JP2677300B2 - Hot water mixing equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a hot and cold water mixing apparatus.

(B) Conventional technology Conventionally, a temperature sensor is provided on the discharge side of the hot and cold water mixing device,
The detected value of the sensor is input to the control device, the detected value is compared with the set temperature, and the hot water side and the water side flow rate adjusting valves are controlled based on the comparison result, and the mixed hot and cold water of the set temperature is set. There is a hot and cold water mixing device that discharges water, and while the control operation is being performed, power is continuously supplied from the power supply to the control device.

(C) Problem to be Solved by the Invention In the temperature control of mixed hot water as described above, the temperature and pressure of the hot water supplied to the hot water combination apparatus are relatively stable,
Also, since the heat capacity of the device itself is quite large, once the temperature of the mixed hot water to be discharged reaches near the set temperature, the temperature change of the mixed hot water to be discharged will change even if the temperature and pressure of the hot water supplied are slightly changed. Is loose.

Therefore, once the temperature of the mixed hot water reaches near the set temperature, it is possible to perform temperature control to the extent that there is no practical problem even if the frequency of control operation is less than the frequency before reaching the set temperature. is there.

However, in the conventional temperature control of mixed hot and cold water, electric power is continuously supplied to the control device while the same control is being performed, so that the power saving opportunity is ignored and power is wasted. It was

(C) Means for Solving the Problems In the present invention, the mixed hot and cold water having the set temperature, which is equipped with the control device, the temperature sensor provided on the discharge side, and the hot water side and the water side flow rate adjusting valve, is discharged. In the hot and cold water mixing device, a power supply is provided between the control device and a power supply that supplies power to the control device.
When the absolute value of the difference between the set temperature and the detected value of the temperature sensor is larger than a preset constant value via the ON-OFF circuit, the power is continuously supplied from the power supply to the control device, When the absolute value of the difference is smaller than a fixed value, the hot and cold water mixing apparatus is configured to be intermittently energized at a predetermined time interval.

(E) Action / Effect With the above configuration, when the absolute value of the difference between the temperature of the mixed hot water detected by the temperature sensor and the set temperature is smaller than a certain value, that is, when the temperature of the mixed hot water approaches the set temperature, Because the power supplied from the power supply to the control device is intermittently energized at predetermined time intervals, the power required for control is greatly reduced while controlling the temperature of the mixed hot and cold water that does not hinder practical use for the reasons described above. It is possible to save power.

(F) Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a hot water mixing apparatus (B) according to the present invention, and a hot water side and water side flow control valve (V1) (V2 ), The hot water supply pipe and the water supply pipe are connected to each other, and the outlets of the respective valves (V1) and (V2) are arranged to face each other and communicate with each other, so that the water is supplied from the hot water supply pipe and the water supply pipe. The flow ratio and the sum of the flow rates of the hot water and the hot water are adjusted by the hot-water-side and water-side flow control valves (V1) and (V2) to maintain the set temperature and flow rate.

The hot water side and the water side flow control valves (V1) and (V2) have substantially the same configuration except that the flowing fluid differs between hot water and water, and are configured as follows.

That is, the inflow pipes (2) and (2) are provided on one side of the main body (1).
And an outlet pipe (3) is formed on the other side, and the outlet pipe (3) is extended inside the intersection with the inlet pipes (2) and (2), and a main valve seat is provided on an end face of the pipe (3). (4) A diaphragm (5) (5) is formed on the upper end surface of the inflow pipe (2) (2) surrounding the outer periphery of the main valve seat (4) (4). Pilot valve seat (6) in the center of diaphragm (5) (5)
(6), orifices (7) and (7) are provided in the peripheral portion,
The outlet pipes (3) and the inlet pipes (2) and (2) are communicated with each other, and the upper parts of the diaphragms (5) and (5) are closed by actuator mounting bases (8) and (8). ) (8)
Pressure chamber (9) between the diaphragm and the diaphragm (5) (5)
(9) is formed.

Piezoelectric actuators (A1) and (A2), which will be described later, are arranged on the upper surfaces of the actuator mounting bases (8) and (8), and the cylindrical plungers (P) and (P) of the actuators (A1) and (A2) are arranged. By operating the diaphragms (5) and (5) by contacting and separating the valve bodies (11) and (11) extending from the pilot valve seats (6) and (6), the main valve seats (4) and (4) )
The diaphragm (5) and (5) lower surface are brought into contact with and separated from each other to open and close the hot water side and water side flow rate adjusting valves (V1) (V2).

Piezoelectric actuators (A) and (A) provided in hot water and water flow rate adjusting valves (V1) and (V2) are, as shown in FIG. 1, a cylindrical casing (d) having front and rear walls (a) and (b). A cylindrical plunger (P) is concentrically mounted in the cylinder so as to move back and forth along the axis, and four piezoelectric elements (e) (f) are concentrically mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical plunger (P). ) (G)
It is constructed by disposing the piezoelectric tissue assembly of (h).

The piezoelectric elements (g) and (h) are attached to the tip of the holder (c).

Also, (i) and (j) indicate the base ends of the piezoelectric elements (g).
(H) and the end thereof is attached to the front and rear walls (a).
It is a cantilever-shaped elastic bridge extending toward (b).

The elastic bridges (i) and (j) have piezoelectric elements (e) and (f) attached to their outer peripheral surfaces, and brake shoes (k) and (l) fixed to their inner peripheral surfaces. .

Among these piezoelectric elements (e), (f), (g), and (h), the piezoelectric elements (e) and (f) function as clamp members, and when the power is turned on, the piezoelectric elements (g)
(H) is configured to shrink when turned off.

That is, the piezoelectric elements (e) and (f) contract in the energized state and act in the direction of reducing the inner diameter thereof to increase the clamping force of the cylindrical plunger (P), and expand in the non-energized state. The inner diameter acts in the direction of expanding the diameter to reduce the clamping force of the cylindrical plunger (P).

On the other hand, the piezoelectric elements (g) and (h) are in a state of being contracted in the axial direction on the cylindrical plunger (P) when not energized, and in the energized state, they extend on the cylindrical plunger (P),
The total length in the axial direction will be lengthened.

The cylindrical plunger (P) can move in the axial direction by controlling the four piezoelectric elements (e), (f), (g), and (h) by a control device (C) described later.

Next, the piezoelectric actuator (A1) having such a configuration
The movement of the cylindrical plunger (P) and the valve body (11) partially biased by being inserted into it by (A2) will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4.

When a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element (e) from a control device (C) described later according to a driving program, as shown in FIG. 2, the piezoelectric element (e) acts in a direction of reducing the diameter of the cylindrical plunger (P). While increasing the clamping force, the piezoelectric element (f) is released by releasing the voltage of the piezoelectric element (f) to expand the diameter.
The clamping force of the cylindrical plunger (P) due to is reduced.

Next, as shown in FIG. 3, when a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric elements (g) and (h) to expand them, the piezoelectric elements (e) and (f) are expanded.
Moves in the direction of the arrow, and accordingly, the clamping force of the piezoelectric element (e) is larger than the clamping force of the piezoelectric element (f), so the cylindrical plunger ( P) also moves in the direction of the arrow.

Then, as shown in FIG. 4, a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element (f) to increase the clamping force of the cylindrical plunger (P), and then the applied voltage of the piezoelectric element (e) is released to expand the diameter direction. When the applied force of the piezoelectric elements (g) and (h) is released while the clamping force of the cylindrical plunger force (P) is reduced by operating the piezoelectric elements (g) and (h), the piezoelectric elements (g) and (h) are shortened in the arrow direction. The plunger (P) moves further in the direction of the arrow. After that, by repeating the above operation, the cylindrical plunger (P) can be moved in the form of a worm with a stroke of the order of μm or sub μm, and the valve element (11) at the tip of the cylindrical plunger (P) It is possible to precisely operate various actuators connected and connected to the actuator.

In particular, as shown in FIG. 1, since the valve element (11) is urged in the traveling direction by the spring (S), when the cylindrical plunger (P) advances in the distal direction, the valve element (11) becomes , And at the same time, the spring (S) biases the
When the engaging portion (14) advances and stops until it engages with the engaging edge (12) and the other cylindrical plunger (P) retracts,
The engaging portion (14) engaged with the engaging edge (12) of the cylindrical plunger (P) is pulled in the backward direction, and the valve body (11) is moved backward. Further, when the plunger (P) has advanced to the limit in the tip direction, the tip of the plunger (P) contacts the front wall (a) so that the valve body (11) does not proceed any further.

Further, FIGS. 5 and 6 show the case where the hot and cold water mixing apparatus (B) is used for the automatic faucet (50) of the wash basin.
1) is a hand detection switch, (52) is an ON / OFF button, (54)
Is a discharge port, and (55) and (56) are temperature setting and flow rate setting buttons provided in the operation section (Q).

Reference numeral (53) is a temperature sensor, and the temperature sensor (53) detects the temperature of the mixed hot water, and is arranged on the hot water side and water side flow rate adjusting valves (V1) (V2) via the control device (C). The cylindrical plungers (P) (P) of the actuators (A1) (A2) are moved forward and backward to adjust the flow rate ratio and the discharge amount,
Cylindrical plunger (P) of each flow rate adjusting valve (V1) (V2)
The operation of (P) is performed in cooperation by calculation in the control device.

Next, the control device (C) that controls the actuators (A1) and (A2) will be described.

As shown in FIG. 7, the control device (C) has a temperature sensor (53), a temperature setting button (55), a flow rate setting button (56), and an ON-OFF button (at the input part of the control device (C). 52)
And the piezoelectric actuators (A1) (A2) via the drive circuit (D) connected to the hand detection switch (51) and provided in the output section.
The ON / OFF button (52) is pressed,
When the hand sensing switch (51) senses a hand, the control device (C) outputs a valve opening control output to the piezoelectric actuators (A1) and (A2), and then the flow rate setting button (56) is pressed. The control output continues while the button is held down,
The control output is stopped when the button (56) is released. Therefore, the flow rate of the automatic faucet (50) can be adjusted by the time for pressing the button (56).

Further, the temperature of the discharged water is detected by the temperature sensor (53) and input to the control device (C), and the temperature of the mixed hot water is set by the temperature setting button (55) based on the detection result of the sensor (53). The flow rate ratio of the hot water side and water side amount adjusting valves (V1) (V2) is calculated so as to reach the desired temperature, and is output to each valve (V1) (V2).

Further, when the ON-OFF button (52) is pressed during water discharge or the hand sensing switch (51) stops sensing the hand, each piezoelectric element (e) (f) (g) ( The pulsed control output in the closing direction is applied to h) and each flow rate adjustment valve (V1)
(V2) automatically closes.

Particularly, in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 7, a power source ON-OFF circuit (F) is provided between the control device (C) and the power source (E).
ON-OF the power supplied to the control device (C) via the
F is enabled.

The power ON-OFF circuit (F) has a timer function in addition to the power ON-OFF function. This timer function is activated by the control signal from the control device (C) and As shown in FIG. 8, the power to be supplied is turned on and off at predetermined time intervals and duty ratios.

Therefore, when the absolute value of the difference between the detected value of the temperature input to the control device (C) from the temperature sensor (53) and the set temperature becomes a certain value or less, the above control signal is supplied to the power ON-OFF circuit (F). If the temperature of the mixed hot water reaches the vicinity of the set temperature once, the electric power is supplied to the control device (C) at a predetermined time interval and duty ratio. The power required for control can be saved at a high rate.

Further, FIG. 8 shows a process from the start of using the hot and cold water mixing device (B) until the temperature (T) of the mixed hot and cold water discharged is set to the set temperature (T0). From the time (t0) until the time (t1) when the temperature (T) of the mixed hot water gradually discharged rises and reaches the vicinity of the set temperature (T0), from the power supply (E) to the control device (C). Electric power (p) is continuously supplied.

Then, after the time (t1) when the temperature (T) of the mixed hot and cold water reaches the vicinity of the set temperature (T0), the signal from the control device (C) is used to show the diagram by the timer function of the power ON-OFF circuit (F). As described above, the power is supplied to the control device (C) for the energization time (t4) with the predetermined time interval (t3) as a cycle.

Therefore, after the time (t1) when the temperature (T) of the mixed hot water reaches the set temperature (T0), the electric power required for control is reduced by t4 / t3, that is, the duty ratio.

The time interval (t3) and the energization time (t4) can be appropriately determined in consideration of the thermal characteristics of the hot and cold water mixing device (B), the installation environment, the usage state, and the like.

Further, (T1) and (T2) in the figure are index temperatures for determining whether or not the temperature (T) of the mixed hot water provided above and below the set temperature (T0) has reached near the set temperature (T0). The temperature (T) of the mixed hot water reaches near the set temperature (T0) at the time when the temperature (T) of the mixed hot water crosses the set temperature (T0) of the index temperature (T1) (T2). It is the time (t1) when the operation is performed.

Further, the vertical widths of the above-mentioned index temperatures (T1) (T2) can be matched with the dead band width of the temperature sensor (53), and in this case, the index temperatures (T1) (T2) do not have to be set. However, when the temperature (T) of the mixed hot water reaches the set temperature (T0), the power saving is started after the dead zone threshold value is crossed from the set temperature (T0) side.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9, a power source ON-OFF circuit (F) similar to the above is provided only between the drive circuit (D) which is a part of the control device (C) and the power source (E). Then, the control device (C) is continuously supplied with electric power, and only the drive circuit (D) can be intermittently energized, and the piezoelectric actuators (A1) (A2) after the temperature (T) of the mixed hot water reaches near the set temperature. By reducing the frequency of the control operation and reducing the frequency of the large current consumption at the time of starting the actuator, it is possible to reduce the power consumption required for the control.

The one that intermittently supplies power to only the drive circuit (D) is suitable for a digital control device that requires a relatively long time to start up. Since the digital control is originally sampling control, the temperature of the mixed hot water is (T) is the set temperature (T
By changing the sampling frequency before and after reaching 0), it is possible to obtain the same power saving effect as above without providing a power ON-OFF circuit.

In the figure, (MPU) is a microprocessor, (I)
(O) is the input and output interface,
(M) indicates a memory.

The embodiment of the present invention is configured as described above, the current ON-OFF circuit is provided between the power supply and the control device, or between the power supply and the drive circuit which is a part of the control device. After the temperature of the mixed hot and cold water discharged from the hot and cold water mixing device reaches near the set temperature, there is an effect that the electric power required for the control can be saved by intermittently supplying the electric power supplied to the control device or the drive circuit. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of a hot and cold water mixing apparatus according to the present invention. FIGS. 2 to 4 are explanatory views showing an operation sequence of a piezoelectric actuator. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of automatic water washing to which the hot water mixing apparatus is applied. FIG. 6 is a front view of the operation unit. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control device. FIG. 8 is a graph showing the control operation. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing another configuration of the control device. (C): Control device (E): Power supply (F): Power supply ON-OFF circuit (53): Temperature sensor (V1) (V2): Hot water side and water side flow adjustment valve

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-53-47146 (JP, A) Actually opened 58-167913 (JP, U) Actually opened 59-113898 (JP, U)

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A mixed hot and cold water having a set temperature, which comprises a controller (C), a temperature sensor (53) provided on the discharge side, and hot water and water side flow rate adjusting valves (V1) (V2). In the hot and cold water mixing apparatus, the power ON-OF is provided between the control device (C) and the power supply (E) that supplies power to the control device (C).
Set the temperature and temperature sensor (5
When the absolute value of the difference from the detected value in 3) is larger than a preset constant value, the controller (C) is continuously energized from the power source (E), and the absolute value of the difference is larger than the constant value. When it becomes small, a hot and cold water mixing device configured to intermittently energize at a predetermined time interval.