As described above, in the method of detecting an abnormality of the water flow switch 22, the failure diagnosis can be easily performed by forming the failure diagnosis flow using the existing hot water beam unit 3.

[0040]

According to the method for detecting abnormalities in the piping of the bath water heater according to the first aspect of the present invention, any of the abnormalities in the outgoing piping and the return piping and the abnormal state thereof can be identified and repaired accurately and promptly. .

According to the method for detecting abnormalities in the piping of the bath water heater according to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to identify any abnormalities in the outgoing piping and the returning piping and perform repairs accurately and promptly.

According to the piping abnormality detecting method for the bath water heater according to the second aspect, in addition to the effect of the first or second aspect, the abnormality of the flow rate sensor can be specified, and the repair can be performed accurately and promptly.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of a bath water heater according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart explaining a pipe abnormality detection method of the first bath water heater according to the above.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a pipe abnormality detection method of the second bath water heater according to the above.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 bathtub 2 Hot water source 3 Hot water beam unit 8 mixing valves 12 Water supply solenoid valve 14 Flow rate sensor 16 electric three-way valve 17 circuit 18 Outgoing piping 19 Return piping 21 Circulation pump 22 water flow switch 25 Water pressure sensor (water level sensor) 26 remote control 28 Display means 29 Control device 30 storage 31 Abnormal condition determination unit

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A method for detecting abnormalities in an upstream pipe and a return pipe, which constitute a bath water heater for automatically supplying hot water to a bathtub, comprising:
When the electric three-way valve is switched and water is supplied to each of the outgoing pipe side and the return pipe side and the flow sensor does not operate, it is determined that the pipe is abnormal and stored in the storage unit, and even if the flow sensor operates, Even if the flow rate of the flow rate sensor is less than or equal to the predetermined flow rate, the pipe is judged to be abnormal, and the abnormal condition determination part makes a comprehensive judgment from these abnormality detection information to determine the abnormal pipe and the abnormal condition of the pipe. A method for detecting an abnormality in a bath water heater, which is characterized by displaying the abnormal piping and the abnormal state on a display means. 2. A method for detecting abnormalities in a forward pipe and a return pipe, which constitute a bath water heater for automatically supplying hot water to a bathtub, comprising:
When the electric three-way valve is switched and water is simultaneously supplied to two pipes on the outgoing side and the returning side, and the water flow switch does not operate, the outgoing pipe is judged to be abnormal and stored in the storage means, and no pressure is output to the pressure sensor. Is characterized by judging that the return pipe is abnormal, comprehensively judging from these abnormality detection information, identifying the abnormal pipe, and displaying this abnormal pipe on the display means. A method for detecting abnormalities in piping of a hot water supply device. 3. The pipe of the bath water heater according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, when it is determined that both the outgoing pipe and the return pipe are abnormal, it is determined that the flow sensor is abnormal and displayed on the display means. Anomaly detection method.