JP2770920B2 - Heat exchangers and flush toilet seats - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a heat exchanger for a flush toilet seat, and more particularly to a heat exchanger and a flush toilet seat which detect freezing of the heat exchanger and stop energizing a heater.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 7 shows a configuration diagram of a conventional heat exchanger for a flush toilet seat. In the figure, a heat exchanger 21 includes a heat exchanger main body 22, a tank 23, a float switch 24, a sheath heater 25, a temperature sensor 26, and a thermostat 2.
And 7.

When the water 28 is filled to a predetermined position in the tank 23, a float switch 24 is operated, and power is supplied to a sheath heater 25 from a power source (not shown) to heat the water 28. The temperature of the water 28 is detected by the temperature sensor 26, and the thermostat 27 is activated to control the temperature to a preset temperature. When the temperature reaches the preset temperature, the power supply to the sheath heater 25 is stopped.

[0004] As described above, the conventional heat exchanger 2 of the flush toilet seat is used.
1 is provided with the float switch 24, so that when the water 28 in the tank 23 is below the predetermined water level, the float switch 24 does not operate, and the sheath heater 25 is not energized, so that it is possible to prevent empty heating.

[0005]

However, in the conventional heat exchanger of the flush toilet seat, as shown in FIG. 8, even when water in the tank freezes and expands, and the tank is cracked, the float switch 24 is not used. Is maintained in the operating state, and the sheath heater 25 is energized. On the other hand, a crack 23A is formed in the lower portion of the tank 23, and the water heated and melted by the sheath heater 25 flows out of the crack 23A to form the gap 30, and there is a problem in that the tank is in an empty fired state.

The sheathed heater 25 has a large power consumption (50
(0 W to 1 KW), the temperature of the heater immediately becomes about 200 ° C., and when the temperature sensor 26 is in frozen ice, the power is supplied without any increase in the sensor temperature. Only may be continued. When the tank 23 is made of a synthetic resin, the tank 2
3 may burn out.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to detect the freezing in a tank and stop energizing a heater to prevent a temperature sensor and a resin tank from being burned out. To provide a heat exchanger and a flush toilet seat.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above problems, a heat exchanger and a flush toilet seat according to the present invention determine whether water in a tank is frozen based on temperature information detected by a temperature sensor. It is characterized by comprising control means for stopping the energization.

The control means includes a temperature comparing means for comparing the temperature information from the temperature sensor with a previously stored freezing temperature. If the temperature information is equal to or lower than the freezing temperature, it is determined that the temperature is freezing. It is characterized by stopping.

Further, the control means includes a temperature change rate calculating means for calculating a change rate of the temperature information from the temperature sensor, and freezes when the temperature change rate output from the temperature change rate calculating means is less than a predetermined value. It is characterized in that the judgment is made and the energization to the heater is stopped.

Further, the control means includes a timer means, and when the temperature information from the temperature sensor does not reach the target temperature within a predetermined time, it is determined that the temperature is frozen and the power supply to the heater is stopped.

[0012]

The heat exchanger and the flush toilet seat according to the present invention are provided with control means for judging freezing in the tank based on the temperature information of the hot water detected by the temperature sensor and controlling to stop energizing the heater. Even if cracks occur in the tank due to freezing, it is possible to prevent troubles caused by empty heating.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a heat exchanger according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an electrical equivalent circuit diagram of the heat exchanger according to the present invention. The description of the configuration of the flush toilet seat is omitted. In FIG. 1, a heat exchanger 1 includes a heat exchanger main body 2,
It comprises a power supply (Eo) 7 to be supplied to the heat exchanger body 2, an energization stop switch (SW 2) 8, and a control means 9.

The heat exchanger body 2 receives the supply of the tank 3, the float switch (SW1) 4 which is activated when the water level in the tank 3 reaches a predetermined position, and the power supply (Eo) 7, and A sheath heater 5 for heating water and a temperature sensor 6 for detecting the temperature of water in the tank 3 are provided.

An energization stop switch (SW2) 8 is a switch having a normal make contact configuration, and is usually a power supply (E).
o) Supply 7 to the heat heater 5. On the other hand, based on the temperature Ta detected by the temperature sensor 6, the control means 9
When it is determined that the inside is frozen, the switch driving signal Sd is output from the control means 9, the energization stop switch (SW 2) 8 breaks, and the energization from the power supply (Eo) 7 is stopped.

The control means 9 is basically composed of a microprocessor, and comprises an A / D converter for converting analog data from the temperature sensor 6 into digital data, a memory such as a ROM for storing reference temperature data, a comparator, It has a processing circuit and the like. The control means 9 takes in the temperature Ta detected by the temperature sensor 6, compares it with the temperature-related data stored in the memory in advance, or calculates / processes the tank Ta.
Is determined, and a switch drive signal Sd is sent to an energization stop switch (SW2) 8, and SW2 is turned off to perform energization stop control.

In the electric equivalent circuit shown in FIG. 2, the heat exchanger 1 includes a plus (+) terminal of a power supply (Eo) 7, an energization stop switch (SW2) 8, a float switch (SW1) 4, a sheathed heater 5, and a power supply ( Eo) forms a closed loop at the minus (-) terminal of the power supply (Eo) 7, and the power supply (Eo) 7 is supplied to the sheathed heater 5, and the sheathed heater 5 removes water in the tank 3 with a heating amount corresponding to the electric power (Eo2 / R). Heat.

When the control means 9 determines freezing in the tank 3 based on the temperature Ta detected by the temperature sensor 6, a switch drive signal Sd is supplied to the power-supply stop switch (WS2) 8, and SW2 is turned off (contact is (A broken line position), and the power supply to the heat heater 5 is stopped.

The float switch (SW1) 4 is
If the water level in the tank 3 is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, SW1 is turned on by the action of a float, and if the water level is lower than the predetermined value, SW1 is turned off.
control the supply / stop of o. In particular, the supply of the power supply Eo (so-called empty heating) when the tank 3 is empty is prohibited.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the control means according to the second aspect. The control unit 9 includes a temperature storage unit 11 configured by a memory such as a ROM, a temperature comparison unit 12 that compares the temperature Ta from the temperature sensor 6 with a reference temperature Tr stored in the temperature storage unit 11 in advance, and a temperature comparison unit 12. And a switch drive unit 13 for controlling the power-supply stop switch (SW2) 8 to be turned off based on the determination information Ho from the control unit.

The reference temperature Tr of the temperature storage unit 11 is set to, for example, 0 ° C.
From the reference temperature Tr (0
(° C.) or less (Ta ≦ 0 ° C.), it is determined to be frozen, and the determination information Ho is supplied to the switch driving unit 13.

The temperature comparing means 12 is composed of a comparing circuit such as a comparator, and outputs the judgment information Ho when the temperature Ta from the temperature sensor 6 falls below the reference temperature Tr even for a moment. Further, the temperature comparing means 12 is provided with a hysteresis circuit to compare the reference temperature Tr with the temperature Ta as two values of Tr1 and Tr2, and to output the judgment information Ho when the temperature Ta is equal to or lower than the reference temperature Tr1. It is also possible to stably determine the determination information Ho when Ta is near the reference temperature Tr1.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the control means according to the third aspect. The control means 9 includes the temperature change rate calculating means 1
5, a timer 16, a comparison unit 12, a change rate storage unit 17, and a switch driving unit 13. The temperature change rate calculating means 15
The temperature Ta detected by the temperature sensor 6 is monitored at each time interval To generated by the timer 16, and the temperature change ΔT during the time To is measured.
The temperature change rate (ΔTa / To) is calculated based on “a”, and the temperature change rate dTo is provided to the comparison unit 12.

The timer 16 is activated when a temperature setting switch SWo (not shown) of the heat exchanger 1 is operated, measures a time interval To, and supplies time information To to the temperature change rate calculating means 15. I do.

The comparison unit 12 calculates the temperature change rate dTo (= ΔTa)
/ To) is compared with a reference change rate dTr preset in the change rate storage unit 17, and the temperature change rate dTo is changed to the reference change rate dTr.
If Tr is equal to or less than Tr, the tank 3 is determined to be frozen, and the determination information Ho is output to the switch driving unit 13.

As described above, when the sheath heater 5 heats the water in the tank 3 with a predetermined heating amount, the reference change rate dTr corresponding to the water temperature Ta can be calculated or determined empirically (by experiment). Therefore, the reference change rate dTr corresponding to the temperature Ta is stored in the change rate storage unit 17 as a table, and the reference change rate d when the water in the tank 3 is not frozen is stored.
By selecting Tr and comparing it with the temperature change rate dTo, freezing of the water in the tank 3 can be determined. The selection of the reference rate of change dTr can be performed by selecting the reference rate of change dTr corresponding to 0 ° C. and accurately determining the actual freezing (Ta = 0 ° C.). The reference change rate dTr corresponding to (for example, several degrees Celsius) may be selected, and if there is a possibility of freezing, it may be configured to have a margin before freezing and determine the freezing.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the control means according to the fourth aspect. The control means 9 is activated when a temperature setting switch SWo (not shown) of the heat exchanger 1 is operated,
The difference from the configuration of FIG. 3 is that a timer means 18 that measures and stops a predetermined time to is provided.

Although the temperature storage unit 11 stores 0 ° C. as the reference temperature Tr in the configuration of FIG. 3, in FIG. 5, the temperature Tr after a predetermined time to has elapsed since the operation of the sheathed heater 5
Is configured to be stored.

For example, when the volume of water in the tank 3 is 1600
Calculating the temperature (reference temperature Tr) of the water at 0 ° C. after 30 seconds (cc: 0.24 × 800 × 30/16), with cc, the power of the heater set to 800 w and the heating time set to 30 seconds,
00). FIG. 6 shows a time characteristic (calculated value) of the reference temperature (Tr). From the time characteristic, a reference temperature (Tr) corresponding to the timer time to can be set in the temperature storage unit 11 in advance.

On the other hand, when the water in the tank 3 is frozen, the time characteristic of the temperature Ta detected by the temperature sensor 6 becomes lower than the reference temperature (Tr) in FIG. By comparing with, freezing can be determined.

Although the embodiment having the float switch has been described, the same applies to a heat exchanger replacement and a washing toilet seat without the float switch.

[0032]

As described above, in the heat exchanger and the flush toilet seat according to the present invention, the control means detects the detected temperature and the reference temperature or the detected temperature based on the temperature information of the temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the water in the tank. The temperature change rate calculated from the temperature and the reference change rate, or the detected temperature after the lapse of the predetermined time and the reference temperature after the lapse of the predetermined time are compared to determine the freezing, and the power to the heater is stopped. Therefore, even if the tank is cracked due to freezing, it is possible to prevent the trouble caused by the empty heating.

Therefore, a highly safe heat exchanger and a flush toilet seat are provided which detect the freezing in the tank and stop the energization of the heater, thereby preventing the temperature sensor and the resin tank from being burned out due to empty heating. be able to.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a heat exchanger according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an electrical equivalent circuit diagram of the heat exchanger according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control means according to claim 2;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a control means according to claim 3;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a control means according to claim 4;

FIG. 6 is a time characteristic (calculated value) of a reference temperature (Tr).

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of a conventional heat exchanger for a flush toilet seat.

FIG. 8 is a view showing a state in which water in the tank of the heat exchanger of the conventional flush toilet seat is frozen and the tank is cracked.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1,21 heat exchanger 2,22 heat exchanger main body 3,23 tank 4,24 float switch (SW1) 5,25 sheathed heater 6,26 temperature sensor 7 power supply (Eo) 8 power supply stop switch (SW2) 9 control means DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Temperature storage part 12 Temperature comparison means 13 Switch driving part 15 Temperature change rate calculation means 16 Timer 17 Change rate storage part 18 Timer means 19 Comparison means

Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Tetsuharu Niu 2-1-1 Nakajima, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka Prefecture Touchi Kiki Co., Ltd. Inside (72) Inventor Motoki Moroi 100, Maeda-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside (72) Inventor Takashi Bando 100, Maeda-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture (56) References JP-A-58-160449 (JP, A) JP-A-58-99367 (JP, U) JP-A-3-42146 (JP, Y2) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB Name) F24H 1/18 503 F24H 1/18 301

Claims (12)

(57) [Claims] A heater, a float switch, and a temperature sensor provided in a sealed tank, wherein the heater controls heating of the heater to keep water in the tank at a set temperature; A heat exchanger, comprising: control means for judging freezing of water in the tank based on temperature information detected by a temperature sensor and stopping energization of the heater. 2. The control means further comprises a temperature comparing means for comparing temperature information from the temperature sensor with a previously stored freezing temperature, and when the temperature information is equal to or lower than the freezing temperature, it is determined that freezing is performed. 2. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein energization of the heater is stopped. 3. The control means includes a temperature change rate calculating means for calculating a change rate of temperature information from the temperature sensor,
2. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein when the temperature change rate output from the temperature change rate calculation means is equal to or less than a predetermined value, it is determined that the temperature is frozen and the power supply to the heater is stopped. 4. The control means includes a timer means, and when the temperature information from the temperature sensor does not reach a target temperature within a predetermined time, it is determined that the temperature is frozen and the power supply to the heater is stopped. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein 5. A washing toilet seat heat exchanger in which a heater and a temperature sensor are provided in a closed tank, and the heater is controlled to be heated to maintain a temperature of the water in the tank at a set temperature. A heat exchanger comprising control means for judging freezing of water in the tank on the basis of temperature information to be supplied and stopping energization of the heater. 6. The control means further comprises a temperature comparing means for comparing temperature information from the temperature sensor with a previously stored freezing temperature, and when the temperature information is equal to or lower than the freezing temperature, it is determined that the temperature is freezing. The heat exchanger according to claim 5, wherein the power supply to the heater is stopped. 7. A temperature change rate calculating means for calculating a change rate of temperature information from the temperature sensor in the control means,
6. The heat exchanger according to claim 5, wherein when the temperature change rate output from the temperature change rate calculation means is equal to or less than a predetermined value, it is determined that the temperature is frozen, and the power supply to the heater is stopped. 8. The control means includes a timer means, and when the temperature information from the temperature sensor does not reach a target temperature within a predetermined time, it is determined that the temperature is frozen and the power supply to the heater is stopped. The heat exchanger according to claim 5, wherein 9. A washing apparatus comprising: a tank for storing washing water; a heater for heating the washing water in the tank; a temperature sensor; and a discharge means for discharging the washing water in the tank to a human body part. A toilet seat, comprising: a control unit configured to determine whether water in the tank is frozen based on temperature information detected by the temperature sensor and to stop energizing the heater. . 10. The control means includes a temperature comparing means for comparing temperature information from the temperature sensor with a previously stored freezing temperature, and when the temperature information is equal to or lower than the freezing temperature, it is determined that freezing is performed. The cleaning toilet seat according to claim 9, wherein energization of the heater is stopped. 11. The control means includes a temperature change rate calculating means for calculating a change rate of temperature information from the temperature sensor, wherein the temperature change rate output from the temperature change rate calculating means is less than a predetermined value. 10. The flush toilet seat according to claim 9, wherein it is determined that the heater is frozen, and the power supply to the heater is stopped. 12. The control means includes timer means, and when the temperature information from the temperature sensor does not reach the target temperature within a predetermined time, it is determined that the temperature is frozen and the power supply to the heater is stopped. The flush toilet seat according to claim 9, wherein: