JP2515677B2 - Water pipe freeze prevention device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an antifreezing system capable of operating a water pipe antifreezing device by remote control.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in cold regions, water in water supply pipes often freezes in winter. As a countermeasure, water is drained from the rising part of the water supply pipe exposed to the cold before going to bed and discharged into the ground, and a drain plug was used for that purpose. The operation of the water drain plug has heretofore been performed manually, but recently, an electric water drain plug operated by electric power is also known. This electric drainage plug is advantageous when remote control is required, such as when the drainage plug is on the first floor and must be operated on the second floor or when it is installed in a place where operation is difficult. The electric drain plug is
A motor and a speed reducer are provided as its driving unit, and a power switch is attached at an arbitrary place. When the power switch is operated, the motor is actuated, and its rotation is decelerated by the speed reducer, and is converted into vertical movement to operate the water drain plug. A limit switch may be provided to adjust the stroke of this operation.

Further, the electric water drain plug is also used in a system in which the temperature sensor such as a thermistor detects the air temperature or the water temperature and automatically controls the temperature based on the detection result. A remote control device is attached to the electric water drain plug and the water temperature sensor to remotely operate the water drain plug. Along with the improvement of living standard, for example, the amount of water in the house such as washroom, kitchen, bathroom, and toilet is increasing. In cold regions, efficient drainage operation of these means This is one of the important jobs. In recent years, a transmission control method for centrally controlling a plurality of devices arranged in a distributed manner as described above or connecting each device with a transmission communication path to monitor the current state of the device and transmitting signals to each other has recently been made. Came to be known. For example, to centrally control electric appliances such as lighting, air conditioning, and alarm devices in a house, a commercial power supply 100
There is a method of using a V power line for the transmission communication path.

[0004]

As described above, if the remote control device is used, it is possible to easily cope with such an increasing number of water in the house and the remote centralized control panel is used as the master unit. In addition, it became easier to centrally manage a large number of drain plugs by connecting the individual operation panels attached to each of the drain plugs to the master unit as slave units. But,
In order to perform centralized management, this remote centralized operation panel and individual operation panels must be connected by a signal line, and there is usually no room for wiring this signal line inside a house, Even if there is such a problem, it is often difficult to construct the remote centralized control panel because it cannot be placed at a predetermined position. The present invention has been made under such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a water pipe freeze prevention device for use in a system that uses an existing facility to perform centralized management of water drain plugs.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to centrally control a plurality of devices arranged in a distributed manner as described above and to monitor the current state of the devices, the devices are connected by a transmission communication path and signals are transmitted to each other. Recently, a transmission control method for transmitting each other has become known, and for example, a commercial 100V power line is used for the transmission communication path for centrally controlling electric appliances such as lighting, air conditioning, and alarm devices in a house. Is known as a home control system. The present invention is such a control.
The system is characterized in that it is applied to the operation of the water drain plug, and the feature is that a desired water drain plug can be appropriately removed from the centralized control system.

That is, the water pipe antifreezing device of the present invention is connected to each water drain plug provided in each of at least one rising pipe provided in the water pipe and each of the water drain plugs. A drive unit driven by electric power, a sensor unit including a water temperature sensor arranged near each of the water drain plugs and a water drain confirmation sensor arranged near each of the water drain plugs, the sensor unit, and At least one individual control panel to which the drive unit is connected, a power line to which the individual control panel is connected at a predetermined position, and a remote centralized control panel connected to a predetermined position of the power line. By sending a high frequency signal to the individual control panel via the power line, to control and display the operating state of the water drain plug, the individual control panel, by the control signal from the remote central control panel Controls the drive It is characterized by a door. Further, the individual control panel may be provided with a changeover switch for disconnecting the connection with the remote centralized control panel. In addition, an alarm device,
An individual control panel connected to at least one selected from a measuring instrument, an electric device and a water heater can be further connected to the remote centralized control panel.

[0007]

[Operation] Since the power line of 100V commercial power already installed in the house is used as the signal line, it is possible to save a great deal of work in construction. Furthermore, the individual operation panel can be combined with a remote centralized operation panel. Since a changeover switch for disconnecting the connection is provided, individual operation can be performed appropriately.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a water pipe freeze prevention device of the present invention arranged in a house 1. This water pipe anti-freezing device includes a remote centralized control panel (hereinafter referred to as a master unit) 2, an individual control panel (hereinafter referred to as a slave unit) 3, an electric water drain plug 4, a sensor 5 for detecting water temperature and confirming drainage, It is composed of a drive unit 6 for driving the electric water drain plug 4 and a power line 7 wired in the house. The main | base station 2 is attached in the desired position in the house 1 which is easy to operate. Then, the power plug 21 at the end of the cord of the base unit 2 is connected to the outlet 72 attached to the commercial 100V power line 7 wired in the house. Any number of outlets 71, 72, 73 can be attached,
It can be installed outside the house like the outlet 73. The electric power line 7 introduces commercial 100V from the outside through an integrating wattmeter 75 attached outside the house. Cordless handset 3
It can be installed in place inside or outside the house. Each cordless handset 3 connects the power plug 31 at the end of its cord to the outlet of the power line 7. The child device 3 inside the house is connected to the outlet 71 inside the house, and the child device 3 outside the house is connected to the outlet 73 outside the house.

Two slave units 3 are installed in the figure, but this is an example and the number is not limited. The water pipe 8
It is buried under the ground surface (GL) and branches the water supply pipe, that is, the rising pipe 81 which is the secondary pipe, but the water drain plug 4 is attached before the branch. This drain plug 4
It is connected to the drive unit 6 exposed on the surface of the earth via a cable. The drive unit 6 includes, for example, a motor and a speed reducer. The motor operates in response to an instruction from the master unit 2 or the slave unit 3, the rotation of the motor is reduced by the speed reducer, and the rotation is converted into vertical movement to operate the water drain plug. A limit switch may be provided to adjust the stroke of this operation. The slave unit 3 is connected to the drive unit 6 by a cable for moving the drive unit 6. Further, a faucet 82 is formed at the tip of the rising pipe 81, and near the faucet,
The sensor unit 5 is formed.

FIG. 2 is a view showing the arrangement of the sensor section. The sensor 5 is a branch pipe 8 provided on the rising pipe 81.
It is arranged in 3. In this embodiment, a water temperature sensor 51 and a water removal confirmation sensor 52 are arranged as sensors, and both are integrated close to each other. Neither integration nor close proximity is a requirement, and they should be placed in the best condition. The wiring cables connected to these sensors are connected to the child device 3. Water temperature sensor 51
For example, a thermistor whose resistance value changes depending on temperature is used, but a thermistor whose resistance value sharply changes at a set temperature is particularly advantageous. Further, the water removal confirmation sensor 52 uses a resistor in which a pair of electrodes is formed. When there is water, the resistance value of the water is measured, and when the water is drained, the resistance value of the air, which is an insulator, is measured to detect the drained state. For the electrodes, for example, stainless steel resistant to corrosion is used.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the slave unit 3. The cordless handset 3 includes a power switch 32, a changeover switch 33, an open / close switch 34, and a connection portion with an external circuit. The power switch 32 is provided with a power lamp L1 indicating that the power is on. The changeover switch 33 is a switch for disconnecting the connection when a command from the master unit 2 is unnecessary. The opening / closing switch 34 is provided with mode lamps L2, L3, and L4, respectively, and a water-passing state in which a valve in the water-draining plug is opened, a drainage confirmation state in which there is no water in the water-draining plug, and a water-draining plug The state where the valve inside is closed is displayed. An outlet is formed on the side surface of the cordless handset 3, the outlet A is connected to a cable connected to the drainage confirmation sensor 52, and the outlet B is a water temperature sensor 5.
1, the outlet C is connected to the cable connected to the drive unit 6, and the outlet D is connected to the power line.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the base unit 2. The master unit 2 has a mode switch 22, an operation switch 23, a code number (symbol) 24, a drainage confirmation lamp 25, a power supply wiring port 2
6. Address switch AS is attached. The mode switch 22 is used for designating the operating states of the three slave units, and the operating switch 23 is set to any one of the three modes of water passage, confirmation of drainage, and drainage. Operation switch 23
Are connected to respective determined slave units, and in the embodiment, 16 slave units are simultaneously operated. A drainage confirmation lamp 25 and a code number or symbol 24 are attached to each operation switch, and the drainage can be confirmed and a predetermined operation switch indicates which slave unit is operated. A power line of a commercial power supply of 100 V is connected to the power supply wiring port 26. As described above, the code number or the symbol is set in the slave unit 3. The base unit 2 is installed in a predetermined management place, and the code number or symbol is set according to the code number or symbol of the slave unit.

The operation system of the water pipe antifreezing device of this embodiment will now be described. Power plugs 21 and 31 of the power cables of the remote centralized control panel 2 and the individual control panel 3
Outlets 71, 72, 73 ...
To insert. A communication signal voltage having a frequency sufficiently higher than this is superimposed on the AC voltage of the power line to communicate between devices such as a master unit / slave unit each having its own station address. Cordless handset 3
After turning on the power switch 32, the drain switch 4 can be operated by turning on the open / close switch 34. By this operation, water is drained from the rising pipe 81,
That is, when there is no water up to the water removal confirmation sensor, the display lamp L3 for confirming the water removal of the child device 3 and the display lamp 25 of the parent device 2 are turned on. Further, when the water is present, the light is turned off, so that it is easy to check the inside of the pipe. Usually, the water is drained before going to bed, but the water in the rising pipe may freeze even when the water is in a water-flowing state and the outside air temperature decreases. In such a case, the water temperature sensor 51 detects a preset freezing set temperature, and after a certain period of time, water is automatically drained to prevent freezing. When you want to use the water again while draining water and the state continues, the operation switch 23 of the base unit 2
Alternatively, when the opening / closing switch 34 of the cordless handset 3 is operated for water flow, the water drain plug 4 is opened and the tap water can be used.

In this way, when water is manually passed, the water temperature is judged after a certain time from that point, and if the water temperature is higher than the freezing temperature, this state is continued as it is, and if it is below the freezing temperature, the water is drained. . According to this temperature control method, the number of automatic draining operations is reduced because it is less affected by fluctuations in the water temperature near the freezing temperature such as wind. And
Water passing operation and water draining operation in this operation system are
It is possible from the master unit and the slave unit, and the display of the operation state is the same. Although the water temperature sensor and the water removal confirmation sensor are used for the sensor unit in the above-described embodiment, an optical sensor may be further used. An optical sensor can be attached to this system and the electric water drain plug can be automatically controlled by light such as natural light or artificial light.

The operating system of the water pipe freeze prevention device may incorporate electric equipment other than the water drain plug. Examples of the built-in device include an alarm device, a measuring instrument, an electric device, and a water heater. The communication system of the remote centralized operation system for this anti-freezing device is about 350
Utilizing a power line carrier system using a carrier frequency of KHz,
The FSK digital modulation method is used. Signal sensitivity is 20
It is less than mV, and the transmission speed is about 0.5 msec. When there is a risk of a signal leaking to a neighboring house, it is desirable to install a blocking filter according to signal transmission in the power line so that the signal does not leak to the outside.

[0016]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to significantly save labor in the construction of the water pipe freeze prevention device in which a large number of electric water drain plugs can be intensively operated. Also,
Since the slave unit can be arbitrarily removed from the operation system,
This antifreezing device can cope with any situation in the house.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic wiring diagram of a water pipe freeze prevention device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a sensor portion of the water pipe freeze prevention device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an individual control panel of the water pipe freeze prevention device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a remote centralized operation panel of the water pipe freeze prevention device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Housing 25 Drain Confirmation Lamp 2 Remote Central Control Panel 26 Power Supply Wiring Port 3 Individual Control Panel 31 Individual Control Panel Power Plug 4 Electric Drain Plug 32 Power Switch 5 Sensor Section 33 Changeover Switch 6 Drive Section 34 Open / Close Switch 7 Power Line 51 Water Temperature Sensor 8 Water Pipe 52 Water Draining Confirmation Sensor 21 Remote Central Control Panel Power Plugs 71, 72,
73 outlet 22 mode switch 81 rising pipe 23 operation switch 82 faucet 24 code number (symbol)

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A water drain plug provided on each of at least one rising pipe provided on a water pipe, and a drive unit connected to each water drain plug and driving these water drain plugs by electric power.
At least a sensor unit including a water temperature sensor arranged near each water drain plug and a water drain confirmation sensor arranged near each water drain plug, and the sensor unit and the drive unit are connected. One individual control panel, a power line to which the individual control panel is connected at a predetermined position, and a remote centralized control panel connected to a predetermined position of the power line are provided, and via the power line. A high-frequency signal is sent to the individual control panel to control / display the operating state of the water drain plug, and the individual control panel controls the drive unit by a control signal from the remote centralized control panel. Antifreeze device for water pipes. 2. The water pipe anti-icing device according to claim 1, wherein the individual control panel is provided with a changeover switch that disconnects from the remote centralized control panel. 3. An individual control panel connected to at least one selected from an alarm device, a measuring instrument, an electric device, and a water heater is further connected to the remote centralized operation panel. The water pipe freeze prevention device according to 2.