JP3166957B2 - 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 hot water supply apparatus for mixing hot water heated by a heating unit and water before heating by mixing the same with a mixing valve, and more particularly to detecting a malfunction of the mixing valve and processing the same. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In this type of hot water supply apparatus for mixing and supplying hot water and water, in order to detect that a mixing valve has failed, a downstream of the mixing valve is detected. There has been a method in which a failure is determined when the difference between the set value and the detected value for the mixed hot water temperature does not fall below a certain deviation even after a predetermined time has elapsed. However, this method cannot judge the failure of the mixing valve unless the hot water is actually supplied through the hot water supply pipe, and furthermore, there is a danger that hot water that the user does not expect will come out. .

[0003] The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and a hot water supply apparatus capable of judging a failure of a mixing valve without actually discharging hot water, thereby improving safety. The purpose is to gain.

[0004]

According to the present invention, there is provided a hot water supply apparatus comprising: a heating section for heating water in a water supply pipe and sending it to the hot water supply pipe as hot water; mixing the water in the water supply pipe with the hot water in the hot water supply pipe; An operation unit including a variable mixing valve, a heating control unit for controlling the heating amount of the heating unit, an operation switch for supplying control power, and signal input means for inputting signals such as hot water and temperature setting; A power-on detecting means for detecting the power-on, a timer for starting upon power-on, and a target valve position signal for the mixing valve in response to a signal from the signal input means on condition of power-on. A mixing valve driving system that drives the mixing valve according to a signal, a heating control unit driving system that drives the heating control unit according to a signal from the signal input unit, and a mixing valve position detection that detects that the mixing valve has reached a predetermined opening. Means and at the end of the timer operation When the joint valve position detecting means does not output the opening detection signal, the control unit includes a mixing valve normal / abnormality determining unit that determines that the mixing valve is abnormal and adds a signal for stopping the heating operation to the heating control unit drive system. It is provided.

Preferably, the operation unit is incorporated in a remote control device for transmitting and receiving signals to and from the control unit, and the remote control device is controlled by a signal from a signal input means in accordance with the mixing valve abnormality determination by the mixing valve normal / abnormality determination means. An input processing prohibiting unit for prohibiting input to the unit.

[0006]

According to the present invention, a timer is started in response to power-on, and a target position signal of the mixing valve is generated in accordance with a signal from an input switch to drive the mixing valve. When the mixing valve does not reach the predetermined opening degree, it is determined that the mixing valve is abnormal, and the heating operation is stopped. Therefore, it is possible to determine the failure of the mixing valve without actually tapping the hot water, thereby improving safety.

In this case, the operation section is a remote control device, and when it is determined that the mixing valve has failed, the operation of the drive system of the mixing valve is stopped by prohibiting the input of signals other than the operation switch. Enhanced.

[0008]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of one embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a gas type heating unit 1 includes a heat exchanger 2 and a burner 3. The heat exchanger 2 is connected to a water supply pipe 4 and a hot water supply pipe 5. A bypass pipe 6 for supplying water from the water supply pipe 4 to the hot water supply pipe 5 without passing through the heat exchanger 2.
Is provided. A mixing valve 7 is provided at a connection between the bypass pipe 6 and the hot water supply pipe 5. A hot water supply pipe 5 downstream of the mixing valve 7 is connected to a bathtub 9 via a hot water opening / closing valve 8.
And a tap 13 is provided at the end thereof. On the other hand, an on-off valve is provided in the path for supplying gas to the burner 3.
Heating control unit 10 in which 11 and proportional valve 12 are connected in series
Is provided.

A control unit 30 and a remote control device 40 attached to the control unit 30 are provided to control the mixing valve 7, the filling / opening / closing valve 8, and the heating driving unit 10 described above. Also, the water supply temperature T
Temperature sensor 21 for detecting _C , outlet temperature T _H of heat exchanger 2
, A temperature sensor 23 for detecting a mixing temperature T _M downstream of the mixing valve 7, a flow sensor 24 for detecting a flow rate Q of water at the inlet side of the heat exchanger 2, and a mixing valve 7. Mixing valve position detector that detects that the valve has opened to the position
25 are provided, and these are connected to the control unit 30.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the control unit 30 and the remote control device 40. In FIG.
Reference numeral 30 denotes hot water use determining means 27, heating amount calculating means 28, fuel control valve driving circuit 29, power-on detecting means 31, timer 32, mixing valve normal / abnormal determining means 33, target valve position output means 34, mixing valve driving. Means 35, mixing valve drive circuit 36, hot water side ratio calculation means 3
7. It has a main body transmitting / receiving section 38 and a hot water opening / closing valve driving section 39.

The hot water use determining means 27 determines whether or not hot water is being supplied based on the output signal of the flow rate sensor 24. If the hot water is being supplied, the hot water supply signal is added to the heating amount calculating means 28. The heating amount calculating means 28 outputs the flow rate Q of water detected by the flow rate sensor 24 and the temperature sensor
The heating amount is calculated based on the feed water temperature T _C detected at 21, the mixing temperature T _M detected at the temperature sensor 23, and the set temperature T _S sent from the remote control device 40, and the heating amount signal is added together with the heating start command. On the other hand, when a signal that ignores the heating start command is added in response to the abnormality of the mixing valve, the output of the heating start command is stopped. The fuel control valve drive circuit 29 opens the on-off valve 11 (FIG. 2) of the heating control unit 10 in accordance with the heating start command added thereto, and the fuel control valve drive circuit
The proportional valve 12 (FIG. 2) of the heating control unit 10 is driven to open in accordance with the heating amount of 29. The power-on detecting means 31 receives the signal sent from the remote control device 40 via the main body transmitting / receiving section 38 and detects that the operation switch is turned on, and the timer 32 detects that the operation switch is turned on. When the set time elapses, a time-up signal is output and added to the mixing valve normal / abnormal judging means 33. The mixing valve normal / abnormal judging means 33 receives the time-up signal and the mixing valve position detecting section 25.
Judge whether the mixing valve 7 is normal or abnormal based on the output signal of
When it is normal, a normal signal is added to the mixing valve driving means 35 and the hot water side ratio calculating means 37, and when abnormal, an abnormal signal is added to the mixing valve driving means 35, and a signal for ignoring the heating start command is given as a heating amount calculating means. In addition to 28, a signal for notifying a failure and a signal for ignoring a signal for turning on a switch other than the operation switch are added to the main body transmitting / receiving section 38. The target valve position output means 34 outputs a target valve position signal in accordance with the hot water side ratio on condition that the power is turned on.
35 outputs a drive signal until the target position is reached when the normal signal of the mixing valve is applied, and stops outputting the drive signal when an abnormal signal of the mixing valve is applied. The circuit 36 drives the mixing valve 6 by this drive signal. The hot water side ratio calculating means 37 includes a set temperature T _S sent from the remote controller 40, a measured feed water temperature T _C , an outlet temperature T _H of the heat exchanger 2, and the mixing valve 7.
The hot water side ratio of the mixing valve 7 is calculated based on the downstream mixing temperature T _M , and is added to the target valve position output means 34. The main body transmitting / receiving section 38 receives a signal sent from the remote control device 40 and outputs a power-on state signal to the power-on detecting means.
31, a temperature setting signal is applied to a heating amount calculating means 28 and a hot water side ratio calculating means 37, and a hot water command is applied to a hot water opening / closing valve driving section 39, and conversely, a mixing valve output on the control section side. A signal for notifying an abnormality (failure) and a signal for ignoring a switch-on signal other than the operation switch are transmitted to the remote control device 40. Is to be driven.

On the other hand, the remote control device 40
1, a hot water switch 42, a temperature setting switch 43, an input processing unit 44, a remote control transmission / reception unit 45, a mixing valve abnormality notification unit 46, a display control unit 47, a display unit 48, and an input processing prohibition unit 49. Among them, the operation switch 41 supplies control power, the hot water switch 42 inputs a command to supply hot water to the bathtub 9, the temperature setting switch 43 sets the mixed hot water temperature, and an input processing unit 44. Is for subjecting these status signals, commands and setting signals to processing such as digitization and adding the processed signals to the remote control transmitting / receiving section 45. Remote control transceiver
45 transmits this digital signal to the main body transmitting / receiving section 38, adds a signal for notifying the abnormality of the mixing valve sent from the main body transmitting / receiving section 38 to the mixing valve abnormality notifying means 46, and outputs a closing signal of a switch other than the operation switch. A signal to be ignored is added to the input processing inhibiting means 49. The mixing valve abnormality notifying means 46 generates a signal for notifying the abnormality of the mixing valve according to the signal for notifying the abnormality of the mixing valve.
47 displays an abnormality on the display unit 48. In addition, the input processing prohibiting means 49 responds to a signal for ignoring a switch-on signal of a switch other than the operation switch, and outputs a signal such that a signal of a switch other than the operation switch 41 is not sent to the main body.
In addition to 44.

The target valve position output means 34, the mixing valve driving means 35, the mixing valve driving circuit 36 and the hot water side ratio calculating means 37 included in the control section 30 constitute the mixing valve driving system of the present invention. Hot water supply use determining means 27, heating amount calculating means 28
The fuel control valve drive circuit 29 constitutes a heating control valve drive system of the present invention.

The overall operation of the embodiment constructed as described above will be described below.

First, in order for the user to fill the bathtub 9, the operation switch 41 is turned on to supply control power, the filling switch 42 is turned on, and the temperature setting switch 43 is used to set the mixed hot water. Set the temperature of. The input processing unit 44 processes these switch status signals, commands and setting signals and sends them to the remote control transmitting / receiving unit 45. Remote control transmitting / receiving section 45 transmits these signals to main body transmitting / receiving section 38.

Next, the main body transmitting / receiving section 38 applies a state signal of the operation switch 41 to the power-on detecting section 31 and a filling command to the filling / opening / closing valve driving section 39, and sends a temperature setting signal to the heating amount calculating means 28 and It is added to the hot water side ratio calculating means 37. Therefore,
The power-on detecting means 31 detects that the operation switch is turned on and outputs an operation switch-on signal to the timer 32 and the target valve position output means.
Add to 34. The filling / opening / closing valve drive section 39 opens the filling / opening / closing valve 8 in response to the filling / filling command. The heating amount calculating means 28 is provided with a water flow rate Q detected by the flow rate sensor 24 and a temperature sensor on the condition that the hot water supply signal of the hot water use determining means 27 is added.
The heating amount is calculated based on the feed water temperature T _C detected at 21, the mixed temperature T _M detected by the temperature sensor 23, and the set temperature T _S sent from the remote controller 40, and the fuel control valve drive circuit
A heating start command is given to the fuel control valve drive circuit 29 on the condition that the signal is not given to the fuel control valve 29 and a signal to ignore the heating start command accompanying the abnormality of the mixing valve is not added. The fuel control valve drive circuit 29 is a proportional valve of the heat control unit 10 corresponding to the heating amount.
12 is driven, and the open / close valve 11 of the heating control unit 10 is driven in accordance with the heating start command. The hot water side ratio calculating means 37 is provided with a set temperature T _S by the temperature setting switch 43 and a measured feed water temperature T.
_C, is added the hot water temperature T _H of the heat exchanger 2, and based on the mixing temperature T _M of the downstream mixing valve 7 by calculating the hot water side ratio of hot water side ratio signal to the target valve position output unit 34.

The timer 32 starts operating in response to a signal from the operation switch, and applies a time-up signal to the mixing valve normal / abnormal judging means 33 when a preset time has elapsed.
The mixing valve normal / abnormal judging means 33 outputs a normal signal of the mixing valve until the time-up signal of the timer 32 is added.
The target valve position output means 34 calculates a target valve position corresponding to the hot water side ratio on condition that the operation switch is turned on, and outputs a target valve position signal. During the operation of the timer 32, the mixing valve normal / abnormal judging means 33 outputs the normal signal of the mixing valve, so that the mixing valve driving means 35 outputs the target position signal of the valve and gives it to the mixing valve driving circuit. The mixing valve drive circuit 36 drives the mixing valve 7 according to the target position signal. Therefore, the mixing valve 7 is driven to a position corresponding to the ratio calculated by the hot water side ratio calculating means 37. The mixing valve position detector 25 detects that the opening of the mixing valve 7 has reached a relatively small set opening, and outputs a valve opening signal at all the opening degrees beyond this.

The mixing valve normal / abnormal judging means 33 outputs a normal signal until the timer 32 outputs a time-up signal. When the valve opening signal is not output from the unit 25, the output of the normal signal is stopped, and instead, an abnormal signal is output and added to the mixing valve driving means 35, and a signal for ignoring the heating start command is output to calculate the heating amount. In addition to means 28,
A signal for notifying a failure and a signal for ignoring a switch-on signal of a switch other than the operation switch are output to the main body transmitting / receiving section 38.
Add to Therefore, in response to the output of the abnormal signal of the mixing valve, the mixing valve driving means 35 causes the mixing valve driving circuit 36 to stop the driving of the mixing valve, and the heating amount calculating means in response to the signal for ignoring the heating start command. 28 stops the output of the heating start command and causes the fuel control valve drive circuit 29 to close the on-off valve 11. Further, the main body transmitting / receiving section 38 transmits to the remote control transmitting / receiving section 45 a signal for notifying a failure and a signal for ignoring a signal for turning on a switch other than the operation switch.

The remote control transmitting / receiving section 45 adds a signal for notifying a failure to the mixing valve abnormality notifying means 46 and transmits a signal for disregarding a signal for turning on a switch other than the operation switch to the input processing inhibiting means 49. The mixing valve abnormality notification means 46 generates a signal for notifying the abnormality of the mixing valve and supplies the signal to the display control unit 47. The display control unit 47 displays an abnormality of the mixing valve on the display unit 48. Further, the input processing prohibiting means 49 to which the abnormal signal is transmitted is provided to the input processing unit.
Signals other than 44 indicating that the operation switch 41 is turned on,
That is, a signal prohibiting processing of the filling command of the filling switch 42 and the set temperature signal of the temperature setting switch 43 is added to the input processing unit 44.

As a result, even if the operation switch 41, the filling switch 42 and the temperature setting switch 43 are operated, the filling opening / closing valve 8 is opened, and even if the flow sensor 24 detects hot water supply, the setting time of the timer 32 is not exceeded. The abnormality can be detected under the condition that the mixing valve 7 is not opened to a predetermined opening degree at the lapse of time, and further, the drive of the mixing valve 7 is stopped in response to the detection of the abnormality, and the on-off valve 11 of the heating control unit 10 is opened. Is closed, so that the safety is remarkably improved as compared with the conventional device. In addition, when the abnormality of the mixing valve is detected, by prohibiting the processing of the operation signals other than the operation switch 41, the calculation of the heating amount and the hot water side ratio is also stopped, so that the safety is further improved.

As described above, the operation switch 41, the hot water switch 42, and the temperature setting switch 43 are provided so that the user can fill the bathtub 9 with hot water.
Has been described, but when the user takes out hot water from the hot water tap 13, the same operation as described above is performed simply by turning on the operation switch 41 and opening the hot water tap 13.

FIG. 3 shows the control unit 30 and the remote control device described above.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the overall processing procedure when the microcomputer is provided with each of the 40 functions, and particularly shows a case where the water side of the mixing valve is fully opened to detect the abnormality. The operation will be described according to the flowchart.

When the operation switch is turned on in the first step 101, the time-up time of the timer is initialized in step 102, and then, in step 103, the opening of the mixing valve 7 is fully opened to the water side (hot water). In response to this, in step 104, a mixing valve water side fully opening drive signal is output to the mixing valve 7.

Next, at step 104, it is determined whether or not the set time of the timer has elapsed.
At 106, it is determined whether or not the hot side of the mixing valve has reached a predetermined opening, and if it has not reached the predetermined opening (hot side), the process returns to step 105. If the mixing valve reaches a predetermined opening (hot water side) before the set time of the timer elapses while repeating the processing of steps 105 and 106, the operation of the mixing valve is determined to be normal and the mixing is performed in step 107. The operation of the valve is stopped, and then, in step 101, it is determined whether or not the filling switch is turned on. If the water filling switch has been turned on, the process proceeds to step 109 at step 109. Conversely, if the hot water switch has not been turned on, it is determined in step 110 whether or not a heating start command has been issued. If a heating start command has been issued, the flow proceeds to the heating subroutine processing in step 111. If there is no heating start command, it is determined in step 112 whether or not the operation switch has been opened. If not, the process returns to step 108, and if the operation switch has been opened, the processing operation ends.

On the other hand, if the set time of the timer elapses before the mixing valve reaches the predetermined opening degree (hot water side) during the repetition of the processing of steps 105 and 106, it is determined at step 113 that the mixing valve is abnormal (failure). In step 114, the driving of the mixing valve is stopped. Then, in step 115, a signal notifying the abnormality signal of the mixing valve is transmitted to the remote controller, and subsequently, in step 116, a signal for ignoring signals of switches other than the operation switch is transmitted to the remote controller 40, Further, a signal for ignoring the heating start command to the heating control unit is sent.

When the remote control device receives the abnormal signal of the mixing valve, it notifies the failure of the mixing valve in step 118, and further responds to the signal for ignoring the ON signals of switches other than the operation switch in step 119. Executes the process. On the other hand, the control unit executes a process of ignoring the heating start command according to the signal ignoring the heating start command. Then, it is determined in step 121 whether or not the operation switch has been opened.
Repeat the processing of 1 and stop the processing operation when the operation switch is opened.

With the above processing, the water side of the mixing valve can be fully opened to detect the abnormality. You. This allows
It is possible to provide a hot water supply device that is safer for the user.

The power-on detecting means 31 detects that the operation switch has been turned on. However, the same effect can be obtained by detecting power-on, that is, plugging in the outlet.

In the above embodiment, the instantaneous heating type hot water supply apparatus using gas has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to a hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus.

[0030]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the timer is started in response to the turning on of the power supply, and when the mixing valve does not reach the predetermined opening at the end of the timer operation, the abnormality is detected. And the heating operation is stopped, so that the failure of the mixing valve can be determined without actually discharging the hot water, and the safety is improved as compared with the conventional apparatus.

In this case, the operation unit is a remote control device, and when it is determined that the mixing valve has failed, the operation of the drive system of the mixing valve is stopped by prohibiting the input of signals other than the operation switch. Enhanced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of a control system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an outline of a control system of the present invention together with a hot water supply system.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an overall processing procedure when a microcomputer has a main function of a control system according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Heating part 2 Heat exchanger 3 Burner 4 Water supply pipe 5 Hot water supply pipe 6 Bypass pipe 7 Mixing valve 8 Filling on / off valve 10 Fuel control part 30 Control part 31 Power-on detection means 32 Timer 33 Mixing valve normal / abnormal judgment means 40 Remote control Apparatus 41 Operation switch 42 Filling switch 43 Temperature setting switch 46 Mixing valve abnormality notification means 49 Input processing prohibition means

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A heating unit for heating water in a water supply pipe and sending it to the hot water supply pipe as hot water, and mixing the water in the water supply pipe with the hot water in the hot water supply pipe.
An operation unit including a mixing valve with a variable mixing ratio, a heating adjustment unit for adjusting the amount of heating of the heating unit, an operation switch for supplying control power, and signal input means for inputting signals such as hot water and temperature setting; A power-on detecting means for detecting power-on, a timer started in response to the power-on, and a target valve position signal of the mixing valve in response to a signal from the signal input means on condition of the power-on. A mixing valve drive system that generates and drives the mixing valve according to the target valve position signal, a heating adjustment unit drive system that drives the heating adjustment unit according to a signal from the signal input unit,
Mixing valve position detecting means for detecting that the mixing valve has reached a predetermined opening, and when the mixing valve position detecting means does not output an opening detection signal at the end of the timer operation of the timer, the mixing valve And a control unit having a mixing valve normal / abnormal judging means for applying a signal for stopping the heating operation to the heating adjusting unit drive system upon judging the abnormality as the above. 2. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein said operating portion is incorporated in a remote control device for transmitting and receiving signals to and from said control portion. The hot water supply apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an input processing prohibiting unit that prohibits a signal from being input to the control unit.