JP2014128326A - Bathing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a bathing system which can improve the safety of bathing by reducing the risk of giving a care receiver a discomfort feeling and inflicting burns on him/her with bathing hot water at high temperatures by estimating and detecting temperature distribution generated in the bathing hot water when hot water is supplied and by stirring and controlling the bathing hot water.SOLUTION: A bathing system for carrying a care receiver into a bathtub, bathing him/her, and carrying him/her out of the bathtub using mounting means on which he/she is mounted includes: hot water supply temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of hot water supplied into the bathtub; bathing hot water temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of bathing hot water in the bathtub; bathing hot water stirring means for stirring the bathing hot water; and a control unit for controlling each means. The control unit determines the necessity of stirring the bathing hot water based on temperature information detected by the hot water supply temperature detecting means and temperature information detected by bathing hot water temperature detecting means, and controls the operation of the bathing hot water stirring means based on the determination.

Description

  The present invention relates to a bathing system that allows a person who is physically handicapped or the like to enter and leave a bathtub.

Traditionally, a stretcher carrying a caregiver, such as a bedridden elderly person or a physically handicapped person, is transported on a stretcher, laid on the bathtub, and then only the stretcher is moved above the support in the bathtub. A bathing system for nursing care is known in which a bathtub is lifted by an elevator mechanism and a person being assisted is immersed in bath water to bathe. (For example, refer to Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  In the bathing system of Patent Document 1, if the value of the temperature sensor deviates from the value of the set range of the hot water temperature setting device, the prohibiting function is activated, and the raising / lowering mechanism of the bathtub is in a state where the operation is prohibited. A bathing safety mechanism is provided that does not raise the bathtub even when is pressed.

  However, since the temperature sensor is provided at a position slightly below the upper and lower middle position of the bathtub side wall, only the temperature of the lower bath water can be detected. If the hot water has been added, immediately after the hot water supply (additional hot water) or when stirring is insufficient, the above safety mechanism cannot be functioned by accurately detecting the hot water temperature. Had.

On the other hand, in the bathing system of Patent Document 2, the hot water supply operation of the initial hot water and the additional hot water to the bathtub is directly performed via the hot water supply port connected to the hot water supply source, and the temperature of the hot water in the hot water supply pipe is set. The temperature of the hot water (bath water) in the bathtub is detected by a temperature sensor in the bathtub provided at a position slightly below the vertical middle position of the bathtub side wall.

In addition, this bathing system is provided with a jet generating device, connected to a hot water inlet formed on the side wall lower than the lower water level sensor, and a circulation pipe for sucking in hot water, and this circulation pipe is branched into four pipes. The jet nozzles arranged over the branch pipes and the side walls, the air inlets for sending air to the jet nozzles, and the four hot water baths inserted in the middle of the circulation pipe And a jet pump for jetting into the bathtub from the nozzle.

In the conventional bathing system, the jet generating device is operated not only when the jet is discharged to the person being assisted but also when the bath water is stirred.

However, conventionally, the operation of the jet flow generator is not controlled based on the temperature information from the temperature sensor in the pipe and the temperature information from the temperature sensor in the bathtub. If hot water is supplied in a state where the difference between the bath temperature and the bath temperature is large, there is a high possibility that temperature distribution will occur in the bath water in the bathtub.

  On the other hand, when performing hot water supply (additional hot water) operation to add hot water to the bath water to the bath water, the jet flow generator was operated in conjunction with this start operation, but this hot water supply operation was stopped. Then, the jet flow generator also stops at the same time, the bath water is not sufficiently stirred, hot bath water stays in the upper layer, cold bath water stays in the lower layer, and bath temperature distribution occurs. It was. As a result, the person being assisted was immersed in the hot bath water of the upper layer, and there was a risk of causing burns, which had a safety problem.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-305077 JP 2011-62481 A

The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and the temperature distribution generated in the bath water is presumed to be detected at the time of hot water supply, and the bath water is stirred and given a sense of discomfort to the person being assisted, An object of the present invention is to provide a bathing system capable of reducing the risk of causing burns caused by hot bath water and improving safety.

  The invention according to claim 1 is a bathing system in which a person to be assisted is placed in and out of a bathtub using a placing means for placing a person to be assisted such as a physically handicapped person, and hot water is supplied to the bathtub. Hot water supply temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of hot water, bath temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub, bath hot water stirring means for stirring the hot water, and a control unit for controlling each means And the control unit determines whether or not the bath water is required to be stirred based on temperature information detected by the hot water supply temperature detection means and temperature information detected by the bath water temperature detection means. The bathing system is characterized in that the operation of the bath hot water stirring means is controlled based on the above.

  If hot water is supplied with a large difference between the temperature information from the hot water temperature detection means (hot water temperature) and the temperature information from the bath water temperature detection means (bath temperature), the temperature distribution in the bath water in the bathtub Likely to occur. Therefore, in the present invention described in claim 1, when the hot water supply to the bathtub is started, the temperature of the hot water to be supplied and the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub are detected by the hot water temperature detecting means and the bath water temperature detecting means. By examining the difference between the temperature information, the temperature distribution (temperature unevenness) generated in the bath water in the bathtub can be detected immediately before the temperature distribution is generated. For this reason, for example, when the hot water is added immediately after the hot water supply (added hot water) or when the stirring is insufficient, or when hot water is added due to an erroneous operation of the temperature design during the hot water supply (added hot water), the bathing safety mechanism is activated quickly. This increases the accuracy of the safety mechanism and improves safety.

  In addition, if the temperature detection means is provided on the upper layer side and the lower layer side of the bathtub and the detection results of those temperature detection means are examined, the temperature distribution itself generated in the bath water can be directly detected. It takes a certain amount of time from the start of hot water supply until the temperature of the bath water on the upper layer side of the bathtub rises. Therefore, the time required to detect the temperature distribution is increased by the time required for this temperature rise, and the timing for operating the bathing safety mechanism may be delayed. On the other hand, in this invention, the temperature of the hot water to supply hot water is detected directly, and the difference between the hot water temperature and the bath water temperature is seen. Such a measurement is performed for the following reason. That is, based on the hot water supply temperature, it is possible to accurately detect (estimate) the temperature change of the bath water temperature on the upper layer side of the bathtub immediately before the timing at which the temperature change occurs. In the present invention, paying attention to this, the temperature of hot water to be supplied is directly detected. Thereby, the hot water temperature distribution that is likely to occur in the future can be estimated and detected with high accuracy prior to the occurrence of the temperature distribution at the start of hot water supply, and as a result, the bathing safety mechanism can be operated quickly.

  Further, in general, in a bathing system, it is inevitable that the water level of the bathtub is greatly different between a state where the bather is bathing and a state where the bather is not bathing. On the other hand, when the bath temperature detecting means is provided on the upper layer side and the lower layer side of the bathtub, the bath temperature detecting means on the upper layer side is arranged at a position on the upper layer side when the bather is not taking a bath. Is done. Therefore, when the water level fluctuates due to bathing by the bather, the position of the bath temperature detecting means on the upper layer side is relatively displaced from the upper layer to the middle layer of the bathtub.

However, this makes it impossible to accurately detect the bath water temperature on the upper layer side, and in addition to that, the time required for detecting the temperature distribution of the bath water described above becomes longer, and the temperature distribution is detected with high accuracy. You can't do that either. On the other hand, in the present invention, the temperature of the hot water to be supplied is directly detected and the difference from the bath water temperature is seen. The distribution can be estimated and detected with high accuracy in advance immediately before the temperature distribution occurs in the bath water.

In addition, the temperature distribution generated in the bath water can be estimated and detected with high accuracy in advance immediately before the temperature distribution occurs in the bath water, and the operation of the bath water stirring means can be immediately controlled, so that a temperature distribution occurs for a long time. There is no concern that the person being assisted will be immersed in the bath water that is present, and that the person being assisted will be uncomfortable.

  In addition, during hot water supply (renewed hot water) operation, the bath water is not sufficiently stirred, hot bath water stays in the upper layer, and cold bath water stays in the lower layer, which may cause a temperature distribution of the bath water. However, the person being assisted remains immersed in the hot bath water of the upper layer, the risk of burns being eliminated, and the safety is excellent.

  Invention of Claim 2 makes the said hot water supply temperature detection means the temperature sensor which detects the temperature of the hot water supplied to the said bathtub, and uses the said hot water temperature detection means as the temperature which detects the bath water temperature in the said bathtub. Based on temperature information of the temperature detected by the hot water supply temperature detection means and the temperature detected by the bath water temperature detection means, the control unit automatically operates the bath water stirring means and starts the stirring operation. It is characterized by that.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, since it is not necessary for the assistant to insert his / her hand into the bath water and to stir the bath water, the burden of bathing assistance work for the assistant can be reduced. In addition, the risk of burns due to forgetting to check the temperature distribution can be avoided.

  Also, even if hot water is added due to a temperature setting error during hot water supply (renewed hot water), the temperature sensor in the hot water supply pipe immediately detects the temperature of the hot water to quickly activate the safety mechanism. It can function properly.

The invention described in claim 3 is characterized in that the bath water temperature detecting means is a temperature sensor for detecting the bath water temperature in the bath, a plurality of the temperature sensors are provided, and the control unit is a temperature detected by each of the plurality of temperature sensors. The bath hot water stirring means is automatically operated based on the temperature information and the stirring operation is started.

According to invention of Claim 3, generation | occurrence | production of the temperature distribution of the bath water in a bathtub can be detected reliably.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the bath temperature detecting means includes at least a temperature sensor provided at or near a position where the temperature of the bath water is highest in the bath, and the temperature of the bath water in the bath. And a temperature sensor provided at a position where the temperature is lowest or a position in the vicinity thereof.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the temperature distribution of the bath water can be detected more quickly and efficiently, and the stirring operation can be started or stopped based on the detection result.

  The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that the control unit performs control so as not to accept an instruction to stop the bath water stirring means while the bath water stirring means is operating.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the bath water agitating means is not stopped in a state where the bath water is not sufficiently stirred due to an operator's operation mistake or the like, the person being assisted has a temperature distribution. It is possible to prevent bathing with bath water.

  The invention described in claim 6 is characterized by comprising notifying means for notifying a state in which the bath water is being stirred by the bath water stirring means.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the notifying operation by the notifying means makes it possible for the assistant to easily recognize that the bath water has a temperature distribution and the bath water is being stirred.

  The invention described in claim 7 is characterized in that the bath agitating means is a jet generating device and / or a bubble generating device provided in the bathtub.

  According to the seventh aspect of the invention, since the bath water stirring operation can be carried out by diverting the jet flow generating device and the bubble generating device provided in advance in the bathing system, it is necessary to newly provide bath hot water stirring means. In addition, the bathing system can be miniaturized and the cost can be reduced.

  In the present invention, the temperature distribution generated in the bath water is estimated and detected at the time of hot water supply by the temperature detection means arranged in the hot water supply pipe and in the bathtub, respectively, and the temperature distribution that can be generated in the bath water is quickly controlled by stirring control. The temperature distribution of the bath water can cause discomfort to the person being assisted, and the hot bath water that has been hot water (increased hot water) can accumulate in the upper layer, causing burns to the person being assisted Can be reduced and safety can be improved.

It is a mimetic diagram of a bathing system concerning a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view of a bathing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram of an operation panel. It is an electrical block diagram of the bathing system which concerns on 1st embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of operation | movement description of a control part. It is a schematic diagram of the bathing system which concerns on 2nd embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The bathing system 1 lays a stretcher 3 with a stretcher 3 on which a bather who is a caretaker lies in a supine posture on a bathtub 4, and connects the stretcher 3 and the bathtub 4 together. 2 is slid using guide rails 6a and 6b in the direction of the support 5 provided in the bathing part 4d of the bathtub 4, and after this movement, the bathtub 4 having hot water supplied into the bathing part 4d is moved up and down. The bather is soaked in hot water by being raised by 8, and bathing is performed. One end of the column 9 is fixed on the base 10, and extends substantially vertically through the center of the bottom wall 4 a of the bathtub 4.

  11 is a jet generating device, a jet pump 11a connected to the hot water inlet 4c of the side wall 4b of the bathtub 4 via a circulation pipe, and a plurality of jet pumps 11a connected to the jet pump 11a via a branch pipe in the embodiment. Four jet nozzles 11b and an air inlet 11c for sending air to each jet nozzle 11b are provided. The bathtub 4 has a hot water supply port 13a for pouring hot water supplied from the hot water supply source 12 into the bathtub 4, and the hot water supply port 13a and the hot water supply source 12 are connected via a hot water supply pipe 13b. In addition, 14 is a drain plug and 15a, 15b is an operation panel. In FIG. 1, the jet nozzle 11b and the air inlet 11c are illustrated as being outside the tank of the bathtub 4, but this illustration clearly shows the jet nozzle 11b and the air inlet 11c. Needless to say, the jet nozzle 11 b and the air inlet 11 c are in the tank of the bathtub 4.

The operation panels 15a and 15b are shown in FIG. 3 as an example of the configuration. The operation panels 15a and 15b shown in FIG. 3 include a power on / off unit 18 for turning on / off the power, a bathing time display unit 19 for displaying bathing time, and an operation for operating hot water supply (including increased hot water). Unit 20, hot water supply temperature display unit 21, raising / lowering / stopping operation unit 22, bathtub 4 operated when raising / lowering or stopping bathtub 4 by driving lifting / lowering mechanism 8 of bathtub 4 A hot water supply temperature display unit 23 for displaying the hot water temperature in the upper layer and the vicinity thereof, a lower layer temperature display unit 24 for displaying the lower temperature of the bathtub 4 and the hot water temperature in the vicinity thereof, and a jet operated when generating a jet in the bathtub 4 The switch part 25 and the alerting | reporting part 26 during stirring which alert | reports that the hot water in the bathtub 4 is stirring are provided with an audio | voice or a display. These are controlled by the control unit 27 built in the operation panels 15a and 15b.

By providing the control unit 27 with a communication function, a remote controller capable of wireless communication with the control unit 27 can be provided so that the control by the control unit 27 described below can be performed by the remote controller. Good.

  In the above configuration, in the bathing system 1, the hot water pipe temperature sensor 16 that detects the temperature of hot water flowing in the hot water pipe 13 b and the side wall 4 b of the bathtub 4, And a bath interior temperature sensor 17 for detecting the temperature of the bath water in the vicinity of the lower layer (hereinafter collectively referred to as the lower layer). The hot water supply pipe temperature sensor 16 and the bathtub lower temperature sensor 17 can be constituted by, for example, a thermistor that detects the temperature of hot water or bath water and converts the detected temperature into an electrical signal. The hot water supply pipe temperature sensor 16 and the bathtub lower temperature 17 are not limited to the thermistor, but detect the temperature of hot water to be supplied or the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub, and an electrical signal corresponding to the detected temperature. Any sensor can be used as long as it can be converted.

  And the bathing system 1 of this embodiment supplies hot water to the bathtub 4 based on the detection output (temperature information of hot water / bath water) from each of the temperature sensor 16 in the hot water supply pipe and the lower temperature sensor 17 in the bathtub. If the temperature difference between the hot water and the hot water in the bathtub 4 is equal to or greater than the set threshold value, the jet flow generator 11 (bath hot water stirring means) is automatically driven and the hot water in the bathtub 4 is transferred from the jet nozzle 11b. By causing the jet to flow toward and stirring the bath water, it is possible to prevent a temperature difference in the bath water between the upper layer and the lower layer of the bathtub 4, and the hot water and bath to be supplied to the bathtub 4. When the temperature difference with the bath water in 4 becomes less than the set threshold value, the jet of the jet flow into the bath water in the bathtub 4 by the jet nozzle 11b is stopped, so that the stirring of the bath water can be stopped. It is characterized by that. In addition, when the temperature difference between the hot water supplied to the bathtub 4 and the hot water in the bathtub 4 exceeds the set threshold value, or conversely, when the temperature difference becomes less than the set threshold value, each event is affected. It is desirable to notify the person being assisted by means of display or voice notification.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the bathing system 1 includes a control unit 27. The control unit 27 includes a hot water supply pipe temperature sensor 16, a bathtub lower temperature sensor 17, a jet flow generator 11, and a stirring notification unit. 26 are connected. Although not shown in the figure, the control unit 27 is also connected to each part of the operation panels 15a and 15b. The control unit 27 performs input processing of operation signals of the operation panels 15a and 15b and displays them on the operation panels 15a and 15b. Signal output processing can be performed.

  The control unit 27 is composed of a microcomputer that executes the flowchart shown in FIG. 5, and the control unit 27 performs a response process to an operation signal input from the operation panels 15a and 15b, or operates the operation panels 15a and 15b. In addition to a program for outputting a display signal to each display unit, a program capable of executing steps n1 to n4 is incorporated.

  The control operation of the control unit 27 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In the following description, the temperature of hot water flowing in the hot water supply pipe 13b detected by the hot water supply pipe temperature sensor 16 is referred to as hot water supply temperature, and the temperature of hot water in the lower part of the bathtub 4 detected by the bathtub lower temperature sensor 17 is determined as the bathtub temperature. This is called the inner and lower temperature.

  The controller 27 stops the jet pump 11a of the jet generating device 11 at step n1. In step n2, the control unit 27 monitors the detection outputs of both the sensors 16 and 17, and when this detection output is input, based on this detection output, the value of the hot water supply temperature minus the bath water lower temperature ( If the (temperature difference) is equal to or larger than the set threshold value, it is determined as YES, the jet pump 11a is operated in step n4, and a jet is generated from the jet nozzle 11b to start stirring of the hot water. The temperature difference is reduced below a set threshold.

  If the value of the hot water supply temperature-the lower temperature in the bath water is less than the set threshold value in step n2, the control unit 27 determines NO and proceeds to step n3. In step n2, the hot water is stirred when the hot water temperature is higher than the lower temperature in the bath water by exceeding the set threshold value. Conversely, the lower temperature in the hot water is higher than the hot water temperature by exceeding the set threshold value. There is a case.

  Therefore, in step n3, it is determined whether or not the bath water lower temperature-hot water supply temperature value is equal to or greater than a set threshold value. If the lower temperature in the hot water is higher than the hot water supply temperature by exceeding the set threshold, it is determined YES in step n3, and in step n4, the jet pump 11a is operated to start the stirring operation as described above. The temperature difference (temperature distribution) of the bath water between the upper layer and the lower layer is reduced. If the control unit 27 determines NO in step n3, the control unit 27 returns to step n1 and repeatedly executes the above steps.

  Thus, by performing control according to the above-described flowchart by the control unit 27, for example, it is not necessary for the bather to operate the jet switch 25 by manual operation to stir the hot water at the time of initial hot water supply. , The number of caregivers is reduced, and bathing assistance can be reduced.

  Note that the setting threshold value in step n2 and the setting threshold value in step n3 may be the same or different. This set threshold value may be determined according to the situation of the bath water such as when hot water is supplied.

  In addition, since the control according to the flowchart is automatically executed, the temperature difference between the hot water in the hot water supply pipe and the bath water in the lower layer of the bathtub is not less than the set threshold without operating the jet nozzle 11b, and the bathtub 4 It is possible to estimate in advance and with high accuracy that hot water is likely to have a large temperature distribution in the bath water at the start of hot water supply. There is no worry of discomfort by dipping the person.

  In addition, when the hot water supply operation unit 20 of the operation panels 15a and 15b is operated to supply hot water (refreshing hot water), the control unit 27 automatically controls the jet flow generating device 11 to keep the hot water temperature in the bathtub 4 constant. Stir bath water by operating. And the control part 27 judges the stirring condition of bath water with the hot water supply piping internal temperature sensor 16 and the bathtub lower temperature sensor 17, and between the hot water supply temperature detected by both the sensors 16 and 17 and the bathtub lower temperature. When the temperature difference converges within a set threshold, for example, 1 ° C., the jet flow generating device 11 is automatically stopped. On the other hand, if the temperature difference generated by the hot water supply (refilled hot water) does not converge within the set threshold value, the control unit 27 instructs the jet flow generating device 11 to stop even if the assistant turns off the jet flow switch 25. Not accepted.

  As a result, during hot water supply (additional hot water), the hot water is not sufficiently stirred and hot bath water stays in the upper layer, and cold bath water stays in the lower layer, which is uncomfortable between the upper and lower layers of the bath water. There is no worry that the temperature difference (temperature distribution) will occur, and the caregiver will remain immersed in the hot bath water of the upper layer, eliminating the risk of burns, and in terms of safety It will be excellent.

  In addition, it is possible to accurately detect and detect the occurrence of the temperature distribution of the hot water with the two sensors, the hot water supply pipe temperature sensor 16 and the bathtub lower temperature sensor 17.

  Even when hot water is added due to an erroneous operation of temperature setting or the like at the time of hot water supply (additional hot water), the temperature of the upper bath water is estimated by the temperature sensor 16 in the hot water supply pipe, and the bathing safety mechanism For example, stopping hot water supply (additional hot water) or lowering the bathtub 4 can be made to function quickly and appropriately.

  In addition, since it is not necessary for the assistant to insert his / her hand into the bath water and to agitate the bath water, it is possible to reduce the burden of bathing assistance work for the assistant. Moreover, the risk of burns due to forgetting to check the hot water temperature distribution can be avoided.

  While the jet nozzle 11b is operating, the control unit 27 may not accept the stop command even if the assistant tries to stop the stirring by operating the jet switch 25. By doing so, the stirring by the jet of the jet nozzle 11b is not stopped when the bath water is not sufficiently stirred due to an operator's operation error or the like, and the person being assisted (the bather) has a temperature distribution. It is possible to prevent bathing with bath water.

  In particular, as described above, when the temperature difference between the hot water temperature and the temperature of the hot water in the lower layer of the bathtub 4 converges within a set threshold value, the jet operation of the jet nozzle 11b is automatically stopped. However, as long as the set threshold value does not converge within 1 ° C. as the first set threshold value, for example, even if the assistant turns off the jet switch 25, the operation of stopping the jet flow generating device 11 is not accepted. The second temperature difference between the hot water temperature detected by the hot water supply pipe temperature sensor 16 and the bathtub lower temperature sensor 17 and the bath water temperature of the lower layer in the bathtub 4 is larger than the first set threshold. When the set threshold value deviates from, for example, 3 ° C., the bath water stirring operation by the jet flow generator 11 may be automatically performed.

  The controller 27 determines that the temperature difference between the hot water temperature and the bath water temperature below the bathtub 4 is out of the first set threshold value or out of the second set threshold value. When the bath water is being stirred by the jet nozzle 11b and there is a temperature difference with the bath water temperature, the notifying unit 26 is operated during stirring to confirm that the bath water is being stirred by the jet nozzle 11b. Notify your caregiver. By this notification, an assistant can easily recognize that the bath water is being stirred.

  The bath hot water agitating means is not limited to the jet nozzle 11b, and for example, a bubble provided with a jet nozzle that discharges a jet flow containing fine bubbles in the bath water in order to give a bather a massage effect. If the generating device (not shown) is equipped, the bath water may be stirred by operating the bubble generating device and generating bubbles in the bath water.

  In this way, it is not necessary to separately provide bath hot water stirring means by diverting the hot water stirring operation by diverting the jet flow generating device or the bubble generating device provided in advance in the bathing system, and the bathing system. Can be reduced in size and cost. Of course, the bath hot water agitation means is not limited to the jet flow generator 11 or the bubble generator, and may be anything as long as it has a function capable of stirring the hot water.

FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 6, the same or equivalent components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description of the components is omitted unless particularly required. In another embodiment, an upper temperature sensor 28 in the bathtub for detecting the temperature of the hot water in the upper layer of the bathtub 4 or in the vicinity of the upper layer is added to the bathtub 4. The bathtub upper temperature sensor 28 is provided on the side where the hot water inlet 13a is provided or on the side wall of the bathtub near the hot water inlet 13a (the side wall facing the side wall where the lower temperature sensor 17 in the bathtub is provided). This makes it possible to quickly detect the temperature of hot water supplied from the hot water supply port 13a and control (start and stop) the operation of the bath water stirring means. In addition, by providing two temperature sensors, an upper temperature sensor 28 in the bathtub and a lower temperature sensor 17 in the bathtub, the temperature and temperature distribution of the bath water can be reduced as compared with the case where only one temperature sensor is provided in the bathtub. It can be detected more accurately.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the lower temperature sensor 17 in the bathtub of the first and second embodiments detects the lower layer temperature of the bath water, but not the lower layer temperature of the bath water, but the bath near the bottom wall or the bottom wall. In addition to the hot water temperature, an intermediate layer between the upper layer and the lower layer of the bath water or in the vicinity of the intermediate layer, or a bath water temperature in the upper layer or near the upper layer may be detected. The attachment position (up / down / left / right position) of the temperature sensor is not limited to these.

  Moreover, the temperature sensor in a bathtub may be set to 3, 4, ..., and these may be arrange | positioned from the upper layer in the bathtub 4 to a lower layer at appropriate intervals. In this case, the detection results output from the plurality of bathtub internal temperature sensors may be simply averaged to obtain the bath temperature in the bathtub 4, and each of the detection results output from the plurality of bathtub internal temperature sensors may be used. It is good also considering the weighted detection result as the bath water temperature in the bathtub 4 after giving the predetermined weight according to an arrangement | positioning location.

  When three or more temperature sensors are used, if the difference between the maximum and minimum bath water values detected by each temperature sensor exceeds the set threshold value, a jet is generated from the jet nozzle to agitate the bath water. It can be configured to stop the agitation when it starts, or conversely when it becomes less than the set threshold.

Also, the position and direction in which the plurality of temperature sensors are attached to the bathtub 4 are not limited to the first and second embodiments. It is desirable that the temperature sensor is disposed at a position where the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub is highest or in the vicinity thereof, and a position where the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub is lowest or in the vicinity thereof.

  The bathing system may have any configuration as long as the person being assisted can be bathed in the bathtub. For example, the bathtub 4 in the first and second embodiments is a liftable bathtub with the support 5 provided in the bath 4d, but the bathtub is a lift with no support 5 in the bath 4d. The bathing system may be a combination of the liftable bathtub and a liftable stretcher capable of lowering and placing the placing portion on which the person being assisted is placed in the liftable bathtub. In addition, the bath may be a non-elevating type fixed tub that does not have the support 5 in the bathing portion 4d, and the fixed tub and the placement portion on which the person being assisted is placed in the fixed tub may be lowered and bathed. It is good also as a bathing system combined with a possible lift type stretcher.

In addition to a bathing system that consists of a hot water tank and a bathtub, and hot water can be transferred from the hot water tank to one direction of the bathtub, this is also applicable to a bathing system that allows hot water to circulate between the hot water tank and the bathtub. The invention is applicable. In this case, the hot water supply temperature detection means can employ a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of hot water supplied from the hot water tank to the bathtub in addition to the temperature sensor that detects the temperature of hot water supplied directly to the bathtub. .

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Bathing system 2 Stretcher 3 Stretcher 4 Bath 11 Jet generation device 11a Jet pump 11b Jet nozzle 13a Hot water supply port 13b Hot water supply piping 16 Temperature sensor 17 Temperature sensor 28 Temperature sensor

Claims (7)

A bathing system for taking caregivers in the bathtub,
Hot water supply temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of hot water supplied to the bathtub;
Bath temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the bath in the bathtub;
Bath hot water stirring means for stirring the bath water,
A control unit for controlling each means,
The control unit determines whether or not the bath water is required to be stirred based on temperature information detected by the hot water supply temperature detection unit and temperature information detected by the bath temperature detection unit, and based on the determination, A bathing system characterized by controlling the operation of the hot water stirring means. The hot water supply temperature detection means is a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of hot water supplied to the bathtub,
The bath temperature detecting means is a temperature sensor for detecting the bath temperature in the bathtub,
The control unit automatically operates the bath water stirring means based on temperature information of the temperature detected by the hot water temperature detection means and temperature detected by the bath water temperature detection means, and starts the stirring operation. The bathing system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bath temperature detecting means is a temperature sensor for detecting the bath temperature in the bathtub,
A plurality of the temperature sensors are provided,
2. The bath according to claim 1, wherein the control unit automatically operates the bath water stirring unit based on temperature information of temperatures detected by the plurality of temperature sensors, and starts a stirring operation. system. The bath temperature detecting means includes at least a temperature sensor provided at a position where the temperature of the bath water is highest in the bathtub or in the vicinity thereof,
The bathing system according to claim 3, further comprising: a temperature sensor provided at a position where the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub is lowest or a position near the position.   5. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the controller performs control so as not to accept an instruction to stop the bath hot water stirring unit while the bath hot water stirring unit is operating. 6. Bathing system as described in.   The bathing system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising notification means for notifying a state in which the bath water is being stirred by the bath water stirring means.   The bathing system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the bath water agitating means is a jet generating device and / or a bubble generating device provided in the bathtub.

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