JP3040851U - Hot water supply equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [PROBLEMS] To provide a hot water supply facility capable of surely using uncontaminated hot water by confirming that accumulated water has completely flowed out after opening a valve. SOLUTION: A valve opening detecting means 22 for detecting an opening operation of an opening / closing valve 12a provided in a hot water faucet 12, and the opening / closing valve 12
It is provided with a buzzer 18 and a lamp 19 which give an alarm for a predetermined time set by the timer 25 after detecting the valve opening of a.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

[Technical field to which the invention belongs]

 The present invention relates to a hot water supply facility, and more particularly to a hot water supply facility capable of knowing that accumulated water in a hot water pipe has been discharged.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 The hot water stored in the hot water tank is supplied individually from the hot water faucet at the hot water supply location or the shower head, etc., through hot water supply pipes drawn from the hot water tank to multiple hot water supply locations such as a washroom or shower room. Hot water supply equipment is known. This kind of hot water supply equipment can supply hot water from one hot water tank to multiple locations, and the temperature of hot water can be controlled from one hot water tank, so facilities such as hospitals that require many hot water supply locations Widely used in.

When a user opens an opening / closing valve such as a hot water faucet or a shower head, the hot water held at a constant temperature and stored in the hot water tank passes through a hot water pipe for hot water supply to the hot water faucet, the shower head, or the like. Flows out of. When the valve is opened, it is pushed out by the hot water from the hot water tank, first the accumulated water that stays in the hot water pipe flows out, and after that accumulated water flows out, the hot water in the tank then flows out. That is, the first thing that comes out after opening the on-off valve is not the hot water in the hot water tank that has been heated and kept at high temperature, but the accumulated water that has accumulated in the hot water pipe after the previous use.

This accumulated water tends to be a nest of bacteria such as Legionella bacteria that enter the hot water pipe through an on-off valve and others, and is easily contaminated, so that it is caused by the use of accumulated water especially in hospitals and the like. From the viewpoint of preventing nosocomial infections, it is required to use warm water after opening a valve and flowing a certain amount or more of water at which accumulated water completely flows out.

[0005]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, whether or not the amount of water that has been opened and flowed has exceeded a certain amount is determined based on the outflow time after opening by each individual user who opened the valve, so that the accumulated water is always completely removed. There was a problem that uncontaminated hot water was not always used after it had flowed out.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a hot water supply facility that can reliably use uncontaminated hot water after the accumulated water has completely flowed out after opening the valve. To do.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, a valve opening detecting means for detecting the opening operation of an opening / closing valve provided at a hot water outlet and a predetermined time set by a timer after detecting the opening / closing of the opening / closing valve are provided. Provided is a hot water supply facility comprising an alarm means for issuing an alarm.

According to the above configuration, when the valve opening detecting means detects the opening operation of the opening / closing valve, the timer is activated and the alarm means issues an alarm for a predetermined time preset in the timer. As a result, it is possible to notify the user of the hot water that the discharge of the accumulated water that first flows out after the valve has been completely opened, is notified by an alarm based on the timer time rather than the individual judgment of the user. The user can be sure to use uncontaminated hot water.

[0009]

[Embodiment of the invention]

 In a preferred embodiment, a flow sensor that is provided in the hot water pipe, detects a flow of hot water flowing through the hot water pipe, a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the hot water, the flow sensor and the temperature sensor are connected in advance, and A control device that outputs a control signal based on a discharge time at which the accumulated water in the hot water pipe is discharged, which is set or calculated from the detection output of the flow sensor, and the control signal provided in the control device. And a warning unit that is connected to the control device and is activated by the control signal or the detection output of the temperature sensor.

With this configuration, the control device discharges the accumulated water in the hot water pipe which is preset or calculated from the flow rate of the hot water flowing in the hot water pipe detected by the flow sensor. Is output, and the alarm means is activated during the output time of this control signal timed by the timer. As a result, it is possible to reliably inform the user of the hot water that the discharge of the accumulated water in the hot water pipe has been completed by an alarm based on time and temperature, not on the individual judgment of the user. The user can reliably use uncontaminated hot water.

Further, by activating the alarm means by the temperature sensor, an alarm is issued while hot water below a predetermined temperature is flowing, and when the temperature reaches or exceeds a predetermined value, the alarm is released and hot water can be used. Can inform you that it is possible. In this case, if the hot water temperature does not rise above the predetermined value even after a lapse of a predetermined time after opening the valve, it can be judged that the hot water supply device is abnormal and the use of the entire hot water supply facility can be stopped. At this time, an alarm device may be provided for notifying the abnormality. This alarm device may continue to issue an alarm using the above-mentioned alarm means, or a separate alarm device may be provided to issue an alarm when the temperature does not rise for a predetermined time after opening the valve. It may be operated in conjunction with. As a result, the hot water heater itself can be checked by the temperature sensor provided corresponding to each on-off valve of the terminal, and the entire hot water supply facility can be monitored.

Further, a preferred embodiment is characterized in that a sensor unit in which the flow sensor and the temperature sensor are integrated is provided in the hot water pipe.

With this configuration, since the flow sensor and the temperature sensor are integrally incorporated in the sensor unit provided in the hot water pipe, the flow sensor and the temperature sensor should be installed in the hot water pipe only when It can be done only by connecting the pipes integrally and continuously.

In another preferred embodiment, the hot water pipe is connected to a hot water tank, and the sensor is provided near a hot water faucet provided in the hot water pipe or an opening / closing valve of a shower head. There is.

With this configuration, since the flow sensor and the temperature sensor are provided in the vicinity of the hot water faucet through which the hot water flows from the hot water tank and the hot water is sent or the opening / closing valve of the shower head, the hot water to be sent is The flow state and temperature are detected by the flow sensor and the temperature sensor near the on-off valve. Therefore, the state of hot water at the position of the on-off valve where hot water is actually used and the start-of-use operation are detected, and the reliability of the accumulated water discharge warning to the user is increased.

[0016]

【Example】

 Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of hot water supply equipment according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the hot water stored in the hot water tank 10 is supplied to a hot water supply place such as a washroom or a shower room through hot water supply equipment such as the hot water pipe 11 and the hot water faucet 12. Water is supplied to the hot water tank 10 through a water supply pipe 14 provided with a valve 13 that opens and closes a flow path. The water supplied to the hot water tank 10 is heated by the heater 15 provided in the hot water tank 10 and is held and stored as hot water having a predetermined temperature. A hot water pipe 11 connected to the hot water tank 10 and provided with a valve 16 for opening and closing a flow path is arranged so as to be drawn into each compartment such as a bathroom or a shower room of a hospital. A sensor unit 17 is provided in the vicinity of the end of the hot water pipe 11, and a water tap such as a hot water faucet 12 which is a hot water outlet and a shower head (not shown) is connected to the end of the pipe. A buzzer 18 and a lamp 19, which are warning means, are installed around these hydrants at positions where the users using the hot water from the hydrants can easily and reliably hear and see them. ing. The hot water faucet 12 will be described below, but the same applies to the shower head.

The sensor unit 17 includes a tubular body portion 20 formed by using a tubular body that can be integrally connected to the hot water pipe 11, a temperature sensor 21 and a temperature sensor 21 that are integrally incorporated in the tubular body portion 20. And a flow sensor 22. The tubular body portion 20 is composed of, for example, a tubular body used for the hot water pipe 11, and is connected to the hot water pipe 11 to form a part of the hot water supply passage. The temperature sensor 21 detects the temperature of the hot water flowing in the tubular body portion 20, and the flow sensor 22 detects the flow of the hot water flowing in the tubular body portion 20. That is, the flow sensor 22 constitutes a valve opening detecting means for detecting that hot water faucet 12 described later is opened and hot water flows. The flow sensor 22 may be configured to be able to detect the flow rate of hot water. Each detection information of the temperature sensor 21 and the flow sensor 22 is sent to the control device 23. With such a sensor unit 17, the temperature sensor 21 and the flow sensor 22 can be mounted in the hot water pipe 11 by a pipe connection in which the pipe body portion 20 is integrally continuous with the hot water pipe 11.

The control device 23 includes a control circuit 24, a timer 25, and a power supply circuit 26, and the power supply circuit 26 is connected with a buzzer 18 and a lamp 19. The control circuit 24 controls energization from the power supply circuit 26 based on the detection information of the temperature sensor 21 and the flow sensor 22 sent to the control device 23. The timer 24 measures the discharge time during which the accumulated water in the hot water pipe 11 is discharged from the hot water pipe 11. The accumulated water is water that has accumulated between the hot water tank 10 of the hot water pipe 11 and the hot water faucet 12 of the pipe terminal. After closing the on-off valve 12a of the hot water faucet 12, the hot water faucet 12 is opened and closed next. It remains in the hot water pipe 11 until the valve 12a is opened. The accumulated water is kept at a predetermined temperature at the time of being discharged from the hot water tank 10, but the temperature of the accumulated water drops and cools while it remains in the hot water pipe 11.

Although the discharge time is such that the accumulated water is pushed out by the warm water from the warm water tank 10 that is sent out by opening the warm water faucet 12 and the accumulated water flows out of the warm water faucet 12, and all the accumulated water in the warm water pipe 11 flows out. This is the time it takes. This discharge time is almost determined according to the length and diameter of the hot water pipe 11 from the hot water tank 10 to the hot water faucet 12, and is preset in the timer 25. The discharge time can also be calculated based on the flow rate of hot water flowing through the hot water pipe 11 per unit time detected by the flow sensor 22.

When the discharge time is measured by the timer 25 from the start of the flow rate detection, the power supply circuit 26 supplies a current (control signal) to the buzzer 18 and the lamp 19 based on the measured time (output time). Flowing. The buzzer 18 emits a sound, the lamp 19 lights up, and an alarm is issued from the start of the flow rate detection when the hot water faucet 12 is opened to start the flow of accumulated water until the elapse of the discharge time.

If the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 21 is equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature even after the discharge time elapses, the control circuit 24 keeps the energizing current flowing from the power supply circuit 26 to the buzzer 18 and the lamp 19 to generate an alarm. May continue to emit. That is, if the detected temperature does not reach substantially the same temperature as the temperature of the hot water stored in the hot water tank 10 even after the elapse of a predetermined time due to the operation of the timer 25, the accumulated water is still completely discharged from the hot water pipe 11. If it is judged that the warning has not been given, the alarm by the buzzer 18 and the lamp 19 is continued. Then, when the detected temperature reaches a predetermined temperature, the power supply circuit 26 is de-energized and the alarm by the buzzer 18 and the lamp 19 is stopped.

Further, in this case, when the temperature does not rise even after a lapse of a predetermined time after the valve of the faucet is opened, the temperature of the hot water in the hot water tank 10 is low, and it is determined that the hot water supply device is abnormal and the entire hot water supply equipment Can be dealt with to stop using. In this case, an alarm device may be provided to notify the abnormality of the hot water supply equipment. This alarm device may continue to issue an alarm using the alarm means by the buzzer 18 and the lamp 19 described above, or another alarm device may be provided and linked with a timer, and set by the timer after detection of valve opening. If the temperature is equal to or lower than the predetermined value even after the elapse of the predetermined time, another alarm may be issued as an abnormality of the entire hot water supply facility.

In the hot water supply equipment having the above structure, a user of hot water opens the open / close valve 12 a of the hot water faucet 12 to discharge hot water. When the hot water faucet 12 is opened, it is pushed out by the hot water from the hot water tank 10 and first, the accumulated water staying in the hot water pipe 11 flows out. At this time, the outflow start of the accumulated water is detected by the flow sensor 22, the timer 25 is activated, and an alarm is issued by the buzzer 18 and the lamp 19. The user knows from this warning that the hot water currently exiting from the hot water faucet 12 cannot be used, and waits without using it while the warning continues. After a lapse of a predetermined time and when the temperature sensor 21 detects that the temperature is higher than the predetermined temperature, the alarm by the buzzer 18 and the lamp 19 is stopped, so that the user is currently exiting the hot water faucet 12. Knowing that it is hot water after discharging accumulated water, you can use hot water with confidence.

As described above, the discharge of accumulated water, which tends to become a nest of bacteria such as Legionella bacteria, which is the first to flow out after the valve of the hot water faucet 12 is opened to the user of hot water and is easily polluted, is completely finished. Can be accurately notified by an alarm based on the timer time and temperature instead of the individual judgment of the user. Therefore, the user of the hot water can confirm that the accumulated water has completely flowed out and can reliably use the uncontaminated hot water. For example, the contaminated accumulated water at a medical institution such as a hospital can be used. The occurrence of nosocomial infections caused by use can be prevented. Moreover, since it is an alarm by sound and light, it can be surely and clearly notified.

Further, since the temperature sensor 21, the flow sensor 22, the control device 23, the buzzer 18, and the lamp 19 are small in size and have a simple structure, they can be easily mounted and easily mounted, so that a slight modification of the existing hot water supply equipment is required. Or it can be dealt with easily by adding.

In the above embodiment, the temperature sensor 21 and the flow sensor 22 are provided to detect the flow or temperature of the hot water flowing through the hot water pipe 11, and the valve opening operation is detected based on the detected information to stay. Although the alarm is issued until the end of water discharge, the same alarm is generated by detecting the opening operation of the opening / closing valve 12a provided in the hot water faucet 12 instead of the flow of hot water flowing in the hot water pipe 11 or the temperature. May be issued. That is, a valve opening detection means for detecting the opening operation of the opening / closing valve 12a provided in the hot water faucet 12 which is the hot water outlet is provided, and after the opening of the opening / closing valve is detected by this valve opening detection means, the timer 25 is set by the timer 25. The alarm is issued only for the preset discharge time. The valve-opening detection means may be any one that can detect the opening operation of the on-off valve, such as a mechanical switch provided on the stopper.

Further, in the above embodiment, the temperature sensor 21, the flow rate sensor 22, the control device 23, and the alarm means are provided for each water tap such as the hot water faucet 12, but for example, a plurality of hot water is provided at one location. When the faucet 12 is installed, each hot water faucet 12 is provided with a temperature sensor 21 and a flow sensor 22, and the hot water faucet 12 is provided with a common control device 23 and alarm means at a ratio of one. Good. When the hot water faucet 12 is not used at the same time, an alarm means activated by the temperature sensor 21 and the flow sensor 22 corresponds to each time the hot water faucet 12 is used. The alarm means operated by the sensor 21 and the flow sensor sensor 22 may be followed.

Alternatively, one sensor and one alarm means may be provided for a plurality of faucets. Further, one control device may control a plurality of sensors and a plurality of alarm means.

Further, in the above embodiment, the temperature sensor 21 and the flow sensor 22 are used together, but an alarm may be issued only by the detection information of the flow sensor 22 or the temperature sensor 21.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the sensor unit in which the temperature sensor 21 and the flow sensor 22 are integrated is used, but the temperature sensor 21 and the flow sensor 22 are not individually united, but the hot water pipes are individually provided. 11 may be installed.

Further, the temperature sensor 21 and the flow sensor 22 are not limited to being provided in the flow direction front side of the hot water faucet 12 with respect to the open / close valve 12a, but may be provided behind the open / close valve 12a in the flow direction.

Further, the buzzer 18 and the lamp 19 do not necessarily have to be used in combination, and only one of the buzzer 18 and the lamp 19 may be used as long as the user can be surely notified.

Further, the present invention is not limited to the hot water pipe connected to the hot water tank, but can be applied to the hot water pipe directly connected to a heating source such as a gas water heater.

[0035]

[Effect of the invention]

 As described above, according to the hot water supply system of the present invention, the valve opening detection means for detecting the opening / closing operation of the valve opening / closing provided at the hot water outlet and the after-opening detection timer of the opening / closing valve are used. Since the valve opening detection means detects the opening operation of the on-off valve, the alarm means for issuing an alarm only for the set predetermined time is activated and the timer is activated for the predetermined time set in the timer in advance. Since an alarm is issued from the alarm, it is ensured to the user of hot water that the discharge of accumulated water that first flows out after opening the valve is completely completed by an alarm based on the timer time and temperature, not the individual judgment of the user. The user can be notified, and the user can reliably use uncontaminated hot water, and prevent hospital-acquired infections via hot water piping, for example, in hospitals.

Further, a flow sensor which is provided in the hot water pipe and detects a flow of hot water flowing through the hot water pipe, a temperature sensor which detects the temperature of the hot water, the flow sensor and the temperature sensor are connected and set in advance. Of the control signal, which is provided in the control device and which outputs a control signal based on the discharge time at which the accumulated water in the hot water pipe is discharged, which is calculated or calculated from the detection output of the flow sensor. If the timer is provided with a timer that measures the output time and an alarm means that is connected to the control device and is activated by the control signal or the detection output of the temperature sensor, the control device is set in advance or The timer outputs a control signal based on the discharge time of the accumulated water in the hot water pipe calculated from the flow rate of the hot water flowing in the hot water pipe detected by the flow sensor. The alarm means is activated during the output time of this control signal. As a result, the user of the hot water can be surely notified that the discharge of the accumulated water in the hot water pipe is completely completed by an alarm based on time and temperature, not by the individual judgment of the user. It is possible to use uncontaminated hot water without fail.

Further, by activating the alarm means by the temperature sensor, an alarm is issued while hot water at a predetermined temperature or lower is flowing, and when the temperature reaches or exceeds the predetermined value, the alarm is released and the hot water can be used. Can inform you that it is possible. In this case, if the hot water temperature does not rise above the predetermined value even after a lapse of a predetermined time after opening the valve, it can be judged that the hot water supply device is abnormal and the use of the entire hot water supply facility can be stopped. This allows the hot water supply device itself to be checked by the temperature sensor provided for each open / close valve of the terminal, and the entire hot water supply facility can be monitored.

Further, when the sensor unit having the flow sensor and the temperature sensor integrated therein is provided in the hot water pipe, the flow sensor and the temperature sensor are integrally provided in the sensor unit provided in the hot water pipe. Since it is built in, the flow sensor and the temperature sensor can be mounted in the hot water pipe only by connecting the pipe to the hot water pipe so that the workability is improved.

Further, if the hot water pipe is connected to a hot water tank and the sensor is provided near the hot water faucet provided in the hot water pipe or the opening / closing valve of the shower head, the hot water tank is connected to the inside of the hot water pipe. Since a flow sensor and a temperature sensor are installed near the hot water faucet or the shower head opening / closing valve to which the hot water is sent, the flow status of the hot water sent is determined by the flow sensor and the temperature sensor near the opening / closing valve. And temperature is detected. Therefore, the state of hot water at the position of the on-off valve where hot water is actually used and the operation of starting use are detected, so that the reliability of the accumulated water discharge warning to the user is increased and reliable infection prevention is achieved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a hot water supply facility according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10: hot water tank, 11: hot water pipe, 12: hot water faucet,
12a: on-off valve, 14: water supply pipe, 15: heater, 17:
Sensor unit, 18: buzzer, 19: lamp, 20:
Tube part, 21: temperature sensor, 22: flow sensor, 2
3: control device, 24: control circuit, 25: timer, 26:
Power circuit.

Claims (4)

[Utility model registration claims] 1. A valve opening detection means for detecting an opening operation of an opening / closing valve provided at a hot water outlet, and an alarm means for issuing an alarm for a predetermined time set by a timer after detecting the opening / closing of the opening / closing valve. Hot water supply facility characterized by doing. 2. A flow sensor provided in the hot water pipe for detecting the flow of hot water flowing through the hot water pipe, a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the hot water, and the flow sensor and the temperature sensor are connected and set in advance. Or a control device that outputs a control signal based on a discharge time for discharging the accumulated water in the hot water pipe calculated from the detection output of the flow sensor, and an output time of the control signal that is provided in the control device. A hot water supply facility comprising: a timer for counting the time; and an alarm means connected to the control device and activated by the detection output of the control signal or the temperature sensor. 3. The hot water supply facility according to claim 2, wherein a sensor unit having the flow sensor and the temperature sensor integrated therein is provided in the hot water pipe. 4. The hot water supply equipment according to claim 2, wherein the hot water pipe is connected to a hot water tank, and the sensor is provided near a hot water faucet provided in the hot water pipe or an opening / closing valve of a shower head. .