JP2016205690A - Hot water supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a problem that an elderly person and a person taking a shower may not be able to hear a notification sound if the notification sound is made alone.SOLUTION: In a storage type hot water supply device, a flow rate regulation valve 12 is disposed at a downstream side with respect to a hot water supply mixture valve 7, and further a control device 17 is provided with flow rate changing means 26 for changing a hot water supply flow rate by controlling a valve opening of the flow rate regulation valve 12. When a call notification is made, the control device 17 throttles the flow rate regulation valve 12 by the flow rate changing means 26 to change the flow rate so that at least a user can know the change of hot water supply flow rate, the call is displayed on a display portion, and sound is given from a speaker for the call notification.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a hot water supply device that notifies a user based on the usage status of the hot water supply device.

  Conventionally, in this type of device, when a call button on the operation unit of the remote controller outside the bathroom is pressed, an elderly person or a child in the bathroom confirms the notification sound of the remote controller in the bathroom. And there existed what told that there was no abnormality in a bathroom to the person outside a bathroom by pressing the call button of the operation part of the remote control in a bathroom (patent document 1).

JP 2001-248902 A

  However, there is a problem that the notification sound may not be heard by an elderly person or a person taking a shower when only the notification sound is generated as in Patent Document 1.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a hot water storage tank for storing hot water, a hot water discharge pipe for extracting hot water from the upper part of the hot water storage tank, a water supply pipe for supplying water to the hot water storage tank, high-temperature water from the hot water supply pipe and the water supply. A hot water mixing valve for mixing the hot water from the pipe, a hot water pipe through which the hot water mixed by the hot water mixing valve flows, a hot water flow rate sensor for detecting the flow rate of the hot water flowing through the hot water pipe, and operation control of the hot water operation. A control device that bears the control device, and a plurality of remote controllers that are communicably connected to the control device. Further, one of the remote controllers is provided with a call switch that notifies a call to the other remote controller. In the hot water storage type water heater provided with a speaker that emits a sound at the time of calling notification and a display unit that displays a call at the time of calling notification, a flow rate adjustment valve is provided on the downstream side of the hot water mixing valve, The control device further includes flow rate changing means for changing the hot water supply flow rate by controlling the valve opening degree of the flow rate adjustment valve, and the control device throttles the flow rate adjustment valve by the flow rate change means at the time of the call notification. Thus, the flow rate is changed so that at least the user can understand the change in the hot water supply flow rate, the call is displayed on the display unit, and the call is notified by playing a sound from the speaker.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the call notification, the flow rate variation means, at least the valve opening degree of the flow rate adjustment valve, the change in the hot water flow rate so that the user can see the change in the flow rate, the sound from the speaker, By performing the screen display on the display unit, it is possible to determine the call notification to the user by touch, hearing and vision.

Schematic explanatory diagram of an embodiment of the present invention Graph of an example of flow rate fluctuation of the embodiment of the present invention Flowchart of call notification operation in the embodiment

1st Embodiment of the hot-water supply apparatus of this invention is described based on FIG.
1 is a hot water storage tank for storing hot water, 2 is a water supply pipe connected to the lower part of the hot water storage tank 1, 3 is a hot water supply pipe connected to the upper part of the hot water storage tank 1, and 4 is a heat pump type for heating the hot water in the hot water storage tank 1. The heating means 5 is a heat pump circulation circuit that connects the lower part of the hot water storage tank 1, the heat pump type heating means 4, and the upper part of the hot water storage tank 1 so that hot water in the hot water storage tank 1 can circulate. Although not shown, hot water in the hot water storage tank 1 and the heat pump heating means 4 is circulated by a heat pump circulation pump provided in the middle of the heat pump circulation circuit 5.

  6 is a water supply bypass pipe that branches in the middle of the water supply pipe 2, and 7 is a hot water supply that mixes hot water flowing through the tap water pipe 3 with city water flowing through the water supply bypass pipe 6 at an appropriate ratio to adjust the hot water supply set temperature or bath set temperature. A mixing valve, 8 is a hot water supply pipe through which hot water mixed by the hot water supply mixing valve 7 flows, 9 is a hot water tap for supplying hot water from the hot water supply pipe 8, and 10 is a temperature of hot water mixed by the hot water mixing valve 7. A hot water supply temperature sensor 11 detects a hot water supply flow rate provided in the middle of the hot water supply pipe 8 and also detects a continuous hot water supply flow rate of a flow rate of hot water supply, and 12 is hot water mixed by the hot water mixing valve 7. This is a flow rate adjustment valve that adjusts the hot water supply flow rate.

  13 is a bath heat exchanger for exchanging heat with hot water in the upper part of the hot water storage tank 1, 14 is a bathtub, 15 is a bath circulation circuit for connecting the bath heat exchanger 13 and the bathtub 14 so that hot water can circulate, and 16 is a bath circulation circuit. 15 is a bath circulation pump provided in the middle of 15.

The control device 17 responsible for operation control of hot water supply operation and bath operation is connected to a bathroom remote controller 18 provided in the bathroom and a kitchen remote controller 19 provided in the kitchen so that they can communicate with each other via a communication cable (not shown).

The bathroom remote control 18 has at least setting information such as a hot water supply set temperature and time, and a bathroom-side display unit 20 that displays on the screen whether or not a call is notified from the kitchen remote control 19, and a bathroom-side call switch 21 that calls the kitchen remote control 19. And a bathroom side speaker 22 for notifying the outside of the information on the bathroom side display unit 20 by voice and playing a melody sound at the time of calling notification.

The kitchen remote controller 19 includes at least setting information such as a hot water supply set temperature and time, and a kitchen-side display unit 23 that displays on the screen whether or not there is a call notification from the bathroom remote control 18, and a kitchen-side call switch 24 that calls the bathroom remote control 18. And the kitchen side speaker 25 for notifying the outside of the information on the kitchen side display unit 23 by voice and playing a melody sound at the time of calling notification.

The sound that flows from the bathroom side speaker 22 and the kitchen side speaker 25 is, for example, “The bath has boiled” as a sound that informs the completion of the bath filling, and the user can use the kitchen. When the side call switch 24 is pressed, a melody sound flows from the bathroom side speaker 22 of the bathroom remote control 18 as a call notification sound. In addition, after the call notification, the user on the bathroom side presses the bathroom-side call switch 21 to change from the call notification to the call state, and to make a voice call with the user on the bathroom side.

When the user presses the bathroom call switch 21 or the kitchen call switch 24, 26 is provided in the control device 17 while the melody sound of the call notification is flowing from the speaker of another remote control. This is flow rate variation means for varying the valve opening.

Next, the hot water supply operation will be described.
When the hot-water tap 9 is opened, city water flows into the bottom of the hot water storage tank 1 from the water supply pipe 2 and hot water is discharged from the top of the hot water storage tank 1 through the hot water discharge pipe 3. It is mixed with water from the pipe 6 and passes through the hot water supply pipe 8. And the control apparatus 17 controls the valve opening degree of the hot-water supply mixing valve 7 so that the temperature detected by the hot-water supply temperature sensor 10 coincides with the hot-water supply set temperature, and performs hot-water supply at the hot-water supply set temperature. When the hot water tap 9 is closed, the controller 17 stops the hot water supply by stopping the control of the valve opening degree of the hot water mixing valve 7.

Next, an example of the flow rate variation of the flow rate variation means 26 will be described with reference to FIG.
The vertical axis of the graph in FIG. 2 represents the hot water flow rate, and the horizontal axis of the graph represents the passage of time. When the bathroom-side call switch 21 or the kitchen-side call switch 24 is pressed during the passage of time and the call is notified, the flow rate changing means 26 performs control to reduce the valve opening degree of the flow rate adjusting valve 12, and calls the user. Inform. Thereafter, when the bathroom side call switch 21 or the kitchen side call switch 24 on the side where the call is notified is pressed, or when it continues for a certain time (here, 1 minute), the flow rate fluctuation is terminated.
The throttling control of the flow rate adjusting valve 12 is not throttling at least until the hot water supply is stopped, and the throttling period is only during the call notification, and the throttling time is instantaneous, so that the user does not feel at least uncomfortable, It gives the fluctuation of the feeling that it is a call notification.

Next, the case where the user in the kitchen of the first embodiment of the present invention issues a call notification to the user on the bathroom side will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.
When the kitchen user presses the kitchen call switch 24 (S1), the kitchen remote controller 19 transmits call notification information to the control device 17 (S2). Thereafter, the control device 17 confirms whether the flow rate is detected by the hot water supply flow rate sensor 11 and confirms whether the hot water is being supplied (S3). When hot water is being supplied (S3 is YES), the flow rate changing means 26 controls the valve opening degree of the flow rate adjusting valve 12 (S4), and a melody sound is played through the bathroom speaker 22 (S5). The display on the side display unit 20 is switched to the call display (S6), and the call notification to the bathroom is started.

  If the hot water supply is not being performed (NO in S3), the flow rate changing means 26 does not perform the throttle control, but plays a melody sound through the bathroom speaker 22 (S7), and the display on the bathroom display unit 20 is changed to a call display. After switching (S8), call notification to the bathroom is started.

  Then, the call notification is started, and it is confirmed whether or not the call notification state has passed for a certain time (S9). If the call notification state has passed for a certain time or more, the flow rate fluctuation means 26 fully opens the opening of the flow rate adjustment valve 12. , The melody sound flowing from the bathroom side speaker 22 is stopped, and the call notification is terminated by returning the display of the bathroom side display unit 20 (S10).

  When a user in the bathroom presses the bathroom side call switch 21 during a call notification to the bathroom before a predetermined time has passed (YES in S11), it is confirmed whether the opening degree of the flow rate adjustment valve 12 has changed. (S12). And when the opening degree of the flow regulating valve 12 is fluctuating (S12 is NO), the flow fluctuation means 26 returns the opening degree of the flow regulating valve 12 to the full opening (S13), and the sound flowing from the bathroom side speaker 22 is heard. Since the melody sound is switched to the call voice from the kitchen side (S14) and the display on the bathroom side display unit 20 is restored (S15), the call between the bathroom remote control 18 and the kitchen remote control 19 is started (S16). Even if the user is in the shower or is an elderly person, the user can feel the fluctuation of the hot water supply and determine that the call is being notified.

  Further, when the opening degree of the flow rate adjusting valve 12 is not changed (S12 is YES), the sound flowing from the bathroom speaker 22 is switched from the melody sound to the call voice from the kitchen side (S14), and the bathroom side display unit. By returning the display of 20 (S15), a call between the bathroom remote controller 18 and the kitchen remote controller 19 is started (S16).

  In this way, when the call notification is made, the flow rate variation means changes the flow rate of the hot water flow rate so that at least the user can know the flow rate change, the sound from the speaker, and the display unit. With this screen display, it is possible to make a tactile sense, an auditory sense, and a visual sense that a call is notified to the user.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiment, and does not prevent modification without changing the gist. For example, the present embodiment is a call notification from the kitchen remote controller 19 to the bathroom remote controller 18. However, a call notification from the bathroom remote controller 18 to the kitchen remote controller 19 or a call notification between other remote controllers provided is possible.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Hot water storage tank 2 Water supply pipe 3 Hot water supply pipe 6 Water supply bypass pipe 7 Hot water supply mixing valve 8 Hot water supply pipe 11 Hot water supply flow sensor 12 Flow control valve 17 Control device 18 Bathroom remote control 19 Kitchen remote control 20 Bathroom side display part 21 Bathroom side call switch 22 Bathroom side Speaker 23 Kitchen side display unit 24 Kitchen side call switch 25 Kitchen side speaker 26 Flow rate variation means

Claims (1)

A hot water storage tank for storing hot water, a hot water discharge pipe for extracting hot water from the upper part of the hot water storage tank, a water supply pipe for supplying water to the hot water storage tank, hot water mixing for mixing hot water from the hot water discharge pipe and water supply from the water supply pipe A valve, a hot water pipe through which hot water mixed by the hot water mixing valve flows, a hot water flow rate sensor that detects a flow rate of hot water flowing through the hot water pipe, a control device that controls operation of the hot water operation, and communication with the control device A plurality of remote controllers connected to each other, further provided with a call switch for informing a call to the other remote controller, the other remote controller having a speaker that plays a sound when the call is notified In the hot water storage type hot water heater provided with a display unit that displays a call at the time of the call notification, a flow rate adjustment valve is provided downstream of the hot water supply mixing valve, and the control device further includes the flow rate adjustment valve. And a flow rate varying means for controlling the valve opening degree of the valve to vary the flow rate of hot water supply. The hot water storage type hot water heater is characterized in that the flow rate is changed so that the call can be recognized, the call is displayed on the display unit, and the call is notified by flowing sound from the speaker.

Images