JP2551341B2 - Bath unit - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is a combination of a purifying device for purifying hot water in a bathtub while circulating it, and an automatic hot water bath device for supplying hot water to a bathtub or a currant and reheating hot water in the bathtub. About the bath unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional bath unit is provided with a purifying device for purifying hot and cold water in a bathtub while circulating it, and a heat retaining device for preventing the temperature of hot and cold water in the bathtub from decreasing. It is provided to make bathing enjoyable.

By the way, as a purifying device, there is one provided with a so-called biological filter bed for removing organic matter which is a source of propagation of various bacteria by the action of microorganisms. However, it is necessary to secure the dissolved oxygen at all times in order for the microorganisms to survive. Therefore, a purification circulation pump is provided in the middle of the purification circulation channel passing through the biological filter bed and the bath so that hot and cold water containing air flows in the biological filter bed.

On the other hand, as a heat retaining device for retaining hot water in the bathtub, there is one using an electric heater as a heating source. However, when such an electric heater is used, running cost becomes high.

Therefore, it is conceivable to use an existing automatic hot-water supply bath device capable of supplying hot water to a bathtub or a currant, reheating the hot water in the bathtub, etc. by gas combustion as a heat retaining device for the bath unit. ing.

[0006]

When a bath water purifying device and an automatic hot water supply bath device are installed side by side, in a configuration in which each device is independently mounted in the bath, a pipe connection port for each device with respect to the bath Therefore, not only the appearance of the bathtub is deteriorated, but also the workability such as connection work is deteriorated.

Therefore, it is conceivable to connect an automatic hot water supply bath device in the middle of the purification circulation flow path constituting the conventional purification device to reduce the number of pipe connection ports, but simply replace the automatic hot water supply bath device with the purification circulation flow. The following problems occur when connecting in the middle of the road.

That is, as described above, the automatic hot-water supply bath device is a general hot-water supply for supplying hot water to a scallop or a shower, a hot-water supply for supplying hot water to a bathtub, a reheating when the hot water temperature in the bathtub drops, etc. There are various functions of. In particular, in the case of the hot water supply from the bath described above, cold water from the water supply passage is heated by the heat exchanger in the automatic hot water supply bath device and then dropped toward the bathtub. Moreover, in order to automatically perform hot water supply in the bath, it is necessary to detect whether or not the required amount of hot and cold water has been filled in the bathtub, so in the middle of the flow path communicating with the bathtub, the hot and cold water in the bathtub is A water level sensor for detecting the water level is arranged. As the water level sensor in this case, for example, a semiconductor pressure sensor or the like for detecting the head pressure of hot water stored in the bathtub is used.

Here, as described above, for example, when the automatic hot water supply bath device is simply connected in the middle of the discharge side of the purification circulation flow path constituting the purification device, in order to perform the bath hot water supply described above, When trying to detect the water level in the bathtub with the sensor, hot water discharged from the purification circulation pump of the purification device at that time passes from the purification circulation flow passage through the flow passage communicating with the bath in the automatic hot water supply bath device. Flow to the place where the water level sensor is installed. As a result, this flowing water pressure is additionally applied to the water level sensor, so the detection output of the water level sensor does not correspond to the actual water level of the hot water stored in the bathtub, which causes an error in water level detection, and the desired water level is detected. The amount of hot water is no longer stored in the bathtub. Furthermore, even if the water level sensor does not detect the water level in the bathtub, the hot water discharged from the purification circulation pump flows from the purification circulation channel into the flow path that communicates with the bathtub in the automatic hot water supply bath device. There is also a problem that the bath hot water supply cannot be performed smoothly because it goes against the above.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the purification device and the automatic hot-water supply bath device are organically combined without any functional problem to purify the bath water, It is an object of the present invention to smoothly perform bath hot water supply, hot water retention in a bathtub, and the like.

[0011]

That is, according to the present invention,
Purification by constantly circulating hot and cold water in the bathtub by operating the pump
In a bath unit equipped with a
When you have a water level sensor that detects the water level,
Hot water is supplied to Momi Karan, and hot water in the bathtub is removed.
Equipped with an automatic hot-water supply bath device that performs heating, etc.
Heating circulation channel that reheats hot water in the bathtub
Connected in the middle of the purification circulation flow path that constitutes the purification device.
On the other hand, hot water is supplied to the bathtub via the automatic hot water supply bath device.
Depending on the setting of the bath hot water supply mode
A flow that blocks the flow of hot water into the automatic hot-water bath device.
The structure is provided with an entrance preventing means.

[0012]

[0013]

In the bath unit having the above structure, when the bath hot water supply mode is set, in response to this, the inflow prevention means causes the hot and cold water discharged from the purification circulation channel of the purification device to operate in the automatic hot water supply bath device. Since it prevents the water from flowing into the flow path toward the bathtub, not only can the water level sensor of the automatic hot water supply bath device accurately detect the water level in the bathtub, but the hot and cold water from the automatic hot water supply bath device will flow smoothly into the bathtub. Dropped.

[0014]

1 is a block diagram of a bath unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes the entire bath unit, 2 is a bathtub, 4 is a purifying device for purifying hot water in the bathtub by circulating it, 6 is hot water supply to the bathtub 2 and the currant 8, and in the bathtub 2. Automatic hot-water supply bath device that reheats hot water
Reference numeral 0 is a controller for controlling the operation of both devices 4 and 6 in accordance with various mode settings.

A composite nozzle 12 is attached to one location of the bath 2, and the composite nozzle 12 has a double pipe structure composed of an inner cylinder portion 12a and an outer cylinder portion 12b as shown in FIG. And the purifying device 4 to be described later is attached to the inner cylindrical portion 12a.
The outlet 14out of the purification circulation channel 14 and one end of the air pipe 15 for air blow are connected to each other, and the suction port 14in of the purification circulation channel 14 is connected to the outer cylinder 12b. Hot water containing air bubbles is ejected from the bath 12a into the bathtub 2, and the hot water in the bathtub 2 is sucked into the purification circulation passage 14 between the inner tubular portion 12a and the outer tubular portion 12b. Reference numeral 17 is an opening / closing valve provided in the middle of the air pipe 15.

The purifying device 4 includes a purifying circulation pump 1 in the middle of the purifying circulation water passage 14 from the suction side toward the discharge side.
6, on-off valve 18, filtration tank 20, two three-way valves 22a, 2
2b, a pair of biological filter beds 24a, 24b, a sterilizer 26,
And the flow-path shutoff valve 28 is sequentially arranged. further,
An intermediate position between the sterilizing device 26 on the discharge side of the purification circulation circuit 14 and the flow passage cutoff valve 28 and the suction side of the purification circulation pump 16 are connected to each other via a bypass flow passage 30,
A bypass valve 32 is provided in the middle of the bypass passage 30.

In the present embodiment, the flow path shutoff valve 2 described above is used.
8, the bypass valve 32, the bypass passage 30, and the controller 10 constitute the inflow prevention unit 33 in the claims.

The filtration tank 20 is constructed by filling glass beads or the like in a container to remove relatively large suspended matter such as hair, dust and dirt. Further, the biological filter tanks 24a and 24b are filled with particles of activated alumina or the like in a container, and microorganisms that naturally adhere to the surface of the particles remove fine organic matters such as dust and soap. ing. Further, the sterilizer 26 is composed of, for example, an ultraviolet lamp.

Reference numerals 34, 36a, 36b and 38 are drain valves provided at the bottoms of the filter tank 20 and the biological filter beds 24a and 24b, and 40 is used when the filter tank 20 is backwashed. It is a drain valve.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, the automatic hot-water supply bath device 6 has a hot-water supply passage 42 for heating the hot-water supply to the bathtub 2 and the currant 8, and a heating circulation flow passage for reheating hot water in the bathtub 2. Four
4 and a drop channel 46 that connects both channels 42 and 44.
And have.

In the hot water supply passage 42, one a of the two connection ports a and b is connected to a water supply pipe (not shown), and the other b is connected to the kerran 8, respectively. Is provided with a heat exchanger 48 for heating hot water and a gas burner 50.

Further, the heating circulation passage 44 has two connection ports c and d, both of which are on-off valves 28 on the discharge side of the purification circulation passage 14.
And a discharge port 14out are connected in parallel at an intermediate position, and a heat exchanger 52 for heating a bath and a gas burner 54 are provided in the middle of the heating circulation channel 44.
Between the heat exchanger 52 and the one connection port c, a self-priming pump 59 for forcibly circulating the hot and cold water of the bathtub 2, the three-way valve 5
6, and a water level sensor 5 for detecting the water level of the hot water in the bathtub 2.
8 are provided.

One end of the drop passage 46 is on the discharge side of the heat exchanger 48 of the hot water supply passage 42, and the other end is the three-way valve 5.
6 are connected to each of them, and the water sensor 6
0, a drop water solenoid valve 61, and an edge cutoff valve 62 are provided. The edge cutoff valve 62 is interlocked with the drop water solenoid valve 61, and the drop water solenoid valve 6
When 1 is opened, the drop passage 46 is shut off from the atmosphere in response to this, and when the drop water electromagnetic valve 61 is closed, the drop passage 46 is made to communicate with the atmosphere accordingly.

Next, the operation of the bath unit 1 having the above structure will be described.

In this bath unit 1, the following various modes can be selected.

(1) Automatic operation mode (a) Automatic hot water supply mode (b) Automatic water supply mode (c) Automatic heat retention mode (2) General operation mode (a) Reheating mode (b) Water supply mode (c) Temperature decrease mode Above The automatic operation mode (1) is activated in response to the input of the automatic operation switch and continues the operation operation for 24 hours or more, and the operation stop time can be set in advance. In the (1) (a) automatic hot water supply mode, the bathtub 2 is passed through the hot water supply flow path 42, the drop flow path 46, and the heating circulation flow path 44 in accordance with the automatic hot water supply switch input.
Hot water supply is started, and when the water level sensor 58 detects that the bathtub 2 is filled with a predetermined amount of hot water, the hot water supply is stopped. In the automatic water replenishment mode of (1) and (b), the water level in the bathtub 2 is detected every preset time, and hot water is supplied if the water level falls below the allowable amount. (1) In the automatic heat retention mode of (c), the water temperature is detected every predetermined time, and if the water temperature falls below the allowable temperature, the self-priming pump 59 of the heating circulation channel 44 is started, Gas burner 54
Is ignited and the water in the bathtub 2 is reheated.

In the general operation mode (2), the operation is stopped in accordance with the operation stop switch input after a predetermined time (for example, 4 hours) has elapsed from the operation start switch input or until the time elapses. Has become. Then, in the heating mode of (2) (a), the self-priming pump 59 of the heating circulation channel 44 is started and the gas burner 5
4 is ignited, and the water in the bathtub 2 is reheated. (2)
In the water replenishment mode of (b), a predetermined amount of hot water is supplied to the bathtub 2 via the hot water supply passage 42, the drop passage 46, and the heating circulation passage 44. Further, in the temperature decrease mode of (2) (c), a predetermined amount of water is supplied to the bathtub 2 via the hot water supply flow channel 42, the drop flow channel 46, and the heating circulation flow channel 44, so that the bathtub 2 The temperature of the hot water is reduced.

Then, (1) (a), (b), and (2) (a),
In each of the modes (b) and (c), the inflow prevention means 33 operates at that time because hot water is supplied to the bathtub 2.

That is, taking the automatic water replenishment mode of (1) and (b) as an example, the controller 10 activates the purification circulation pump 16 of the purification device 4 in order to purify the hot water in the bathtub 2. The flow path shutoff valve 28 is opened and the bypass valve 32 is closed. In this state,
The hot and cold water in the bathtub 2 is sucked from the suction port 14in of the purification circulation channel 14 and is pressurized and discharged by the purification circulation pump 16, and this hot and cold water is filtered by the filtration tank 20 and the biological filter beds 24a, 24b.
After being purified by passing through the inside and the sterilizing device 26 in sequence,
Further, it passes through the flow path cutoff valve 28 and flows out from the discharge port 14out into the bathtub 2. A part of the hot water passing through the flow path shutoff valve 28 is heated by the heating circulation flow path 44 of the automatic hot water supply bath apparatus 6.
It also flows in.

The controller 10 closes the flow path shutoff valve 28 and opens the bypass valve 32 every predetermined time (for example, 15 minutes). Then, the hot and cold water flowing out from the purification circulation pump 16 is filtered by the filtration tank 20 and the biological filter beds 24a, 2a.
4b and the sterilizer 26 are sequentially passed through for purification, and then the purification circulation channel 14 is passed through the bypass channel 33.
It joins with the suction side of and is again discharged by the circulation pump 16.

In other words, in this state, the flow path shutoff valve 28 shuts off the purification circulation flow path 14 on the downstream side of the flow path shutoff valve 28 to cause a short cycle in the purification device 4, so that the heating circulation of the automatic hot water supply bath device 6 is performed. Hot and cold water pressurized by the purification circulation pump 16 does not flow into the flow path 44. Therefore, no extra flowing water pressure is applied to the water level sensor 58 arranged in the heating circulation flow path 44, and only the head pressure of the hot water in the bathtub 2 is applied.

Therefore, the controller 10 has a predetermined time (for example, 15 seconds) from the time when this short cycle occurs.
After that, the detection output of the water level sensor 58 is fetched and the water level in the bathtub 2 is detected.

If a predetermined amount of hot and cold water is stored in the bathtub 2 by the water level detection, it is not necessary to supply hot water to the bathtub 2. Therefore, the flow path shutoff valve 28 is opened and the bypass valve 32 is closed.

On the other hand, when the water level sensor 58 detects that the hot water in the bathtub 2 is insufficient, the controller 10 closes the flow path shutoff valve 28 of the purifying device 4 and opens the bypass valve 32. The automatic hot water supply bath device 6 is started in the state where the short cycle is maintained. That is, the three-way valve 56 of the automatic hot-water supply bath device 6 is switched to connect the heating circulation passage 44 and the drop passage 46 to each other, and the drop water electromagnetic valve 61 of the drop passage 46 is opened to ignite the gas burner 50. As a result, the cold water from the water supply pipe is heated when passing through the heat exchanger 48, and this hot water flows from the falling flow path 46 through the three-way valve 56 and the connection port c of the heating circulation flow path 44 to the purification circulation flow path. Hot water is supplied into the bathtub 2 from the discharge port 14out of the nozzle 14 through the inner cylindrical portion 12a of the composite nozzle 12. Also in this case, since the hot and cold water pressurized by the purification circulation pump 16 does not flow into the heating circulation passage 44 of the automatic hot water supply bath apparatus 6, the water is smoothly dropped into the bathtub 2.

Then, the controller 10 fetches the detection output of the water level sensor 58 substantially continuously (for example, 100 mm seconds) from the time when the automatic hot water supply bath device 6 is started to start dropping hot water into the bathtub 2. The water level in the bathtub 2 is detected.

If a predetermined amount of hot and cold water is stored in the bathtub 2 by the water level detection, the drop water solenoid valve 61 of the automatic hot water supply bath device 6 is closed and the three-way valve 56 is switched to establish the heating circulation passage 44. While blocking the communication with the drop flow path 46, the flow path cutoff valve 28 of the purification device 4 is opened and the bypass valve 32 is closed.

The temperature of the hot water in the bathtub 2 is detected every predetermined time (for example, 15 minutes) by a temperature sensor (not shown). If the hot water temperature falls below a predetermined value, the controller 10 cleans the water. While maintaining the operating state of the purification circulation pump 16 of the device 4, the three-way valve 56 of the automatic hot water supply bath device 6 cuts off the communication between the heating circulation passage 44 and the drop passage 46, and the gas burner of the heating circulation passage 44. Ignite 54. As a result, hot water flows in from the discharge side of the purification circulation channel 14 via one connection port c of the heating circulation channel 44,
After this is reheated by the heat exchanger 52, the other connection port
It is returned from d to the discharge side of the purification circulation channel 14, and flows out into the bath 2 from the discharge port 14out. In this case, bathtub 2
The hot water inside is also stirred by flowing through the purification circulation flow path 14 of the purification device 4, so that the hot water temperature is accurately detected.

In the above embodiment, the connection side of the heating circulation passage 44 of the automatic hot water supply bath device 6 is provided on the discharge side of the purification circulation passage 14.
Although c and d are connected, it is also possible to connect to the suction side of the purification circulation channel 14.

Further, in the above embodiment, the inflow prevention means 3
3 is composed of the flow path shutoff valve 28, the bypass valve 32, the bypass flow path 30, and the controller 10,
When the bypass passage 30 and the bypass valve 32 are omitted and the water level sensor 58 detects the water level of the hot water in the bathtub 2,
Also, the object can be achieved in the same manner by stopping the operation of the purification circulation pump 16 when the hot-water supply bath device 6 is activated to drop hot water into the bathtub 2. That is, the time required to detect the water level of the hot water in the bathtub 2 by the water level sensor 58 and to start the automatic hot water supply bath device 6 to drop the hot water into the bathtub 2 can be relatively short. Stopping the purification circulation pump 16 has almost no effect on the biological filter beds 24a and 24b, while stopping the purification circulation pump 16 pressurizes the heating circulation passage 44 of the automatic hot water supply bath device 6. Since hot water does not flow in, the water level in the bathtub 2 can be smoothly detected and dropped.

Further, as the inflow prevention means 33, FIG.
The configuration shown in FIG. 4 can be used instead of the configuration shown in FIG. That is, in the embodiment of FIG. 4, the one-way connection port c of the heating circulation passage 44 of the automatic hot-water supply bath device 6 and the purification circulation passage 44 are connected via the three-way valve 60, and the heating circulation passage 44. The other connection port d and the purification circulation flow path 44 are connected via the flow path cutoff valve 62, respectively, and
Inner pipe portion 12a of the composite nozzle 12 attached to the bathtub 2
In place of the air pipe 15 of FIG. 1, one end of a dual-purpose flow channel 64 for both dropping hot water and detecting the water level is connected, and the other end of the dual-purpose flow channel 64 is connected to the three-way valve 60.

In the structure shown in FIG. 4, when the water level sensor 58 detects the water level of the hot water in the bathtub 2, the three-way valve 60 is switched so that one connection port c of the circulation flow path 44 becomes the dual-purpose flow path 64. While communicating, the flow path cutoff valve 62 is closed. Then, the hot and cold water in the bathtub 2 is circulated by the purification circulation pump 16 and the purification circulation flow passage 14, but the hot and cold water pressurized by the purification circulation pump 16 is the three-way valve 60 and the flow passage cutoff valve 6.
2 prevents the hot water bath apparatus 6 from flowing into the heating circulation passage 44. Therefore, no extra flowing water pressure is applied to the water level sensor 58 arranged in the heating circulation flow path 44, and only the head pressure of the hot water in the bathtub 2 is applied through the combined flow path 64. Therefore, the water level sensor 58 can accurately detect the water level in the bathtub 2.

Also, when the automatic hot-water supply bath device 6 is activated and hot water is dropped into the bathtub 2, the three-way valve 60 is switched so that one connection port c of the circulation flow path 44 also serves as the dual-purpose flow path, as in the above. The flow path cutoff valve 62 is closed while being communicated with 64. Then, the hot water supply passage 4 of the automatic hot water supply bath device 6
The hot and cold water heated in 2 is dropped into the bath 2 through the dropping flow path 46, the connection port c of the heating circulation flow path 44, the three-way valve 60, and the combined flow path 64 in order. Also in this case, the purification circulation pump 1 is provided in the heating circulation passage 44 of the automatic hot water supply bath device 6.
Since the hot and cold water pressurized at 6 does not flow in, it can be smoothly dropped into the bathtub 2.

Further, in order to keep the hot and cold water in the bathtub 2 warm, when the reheating is performed, the three-way valve 60 is switched so that one connection port c of the heating circulation passage 44 is communicated with the purification circulation passage 14. At the same time, the flow path shutoff valve 62 is opened to communicate with the purification circulation flow path 14. That is, both the connection ports c and d of the heating circulation channel 44 are communicated with the purification circulation channel 14. Thereby, from the discharge side of the purification circulation flow path 14, the three-way valve 60,
Hot water flows in sequentially via one connection port c of the heating circulation flow path 44, is heated by the heat exchanger 52, and then is purified and circulated from the other connection port d via the flow path blocking valve 62. It is recirculated to the discharge side of the flow path 14 and flows out of the discharge port 14out into the bath 2 through the inner cylindrical portion 12b of the composite nozzle 12.

[0045]

According to the present invention, since the purifying device and the automatic hot-water supply bath device are functionally and organically integrated without any problem, workability such as connecting a pipe to a bathtub is not only improved. Instead, it becomes possible to smoothly purify hot water in the bathtub, supply hot water to the bathtub, and keep warm water in the bathtub.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a bath unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing details of a composite nozzle used in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of an automatic hot-water supply bath device that constitutes the bath unit of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing a modified example of arrangement and connection of an automatic hot-water supply bath device that constitutes a bath unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Bath unit, 2 ... Bathtub, 4 ... Purification device, 6 ... Automatic hot water supply bath device, 10 ... Controller, 14 ... Purification circulation flow path, 33 ... Inflow prevention means, 44 ... Heating circulation flow path.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] Claim: What is claimed is: 1. A bath unit equipped with a purifying device for purifying hot and cold water in a bathtub at all times by operating a pump, and having a water level sensor for detecting the water level in the bathtub to supply hot water to the bathtub. Along with the hot water supply to the curran , and further equipped with an automatic hot-water supply bath device for reheating the hot water in the bathtub, the heating circulation flow path for reheating the hot water in the bathtub of the automatic hot water supply bath device is the purification device. While connected in the middle of the purification circulation flow path constituting the, the purification circulation flow path into the automatic hot water supply bath device according to the setting of the bath hot water supply mode for supplying hot water into the bathtub via the automatic hot water supply bath device. A bath unit characterized by being provided with an inflow blocking means for blocking the inflow of hot water.