JP2982942B2 - Automatic faucet device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic faucet apparatus and, more particularly, to an automatic faucet apparatus capable of knowing an accurate water supply flow rate.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Automatic faucet devices are being used to supply water to a wash basin or to wash water after use of a toilet. The automatic faucet device detects the approach or separation of a user's hand or body and automatically supplies water. Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 4-102640 discloses an automatic toilet flushing device for stopping water. When installing a similar device of the related art as described in this publication, since the setting of the water supply flow rate at the time of use is visually checked, etc., it depends on the subjectivity of the installer and the manager, and the work is troublesome, There was a problem that workability was poor. Therefore, in the device described in the above-mentioned publication, the stopcock on the upstream of the water supply valve is determined by displaying whether or not the flow rate of the wash water is within a predetermined range based on the flow rate detection signal of the wash water for cleaning the toilet bowl. There has been proposed a method of adjusting the opening / closing of the above (the above is the first conventional example).

On the other hand, a device for counting the output of a water amount sensor provided in a water supply line for the purpose of supplying water to a bathtub and closing a water supply electromagnetic valve at a predetermined water amount is proposed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 61-87272. A device for detecting a bathtub water level using a pressure sensor and closing the hot water supply electromagnetic valve at a set water level is proposed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-38213 and Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-38214. (The above is the third
Conventional example).

[0004]

However, in the first conventional example, the determination as to whether or not the flow rate of the washing water is within a predetermined range is made by the F / F in the control circuit corresponding to the lower and upper limits of the range. V
The method is set by the output voltage of the converter. That is, the lower limit flow rate and the upper limit flow rate are set by comparing each output voltage corresponding to the lower limit and the upper limit with the reference voltage. However, in this method, in order to adjust to the optimum value (between the upper limit flow rate and the lower limit flow rate), it is necessary to adjust the stopcock upstream of the water supply valve gradually by opening the stopcock and adjusting to the optimum value. There is a problem that the adjustment takes a very long time.

[0005] Further, the second and third prior art examples both know the final total water supply amount, do not control the water amount at the time of water supply, and reduce water consumption due to excess flow at the time of water supply. There is no description of eliminating disadvantages and inconvenience in use due to insufficient flow, or measures against running out of battery due to insufficient power generation by the generator.

Accordingly, the present invention solves such a problem, and an automatic water supply system capable of accurately setting and controlling the amount of water at the time of water supply, and in particular, facilitating the handling and maintenance by the installer or manager of the apparatus. It is intended to provide a stopper device.

[0007]

[0008]

In the first configuration of the present invention, the approach of the user is detected, the valve body 43 is automatically opened, and the water is discharged.
In the automatic faucet apparatus which supplies a water amount setting means 42 for setting the amount of water flowing through the water supply passage 4, the impeller 48 which rotates in response to water flow to the water supply channel 4, is connected to the wings wheel 48 rotates the power generating means 44 for generating power, the power generating means 44
A storage means 305 which is charged by the output of, based on the output of the generator means 44 and water amount calculation means 301 for calculating the amount of water flowing through the water supply channel 4, and displays the calculated amount of water for each predetermined phase, or in proportion to the calculated amount of water and a flow rate display unit 32 to continuously display, the amount of water calculated
The output unit 301 is provided when the power storage unit 305 is fully charged.
At times other than full charge, the output of the
Change calculation formula or table for calculating water storage
I do.

[0009]

In the second configuration of the present invention, the water supply flow rate for each use is stored in the storage means 308 of the computer 301 provided in the control device and used for maintenance of the device and water amount management.

In a third configuration of the present invention, the flow rate display means has an indicator light 32, and displays the flow rate by turning on, off, blinking or blinking the indicator light 32.

[0012]

In the first configuration, the power storage means is fully charged.
The relationship between the generator output and the amount of water between the time of
Depending on the state of charge of the storage means,
A calculation formula for calculating the water amount from the output of the power generation means is also provided.
Or the table is changed. Accordingly, the predetermined water supply flow rate can be accurately set by the flow rate setting means while checking the water amount displayed on the flow rate display means, so that an appropriate water amount without variation when the valve body is opened can be supplied.

[0013]

In the second configuration, since the flow rate of water supply for each use is stored in the memory of the computer provided in the control device, the stored data can be used for maintenance and water amount management.

[0015] In the third configuration, the number and installation space of the indicator lamps are reduced, and the flow rate data can be easily checked and grasped during maintenance and water amount management.

[0016]

1 and 2 show the front and side views of a urinal provided with an automatic faucet apparatus according to the present invention. In the figure, a urinal 1 is fixed to a vertical wall W, and an automatic faucet device 2 is provided above the urinal. Housing 2 of device 2
Reference numeral 1 denotes a rectangular shape, and an elongated rectangular opening 22 for a sensing unit for detecting the approach of a user is formed in the front center left half (FIG. 1). In the housing 21, a control panel 3 is provided in a left half portion facing the opening 22, and a water supply passage 4 provided with an electromagnetic valve, a wheel, and the like, which will be described in detail later, is provided in a right half portion.

FIG. 3 shows details of the water supply channel 4 as viewed from the side. The upper end of the water supply passage 4 projects rearward (to the right in the figure) to form an inlet pipe 41, and water flowing from a main pipe (not shown) flows downward through a water stopcock 42 and a diaphragm type valve element 43, The generator 44 is led to a water supply pipe 11 provided at the upper end of the urinal 1 by a hose 46 (FIG. 1) connected to an outlet pipe 45 on the side of the generator 44. The valve body 43 is opened and closed by an electromagnetic valve 47 located above the valve body 43. The generator 44 is connected to an impeller (not shown) that is driven to rotate by water flowing through the water supply passage 4. Lead wires 471 and 441 extend from the electromagnetic valve 47 and the generator 44, and are connected to the control panel 3 by connectors 442 and 472 provided at respective ends.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the control panel 3. In the drawing, a control panel 3 is provided with a power switch 31 at a left end position in the center of the front, and a transparent window provided at a left and right position at an upper end of the panel has an indicator light 32 made of a light emitting diode for confirming a water supply flow rate. And a DIP (Dual Inline Package) switch 33 for selecting an operation. This DIP switch 33 is 6
The figure shows a state in which all of the switches are pressed downward. The DIP switch 33
As shown in the dashed-line frame in the figure, switches to set the presence or absence and time of pre-cleaning, switches to set the time for main cleaning, and switches to set the responsiveness of water supply. In the drawing, # 1 and # 2 indicate the temporary stop time of the preliminary cleaning, for example, 5 minutes and 30 minutes, respectively.

FIG. 5 shows a circuit configuration of the control panel 3. In the figure, an infrared light emitting diode 341 of a sensing unit 34 is intermittently operated by a light emitting circuit 302 that has received a command from a microcomputer 301, and reflected light by a user approaching the urinal 1 is reflected by the photodiode 3.
42. The light receiving signal of the photodiode 342 is amplified and shaped by the light receiving circuit 303 and the microcomputer 301
To enter.

The output of the generator 44, which is connected to the rotating impeller 48 provided in the water supply passage 4 and rotates, is converted into a direct current by a rectifier circuit 304 to charge a battery 305 for supplying an operating power and a waveform shaping circuit 306. Is input to the microcomputer 301 as a pulse signal corresponding to the rotation of the generator 44. Note that overcharging of the battery 305 is prevented by the charge control circuit 307 that has received a command from the microcomputer 301. The microcomputer 301 includes the indicator light 32 and the DIP
In addition to the switch 33, a data storage memory 308, a clock timer 309 for calculating a feed water flow rate, and the electromagnetic valve 47 are connected.

The operation of the automatic faucet device having the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When setting the flow rate of water supply to the urinal 1, the water stopcock 42 is set to an appropriate opening degree with the diaphragm valve body 43 in the device housing 2 opened, and water flows into the water supply passage 4. The impeller 48 in the water supply channel 4 rotates by this water flow, and the generator 44 connected thereto rotates integrally to start power generation. Microcomputer 301
In step 101 of FIG. 6, the number of rotations per unit time is known from the output of the generator 44, and this is converted into a feedwater flow rate. And the feedwater flow rate is Q1 (for example, 10 l / mi).
n), Q2 (for example, 16 l / min), Q3 (for example, 2
0 l / min) and Q4 (for example, 25 l / min), the following display patterns A to E depend on whether or not the flow rate exceeds each determination flow rate.
Select

The display patterns A to E are as follows. Display pattern A: Turn off the indicator lamp. Display pattern B: The indicator light flashes slowly. Display pattern C: Turn on the indicator lamp. Display pattern D: The indicator light is blinked quickly. Display pattern E: Turn off the indicator light.

In the above conversion of the feedwater flow rate, the relationship between the generator output and the feedwater flow rate depends on the load state of the generator (for example, a charged state or a non-charged state), the type of the impeller, and the type of the generator. Therefore, correction can be easily made by changing each constant of the conversion formula of the flow rate calculating means (or a table prepared in advance instead of the conversion formula). For example, as shown in FIG.
Alternatively, when the table A is selected and the battery is fully charged and not charged, the calculation formula B or the table B is selected. Further, since the load of the battery also changes depending on the degree of charge accumulation, each calculation formula and table are switched. In addition,
It is also possible to switch according to the type of impeller and generator.

Thus, urinal installers, managers, etc.
By adjusting the opening of the stopcock while checking the lighting pattern of the indicator light, it is possible to accurately set the water supply flow rate, and it is possible to prevent excess and deficiency of the flush water amount for each toilet,
The variation is eliminated.

In this embodiment, since the amount of flowing water is detected by using the output of the generator for charging the battery, it is not necessary to provide a special flow rate detector, and the amount of flowing water is such that the battery does not run out. Can be reliably set.

Further, since the amount of water supply is indicated by blinking of one indicator light, the number of indicators and the installation space can be saved.

[0027] Incidentally, the blinking pattern of the indicator is not limited to the above embodiments. Further, the water supply flow rate may be displayed by changing the tone of the voice, or may be directly displayed by a level gauge or digital display.

By storing the water supply flow rate for each use in the memory 308 in the control device 3, it is determined whether or not the water amount is appropriate, for example, by comparing data with the past several times of use water amount immediately before use of the urinal. Thus, it can be used for maintenance and proper water volume management, and in case of a shortage such as a power outage, maintenance can be facilitated by storing the water volume during use several times immediately before that.

The automatic faucet apparatus of the present invention can be applied not only to the toilet of the above embodiment but also to water supply to a wash basin or the like. In addition to the above-mentioned battery, a dry cell or a commercial power supply can be used as the operating power supply of the apparatus.

[0030]

As described above, according to the automatic faucet apparatus of the present invention, the flow rate is displayed at predetermined steps by the flow rate display means.
Or, by continuously displaying, when setting the flow rate to the optimum range or optimum value, it can be confirmed that the flow rate is approaching the optimum value, and the stopcock can be finely adjusted near the above range or value, and the adjustment time can be adjusted. Can be greatly reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a urinal provided with an automatic faucet device.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a urinal provided with an automatic faucet device.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a water supply channel.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a control panel.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of a control panel.

FIG. 6 is a processing flowchart of a microcomputer.

FIG. 7 is a processing flowchart of a microcomputer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Urinal 2 Automatic faucet device 3 Control panel 32 Indicator light (Flow rate display means) 301 Microcomputer (Water amount calculating means) 305 Battery (Power storage means) 308 Memory (Storage means) 4 Water supply channel 42 Stopcock (Water amount setting means) 44 generator (flow rate detection means, power generation means) 48 impeller

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Shigeru Sakakibara 5-1-1 Koie Honcho, Tokoname-shi, Aichi Pref. (56) References JP 4-12559 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) E03D 5/10

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. An automatic faucet device for detecting the approach of a user and automatically opening a valve body to supply water, wherein a water amount setting means for setting an amount of water flowing to a water supply channel; Water supply flow
An impeller that rotates according to the amount, and an impeller that rotates while being connected to the impeller.
Power generating means for generating power, and
Power storage means and the power supply based on the output of the power generation means.
A water amount calculating means for calculating an amount of water flowing through the water channel;
The amount of water that has been drained is displayed at each predetermined stage, or the calculated amount of water
Flow rate display means for continuously displaying in proportion to the amount,
The water amount calculation means is provided for when the power storage means is fully charged and when the power storage means is fully charged.
At times other than charging, the amount of water
Automatic faucet device comprising a this <br/> to change the calculation equation or a table for calculating the. 2. The flow rate of water supply for each use is provided in the control device.
It is stored in the storage means of the computer and the maintenance
The system is used for water and water management.
Automatic faucet device. 3. The flow rate display means has an indicator light.
The flow rate can be adjusted by turning on, off,
3. The automatic faucet according to claim 1, wherein the faucet is displayed.
apparatus.