JP2022092433A - Hot water supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a hot water supply device that can efficiently remove dirt floating on a water surface in a bathtub.SOLUTION: A hot water supply device 1 comprises: a reheating pump 3 for circulating bathwater through a reheating circuit for heating the bathwater flowing from a bathtub 90, and then returning it to the bathtub 90; a branch passage 6 branching from a first water passage 4 for connecting a discharge port of the reheating pump 3 to the bathtub 90, out of the reheating circuit; a water storage part 7 connected to the branch passage 6; a water intake part 8 for taking surface water that is the bathwater including dirt floating on a water surface in the bathtub 90, into a water passage upstream of the reheating pump 3; and water passage switching means. The water passage switching means can switch between water passages so that the surface water is taken into the water passage upstream of the reheating pump 3 by the water intake part 8, and the surface water passed through the reheating pump 3 flows into the water storage part 7 through the branch passage 6.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present disclosure relates to a water heater.

In the bath water circulation device disclosed in Patent Document 1 below, one end of a flexible tube is attached from the inside of the bathtub to an opening for sucking hot water in the bathtub, and a suction port is provided on the other end side of the flexible tube. A float is provided. Then, a strainer provided at the suction port removes suspended matter on the water surface in the bathtub.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-169943

In the device disclosed in Patent Document 1, dirt accumulates on the strainer provided at the suction port of the float floating in the bathtub. Since the strainer is floating in the bathtub, the dirt accumulated in the strainer may be diffused again into the hot water in the bathtub. Therefore, it is difficult to remove dirt efficiently.

The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present disclosure is to provide a hot water supply device capable of efficiently removing dirt floating on the water surface in a bathtub.

The hot water supply device according to the present disclosure includes a reheating pump that circulates the bath water in a reheating circuit that heats the bath water that has flowed out of the bath and then returns it to the bath, and a reheating pump discharge port in the reheating circuit. A branch channel branched from the first channel to be connected, a water storage section connected to the branch channel, and an intake section that takes in surface water, which is bath water containing dirt floating on the water surface in the bathtub, into the upstream channel of the reheating pump. In the water channel switching means, the surface water is taken into the water channel upstream of the reheating pump by the intake section, and the surface water that has passed through the reheating pump flows into the water storage section through the branch channel. As you can see, the water channels can be switched.

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a hot water supply device capable of efficiently removing dirt floating on the water surface in a bathtub.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the hot water supply device by Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the water flow when the surface water stored in a water storage part flows into a bathtub. It is a figure which shows the water flow at the time of a water injection washing operation. It is a flowchart which shows the example of the operation of the water heater by Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows the hot water supply device by Embodiment 2. It is a flowchart which shows the example of the operation of the water heater by Embodiment 2. FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows the hot water supply device by Embodiment 3. FIG. It is the figure which looked at the suction port from the direction perpendicular to the inner wall of the bathtub where the suction port is arranged. It is a flowchart which shows the example of the operation of the water heater by Embodiment 3. FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows the hot water supply device by Embodiment 4. FIG. It is a figure which shows the water flow at the time of the surface layer water return operation. It is a figure which shows the water flow at the time of a bubble operation which supplies a bubble to the bath water in a bathtub. It is a flowchart which shows the example of the operation of the water heater by Embodiment 4. FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows the hot water supply device by Embodiment 5. It is a schematic diagram which shows the hot water supply device by Embodiment 5. It is a flowchart which shows the example of the operation of the water heater by Embodiment 5. It is a schematic diagram which shows the hot water supply device by Embodiment 6. It is a flowchart which shows the example of the operation of the water heater by Embodiment 6.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. The common or corresponding elements in each figure are designated by the same reference numerals to simplify or omit the description. In the following description, the description of "water", "hot water", or "hot water" means, in principle, liquid water, and may include cold water to hot water.

Embodiment 1.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a water heater 1 according to the first embodiment. The hot water supply device 1 shown in FIG. 1 can supply hot water to the bathtub 90. The hot water supply device 1 may be, for example, a hot water storage type hot water supply device having a hot water storage tank, or an instantaneous hot water supply device that produces hot water by burning fuel.

In the following description, the hot water stored in the bathtub 90 is referred to as "bath water". The hot water supply device 1 includes a reheating pump 3. The reheating pump 3 can circulate bath water in the reheating circuit. The reheating circuit is a circuit that heats the bath water flowing out of the bathtub 90 and then returns it to the bathtub 90. The operation of keeping the bath water in the bathtub 90 warm or raising the temperature by the reheating circuit is hereinafter referred to as "reheating operation".

The reheating circuit has a first water channel 4 and a second water channel 5. The first water channel 4 connects the discharge port of the reheating pump 3 to the bathtub 90. The second water channel 5 connects the suction port of the reheating pump 3 to the bathtub 90. The first water channel 4 or the second water channel 5 is provided with a reheating heat exchanger (not shown) for heating the bath water during the reheating operation. In the present embodiment, the first water channel 4 and the second water channel 5 are connected to the bathtub 90 by the adapter portion 91 installed on the inner wall of the bathtub 90. A drain plug 92 is provided at the bottom of the bathtub 90.

The hot water supply device 1 includes a branch path 6 branched from the first water channel 4, a water storage section 7 connected to the branch path 6, a water intake section 8, a valve 9, a valve 10, a valve 11, and a valve 12. Further prepare. In the drawings of the present disclosure, a filled valve indicates a closed valve, and an unfilled valve indicates an open valve.

In the following description, bath water near the water surface 93 in the bathtub 90 may be referred to as "surface water". Dirt and other stains G generated by a person bathing in the bathtub 90 float on the water surface 93 in the bathtub 90. Therefore, the surface water contains dirt G. The water intake unit 8 is configured so that the surface water can be taken into the water channel upstream of the reheating pump 3 from the bathtub 90. The water intake unit 8 in the present embodiment has a suction port 8a for sucking surface water from the bathtub 90, and an intake channel 8b for connecting the suction port 8a to the second water channel 5. In the following, for convenience of explanation, the bath water after being taken into the water intake unit 8 from the bathtub 90 may also be referred to as “surface water”.

The valve 9 is installed in the first water channel 4 between the branch portion 13 in which the branch passage 6 branches from the first water channel 4 and the adapter portion 91. The valve 10 is installed in the second water channel 5 between the confluence portion 14 where the intake channel 8b joins the second water channel 5 and the adapter portion 91. The valve 11 is installed in the branch road 6. The valve 12 is installed in the intake channel 8b.

During the reheating operation, the valve 9 and the valve 10 are opened, the valve 11 and the valve 12 are closed, and the reheating pump 3 is operated. As a result, the bath water in the bathtub 90 passes through the adapter section 91, the second water channel 5, the reheating pump 3, the first water channel 4, and the adapter section 91 in this order and returns to the bathtub 90. To circulate.

The hot water supply device 1 can carry out a dirt sucking operation. The dirt sucking operation is an operation in which surface water is taken in from the bathtub 90 by the water storage unit 8 and the taken-in surface water is allowed to flow into the water storage unit 7. The arrow in FIG. 1 indicates the flow of bath water during the dirt sucking operation. During the dirt sucking operation, the valve 9 and the valve 10 are closed, the valve 11 and the valve 12 are opened, and the reheating pump 3 is operated. As a result, the surface water sucked from the suction port 8a is the intake channel 8b, the confluence portion 14, a part of the second water channel 5, the reheating pump 3, a part of the first water channel 4, the branch portion 13, and the branch passage 6. In this order, it flows into the water storage unit 7.

The valve 9, the valve 10, the valve 11, and the valve 12 correspond to the water channel switching means. In the present embodiment, the surface water is taken into the water channel upstream of the reheating pump 3 by the water intake unit 8 by the water channel switching means, and the surface water that has passed through the reheating pump 3 passes through the branch passage 6 and is stored in the water storage unit 7. It is possible to switch the waterway so that it flows into.

In the present embodiment, by carrying out the dirt sucking operation, the dirt G on the water surface 93 in the bathtub 90 can be collected in the water storage unit 7 together with the surface water. By removing the dirt G on the water surface 93 in the bathtub 90 by the dirt sucking operation, the next person can take a bath comfortably.

Even if the reheating pump 3 is stopped and the circulation of the bath water is stopped after the dirt sucking operation, the dirt G collected in the water storage unit 7 is not mixed in the bath water in the bathtub 90 again. Therefore, the dirt G on the water surface 93 in the bathtub 90 can be efficiently and surely removed. Further, the reheating pump 3 can be used to carry out the dirt sucking operation, and since a dedicated pump is not required, the manufacturing cost can be suppressed.

The water heater 1 of the present embodiment includes a water heater main body 2. The water heater main body 2 is installed outside the bathroom where the bathtub 90 is located. The water heater main body 2 may be installed outdoors or indoors in a space different from the bathroom. In the drawings of the present disclosure, the water heater main body 2 is drawn so as to be adjacent to the bathtub 90 for simplification. Actually, the water heater main body 2 is installed at a place away from the bathtub 90, and the water heater main body 2 and the bathtub 90 are connected to each other via a pipe. In the present embodiment, the water storage unit 7 is built in the water heater main body 2. In the present embodiment, since it is not necessary to install the water storage unit 7 near the bathtub 90 or in the bathroom, the hot water supply device 1 can be easily applied to the existing bathtub 90.

As shown in the illustrated example, the reheating pump 3, the valve 10, the valve 11, and the valve 12 may be built in the water heater main body 2.

In the present embodiment, the suction port 8a is provided separately from the adapter portion 91 that connects the reheating circuit to the bathtub 90. The suction port 8a is located higher than the adapter portion 91. The suction port 8a is arranged at a position at a height of the water surface 93 corresponding to the normal water level when the bathtub 90 is used. Such a suction port 8a can efficiently suck the surface water.

In the illustrated example, the suction port 8a is arranged on the same wall surface as the adapter portion 91 in the inner wall of the bathtub 90, and the suction port 8a is located above the adapter portion 91. By installing the suction port 8a and the adapter portion 91 on the same wall surface of the inner wall of the bathtub 90, the workability is improved. However, not limited to the illustrated example, the suction port 8a may be arranged on the inner wall of the bathtub 90, which is different from the adapter portion 91. For example, the suction port 8a may be arranged on the inner wall of the bathtub 90 facing the wall surface where the adapter portion 91 is located.

The hot water supply device 1 of the present embodiment further includes a water level sensor 15. The water level sensor 15 corresponds to a water level detecting means for detecting the water level in the bathtub 90. The pressure in the reheating circuit changes according to the water level in the bathtub 90. The water level sensor 15 can detect the water level in the bathtub 90 by detecting the pressure in the reheating circuit. In the illustrated example, the water level sensor 15 is installed in the second water channel 5 between the adapter portion 91 and the valve 10.

The hot water supply device 1 of the present embodiment may further include a control unit 16. The control unit 16 corresponds to a control means for controlling the operation of the hot water supply device 1. The control unit 16 is electrically connected to the actuators and sensors included in the hot water supply device 1. The control unit 16 may have a timer function for managing the date and time. In the illustrated example, the control unit 16 is provided in the water heater main body 2, but the control unit 16 may be arranged in a place different from the water heater main body 2. The control unit 16 may have, for example, at least one processor 16a and at least one memory 16b.

The control unit 16 can communicate bidirectionally with at least one user interface by wire communication or wireless communication. For example, at least one of a remote controller mounted on the wall of a bathroom or a living room, a personal digital assistant such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal, and a smart speaker may be configured to be used as a user interface. The control unit 16 and the user interface may communicate with each other via a home network, or may communicate with each other via the Internet or other external communication lines.

The hot water supply device 1 of the present embodiment may further include a hot water supply unit 17 for supplying hot water. The hot water supply unit 17 may be built in the water heater main body 2. The hot water supply unit 17 is connected to the first water channel 4 of the reheating circuit via the hot water supply channel 18. A valve 19 is installed in the hot water supply passage 18. The valve 19 is closed during the reheating operation and the dirt sucking operation.

The hot water supply device 1 of the present embodiment may further include a drainage channel 20 that connects the water storage unit 7 to the water channel upstream of the reheating pump 3. In the illustrated example, the drainage channel 20 is connected to the second channel 5 at the junction 21 between the junction 14 and the reheating pump 3. A valve 22 is installed in the drainage channel 20. The valve 22 corresponds to a water channel switching means.

During the hot water supply operation of supplying hot water from the hot water supply unit 17 to the bathtub 90, the control unit 16 opens the valve 9, the valve 10 and the valve 19, and closes the valve 11, the valve 12, and the valve 22. The hot water whose temperature has been adjusted by the hot water supply unit 17 flows into the bathtub 90 from the adapter unit 91 through the hot water supply channel 18, the first water channel 4, and the second water channel 5.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a water flow when the surface water stored in the water storage unit 7 flows into the bathtub 90. As shown in FIG. 2, when the control unit 16 opens the valve 9 and the valve 22, closes the valve 10, the valve 11, the valve 12, and the valve 19 and operates the reheating pump 3, the water is stored in the water storage unit 7. The surface water is passed through the drainage channel 20, the confluence section 21, a part of the second channel 5, the reheating pump 3, and the first channel 4 in this order, and flows into the bathtub 90 from the adapter section 91.

In the hot water supply device 1 of the present embodiment, when the bathing is completed and the bath water in the bathtub 90 is drained from the drain plug 92, the surface water stored in the water storage unit 7 is collected in the bathtub 90 as shown in FIG. It is possible to carry out a drainage operation that allows the water to flow in. The hot water supply device 1 may execute the drainage operation after the drainage from the drain plug 92 is completed and the bath water in the bathtub 90 is exhausted, or the bath water in the bathtub 90 is drained from the drain plug 92. A drainage operation may be performed during the process. When the drainage operation is executed, the surface water containing the dirt G collected in the water storage unit 7 is discharged into the bathtub 90. As a result, it is possible to prevent the dirt G from accumulating in the water storage unit 7.

The control unit 16 may control at least one of the reheating operation, the dirt sucking operation, the hot water supply operation, and the drainage operation. When the bath water is stored in the bathtub 90, the control unit 16 may automatically start the dirt sucking operation at predetermined time intervals. Further, the control unit 16 may start the dirt sucking operation according to the user instruction to the user interface.

The hot water supply device 1 supplies clean hot water from the hot water supply unit 17 to the bathtub 90 after the water level in the bathtub 90 drops due to the surface water flowing into the water storage unit 7 due to the dirt sucking operation. It may be possible to carry out a water level recovery operation for recovering the water level. The control unit 16 may be controlled so as to alternately repeat the dirt sucking operation and the water level recovery operation. When the water level in the bathtub 90 is lowered and the water surface 93 is lowered by the dirt sucking operation, the dirt G remaining on the water surface 93 without being completely sucked may adhere to the inner wall of the bathtub 90. By raising the water surface 93 by the water level recovery operation, the dirt G adhering to the inner wall of the bathtub 90 can be floated on the water surface 93 again. After that, by executing the dirt sucking operation again, the dirt G floating on the water surface 93 can be sucked again. In this way, by alternately repeating the dirt sucking operation and the water level recovery operation, it is possible to more reliably remove the dirt G on the water surface 93.

In the drainage operation, the control unit 16 detects the change in the water level in the bathtub 90 by, for example, the water level sensor 15, so that the bath water in the bathtub 90 starts to be drained from the drain plug 92, and the drain plug 92. It can be detected that the drainage from the bathtub 90 is completed and the bathtub water in the bathtub 90 is exhausted. When the bath water in the bathtub 90 starts to be drained from the drain plug 92, or when the drainage from the drain plug 92 is completed and the bath water in the bathtub 90 runs out, the control unit 16 automatically performs the drainage operation. You may start. Further, the control unit 16 may start the drainage operation according to the user instruction to the user interface.

In the drainage operation, the hot water supply device 1 supplies clean hot water to the bathtub 90 after the bath water in the bathtub 90 is drained from the drain plug 92 and the surface water stored in the water storage unit 7 flows into the bathtub 90. A water injection cleaning operation may be performed. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a water flow during a water injection cleaning operation. As shown in FIG. 3, in the water injection cleaning operation, when the control unit 16 opens the valve 9 and the valve 19 and closes the valve 10, the valve 11, the valve 12, and the valve 22, the hot water from the hot water supply unit 17 is discharged. It flows into the bathtub 90 from the adapter portion 91 through the hot water supply channel 18 and the first water channel 4. According to the water injection washing operation, the dirt G discharged from the water storage unit 7 and adhering to the bottom of the bathtub 90 can be washed away and discharged from the drain plug 92. After the surface water in the water storage unit 7 is discharged by the drainage operation, the control unit 16 may stop the reheating pump 3 and automatically start the water injection cleaning operation. Further, the control unit 16 may start the water injection cleaning operation according to the user instruction to the user interface.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the hot water supply device 1 according to the first embodiment. As step S1 in FIG. 4, the control unit 16 detects the water level in the bathtub 90 by the water level sensor 15. Next, the control unit 16 executes a dirt sucking operation. That is, the control unit 16 sucks the bath water on the water surface 93 in the bathtub 90 from the suction port 8a in step S2, and collects the sucked bath water in the water storage unit 7 in step S3. At this time, the control unit 16 may intermittently execute the operation of sucking the bath water of the water surface 93 in the bathtub 90 from the suction port 8a at predetermined time intervals.

Following step S3, the control unit 16 determines in step S4 whether or not bath water remains in the bathtub 90 based on the signal of the water level sensor 15. If the bath water remains in the bathtub 90, it is considered that there are still bathers, so the control unit 16 returns to step S2 and executes the dirt sucking operation.

If no bath water remains in the bathtub 90 in step S4, the control unit 16 proceeds to step S5 to execute the drainage operation. When the drainage operation is completed, the control unit 16 proceeds to step S6 to execute the water injection cleaning operation. In the water injection washing operation, the control unit 16 may supply heated hot water from the hot water supply unit 17 to the bathtub 90, or may supply unheated tap water from the hot water supply unit 17 to the bathtub 90. ..

Embodiment 2.
Next, the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, but the differences from the above-described first embodiment will be mainly described, and the common description will be simplified or omitted. Further, the same reference numerals are given to the elements common to or corresponding to the above-mentioned elements.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing the water heater 23 according to the second embodiment. The water heater 23 according to the second embodiment has a different configuration of the water intake unit 8 than the first embodiment. The water intake unit 8 of the hot water supply device 23 includes an extension pipe 8c extending into the space inside the bathtub 90 in place of the suction port 8a and the water intake channel 8b in the first embodiment. The base end portion 8d of the extension tube 8c is connected to the adapter portion 91. The flow path in the extension pipe 8c communicates with the second water channel 5 in the adapter portion 91. A suction port 8e for sucking surface water is formed at the tip of the extension pipe 8c. The extension pipe 8c can be deformed so that the position of the suction port 8e in the vertical direction changes. The extension tube 8c may be made of a flexible soft material such as a rubber hose, or may be made of a metal or plastic bellows tube.

The arrow in FIG. 5 indicates the flow of bath water during the dirt sucking operation. At the time of the dirt sucking operation, the control unit 16 closes the valve 9, the valve 19 and the valve 22, opens the valve 10 and the valve 11, and operates the reheating pump 3. As a result, the surface water sucked from the suction port 8e goes through the extension pipe 8c, the adapter portion 91, the second water channel 5, the reheating pump 3, a part of the first water channel 4, the branch portion 13, and the branch passage 6 in this order. It passes through and flows into the water storage unit 7.

In the present embodiment, the extension pipe 8c can be deformed so that the position of the suction port 8e in the vertical direction matches the position of the water surface 93 in the bathtub 90 during the dirt sucking operation. Even if the water level in the bathtub changes, the bath water on the water surface 93 in the bathtub 90 can be sucked in more efficiently from the suction port 8e. During the dirt sucking operation, the user may manually deform the extension pipe 8c so that the position of the suction port 8e in the vertical direction matches the position of the water surface 93 in the bathtub 90. Further, by providing a float floating on the water surface 93 in the bathtub 90 at the tip of the extension pipe 8c, the extension pipe 8c is automatically deformed by the buoyancy of the float in accordance with the change in the water level in the bathtub 90. It may be configured as.

The extension tube 8c may be removable from the adapter portion 91. By removing the extension pipe 8c from the adapter portion 91 after the dirt sucking operation is completed, it is possible to prevent the extension pipe 8c from coming into contact with the body of the bather in the bathtub 90.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the water heater 23 according to the second embodiment. The flowchart of FIG. 6 is the same as that of the flowchart of FIG. 4 described above, except that step S2 is replaced with step S7. As shown in FIG. 6, when the control unit 16 detects the water level in the bathtub 90 by the water level sensor 15 as step S1, the control unit 16 then executes the dirt sucking operation. In this dirt sucking operation, as step S7, the user grasps the extension pipe 8c by hand and aligns the position of the suction port 8e with the position of the water surface 93 in the bathtub 90 to suck the surface water from the suction port 8e. .. The sucked bath water is collected in the water storage unit 7 (step S3). The steps after step S3 are the same as the flowchart of FIG. 4 described above.

Embodiment 3.
Next, the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9, but the differences from the above-described first embodiment will be mainly described, and the common description will be simplified or omitted. Further, the same reference numerals are given to the elements common to or corresponding to the above-mentioned elements.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing the water heater 24 according to the third embodiment. The water heater 24 according to the third embodiment has a different configuration of the water intake unit 8 than the first embodiment. The water intake unit 8 of the hot water supply device 24 includes a suction port 8f instead of the suction port 8a in the first embodiment. The suction port 8f is arranged on the inner wall of the bathtub 90 facing the wall surface where the adapter portion 91 is located.

FIG. 8 is a view of the suction port 8f viewed from a direction perpendicular to the inner wall of the bathtub 90 in which the suction port 8f is arranged. The suction port 8f is configured so that its opening position can be moved in the vertical direction, that is, in the vertical direction. The hot water supply device 24 has a moving means for moving the opening position of the suction port 8f in the vertical direction according to the water level in the bathtub 90 detected by the water level sensor 15. In this moving means, for example, the shutter 8g that closes a part of the opening of the suction port 8f is moved in the vertical direction by an actuator, so that the opening position of the suction port 8f is moved in the vertical direction.

The arrow in FIG. 7 indicates the flow of bath water during the dirt sucking operation. At the time of the dirt sucking operation, the control unit 16 closes the valve 9, the valve 10, the valve 19 and the valve 22, opens the valve 11 and the valve 12, and operates the reheating pump 3. As a result, the surface water sucked from the suction port 8f is the intake channel 8b, the confluence portion 14, a part of the second water channel 5, the reheating pump 3, a part of the first water channel 4, the branch portion 13, and the branch passage 6. In this order, it flows into the water storage unit 7.

In the present embodiment, even if the water level in the bathtub 90 changes, the opening position of the suction port 8f can be adjusted to the position of the water surface 93 in the bathtub 90. Can be sucked more efficiently from the suction port 8f.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the water heater 24 according to the third embodiment. The flowchart of FIG. 9 corresponds to a flow chart of FIG. 4 described above in which steps S1 and S2 are replaced with steps S8 to S10. As shown in FIG. 9, first, as step S8, the control unit 16 detects the water level in the bathtub 90 by the water level sensor 15 at predetermined time intervals. Next, as step S9, the control unit 16 presses the shutter 8g so that the opening position of the suction port 8f matches the position of the water surface 93 in the bathtub 90 according to the water level in the bathtub 90 detected in step S8. Move it. Next, the control unit 16 executes a dirt sucking operation. That is, the control unit 16 sucks the bath water on the water surface in the bathtub 90 from the suction port 8f in step S10, and collects the sucked bath water in the water storage unit 7 in step S3. Following step S3, the control unit 16 determines in step S4 whether or not bath water remains in the bathtub 90 based on the signal of the water level sensor 15. If the bath water remains in the bathtub 90, it is considered that there are still bathers. Therefore, the control unit 16 repeats the dirt sucking operation by executing the processes after step S8 again. The steps after step S5 are the same as the flowchart of FIG. 4 described above.

Embodiment 4.
Next, the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 to 13, but the differences from the above-described first embodiment will be mainly described, and the common description will be simplified or omitted. Further, the same reference numerals are given to the elements common to or corresponding to the above-mentioned elements.

FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing the water heater 25 according to the fourth embodiment. The hot water supply device 25 according to the fourth embodiment further includes a filter 26 for filtering the surface water taken in from the water intake unit 8 as compared with the first embodiment. In the illustrated example, the filter 26 is arranged on the branch path 6. In the dirt sucking operation shown in FIG. 10, the filter 26 removes dirt G from the surface water passing through the branch path 6. The surface water from which the dirt G has been removed flows into the water storage unit 7.

The hot water supply device 25 may be capable of executing a surface water return operation in which the surface water stored in the water storage unit 7 flows into the bathtub 90 while the bath water is stored in the bathtub 90. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a water flow during the surface water return operation. As shown in FIG. 11, when the control unit 16 opens the valve 9 and the valve 22, closes the valve 10, the valve 11, the valve 12, and the valve 19 and operates the reheating pump 3, the water is stored in the water storage unit 7. The surface water that has been formed passes through the drainage channel 20, the confluence section 21, a part of the second channel 5, the reheating pump 3, and the first channel 4 in this order, flows out from the adapter section 91, and is a bath in the bathtub 90. Mix with water. Dirt G is removed from the surface water stored in the water storage unit 7 by the filter 26. Therefore, in the surface water return operation, dirt G is prevented from being discharged into the bathtub 90. According to the surface water return operation, the water level in the bathtub 90 lowered by the dirt sucking operation can be recovered without using the new hot water from the hot water supply unit 17. Therefore, water can be saved.

The control unit 16 may be controlled so as to alternately repeat the dirt sucking operation and the surface water returning operation. When the water level in the bathtub 90 is lowered and the water surface 93 is lowered by the dirt sucking operation, the dirt G remaining on the water surface 93 without being completely sucked may adhere to the inner wall of the bathtub 90. By raising the water surface 93 by the surface water return operation, the dirt G adhering to the inner wall of the bathtub 90 can be floated on the water surface 93 again. After that, by executing the dirt sucking operation again, the dirt G floating on the water surface 93 can be sucked again. In this way, by alternately repeating the dirt sucking operation and the surface water returning operation, it is possible to more reliably remove the dirt G on the water surface 93.

In the present embodiment, instead of the filter 26 or in addition to the filter 26, a filter for filtering the surface water may be provided in the water storage unit 7, or a filter for filtering the surface water may be provided in the drainage channel 20. May be good. In those cases, the same effect as described above can be obtained.

The water heater 25 may further include a bubble generator 27 in the reheating circuit. In the illustrated example, the bubble generator 27 is installed in the first water channel 4. A solenoid valve (not shown) that takes in air or other gas is connected to the bubble generator 27. When the control unit 16 operates the reheating pump 3 with the solenoid valve open, the bubble generator 27 mixes the gas taken in from the solenoid valve with the bath water to generate a bubble BU in the bath water. Can be made to.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a water flow during a bubble operation in which a bubble BU is supplied to the bath water in the bathtub 90. As shown in FIG. 12, during the bubble operation, the control unit 16 opens the solenoid valve, the valve 9, and the valve 10 that take gas into the bubble generator 27, and the valve 11, the valve 12, the valve 19, and the valve 22. Is closed and the reheating pump 3 is operated. As a result, the bath water in the bathtub 90 passes through the adapter section 91, the second water channel 5, the reheating pump 3, the first water channel 4, the bubble generator 27, and the adapter section 91 and returns to the bathtub 90. It circulates in the reheating circuit. At this time, the bubble BU generated by the bubble generator 27 is supplied into the bathtub 90.

During the reheating operation or the bubble operation, the bath water does not pass through the filter 26, so that the filter 26 does not cause a pressure loss. Therefore, since it is possible to prevent a decrease in the circulation flow rate of the bath water, it is possible to prevent adverse effects such as a decrease in the amount of bubble BU generated during the bubble operation and a long time required for the reheating operation. ..

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the water heater 25 according to the fourth embodiment. As step S11 in FIG. 13, the control unit 16 detects the water level in the bathtub 90 by the water level sensor 15. Next, in step S12, the control unit 16 determines whether or not the reheating operation is being carried out. If the reheating operation is being carried out, the process returns to step S11, and if the reheating operation is not being carried out, the process proceeds to step S13.

In step S13, the control unit 16 determines whether or not the bubble BU is being discharged into the bathtub 90 by the bubble operation. If the bubble BU is being discharged into the bathtub 90 by the bubble operation, the process returns to step S11, and if the bubble BU is not being discharged into the bathtub 90 by the bubble operation, the process proceeds to step S14.

When the process proceeds to step S14, the control unit 16 executes the dirt sucking operation. That is, the control unit 16 sucks the bath water on the water surface in the bathtub 90 from the suction port 8a in step S14, and collects the sucked bath water in the water storage unit 7 in step S15. At this time, the control unit 16 may intermittently execute the operation of sucking the bath water on the water surface in the bathtub 90 from the suction port 8a at predetermined time intervals.

Following step S15, the control unit 16 executes a surface water return operation as step S16. As a result, the surface water that has been filtered by the filter 26 and stored in the water storage unit 7 is discharged into the bathtub 90.

Embodiment 5.
Next, the fifth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 14 to 16, but the differences from the above-described embodiments will be mainly described, and the common description will be simplified or omitted. Further, the same reference numerals are given to the elements common to or corresponding to the above-mentioned elements.

14 and 15 are schematic views showing the water heater 28 according to the fifth embodiment. The hot water supply device 28 according to the fifth embodiment further includes a UV irradiation device 29 that irradiates the surface water stored in the water storage unit 7 with ultraviolet rays, as compared with the first embodiment. The UV irradiation device 29 has an ultraviolet source, and is configured to irradiate the surface water stored in the water storage unit 7 with the ultraviolet rays generated by the ultraviolet source. The ultraviolet source may be, for example, an ultraviolet LED or an ultraviolet lamp such as a low-pressure mercury lamp.

When the UV irradiation device 29 irradiates the surface water stored in the water storage unit 7 with ultraviolet rays, the dirt G collected in the water storage unit 7 is decomposed by the ultraviolet rays, and the dirt G becomes finer. FIG. 14 shows a state before the UV irradiation device 29 irradiates ultraviolet rays. FIG. 14 shows the water flow during the dirt sucking operation. FIG. 15 shows a state in which the dirt G in the water storage unit 7 is decomposed by the ultraviolet rays irradiated from the UV irradiation device 29 and becomes finer. FIG. 15 shows the water flow during the surface water return operation.

In the present embodiment, by miniaturizing the dirt G in the water storage section 7 by the UV irradiation device 29, it is possible to more reliably suppress the dirt G from adhering to the water storage section 7. Further, even if the surface water returned into the bathtub 90 by the surface water return operation contains dirt G, the dirt G is decomposed and made finer, so that the dirt G is in the bathtub 90. Adhesion to the inner wall can be reliably suppressed.

In the hot water supply device 28 in the present embodiment, the surface water in the water storage unit 7 containing the dirt G decomposed by the ultraviolet rays irradiated from the UV irradiation device 29 is taken from the bath water in the bath 90 from the drain plug 92 of the bath 90. After draining, or while the bath water in the tub 90 is being drained from the drain plug 92, the drainage operation of flowing into the tub 90 may be possible.

The UV irradiation device 29 corresponds to a purification device that purifies dirt G contained in the surface water stored in the water storage unit 7. The purification device in the present disclosure is not limited to the UV irradiation device 29. The purifying device in the present disclosure may be, for example, a device that decomposes and purifies the dirt G by applying ultrasonic vibration, a device that purifies the dirt G by using a photocatalyst, or a dirt G by adding a detergent. It may be the one that purifies.

The water heater 28 in the present embodiment further includes a bubble generator 27 similar to that in the fourth embodiment. However, the water heater 28 may not include the bubble generator 27.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the water heater 28 according to the fifth embodiment. The flowchart of FIG. 16 is the same as the flowchart of FIG. 13 described above, except that step S16 is replaced with steps S17 and S18.

Up to step S15 of the flowchart of FIG. 16, the bath water on the water surface in the bathtub 90 is sucked from the suction port 8a and the sucked bath water is collected in the water storage unit 7 in the same manner as the flowchart of FIG. Next, as step S17, the control unit 16 irradiates the bath water collected in the water storage unit 7 with ultraviolet rays from the UV irradiation device 29. The control unit 16 turns off the UV irradiation device 29 after irradiating the ultraviolet rays for a predetermined time. Subsequently, as step S18, the control unit 16 executes the surface water return operation to discharge the bath water in the water storage unit 7 after being irradiated with ultraviolet rays into the bathtub 90.

Embodiment 6.
Next, the sixth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 17 and 18, but the differences from the above-described embodiments will be mainly described, and the common description will be simplified or omitted. Further, the same reference numerals are given to the elements common to or corresponding to the above-mentioned elements.

FIG. 17 is a schematic view showing the water heater 30 according to the sixth embodiment. Compared with the first embodiment, the hot water supply device 30 according to the sixth embodiment has a discharge passage 31 connected to the bottom of the water storage unit 7 and a discharge provided in the discharge passage 31 instead of the drainage channel 20 and the valve 22. It is provided with a valve 32. The discharge passage 31 is connected to the outside of the reheating circuit system. The discharge passage 31 may be connected to, for example, sewage. The discharge passage 31 and the discharge valve 32 correspond to a discharge unit that discharges the surface water stored in the water storage unit 7 to the outside of the system.

In the present embodiment, by opening the discharge valve 32, the surface water containing the dirt G collected in the water storage unit 7 can be directly discharged to the outside of the system instead of the inside of the bathtub 90 through the discharge passage 31. .. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the dirt G from adhering to the inner wall of the bathtub 90.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the water heater 30 according to the sixth embodiment. Steps S1 to S3 of the flowchart of FIG. 18 are the same as the flowchart of FIG. 4 described above. During the dirt sucking operation in steps S2 and S3, the control unit 16 closes the discharge valve 32. After the dirt sucking operation, as step S19, the control unit 16 opens the discharge valve 32. As a result, the bath water containing the dirt G collected in the water storage unit 7 is discharged to the outside of the system through the discharge passage 31.

Of the plurality of embodiments described above, two or more that can be combined may be combined and carried out.

1 Hot water supply device, 2 Water heater body, 3 Reheating pump, 4 1st water channel, 5 2nd water channel, 6 branch channel, 7 water storage section, 8 intake section, 8a suction port, 8b intake channel, 8c extension pipe, 8d unit End, 8e suction port, 8f suction port, 8g shutter, 9 valve, 10 valve, 11 valve, 12 valve, 13 branch part, 14 confluence part, 15 water level sensor, 16 control part, 16a processor, 16b memory, 17 hot water Supply section, 18 hot water supply channel, 19 valve, 20 drainage channel, 21 confluence section, 22 valve, 23 hot water supply device, 24 hot water supply device, 25 hot water supply device, 26 filter, 27 bubble generator, 28 hot water supply device, 29 irradiation device, 30 Water heater, 31 drain passage, 32 drain valve, 90 bathtub, 91 adapter, 92 drain plug, 93 water surface

Claims (15)

A reheating pump that circulates the bath water in a reheating circuit that heats the bath water that has flowed out of the bathtub and then returns it to the bathtub.
Among the reheating circuits, a branch path branched from the first water channel connecting the discharge port of the reheating pump to the bathtub, and
The water storage unit connected to the branch road and
A water intake unit that takes in the surface water, which is the bath water containing dirt floating on the water surface in the bathtub, into the water channel upstream of the reheating pump.
Waterway switching means and
Equipped with
In the water channel switching means, the surface water is taken into the water channel upstream of the reheating pump by the intake unit, and the surface water that has passed through the reheating pump flows into the water storage unit through the branch channel. A hot water supply device that can switch waterways. The water intake portion has a suction port for sucking the surface water from the bathtub.
The hot water supply device according to claim 1, wherein the suction port is provided separately from an adapter portion for connecting the reheating circuit to the bathtub. The hot water supply device according to claim 2, wherein the suction port is arranged above the adapter portion, or is arranged on a wall surface of the inner wall of the bathtub facing the wall surface where the adapter portion is located. A water level detecting means for detecting the water level in the bathtub,
A means of transportation for moving the opening position of the suction port in the vertical direction according to the water level in the bathtub.
The hot water supply device according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising. The water intake is provided with an extension pipe extending into the space inside the bathtub.
A suction port for sucking the surface water is formed at the tip of the extension pipe.
The hot water supply device according to claim 1, wherein the extension pipe is deformable so that the position of the suction port changes in the vertical direction. Further provided with a drainage channel connecting the water storage unit to the water channel upstream of the reheating pump.
The water channel switching means can switch the water channel so that the surface water stored in the water storage unit passes through the drainage channel and the reheating pump and flows into the bathtub from the reheating circuit. The hot water supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 5. The surface layer stored in the water storage unit after the bath water in the tub is drained from the drain plug of the tub, or while the bath water in the tub is drained from the drain plug. The hot water supply device according to claim 6, wherein the drainage operation of flowing water into the bathtub can be performed. The claim that in the drainage operation, the bath water in the bathtub is drained from the drain plug, the surface water stored in the water storage unit flows into the bathtub, and then clean hot water is supplied to the bathtub. The hot water supply device according to 7. The hot water supply according to any one of claims 6 to 8, further comprising a filter arranged in at least one of the branch passage, the water storage portion, and the drainage channel to filter the surface water. Device. Any of claims 6 to 9 capable of executing a surface water return operation in which the surface water stored in the water storage unit is allowed to flow into the bathtub while the bath water is stored in the bathtub. The hot water supply device described in item 1. When the water level in the bathtub drops due to the inflow of the surface water into the water storage portion, it is possible to execute a water level recovery operation for recovering the water level in the bathtub by supplying clean hot water to the bathtub. The hot water supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 10. The hot water supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising a UV irradiation device that irradiates the surface water stored in the water storage unit with ultraviolet rays. The hot water supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising a purification device for purifying dirt contained in the surface water stored in the water storage unit. The hot water supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, further comprising a discharge unit for discharging the surface water stored in the water storage unit to the outside of the system. Further equipped with a water heater body installed outside the bathroom where the bathtub is located,
The hot water supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the water storage unit is built in the water heater main body.

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