JP2015105516A - Water cock device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a water cock device capable of discharging water by switching between manual water discharge and automatic water discharge, without providing a heater for the automatic water discharge.SOLUTION: A water cock device comprises: a water discharge part having a water discharge port; a manual operation part capable of operating water discharge and water cutoff of the water discharge port; a hot water-water mixing valve for mixing hot water with water; a human body detection sensor for detecting an object of a water discharge area of the water discharge port; a flow sensor provided in a manual flow passage between the manual flow passage dischargeable by the manual operation and an automatic flow passage dischargeable by a solenoid valve which are separated, on the secondary side of the hot water-water mixing valve; and a control part for controlling the water discharge and the water cutoff of the water discharge port, by operating the solenoid valve for opening-closing based on a human body detection signal from the human body detection sensor. The control part puts the solenoid valve in a forced closing valve state even when receiving the human body detection signal from the human body detection sensor in a case of receiving a flow detection signal from the flow sensor.

Description

  The present invention relates to a faucet device.

Conventionally, as a faucet device, a faucet device (for example, Patent Document 1) that discharges and stops water by operating an operation lever and an on-off valve that is opened and closed based on a detection signal of a human body detection sensor has been used. Yes.
The faucet device described in Patent Document 1 includes an object such as a manual water discharge performed through a hot water mixing valve by manually moving a lever or the like for adjusting a discharge water amount, and a hand held under the water discharge port. An automatic faucet is described which is performed by controlling the solenoid valve to open in response to the human body detecting sensor detecting this. Moreover, the faucet device described in Patent Document 1 is provided with a flow sensor in the first pipe on the manual side, and when the flow sensor detects the flow of hot water in the first pipe, control not to automatically discharge water is performed. .

JP 2013-7245 A

  However, in the faucet device described in Patent Document 1, manual water discharge and automatic water discharge can be automatically switched by the flow sensor. However, in the case of automatic water discharge, water is heated on a different path from the hot water mixing valve. A heater is required and the structure is complicated.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a faucet device capable of switching between manual water discharge and automatic water discharge without providing a heater for automatic water discharge. is there.

  One aspect of the present invention includes a water discharge unit having a water discharge port, a manual operation unit capable of operating water discharge and water stop of the water discharge port, a hot water mixing valve for mixing hot water and water, and a water discharge area of the water discharge port. The human body detection sensor unit for detecting the object of the water, the secondary side of the hot and cold water mixing valve, the manual flow channel that can be discharged by the manual operation unit, and the other automatic flow channel that can be discharged by the electromagnetic valve Control of opening and closing the electromagnetic valve based on a flow sensor unit provided in the manual flow channel and a human body detection signal from the human body detection sensor unit to control water discharge and water stop at the water discharge port. And when the flow detection signal is received from the flow sensor unit, the control unit forcibly closes the electromagnetic valve even when the human body detection signal is received from the human body detection sensor unit. A faucet device characterized by having a state.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the secondary side of the mixing valve is branched, and one is a manual channel that can be discharged by a manual operation unit and the other is an automatic channel that can be discharged by an electromagnetic valve. Thereby, the hot and cold water mixed by the hot and cold water mixing valve can be discharged into either the manual channel or the automatic channel. Therefore, it is possible to switch between manual water discharge and automatic water discharge without providing a heater for automatic water discharge.

It is a figure showing typically faucet device 1 in an embodiment of the present invention. It is the figure which showed the internal structure of the faucet apparatus 1 in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the flowchart of operation | movement of the faucet apparatus 1 in embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, the structure of the faucet device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an appearance of a faucet device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and shows an appearance of only a portion that can be visually recognized by a user during normal use. FIG. 2 is an explanatory view illustrating the function of the faucet device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
The faucet device 1 is installed in a bathroom vanity, a sink in a kitchen, or the like, and discharges water according to a user's operation. The faucet device 1 of the present embodiment mixes hot water supplied from a hot water supply source (not shown) and water supplied from a water supply source (not shown), and uses a lever handle 11a of one lever handle portion 11 to mix. This is a so-called single lever type hot and cold water mixing faucet device that can discharge and stop hot water whose flow rate and temperature are adjusted by operating from the water outlet 19 of the water discharger 18.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the faucet device 1 includes a water discharge portion 18 having a water discharge port 19 at the tip, a faucet body portion 12, a lever handle portion 11 on the upper portion, a manual flow path 4, The automatic flow path 5, the electromagnetic valve 7, the flow sensor 8, the human body detection sensor 9, and the control unit 50 are included.

The faucet body 12 contains a hot water / water mixing valve 20 therein, and water and hot water are supplied to the hot water / water mixing valve 20 through a water supply channel 23 and a hot water supply channel 24.
The hot water mixing valve 20 includes a water inflow hole 14, a hot water inflow hole 15, a manual corresponding outflow hole 16, and an automatic corresponding outflow hole 17.
In the hot water mixing valve 20, water flows in when the water inflow hole 14 is connected to the water supply path 23, and hot water flows in when the hot water inflow hole 15 is connected to the hot water supply path 24. The hot and cold water mixing valve 20 mixes the water and hot water that have flowed in according to the operation of the lever handle portion 11. Thus, hot water corresponding to the target temperature is obtained by mixing water and hot water.
The operation state of the hot water / mixing valve 20 is changed by an operation of a lever handle 11a described later, and the mixing ratio of the water from the water supply passage 23 and the hot water from the hot water supply passage 24 and the flow rates thereof are adjusted.
Further, the hot / cold water mixing valve 20 causes the hot water obtained as described above to flow out from the manual corresponding outflow hole 16 and the automatic corresponding outflow hole 17. The manual corresponding outflow hole 16 is connected to the manual flow path 4, and the automatic corresponding outflow hole 17 is connected to the automatic flow path 5. That is, the hot water branches out into the automatic flow path 5 and the manual flow path 4 and flows out.

A lever handle 11 a is formed in the lever handle portion 11.
The lever handle 11a is a manual operation unit capable of operating the water discharge / stop water of the water discharge port by a manual operation. When the lever handle 11a is rotated upward (operation to lift), the water is discharged from the water discharge port 19 of the water discharge unit 18 to the hot water. Let the water spit out. Further, the flow rate of hot water discharged from the water discharge port 19 of the water discharge unit 18 via the manual channel 4 is set to be larger as the lever handle 11a is set to a position where the lever handle 11a is rotated further upward. On the other hand, when the operation handle 2 is turned downward (down operation), the hot water discharged from the water discharge port 19 of the water discharge unit 18 through the manual flow path 4 is set to a water stop state.

  Further, when the lever handle 11a is rotated in the first direction (for example, the right direction) of the left and right, the temperature of the hot water discharged from the water discharge port 19 of the water discharge unit 18 via the manual channel 4 is low. Set to the side. On the other hand, when the lever handle 11a is rotated in the second direction (for example, the left direction) of the left and right, the temperature of the hot water discharged from the water discharge port 19 of the water discharge unit 18 via the manual channel 4 is high. Set to the side.

One end of the manual channel 4 is connected to the manual corresponding outflow hole 16 of the hot and cold mixing valve 20. In addition, the manual flow path 4 has a flow sensor 8 inserted therein, the other end is connected to the automatic flow path 5 at the connection point 10, and a flow path for discharging hot water from the connection point 10 to the water discharge port 19 (hereinafter referred to as “flow path”). , “Water discharge channel”) 30 and connected to the water discharge port 19. Therefore, the manual flow path 4 discharges the hot water discharged from the hot water / water mixing valve 20 to the connection point 10, and the water discharge flow path 30 discharges the hot water from the connection point 10 to the water outlet 19.
One end of the automatic flow path 5 is connected to the automatic corresponding outflow hole 17 of the hot and cold mixing valve 20. The automatic flow path 5 is connected to the manual flow path 4 at the connection point 10 after the constant flow valve 6 and the electromagnetic valve 7 are inserted, and connected to the water discharge port 19 as the water discharge flow path 30. Is done. Therefore, the automatic flow path 5 guides the hot water discharged from the hot water / water mixing valve 20 to the connection point 10, and the water discharge flow path 30 discharges the hot water from the connection point 10 to the water outlet 19.
In the present embodiment, the manual channel 4 is used for using water in a state where the hand is not necessarily close to the vicinity of the water discharge port 19 such as when washing is performed or when hot water is stored in a container. On the other hand, the automatic flow path 5 is used for using water without manual operation by the lever handle portion 11 such as hand washing.

The constant flow valve 6 is provided in the automatic flow path 5. The constant flow valve 6 adjusts the flow rate in the automatic flow path 5 in which the constant flow valve 6 is provided to a predetermined flow rate. The constant flow valve 6 can be an existing one.
The electromagnetic valve 7 is provided on the automatic flow path 5 and downstream (on the water discharge port 19 side) from the constant flow valve 6. The electromagnetic valve 7 opens and closes the flow path of the automatic flow path 5, that is, discharges and stops hot water flowing through the automatic flow path 5, according to a control signal from the control unit 50. In the present embodiment, the electromagnetic valve 7 is opened when a control signal is received (energized state).

  The flow sensor 8 is provided in the manual flow path 4. As the flow sensor 8, a well-known impeller type, Karman vortex type, or electromagnetic type flow rate sensor can be used, and detects whether water in the manual flow path 4 is flowing. When the flow sensor 8 detects that the water in the manual channel 4 is flowing, the flow sensor 8 controls a flow detection signal (hereinafter referred to as “first detection signal”) indicating that the water is flowing. To the unit 50. For example, an impeller-type flow rate sensor includes a rotating blade containing magnets in which N poles and S poles are alternately arranged, and a magnetic detection device that is arranged in parallel on the outer peripheral portion of the rotating blade and cannot be moved toward and away from, for example, a hall It is comprised by IC. When the rotating blade containing the magnet is rotated by the water flowing in the manual flow path 4, the Hall IC detects the change in the magnetic field, so that the N pole and the S pole that have passed through the detection target area of the Hall IC are alternated. A pulse signal corresponding to the replacement is output to the control unit 50.

  The human body detection sensor 9 is provided at the tip of the water discharger 18. Further, the human body detection sensor 9 is a human body detection sensor unit capable of detecting an object in the water discharge area, is provided exposed on the lower surface of the water discharge unit 18, and is provided closer to the tip of the water discharge unit 18 than the water discharge port 19. It has been. As the human body detection sensor 9, a known infrared type, ultrasonic type, photoelectric type or the like detection sensor can be used, and a part of a human body such as a hand or various tableware is provided in a predetermined detection area (water discharge area). This is a non-contact type sensor that detects a detected object when the detected object enters. When a detection object such as a hand is positioned below the tip of the water discharger 18, the human body detection sensor 9 detects that the detection object such as a hand has approached, and a human body detection signal (hereinafter, referred to as “detection”). “Second detection signal”) is output to the controller 50.

The control unit 50 is connected to the electromagnetic valve 7, the flow sensor 8, and the human body detection sensor 9.
Based on the second detection signal from the human body detection sensor 9, the control unit 50 opens and closes the electromagnetic valve 7 to control water discharge / water stop at the water discharge port. Specifically, the control unit 50 controls whether to output a control signal to the electromagnetic valve 7 based on the first detection signal from the flow sensor 8 and the second detection signal from the human body detection sensor 9. Accordingly, the control unit 50 controls whether the hot water discharged from the hot water mixing valve 20 passes through the automatic flow path 5 by controlling the open / close state of the electromagnetic valve 7.
When the control unit 50 receives the second detection signal from the human body detection sensor 9, the control unit 50 outputs a control signal to the electromagnetic valve 7 in order to open the electromagnetic valve 7, that is, to close the automatic flow path 5. As a result, the solenoid valve 7 is energized, the solenoid valve 7 is opened, and automatic water discharge is performed. However, when both the first detection signal from the flow sensor 8 and the second detection signal from the human body detection sensor are received, the control unit 50 does not output a control signal to the electromagnetic valve 7.

  Next, the operation of the faucet device 1 will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the operation of the faucet device 1 in the present embodiment. Here, as an initial state of the faucet device 1, a state where hot water is not discharged from the water outlet 19, that is, the control unit 50 receives the first detection signal and the second detection signal from the flow sensor 8 and the human body detection sensor 9. It is in a state that has not been acquired.

  In step S <b> 101, the control unit 50 determines whether hot water is flowing in the manual channel 4. Specifically, when the first detection signal is obtained from the flow sensor 8 (step S101: YES), the control unit 50 determines that hot water is flowing in the manual channel 4 and proceeds to step S102. On the other hand, when the first detection signal is not obtained from the flow sensor 8 (step S101: NO), the control unit 50 determines that hot water is not flowing in the manual channel 4 and proceeds to step S105.

  In step S <b> 102, the control unit 50 closes the electromagnetic valve 7 without outputting a control signal to the electromagnetic valve 7. That is, when receiving the first detection signal from the flow sensor 8, the control unit 50 stops outputting the control signal to the electromagnetic valve 7 regardless of whether or not the second detection signal is received from the human body detection sensor 9. As a result, the electromagnetic valve 7 is forcedly closed. Thus, the control unit 50 performs control so that hot water from the hot water / mixing valve 20 does not discharge from the water outlet 19 via the automatic flow path 5. Therefore, for example, even when the lever handle 11a is turned upward and the human body detection sensor 9 detects a detection object such as a hand, hot water is supplied from the manual flow path 4, so that the manual flow path Thus, hot water having a flow rate higher than usual is prevented from being discharged from the water discharge port 19 by passing through both the flow paths 4 and 5.

  In step S103, the control unit 50 determines whether or not the human body detection sensor 9 has detected a detected object. Specifically, when the second detection signal is obtained from the human body detection sensor 9 (step S103: YES), the control unit 50 determines that the human body detection sensor 9 has detected the detected object, and proceeds to step S104. On the other hand, when the second detection signal is not obtained from the human body detection sensor 9 (step S103: NO), the control unit 50 determines that the human body detection sensor 9 has not detected the detected object, and proceeds to step S101.

In step S <b> 104, the control unit 50 determines whether hot water is flowing in the manual channel 4. Specifically, when the first detection signal is obtained from the flow sensor 8 (step S104: YES), the control unit 50 determines that hot water is flowing in the manual channel 4 and proceeds to step S103.
On the other hand, when the first detection signal is not obtained from the flow sensor 8 (step S104: NO), the controller 50 determines that hot water is not flowing in the manual flow path 4, and proceeds to step S106.

  In step S105, the control unit 50 determines whether or not the human body detection sensor 9 has detected a detected object. Specifically, when the second detection signal is obtained from the human body detection sensor 9 (step S105: YES), the control unit 50 determines that the human body detection sensor 9 has detected the detected object, and proceeds to step S106. On the other hand, when the second detection signal is not obtained from the human body detection sensor 9 (step S105: NO), the control unit 50 determines that the human body detection sensor 9 has not detected the detected object, and proceeds to step S101.

  In step S <b> 106, when the second detection signal is obtained from the human body detection sensor 9, the control unit 50 outputs a control signal to the electromagnetic valve 7 and opens the electromagnetic valve 7. Accordingly, when the control unit 50 does not receive the first detection signal from the flow sensor 8 and receives the second control signal from the human body detection sensor 9, the control unit 50 outputs the control signal to the electromagnetic valve 7. 7 is turned on to open the valve. Thus, the control unit 50 controls the hot water from the hot water / mixing valve 20 to discharge from the water outlet 19 via the automatic flow path 5.

  In step S <b> 107, the control unit 50 determines whether hot water is flowing in the manual channel 4. Specifically, when the first detection signal is obtained from the flow sensor 8 (step S107: YES), the control unit 50 determines that hot water is flowing in the manual channel 4 and proceeds to step S102. On the other hand, when the first detection signal is not obtained from the flow sensor 8 (step S107: NO), the control unit 50 determines that hot water is not flowing in the manual channel 4 and proceeds to step S108.

In step S108, the control unit 50 determines whether or not the human body detection sensor 9 has detected a detected object. Specifically, when the second detection signal is obtained from the human body detection sensor 9 (step S108: YES), the control unit 50 determines that the human body detection sensor 9 has detected the detected object, and proceeds to step S107.
On the other hand, when the second detection signal is not obtained from the human body detection sensor 9 (step S108: NO), the control unit 50 determines that the human body detection sensor 9 has not detected a detected object such as a hand, and step S109. Proceed to

  In step S109, the control unit 50 does not output a control signal to the electromagnetic valve 7, and closes the electromagnetic valve 7. Thus, when the control unit 50 does not receive the first detection signal from the flow sensor 8 and does not receive the second control signal from the human body detection sensor 9, the control unit 50 stops outputting the control signal to the electromagnetic valve 7. Then, the electromagnetic valve 7 is turned off and closed. Thus, the control unit 50 performs control so that hot water from the hot water / mixing valve 20 does not discharge from the water outlet 19 via the automatic flow path 5.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the secondary side of the hot and cold water mixing valve 20 is branched into the manual corresponding outflow hole 16 and the automatic corresponding outflow hole 17, and one of the manual flow paths can discharge water with the lever handle 11a. 4 and the other were connected to an automatic flow path 5 capable of discharging water by an electromagnetic valve 7. Further, the control unit 50 determines whether to discharge water from one of the manual flow path 4 and the automatic flow path 5 based on the combination of the detection result of the flow sensor 8 and the detection result of the human body detection sensor 9.
And the control part 50 acquires a 2nd detection signal, without acquiring a 1st detection signal, when the human body detection sensor 9 detects detection objects, such as a hand, when the hot water does not flow into the manual flow path 4. In this case, a control signal is output to the electromagnetic valve 7, and hot water from the hot and cold mixing valve 20 is discharged from the water outlet 19 via the automatic flow path 5.

  In addition, when the hot water is flowing through the manual flow path 4 and the human body detection sensor 9 detects the detected object, the control unit 50 acquires the first detection signal and acquires the second detection signal. 7 stops outputting the control signal (forced valve closing state), and the hot water from the hot water mixing valve 20 is discharged from the water outlet 19 via the manual flow path 4.

  Further, the control unit 50 has hot water flowing in the manual channel 4 and the human body detection sensor 9 does not detect a detection object such as a hand, that is, acquires a first detection signal and does not acquire a second detection signal. Then, the control signal is not output to the electromagnetic valve 7, and hot water from the hot water / mixing valve 20 is discharged from the water outlet 19 via the manual flow path 4.

Further, the control unit 50 does not flow hot water in the manual flow path 4 and the human body detection sensor 9 does not detect a detection object such as a hand, that is, when the first detection signal and the second detection signal are not acquired. A control signal is not output to the valve 7, and hot water from the hot water / mixing valve 20 is not discharged from the water outlet 19.
In addition, the control unit 50 provides the manual flow path 4 and the automatic flow path 5 on the secondary side of the mixing valve, and receives the first detection signal from the flow sensor 8 connected to the manual flow path 4. Even when the human body detection signal from the sensor 9 is received, the electromagnetic valve 7 is forcedly closed.
Thereby, according to this embodiment, after mixing either hot water or water or hot water with water by the hot water mixing valve 20, water can be discharged by either manual water discharge or automatic water discharge. Accordingly, water can be discharged without providing a heater separately from the hot water supply path 24, and the configuration on the flow path can be simplified.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and includes designs and the like that do not depart from the gist of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Water faucet device 4 Manual flow path 5 Automatic flow path 6 Constant flow valve 7 Solenoid valve 8 Flow sensor 9 Human body detection sensor 10 Connection point 11 Lever handle part 11a Lever handle 12 Faucet body part 14 Water inflow hole 15 Hot water inflow hole 16 Manual corresponding outflow hole 17 Automatic corresponding outflow hole 18 Water discharge portion 19 Water discharge port 20 Hot water / mixing valve 30 Water discharge flow path 50 Control portion

Claims (1)

A water discharge portion having a water discharge port, a manual operation unit capable of operating water discharge and water stop of the water discharge port,
A hot water mixing valve for mixing hot water and water,
A human body detection sensor for detecting an object in the water discharge area of the water outlet;
The manual flow path is provided on the secondary side of the hot and cold water mixing valve, out of flow paths branched into a manual flow path capable of water discharge by the manual operation unit and an automatic flow path capable of water discharge by an electromagnetic valve. A flow sensor unit,
Based on a human body detection signal from the human body detection sensor unit, a control unit that opens and closes the electromagnetic valve and controls water discharge and water stoppage of the water outlet,
When the control unit receives a flow detection signal from the flow sensor unit, the control unit forces the electromagnetic valve to be in a closed state even if it receives a human body detection signal from the human body detection sensor unit. Faucet device to do.

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