JP2003322403A - Bath water heater - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a highly economical bath water heater in which there is no danger of burn injury with stagnant high-temperature water in a heat exchanging part not flowing into a bathtub as it is at a start of reheating bathtub water, and heat in a hot-water tank is not wasted during performing pump circulation for monitoring temperature of hot water in the bathtub. <P>SOLUTION: This bath water heater is provided with a mixing means 11 for mixing the hot water in the hot-water tank with the water from a water supply source, a circulation passage composed of a supply pipe 20, a return pipe 20 or the like between the mixing means 11 and the bathtub 1, and the heat exchanging part 26 exchanging heat with the hot water in the hot-water tank 1 and reheating the hot water in the bathtub 1. A bypass passage branched by connecting an inlet port to and an outlet port from the heat exchanging part 26 with piping is formed and a flow path switching means 29 switching a flow path to the branched part is provided. At the start of reheating the hot water in the bathtub 1, the stagnant high-temperature hot water in the heat exchanging part 26 is mixed with the cold water in the bathtub 1 through the bypass passage 28 and the heat exchange passage 30 for being made to be the low-temperature hot water, and returned to the bathtub 1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

The present invention relates to a bath water heater having a function of reheating hot water in a bathtub.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a bath water heater having a function of reheating hot water in a bathtub is supplied from a hot water storage tank 1 to a hot water supply pipe 7 as shown in FIG. 3 of JP-A-11-83156. The hot water is mixed with the water supplied to the water supply pipe 8, passes through the mixed hot water pipe 10 and enters the circulation path, and the outgoing pipe 15
The automatic hot water refilling is performed in the bathtub 14 through both the return pipe 16 and the return pipe 16. When the hot water in the bathtub 14 reaches a preset water level, the solenoid valve 17 is closed. Then, the circulation pump 19 is operated, the hot water in the bathtub 14 circulates in the circulation path 12, and the hot water temperature is detected by the temperature sensor 22. When the hot water is cold, the circulation heater 1 is used to circulate the circulation path 1.
There is known a bath water heater in which the bath water in 2 is reheated and heated.

However, according to such a bath water heater, there is a problem that the warming heater 32 for keeping the bath water warm is necessary, which is expensive and requires a long time to keep warm. Therefore, in order to solve these problems, as shown in FIG. 1 of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-83156, a mixing means 6 for mixing hot water and water in the hot water storage tank 1 is provided, and a mixing means 6 is provided. In the hot water supply device having the hot water-sinking function and the heat-retaining function of the bathtub 14 in which the circulation path 12 including the outgoing pipe 15 and the return pipe 16 is provided between the bathtubs 14,
So that a part of it passes through the upper part of the hot water storage tank 1,
It is known that heat is exchanged with the hot water in the circulation path 12.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1 of Utility Model Registration No. 2556527, a hot water circulation passage 4 for simply circulating bath water between the hot water tank 1 and the bath 2 is provided, and the hot water circulation is performed. Circulating hot water provided with a heat exchanger 1e that heats and heats the hot water in the bathtub 2 by exchanging heat with the hot water in the hot water tank 1 by passing a part of the flow path 4 through the upper part of the hot water tank 1. Utilization devices are known.

[0005]

However, the above-mentioned reheating device for the bath water heater disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-83156 and the circulating hot water utilization device disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 2556527 are not disclosed. In both cases, at the start of reheating by pump circulation, the hot water that had stagnated in the heat exchanger portion rapidly entered the bathtub for the piping volume of the heat exchanger, so there is a risk of touching the skin of the bather and getting a burn. is there. In addition, pump circulation is performed for cleaning the piping and for confirming the hot water temperature in the bathtub. In this case, the hot water always flows into the heat exchanger and consumes the amount of heat in the hot water tank, and the hot water in the hot water tank has to be reheated, which requires electricity and is uneconomical.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and when the reheating of the hot water in the cold bathtub is started, the cold water in the bathtub and the hot water stagnant in the heat exchanger are mixed. Hot water to prevent it from entering the bathtub suddenly, and when the pump is circulated by cleaning the pipes or when the pump is circulated to check the temperature of the water in the bathtub, the hot water should be put into the heat exchanger. It is an object of the present invention to provide an economical bath hot water supply device by preventing the waste water from being consumed by consuming no heat in the hot water tank.

[0007]

A bath water heater according to claim 1, wherein a hot water tank, a mixing means for mixing hot water in the hot water tank with water from a water supply source, and between the mixing means and the bath. There was provided a circulation path including a forward pipe and a return pipe, and a heat exchange part for exchanging heat with the hot water in the hot water tank in the portion of the circulation path passing through the hot water tank to heat the hot water in the bathtub. In the bath water heater, a bypass passage is formed by connecting a pipe between the inlet and the outlet to the heat exchange section to form a branched bypass passage, and a flow passage switching means for switching the flow passage is provided at the branch portion.

Further, according to the bath water heater of the first aspect, at the start of reheating the hot water in the cold bathtub, the cold hot water in the bathtub is mixed with the hot water stagnant in the heat exchange section. Since it is returned to the bathtub, hot water does not enter the bathtub suddenly and there is no risk of burns, which is safe. In addition, when circulating the pump by cleaning the pipes or circulating the pump to check the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub, the hot water was not allowed to flow to the heat exchange section, so the wasted heat in the hot water tank was not consumed. Economical efficiency is improved.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hot water tank, a bathtub for supplying hot water in the hot water tank, and a circulation path between the hot water tank and the bathtub from a forward pipe and a return pipe. In the bath water heater having a heat exchange part that is formed and passes through the hot water tank of this circulation path to heat-exchange the hot water in the hot water tank to reheat the hot water in the bathtub. The inlet and the outlet are connected by a pipe to form a branched bypass path, and a flow path switching means for switching the flow path is provided at this branch point.

According to the bath hot water supply device of the second aspect, like the bath hot water supply device of the first aspect, at the start of reheating the hot water in the cold bath tub, the heat exchange part with the cold hot water in the bath tub is started. Since the hot water that had stagnated in the part was mixed and returned to the bathtub, there is no risk of burns because the hot water does not enter the bathtub suddenly and it is safe. In addition, when circulating the pump by cleaning the pipes or circulating the pump to check the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub, the hot water was not allowed to flow to the heat exchange section, so the wasted heat in the hot water tank was not consumed. Economical efficiency is improved.

A bath water heater according to a third aspect of the present invention is the first aspect of the present invention.
The flow path switching means of the bath water heater according to claim 1 or 2 is a flow rate adjusting valve.

According to the bath water heater of the third aspect, in addition to the effect of the first or second aspect, the temperature of the hot water returning to the bathtub gradually rises, so that the bath sensation is comfortable.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0014]

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 water supply pipe 5 having a pressure reducing valve 4 directly connected to a water supply serving as a water source is branched from a water supply pipe 5 to which a pipe portion 6 is connected. Further, a hot water supply unit 7 and a hot water supply pipe 7 as a hot water supply path for guiding hot water to a hot and cold water mixing tap of a kitchen (not shown) are connected. Then, when the hot water is discharged from each hot water supply place, the hot water that is boiled to the 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 7.

When the hot water supply source is an electric water heater, the water introduced from the water supply pipe 5 is boiled up to, for example, 90 ° C. by the upper heater 8 and the lower heater 9 provided inside the hot water tank 2. To do.

The hot water beam unit 3 has an electric mixing valve 11 driven by a motor 10, and a water supply pipe 5 and a hot water supply pipe 7 are connected to the mixing valve 11, respectively. The hot water supplied from the hot water supply source 2 through the hot water supply pipe 7 and the water supplied through the water supply pipe 5 are mixed by the mixing valve 11, and the hot water discharge temperature of the hot water discharged from the hot water discharge pipe 12 is determined by the mixing ratio of these hot water and water. Is adjusted.

A hopper 13 is connected in the middle of the hot water discharge pipe 12 of the mixing valve 11, and a water supply solenoid valve 14 driven by a solenoid or a motor for opening and closing the flow path of the hot water discharge pipe 12 and a water cutoff are connected to the hopper 13. A flow rate sensor 16 for detecting the amount of hot water supplied through a negative pressure actuating valve 15 that shuts off the mixing valve 11 side and the bathtub 1 side when the water supply pressure drops, and the hot and cold water from the mixing valve 11 side to the bathtub 1 A non-return valve 17 is provided which allows circulation and restricts the backflow of hot water from the bath 1 side to the mixing valve 11 side.

The tip of the hot water outlet pipe 12 of the mixing valve 11 is connected to a circulation path 19 via a first electric three-way valve 18 as a flow path switching means. This circuit 19
A forward pipe 20 and a return pipe 21 are provided.
Also, one ends of the return pipes 21 are integrally connected to the circulation fittings 22 installed in the bathtub 1, respectively. In addition, going pipe 2
The other end of 0 is connected to the first electric three-way valve 18
Detecting the flow of hot and cold water in the circulation path 19 and the circulation pump 23 that forcibly circulates the hot and cold water in the circulation path 19 by forcibly sending the hot and cold water in the outflow tube 20 from the electric three-way valve 18 side to the bathtub 1 side. A water flow switch 24, a bath thermistor 25 for detecting the temperature of hot and cold water in the circulation path 19, and a heat exchanging unit 26 which is arranged at an upper portion of the hot water tank 2 and heats the cold bath water which is heat-exchanged with the hot water in the hot water tank 2. The hot water that is provided and reheated is returned to the bathtub 1. In addition, the return pipe 21
Has a pressure sensor (water level sensor) 27 connected to the first electric three-way valve 18 at the other end to detect the water level in the bathtub 1. In addition, a bypass passage 28 is formed by connecting a pipe between the inlet and the outlet of the heat exchange portion 26 of the outward pipe 20 to form a branched bypass passage 28, and the second passage as a passage switching means for switching the passage to this branch point. An electric three-way valve 29 is provided. The pipe that circulates through the heat exchange section 26 of the outflow pipe 20 functions as the heat exchange passage 30.

The first electric three-way valve 18 is provided with a passage connecting the outlet pipe 12 and the outlet pipe 20, a passage connecting the outlet pipe 12 and the return pipe 21, the outlet pipe 12 and the outlet pipe 20. And the flow path connecting the return pipe 21 and the flow path connecting the forward pipe 20 and the return pipe 21.
In addition, the second electric three-way valve 29 is connected to the bypass passage 28, the heat exchange passage 30, and the bypass passage 2.
8 and the heat exchange passage 30 are switched to three passages connected to the passages connected to both.

Reference numeral 31 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, time, bathtub (not shown) on the surface of the remote controller 31. It has display means for displaying the water level, the hot water temperature, etc.

Reference numeral 32 is a control device as an operation control means. This control device 32 opens the water supply solenoid valve 14 to start the hot water beam by the operation of the remote controller 31, or the pressure sensor 27 is used to start the hot water beam. When 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, the hot water temperature signal is input from the bath sensor 25 to
The electric three-way valve 18 is switched to the circulation path 19 side to drive the circulation pump 23, the second electric three-way valve 29 is switched to the bypass path 28 side, and the second electric three-way valve 29 is operated.
Is switched to the heat exchange passage 30 side to perform control such as additional heating.

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, an unillustrated automatic hot water switch of the remote controller 31 is turned on to open the water supply solenoid valve 14, switch the first electric three-way valve 18 to the circulation path 19 side, and bypass the second electric three-way valve 29. The hot water mixed by the mixing valve 11 and adjusted to the set hot water temperature is switched to the passage 28 side, and the outgoing pipe 20 and the return pipe 21 of the circulation pipe 19 are provided.
And hot water is supplied to the bathtub 1 through the bypass 28. Then, based on the hot water supply amount based on the detection of the flow rate sensor 16 or the water level of the bathtub 1 based on the detection of the pressure sensor 27,
When the hot water is removed, the water supply solenoid valve 14 is closed to complete the hot water removal.

Next, the reheating operation of the bath water heater according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 2 to 4 and 5.

After the hot water is poured, as shown in FIG.
The first electric three-way valve 18 is switched to the circulation path 21 side (step 1), and the second electric three-way valve 29 is switched to the bypass path 28 side (step 2). Then, the circulation pump 23 is driven every predetermined time (step 3), and the bathtub 1
Bath thermistor 2 by circulating hot water between
The hot water temperature of the bathtub 1 is monitored at 5 (stap 4). At this time,
The hot water does not flow to the side of the heat exchange passage 30 and the hot water in the hot water tank 2 is not heat-exchanged, so that a wasteful amount of heat is not consumed.

Next, as shown in FIG. 3, when it is detected by the bath thermistor 25 that the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub 1 is lower than the set temperature, the second electric three-way valve 29 is connected to the bypass passage 2.
8 and the heat exchange path 30 (step 5).
By this connection, the cooled hot water in the bathtub 1 is returned to the return pipe 21.
From the second electric three-way valve 2 via the first electric three-way valve 18
9, the cooled bath water branches into both the bypass passage 28 side and the heat exchange passage 30 side. And the heat exchange part 2
The hot water that was stagnant in 6 is mixed with the cold water that has flowed to the bypass 28 side (step 6) and returned to the bathtub 1 as relatively low temperature hot water. Therefore, the high-temperature hot water staying in the heat exchanging unit 26 for starting the reheating is kept as it is in the bathtub 1.
There is no danger of getting burned without entering. Then, this circulation is continued for a certain time, or the bath thermistor 25
The temperature of the hot water detected in step 3 drops below a certain level (step 7)
If the hot water temperature detected by the bath thermistor 25 has dropped below a certain level, the second electric three-way valve 29 is provided only on the heat exchange passage 30 side as shown in FIG. After switching (step 8), the cooled bath water is heated by the heat exchange section 26 and returned to the bath 1 to operate as additional heating (step 9). The additional heating is performed until the bath thermistor 25 detects the set temperature of the bath water (step 10).

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

The bath water heater of the second embodiment uses a flow control valve in place of the second electric three-way valve of the bath water heater of the first embodiment, and the bath water bath of the first embodiment is used. The same parts as those of the water heater are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. Only different parts will be described.

As shown in FIG. 6, 33 is a flow rate adjusting valve, and this flow rate adjusting valve 33 is a bypass passage 28.
The amount of hot water flowing to the side and the heat exchange passage 30 side can be adjusted.

Next, the reheating operation of the bath water heater according to the second embodiment will be described. The description of the same operation as that of the bath water heater according to the first embodiment will be omitted, and only different portions will be described.

After the hot water is poured, the flow rate adjusting valve 33 fully opens the bypass passage 28 side and closes the heat exchange passage 30 side so that the hot water does not flow to the heat exchange passage 30 side. Then, the circulation pump 23 is driven every predetermined time, and the bathtub 1 and the circulation path 19 are
The hot water in the bathtub 1 is monitored by the bath thermistor 25 by circulating hot water between and. At this time, the hot water does not flow to the heat exchange passage 30 side, and the hot water in the hot water tank 2 is not heat-exchanged, so that a wasteful heat amount is not consumed.

Next, when the bath thermistor 25 detects that the hot water temperature of the bathtub 1 has dropped below the set temperature, the flow rate adjusting valve 33 gradually opens the heat exchange passage 30 side and gradually closes the bypass passage 28 side. Then, the cooled return hot water of the bathtub 1 is mixed little by little with the high-temperature hot water that has stagnated in the heat exchange section 26, and the bath hot water supply apparatus operates in the same manner as the bath water heater of the first embodiment.
Return the mixed water to the inside. Therefore, the high-temperature hot water that has stagnated in the heat exchange section 26 for the start of reheating does not enter the bathtub 1 as it is, and there is no risk of burns. Further, since the temperature of the hot water returning to the bathtub 1 gradually rises, it is comfortable to experience.
Then, after that, the bypass passage 28 side is closed and only the heat exchange passage 30 side is opened, and the reheating heating is performed by the same operation as in the first embodiment.

The flow rate adjusting valve 33 may be opened linearly or stepwise. Further, since it is possible to reheat without opening the heat exchange passage 30 side and closing the bypass passage 28 side, when the bather returns to the bathtub 1 at the time of reheating, the heat exchange passage 30 is high.
It is possible to reduce the degree of openness on the side and lower the temperature of the hot water that returns to the bathtub 1, and it is possible to perform additional heating by a temperature suitable for the sensible temperature of the bather.

Next, a bath water heater according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

The bath water heater according to the third embodiment is one which directly pours hot water into a bathtub from a hot water supply pipe instead of the automatic hot water beam unit of the first bath water heater according to the first embodiment. The same parts as those in FIG.
Only different parts will be described.

As shown in FIG. 7, the automatic hot water beam unit 3 shown in the bath water heater of the first embodiment does not exist, and the hot water beam to the bathtub 1 is supplied from the hot water supply pipe 7. The hot water and the water supplied from the water supply source are mixed by the mixing stopper 35.

Next, FIG. 7 shows the operation of hot water sprinkling into the bathtub 1.
This will be described with reference to the block diagram of the bath water heater.

First, the mixing stopper 35 is manually opened, and when the water level in the bathtub 1 reaches above the circulation fitting 22, the mixing stopper 35 is manually closed to complete the hot water welding.

Next, the reheating operation of the bath water heater according to the third embodiment will be described. The additional cooking operation after the hot water boiling is the same as that described in the flow charts of FIGS. 2 to 4 and 5 of the bath water heater of the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

As described above, also in the bath water heater of the third embodiment, at the start of additional cooking, the hot water that has stagnated in the heat exchange portion does not enter the bathtub as it is, and there is no risk of burns. In addition, the amount of heat in the hot water tank is not wasted when the pump is circulated to monitor the hot water temperature in the bathtub.

Next, the bath water heater of the fourth embodiment is
It is what is shown in FIG. 8, and it replaces with the 2nd electric three-way valve 29 of the bath water heater of 3rd Embodiment, and the flow control valve 3 is shown.
6, the reheating operation is the same as that of the bath water heater of the third embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

[0042]

According to the bath water heater of claim 1,
There is no risk of burns because the hot water that had stagnated in the heat exchange section when starting reheating did not enter the bathtub as it was. Also,
The amount of heat in the hot water tank is not wasted when the pump is circulated to monitor the hot water temperature in the bathtub.

According to the bath hot water supply device of the second aspect, like the bath hot water supply device of the first aspect, the hot water that has stagnated in the heat exchange section for starting reheating does not enter the bathtub as it is. There is no risk of burns. In addition, the amount of heat in the hot water tank is not wasted when the pump is circulated to monitor the hot water temperature in the bathtub.

According to the bath water heater of claim 3, in addition to the effect of claim 1 or claim 2, since the temperature of the hot water returning to the bath gradually rises, it is sensationally comfortable.

[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 an explanatory diagram explaining a monitoring state of bathtub hot water of the first bath hot water supply device.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a state at the start of reheating the hot water in the bathtub of the first bath water heater according to the above.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a hot water reheating state of a bathtub of the first bath water heater according to the same as above.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a hot water reheating operation in the bathtub of the first bath water heater according to the above.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of a bath water heater according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of a bath water heater according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of a bath water heater according to the fourth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 bathtub 2 Hot water tank of electric water heater as hot water source 3 Hot water beam unit 11 Mixing valve as mixing means 12 Hot water pipe 14 Water supply solenoid valve 18 First electric three-way valve 19 circuit 20 going pipe 21 Return pipe 23 Circulation pump 25 bath thermistor 26 Heat Exchange Section 27 Water pressure sensor (water level sensor) 28 Bypass 29 Second electric three-way valve 30 heat exchange path 33 Flow control valve

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F-term (reference) 3L024 CC05 CC11 CC19 DD03 DD04                       DD17 DD23 DD27 DD28 EE02                       FF02 FF06 FF08 GG06 GG12                       GG22 GG33 GG38 HH12 HH22                       HH31                 3L025 AC05

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A hot water tank, mixing means for mixing hot water in the hot water tank with water from a water supply source, and a circulation path provided between the mixing means and the bath and comprising a return pipe, a return pipe, etc. In a bath water heater having a heat exchange section for exchanging heat with the hot water in the hot water tank to heat the hot water in the bathtub in a portion of the circulation path that passes through the hot water tank, an entrance and an exit to the heat exchange section A bath hot water supply device, characterized in that a bypass passage is formed by connecting a pipe and a bypass passage, and a flow passage switching means for switching a flow passage is provided at the branch portion. 2. A hot water tank, a bathtub to which hot water in the hot water tank is supplied, a circulation path formed between a hot water tank and a bathtub from a forward pipe and a return pipe, and the circulation path In a bath water heater having a heat exchanging part for exchanging heat with the hot water in the hot water tank to heat the hot water in the bathtub in a portion passing through the hot water tank, piping between the inlet and the outlet of the heat exchanging part A bath hot water supply device characterized by forming a bypass path connected by a branch and providing a flow path switching means for switching a flow path at this branch point. 3. The bath water heater according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the flow path switching means is a flow rate adjusting valve.