JP2518507B2 - How to automatically fill the bathtub - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for automatically filling a bathtub from a water heater.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the case of automatically filling hot water from a water heater in a bathtub, first of all, it is necessary to determine whether the water level of the bathtub is higher than the level of the holes in the circulation fittings of the bathtub, that is, the level of water that can be reheated and circulated. If it is judged to be above, the bathtub water level at the time of the judgment (the actual water level is unknown, but it can be estimated that the water level is just above the hole of the circulation fitting). As a water level, a reference output value corresponding to this reference water level is given to the bath water level sensor of the reheating circulation circuit, and the bath water level sensor further detects an output value corresponding to the set water level based on the reference output value. Conventionally, there has been provided a method of automatically filling water up to a set bathtub water level by dropping water into the bathtub. Two conventional methods have been provided as methods for determining whether or not the water level in the bathtub is equal to or higher than the water level at which reheating is possible. The first method is a method of determining that the water level of the bathtub is equal to or higher than the water level at which circulation is possible by repeating a predetermined amount of dropping and circulation determination by driving a circulation pump after the start of the dropping operation. In the second method, when the bathtub water level reaches the hole of the circulation fitting of the bathtub in the initial stage of dropping, an inflection point appears in the detection value of the bathtub water level sensor provided in the reheating circulation circuit,
By catching this inflection point, it can be seen that the bathtub water level is lower than the reheatable circulating water level (water level beyond the hole of the circulation fitting) by a certain water level at that time, so a certain amount of water is added after this inflection point is detected. By doing so, it is a method of determining that the water level is higher than the recirculating recirculationable water level.

[0003]

However, in the first method described above, it is possible to reliably determine the recirculating water level that can be reheated, but since the drop and the circulation determination are repeated a plurality of times, a plurality of times are required. There is a problem of noise when determining the circulation. If you increase the amount dropped once,
There is a possibility that the water level that can be reheated and recirculated will greatly exceed, and in this case, the standard water level itself will deviate significantly from the expected water level (the water level just above the hole in the circulation fittings of the bathtub).
There is a drawback that it is impossible to fill the water accurately to the set water level. On the other hand, in the second method, as long as the inflection point can be reliably detected, it is usually confirmed that the circulation pump is actually driven to determine the circulation, which is higher than the reheatable circulating water level. It only needs to be done once, and the noise due to the circulation determination is reduced. Further, the bathtub water level at the time when the circulation determination is made does not greatly exceed the recirculating water level that can be reheated, so that the water filling to the set water level can be performed accurately. However, this second
If air is mixed in the reheating circulation circuit when the above method is adopted, a pseudo inflection point may occur due to the behavior of the air, and the inflection point to be detected can be accurately determined. There was a big defect that it could not be detected.

Therefore, the present invention solves the above-mentioned drawbacks of the conventional method and reduces the occurrence of the drawbacks in the case of using the method based on the circulation determination and the method of detecting the inflection point, and each has its own. The purpose is to provide an automatic filling method for bathtubs that can take advantage of its advantages.

[0005]

To achieve the above object, the method of automatically filling a bathtub according to the present invention automatically drops hot water from a water heater into the bathtub via a reheating circulation circuit of the bathtub. At the same time, it is first determined that the water level of the bathtub has become higher than the level at which it can be reheated and recirculated due to this drop, and it is assumed that the bathtub water level at the time of this determination is a certain reference water level and A corresponding reference output value is given to the bathtub water level sensor of the reheating circulation circuit, and the bathtub water level sensor is further dropped based on the output reference value until the output value corresponding to the set water level is detected. A method of automatically filling a bathtub, determining whether or not the drop flow rate per unit time at the beginning of operation becomes a predetermined constant flow rate or more,
In the case of a certain flow rate or more, by catching the inflection point of the output value of the bath water level sensor by monitoring the bath water level sensor,
As a result, it is detected that the bathtub water level has reached the level of the circulating metal fitting which is slightly lower than the water level at which the reheating can be circulated, and after the inflection point is detected, a predetermined fixed amount of water is dropped to reach the circulatory water level or more. It is confirmed that the circulating flow is determined, and if the flow rate per unit time at the beginning of the operation is less than a certain flow rate, then a constant amount of water is dropped and the actual circulation determination by the drive of the circulation pump is repeated. The feature is that it is determined that the water level is above the circulating water level.

[0006]

According to the features of the present invention, when the automatic hot water filling operation from the water heater to the bathtub is started, whether or not the drop flow rate per unit time at the beginning of the operation becomes a predetermined constant flow rate or more. Is determined. Here, the drop flow rate per unit time being equal to or greater than a predetermined constant flow rate means that the air mixed in the reheating circulation circuit is sufficiently discharged to the bathtub side. The predetermined constant flow rate is experimentally determined. That is, the thickness and length of the tube of the reheating circulation circuit, the water pressure entering the circulation circuit, etc.
An experiment is conducted in advance according to the water filling device, and the flow rate per unit time generated when the mixed air is discharged is adopted. When the drop flow rate is equal to or higher than a certain flow rate, the drop is continued until the inflection point of the output value of the bath water level sensor is detected, and when the inflection point is detected, a further fixed amount is dropped. After this, the circulation pump is driven to make a circulation determination for confirmation. on the other hand,
When the drop flow rate is less than the fixed flow rate, the drop of the fixed amount of water and the actual circulation determination by driving the circulation pump are repeated until the bath water level becomes equal to or higher than the circulating water level. When it is confirmed that the water level is higher than the recirculation recirculating water level, it is assumed that the bathtub water level at the time of this confirmation is a certain reference water level, and the reference output value corresponding to this reference water level is the bathtub level. It is given to the water level sensor, and is dropped until the bath water level sensor detects an output value corresponding to the set water level based on the output reference value. As described above, in the method of the present invention, it is determined whether or not air is mixed in the reheating circulation circuit based on the flow rate per unit time, and if the air is not mixed, it is changed. The water level that can be reheated and recirculated is determined using inflection point detection. In addition, when it is considered that air is mixed, the method of repeating circulation determination is used to determine the recirculating water level, so there is less noise using inflection point detection, and up to the set water level. In addition to being able to perform accurate filling of water, it is possible to ensure reliable filling of water by repeated circulation determination even in a range where filling of water cannot be reliably performed by the method of detecting the inflection point.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a hot water supply device with a bathtub function in which the method of the present invention is implemented, and FIG. 2 is a flow chart for explaining an embodiment of the method of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, 10 is a bathtub, and a reheating circulation circuit 20 composed of a bath return pipe 21 and a bath outflow pipe 22 is circulated from the bathtub 10 to a reheating heat exchange can body 30. Reference numeral 40 denotes a water heater, in which the water that has entered the water heater 40 through the water inlet pipe 41 is heated there to become hot water and is discharged to the hot water outlet pipe 42. The hot water of the hot water outlet pipe 42 is separated into a general hot water supply passage 44 and a bath automatic hot water supply passage 45 via a water mixing valve 43 and the like. From the water inlet pipe 41, a bath automatic water supply channel
46 broke up.

The bath automatic hot water supply passage 45 is provided with a drop water amount sensor 45a on the way, and hot water is dropped into the hot water solenoid valve 45.
It is poured into the backflow prevention hopper 47 through b. Further, the bath automatic water supply passage 46 is also dropped and poured into the backflow prevention hopper 47 through the water solenoid valve 46b. From the backflow prevention hopper 47, a common drop path 48 is connected to the bath return pipe 21 of the reheating circulation circuit 20 via a three-way valve 51. The bath return pipe
21 is a bath water level sensor 52, both transfer solenoid valves 53, circulation pump
54, a bath water flow switch 55, a bath temperature sensor 56 and the like are provided. Reference numeral 23 is a bypass pipe that bypasses the heat-exchange can body 30 for reheating, and an opening / closing valve 23a is provided on the way.

The bathtub 10 is provided with a circulation fitting 11,
The bath return pipe 21 is connected to the outer pipe 11a of the double pipe, and the bath return pipe 22 is connected to the inner pipe 11b. A controller 60 has a built-in microcomputer and controls each part of the apparatus in each operation such as a hot water supply operation and a reheating operation.
Now, when the bath reheating operation is commanded, the controller 6
The circulation pump is driven through 0, and the bath water is circulated by the circulation fitting 1
1 enters the bath return pipe 21 from the outer pipe 11a, circulates in the heat-exchange can body 30 for reheating, and is heated.
And returns to the bathtub 10 from the inner pipe 11b of the circulation fitting 11. When the bath automatic hot water filling operation is instructed, the drop hot water solenoid valve 45b is opened, and the hot water from the water heater 40 flows from the bath automatic hot water supply passage 45 into the backflow prevention hopper 4.
7. Enter the bath return pipe 21 through the common drop channel 48 and the three-way valve 51. And the bath return pipe 2 for single-sided transport
1 through the bath outflow pipe 22, the inner pipe of the circulation fitting 11
It is introduced into the bathtub 10 from 11b. In case of both transportation
Both transfer solenoid valves 53 are also opened to the bath return pipe 21.
The hot water introduced is both the bath return pipe 22 and the bath return pipe 21.
It flows into the bathtub 10 from the other side through the circulation fitting 11.

Next, the control by the controller 60 in the automatic filling operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Now, when the water level of the bathtub is set by a remote controller (not shown) and the automatic water filling operation switch for the bathtub is turned on, first, the drop hot water solenoid valve 45b is opened (S
1), hot water is introduced into the circulation circuit 20 via the three-way valve 51, and the maximum amount of 30 liters is reached in both transports from the bath return pipe 21 and the bath outflow pipe 22 to the bathtub 10 via the circulation fitting 11. Drop it (S2). During this time, the controller 60 monitors whether or not the flow rate of the drop per unit time is equal to or more than a certain level, based on the information from the drop water amount sensor 45a (S3). In the case of the embodiment, for example, the water pressure is 1.3 Kgf /
The constant flow rate is 15 liter / min in cm.

When the flow rate per unit time is above a certain level (Yes in S3), the controller 60 at that time adopts the inflection point detection mode as the control flow. That is,
When both of the above-mentioned transportations are completed, it is necessary to return the bath to the bath
From the pipe 21 through the bath outflow pipe 22, the bathtub circulation fitting 11
While performing the single-sided conveyance performed through the inner pipe 11b of the (S
4) The controller monitors the detection output value of the bath water level sensor 52 and detects the inflection point of this detection output value (S5).
This is because the inflection point, the tub water level H is becomes a level H _c reaching the outer tube 11a of the circulating fitting 11, so coming pressure is applied by bath water level to the wind Lu return pipe 21, tub water level sensor The detected output value of 52 changes in a situation different from the output curve up to that point, that is, a change such that the detected output curve is significantly increased. The starting point of this change is the inflection point.
When the inflection point is detected (Yes in S5), it can be inferred that the water level H _c has been almost reached. Therefore, this time, the water level H ₁ just over the hole of the circulation fitting 11 should be set. Then, a fixed amount (this amount can be obtained in advance as an almost accurate amount depending on the size of the circulation fitting 11) is dropped into the bathtub 10 by both conveyances (S6).

[0013] The predetermined amount by dropping the bath 10 (S6) in both the transport, bath water level but H should become recyclable water level H ₁ reheating, further confirmed circulation determination (S11)
After performing and confirming, the reference water level H ₁ is stored assuming that this water level is a constant reference water level H ₁ . The output value of the bath water level sensor 52 at this time is set to the reference output value P ₁
Is set and stored (S12). The confirmation circulation judgment (S
In the step 11), it also serves as an air purging operation for eliminating the air in the circulation circuit 20. That is, the three-way valve 51 is switched to complete the reheating circulation circuit 20 and the circulation pump 54 is driven in a strong state to circulate the bath water in the circulation circuit 20. Confirm that the bath water flow switch 55 is turned on for a certain period of time to confirm the circulation.
It is said.

When the storage of the reference water level H ₁ and the corresponding reference output value P ₁ of the bath water level sensor 52 are determined (S 1
2), the set water level H so determined even if the output value P _S of the tub water level sensor 52 corresponding to the _S, bathtub water level sensor 52 the output value P _S
Both conveyances are performed until is output (S13, S14). As a result, a substantially predetermined set water level can be actually obtained.
In the case of water filling through the inflection point mode, as long as the inflection point can be accurately captured, the water level H ₁ that is the reference for water filling is
However, since it is possible to match the presumed water level quite accurately, the water filling up to the set water level H _S is also accurate.

In the above step S3, when the flow rate per unit time does not reach a certain level during the transportation of both 30 liters (NO in S3), the controller 60 performs the actual circulation as a control flow. A circulation determination mode for determining the presence or absence of circulation is adopted. That is, after both the above-mentioned conveyances are completed, first, the three-way valve 51 is switched, the circulation pump 54 is driven, and it is determined whether or not the bath water circulates in the circulation circuit 20 (S7). Normally (when there is no residual water), the bathtub water level is insufficient to allow circulation (No in S7), so a fixed amount of water is further conveyed (S8), and the circulation determination (S9) is circulated. Repeat until the determination is OK.
When the circulation determination is OK, a certain amount of water is dropped as a precaution (S10), and then a confirmation circulation determination is made (S11). Subsequent operations S11 to S14 are the same as those already described.

[0016]

According to the method of automatically filling a bathtub according to the first aspect of the present invention, in the case of a constant flow rate or more depending on the drop flow rate per unit time at the beginning of operation. In order to determine the reheatable circulating water level using the inflection point detection, and when the flow rate is less than a certain amount, the recirculation determination is repeated to determine the reheatable circulating water level. The advantage of the point detection method can be utilized as much as possible, and it is possible to reduce the noise and accurately fill the water up to the set water level. Moreover, if the method of detecting the inflection point is used due to fluctuations in the filling condition, etc., and there is a drawback that the filling cannot be performed accurately, in that case, the method of repeated circulation determination is used. Since the filling is automatically switched to the filling by the method described above, the reliable filling can be guaranteed without causing a defect due to the method of detecting the inflection point.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a hot water supply device with a bath kettle function in which the method of the present invention is implemented.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of the method of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Bathtub 11 Circulation fitting 20 Reheating circulation circuit 21 Bath return pipe 22 Bath outflow pipe 30 Heat reheating can body 40 for reheating 40 Hot water heater 45 Automatic bath hot water supply passage 45a Drop water amount sensor 51 Three-way valve 52 Bath water level sensor 53 Both transfer solenoid valve 54 Circulation pump 55 Bath water flow switch 56 Bath temperature sensor 60 Controller

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. Hot water from a water heater is automatically dropped into the bathtub via a reheating circulation circuit of the bathtub, and
It is first judged that the water level of the bathtub has become higher than the water level that can be reheated and circulated due to this drop, and it is assumed that the water level of the bathtub at the time of this judgment is a certain standard water level, and a standard corresponding to this standard water level. An output value is given to the bath water level sensor of the reheating circulation circuit, and based on the output reference value, the bath water level sensor further drops until it detects an output value corresponding to the set water level. It is an automatic filling method, and it is judged whether the drop flow rate per unit time at the beginning of operation exceeds a predetermined constant flow rate, and if it exceeds the constant flow rate, the bath level sensor is monitored. And catch the inflection point of the output value of the bathtub water level sensor,
As a result, it is detected that the bathtub water level has reached the level of the circulating metal fitting which is slightly lower than the water level at which the reheating can be circulated, and after the inflection point is detected, a predetermined fixed amount of water is dropped to reach the circulatory water level or more. It is confirmed that the circulating flow rate is determined, and if the drop flow rate per unit time at the beginning of the operation is less than a constant flow rate, then a constant water flow rate drop and the actual circulation determination by driving the circulation pump are repeated to make a bathtub. An automatic filling method for a bathtub, characterized in that it is determined that the water level has reached a level above which circulation is possible.