JP3085052B2 - Electric water heater - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a water level detecting device for an electric water heater mainly used in general homes and offices.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this type of electric water heater is as shown in FIG. A water level gauge (1) formed by a transparent and hollow pipe which is vertical and parallel to a container (not shown) and whose upper and lower ends communicate with the container is provided, and the water level in the water level gauge (1) and the water level in the container are provided. And were configured to be at the same water level. Some of the water level gauges (1) contained a float (2) so that the water level could be seen at a glance.

Further, recently, there is an electric kettle having a structure as shown in FIG. (3) is a substantially cylindrical container,
(4) is a water rising pipe whose lower end communicates with the container (3) through an electric pump (5) and whose upper end is opened outward through a check valve (6). (7) is formed of a transparent pipe-like member, communicates both ends with the lower and upper parts of the container (3), houses the float (8) so that it can move up and down, and comprises a light emitting element and a light receiving element at the lower part. The water level gauge includes a water level detection element (9) that operates when the light of the light emitting element is blocked, and detects the float (8). (10) is a lid of the container (3). (11) is a temperature detecting element for detecting the temperature of hot water in the container (3) via the bottom surface of the container (3).
(12) is a hot water supply knob for operating the pump (5). (13) is a heating means such as a heater thermally connected to the bottom of the container (3). (14) is a control device for electrically controlling the pump (5), the water level detecting element (9), the temperature detecting element (11), the hot water supply knob (12), and the heating means (13).

In this configuration, the lid (10) is opened, water is poured into the container, and the container is heated by the heating means (13). When the temperature of the hot water reaches an appropriate temperature, the temperature detecting element (11) detects the temperature of the bottom surface of the container (3) and stops energizing the heating means (13). Thereafter, the heating means (1
3) Control the energization and disconnection of power. When hot water is desired, the hot water supply knob (12) is operated to operate the electric pump (5), and the hot water in the container (3) is discharged through the rising pipe (4). At this time, the water level in the container (3) falls at the same time as the hot water. Accordingly, the water level in the water level gauge (7) also decreases, and the float (8) follows the water level and becomes the same height as the water level of the container (3). As the hot water continues to be supplied, the water level in the water level gauge (7) drops as the water level in the container (3) drops, and the float (8) approaches the water level detecting element (9) and blocks its light emission to detect the water level. Activate element (9). The control unit (14) processes the signal of the water level detecting element (9), notifies the control unit by a sound or a lamp, and stops the energization of the heating means (13) to prevent emptying of the container (3).

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional configuration, first, two pipes, that is, a rising pipe (4) and a water level gauge (7) are required, and the number of parts is large. Costly and used a lot of resources. Second
In consideration of the arrangement of the water rising pipe (4) and the water level gauge (7), there is a design restriction that the position of the water level gauge (7) cannot be freely determined. Third, a storage space was required because the water level detection device (9) had to be stored.

[0006] The present invention is intended to solve the above problems, to provide a small electrical water heaters number of parts as structure integrating the water level gauge and riser pipe
It is an purpose.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electric water heater that can be fixed by disposing a water level detecting device between a rising pipe and a container without providing a storage space for the water level detecting device.
It is an purpose.

Furthermore, to prevent the boil-dry electric water heater, it is an purpose of providing an electric kettle high no malfunction safety.

[0009]

First means for achieving the pre-Symbol purpose Means for Solving the Problems] includes a bottomed container, and the container bottom or side outlet provided near the lower portion, one end outwardly A rising pipe formed of a transparent member that is open and has the other end connected to the outlet, a float housed in the rising pipe so as to be vertically movable, and a water level detection for detecting a liquid level of the rising pipe Equipment and
A ball stopper provided in a rising pipe near the water level detection device to limit the movement of the float, a heating means disposed at the bottom of the container and heating a liquid contained in the container, and a control device . Having the water level detection device with a container and a rising pipe
The present invention provides an electric water heater sandwiched between the two.

[0010] In addition, the second means, in addition to the first means,
The control device is to provide an electric water heater that stops the energization of the heating means when a float that blocks the optical axis of the water level detection device is continuously detected for a predetermined time or more.

[0011]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide an electric water heater having a reduced number of parts by integrating the water level gauge and the rising pipe with the first means. By integrating the water pipe, the degree of freedom in disposing the water level gauge is expanded, and an electric water heater that can be freely designed without design restrictions can be provided.

[0012] Also, it is possible to provide an electric kettle that can be disposed and fixed without providing the receiving space of the water level sensing apparatus by placing the water level sensing apparatus between the temperature of water pipes and containers.

Further, the second means can prevent the electric water heater from being empty, and can provide an electric water heater with high safety and no malfunction.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. (20) is a substantially cylindrical container having an outlet (21) on the bottom surface. (22)
Is connected to an outlet (21) at the bottom of the container (20) at one end and the other end is connected to a connection pipe (2) formed of substantially L-shaped silicone rubber or the like.
An electric pump connected to the water rising pipe (24) in 3). The water-raising pipe (24) communicates with the discharge port (26) through a check valve (25) for preventing hot water from flowing out when it falls, and opens outward. (27) is sandwiched between a container (20) and a rising pipe (24), and the connection pipe (23)
Is a water level detecting device whose position is fixed by fitting a convex portion (28) provided on a fitting portion (31) between a first claw (29) and a second claw (30). The water level detection device (27) has a light emitting element (32) and a light receiving element (33) facing each other and soldered to a printed circuit board (34) side by side to provide a window (35) penetrating along the optical axis. The printed circuit board (34) is housed in a casing (36) and configured in a substantially U-shape. The printed circuit board (34) is sandwiched between the container (20) and the water rising pipe (24), and the concave portion ( 37) and a rising pipe (2
The riser pipe (24) is sandwiched between a pair of third claws (38) so that the light-emitting element (32) is located, and the light from the light-emitting element (32) passes through the concave part (37) and is received by the light-receiving element (33). ) Is configured to receive this light. Reference numeral (39) denotes a vertically movable float housed in the rising pipe (24), which rises and falls with the water level in the rising pipe (24).
When the light passes through the concave portion (37), the light from the light emitting element (32) to the light receiving element (33) is blocked. (40) Float (3
It is a ball stop that restricts the movement of 9). (41) is a temperature sensing element provided at the bottom of the container (20) so as to detect the temperature of hot water through the bottom of the container (20). (42) is a heating means fixed to the bottom of the container (20). (43) is a hot water supply knob for operating the pump (22). (4
4) a control device for electrically controlling the pump (22), the water level detecting device (27), the temperature detecting element (41), the heating means (42), and the hot water supply knob (43). (4
5) is a lid which covers the upper part of the container (20). (46) is a buzzer which is controlled by the control device (44) and emits a notification sound. (47) is a lamp which emits light under the control of the control device (44).

In the above configuration, the lid (45) is opened, water is poured into the container (20), and the heating means (42) is energized through the control device (44). When the water temperature rises, the temperature detecting element (41) detects an appropriate temperature and the control device (44) cuts off the power supply to the heating means (42). Thereafter, the controller (44) responds to a signal from the temperature detecting element (41) to cause the control device (44) to perform heating (4).
2) Maintaining the temperature of the hot water in the container (20) at an appropriate temperature by controlling the energization of the container (20). When hot water is desired, the hot water supply knob (43) is operated to operate the pump (22) to discharge the hot water in the container (20) from the discharge port (26) through the water rising pipe (24). At this time, the float (39) rises with the hot water to be discharged and hits the check valve (25) while being pressed by the hot water to be discharged, and stops. When the operation of the hot water supply knob (43) is stopped, the pump (22) stops and the hot water in the water rising pipe (24) is removed from the container (2).
0) and the water level in the rising pipe (24) is
It becomes the same as the water level in 0). The movement of the float (39) is as follows. When the hot water in the water rising pipe (24) returns to the container (20), it is drawn by the water flow and descends in the water rising pipe (24). After passing through the concave portion (37) of (27) and hitting the ball stopper (40), it repeatedly moves up and down several times until the water level of the water rising pipe (24) is stabilized, and then stops at the water level of the water rising pipe (24). When the stop position of the float (39) is in the concave portion (37) of the water level detection device (27), the light from the light emitting element (32) is blocked, and the water level detection device (27) is activated to output a signal. Control device (44)
Send to At this time, the control device (44) continues to receive the signal of the water level detection device (27) for about 2 seconds, and only when the float (39) continues to block the light of the light emitting element (32), the control device (44). ) Stops the energization of the heating means (42) and notifies the buzzer (46) and lamp (47). If the float (39) moves out of the recess (37) during 2 seconds and the light blocking is interrupted, the controller (44) starts counting about 2 seconds again. Only when the float (39) is positioned in the recess (37) and shields the light from the light emitting element (32) in this way, the control device (44) starts the heating means (42)
The power supply to the power supply is stopped and the buzzer (46) and the lamp (47) are notified.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, firstly, without separately providing the rising pipe (24) and the water level gauge,
The number of parts can be reduced. Second, by integrating the water rising pipe (24) and the water level gauge, the position of the water level gauge can be freely determined in design. Third, by holding the water level detection device (27) between the water rising pipe (24) and the container (20), the storage space of the water level detection device (27) can be made compact, and the overall configuration can be made compact. Can be

[0017]

As is apparent from the above embodiment, the electric water heater according to the present invention can provide an electric water heater with a reduced number of parts, which can notify the water level in the vessel by only the rising pipe by the first means. can do. In addition, by integrating the water level gauge and the water rising pipe, the degree of freedom of arrangement of the water level gauge is increased, and an electric water heater that can be freely designed without design restrictions can be provided.

[0018] In addition, the receiving space of the water level detecting device can be arranged fixed without providing it is possible to provide a compact electric water heater.

Further, the second means can prevent the electric water heater from being empty, and can provide an electric water heater with high safety and no malfunction.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a water level detecting device of an electric water heater showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an electric water heater showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of a water level detecting device of the electric water heater showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an electric water heater showing a first conventional example.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an electric water heater showing a second conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 20 container 21 outlet 23 connecting pipe 24 rising pipe 27 water level detecting device 28 convex portion 32 light emitting element 33 light receiving element 39 floater 42 heating means 44 control device

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A47J 27/21 101

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A water container having a bottomed container, an outlet provided near the bottom of the container or a lower portion of a side surface, and a transparent member formed by opening one end outward and communicating the other end with the outlet. A pipe, a float housed in the rising pipe so as to be vertically movable, and a water level detection device for detecting a liquid level of the rising pipe,
A ball stopper provided in a rising pipe near the water level detection device to limit the movement of the float, a heating means disposed at the bottom of the container and heating a liquid contained in the container, and a control device . Having the water level detection device with a container and a rising pipe
Electric water heater sandwiched between . Wherein the control device has detected continuously float which shields the optical axis of the water level detection device a predetermined time or more, and as to stop the energization of the heating means according to claim 1 Symbol placement of electric kettle.