JP2010002115A - Bath device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To save energy by preventing an unnecessary rise of a level of bathtub water when a deteriorated concentration of silver ions in the bathtub water is restored in a bathtub device comprising a silver ion generator for dissolving the silver ions in hot water/water flowing in a hot water supply circuit, a concentration setting means for setting the amount of the dissolution of the silver ions to the hot water/water by the silver ion generator, a water-refilling monitoring means outputting a water-refilling request signal when a bathtub water level becomes lower than a set water level, and a concentration determination means outputting a concentration deterioration signal when the concentration of the silver ions in the bathtub water is lower than a target concentration, and executing an automatic water-refilling operation to supply the hot water/water to the bathtub from the hot water supply circuit so that the water level reaches a set water level when a water-refilling request signal is generated. <P>SOLUTION: The concentration setting means sets the amount of the dissolution of silver ions by the silver ion generator so that the concentration of the silver ions is adjusted to a concentration higher than the target concentration, when an AND signal of the concentration degradation signal and the water-refilling request signal is generated. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a bath apparatus of a type in which hot water in which silver ions are dissolved is filled in a bathtub, and after the hot water filling, a rehydration operation for automatically compensating for a decrease in the used bathtub water is performed.

There exists what was described in patent document 1 as this kind of bath apparatus.
In this device, a recirculation circuit that circulates between the bathtub and the heat exchanger for reheating, a hot water filling circuit to the bathtub, and a silver ion generator that dissolves silver ions in the hot water flowing through the hot water filling circuit are provided. is doing. The silver ion generator dissolves silver ions in hot water by electrolyzing the silver electrode, and is configured so that the silver ion concentration can be set by adjusting the magnitude of the current supplied to the silver electrode. Yes.
In this case, hot water in which silver ions are dissolved by a silver ion generator is supplied from the hot water circuit to the bathtub, and the hot water can be filled. Water is circulated and tracked, so that the bath water can be automatically kept at the bath set temperature.

On the other hand, the silver ion in the bath water precipitates in contact with the piping wall of the recirculation circuit at the time of chasing and naturally decreases with time, so the silver ion concentration in the bath water gradually decreases. .
In the above conventional system, when the silver ion concentration in the bathtub water decreases, the water replenishment operation for replenishing the bathtub with hot water having a high silver ion concentration from the hot water filling circuit is performed when the bath water is circulated and added in the additional circulation circuit. Thus, the silver ion concentration of the bath water can be recovered to the target concentration.
JP 2006-329527 A

However, in the above conventional one, since hot water with a high silver ion concentration is replenished from the hot water circuit when bath water is chased, the water level of the bath water rises unexpectedly and gives a sense of wasting water due to unnecessary water level rise. There was a problem.
The present invention has been made in view of such points.
“A memorial circuit that circulates between the bathtub and the memorial heat exchanger,
A hot water filling circuit for supplying hot water to the bathtub;
A silver ion generator for dissolving silver ions in hot water flowing through the hot water circuit;
Concentration setting means for adjusting the silver ion concentration of the bath water to a target concentration by setting the amount of silver ions dissolved in hot water by the silver ion generator;
A water replenishment monitoring means for outputting a water replenishment request signal when the bathtub water level detected by the water level sensor falls below the set water level;
A concentration judgment means for outputting a concentration lowering signal when the silver ion concentration of the bath water is lower than the target concentration, and
In the bath device in which an automatic water replenishment operation for supplying hot water until a set water level is reached from the hot water filling circuit to the bathtub when the water replenishment request signal is generated,
When recovering the lowered silver ion concentration of bathtub water, an object is to prevent unnecessary increase in the water level and save energy.

[Invention of Claim 1]
The solution means of the invention according to claim 1 for solving the above-mentioned problem is
“The concentration setting means
When the AND signal of the concentration lowering signal and the water replenishment request signal is generated, the silver ion by the silver ion generator is adjusted so that the silver ion concentration of the hot water flowing through the hot water filling circuit is adjusted to be higher than the target concentration. Set the amount of dissolution.
According to the above solution, when the bathtub water is used and the bathtub water level falls below the set water level, and a supplementary water request signal is output from the supplementary water monitoring means, the hot water is supplied until the set water level is reached from the filling circuit to the bathtub. An automatic water replenishment operation for supplying water is performed.

On the other hand, when the silver ion concentration in the bath water is lowered due to the passage of time or the remedy, and when this falls below the target concentration, a concentration reduction signal is output from the concentration determination means.
When the AND signal of the water replenishment request signal and the concentration lowering signal is generated, the concentration setting means is configured so that the silver ion concentration of hot water flowing through the hot water filling circuit during the automatic water refilling operation is adjusted to be higher than the target concentration. The amount of silver ions dissolved by the silver ion generator is set.
As a result, when the bathtub water level that has fallen below the set water level is restored to the set water level, i.e., in the automatic water replenishment operation, the silver ion concentration is recovered, so the bath water level does not rise unexpectedly, and the unnecessary water level The feeling of wasting water due to the rise can be prevented and energy saving can be achieved.

[Invention of Claim 2]
In the invention according to claim 1,
“Higher than the target concentration is detected by the water level sensor when the refill request signal is output from the amount of silver ions dissolved in all bath water when it is assumed that the target concentration is at the set water level. This is the concentration when the amount of silver ions obtained by subtracting the amount of residual silver ions in the remaining bathtub water stored in the bathtub below the bathtub water level is dissolved in the amount of hot water obtained by subtracting the remaining bathtub water from the total bathtub water. It can be.

  In the bathtub below the bathtub water level detected by the water level sensor when the supplementary water request signal is output from the amount of silver ions dissolved in all bathtub water assuming that the bathtub water at the set water level is at the target concentration The value obtained by subtracting the amount of remaining silver ions in the stored remaining bath water is the amount of water supplemented (the amount obtained by subtracting the remaining bath water from the total bath water, that is, the amount of hot water supplied to the bath after the generation of the refill request signal). This is the total silver ion amount of the silver ion amount necessary for adjusting the hot water to the target concentration and the silver ion amount necessary for concentrating the remaining bathtub water to the target concentration. Therefore, the total amount of silver ions is dissolved in the hot water to be replenished, thereby adjusting the bath water after the replenishment to the target concentration.

[Invention of Claim 3]
In the invention according to claim 2,
“The amount of remaining silver ions is a value obtained by multiplying the total amount of silver ions dissolved in the remaining bath water assuming the target concentration by a predetermined remaining rate Z”.
In this case, since the amount of residual silver ions is obtained by multiplying by a predetermined residual rate Z, a concentration measuring device for measuring the silver ion concentration of the remaining bath water is not necessary, and the bath apparatus is prevented from becoming complicated. be able to.

[Invention of Claim 4]
In the invention according to claim 3,
“A memorial number counting means for counting the number of memorial operations for circulating and heating bath water in the memorial circuit is provided,
The remaining rate Z decreases with an increase in the number of tracking operations counted by the tracking number counting unit, and the number of the tracking operations counted by the tracking number counting unit is determined by the AND signal. It can be reset when it occurs ”.

As described above, the silver ion concentration of bathtub water decreases with an increase in the number of chasing operations.
Therefore, in the invention according to claim 4, the remaining rate Z of silver ions is reduced according to an increase in the number of chasing operations (counted by the chasing time counting means), whereby the remaining bath at the start of water replenishment. The estimated value of the amount of residual silver ions in the water is calculated to a smaller value as the number of chasing operations increases.
Thereby, even if the frequency | count of a chasing operation increases, the silver ion density | concentration of bathtub water can be recovered | restored to target density with high precision.
In addition, when the water replenishment operation for recovering the silver ion concentration in the bath water is executed, that is, when the AND signal is generated, the number of the chasing operations counted by the chasing number counting means is reset, Thereafter, the counting is resumed.

[Invention of Claim 5]
In the invention according to claim 3,
“With a storage time measurement timer that measures the time that the bathtub water is stored in the bathtub,
The remaining rate Z decreases with the elapsed time measured by the storage time measurement timer, and the measurement time of the storage time measurement timer is reset when the AND signal is generated. it can.

As described above, the silver ions in the bath water naturally decrease with time.
Therefore, in the invention according to claim 5, the time during which the bathtub water is stored in the bathtub is measured by the storage time measurement timer, and the remaining rate Z of the silver ions is reduced as the measurement time increases. Thus, the estimated value of the amount of remaining silver ions in the remaining bath water at the start of refilling water is calculated to a smaller value as the bath water storage time in the bath increases.
Thereby, even if the storage time of the bathtub water in a bathtub becomes long, the silver ion concentration of the bathtub water can be recovered to the target concentration with high accuracy.
Further, when the water replenishment operation for recovering the silver ion concentration in the bath water is executed, that is, when the AND signal is generated, the measurement time of the storage time measurement timer is reset, and then the storage time Restart time measurement by the measurement timer.

[Invention of Claim 6]
In the invention according to claim 3,
“Equipped with a bathing number counting means for counting the number of bathers entering and leaving the bathtub,
The remaining rate Z decreases as the number of bathers counted by the bathing number counting means increases, and the number of bathers counted by the bathing number counting means is reset when the AND signal is generated. Can be.
Since the silver ions in the bath water react with the soap adhering to the bather, the silver ion concentration decreases as the number of bathers entering and leaving the bath, that is, the number of bathers counted by the bather number counting means increases. .
Therefore, in the invention according to claim 6, the residual rate Z of silver ions is reduced as the number of bathers increases. Thereby, the estimated value of the amount of remaining silver ions in the remaining bath water at the start of refilling water is calculated to be smaller as the number of bathers increases.
Thereby, even if the number of bathers increases, the silver ion concentration of bathtub water can be recovered to the target concentration with high accuracy.
Further, when the water replenishment operation for recovering the silver ion concentration in the bath water is executed, that is, when the AND signal is generated, the number of bathers counted by the bather number counting means is reset, and thereafter The counting of the number of bathers is resumed.

The present invention has the following specific effects.
In the invention which concerns on Claim 1, since the silver ion density | concentration of bathtub water recovers at the time of the water replenishment operation | movement which recovers the bathtub water level which fell from the setting water level, the hot water with a high silver ion density | concentration is supplied from the hot water filling circuit at the time of bathing of bathtub water Unlike the conventional ones to be replenished, the bath water does not rise unexpectedly. Therefore, there is no inconvenience of giving a sense of wasting water due to an unnecessary rise in water level, and energy saving can be achieved.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the amount of silver ions necessary for adjusting the hot water to be replenished to the target concentration, and the amount of silver ions necessary for concentrating the remaining bath water at the start of the replenishment to the target concentration. The total amount of silver ions is dissolved in the hot water to be replenished. Therefore, the difference between the silver ion concentration of the bath water after completion of replenishment and the target concentration is smaller than when replenishing hot water having a silver ion concentration set to a uniform high concentration.

In the invention according to claim 3, as described above, since a concentration measuring device or the like for measuring the silver ion concentration of the remaining bath water is not necessary, it is possible to prevent the bath apparatus from becoming complicated.
In the invention according to claim 4, as described above, the silver ion concentration of the bath water can be recovered to the target concentration with high accuracy even if the number of the chasing operations is increased.

  In the invention which concerns on Claim 5, as already stated, even if the storage time of the bathtub water in the bathtub becomes long, the silver ion concentration of the bathtub water can be recovered to the target concentration with high accuracy.

  In the invention according to claim 6, as described above, even if the number of bathers increases, the silver ion concentration of the bath water can be recovered to the target concentration with high accuracy.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
"Constitution"
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a bath device according to an embodiment of the present invention, which includes a heat source device (10) for heating and generating hot water, a remote control device (6), and a bathtub (20).
From the heat source machine (10), the forward pipe (12) and the return pipe (13) for tracking the inside of the bathtub (20) are drawn out, and the forward pipe (12) and the return pipe (13) The bathtub metal fitting (5) attached to the side wall (21) and the heat exchanger for remedy (15) in the heat source machine (10) are connected to form a circulator circuit for remedy (B) as a whole. A circulation pump (17), a water flow switch (29), and a bath temperature sensor (28) are disposed in the memory circulation circuit (B).

  When chasing the inside of the bathtub (20), the remedy burner (16) for heating the remedy heat exchanger (15) is combusted and the circulation pump (17) is operated, so that the tub (20 ) The bathtub water stored in) is the bathtub metal fitting (5) → return pipe (13) → circulation pump (17) → water flow switch (29) → bath temperature sensor (28) → heat exchanger for remedy (15) → Heating temperature is raised while circulating in the recirculation circuit (B) connected to the forward pipe (12) → bathtub fitting (5) → bathtub (20).

  From the hot water supply heat exchanger (19) heated by the hot water supply burner (18) of the heat source machine (10), a hot water supply circuit (190) is connected and for hot water filling branched from the hot water supply circuit (190) The branch circuit (3) is connected to the return pipe (13) of the tracking circuit (B). A first transfer circuit that passes from the hot water supply circuit (190) through the hot water filling branch circuit (3) and then flows back through the return pipe (13) of the recirculation circuit (B) to the bathtub (20); Flow from the branch circuit (3) to the return pipe (13) of the circuit for circulation (B) in the forward direction, circulating pump (17) → water flow switch (29) → bath temperature sensor (28) → for memory The hot water filling of both conveyance can be performed using the 2nd conveyance circuit connected with a heat exchanger (15)-> bathtub metal fitting (5). Therefore, in the present embodiment, a hot water filling circuit (A) to the bathtub (20) is configured by the hot water supply circuit (190), the hot water filling branch circuit (3), and the first and second transfer circuits. ing.

  The hot water filling circuit (A) constituting the hot water filling circuit (A) includes, in order from the upstream side, a hot water filling valve (30), a flow control valve (31), a check valve (32), a water amount counter ( 33), a silver ion generator (34), and a water level sensor (35) are provided. The water level sensor (35) is provided in the bathtub (20) that communicates with the hot water filling branch circuit (3) and the hot water filling circuit (A) constituted by the forward pipe (12) and the return pipe (13). This is for detecting the water pressure as the bathtub water level. The flow control valve (31) adjusts the valve opening by a stepping motor or the like.

The silver ion generator (34) energizes a pair of silver electrodes (340) (340) and generates silver ions by electrolysis of the silver electrodes. The concentration of the current supplied to the silver electrodes is set. By adjusting by means (36), the silver ion concentration can be set by adjusting the silver ion generation amount. Specifically, according to Faraday's law, the silver ion generation amount W (g) is
W = 108 It / F
Is required.
Here, I is a current value (ampere), and t is an energization time (second).
Therefore, by supplying a current having a current value I obtained by modifying the above formula to the silver electrode from the concentration setting means (36), the silver ion generation amount can be adjusted to set the silver ion concentration.
Thus, while hot water flowing through the hot water branch circuit (3) passes through the cylindrical body (341) of the silver ion generator (34), silver ions are dissolved in the hot water to adjust the silver ion concentration. Silver ion water having a predetermined silver ion concentration is supplied to the return pipe (13) of the circulation circuit (B) for tracking.
The hot water supply circuit (190) is connected to a shower (41) and a hot water tap (42).

<Remote control device (6)>
The remote control device (6) arranged on the bathroom wall, etc. includes a display screen (61), a power switch (62), a fully automatic operation switch (63), a bath set temperature and a hot water level (specifying matters described above) The UP / DOWN switch (64) for setting etc., and the target to be set by the UP / DOWN switch (64) are the hot water setting set water level HS (the set water level which is the specific matter of the above-mentioned invention) ) Or a bath set temperature D1 is provided with a changeover switch (65). The remote control device (6) and the control device (100) incorporated in the heat source device (10) can perform bidirectional communication.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the bathtub flange (22) is provided with a drain plug operation tool (43) that electrically opens and closes the drain plug (25) of the bathtub bottom wall (23).

<< Operation control action >>
The control device (100) of the heat source device (10) incorporates a microcomputer that executes the control operation shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 2 to 5, and when the power switch (62) is operated, the microcomputer The computer starts the basic control operation of FIG.
First, when the fully automatic operation switch (63) is operated (“Y” in S1), the silver ion water heated to the bath set temperature D1 in the hot water supply heat exchanger (19) is supplied to the bathtub (20). Supplying hot water is started. Therefore, the output of the concentration setting means (36) for setting the amount of silver ions dissolved in hot water by the silver ion generator (34) is applied to the silver ion generator (34).

  When the hot water filling operation is started, first, the circulation pump (17) is operated (S2), and it is determined whether or not the water flow switch (29) has output an ON signal as a water flow detection signal during this operation. (S3). Thereby, it is confirmed whether the bathtub water circulated in the circulation circuit (B) for remedy. When the water flow switch (29) does not output an ON signal as a water flow detection signal ("N" in S3), it is determined that no remaining hot water is stored in the bathtub (20), and 50L hot water filling is executed (S4). More specifically, the concentration setting means (36) supplies a current that can adjust the silver ion concentration of hot water supplied to the bathtub (20) to the target concentration K (in this embodiment, it is set to 100 PPb). Is supplied to the silver ion generator (34), the hot water burner (18) is burned, and the amount of hot water to be measured by the water amount counter (33) (provided in the hot water branch circuit (3)) is Open the water filling valve (30) until 50L is reached. Note that the combustion amount of the hot water supply burner (18) is controlled to a combustion amount at which the hot water at the bath set temperature D1 set by the remote control device (6) can be heated and generated by the hot water supply heat exchanger (19). The bathtub (20) used in the present embodiment is of a size that can be filled to a water level 5 cm higher than the mounting height of the bathtub fitting (5) when the 50 L hot water is filled with no residual water. It is assumed that a bathtub (20) is installed. Therefore, in the state where the 50L hot water filling (S4) is finished, the water level of the bathtub water has reached a higher level than the bathtub metal fitting (5).

  When the 50L hot water filling (S4) is completed, the circulation pump (17) is operated again (S2) to carefully check whether the hot water has been filled up to the water level above the installation height of the bathtub metal fitting (5). Then, it is determined whether or not the water flow switch (29) of the circuit for circulation (B) has output a water flow detection signal (ON signal) (S3). When the water flow switch (29) outputs a water flow detection signal (ON signal) (“Y” in S3), it can be confirmed that the bathtub water level H is equal to or higher than the installation height of the bathtub metal fitting (5).

  Next, continuous hot water filling is started. In this continuous hot water filling, a current having a magnitude capable of generating hot water whose silver ion concentration is adjusted to the target concentration K (100 PPb in the present embodiment) is supplied from the concentration setting means (36) to the silver ion generator (34). And the amount of combustion of the hot water supply burner (18) is set so that hot water of the bath set temperature D1 set by the remote control device (6) is heated and generated. In this state, the hot water filling valve (30) The valve is opened.

  Then, when hot water generated by the hot water supply heat exchanger (19) is supplied from the hot water supply circuit (190) to the hot water branch circuit (3) and flows through the hot water branch circuit (3). The silver ion generator (34) is used to produce silver ion water with a target concentration K, and then the return pipe (13) of the circulation circuit (B) is added at the downstream end of the hot water filling branch circuit (3). The circuit (first transfer circuit) that flows backward and connects to the bathtub (20) and the return pipe (13) of the circulation circuit (B) → circulation pump (17) → water flow switch (29) → heat exchange for addition The vessel (15) is branched to a circuit (second conveyance circuit) connected to the bathtub metal fitting (5), and both conveyance hot water fillings are performed on the bathtub (20) using the first and second conveyance circuits.

Next, it is monitored whether the bathtub water level H detected by the water level sensor (35) rises to the hot water set water level HS set by the remote control device (6) (S7).
When the bathtub water level H rises to the hot water setting water level HS (“Y” in S7), the continuous hot water filling is terminated (S8). Specifically, the hot water filling valve (30) is closed and the hot water supply burner (18) is extinguished. This completes the hot water filling operation.

Next, the heat retaining operation of FIG. 3 starts.
In the warming operation, first, a warming time T0 measured by a timer built in the microcomputer (corresponding to the “reservation time measuring timer”, which is a specific matter of the invention described above), and a memory to be executed during this warming time T0. The number of times N and the number of bathers J are each reset to 0 (S31).

  Next, the bathing monitoring time T1 used for determining the number J of bathers is reset to 0 (S32). Thereafter, when it is determined that the bathtub water level H detected by the water level sensor (35) is not lower than the water level that is lower by the allowable dimension P than the hot water set water level HS set by the remote control device (6) (" N "), that is, if it is determined that refilling the bathtub (20) is unnecessary, if the bathing monitoring time T1 is 10 minutes or less (" N "in S34), the person bathing in the bathtub (20) A bathing detection operation for determining the entrance and exit of the bath is performed (S35). In the present embodiment, the functional unit of the microcomputer that executes the step of S33 for determining whether or not the bathtub water level H is lower than the water level that is lower by the allowable dimension P than the hot water setting water level HS is the invention described above. Corresponds to “replenishment monitoring means” as a specific matter

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the details of the bathing detection operation, and corresponds to “bathing number counting means” which is a specific matter of the invention described above.
If the bathing monitoring time T1 is not 10 minutes (“N” in S51), it is determined whether or not the bather has entered and exited the bathtub (20) (S52). Specifically, when the bather can confirm from the output of the water level sensor (35) that the water level of the bath water has suddenly decreased due to exiting the bathtub (20), that is, when the bathing can be detected (in S52). “Y”) sets the content of the bathing detection flag F to “having bathers” (S53). On the other hand, if the bathing monitoring time T1 has reached 10 minutes in the above-described step of S51, the content of the bathing detection flag F is determined (S54), and if this is “with bathers”, the number of bathers Update processing for increasing J by 1 is performed, bathing monitoring time T1 is reset to 0 (S55), and bathing detection flag F is further reset (S56). On the other hand, when the content of the bathing detection flag F is not “there is a bather” in the step of S54 (“N” in S54), the bathing detection flag F is reset without performing the update process of the number J of bathers ( S56). In this case, only when the bathing monitoring time T1 becomes 10 minutes (“Y” in S51), the value of the number of bathers J is increased by 1, so that the same person repeatedly enters the bathtub (20) within 10 minutes. Even if you go in and out, the number of bathers J does not simply increase. The number J of bathers is managed in consideration of the fact that when the number J of bathers increases, the silver ion concentration in the bathtub water decreases due to the reaction with soap or the like adhering to the bathers. Thereby, the bathing detection operation of FIG. 5 is completed, and then the control is transferred from step S35 to step S33 of FIG.

Next, the description returns to step S34 in FIG.
When the bathing monitoring time T1 exceeds 10 minutes when the step of S34 is executed, the water flow switch disposed in the circulation circuit (B) for determining whether or not the bath water should be replenished is determined. The circulation pump (17) is operated until (29) outputs an ON signal which is a water flow detection signal (S36, S37). Next, when the bath water temperature D0, which is the detection temperature of the bath temperature sensor (28), is lower by 1 ° C. or more than the bath set temperature D1 set by the remote control device (6) (“Y” in S38), Bath water is traced to the bath set temperature D1 (S39). Specifically, the combustor burner (16) is burned while operating the circulation pump (17) until the bath water temperature D0 detected by the bath temperature sensor (28) reaches the bath set temperature D1. At the time of this chasing, the bath water falls on the piping wall of the chasing circulation circuit (B) and precipitates, so the silver ion concentration in the bath water is lowered. Therefore, an update process for increasing the value of the number of remedies N by 1 is executed (S40). Thereafter, control is returned to step S33. In the present embodiment, the functional unit of the microcomputer that executes the step of S40 corresponds to “memorial number counting means” which is a specific matter of the invention described above.

  If it is determined in step S33 that the bathtub water level H detected by the water level sensor (35) has dropped to a water level that requires replenishment (a water level that is lower than the set water level HS by the allowable dimension P) ("Y" in S33) ]) Performs the bathing detection operation described above (S35). Thereafter, an automatic water replenishing operation for supplying hot water to the bathtub (20) is performed to compensate for the drop in the water level of the bathtub water (S41). In the present embodiment, the instruction of the microcomputer that shifts the control from S33 to S35 when the bathtub water level is lowered to a water level that requires refilling corresponds to the “refill water request signal” that is the above-mentioned specific matter of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the automatic water replenishment operation.
First, in order to determine whether or not the silver ion concentration in the bathtub water stored in the bathtub (20) before the refilling is below the allowable range, the residual rate Z of silver ions is obtained.
In the present embodiment, the residual rate Z is
Residual rate Z = 0.9 ^N × 0.97 ^T0 × 0.85 ^M ... I
It is said that.

In the above formula I, N is the number of times of chasing that is the number of chasing operations (updated for each chasing in S40 in FIG. 3), and T0 is the heat retention time (reset to 0 in S31). Yes, J is the number of bathers entering and leaving the bathtub (20) (updated sequentially in S55 of FIG. 5).
As described above, as described above, the remaining rate Z decreases as the number of remedies N and the number J of bathers decrease. Further, when the bath water is allowed to stand, the silver ion concentration naturally decreases with the lapse of time. Therefore, in the formula I, the residual ratio Z is a formula that decreases as the heat retention time T0 increases.

  When it is determined that the residual rate Z is equal to or greater than the allowable value Q (a value at which the silver ion concentration is lower than the target concentration K) (“Y” in S61), the hot water filling circuit (A) to the bathtub (20) The amount of silver ions required to make the ion concentration of hot water supplied to the target concentration K (100 PPb in the present embodiment) set as the supplementary ion amount Y (S62). In the present embodiment, the functional unit of the microcomputer that executes the step of S61 for determining whether or not the remaining rate Z is equal to or greater than the allowable value Q corresponds to the “concentration determination means” that is the specific matter of the invention described above. To do.

  Next, the hot water filling valve (30) is opened and the hot water supply burner (18) is combusted, thereby starting water replenishment to the bathtub (20) (S63). The combustion amount of the hot water supply burner (18) at this time is a combustion amount that can be set to the bath set temperature D1 in which hot water for replenishing the bathtub (20) is set by the remote control device (6). Further, at the time of replenishment, a current that can dissolve the replenishment ion amount Y of silver ions in the hot water supplied to the bathtub (20) is supplied from the concentration setting means (36) to the silver ion generator (34) (S65). At the same time, this water replenishment operation continues until the bath water level H detected by the water level sensor (35) rises to the hot water setting water level HS (the water level set by the remote control device (6)) (S64), and then the hot water burner (18) is extinguished and the hot water filling valve (30) is closed (S66).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S61 that the residual rate Z of silver ions in the bath water at the start of refilling is below the allowable value Q ("N" in S61), the water is stored in the bath (20). In order to recover the silver ion concentration of the bath water being recovered to the target concentration K (100 PPb in the present embodiment), an automatic water replenishment operation using high-concentration silver ion water is executed. In this embodiment, when it is determined that the remaining rate Z of silver ions in the bath water at the start of water replenishment is below the allowable value Q, the microcomputer command to transfer control from S61 to S67 This corresponds to the “density reduction signal”.

  Next, as control for recovering the silver ion concentration of the bath water to the target concentration K, first, a bath water amount V1 that is the amount of remaining bath water stored in the bath (20) is obtained (S67). Specifically: In other words, the memory of the microcomputer incorporated in the control device (100) includes a bath water level H and a bath water amount V1, which is the amount of bath water stored in the bath (20) below the bath water level H. A “water level-water volume table” to be associated in a one-to-one relationship is set. This water level-water volume table is automatically created when the microcomputer in the control device (100) is activated during the test run hot water filling performed during the installation work of the bathtub (20) etc. Yes. However, in the case of a simple rectangular parallelepiped bathtub (20), if the plane area of the bathtub (20) is input with the remote control device (6), the product of the plane area and the detected water level of the water level sensor (35) is calculated. By calculating | requiring, the amount of remaining bathtub water stored in the bathtub (20) below the said water level can be calculated | required.

Therefore, the bathtub water amount V1 corresponding to the bathtub water level H detected by the water level sensor (35) is searched from the water level-water amount table to obtain the bathtub water amount V1 (remaining bathtub water amount).
Next, the residual silver ion amount MS dissolved in the bathtub water having the bathtub water amount V1 is calculated (S68).

Specifically, the bathtub when it is assumed that the silver ion concentration of the remaining bathtub water V1 stored in the bathtub (20) is the target concentration K (which is set to 100 PPb in the present embodiment). The total amount of silver ions MT dissolved in the remaining amount of water V1 is multiplied by the residual rate Z of silver ions to be the residual silver ion amount MS.
Since the total amount of silver ions MT = V1 × K,
Residual silver ion amount MS = Z (V1 × K) II
It becomes. However, K << 1 (100 PPb in this embodiment).
In this case, the residual silver ion amount MS is obtained by multiplying the total amount MT of silver ions dissolved in the bath water amount V1, which is the amount of residual bath water when the target concentration K is assumed, by the silver ion residual rate Z. Therefore, there is no need for a concentration measuring device or the like for measuring the silver ion concentration of the remaining bathtub water, and the hot water filling device can be prevented from becoming complicated.

Next, the replenishment ion amount Y that needs to be replenished to make the total bath water the target concentration K after completion of replenishment is obtained (S69).
The replenishment ion amount Y is the bath water of the total bath water amount V0 (determined from the “water level-water amount table” corresponding to the hot water setting water level HS) when it is assumed that the target concentration K is reached after completion of the water replenishment. Is the value obtained by subtracting the amount of residual silver ions MS from the amount of silver ions dissolved in
Replenishment ion amount Y = V0 × K-MS ... III
From Formula III and Formula II,
Supplementary ion amount Y
= (V0 * K) -Z (V1 * K) IV
It becomes.

Next, after the warming time T0, the number N of remedies, and the number J of bathers are reset to 0 (S70), the water level sensor (35) detects the water level sensor (35) for the silver ions of the supplementary ion amount Y. Silver ion generator so that it can be dissolved in hot water of the amount of water necessary to replenish water from H to the hot water set water level HS ("the amount obtained by subtracting the remaining bath water from the total bath water"). Water in the bathtub (20) is replenished while adjusting the magnitude of the current (high concentration signal) flowing to the silver electrode (340) of (34) with the concentration setting means (36) (S63). The water replenishment amount corresponds to the bathtub water level H detected by the current water level sensor (35), and the water level obtained from the above-mentioned “water level-water amount table” and “water level— It is calculated | required as a difference with the total bathtub water volume V0 calculated | required from the "water volume table".
Thereafter, S64 to S66 described above are executed, and the water replenishment operation for restoring the silver ion concentration of the bath water to the target concentration K (100 PPb in the present embodiment) is completed.
Thus, the automatic water replenishment operation to the bathtub (20) is completed.

In this case, the bathtub water level H detected by the water level sensor (35) is lowered to a water level that is lower than the set water level HS by a permissible dimension P in step S33 in FIG. 3, and silver ions are detected in S61 in FIG. When it is determined that the remaining rate Z of the water is less than the allowable value Q, the steps S67 to S70 are executed to recover the silver ion concentration of the bath water to the target concentration K, and then the steps S63 to S66 are executed. To do. Here, the instruction of the microcomputer to transfer control from S33 to S35 when the bathtub water level is lowered to the water level that requires replenishment corresponds to the “replenishment request signal” that is the specific matter of the invention described above, and the silver ions in the bathtub water. As described above, the microcomputer command that shifts the control from S61 to S67 when it is determined that the residual ratio Z is less than the allowable value Q corresponds to the “concentration reduction signal” that is the specific matter of the invention described above. is there. Therefore, in the present embodiment, when both the “concentration lowering signal” and the “replenishment request signal” are generated, that is, when an AND signal of both signals is generated, the hot water supplied to the bathtub (20) is supplied. The amount of silver ions dissolved by the silver ion generator is adjusted so that the silver ion concentration can be adjusted to be higher than the target concentration K. Thereby, a silver ion density | concentration can be recovered at the time of the water replenishment operation | movement which recovers the bathtub water level lowered from the hot water setting water level HS. Therefore, unlike the above-described conventional case where hot water having a high silver ion concentration is replenished from the hot water circuit when bath water is replenished, the water level of the bath water does not rise unexpectedly. Therefore, there is no inconvenience of giving a sense of wasting water due to an unnecessary rise in water level, and energy saving can be achieved. Further, in the above embodiment, the remaining rate Z of silver ions in the remaining bath water at the start of water replenishment is determined in consideration of the number of replenishments N, the heat retention time T0, and the number J of bathers. Even if the number of times of replenishment N is increased, the silver ion concentration of the bath water can be recovered to the target concentration K with high accuracy.
In the above embodiment, when the bath set temperature D1 set by the remote control device (6) is lower by 1 ° C. or more (“Y” in S38), the bath water is automatically set to the bath set temperature D1. The tracking operation may be performed when the tracking switch (66) provided in the remote control device (6) is manually operated (S39).

Schematic configuration diagram of a bath system including a hot water filling device according to an embodiment of the present invention The flowchart explaining the hot water filling operation | movement with the bath apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The flowchart explaining the heat retention operation | movement by the bath apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The flowchart explaining operation | movement of the water replenishment operation | movement by the bath apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The flowchart explaining the bathing detection operation | movement by the bath apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

(20) ... bathtub
(34) ... Silver ion generator
(35) ... Water level sensor
(340) ... Concentration setting means
(A) ・ ・ ・ Water filling circuit
(B) ... memorial circuit

Claims (6)

A memorial circuit that circulates between the bathtub and the memorial heat exchanger,
A hot water filling circuit for supplying hot water to the bathtub;
A silver ion generator for dissolving silver ions in hot water flowing through the hot water circuit;
Concentration setting means for adjusting the silver ion concentration of the bath water to a target concentration by setting the amount of silver ions dissolved in hot water by the silver ion generator;
A water replenishment monitoring means for outputting a water replenishment request signal when the bathtub water level detected by the water level sensor falls below the set water level;
A concentration judgment means for outputting a concentration lowering signal when the silver ion concentration of the bath water is lower than the target concentration, and
When the water replenishment request signal is generated, in a bath apparatus in which an automatic water replenishment operation for supplying hot water until a set water level is reached from the hot water filling circuit to the bathtub is performed.
The concentration setting means includes:
When the AND signal of the concentration lowering signal and the water replenishment request signal is generated, the silver ion by the silver ion generator is adjusted so that the silver ion concentration of the hot water flowing through the hot water filling circuit is adjusted to be higher than the target concentration. Bath equipment to set the amount of dissolution. The bath apparatus according to claim 1,
The concentration higher than the target concentration is detected by the water level sensor at the time of output of the refilling request signal from the amount of silver ions dissolved in all the bath water when it is assumed that the target concentration is reached at the set water level. The bath apparatus is the concentration when the amount of silver ions obtained by subtracting the amount of remaining silver ions in the remaining bathtub water stored in the bathtub below the bath water level is dissolved in the amount of hot water obtained by subtracting the remaining bathtub water from the total bathtub water. . In the bath apparatus according to claim 2,
The remaining silver ion amount is a bath apparatus that is a value obtained by multiplying a total remaining amount of silver ions dissolved in the remaining bath water assuming the target concentration by a predetermined remaining rate Z. In the bath apparatus according to claim 3,
A memorial number counting means for counting the number of memorial operations for circulatingly heating the bathtub water in the memorial circuit is provided,
The remaining rate Z decreases with an increase in the number of tracking operations counted by the tracking number counting unit, and the number of the tracking operations counted by the tracking number counting unit is determined by the AND signal. A bath device that resets when it occurs. In the bath apparatus according to claim 3,
A storage time measurement timer for measuring the time that the bathtub water is stored in the bathtub,
The remaining rate Z decreases with the elapsed time measured by the storage time measurement timer, and the measurement time of the storage time measurement timer is reset when the AND signal is generated. In the bath apparatus according to claim 3,
Bathing number counting means for counting the number of bathers entering and leaving the bathtub,
The remaining rate Z decreases as the number of bathers counted by the bathing number counting means increases, and the number of bathers counted by the bathing number counting means is reset when the AND signal is generated. , Bath equipment.

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