JP2500120B2 - Instant water heater - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the instant at which hot water from the outlet of a hot water pipe of a water heater main body and stop of hot water discharge are controlled by opening and closing a solenoid valve according to the output of a photoelectric switch. It relates to a water heater.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, in an instantaneous water heater provided in a kitchen, an infrared sensor, which is a photoelectric switch, is attached to an arbitrary portion of a water heater body or a hot water outlet pipe,
When the infrared ray radiated from the light emitting part and reflected by the user's hand is detected by the light receiving part of this infrared sensor, the electromagnetic stop valve provided in the hot water supply pipe is opened, and water further flows into the hot water supply pipe. There is known a conventional technology in which a burner is ignited and the water flowing in the hot water supply pipe is heated to discharge the hot water from the hot water discharge pipe after this is detected by a water flow switch or the like.

[0003]

However, in the prior art, the water heater body can be moved to the wall side with the fulcrum as a fulcrum so that the hot water outlet pipe does not get in the way when it is not used. There is a problem that the part opens the water shutoff valve by detecting infrared rays reflected by the wall.

The object of the present invention is to stop the hot water from the hot water pipe after a certain time even when the photoelectric switch detects the light reflected by the wall when the hot water pipe is displaced when the hot water heater is not used. Is to be able to do.

[0005]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a water heater main body having a burner housed therein, water disposed inside the water heater main body, and the heat of combustion generated in the burner. A heat-absorbing pipe for exchanging heat, a water supply pipe connected upstream of the heat-absorbing pipe for flowing water into the heat-absorbing pipe, and a discharge port connected for downstream of the heat-absorbing pipe to discharge hot water. And a displaceable hot water outlet pipe, and a solenoid valve that is disposed in the water supply pipe and that opens and closes the hot water from the hot water outlet pipe and stops the hot water discharge, and the front end portion of the hot water outlet pipe. A photoelectric switch attached to the outer peripheral surface for detecting the presence or absence of light, and when the photoelectric switch detects light, the solenoid valve is opened or closed, and the photoelectric switch continuously turns on the light for a certain period of time. When it detects it, it closes the solenoid valve It was adopted technical means and control means.

As the photoelectric switch, a reflection type photoelectric switch composed of a light emitting element which emits light forward and a light receiving element which receives the light reflected by the object to be detected may be used. Further, as the photoelectric switch, a transmission type photoelectric switch, a coaxial reflection type photoelectric switch or a direct reflection type photoelectric switch, an optical fiber type photoelectric switch in which a photoelectric switch and an optical fiber are combined, and the like can be considered.

[0007]

According to the present invention, when light is detected by the photoelectric switch, the solenoid valve is opened or closed by the control means. When the solenoid valve is opened, a water flow is generated inside the water supply pipe, heat absorption pipe, and hot water discharge pipe, and the water is heated by the combustion heat of the burner in the heat absorption pipe, causing the water to flow through the discharge port at the tip of the hot water discharge pipe. Hot water comes out. Further, when the solenoid valve is closed, the water flow is stopped inside the water supply pipe, the heat absorbing pipe, and the hot water discharge pipe, so that the hot water discharge from the discharge port at the tip of the hot water discharge pipe is stopped. When the instantaneous water heater is not in use, the hot water outlet pipe may be obstructive and moved to the wall side.However, even if it is moved to the wall side, the photoelectric switch continuously turns on the light for a certain period of time. When detected, the control means forcibly closes the solenoid valve. This solves the problem that hot water is continuously discharged from the discharge port of the hot water discharge pipe.

[0008]

According to the present invention, when the instant water heater is not used, the hot water discharge pipe is moved to the wall side so that the hot water discharge pipe does not get in the way, and the photoelectric switch detects the light reflected by the wall to turn on the solenoid valve. Even if the valve is opened, hot water can be stopped after a certain period of time.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An instant water heater according to the present invention will be described based on an embodiment shown in FIGS. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a control device of an instantaneous water heater, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic structure of the instantaneous water heater.

The instantaneous water heater 1 comprises a water heater main body having a hot water supply pipe 2 for discharging hot water or water, a gas burner 3 for burning fuel gas, and a gas pipe 4 for supplying fuel gas to the gas burner 3. The controller 5 for controlling the main body of the water heater is provided.

The hot water supply pipe line 2 includes a water supply pipe 21 for supplying water from a water pipe, an endothermic pipe 22 for heating the water, and an endothermic pipe 22.
It is composed of a tap pipe 23 for tapping the hot water flowing out. The water supply pipe 21 is provided with an electromagnetic water shutoff valve 24, a water governor valve 25, and a water amount adjusting valve 26. Stop valve 2
Reference numeral 4 denotes the solenoid valve of the present invention, which opens when energized (ON) and closes when energized (OFF) to close the water supply pipe 2
It is an open / close valve that controls opening and closing of hot water from the hot water outlet pipe 23 by opening and closing 1. The water governor valve 25
The amount of water is kept constant. The water amount adjusting valve 26 controls the opening degree of the water supply pipe 21 by rotating a temperature adjusting knob (not shown) to change the water amount.

The endothermic tube 22 is substantially S above the gas burner 3.
A heat exchanger that is arranged in a bent shape and heats water by exchanging the water flowing inside and the combustion heat generated in the gas burner 3 with a fin plate for improving heat exchange efficiency. Many are installed at equal or unequal intervals. The hot water outlet pipe 23 is formed of a flexible pipe and discharges hot water or water from the discharge port. This tap pipe 23
A shower head 27 is fitted around the outer periphery of the discharge port. The shower head 27 has a structure in which the discharge flow discharged from the discharge port of the hot water discharge pipe 23 is switched between a shower discharge flow and a straight discharge flow by switching a changeover switch (not visible in FIG. 2). ing.

An electromagnetic safety valve 41, a water pressure responsive valve 42, a gas governor valve 43, and a gas amount adjusting valve 4 are provided in the gas pipeline 4.
4 are provided. The safety valve 41 opens when turned on and closes when turned off. Water pressure responsive valve 42
Is formed integrally with the water governor valve 25 and opens in conjunction with detection of a water flow. The gas governor valve 43 keeps the gas pressure on the secondary side constant. The gas amount adjusting valve 44 is connected to the temperature adjusting knob, and controls the opening degree of the gas pipe 4 by rotating the temperature adjusting knob to change the gas amount.

The controller 5 comprises a combustion control circuit 6, a water shutoff valve control circuit 7, a power supply circuit 51, a hot and cold water switch 52 and a water flow switch 53. The power supply circuit 51 is composed of a dry battery or the like, and supplies electric power to the combustion control circuit 6 and the water shutoff valve control circuit 7.

The hot water switch 52 is a switch for switching between the hot water mode and the water mode, and is connected in series between the combustion control circuit 6 and the water shutoff valve control circuit 7. The hot / cold water changeover switch 52 is closed when the user selects the hot water mode, and is opened when the water mode is selected.

The water flow switch 53 is connected in series between the combustion control circuit 6 and the hot and cold water changeover switch 52. The water flow switch 53 is a switch that is closed when the water pressure responsive valve 42 detects a water flow and opens the valve, and opens when the valve is closed.

The combustion control circuit 6 incorporates a temperature control knob, a sparker 61, a frame rod 62 and a thermocouple 63. The temperature control knob has a variable resistor 64 whose electric resistance value varies according to the rotation angle of the temperature control knob, and the temperature control knob of the water amount control valve 26 and the gas amount control valve 44 changes according to the output of the variable resistor 64. Control the degree of opening.

The sparker 61 is for igniting a mixture of fuel gas flowing out from the gas burner 3 and combustion air. The frame rod 62 detects the presence or absence of combustion flame of the gas burner 3. The thermocouple 63 is a gas burner 3
It is to detect whether or not abnormal combustion such as extinction and oxygen deficiency has occurred.

The water shutoff valve control circuit 7, which is the control means of the present invention, has an infrared sensor 71 and is provided with a malfunction prevention circuit 7.
2. The output holding circuit 73 and the water shutoff valve drive circuit 74 are incorporated.

The infrared sensor 71, as shown in FIG.
The reflective photoelectric switch is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the shower head 27. The infrared sensor 71 is composed of a light emitting element 75 and a light receiving element 76. The light emitting element 75 is composed of, for example, an infrared light emitting diode or the like, and emits infrared light to the front.

The light receiving element 76 is composed of, for example, a phototransistor or the like, and detects the presence or absence of infrared rays reflected by the object to be detected such as the hand of the user. The light receiving element 76 has an output of a high level (H level) when infrared rays are detected, and has an output of a low level (L level) when infrared rays are not detected.
Becomes

The malfunction prevention circuit 72 has a timer circuit 77 which is started when the H level is inputted from the light receiving element 76, and the light receiving element 7 is continuously operated for a predetermined time (for example, 1 minute) or more.
When the output of 6 is H level, the output of the output holding circuit 73 is set to L
Send a stop signal to turn to the level.

The output holding circuit 73 outputs an H level when the light receiving element 76 detects the infrared ray, and the light receiving element 76 detects the infrared ray again, or the malfunction prevention circuit 72 is provided.
When the stop signal is input from, the output becomes L level. The water stop valve drive circuit 74, when the input is H level,
Turn on to open the valve, and when the input is at L level, stop valve 24
To turn off and close the valve.

3 to 5 are flowcharts showing an example of the operation of the control device 5. This flow chart starts its operation when the power switch (not shown) is turned on. First, as shown in FIG. 3, it is determined whether or not the light receiving element 76 of the infrared sensor 71 is detecting infrared rays (step S1). When infrared rays are not detected (N), the control of step S1 is performed.

In step S1, when infrared rays are detected (Y), the operation of the timer circuit 77 of the malfunction prevention circuit 73 is started (step S2), and the water shutoff valve 24 is turned on (step S3). Then, it is determined whether the water flow switch 53 is on, that is, the water pressure responsive valve 42 is open (step S4). When the water pressure responsive valve 42 is not open (N), the control of step S4 is performed.

In step S4, when the water pressure responsive valve 42 is open (Y), it is determined whether the hot water switch 52 is on, that is, whether the hot water mode is selected by the hot water switch 52 (step S4). S5). When the hot water mode is not selected (N), the control of step S5 is performed.

At step S5, when the hot water mode is selected (Y), the sparkler 61 is turned on (step S5).
6) The safety valve 41 is turned on (step S7). Then, it is determined whether or not ignition is detected by the frame rod 62 (step S8). When ignition is not detected (N), it is determined whether a predetermined time has elapsed (step S9). The predetermined time has not passed (N)
When the predetermined time has elapsed (Y), the safety valve 41 is turned off (step S1).
0).

Then, as shown in FIG.
Is turned off (step S11), and it is determined whether or not the light receiving element 76 of the infrared sensor 71 is detecting infrared rays (step S12). When infrared rays are detected (Y), the water shutoff valve 24 is turned off (step S13), and the process returns, and when infrared rays are not detected (N), control of step S12 is performed.

In step S8 shown in FIG. 3, when ignition is detected (Y), as shown in FIG. 5, the sparker 61 is turned off (step S14), and the light receiving element 76 of the infrared sensor 71 emits infrared rays. It is determined whether or not the detection is continuously performed for a certain time (step S15). When infrared rays are continuously detected for a certain period of time (Y), the water shutoff valve 24 is turned off (step S16), and it is determined whether the water flow switch 53 is off, that is, whether the water pressure responsive valve 42 is closed. Yes (step S17). When the water pressure responsive valve 42 is not closed (N), the control of step S17 is performed to make the water pressure responsive valve 4
When 2 is closed (Y), the safety valve 41 is turned off (step S18) and the process returns.

In step S15, when infrared rays are not continuously detected for a certain time (N), the infrared sensor 71
It is determined whether or not the light receiving element 76 detects infrared rays (step S19). Infrared is detected (Y)
At this time, the control of step S16 is performed.

In step S19, when infrared rays are not detected (N), it is determined whether the thermocouple 63 detects abnormal combustion (step S20). When abnormal combustion is detected (Y), the safety valve 41 is turned off (step S
21), the control of step S12 is performed.

In step S20, when the abnormal combustion is not detected (N), is the hot water switch 52 turned on?
That is, it is determined whether the hot water mode is selected by the hot water switch 52 (step S22). When the hot water mode is selected (Y), the control of step S15 is performed, and when the hot water mode is not selected (N), the step S15 is performed.
21 is controlled.

The operation of the instant water heater 1 used in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 6.

When infrared rays are received by the light receiving element 76 of the infrared sensor 71, as shown in FIG.
Since the output of 6 becomes the H level, the timer circuit 77 of the malfunction prevention circuit 72 is started and the output of the output holding circuit 73 becomes the H level, as shown in (a) of FIG. Therefore, the water stop valve drive circuit 74 turns on the water stop valve 24 to open the water stop valve 24, as shown in (c) of FIG. 6. When the water stop valve 24 is opened, a water flow is generated in the hot water supply pipe line 2, so that the water pressure responsive valve 42 is opened and the water flow switch 53 is turned on. At this time, the hot water switch 5
If the hot water mode is selected by 2, the combustion control circuit 6
As a result, the gas burner 3 is ignited, and hot water is discharged from the shower head 27 of the hot water discharge pipe 23.

When the instant water heater 1 is not used, the hot water outlet pipe 23 may be an obstacle, and the hot water outlet pipe 23 may be moved to the wall side. In this way, when the hot water discharge pipe 23 is moved to the wall side, the light receiving element 76 may detect infrared rays reflected by the wall. In such a case, the infrared sensor 7
Infrared rays are continuously received by the first light receiving element 76 for a certain period of time or longer, so that the output of the light receiving element 76 continuously becomes the H level for a certain period of time (t) or longer as shown in FIG.

Therefore, when the output of the light receiving element 76 is continuously at the H level for a certain period of time or longer, the operation preventing circuit 72 sends a stop signal by stopping the operation of the timer circuit 77, as shown in (a) of FIG. Output. For this reason, the output of the output holding circuit 73 changes to the L level, so that the output of the output holding circuit 73 changes to L level.
As shown in, the water stop valve drive circuit 74 forcibly turns off the water stop valve 24. Therefore, since the water shutoff valve 24 is closed, the water flow in the hot water supply pipe line 2 disappears, and the hot water supply pipe 23
Prevents hot water from being continuously discharged. Further, when the water flow in the hot water supply pipe line 2 disappears, the water pressure responsive valve 42 closes, so that the gas pipe line 4 is also shut off. Therefore, the gas burner 3
Is extinguished in conjunction with the water shutoff valve 24. The same applies when the light receiving element 76 of the infrared sensor 71 continuously detects the light of the sun that has entered the room through the window of the kitchen or the like.

As described above, the instant water heater 1 forcibly closes the water shutoff valve 24 when the output of the light receiving element 76 of the infrared sensor 71 is at the H level continuously for a fixed time or longer. If the gas burner 3 is burning, the burning of the gas burner 3 also stops. Therefore, even if the light receiving element 76 of the infrared sensor 71 detects infrared rays reflected by an object other than the user, it is possible to stop the discharge of hot water or water after a certain period of time. Further, when the hot water mode is selected by the hot water switch 52, that is, when the gas burner 3 is burning, the gas burner 3 is interlocked with the water shutoff valve 24.
Since the combustion of can be stopped, the safety and economy of the instant water heater 1 can be significantly improved.

(Modification) In this embodiment, the gas burner 3 is used as the heat source, but a burner for burning liquid fuel such as gasoline or kerosene may be used as the heat source, and the burner is composed of a PTC heater or a metal resistor. A heater may be used.

In the present embodiment, the safety valve 41 may be directly opened when a plurality of detecting means including photoelectric switches detect an object to be detected. In this case, the gas supply device supplies the fuel gas to the gas burner 3.

In this embodiment, the photoelectric switch is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the shower head 27, but the photoelectric switch may be attached to any position of the tap pipe 23 including the shower head 27.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a control device for an instantaneous water heater.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing the overall structure of an instantaneous water heater.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the control device for the instantaneous water heater.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the control device for the instantaneous water heater.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the control device for the instantaneous water heater.

FIG. 6 is a time chart showing an example of the operation of the main part of the instant water heater.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Instantaneous Water Heater 5 Control Device 7 Water Stop Valve Control Circuit (Control Means) 21 Water Supply Pipe 22 Endothermic Pipe 23 Hot Water Pipe 24 Water Stop Valve (Solenoid Valve) 71 Infrared Sensor (Photoelectric Switch)

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A water heater body having a burner housed therein (a)
And (b) the water that has been placed inside the water heater body and that has flowed into it.
And endothermic tube for exchanging heat with combustion heat generated in the burner
And (c) is connected to the upstream side of the heat absorbing pipe,
A water supply pipe for inflowing water into the inside, and (d) is connected downstream from the heat absorption pipe and discharges hot water.
Displaceable as well as having a tip with a discharge port formed
Such a hot water pipe, is disposed in the water supply pipe (e), said by opening and closing
An electromagnetic valve for tapping the hot water from the hot water pipe and stopping the hot water, and (f) attached to the hot water pipe to detect the presence or absence of light.
A photoelectric switch, and (g) when the photoelectric switch detects light,
Open or close the valve and use the photoelectric switch
When the light is detected continuously for a certain period of time, the solenoid valve is closed.
Instant water heater equipped with control means for controlling .