JP2699889B2 - Automatic bath equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a heating and reheating operation for reheating a bathtub to maintain a desired hot water temperature (hereinafter referred to as a set hot water temperature). The present invention relates to an automatic bath apparatus that can perform a forced reheating operation that reheats to a slightly higher temperature than a set hot water temperature when the temperature becomes warm and the user feels warm.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, when water is initially set in a bathtub, even if it is hot water at a set hot water temperature, if it is left as it is,
The temperature of the hot water gradually decreases due to natural heat radiation. Also, when a person takes a bath, the temperature of the hot water drops. Therefore, in order to always enjoy comfortable bathing, it is necessary to reheat the water so that the hot water in the bathtub is maintained at the set hot water temperature.

On the other hand, immediately after taking a bath, even if the user feels that the water is hot at the set hot water temperature, the user may feel warm when the body gets used to the hot water temperature after bathing. At times, it is convenient if the reheating can be performed beyond the set hot water temperature to a somewhat higher hot water temperature without particularly changing the set hot water temperature.

[0004] Therefore, in the prior art, an automatic bath capable of performing both a warm-up reheating operation for keeping hot water in a bath tub at a set hot water temperature and a forced reheating operation for reheating slightly above a set hot water temperature. A device is provided (for example,
No. 34549).

[0005] Hereinafter, the operation of this type of conventional automatic bath apparatus in the heat retention additional heating operation and the forced additional heating operation will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG.

Now, when the reheating switch is operated,
(Step 1) First, a circulation pump arranged in the middle of the recirculating water channel connected to the bathtub is started to start circulation of hot water in the bathtub (Step 2), and subsequently, the burner is ignited. The reheating combustion is started, and the heat exchanger provided in the middle of the reheating circulation channel is heated (step 3).

[0007] A predetermined time t ₀ since the start of the circulation pump.
(For example, 30 seconds), and when the water in the circulation channel for reheating is sufficiently replaced with the water in the bathtub (step 4), the temperature of the water located upstream of the heat exchanger in the water channel is increased. Hot water temperature _TF is detected by a sensor.

Then, it is compared whether or not the detected hot water temperature _TF is slightly lower than the set hot water temperature T _S (1 ° C. in this example) (step 5), and the detected hot water temperature _TF becomes T _S −1. (T _F <T _S
If -1), it is determined that the hot water in the bathtub is much cooler than the set hot water temperature T _S , and the mode shifts to the warm-up and post-heating operation mode until the detected hot water temperature _TF reaches the set hot water temperature T _S. Perform refire combustion
(Step 6).

[0009] Thus, the detection water temperature T _F reaches the set water temperature Ts, the add焚燃sintered stopped (step 8), further, stops the circulating pump (step 9).

On the other hand, in step 5, the detected hot water temperature T _F
Is greater than or equal to Ts−1 ( _TF ≧ T _S −1), it is determined that a request for reheating slightly higher than the set hot water temperature T _S has been issued, and the forced reheating operation mode is set. Then, the reheating combustion is performed until the detected hot water temperature T _F rises from the set hot water temperature T _S by a certain temperature (2 ° C. in this example) (step 7).

[0011] When the detected water temperature T _F reaches Ts + 2, stop additionally焚燃sintered (Step 8), further stops the circulating pump (step 9).

[0012]

As described above, in the conventional automatic bath apparatus, when the reheating switch is turned on, the detected hot water temperature _TF is compared with the set hot water temperature T _S in step 5 to compare the temperatures. Then, before performing the temperature control in step 6 or step 7, the burner is ignited for a certain period of time (30 seconds in this example) to perform combustion. That is, conventionally, the start of the reburning combustion is preceded before shifting to the temperature control of the bath water temperature.

In this case, when the reheating switch is turned on, the burner is immediately ignited and the reheating combustion is started, so that there is an advantage that the feeling of reheating can be immediately enjoyed.

However, on the other hand, if the start of the reheating combustion is unconditionally preceded before the temperature control of the bathtub hot water temperature is performed, for example, when the reheating switch is repeatedly pressed due to mischief of a child or the like. Means that every time the reheating switch is pressed, the burner is ignited and the reheating combustion is performed for a certain period of time, so that the temperature of the bathtub gradually rises. Regulation temperature T _S +
If the temperature exceeds the range of 2, the temperature of the bath tub becomes very hot, and there is a possibility that the bath may be in a dangerous state.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and prevents the temperature of hot water in a bathtub from rising to a dangerous temperature range for a human body even when a reheating switch is repeatedly pressed. Another object of the present invention is to ensure safety and to provide a sufficient reburning feeling in normal use.

[0016]

According to the present invention, there is provided a hot water temperature detecting means for detecting a hot water temperature of a bath tub.
A reheating switch for instructing reheating of hot water in the bathtub, and a controller for executing a sequence of shifting to reheating temperature control after a predetermined time has elapsed after starting reheating combustion in response to a command from the reheating switch. The following configuration is adopted in the automatic bath apparatus provided with:

That is, in the automatic bath apparatus according to the present invention, the controller determines that the hot water temperature _{TF of the} bath tub detected by the hot water temperature detecting means is _{equal to} or higher than a predetermined dangerous temperature _TLIM.
In the case of ( _TF ≧ T _LIM ), the reburning combustion inhibiting means for canceling the command from the reburning switch to prevent the start of the reburning combustion, and the hot water temperature T _F detected by the hot water temperature detecting means. But dangerous
If the temperature is lower than T _LIM, a command from the reheating switch
And after the reheating for a predetermined time, the hot water temperature T _F
Is a preset reheating control temperature T _O-MAX (however, T
_{When O-MAX} <T _LIM ) or more ( _TF ≧ T _O-MAX ),
Means for interrupting the continuation of the refire combustion .

[0018]

[0019]

[Action] In the automatic bath apparatus having the above structure, additionally焚燃sintered blocking means, YuAtsushi T _F detected by the water temperature detecting means, preset predetermined critical temperature T _LIM or (T _F ≧ T _LIM) In this case, even when a reheating command is input from the reheating switch, this command is canceled to prevent the start of reheating combustion.

Therefore, even if the reheating switch is repeatedly pressed, if the detected hot water temperature _TF is equal to or higher than the dangerous temperature T _LIM , the burner is not ignited at all and reheating is not performed, so that the hot water temperature is higher than necessary. The temperature does not become high, and safety is ensured.

Further , the supplementary combustion interrupting means is provided when the hot water temperature T _F detected by the hot water temperature detecting means is lower than the dangerous temperature T _LIM.
Once for a predetermined time in response to a command from the reheating switch.
After the heating, the hot water temperature _TF is equal to or higher than a preset reheating control temperature T _O-MAX (however, T _O-MAX <T _LIM ) (T _F ≧ T
_(O-MAX ) , the continuation of the supplementary combustion is immediately interrupted after the combustion for a predetermined time even if the supplementary combustion is started once.

Therefore, even when the reheating operation is performed by operating the reheating switch during bathing, the maximum temperature that can be heated is regulated by the reheating operation, and the hot water temperature becomes unnecessarily high. Is prevented.

[0023]

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

The automatic bath apparatus of this embodiment is mainly composed of a hot water supply circuit A, a reheating circuit B, a bath drop circuit C, and a controller D.

The hot water supply circuit A is for heating hot water from the tap water to supply hot water to the bathtub E and a not-shown curan. The heat exchanger 2 is provided with a heat exchanger 2 and is connected before and after the heat exchanger 2. The water inlet 4 and the hot water outlet 6 are connected by a bypass 8, and a bypass valve 10 of an electromagnetic opening and closing type is provided in the middle of the bypass 8.

Further, the hot water supply circuit A is provided with a temperature sensor 12 for detecting an incoming water temperature Tc and a water amount sensor 14 for detecting an amount of incoming water Qc to the heat exchanger 2 on the side of the incoming water channel 4. A temperature sensor 16 for detecting the temperature of the hot water after the hot water from the heat exchanger 2 and the water from the bypass 8 are mixed, and a water quantity servo valve 18 are provided on the hot water path 6 side. Further, a gas burner 20 for heating the heat exchanger 2 is arranged.

On the other hand, the reheating circuit B is for reheating while circulating hot and cold water in the bathtub E. Both ends are connected to the bathtub E, and a heat exchanger 24 for reheating and a forced circulation Circulating pump 26 is provided, and a water level sensor 28 for detecting the water level in the bathtub upstream of the circulating pump 26 is provided at a position halfway to the heat exchanger 28 downstream of the circulating pump 26. Temperature sensors 30 as hot water temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature are provided. In addition, the gas burner 3 for heating the heat exchanger 24 for reheating is used.
2 are provided.

Further, the bath drop circuit C is for connecting the hot water supply circuit A and the additional heating circuit B to drop hot water into the bathtub E, and one end thereof is connected to the hot water supply passage 6 of the hot water supply circuit 1. The other end is connected to the downstream side of the water amount servo valve 18, and the other end is connected to the upstream side of the circulation pump 26. A vacuum breaker 34, an electromagnetic opening / closing type drop valve 36, and a check valve 38 are sequentially provided at an intermediate position of the bath drop circuit C.

The remote controller F inputs to the control unit D various modes such as a hot water filling operation to the bathtub E and a reheating operation, and a desired set hot water temperature Ts at the time of hot water supply and bathing. Various switches including a reheating switch 50 are arranged on the operation panel.

The controller D is composed of, for example, a microcomputer, and receives input data from a remote controller F, and temperature sensors 12, 16, 30 provided in a hot water supply circuit A, a reheating circuit B, and a bath drop-in circuit C. Based on detection signals from the water amount sensor 14 and the water level sensor 28, the operation of each movable part of each of the valves 10, 18, 36 and the circulation pump 26 is controlled, and the combustion of each of the gas burners 20, 32 is controlled. is there.

In particular, as will be described later, the controller D of the present embodiment executes a sequence for shifting to reheating temperature control after a lapse of a predetermined time after starting reheating combustion in response to a command from the reheating switch 50. It is programmed to be executed, and is configured to include a heat retention supplementary heating unit 40, a forced supplementary heating unit 42, a supplementary combustion prevention unit 44, and a supplementary combustion interruption unit 46.

The above-mentioned warming / reheating means 40 starts the reheating operation in response to a command from the reheating switch 50, and the hot water temperature _TF detected by the temperature sensor 30 reaches the desired set hot water temperature T _S. If response is lower than the reference temperature T _R determined by (T _F <T _R), it is to continue to add fired operation until water temperature T _F reaches the set hot water temperature T _S. Here reference temperature T _R in the case of this embodiment, is also set by 1 ℃ lower than the set water temperature T _S. That is,
T _R = T _S −1. It is for the following reasons.

[0033] In this embodiment, as described below, has a temperature rise ΔT by forced additionally fired unit 42 and 1 ° C., when the detected water temperature T _F is equal to the reference temperature T _R, select the forced additionally fired unit 42 Then, the hot water temperature is raised by 1 ° C., and T _F = T _R + 1 ° C. = T _S. On the other hand, if it detects the temperature T _F is below the reference temperature T _R close to the reference temperature T _R as possible will become _{T F = T S = T R} + 1 ℃ choose warmth additionally fired unit 40, forced add Firing means 42
It will be the same hot water temperature as when you select. That is, at the borderline where the forced reheating means 42 or the heat retention reheating means 40 is selected, the reheating feeling is the same and the usability is good regardless of which means 42 or 40 is selected. However, setting the reference temperature T _R is not limited to this example, it may be a set hot water temperature T _S.

The forced reheating unit 42 starts the reheating operation in response to a command from the reheating switch 50,
In water temperature T _F of the detected tub above the reference temperature T _R of the above
In the case of (T _F ≧ T _R ), refire combustion is continued until the hot water temperature T _F reaches a temperature (= T _F + ΔT) increased by a certain temperature width ΔT. In this example, the temperature width ΔT is set to 1 ° C., but is not limited thereto.
It may be set appropriately according to the request of the bather.

The supplementary combustion prevention means 44 includes the temperature sensor 30
In YuAtsushi T _F to be detected is, in the case exceeds the preset predetermined critical temperature _{T LIM (T F ≧ T LIM} ), to cancel the command from the add-fired switch 50 sod焚燃ware It prevents the start.

The dangerous temperature T _LIM is a regulation value for preventing the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub E from becoming abnormally high when the reheating switch 50 is repeatedly pressed. , 55 ° C., but is not limited to this, and may be appropriately set as needed.

The add焚燃sintered interruption means 46, YuAtsushi T _F detected by the temperature sensor 30 in the add焚燃sintered is preset additionally焚規system temperature T _O-MAX or (T _F ≧ T _O-MAX )In Case of,
The continuation of the reheating combustion by the forced reheating means 42 is interrupted.

Here, the reheating control temperature T _O-MAX is a product specification value that defines the maximum heating temperature when performing the forced reheating operation, and is set to 50 ° C. in this example. .

That is, as described above, the forced reheating unit 4
2. When the reheating switch 50 is pressed, even if the current bath temperature exceeds the set temperature T _S , the reheating combustion is performed for a certain temperature range ΔT based on the current temperature of the bath. Therefore, in the case of performing the forced reheating operation, if no restriction is provided, there is a disadvantage that the maximum heating temperature is not specified at all as a product. In order to avoid this inconvenience, the reheating control temperature T _O-MAX is provided.

However, the temperature is not limited to 50 ° C. as in the present embodiment, and may be appropriately set according to a request of a bather.
However, in consideration of a variation error in the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 30, etc., it is set so that T _O-MAX <T _LIM so that the actual hot water temperature of the bathtub E does not exceed the dangerous temperature T _LIM. You.

The reason is that if T _O-MAX ≧ T _LIM, it is possible to prevent the problem that the re-burning combustion is not started by the re-burning combustion prevention means 44 despite the desire to start the re-burning. That's why.

Next, among the operations of the automatic bath apparatus having the above-described configuration, here, mainly, the operations of the heat retention additional heating operation and the forced additional heating operation will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. A description will be given with reference to the change curves.

When the reheating switch 50 provided on the remote controller F is operated (step 1), first,
The circulation pump 26 arranged in the middle of the circulation water passage 22 connected to the bathtub E is activated to start circulation of hot water in the bathtub E.
(Step 2).

Immediately after the circulation pump 26 is started and before the reburning burner 32 is ignited to start reburning combustion, the reburning combustion inhibiting means 44 detects the temperature of the bathtub detected by the temperature sensor 30. It is determined whether or not the hot water temperature T _F exceeds a predetermined dangerous temperature T _LIM (= 55 ° C.) (step 3).

Here, as shown in FIG.
6 is not activated, the residual heat of the heat exchanger 24 is
Although the detected hot water temperature _TF of the temperature sensor 30 becomes higher than the actual hot water temperature in the bathtub E by being transmitted to the hot water in the bathtub, if the hot water in the bathtub E is circulated by the circulation pump 26,
Since the hot water staying in the bath 2 is pushed out and gradually replaced with hot water in the bathtub E, the hot water temperature _TF of the return hot water from the bathtub E detected by the temperature sensor 30 gradually decreases,
The value approximates the actual temperature of the hot water in the bathtub E.

[0046] However, even when the hot water is not replaced sufficiently in water circulation passage 22 immediately after activation of the circulation pump 26, YuAtsushi T _F detected by the temperature sensor 30 is already critical temperature T _LIM or (T _F ≧ T _LIM ), the actual temperature of the hot water in the bathtub E is considered to be extremely high and dangerous, and therefore, even if a reheating command is input from the reheating switch 50, Cancel and prevents the initiation of add焚燃sintered (see curve indicated by symbol T _FB of FIG. 3).

That is, even if the reheating switch 50 is repeatedly pressed, the circulation pump 26 is stopped without igniting the burner 32 (step 12). Therefore, since no additional combustion is performed, the hot water in the bathtub E is not heated at all, and safety is ensured.

On the other hand, in step 3, the temperature sensor 3
0 If YuAtsushi T _F to be detected is lower than the critical temperature T _LIM in
In ( _TF <T _LIM ), the controller D judges that the danger due to the reburning combustion is small, starts the reburning combustion by igniting the burner 32, and is provided in the middle of the circulation water passage 22. The heat exchanger 24 is heated (step 4).

When a predetermined time t ₀ (for example, 30 seconds) elapses after the circulation pump 26 is started and the water in the circulation water channel 22 is sufficiently replaced with the water in the bathtub E (step 5), the detection output T _F temperature sensor 30 is regarded as the actual water temperature of the tub, and registers the value as an initial value T _F0 sod焚燃sintered (step 6).

Then, the hot water temperature T _{F of the} bathtub is set to the set hot water temperature T _S.
It is determined whether or not the temperature is lower than the reference temperature T _R (= T _S −1) determined by (7).

If the detection output T _F of the temperature sensor 30 is lower than the reference temperature T _R (T _F <T _R ), it is determined that the hot water in the bathtub E is much lower than the set hot water temperature T _S. Te, the process proceeds to insulation add-fired operation mode, heat insulating add-fired unit 40 performs additionally焚燃sintered to YuAtsushi T _F detected by the temperature sensor 30 reaches the set hot water temperature T _S (step 8).

[0052] Thus, when the water temperature T _F reaches the set water temperature Ts, the add焚燃sintered stopped (step 11), further, it stops the circulating pump (step 12).

On the other hand, in step 7, the temperature sensor 3
If the detected output T _{F of} 0 is equal to or higher than the reference temperature T _R (T _F ≧ T _R ), it is determined that a request has been made to reheat the fuel slightly higher than the set hot water temperature T _S , The mode shifts to the forced reheating operation mode.

In the forced reheating operation mode, first,
The refire combustion interruption means 46 detects the detection output T of the temperature sensor 30.
_F is a predetermined reheating control temperature T _O-MAX (= 5
0 ° C.) (T _F ≧ T _O-MAX ) (step 9).

Here, the detection output T of the temperature sensor 30
_F exceeds the reheating control temperature T _O-MAX (= 50 ° C.) (T _F
In the case of ≧ T _O-MAX ), the refire combustion interrupting means 46 immediately suspends the refire combustion even if the refire combustion is started once in step 4 (step 11). The circulation pump 26 is also stopped (step 12).

In this way, even when the reheating operation is performed by operating the reheating switch 50 during bathing, the maximum temperature that can be heated is regulated by the reheating operation, and the hot water temperature is reduced. Unnecessarily high temperatures are prevented.
In other words, a forced reheating operation that does not significantly exceed the maximum temperature becomes possible.

On the other hand, in step 9, the temperature sensor 3
When the detected output _{TF of} 0 is lower than the reheating regulation temperature T _O-MAX (= 50 ° C.) (T _F <T _O-MAX ), the reheating combustion interruption means 46 does not interrupt the forced reheating. , forced add-fired unit 42 performs additionally焚燃sintered until the hot water temperature T _F of the bath E is increased by a predetermined from the current water temperature T _F0 which had been registered as an initial value before the temperature ΔT (= 1 ℃) (step 10) (see curve indicated by reference numeral T _FA of FIG 3).

When the hot water temperature T _F of the bathtub E reaches T _F0 + ΔT, reburning combustion is stopped (step 11), and the circulation pump is stopped (step 12).

[0059]

According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) In the present invention, even when the reheating switch is repeatedly pressed, if the hot water temperature _TF is equal to or higher than the dangerous temperature T _LIM , the burner is not ignited at all and reheating is not performed. The temperature does not become unnecessarily high, and safety is ensured.

(2) In addition, since the maximum temperature that can be heated when the reheating switch is operated during bathing is regulated, the product specification value of the maximum heating temperature during the forced reheating operation is determined. And a forced reheating operation that does not greatly exceed this is possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the reheating operation of the automatic bath apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a characteristic diagram showing a change in hot water temperature of a bath tub accompanying a reheating operation of the automatic bath apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of a reheating operation of the conventional automatic bath apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

A: hot water supply circuit, B: reheating circuit, C: bath drop circuit, D ...
Controller, E: bathtub, F: remote control device, 30: hot water temperature detection means (temperature sensor), 40: heat retention and additional heating means, 42 ...
Forcible reheating means, 44: reheating combustion inhibiting means, 46: reheating combustion interrupting means, 50: reheating switch.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A hot water temperature detecting means for detecting a hot water temperature of a bathtub,
And additionally fired switch for commanding hot water reheating the bathtub, in the automatic bath apparatus that includes a controller that performs a sequence of transition to control the braking of the add焚燃sintered response to a command from the add-fired switch, wherein the controller If the hot water temperature T _F detected by the hot water temperature detecting means is equal to or higher than a predetermined dangerous temperature T _LIM (T _F ≧ T _LIM ), the command from the reheating switch is canceled. and additionally焚燃sintered inhibiting means for inhibiting the initiation of add焚燃ware, YuAtsushi T _F detected by the water temperature detecting means, critical temperature T _LIM
If the temperature is too low, respond to the command from the reheating switch.
After reheating for a predetermined time, the hot water temperature _TF is set in advance.
The reheating regulation temperature T _O-MAX (however, T _O-MAX <T _LIM ) or less
Above (T _F ≧ T _O-MAX ), the refire combustion continues.
An automatic bath apparatus comprising: a supplementary combustion interruption means for interrupting continuation .