JP2830507B2 - Shower control device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a shower control device for controlling a hot water supply flow rate.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional shower control device is, for example, a mixing faucet. In this method, hot water supplied from a heat source and water are mixed by an appropriate amount using a manual valve to supply a desired flow of hot water to a user.

[0003] The set flow rate is constant unless the user changes the flow rate and unless the water pressure supplied to the faucet changes.

[0004]

However, the above-mentioned conventional shower control device has the following disadvantages.
In other words, at the time of the first setting, even if the hot water supply condition is comfortable for the user, a so-called habituation phenomenon occurs with the lapse of time, so that the user becomes uncomfortable and the amount of hot water needs to be changed. However, the conventional shower control device has a problem that these changes require human labor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and has as its object to provide a shower control device capable of always using a comfortable shower.

[0006]

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a hot water supply means for supplying hot water, a flow rate detection means for detecting a flow rate of hot water supplied from the hot water supply means, and a water supply means. Switching means for switching the supplied hot water to various shower nozzles, fluctuation means for changing the flow rate of the hot water supplied from the hot water supply means, and drive for driving the fluctuation means only when the flow rate is detected by the flow rate detection means Determination means.

[0007]

According to the present invention, the user can not only take a shower with a constant flow rate but also take a shower in which the flow rate changes irregularly by the fluctuation means. Further, since the flow rate detecting means reliably detects and drives the hot water supplied to the fluctuation means, the durability and reliability of the fluctuation means are improved.

[0008]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes hot water supply means for producing hot water. In this example, the hot water supply device 2 and the hot / water mixer tap 3 are used, but the hot water supply device 2 may be used alone.
Reference numeral 4 denotes a temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the hot water supplied from the hot water supply means 1 in order to determine whether or not the temperature is appropriate for a shower. Reference numeral 5 denotes a fluctuation means for changing the temperature of hot water supplied from the hot water supply means 1 (for example, a proportional solenoid valve). Reference numeral 6 denotes a flow rate detecting means for detecting whether hot water is supplied. Reference numerals 7, 8, 9, and 10 denote switching valve means (for example, an electromagnetic valve or an electric valve) for switching the outlet of hot water. A drain port 11 opens the switching valve means 7 when the temperature has not reached an appropriate temperature, and drains water. Reference numeral 12 denotes a hand shower, and reference numerals 13 and 14 denote fixed showers, which switch the switching valve means 8, 9, and 10 to open the hot water. 15 is control means for inputting and determining the hot water temperature from the temperature detecting means 4 in accordance with a user's operation instruction,
The switching means 7, 8, 9, and 10 are driven to perform hot water drainage or tapping and stopping.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the control means 15. 1
Reference numeral 6 denotes fluctuation source means for outputting various fluctuation signals (for example, 1 / f). Reference numeral 17 denotes a drive judging means which outputs an output signal of the fluctuation source means 16 to the fluctuation means 5 when the flow rate detecting means 6 detects whether or not hot water is supplied.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described. When the user performs a tapping operation of the fluctuating shower, the switching valve means 7 is opened and the hot water sent from the hot water supply means 1 is caused to flow to the drain port 11 to detect the hot water temperature. The control unit 15 receives a signal from the temperature detection unit 4 and determines whether or not the temperature is suitable for the shower. If the temperature is appropriate, the control unit 15 closes the switching valve unit 7 and switches the selected shower switching valve units 8, 9, 10 Is output in the opening direction. For example, if the operated content is the hand shower 12, the switching valve means 10 is opened.

Next, whether or not hot water is supplied is detected by the flow rate detecting means 6 and its signal is inputted to the drive determining means 17. When the drive determining means 17 detects the flow rate, it outputs an output signal of the fluctuation source means 16 to the fluctuation means 5. If not detected, the output signal of the fluctuation source means 16 is not output to the fluctuation means 5.

According to the configuration of this embodiment, the drive determination means 17 determines whether or not the output signal of the fluctuation source means 16 has detected hot water, and only when the hot water is supplied, the fluctuation means 5
Output to drive. Therefore, by the fluctuation signal, the amount of hot water supplied from the shower nozzle can be changed continuously and irregularly. In addition, it eliminates the monotony and always enables comfortable hot water supply.
Further, only when hot water is supplied, the fluctuation means 5 is driven, so that the fluctuation means 5 is reliably driven in a cushion-like medium called hot water, so that the durability and reliability of the fluctuation means 5 can be secured. is there.

[0014]

As described above, according to the shower control apparatus of the present invention, the amount of hot water supplied continuously and irregularly in synchronization with the fluctuation signal output from the fluctuation source only when hot water is supplied. Because of the fluctuation, comfortable hot water supply without monotony can be realized, and since the fluctuation means is driven in a cushion medium called hot water, there is an effect that durability and reliability are improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a shower control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Hot water supply means 5 Fluctuation means 6 Flow rate detection means 7, 8, 9, 10 Switching valve means 16 Fluctuation source means 17 Drive determination means

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-60-26237 (JP, A) JP-A-3-85123 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) A47K 3/22

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. Hot water supply means for supplying hot water used for a shower or the like, flow rate detection means for detecting a flow rate of hot water supplied from the hot water supply means, and various shower nozzles for supplying hot water from the hot water supply means. Switching valve means, a fluctuation source means for outputting various fluctuation signals, a fluctuation means for changing a flow rate of hot water supplied from the hot water supply means by an output signal of the fluctuation source means, and a flow rate by the flow rate detection means. And a drive judging means for outputting an output signal of the fluctuation source means to the fluctuation means only when detecting the fluctuation.