JP2702503B2 - Hot water mixing equipment - Google Patents

Description

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

(B) Conventional technology Conventionally, there is a hot water mixing apparatus that is provided with a hot water side flow control valve and a water side flow control valve that are individually operated so as to perform both temperature adjustment and discharge amount adjustment of mixed hot water. The temperature of the mixed hot and cold water discharged from the device is determined by the ratio of the flow rate of the hot water flow rate control valve to the flow rate of the water flow rate control valve. Since it is determined by the sum of the flow rates of the side flow control valves, a control device is provided, and based on the desired temperature and discharge amount input to the control device, a calculation is performed so as to satisfy the above conditions, and each flow control valve is calculated. It is configured to adjust the flow rate.

(C) Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, if the flow rate is to be reduced while maintaining the temperature of the mixed hot and cold water to be discharged, the flow rates of both the hot water flow rate adjustment valve and the water flow rate adjustment valve are simultaneously adjusted. It is necessary to adjust, but since there is a difference in the operation speed of each flow control valve, sometimes the water side flow control valve closes earlier and discharges hot mixed water, causing burns to the user And so on.

(D) Means for Solving the Problems According to the present invention, the temperature control of mixed hot and cold water is provided by providing a hot water side flow control valve, a water side flow control valve, and a control device for individually controlling the opening and closing operations of the two flow control valves. And a hot water mixing apparatus configured to perform discharge amount adjustment, wherein when reducing the discharge amount, a hot water mixing apparatus configured by providing priority means in the control device so as to close the hot water side flow control valve with priority. It will not be provided.

(E) Function / Effect According to the present invention, when the discharge amount is reduced, the hot water side flow control valve is preferentially closed, so that even if there is a difference in the operation speed of each flow control valve, the setting can be performed. Even though mixed hot and cold water may be discharged at a temperature lower than the temperature, mixed hot and cold water at a high temperature is not discharged, and dangers such as burns can be prevented.

(F) Embodiments 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 outflow directions of the valves (V1) and (V2) are arranged to face each other. The flow rate ratio and the sum of the flow rates of the supplied hot water and water are determined by the hot-water and water-side flow control valves (V1) (V2).
To maintain the set temperature and flow rate.

The hot water side and the water side flow control valve (V1) (V2) have substantially the same configuration except that the flowing fluid differs between hot water and water.
It is 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.

On the upper surfaces of the actuator mounting bases (8) and (8), minute distance stepless drive actuators (D1) and (D2), which constitute the hot water and water flow rate regulating valve driving means, are disposed. (D1) (D2) The valve bodies (11) (11) extended from the cylindrical plungers (P) (P) and the pilot valve seats (6) (6) are brought into contact with and separated from the diaphragms (5) ( By actuating 5), the main valve seat (4) (4)
The opening and closing of the hot water and water flow control valves (V1) and (V2) are performed by bringing the lower surfaces of the diaphragms (5) and (5) into and out of contact with each other.

The micro-distance steplessly driven actuators (D1) and (D2) provided on the hot and cold water flow control valves (V1) and (V2) are piezoelectric actuators (D) which form one form of the actuators, and are shown in FIG. As described above, the actuator has a cylindrical plunger (P) mounted concentrically and freely reciprocable along an axis in a cylindrical casing (d) having front and rear walls (a) and (b). Four piezoelectric elements (e), (f) and (g) concentrically on the outer peripheral surface of the plunger (P)
(H) is provided by disposing the piezoelectric element assembly.

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 distal ends of the elastic bridges (i) and (j) have the piezoelectric elements (e) and (f) attached to the outer peripheral surface thereof, and the brake shoes (k) and (l) are fixed to the inner peripheral surface thereof. .

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) shrink in an energized state and reduce the inner diameter to clamp the cylindrical plunger (P), and expand and expand the inner diameter in a non-energized state. Release the plunger (P). On the other hand, the piezoelectric elements (g) and (h) are in a state of contracting in an axial direction on the cylindrical plunger (P) when no current is supplied, and extend on the cylindrical plunger (P) in a current supplying state. The overall 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.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the piezoelectric elements (e), (f), (g), and (h) have a cylindrical shape formed by laminating a number of piezoelectric element pieces in the axial direction of a cylindrical plunger (P). The element of
Electrodes are provided at both ends of the cylinder, and are configured to extend by applying a voltage to both ends.

For the piezoelectric element piece, for example, piezoelectric ceramics can be used.
A ferroelectric material having an O ₃ perovskite crystal structure, such as PZT [Pb (Zr, Ti) O ₃ ] or PLZT [Pb (Zr, Ti)
O ₃ ], PT (PbTiO ₃ ), or a three-component PZT-based material can be used.

As shown in FIG. 3, the piezoelectric elements (e), (f), (g), and (h) are formed by radially extending a large number of thin ring-shaped piezoelectric element pieces around the axis of the cylindrical plunger (P). They can also be formed by lamination. In this case, the voltage application direction is 90
Will change every time.

In the above configuration, the piezoelectric elements (e) and (f)
(G) and (h) can be not only circular cross sections but also rectangular cross sections, for example, and can also be formed from divided pieces as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG.

Further, since the cylindrical plunger (P) is clamped a number of times by the brake shoes (k) and (l), the coefficient of linear expansion is small, and the hardness, strength, creep resistance and wear resistance are large. It is desirable that the processing accuracy is high, for example, as a ceramic material.

Next, the movement of the cylindrical plunger (P) and the valve body (11) partially inserted and urged by the actuator having such a configuration will be described with reference to FIGS.

When a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element (e) from a control device (C), which will be described later, in accordance with a driving program, as shown in FIG. 6, the diameter is reduced and the cylindrical plunger (P) is clamped. The voltage of the piezoelectric element (f) is released and the diameter of the piezoelectric element (f) is increased to release the clamp of the cylindrical plunger (P) by the piezoelectric element (f).

Next, as shown in FIG. 7, 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 cylindrical plunger (P) clamped by the piezoelectric element (e) also moves in the direction of the arrow.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 8, a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element (f) to clamp the cylindrical plunger (P), and then the voltage applied to the piezoelectric element (e) is released to perform the diameter expansion operation. When the clamp of the plunger (P) is released and the voltage applied to the piezoelectric elements (g) and (h) is released, the piezoelectric elements (g) and (h) are shortened in the direction of the arrow, and the cylindrical plunger (4) is further reduced. Move 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
If the engaging portion (14) advances and stops until it engages with the engaging edge (12), while the cylindrical plunger (P) retreats,
The engaging portion (14) engaged with the engaging edge (12) of the cylindrical plunger (P) is pulled in the retreating direction to perform the retreat operation of the valve element (11). When the voltage application to the actuator is canceled or when there is no voltage application to the piezoelectric element at the time of power failure or the like, the piezoelectric element (e)
In (f), the diameter of the cylindrical plunger (P) is increased to a free state, and the cylindrical plunger (P) advances in the distal direction together with the valve element (11) by the spring (S).

In addition, when a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric elements (e), (f), (g), and (h) to move the cylindrical plunger (P) in the distal direction, the plunger (P) advances to the distal direction limit. In this case, the valve element (11) advances together with the plunger (P) by the bias of the spring (S), so that the advance operation of the valve element (11) is exclusively performed by the spring (S).
And the strong operating force of the actuator can be reduced.

FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 show the case where the hot and cold water mixing device (B) is used for an automatic faucet (50) of a sink.
Is an ON / OFF button, (54) is a discharge port, (55) and (56) are temperature setting and flow rate setting buttons provided on the operation unit (Q).

(53) is a temperature sensor, which detects the temperature of the mixed hot and cold water with the sensor (53), and is disposed on the hot water side and water side flow control valves (V1) (V2) via the control device (C). The above-mentioned actuators (D1) and (D2) adjust the flow ratio and the discharge amount by moving the cylindrical plungers (P) and (P) of the cylinders forward and backward. Plunger (P)
The operation of (P) is performed in cooperation by calculation in the control device.

Next, a control device (C) for controlling the actuators (D1) and (D2) will be described.

As shown in FIG. 11, the control device (C) has a microprocessor (15), an ON / OFF button (52), and an input interface (18) connected to a hand-sensing switch (51).
It consists of a memory (19) storing actuator control and drive programs, and an output interface (20) connected to the piezoelectric actuator (D). When the ON / OFF button (52) is pressed, a hand-sensing switch ( When the hand 51 detects the hand, the control device (C) outputs the drive voltage for opening the valve to the actuators (D1) and (D2), and then continuously presses the flow rate setting button (56). The output of the drive voltage is stopped when the button (56) is released while the drive voltage is being output. Therefore, the flow rate of the automatic on-off valve (V) can be adjusted by the time of pressing the button (56). When the hand detection switch (51) detects a hand, a predetermined amount of water is discharged.

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). Hot water flow control valve (V1) to reach the desired temperature
(V2) Calculate the flow ratio and output to each valve (V1) (V2).

Also, when the ON / OFF button (52) is pressed during spouting, the hand detection switch (51) stops detecting the hand, or when a predetermined time has elapsed since the ON / OFF button (52) was pressed, the same control is performed. The apparatus (C) generates a signal for canceling the voltage application to each of the piezoelectric elements (e), (f), (g), and (h), releases the clamp of the cylindrical plungers (P), (P), and releases the spring (S). ), The flow control valves (V1) and (V2) close automatically.

In particular, there is no mechanical connection between the hot water side and water side flow control valves (V1) and (V2), and they are individually independent and controlled by the individual control device (C). ing.

The control device (C) incorporates priority means for monitoring the input from the flow rate setting button (56), and the input from the flow rate setting button (56) indicates a decrease in the flow rate by the priority means. When it is determined that there is a hot water side flow control valve (V1), it is preferentially closed.

The priority means for preferentially opening the hot water side flow control valve (V1) includes the following.

A decrement calculation unit is provided in a microprocessor (MPU), and each flow rate decrement on the hot water side (V1) (V2) is calculated.

A configuration in which a drive control unit is provided for closing the hot water side flow control valve (V1) until the flow rate reduction is reached, and then closing the water side flow control valve (V2).

The decrement is divided into pivot stages, and the hot water side flow control valve (V1) is closed one step first, and then the water side flow control valve (V2) is closed one step. V1) before each valve (V1) until the above decrement is reached
A configuration in which a drive control unit that alternately closes (V2) is provided.

A configuration in which a drive control unit is provided to make the operating speed in the closing direction of the hot water side flow regulating valve (V1) faster than the operating speed in the closing direction of the water side flow regulating valve (V2).

A configuration in which a delay circuit or a time constant circuit is provided in an output circuit to the water side flow control valve (V2), and a drive control unit including timer means for delaying the opening operation of the water side flow control valve (V2) is provided.

FIG. 12 shows another embodiment of the operation unit (Q), in which a number of temperature setting buttons (55a) corresponding to the set temperatures of other stages are provided, and a multi-stage discharge amount is provided. A large number of discharge amount setting buttons (56a) are provided so that the water discharge temperature and the flow rate can be set with one touch.

Since the memory (19) of the control device (C) has a function of storing the opening of the water valve, the discharge condition (for example, the temperature condition) of the mixed hot and cold water is changed, and the original condition is restored. When the power is once turned off and then turned on again, it is possible to quickly discharge under the original discharge conditions.

In addition, when the temperature of the mixed hot water is switched to a low temperature, the temperature is adjusted by temporarily increasing the opening of the water-side flow control valve.
By reducing the opening of the hot water side flow control valve and temporarily increasing the discharge amount, discharge of the high-temperature mixed water due to poor temperature control can also be prevented.

The embodiment of the present invention is configured as described above, and includes a hot water-side flow control valve, a water-side flow control valve, and a control device that individually controls the opening and closing operations of the two flow control valves. In the hot and cold water mixing device which performs temperature adjustment and discharge amount adjustment, when the discharge amount is reduced, the control device is provided with priority means so as to close the hot water side flow control valve preferentially, so that discharge is performed. If the flow rate is to be reduced while maintaining the temperature of the mixed hot and cold water, the hot water side flow control valve is closed preferentially, so even if there is a difference in the operating speed of each flow control valve, In addition, the water-side flow control valve is closed earlier and the hot mixed water is not discharged, so that it is possible to prevent a danger of causing a burn to the user.

In addition, the piezoelectric actuator includes each piezoelectric element (e).
(F) The relationship between the application of the voltage to (g) and (h) and the expansion and contraction of the piezoelectric element is reversed from that in this embodiment, or the clamping force of the clamping piezoelectric element is not completely released. It operates even if the plunger slides according to the difference in the magnitude of the clamping force of the clamp portion.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory sectional view of a hot water mixing apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II of FIG. 3 to 5 are explanatory diagrams of other specific examples of the piezoelectric element. 6 to 8 are explanatory diagrams showing the operation sequence of the piezoelectric actuator. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of an automatic faucet to which the above hot water mixing apparatus is applied. FIG. 10 is a front view of an operation unit. FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control device. FIG. 12 shows another embodiment of the operation unit. (V1): Hot water side flow control valve (V2): Water side flow control valve (C): Control device

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A control device (C) for individually controlling the opening and closing operations of a hot water flow control valve (V1), a water flow control valve (V2), and both flow control valves (V1, V2). In the hot and cold water mixing device (B) which performs temperature adjustment and discharge amount adjustment of the mixed hot and cold water, the control device (C) so as to preferentially close the hot water side flow control valve (V1) when reducing the discharge amount A hot and cold water mixing apparatus comprising priority means.