JP2011254889A - Electric kettle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electric kettle which suppresses attaching of water to a circuit board for driving an acoustic alarm while using a stop function of heater heating by a mechanical boiling detection switch, and a generation function of an alarming sound by the electrically driven acoustic alarm.SOLUTION: The electric kettle has a function for starting power distribution to a heater 8 in a kettle body 1, and a function for stopping power distribution according to steam generated by boiling, and includes: a boiling detection switch 18 arranged above a handle 2 of the kettle body; and a steam passage 16 for introducing steam generated in the kettle body, causing the steam to make contact with the boiling detection switch, and discharging the steam to the outside. The electric kettle includes: the acoustic alarm 24; and the circuit board 25 having a driving circuit for driving the acoustic alarm according to stoppage of power distribution of the boiling detection switch. The circuit board is arranged separately from the steam passage inside the handle, and is stored in a separated space 26 provided inside the handle.

Description

  The present invention relates to an electric kettle in which a boiling detection switch is disposed in a handle of a kettle main body, and configured to detect boiling by steam generated by boiling and stop heating by a heater.

  The electric kettle is configured such that a kettle body provided with a heater is mounted on a power supply base, receives supply of electric power, and heats water in an inner container of the kettle body by the heater. Hot water obtained by heating can be taken out by lifting the kettle body from the power supply stand. Therefore, unlike a so-called “kettle” in which an electric kettle is simply heated by a stove, it can be easily heated by connection to a power source and can be easily handled as a portable type.

  In order to make such an electric kettle more convenient, a function of detecting boiling and terminating heating by the heater is provided. The detection of boiling is performed by guiding the vapor generated by boiling to a boiling detection switch composed of a bimetallic temperature switch and operating the bimetal with the heat. By operating the boiling detection switch, it is possible to detect boiling and cut off the current to finish heating. That is, the boiling state in which steam is actually generated can be reliably detected with a simple configuration, heating by the heater can be terminated, and unnecessary electric energy consumption can be suppressed.

  In this type of electric kettle, the boiling detection switch is configured with a switch operating member for starting heating. By switching the switch operation member from the standby position to the energized position, the bimetal state of the boiling detection switch is operated and energization is performed. When the boiling is detected and the current is interrupted, the switch operation member returns to the standby posture by switching the boiling detection switch to the interrupted state.

  Therefore, the user can know the end of heating by the return operation of the switch operating member to the standby position or the state of the steam being discharged from the steam port. On the other hand, in order to make it easier to recognize the boiling state, a lamp display is performed during energization, the lamp display disappears after the energization is completed, and the completion of heating can be visually confirmed.

  However, in the configuration of visually recognizing, when the user is away from the electric kettle, particularly when the user is visually blocked from the electric kettle, the completion of heating cannot be recognized. Therefore, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses that the completion of heating can be audibly recognized.

  The electric kettle disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a steam path that guides steam generated from boiling water generated by heating to a steam detection mechanism, and stops heating when steam is detected by the steam detection mechanism. The first sound generation mechanism that generates sound by the steam guided to the steam or the steam flowing in the steam path, or the second sound generation that generates sound by the mechanical behavior of the steam detection mechanism when the steam reaches the steam detection mechanism Provide mechanism.

JP 2010-82384 A

  In the case of the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1, sound is generated acoustically or mechanically directly by the flow or temperature of steam. Therefore, in order to obtain a sufficient sound volume, a sufficient amount of steam is required, and steam must be supplied to the sound generating mechanism without ending heating for a certain period after boiling. Therefore, in spite of the boiling state, the heater is energized and wasteful electric energy is consumed.

  On the other hand, it is conceivable to generate a notification sound by an electrically driven sound alarm, for example, a buzzer. Thereby, the completion of heating can be audibly recognized without depending on the steam caused by boiling.

  However, in order to use a buzzer, it is necessary to mount a circuit board provided with an electric drive circuit. In that case, since a buzzer is used together with the boiling detection switch, the presence of a steam path for operating the boiling detection switch becomes an obstacle. That is, water caused by steam may adhere to the circuit board, and it must be avoided that it causes problems such as short circuit and tracking. In the conventional electric kettle, electrical components such as a boiling detection switch, a heater, and an air detection switch are used, but the switch is a mechanical type using a bimetal, and no circuit board is mounted. Therefore, a structure for avoiding water from adhering to the circuit board is not adopted.

  Accordingly, in order to use both the heater heating stop function by the mechanical boiling detection switch and the function of generating the notification sound by the electrically driven acoustic alarm, the present invention provides a circuit board that drives the acoustic alarm with water. An object of the present invention is to provide an electric kettle with reduced risk of adhesion.

  The electric kettle of the present invention includes a kettle body having an inner container for storing water, a heater disposed in the kettle body so as to heat the inner container, a handle provided on an outer shell of the kettle body, A lid that seals the opening of the kettle body including the opening of the inner container so as to be openable and closable, a function that enables an operation to start energization of the heater, and energization is stopped according to steam generated by boiling A boiling detection switch disposed at the upper part of the handle, and a steam passage for introducing steam generated in the kettle body and bringing it into contact with the boiling detection switch and then discharging it to the outside. .

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an electric kettle according to the present invention is provided with an electrically driven sound alarm and an alarm drive circuit for driving the sound alarm in response to a stop of energization by the boiling detection switch. A circuit board, and the circuit board is disposed in the handle below the boiling detection switch so as to be separated from the vapor passage, and is accommodated in an isolation space provided in the handle. It is characterized by.

  According to the above configuration, it is possible to audibly recognize the completion of heating without depending on steam due to boiling, and the circuit board provided with the alarm driving circuit for driving the acoustic alarm is a handle. Since it is accommodated in the isolation space formed in the interior, the possibility of water adhering to the circuit board is reduced. Thereby, it becomes easy to coexist the heater heating stop function by the mechanical boiling detection switch and the notification sound generating function by the sound alarm.

The front view which shows the external appearance of the electric kettle in embodiment of this invention Cross section of the electric kettle Sectional drawing which expands and shows the part of the handle 2 in FIG. 2 of the electric kettle Circuit diagram showing energization control circuit for controlling the operation of the electric kettle A circuit diagram showing a buzzer driving circuit constituting a part of the energization control circuit

  The electric kettle of the present invention can take the following aspects based on the above configuration.

  That is, the isolation space is configured by a concave-shaped substrate case formed by the inner wall surface of the handle and a substrate cover that covers an open surface of the substrate case, and the circuit board is fixed to the substrate case by the substrate cover. Can be configured. As a result, the substrate cover serves as both the formation of the isolation space and the fixing of the circuit board, so that the circuit board can be mounted in a narrow space in the handle with a simple structure.

  The boiling detection switch has a switch operation member for operating from the outside, the switch operation member is disposed in an operation hole provided in the handle, and an open end of a wall forming the substrate case is In the horizontal direction, it can be configured to protrude outward from the peripheral edge of the operation hole. Thereby, a possibility that water may adhere to a circuit board can be reduced more reliably.

  In addition, the alarm drive circuit is connected in parallel with the heater between the boiling detection switch and the heater, and a capacitor charged during energization of the heater and with the energization stop by the boiling detection switch And a control circuit that forms a discharge path for discharging the charge charged in the capacitor via the acoustic alarm. As a result, even if energization of the heater is stopped immediately after boiling, it is possible to realize the notification sound by the sound notification device with a sufficient sound volume with a simple circuit configuration and avoid unnecessary consumption of electrical energy.

  Hereinafter, an electric kettle according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a front view showing an external appearance of an electric kettle in an embodiment of the present invention. This electric kettle is mounted with a kettle body 1, a handle 2 provided on the outer shell of the kettle body 1, a lid 3 for closing the opening of the upper portion of the kettle body 1 so that it can be opened and closed, and the kettle body 1. The power supply stand 4 is provided. A hot water supply port 5 is provided at the top of the kettle body 1.

  The internal structure of this electric kettle is shown in FIG. The kettle body 1 is configured by housing a metal inner container 6 made of stainless steel or the like in a resin outer case 7. A heater 8 is disposed below the kettle body 1 in contact with the inner container 6, and water stored in the inner container 6 can be heated by the heater 8 to perform boiling. The lid 3 has a pouring path 9 for pouring the content liquid toward the front upper end of the kettle body 1, an opening / closing mechanism 10 for opening and closing the pouring path 9, and a water stop function at the time of falling that allows steam to escape to the outside. A lid steam passage 11 is provided.

  The content liquid can be poured out only when the inner container 6 is closed by the lid 3 and the pouring path 9 provided in the lid 3 is opened by the opening / closing mechanism 10. Therefore, even if the kettle body 1 falls during non-pouring, including when boiling, the outflow of the content liquid through the pour channel 9 can be prevented. Further, the steam is discharged from a steam discharge port 12 at the rear of the lid body 3 through a lid steam passage 11 provided in the lid body 3 through a predetermined path. The lid steam passage 11 is always open to prevent the generated steam from being discharged from the steam outlet 12 of the lid 3 to the outside, not only during boiling, but also from rising the pressure in the kettle body 1. To do.

  The steam discharge port 12 is provided with a predetermined safe position, specifically, a hot water supply operation unit 13 from the outside of the lid 3 of the opening / closing mechanism 10 and an external operation unit of the attachment / detachment mechanism 14 from the outside of the lid 3. It is in the position away from the position and can prevent the danger that steam is released from the hot water supply port 5 of the kettle main body 1 without limitation. Further, the water stop function at the time of the fall, that is, the water stop valve 15 at the time of the fall provided in the lid steam passage 11 moves to a position where the lid steam passage 11 is closed in response to the fall of the kettle body 1. With this water stop function, even if the kettle main body 1 falls, the content liquid can be prevented from flowing out through the lid steam passage 11.

  In the upper part of the handle 2, a steam passage 16 is provided for introducing and discharging steam generated in the kettle body 1 into the handle 2. The function and the range of the function of discharging the steam generated from the kettle body 1 when boiling water through the steam discharge port 12 of the lid 3 are limited. Therefore, a part of the steam generated in the kettle body 1 can be caused to flow from the kettle body 1 side to the steam passage 16 on the handle 2 side and discharged by the steam pressure generated by limiting the release to the outside. . Thus, the detection chamber 17 is branched from the middle of the steam passage 16 so that the steam flowing into the detection chamber 17 contacts the boiling detection switch 18.

  The kettle body 1 has a stationary surface 19 on the bottom surface of the bottom, and is placed on the power supply table 4 by the stationary surface 19. At that time, the internal power supply device 21 of the kettle body 1 is connected to the external power supply device 20 provided on the power supply table 4, and power is supplied from the household power supply connected to the power supply table 4. After the kettle is completed, the kettle body 1 can be removed from the power supply stand 4 and carried by the handle 2, placed alone at a required position, and used repeatedly for pouring on the spot.

  Hereinafter, a structure related to the boiling detection switch 18 and its operation will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the handle 2 in FIG. At the branch point from the steam passage 16 to the detection chamber 17, the inflow region of the steam into the detection chamber 17 is restricted, and an appropriate amount of inflow flows from the offset range. It is possible to return the steam to the boiling detection switch 18 with good renewability.

  The boiling detection switch 18 is built in the upper part of the handle 2 as a sensor unit adjacent to the detection chamber 17. The boiling detection switch 18 is constituted by a bimetal switch, and performs boiling detection based on the steam temperature and power-off operation associated therewith. When the boiling detection switch 18 detects boiling, the power supply to the heater 8 is cut off, so that heating can be stopped without special control and electrical equipment on the lid 3 side.

  The handle 2 is provided with an operation hole 22, and a switch operation member 23 is disposed in the operation hole 22. The switch operation member 23 is a member that engages with the boiling detection switch 18 and enables the boiling detection switch 18 to be operated from the outside. That is, by pressing the switch operating member 23 in a state where the boiling detection switch 18 cuts off the power supply to the heater 8, the bimetal is displaced, and the boiling detection switch 18 is operated to turn on the power supply to the heater 8. The The posture is maintained during energization, the bimetal operates according to the temperature rise by the steam generated in the kettle body 1, and the boiling detection switch 18 returns to the posture in which the energization is turned off. Accordingly, the switch operation member 23 also returns to the original state.

  In the electric kettle of the present embodiment, a buzzer 24 is arranged inside the handle 2. The buzzer 24 is driven according to the energization stop operation by the boiling detection switch 18 to generate a notification sound, and the heating completion is acoustically notified. The buzzer 24 may be replaced with any other form as long as it is an electrically driven sound alarm. A buzzer driving circuit for driving the buzzer 24 is provided on a circuit board 25 disposed inside the handle 2.

  In order to use the boiling detection switch 18 as in the present embodiment, the steam passage 16 is necessary, and when an electrically driven sound alarm such as the buzzer 24 is employed, the circuit board 25 is used. There is a risk that water may adhere and cause problems such as short circuits and tracking. Therefore, a structure for preventing contact of water droplets with the circuit board 25 is necessary.

  Therefore, the circuit board 25 and the buzzer 24 are arranged at positions separated from the steam passage 16 inside the handle 2. However, the circuit board 25 is positioned below the boiling detection switch 18. Since a gap is necessary between the switch operation member 23 and the operation hole 22 due to the structure and water may enter due to misuse or the like, the circuit board 25 is an isolation space formed inside the handle 2. 26. Thereby, for example, even when water enters from the operation hole 22 in the upper part of the handle 2, it is possible to avoid the water from adhering to the circuit board 25.

  The isolation space 26 includes a concave substrate case 27 formed by the inner wall surface of the handle 2 and a substrate cover 28 that covers the open surface of the substrate case 27. A substrate fixing boss 28a is formed inside the substrate cover 28, and the circuit board 25 is fixed to a substrate case 27 integral with the handle 2 by the substrate cover 28 via the substrate fixing boss 28a. The inside of the handle 2 is covered with a handle cover 2a, and the substrate case 27, the buzzer 24, and the like are accommodated in the handle cover 2a. In the handle cover 2 a at the lower end of the handle 2, a drain hole 29 is provided at a position corresponding to the discharge portion of the steam passage 16.

  The open end of the wall forming the substrate case 27 protrudes outward from the peripheral edge of the operation hole 22 in the horizontal direction. Therefore, the wall of the substrate case 27 serves as a bag when water enters from the gap between the switch operation member 23 and the operation hole 22.

  FIG. 4 shows a configuration of an energization control circuit that controls the operation of the electric kettle in the present embodiment. The left side shows a power supply base circuit 4 a in the power supply base 4, and the right side shows a kettle main body circuit 1 a in the kettle main body 1. The AC power supply 30 is connected to the external power supply device 20 via the power supply fuse 31 in the power supply stand 4. In a state where the kettle body 1 is placed on the power supply base 4, the external power supply device 20 is connected to the internal power supply device 21 of the kettle body 1.

  One terminal of the internal power supply device 21 is connected to one end of the heater 8 through the air detection switch 32, the temperature fuse 33, and the boiling detection switch 18. The other terminal of the internal power supply device 21 is connected to the other end of the heater 8 via an emptying detection switch 32. A neon lamp 34 is connected between the boiling detection switch 18 and the heater 8 through the protective resistor 35 in parallel with the heater 8. A buzzer circuit 36 is further connected in parallel with the heater 8 between the boiling detection switch 18 and the heater 8. The buzzer circuit 36 means a circuit including the buzzer driving circuit and the buzzer 24 provided on the circuit board 25.

  The air blow detection switch 32 is a bimetal switch and is normally in an on state. However, the air blow detection switch 32 is turned off due to an abnormal temperature rise when air blow occurs, and cuts off the power supply. By energizing the boiling detection switch 18 via the switch operation member 23, energization of the heater 8 is started. At the same time, the neon lamp 34 is turned on, and it can be visually confirmed that power supply, that is, heating is being performed.

  The buzzer circuit 36 includes a capacitor charged during energization of the heater 8 and a control circuit. The control circuit forms a discharge path for discharging the charge charged in the capacitor via the buzzer 24 when the energization is stopped by the boiling detection switch 18. Thereby, the buzzer 24 is driven.

  When the boiling detection switch 18 turns off in response to boiling, the energization of the heater 8 is stopped. Along with this, the neon lamp 34 is turned off, and it can be visually confirmed that the heating is finished by boiling. At the same time, in the buzzer circuit 36, the buzzer 24 is driven, and the boiling can be audibly recognized. Therefore, it is possible to recognize boiling even at a remote place or a place where the kettle is not visible, and the convenience for the user is improved.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of a buzzer driving circuit. A predetermined power supply voltage is generated from the AC 100 V supplied from the power supply by the power supply circuit 40 and supplied to the control IC 41, the first capacitor 42, and the second capacitor 43. While the boiling detection switch 18 is on, the first and second capacitors 42 and 43 are charged.

  The control IC 41 is supplied with a predetermined power supply voltage from the power supply circuit 40 during energization, and is supplied with the predetermined power supply voltage for a certain period of time by the charge charged in the first capacitor 42 after the energization is stopped. The control IC 41 forms a discharge path for discharging the charge charged in the second capacitor 43 via the buzzer 24 when the zero cross of the power supply circuit 40 is detected. As a result, the buzzer 24 is driven for a certain period during which the second capacitor 43 is discharged, and a notification sound is generated.

  According to this circuit, after the energization to the heater 8 is stopped by the boiling detection switch 18 according to the boiling, the buzzer 24 can be reliably driven for a certain period. Therefore, even if the energization of the heater is stopped immediately after boiling, the sound alarm can be generated by the sound alarm with a sufficient volume, and wasteful electric energy consumption of the heater energization can be avoided.

  As described above, the electric kettle of the present embodiment uses a configuration in which the steam passage 16 is necessary to use the boiling detection switch 18 that operates with steam, and also uses an electrically driven acoustic alarm device such as the buzzer 24. Even so, the contact of water droplets with the circuit board 25 can be prevented. Thereby, the structure which generate | occur | produces an alerting | reporting sound with the acoustic alarm device driven electrically can be employ | adopted, and it can be made auditorily recognizable for completion of heating by sufficient volume, without depending on the vapor | steam by boiling. .

  The electric kettle of the present invention can improve convenience by coexisting a heater heating stop function by a mechanical boiling detection switch and an alarm sound generating function by an electrically driven acoustic alarm. It is useful as a portable electric kettle.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Kettle body 2 Handle 2a Handle cover 3 Cover body 4 Power supply stand 5 Hot water supply port 6 Inner container 8 Heater 11 Cover steam passage 12 Steam discharge port 16 Steam passage 17 Detection chamber 18 Boiling detection switch 20 External power supply device 21 Internal power supply device 22 Operation Hole 23 Switch operation member 24 Buzzer 25 Circuit board 26 Isolation space 27 Substrate case 28 Substrate cover 29 Water drain hole 30 AC power supply 32 Airing detection switch 34 Neon lamp 36 Buzzer circuit 41 Control IC
42, 43 capacitors

Claims (4)

A kettle body having an inner container for storing water;
A heater disposed in the kettle body to heat the inner container;
A handle provided on the outer shell of the kettle body;
A lid for opening and closing the opening of the kettle body including the opening of the inner container; and
A boiling detection switch disposed at the upper part of the handle, having a function of enabling an operation to start energization of the heater, and a function of stopping energization according to steam generated by boiling;
In an electric kettle comprising a steam passage for introducing steam generated in the kettle body and bringing it into contact with the boiling detection switch and then discharging it to the outside,
An electrically driven acoustic alarm device, and a circuit board provided with an alarm device driving circuit for driving the acoustic alarm device in response to stopping of energization by the boiling detection switch,
The circuit board is disposed inside the handle below the boiling detection switch and spaced from the vapor passage, and is accommodated in an isolation space provided inside the handle. kettle.   The isolation space includes a substrate case having a concave shape formed by an inner wall surface of the handle and a substrate cover that covers an open surface of the substrate case, and the circuit board is fixed to the substrate case by the substrate cover. The electric kettle according to claim 1.   The boiling detection switch has a switch operation member for operating from the outside, the switch operation member is disposed in an operation hole provided in the handle, and an open end of a wall forming the substrate case is horizontal. The electric kettle according to claim 1, wherein the electric kettle projects outward from the periphery of the operation hole in the direction.   The alarm drive circuit is connected in parallel with the heater between the boiling detection switch and the heater, and is charged when the heater is energized, and when the energization is stopped by the boiling detection switch, the capacitor The electric kettle according to claim 1, further comprising: a control circuit that forms a discharge path that discharges the electric charge charged in the battery via the acoustic alarm.

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