JP3189360B2 - Water spouting device and pipe joint used therefor - 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 discharge device for discharging water from a water discharge port of a water faucet body while controlling the flow of a fluid into a water faucet body containing a drive unit, and a pipe joint used for this device.
More specifically, the present invention relates to a water discharge device that communicates data for controlling the driving of a drive unit and controlling the inflow of a fluid between the device main body and a faucet main body separated from a pipe.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A water discharge device of this type is installed and used in a bathroom or a pool, and a high value-added water discharge device has been proposed through diversification of water discharge forms. For example, in the shower head which is one of the water faucet in the bathroom, a plurality of water spout nozzles that realize water spouting in different water spouting forms are arranged at the outlet of the mixed hot water flowing from the hot and cold water mixing tap so as to be freely driven, Each water discharge nozzle is configured to be switched. Therefore, when each of the water discharge nozzles is appropriately selected and switched, the water discharge form includes a water discharge form determined by the hole shape of the water discharge nozzle, for example, a water discharge form (straight) that discharges in a straight shape, and a foam form including bubbles. A water discharge form (foam) that discharges water to the water or a water discharge form (water-sling) that discharges water in a rod shape with a certain head is provided.

[0003] Since the shower head is often handled by hand, it is indispensable to switch the form of spouting, to start spouting and to stop the spouting during handling. For this reason, the shower head is provided with an operation unit for instructing the switching of the water discharge mode, and the hot and cold water mixing tap side is provided with an operation unit for instructing the start and stop of water discharge, and is remotely operated from the shower head side. It is configured.

[0004] Further, when water is discharged from the shower head, there is a demand for a high added value such that the water can be discharged with an optimum amount of water discharged without a sense of discomfort rather than simply discharging the water. For this reason, the main unit that allows hot water to flow into the shower head has
The flow control valve and other components are controlled finely.

[0005]

By the way, when the water discharge mode is switched or water discharge / stop is performed by remote control from the shower head side, necessary data is transmitted to the main body side. For example, data relating to a water discharge nozzle for obtaining a desired water discharge form is transmitted from the shower head side to the main body side.

[0006] Such data transmission can be performed by wireless transmission using infrared light or the like. However, due to the usage environment of the shower head, the receiving surface of the receiving device or the transmitting surface of the transmitting device may be obstructed by the user. In addition, since water droplets, soap bubbles, dust, and the like adhere to the light receiving surface and the transmitting surface, erroneous operations and malfunctions occur, which is not practical.

However, even if a signal line is wired between the shower head and the main body and data is transmitted through the signal line, the following problems have been pointed out. The data transmitted between the shower head and the main body includes not one kind but a plurality of kinds of different kinds of data. For example,
If it is data related to a water discharge nozzle to obtain a desired water discharge form, the water discharge nozzle is any water discharge nozzle,
It is necessary to transmit a plurality of data such as whether or not the water discharge nozzle corresponding to the current water discharge mode is a high water discharge nozzle.

For this reason, many signal lines must be wired between the shower head and the main body, and the operability of the shower head is reduced. Further, based on various operations such as vertical movement and rotation by the user, the shower head takes various postures, and the occupied portion of the connecting portion of the cord in the shower head is operated by the shower head by hand. Therefore, its size is restricted. Therefore, a large number of signal lines are connected to the shower head, and there is a possibility that the signal lines may be disconnected at the connection portion, thereby lowering the reliability of data transmission.

[0009] The signal line is not wired between the shower head and the main body side independently of the shower hose.
Wired along the shower hose. Therefore, if the number of signal lines is large, the flexibility of the shower hose is impaired, and the operability of the shower head is reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and a signal line is used between the faucet main body and the main body of the water discharge device while ensuring the operability of the faucet main body and the reliability of data transmission. The purpose is to connect.

[0011]

Means adopted by the present invention to achieve the above object are as follows. The water discharge device according to claim 1 has a built-in drive unit and drive unit control means for controlling the drive unit, via a faucet body for discharging the inflowing fluid from the spout port, and via a pipe connected to the faucet body. And a main body-side control means for controlling the flow of fluid into the faucet main body, wherein the water discharge device is wired along the pipe and communicates with each other via a signal line connecting the two control means,
The drive unit control means is a faucet side information generation unit that generates control information necessary for controlling the flow of fluid into the faucet main body in association with the drive state of the drive unit, and codes the generated control information. And a faucet-side transmitting unit for serially transmitting the coded control information via the signal line, wherein the main body-side control means transmits control information necessary for controlling the driving unit to the faucet main body. A main body side information generation unit that generates the information in association with the flow state of the fluid into the apparatus, and a main body side transmission unit that codes the generated control information and serially transmits the coded control information via the signal line. That is the gist.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above configuration, the water discharge device is wired between the drive unit control means of the faucet main body and the main body side control means, and applies a power supply voltage to both control means. Power supply wire for the, the drive unit control means,
The main body-side control unit includes a superimposing unit that superimposes the data transmitted by the faucet-side transmission unit on the power supply wire, and the data transmission unit that superimposes the data transmitted by the main body-side transmission unit on the power supply wire. The point is to prepare.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a faucet having a faucet main body having an internal fluid flow path reaching a spout and an equipment housing space for housing electrical equipment. A pipe joint interposed between a pipe reaching the main body and connecting the faucet main body and the pipe, wherein the faucet is attached to a fitting fitting hole and a pipe of an equipment storage space of the faucet main body, A joint body that connects the main body and the pipe while allowing relative rotation between the two; a communication flow path that communicates the internal fluid flow path and the pipe with the joint body; A wiring hole into which an electric wiring which is communicated from the outside to the joint fitting hole and which is connected to the electric device is inserted without interfering with each other, and until the wiring hole reaches the joint fitting hole. That the hole is drilled along a drilling locus substantially along the center of rotation of the relative rotation. To.

Further, the pipe joint according to the fifth aspect has a rotation restricting means for restricting a relative rotation amount between the faucet main body and the pipe via the joint main body within a predetermined range. Pipe fittings.

[0015]

The water discharging device according to claim 1 having the above configuration,
When the drive unit control means of the faucet main body and the main body side control means communicate with each other via signal lines, communication is performed from the drive part control means to the main body side control means as follows. The control information required for controlling the flow of fluid into the faucet main body by the main body side control means is generated by the faucet side information generation unit in association with the drive state of the drive unit of the faucet main body, and this is generated by the faucet side transmission unit. After that, the data is serially transmitted to the main body side control means via a signal line. Further, the main body side control means generates the control information necessary for controlling the drive section by the drive section control means in association with the flow state of the fluid into the faucet main body by the main body side information generation section. After this is coded by the main body side transmission section, it is serially transmitted to the drive section control means via a signal line.

As a result, two signal lines for transmission from the drive unit control unit to the main unit control unit and for transmission from the main unit side control unit to the drive unit control unit or one shared signal line are used. Transmission of control information necessary for controlling the flow of fluid into the faucet main body and control information necessary for controlling the drive unit can be mutually performed.

Further, in the water discharge device according to the third aspect, when information is mutually communicated between the drive unit control means of the faucet main body and the main body side control means as described above, the drive unit control means and the main body side control means. From the means, the transmission data is superimposed on the power supply wire by the respective superimposing units and transmitted.

Therefore, mutual communication of information and application of a power supply voltage can be performed only by the power supply wire.

The pipe joint according to the fourth aspect of the present invention is used as a pipe joint used in such a water spouting device. In connecting the faucet main body and the pipe, the pipe joint is attached to the fitting fitting hole and the pipe. The two are connected via a joint body that allows relative rotation. Even if relative rotation occurs between the faucet body and the pipe, the pipe is not subjected to a torsional load due to this rotation. Moreover, even if the relative rotation occurs, the fluid flowing from the pipe reaches the internal fluid flow path of the faucet body via the communication flow path of the joint body, and is discharged from the water discharge port without any trouble. You.

On the other hand, the electric wiring connected to the electric equipment housed in the equipment housing space of the faucet main body is inserted into the wiring hole and reaches the equipment housing space. Following the drilling trajectory along the approximate rotation center of the relative rotation between the faucet body and the pipe, the water enters the device storage space from the joint fitting hole. Therefore, even if relative rotation occurs between the faucet main body and the pipe, only slight twisting occurs in the electric wiring.

In the pipe joint according to the fifth aspect, the amount of relative rotation between the faucet main body and the pipe via the joint main body is regulated by a rotation regulating means. The twist generated in the electric wiring when a specific rotation occurs is set within a torsion range determined by the regulated rotation amount.

[0022]

Next, an embodiment in which the water discharge device TS according to the present invention is applied to a hot water supply system for a bathroom will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external view of a bathroom, and FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing an entire configuration of a water discharging device TS. First, the configuration of the bathroom R having a plurality of hot water supply points will be described.

As shown in FIG. 1, the water discharge device T of the present embodiment
S is a hot water supply point in the bathroom, a bathtub run rk for discharging water into the bathtub r, a hand-type shower head A which can be freely attached to a predetermined position on the wall surface of the bathroom and used by hand, and a washing runner for discharging water to a washing place. In addition, an operation unit P for setting a water discharge destination, a water discharge amount, and the like is buried on the bathroom wall surface in a position near the washing machine and in a position that can be operated from inside the bathtub. ing. The operation unit P has a built-in main controller 7 (see FIG. 2) for performing various controls of the whole water discharge device, and outputs a control signal for instructing the main controller 7 on a water discharge destination, a water discharge amount, and the like. Operation panel PP (see FIGS. 2 and 3)
Is provided.

As will be described later, the shower head A has a built-in water discharge mode switching mechanism for switching the water discharge mode, and discharges water in four types of water discharge forms among various water discharge forms described below. The four types of water discharge form include, for example, spray water discharge, straight water discharge, spot water discharge where linear water from a shower hole is collected at one point, foam water discharge in which bubbles are mixed in shower water, and rod-shaped water discharge. It is selected in any combination from water discharge forms such as squirt water spraying, mist water spray in the form of mist, and massage water discharge with built-in rotating blades. In the present embodiment, the four types of water discharge modes are a water discharge form of squatting in which a rod-shaped water discharge is applied, a water discharge form of a spray, a water discharge form of a foam, and a water discharge form of a spot.

Next, a detailed configuration and an electrical configuration of each device of the water discharging device TS will be sequentially described. Washing area
As shown in the schematic block diagram of FIG. 2, the hot water mixer tap MO provided at the base of the water heater is connected to a water inflow pipe 1 and a hot water inflow pipe 2 from a hot water heater (not shown), respectively. Each pipe has flow control valves 3 and 4 for adjusting the flow rates of water and hot water in each pipe, and a thermistor 1 for detecting the water temperature and hot water temperature in each pipe upstream of each valve.
a, 2a. Each of the flow control valves 3 and 4 has
Actuators 5 and 6 for controlling the flow rate are attached.

The downstream side of each of the flow control valves 3 and 4 is connected to form a hot and cold water discharge connection pipe 10, and the water and hot water in each of the pipes join and mix here. The hot water temperature at the hot water discharge connection pipe 10 is
It is determined by each temperature of water and hot water and its mixing ratio. The hot water discharge connection pipe 10 is provided with a water quantity sensor 8 for detecting the flow rate and temperature of the mixed hot water in the flow path, and a thermistor 9. Each actuator is a stepping motor. Further, the water amount sensor 8 is configured by providing an impeller rotating in proportion to the flow rate passing through the hot and cold water discharge connection pipe 10 in the connection pipe. Is output.

Downstream of the hot water discharge connection pipe 10, a water discharge switching section 11 is provided, to which a shower head A, a bath tub run rk, a washing basin n, and a so-called water pipe 12 for discharging hot water out of the bathroom are connected. Have been. The water discharge switching unit 11 switches the water discharge destination of the mixed water,
A water discharge destination is changed by turning on / off a solenoid valve (see FIG. 17) provided for each water discharge port by a main controller 7 described later. The on / off of each solenoid valve by the main controller 7 is based on the pressed state of a shower water discharge switch 73 (see FIG. 4) described later provided on the shower head A and the operation of various buttons on the operation panel section PP described later. Done. The water discharge switching unit 11
, The washing tub n is directly connected to the washing tub n, the bath tub n rk is connected via a piping (not shown) provided in the bathroom wall, and the shower head A is connected via a shower hose h.

The above-mentioned various sensors and actuators of the mixing tap MO and the sub-controller 67 built in the shower head A are connected to the main controller 7 together with the operation panel section PP. The main controller 7 determines the drive amount of the actuator (stepping motor drive amount), the water discharge destination, and the like based on various control signals from the sensors and the sub-controller 67, and controls the actuators 5, 6 and the water discharge switching unit 11 and the like. It controls driving and outputs a control signal to the sub-controller 67 of the shower head A. Details of the electrical configuration and transmission / reception of control signals and various controls performed by both controllers will be described later.

When each of the actuators 5 and 6 is driven by the main controller 7, water and hot water having a flow rate determined by the drive amount of each actuator flows into the hot and cold water discharge connection pipe 10 and is mixed. Therefore, from the shower head A or each curan set as a water discharge destination by the water discharge switching unit 11, the temperature of the water and the hot water itself and the temperature determined by the flow ratio of the water and the hot water regulated by the flow control valves 3 and 4 are mixed. Hot water is spouted.

As shown in FIG. 1, the operation panel section PP of the operation section P which can be operated from the vicinity of the washing area and the inside of the bathtub includes:
In addition to the designation of each water discharge destination and water discharge form, the water discharge amount per unit time (hereinafter, simply referred to as water discharge amount) and the water discharge temperature for each water discharge destination and water discharge form are changed each time. It has a simple configuration.

As shown in FIG. 3, the operation panel section PP includes a power button 150 for turning on the power, a display 151 which normally operates as a clock for displaying the current time, and displays various messages each time. In addition to a water discharge amount display 152 that relatively displays the water discharge amount from the water discharge destination, a water discharge temperature display 153 that numerically displays the water discharge temperature from the water discharge destination, a speaker 166 for abnormality notification, etc. There are various instruction buttons for designating, various instruction buttons for designating the form of water discharge from the shower head A from the operation panel unit PP, and various button groups for changing the water discharge temperature and the water discharge amount. Each button group constitutes a matrix switch. Each of these buttons is a push type,
Each time the pressing operation is performed, the control signal is transmitted to the main controller 7.
Output to In addition, as shown in the drawing, in addition to a character string, a picture in which the corresponding function is designed is entered on the surface of each button.

Various instruction buttons for individually designating the water discharge destination include a bathtub call instruction button 154, a washing place call instruction button 155, and a shower head designation button 1.
56 are provided. Then, when these buttons are pressed, the signal is input to the main controller 7, and the main controller 7 receiving the signal switches the water discharge destination.

For example, when the bathtub callin instruction button 154 is pressed, water is discharged from the bathtub callin rk. Similarly, when the washroom callin instruction button 155 or the showerhead designation button 156 is pressed, the washroom calln n or the showerhead A is pressed. It is spouted from. Moreover, if a designation button for designating a different water discharge destination is pressed while water is being discharged from a certain water discharge destination, the water discharge from the above-mentioned water discharge destination that has been discharging water until then is interrupted, and The water is discharged from the corresponding water discharge destination. Further, when the same button is continuously pressed twice, water is stopped from the water discharge destination corresponding to the button at that time. Note that such a change of the water discharge destination is performed by switching the solenoid valve in the water discharge switching unit 11.

Various instruction buttons for designating the form of water discharge from the shower head A include a singing designation button 157, a spray designation button 158, and a foam designation button 1
59 and a spot designation button 160 are provided.
Then, when these buttons are pressed, similarly to the case of the above-mentioned instruction button for specifying the water discharge destination, the water discharge form from the shower head A is switched to the water discharge form corresponding to the pressed specification button. The manner of switching the water discharge mode will be described later in detail.

Various buttons for changing the water discharge temperature and the water discharge amount include a water discharge temperature increase instruction button 162.
A water discharge temperature decrease instruction button 163, a water discharge amount increase instruction button 164, and a water discharge amount decrease instruction button 165 are provided. When these buttons are pressed, the signals are also input to the main controller 7, and the main controller 7 receiving the signals changes the water discharge temperature and the water discharge amount as follows. Note that the optimum water discharge temperature and water discharge amount for each curan and each water discharge form are initially set to the built-in RO in the MPU 7a (to be described later) of the main controller 7.
M is written at a predetermined address and is used as a control initial value.

When the water discharge temperature increase instructing button 162 is operated, the main controller 7 processes a desired water discharge temperature in which the currently set water discharge temperature is changed according to the number of times of operation. As a result, the main controller 7 calculates the actuator drive amount of each flow control valve so that water can be discharged at the set water discharge temperature, and the hot water discharge connection pipe 1 is calculated.
The water discharge temperature is controlled by adjusting the flow rates of water and hot water while referring to the temperature detected from the thermistor 9 at 0.

When each of the instruction buttons related to the change of the water discharge amount is operated, the desired water discharge amount obtained by gradually changing the current set water discharge amount in accordance with the number of times the corresponding instruction button is operated is set as the main water discharge amount. The processing is performed by the controller 7. For example, if the water discharge amount increase instruction button 164 is operated once, the water discharge amount obtained by increasing the current set water discharge amount by one step is set as a new set water discharge amount. This set water discharge amount can be changed for each water discharge destination and for each water discharge form in the range of levels 1 to 5 when the preset optimum water discharge amount is set to level 3 (control initial value). The details of the water discharge temperature control and the water discharge amount control (flow rate control) will be described later.

Next, a description will be given of a shower head A capable of switching between four types of water discharge as described above. First,
Explaining the schematic configuration, as shown in FIG. 2, the shower head A is configured such that a water discharge part B stored in the water discharge case 21, a hot water flow path 62, and a device storage space 63 other than the flow path are arranged from the tip thereof. A shower head main body D formed in a secure manner, and a water discharge case 21 is assembled to the shower head main body D in a watertight manner with a seal portion C interposed between the shower head main body D and the water discharge section B. . At the lower end of the shower head main body D, a hose connection portion E is provided in a watertight manner, and the end of the shower hose h connected to the water discharge switching portion 11 is connected to the hose connection portion E.

Next, a detailed configuration of each part will be described with reference to FIG. 4 which is a longitudinal sectional view of the shower head A and FIG. 5 which is a sectional view taken along line II of FIG. As shown in the figure, the water discharge section B has a water discharge window 3 on the side face closed at the upper end face.
The rotating water discharging body 23 is rotatably housed in a water discharging case 21 in which 0 is formed. And this rotary spout 2
3 is fixed to a rotating shaft 29 that penetrates the seal portion C from the device storage space 63 and protrudes into the water discharge case 21.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the rotary shaft 29 is chamfered over a range in the rotary water discharge body 23, and the rotary water discharge body 23 is fitted at the center thereof with a chamfered portion of the rotary shaft 29. A shaft fixing hole 23a is provided.

Therefore, the shaft fixing hole 2 at the center of the rotary water discharge body 23
If the rotating shaft 29 is inserted into 3a and the upper part thereof is screwed as shown in the figure, the rotating water discharger 23 rotates integrally with the rotating shaft 29 without idling with respect to the rotating shaft 29. In addition, since the periphery of the rotary water discharge body 23 is almost covered with the water discharge case 21, it is not manually rotated from the outside. Further, a rotational force is transmitted to the rotary water discharger 23 from an electric drive unit 64 described later, and the rotation direction is only one (counterclockwise as viewed from the water discharge case 21).

As shown in FIG. 5, the rotary water discharger 23 has water discharge nozzles 24, 25, 26, 27 divided into four in the circumferential direction.
(FIG. 4 shows the water discharge nozzles 24 and 26).
It is prepared according to the opening position. And it rotates integrally with the rotating shaft 29, and makes one of the water discharge nozzles 24 to 27 face the water discharge window 30 (see FIG. 13). The rotation control of the rotary water discharger 23 at this time will be described later.

Each of the water discharge nozzles 24-27 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 6A to 6D, different water discharge holes are provided to realize water discharge in each of the above-described water discharge modes. Form of water discharge (spray: FIG. 6 (a), spot: FIG. 6)
(B), Foam: water is discharged in any of the water discharge forms shown in FIG. 6 (c) and squatting: FIG. 6 (d)). That is, the rotary water discharge body 23 having the water discharge nozzles 24 to 27 constitutes a water discharge mode switching mechanism. In addition, according to the rotation of the rotary water discharge body 23, each of the water discharge nozzles 24 to 27 is configured as shown in FIGS.
The water discharge hole is made to face the water discharge window 30 in the order of (d).

On the back surface of each of the water discharge nozzles 24 to 27 (the surface on the rotation shaft 29 side of each of the water discharge nozzles in FIG. 5), there is formed a nozzle communication passage 28 communicating from the bottom surface of the rotary water discharge body 23 to each of the water discharge nozzles. I have. The nozzle communication passage 28
As shown in FIG. 5, is formed in an appropriate shape in accordance with each water discharge nozzle that determines the water discharge form.

Next, the seal portion C interposed between the water discharge portion B and the shower head body D will be described with reference to FIG.
7 which is an exploded perspective view of the seal portion C and FIG. 8 which is a cross-sectional view.
And FIG. 9 which is a bottom view. The seal portion C seals between the water discharge portion B and the shower head main body D, and discharges water from the hot water flow path 62 and the water discharge window 30 of the shower head main body D (water discharge nozzle 24 in FIG. 4). The following configuration is used to communicate with the nozzle communication passage 28.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the seal portion C is
A water-discharge seal base C1 having a disc-shaped constant thickness, and a pressure-sealing seal board C2 assembled to the water-discharge seal base C1.
And The water discharge seal base C1 is fitted and fixed to the lower end opening of the water discharge case 21 in a watertight manner, and is assembled and fixed by the water discharge case 21 so that the bottom surface thereof abuts on the upper end surface of the shower head body D.

The water discharge seal base C1 is provided with a shaft hole 41 into which the rotating shaft 29 is inserted and a counterbore 41a concentrically at the center of the base, and the shaft hole 41 and the counterbore 41a are provided on the upper surface.
And a circular concave portion 42 is provided at an eccentric position. Furthermore,
As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, an annular groove 43 having a constant width is provided on the bottom surface around the shaft hole 41. In the bottom surface of the circular concave portion 42 of the water discharge seal base C1, an elongated vertical hole 44 is formed on the side of the shaft hole 41 so as to communicate with the annular groove 43 on the bottom surface. Therefore, when the water discharge seal base C1 is assembled and fixed with the bottom surface thereof abutting on the upper end surface of the shower head main body D, the vertical hole 44 is formed in the hot water flow path 62 of the shower head main body D as shown in FIG. It communicates with the upper end opening via the annular groove 43. The water discharge seal base C1
A spiral notch 55 is formed at the periphery of the lower surface to engage with the upper end of the head case 61.

Further, a three-month shallow groove 45 is formed on the upper surface of the water discharge seal base C1. For this reason, when this water discharge seal base C1 is assembled and fixed with its bottom surface in contact with the upper end surface of the shower head body D, the rotary water discharge body 2
Even if the bottom surface of 3 and the upper surface of the water discharge seal base C1 make contact, the contact range is a very narrow area excluding the three-month shallow groove 45.

Next, the press-fitting seal board C2 assembled in the circular recess 42 of the water discharge seal base C1 will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIGS. The press-fit seal disc C2 has an upper disc C20 which is slidably inserted in the circular recess 42 along the axial direction thereof, and a counterbore 41 which projects from the lower surface of the upper disc C20 and is concentric with the shaft hole 41.
and a lower disk C21 inserted into a. And
When assembled to the water discharge seal base C1, the upper surface thereof is made to coincide with the upper surface of the water discharge seal base C1. That is, the contact area between the bottom surface of the rotary water discharge body 23 and the seal portion C is the same as the upper surface of the water discharge seal base C1 except for the three-month shallow groove 45 and the upper shaft hole 46 and the upper vertical hole 47 described later. It becomes the upper surface of the pressure-sealed sealing machine C2.

Also, the pressure seal board C2 is provided with an upper disc C2.
0 and the lower disk C21, an upper shaft hole 46 into which the rotating shaft 29 is fitted, and an upper vertical hole 47 having the same shape (a long hole shape) as the vertical hole 44 of the water discharge seal base C1 on its side. . The upper shaft hole 46 is formed so as to be concentric with the shaft hole 41 of the water discharge seal base C1 when the pressure seal board C2 is assembled to the water discharge seal base C1, and the upper vertical hole 47 is formed as shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the hole is formed so as to be shifted from the vertical hole 44 to the shaft hole 41 side. Therefore, the upper vertical hole 47 and the vertical hole 4
4 communicates with some of the holes.

Further, the pressure seal plate C2 is provided with seal grooves 48a, 48a on the peripheral side surfaces of the upper disk C20 and the lower disk C21.
48b, and each seal groove has a seal member (O
Rings) 49a and 49b are mounted. A seal groove 50a is provided on the upper surface of the upper disk C20 around the upper vertical hole 47, and a seal member (O-ring) 50 is mounted in the seal groove.

Therefore, when the integrated seal portion C is assembled between the shower head main body D and the water discharge portion B through the assembly of the water discharge seal base C1 to the pressure seal board C2, the shower head is formed by the seal members. Sealing is performed between the main body D and the water discharge section B. Specifically, the seal members 49a and 49b seal between the inner peripheral surfaces of the circular recess 42 and the counterbore hole 41a and the outer peripheral surfaces of the upper disk C20 and the lower disk C21, and the upper surface of the upper disk C20 by the seal member 50. And the bottom surface of the rotary spout 23 are sealed. However, the upper vertical hole 47 and the vertical hole 44 are in communication with the nozzle communication passage 28 of the water discharge nozzle (the water discharge nozzle 24 in FIG. 4) facing the water discharge window 30. When assembling the above-mentioned seal portion C, the rotating shaft 29 fixed integrally with the rotating water discharging body 23 is inserted into the shaft hole 41 and the upper shaft hole 46 as shown in FIGS. In this case, the space between the rotating shaft 29 and the upper shaft hole 46 is sealed by a Y packing 29b mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft 29.

Here, the state of the seal between the shower head main body D and the water discharge section B by the seal section C is shown in an enlarged sectional view around the seal section C in FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

When hot water does not flow into the shower head A, no inflow pressure of hot water is applied to the lower surface of the pressure seal board C2. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 10, the pressure seal board C2 is a circular recess of the water discharge seal base C1. 42 sinking at the bottom.
The rotating water discharge body 23 is supported by a shoulder 29 a of a chamfered portion of the rotating shaft 29. In this case, the seal is provided along the rotating shaft 29 by the seal members 49a and 49b and the Y packing 29b.
Between the upper surface and the upper surface, only the bottom surface of the rotary water discharge body 23 is in contact with the seal member 50 due to its own weight or the like, and there is a slight gap and the seal is not sufficient. However, since hot water does not flow into shower head A, there is no problem.

On the other hand, as shown by arrows in FIGS.
When hot water flows from the shower hose h through the hot water flow path 62 of the shower head body D to the pressure seal board C2, the pressure of hot water is applied to the lower surface of the pressure seal board C2, so that the pressure seal board C2 has a circular shape of the water discharge seal base C1. It rises from the bottom of the recess 42. In other words, the pressure seal board C2 slides along the rotation shaft 29, and comes into close contact with the bottom surface of the rotary water discharge body 23 with its upper surface as a pressure receiving surface. In this case, the seal is provided along the rotation shaft 29 by the seal members 49a and 49b and the Y packing 29b as described above, and the space between the bottom surface of the rotary water discharge body 23 and the top surface of the pressure seal plate C2 is crushed as shown in the figure. Sealed by the seal member 50. Therefore, hot and cold water sequentially passes through the nozzle communication passage 28 of the water discharge nozzle (in FIG. 4, the water discharge nozzle 24) facing the vertical hole 44, the upper vertical hole 47, and the water discharge window 30 after the annular groove 43. Water is discharged from the nozzle in a predetermined water discharge form.

For example, as shown in FIG.
Is facing the water discharge window 30, since the water discharge nozzle 24 is a water discharge nozzle corresponding to the water discharge in the form of spray water (see FIG. 6A), the water is discharged from the water discharge window 30 in the form of water discharge of the spray. Is done.

Next, the shower head main body D will be described with reference to FIG. 4 and FIG. 12 which is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II, and FIG. 13 which is a right view of FIG. Will be explained. As shown in FIG. 4, the shower head main body D has a housing as a head case 61 that forms a hot water flow path 62 and a device storage space 63 that stores various devices described below, and has the following configuration.

The hot water channel 62 of the shower head body D is
As shown in FIG. 12, the head case 61 has a substantially oval cross section and is formed along the inner peripheral wall of the head case 61 from the upper end to the lower end of the case. The hot water flow path 62 is formed so as to be deviated to one side of the inner peripheral wall, and has a cross-sectional shape that is substantially the same from the upper end to the lower end of the head case 61. As a result, the device storage space 63 occupies most of the internal space including the center of the head case 61 as shown in FIG. The hot water passage 62 is formed so that its effective passage area is substantially the same as that of the shower hose h, and has a horseshoe-shaped groove 62a along the inner peripheral surface of the case at the lower end of the head case 61 (see FIG. 15). Is in communication with

The shower head main body D is provided with an electric drive section 64 for driving the rotary water discharge body 23 in the equipment storage space 63 formed so as to occupy most of the internal space of the head case 61 as described above. Built-in. The electric drive section 64 constitutes a main part of the water discharge mode switching mechanism, and is suspended from the rotary water discharge body 23 via the rotary shaft 29 fixed to the rotary water discharge body 23 and extending into the head case 61. And has the following configuration.

As shown in FIG. 4, the electric driving section 64
A potentiometer 65 for detecting the rotational position of the rotary shaft 29 and a geared motor 66 are provided in this order from the seal portion C side, and these are connected and integrally formed. The geared motor 66 includes a reduction gear portion 66a for reducing the rotation of the motor at a predetermined reduction ratio, and a rotation shaft 2 by the reduction gear portion 66a.
9 and a motor rotating shaft are connected, and a motor 66b for applying a rotational driving force to the rotating shaft 29 is integrally formed.
The potentiometer 65 and the reduction gear portion 66a are connected to the upper and lower screw stoppers 6 projecting in three directions from the outer peripheral surface of the joint.
5a and 65b are mutually fastened by screws (not shown) to be integrated. Further, the reduction gear portion 66a and the motor 66b are integrated by a fixture (not shown) attached to the reduction gear portion 66a. In addition, in order to perform accurate rotation positioning of the rotary water discharger 23, the reduction gear portion 66a includes:
A non-backlash mechanism for restricting the rotation direction of the geared motor 66 to one way is provided.

Therefore, while detecting the rotational position of the rotary water discharger 23 by the potentiometer 65, the geared motor 6
By driving the rotary water discharger 23 by driving the water discharge nozzle 6 to make a desired water discharge nozzle face the water discharge window 30, water can be discharged in a water discharge form determined by the water discharge nozzle. The configuration of the potentiometer 65, the state of detecting the rotational position of the rotary water discharger 23, the drive control of the geared motor 66, and the like will be described later.

As shown in FIG. 4, between the upper end surface of the potentiometer 65 and the upper side wall 69 of the head case 61, a stopper flange 68 for restricting the electric drive portion 64 from floating along the rotation axis is provided. It is provided fixed to the rotating shaft 29. This stopper flange 68
When there is no hot or cold water flowing into the shower head A and the lower surface of the rotary water discharger 23 is in contact with the upper surface of the seal portion C due to its own weight and the weight of the electric drive portion 64, there is a slight gap between the upper surface and the upper wall 69. Located with a gap of However, when the hot and cold water flows into the shower head A and the rotary spouting body 23 and the electric drive unit 64 float together with the pressure-sealing seal board C2 by the flow pressure, the stopper flange 6 and the rotary shaft 29 are rotated.
8 is lifted up and comes into contact with the upper side wall 69 of the head case 61. Therefore, further lifting of the electric drive unit 64 along the rotation axis is avoided.

Further, on the outer peripheral surfaces of the potentiometer 65 and the reduction gear portion 66a integrally formed with the geared motor 66, rotation preventing pieces 70 projecting toward the inner peripheral wall of the head case 61 as shown in FIG. Is provided. Each of the rotation preventing pieces 70 is attached to the head case 6.
It is engaged with each of the engaging recesses 71 formed on the inner peripheral wall with a predetermined gap. For this reason, the electric drive unit 64 including the geared motor 66 and the like
Although it is hung and supported via 9, it is configured to be able to move up and down along the rotation axis direction and not to rotate.

Further, the shower head main body D includes a sub-controller 67 for controlling the drive of the electric drive unit 64 and a pressure sensor 75 for measuring the pressure in the hot and cold water flow passage 62 in the equipment storage space 63. A shower water discharge switch 73 for turning on and off the water discharged from the shower head A and a shower changeover switch 74 for switching the water discharge form are provided on the thick portion 61a of the head case 61 below the water discharge window 30. Be prepared to be buried.

As shown in FIG.
Is attached to the inner wall of the head case 61 below the geared motor 66. The shower water discharge switch 73 and the shower changeover switch 74 are so-called spring-back switches incorporating a spring.
As shown in FIG. 13, it is buried in the thick portion 61a of the lower head case 61 so as to be able to be pressed from the outside. In addition,
Each switch is disposed so as to be covered with a waterproof resin sheet (not shown).

The pressure sensor 75 has a sensor element 7
The pressure detection surface 75b of 5a is exposed in the hot and cold water flow path 62, and is fixed to the wall surface of the device storage space 63. The pressure sensor 75 is used to detect the pressure of hot and cold water flowing in the hot and cold water flow channel 62 and to control the amount of water discharged.
Is connected to Water discharge control using the hot and cold water pressure in the hot and cold water passage 62 detected by the pressure sensor 75 will be described later.

Next, the hose connecting portion E for connecting the shower hose h to the head case 61 of the shower head main body D will be described with reference to FIG. 4 and FIG. 14 which is a sectional view taken along the line III-III. As shown in FIG. 4, the hose connecting portion E includes a hose joint body 81 to which the end of the shower hose h is fixed, and a fastening cylinder 82 for fixing the end of the shower hose h to the hose joint body 81.
And a hose connection case 83 screwed to the lower end of the shower head body D to cover the hose joint body 81.

The hose joint body 81 is provided with a pipe 84 on the lower end surface of which a bamboo shoot projection is formed on the outer peripheral surface and into which a shower hose h is inserted.
1 includes a support protrusion 85 rotatably fitted in the lower end hole 76 of the device storage space 63 and a stopper pin 81a for regulating the amount of rotation. This support projection 85
An O-ring for sealing is mounted on the outer periphery of the lower end hole 7.
6 and the hose joint body 81 even in this state.
Is made in consideration of its dimensions so that it can rotate inside the lower end hole 76.

At the center of the support projection 85, a cord hole 85a is formed for forming a wiring path of the wire bundle 89 reaching the hose connecting portion E together with the shower hose h as described later. The hose joint body 81 has a support protrusion 85
And a water passage 86 extending from the inner hole of the pipe 84 to the upper end surface of the hose joint body 81 from the cord hole 85a to the lower end surface of the hose joint body 81.
Are formed through the joint body.

As shown in FIG. 14, this water passage 86
Although two holes are formed in the cord passage 88, the water passages 86 and the cord passage 88 are three-dimensionally formed at equal intervals without interfering with each other. The stopper pin 81a protruding from the upper end of the hose joint body 81 is buried to a depth that does not interfere with the cord passage 88. The water passages 86 are formed so that the total cross-sectional area of each water passage 86, that is, the effective passage area is equal to the effective passage area of the hot water flow passage 62.

Next, the structure around the stopper pin 81a will be described with reference to FIG. 15, which is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. A horseshoe-shaped groove 62a communicating with the hot water channel 62 at the lower end of the head case 61 is formed by being surrounded by a lower peripheral wall of the head case 61, a peripheral wall of the lower end hole 76, and a rib 61b provided between both peripheral walls. 81a is
The end protrudes from the upper end surface of the hose joint body 81 such that the tip end enters the groove 62a.

The hose connecting portion E having the above configuration is
It is assembled to the head case 61 as follows, connects the shower head A and the shower hose h, and connects the hose to the hot and cold water passage 62.

First, the shower hose h is inserted into the pipe 84, and the tightening cylinder 82 is screwed into the hose joint body 81, and the shower hose h is fixed to the hose joint body 81. Then, an O-ring is fitted to the support projection 85 in the lower end hole 76 of the device storage space 63 to fit the hose connection case 8.
3 is screwed into the lower end of the shower head body D. In addition, a Y packing 81 b is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the hose joint body 81, and seals a gap between the hose coupling body 83 and the inner peripheral surface.

When the hose connection portion E is assembled in this manner, the hot and cold water flowing into each water passage 86 from the shower hose h is transferred to the upper end surface of the hose joint body 81 and the hose connection case 8.
3 and the hot water flow path 6
2 and flows into the hot and cold water channel 62 through the groove 62a at the lower end. Thereafter, as described above, water is discharged from the water discharge nozzle via the seal portion C in a predetermined water discharge form.

In connecting the shower head A and the shower hose h in this manner, the hose connecting portion E is connected to the hose joint body 81 about the lower end hole 76 of the equipment storage space 63 as a center of rotation. The shower head body D is rotatable with respect to the shower hose h. Also, as shown in FIG. 15, the rotation of the shower head A can be moved within the groove 62a around the lower end hole 76 so that the stopper pin 81a does not contact the rib 61b (from the position indicated by X in the figure). Clockwise and counterclockwise are possible over a range up to the position indicated by Y). Note that the diameter of the stopper pin 81a, the thickness of the rib 61b, and the like are determined so that the rotation of the shower head A can be performed over approximately 360 degrees.

Next, the electric wire bundle 89 via the hose connecting portion E
Will be described with reference to FIG. 16 in addition to FIG. The wire bundle 89 includes a power wire 89a for the geared motor 66 and the like in the electric drive unit 64 and a control wire 89b for transmitting control signals. One end of each wire is connected to the main controller 7 in the operation unit P as described later. It is connected to the. As shown in FIG. 16, the wire bundle 89 is woven from the end of the shower hose h on the hot-water mixer tap side into the hose peripheral wall and reaches the end of the shower hose h. In addition, wiring is performed in the cord hole 85 a of the support protrusion 85. At this time, the electric wire bundle 89 is wired between the end of the shower hose h and the lower end of the cord passage 88 with some slack in the cord.

Then, as shown in FIG. 4, it is connected to a connector 90 installed at the upper end of the lower end hole 76 of the device storage space 63, and the device storage space 6 is connected through the connector 90.
3 is connected to the electric drive unit 64 and the sub-controller 67. That is, the wire bundle 89 is connected to the hose joint body 8.
The connector 90 is connected to the lower end hole 76 of the device storage space 63, which is the center of rotation when the
Connected to.

Next, an electrical configuration of the water discharge device TS having the above-described device configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. The main controller 7 in the operation unit P of the above-described water discharging device TS is always powered on, displays the current time on the display 151 of the operation panel unit PP, and discharges water after the power button 150 is pressed. Various controls, which will be described later, which are necessary for the execution, are started. And it has the following configuration.

As shown in FIG. 17, the main controller 7 is mainly composed of a one-chip microcomputer, has a built-in ROM and RAM, etc., and controls an MPU which controls a device to be controlled in accordance with various programs described later.
7a and an input / output interface (hereinafter referred to as I / O) 7b for performing input / output with the outside. The main controller 7 further includes a power supply circuit 7c for applying a power supply voltage of a voltage suitable for the MPU 7a and other electric devices, and a water-side motor driver for driving the actuator 5 of the water-side flow control valve 3. 7d, a hot water side motor drive 7e, and electromagnetic valve drivers 7f to 7i for turning on / off the electromagnetic valves 11a to 11d provided for each water discharge destination in the water discharge switching unit 11.

The I / O 7b has an operation panel P
Various sensors such as P, thermistor 1a, thermistor 2a, water amount sensor 8, and thermistor 9, the actuators 5, 6, the water discharge switching unit 11, and the like are connected. Among these actuators, the water-side motor driver 7d
Alternatively, they are connected via a hot water side motor drive 7e, and the respective solenoid valves 11a to 11d of the water discharge switching unit 11 are connected via solenoid valve drivers 7f to 7i. MPU7a
Are based on the output state of the valve opening / closing signal to each solenoid valve driver,
The state of the valve opening / closing of 1d is recognized, and this is used for water discharge control described later.

An analog switch 7m for opening and closing the circuit regardless of the control signal from the MPU 7a is provided between the electromagnetic valve driver 7f for turning on / off the shower electromagnetic valve 11a for the shower head A and the I / O 7b. Is provided. Further, the analog switch 7m and the thermistor 9
And the temperature detected by the thermistor 9 (mixed hot and cold water temperature)
And a predetermined temperature pattern, and the analog switch 7m is provided with a comparator 7n that independently outputs a circuit open / close signal.

A temperature pattern for the comparator 7n to output a circuit open / close signal is prepared as a so-called hysteresis temperature pattern. When the temperature detected by the thermistor 9 rises to a predetermined upper limit temperature, for example, 50 degrees, the analog switch 7m
And a control signal for closing the circuit is output to the analog switch 7m when the temperature detected by the thermistor 9 drops to a predetermined lower limit temperature, for example, 45 degrees.

As a result, the analog switch 7m is operated to open and close the circuit in response to the control signal from the comparator 7n, and if the temperature of the mixed hot and cold water from the shower head A becomes 50 ° C. due to some cause. Then, the circuit is opened and the shower solenoid valve 11a is turned off, and the discharge of water from the shower head A is interrupted. In addition, after the temperature of the mixed hot and cold water drops to 45 degrees after the temperature once rises to 50 degrees or more, the discharge of water from the shower head A can be restarted from that point.

Sub-controller 6 on shower head A side
7 is the main controller 7 as shown in FIG.
Similarly, an MPU 67a and an I / O 67b are provided. The sub-controller 67 includes a voltage regulator 67c for applying a power supply voltage of a voltage suitable for the MPU 67a and other electric devices on the side of the shower head A, an amplifier 67d for amplifying a signal from the pressure sensor 75, and a geared motor. Motor driver 67e for driving the motor 66
And This voltage regulator 67c is configured as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 18, it is connected to the power supply circuit 7c of the main controller 7 via the power supply wire 89a of the wire bundle 89. In addition, the motor driver 67e includes an MPU 67a
The brakes can be applied to the geared motor 66 based on a control signal (brake signal) from the motor.

The I / O 67b includes switches such as a shower water discharge switch 73 and a shower selector switch 74 and a potentiometer 65 directly, a pressure sensor 75 via an amplifier 67d, and a geared motor 66 via a motor driver 67e. Each is connected. The shower water discharge switch 73 is for instructing the start or stop of water discharge from the shower head A, and the shower changeover switch 74 is for switching the water discharge mode and instructing the target water discharge nozzle m. The start of water discharge from the shower head A or the specification of the stop of water from the shower head A and the specification of the target water discharge nozzle m will be described later.

Here, regarding the potentiometer 65,
This will be described with reference to FIG. This potentiometer 65
Is to detect which of the water discharge nozzles 24 to 27 the water discharge nozzle faces the water discharge window 30 through the detection of the rotational position of the rotary water discharge body 23. It has a simple configuration.

As shown in FIGS. 19A and 19B, the potentiometer 65 has a conductive brush support 101 fixed to the rotating shaft 29 and rotating integrally with the rotating shaft. And three brushes 103a to 103c provided on the lower surface of the brush support 101 and formed of a conductor.
And a detection board 105 having a circuit pattern to be described later and fixed to a casing (not shown) of the potentiometer 65. When the conductive brush support 101 is fixed to the rotating shaft 29, the both are insulated.

The detection substrate 105 has, on its surface, an annular circuit pattern 111 along the outer edge of the substrate, and four projecting circuit patterns 111a to 111a projecting from the annular circuit pattern 111 in the direction of the rotation axis with a phase of 90 degrees. 111d
A circuit pattern 113 extending from the annular circuit pattern 111 to the connector portion 105a of the detection board 105; an annular circuit pattern 114 separated from the annular circuit pattern 111 by a predetermined distance; Four arc circuit patterns 115a to 115d
And

The above-described circuit patterns correspond to the brush support 10
1 rotates integrally with the rotating shaft 29, the brush 103 c of the brush body 103 is placed on the surface of the annular circuit pattern 114.
Contact each other so that the circular arc circuit patterns 115a to 115
The brush 103b is formed so as to contact the surface of each of the protruding circuit patterns 111a to 111d so that the brush 103b contacts the surface d.

Each of the arc circuit patterns 115a to 115d
Are formed with a width of 30 degrees in the circumferential direction and a phase of 90 degrees, and are formed so as to overlap with the corresponding protruding circuit patterns 111a to 111d by 3 degrees in the circumferential direction.

As shown in FIG. 19 (b), the detection substrate 105 is provided with a ring circuit pattern 114 and circuit patterns 117a to 117e corresponding to the respective arc circuit patterns 115a to 115d, as shown in FIG. Each of the circuit patterns 117a to 117e is formed so as to be electrically connected to the annular circuit pattern 114 and the like via through holes indicated by dotted lines in the drawing. That is, the circular circuit pattern 114 and the circuit pattern 117a are
And the circuit pattern 117e are the arc circuit pattern 115
b and the circuit pattern 117b are circular arc circuit patterns 11
5c and the circuit pattern 117c are circular arc circuit patterns 1
15d and the circuit pattern 117d are electrically connected to each other.

The potentiometer 65 having the above-described configuration is configured such that the circular circuit pattern 114 connected to the ground line via the circuit pattern 117a and one of the arc circuit patterns 115a to 115d to which a predetermined voltage is applied are connected to the rotating shaft 29. Conduction is performed via the brushes 103b and 103c of the brush support 101 which rotates integrally. Further, the annular circuit pattern 114 and any of the projecting circuit patterns 111a to 111d to which a predetermined voltage is applied are
Conduction is performed through the brushes 103a and 103c.

On the other hand, when assembling the potentiometer 65 together with the geared motor 66 and the like in the equipment housing space 63, the brush support 101
27 is fixed to the rotating shaft 29 so as to match the phase around the rotating shaft 29 with one of the water discharging nozzles, that is, to be located immediately below the one water discharging nozzle. Further, the detection substrate 105 is fixed at a position where the circular arc circuit pattern 115b contacts the brush 103b of the brush support 101 when the rotary water discharge body 23 faces the one water discharge nozzle toward the water discharge window 30. (See FIG. 12).

Therefore, the sub-controller 67 connected to the potentiometer 65 determines the one water discharge nozzle, for example, the water discharge nozzle 2 based on the conduction state between the annular circuit pattern 114 and each of the arc circuit patterns 115a to 115d.
It is possible to determine in which position the water discharge nozzle 4 is located, and thereby to determine which of the water discharge nozzles faces the water discharge window 30. That is, each arc circuit pattern 115
a to 115d are used for detecting the position of the water discharge nozzle.

The sub-controller 67 includes an annular circuit pattern 114 and each of the projecting circuit patterns 111a to 111.
Based on the state of conduction with d, it is determined that the rotation of the rotary water discharger 23 is excessive, and it is determined whether or not braking of the geared motor 66 is necessary. That is, each of the projection circuit patterns 111a to 111d
Is used for instructing the forced stop of the geared motor 66 as described later, and each water discharge nozzle is provided with its water discharge hole through the water discharge window 30.
Specify the stop position (indexing completion position) that correctly faces the. The position detection of the water discharge nozzle using the potentiometer 65 and the control of the geared motor 66 are described below.
It will be described later.

Next, the relationship between the two controllers will be described. The main controller 7 embedded in the bathroom wall and incorporated in the operation unit P, and the sub-controller 67 incorporated in the shower head A are connected to each other via a wire bundle 89. More specifically, the power supply circuit 7c of the main controller 7 and the voltage regulator 67c of the sub-controller 67 are connected by a power supply wire 89a, and the MPU 6 of the shower head A is connected from the main controller 7 side.
Power is supplied to electrical devices such as the pressure sensor 75 including the pressure sensor 7a. Also, the I / O 7b of the main controller 7
And the I / O 67 of the sub-controller 67
b and an interrupt terminal (INT) in the MPU 7a of the main controller 7 are connected to each other by a control wire 89b, and signals necessary for various controls to be described later are transmitted and received between the two controllers so that various information, for example, rotation. Communication of information such as the rotational position of the water discharger 23 and the detected pressure from the pressure sensor 75 is performed.

[0096] Such transmitted information and operation panel section P
Based on the button operation at P and the operation of the shower changeover switch 74 of the shower head A and the like, the two controllers change the water discharge destination, switch the water discharge mode, and the like.

Next, the water discharge device TS having the above-described configuration
The control performed by the user, such as switching of the water discharge mode, will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, the control performed by the main controller 7 will be described. On the main controller 7 side, a water discharge state main body side setting control (routine) for setting a water discharge state, a water discharge control (routine) for executing water discharge based on the set water discharge state, and a sub-controller 6
Communication control (routine) for exchanging data with PC 7
Are repeatedly executed at a predetermined cycle.
Each of these routines is executed in each interrupt cycle as described later. However, in consideration of the overlap of interrupt timing, the water discharge state main body side setting routine, the water discharge routine, and the communication routine are executed in this order. Priorities are defined.

The water discharge state main body side setting routine is always interrupted every 15 ms irrespective of whether the power button 150 is operated or not, and performs each processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. First, the main body side information based on the on / off state of various buttons on the operation panel unit PP, various sensor outputs of the thermistor 1a and the like is read (step 10).
0: Hereinafter, the step is simply described as S). More specifically, the on / off state of the power button 150, the on / off state of the matrix switch including the bathtub run instruction button 154, etc., the temperature, the amount of water, hot water and mixed hot water from the thermistors 1a, 2a, 9 From the water discharge flow rate (rotational speed N) from the sensor 8 and the valve opening state of each of the shower solenoid valves 11a and the soot water solenoid valve 11b in the water discharge switching unit 11, etc., the discharge is instructed from the operation panel PP side. Water head, water discharge temperature, water discharge amount, water discharge form of shower and water discharge switching unit 1
The main body side information such as the switching state of 1 is read.

The water discharge temperature increase instruction button 162 and the water discharge temperature decrease instruction button 1
For 63, the set water discharge temperature is set based on the button operation, and for the water discharge amount increase instruction button 164 and the water discharge amount decrease instruction button 165, the set water discharge amount (water discharge amount level value: 1 to 5) is set based on the button operation. Are calculated, and the calculation result is read as data of the main body side information.

After that, it is determined whether or not it is possible to make a transition to a certain type of information among the read information, for example, a water discharge amount based on the on / off state of the matrix switch, a water discharge temperature, and a water discharge state based on a water discharge destination. Judgment is made based on the other information read, for example, on / off of the power button 150, the open state of each solenoid valve in the water discharge switching unit 11, thermistor output, and the like (S110).

Here, if a positive determination is made, the state can be shifted to the water discharge state based on the water discharge temperature, the water discharge amount, etc. determined by, for example, the water discharge temperature decrease instruction button 163, the water discharge amount increase instruction button 164, and the like. And hot water temperature and various instruction buttons (bath tub call instruction button 154)
), The read information is updated as main body side information used for control described later.
It is stored (S120). Specifically, the various information read in S100 is converted to MP-side information as MP-related information.
Update and write to a predetermined address of the RAM in U7a. Thereafter, this routine is temporarily ended, and the processing from S100 is repeated.

On the other hand, if a negative judgment is made that the transition to the water discharge state cannot be made, this routine is temporarily terminated without performing any processing. Therefore, in this case, the main body side information stored by the processing of this routine before the previous time remains.

The water discharge state main body side setting routine for performing such processing is interrupted every 15 ms as described above. Therefore, by executing this routine, the matrix of the operation panel section PP is executed. The main body side information based on the pressed state of the switch or the like is scanned every 15 ms, and is updated and stored whenever there is a change in the pressed state.

The main body side information includes all information necessary for the user who operates the matrix switch of the operation panel section PP and the switches of the shower head A to discharge water in a desired water discharge form. , While being updated and stored in the above-described water discharge state main body side setting routine,
The predetermined data is also updated and stored according to the head information transmitted from the sub-controller 67 in a communication routine described later.

That is, in performing the water discharge, for the predetermined items, for example, the designation of the target water discharge nozzle m can be performed by using the slap designating button 157 on the operation panel PP or the shower changeover switch 74 on the shower head A side. Can be instructed. Therefore, for items that can be instructed from both the operation panel section PP and the shower head A (target water discharge nozzle m, execution of water discharge from each water discharge port, water stop, etc.), a head reflecting the operation status of each switch of the shower head A is used. Updates the main unit information as necessary
Remember. For this reason, the main body side information is
And the operation status of each switch of the operation panel unit PP.

Next, a water discharge routine for executing water discharge based on the main body side information set as described above will be described.
explain. This water discharge routine is executed every 250 ms while the power button 150 is in the ON state, and performs each processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. In this water discharge routine, the main body side information stored in the water discharge state main body side setting routine is read (S20).
0) and reading of the head information transmitted from the sub-controller 67 of the shower head A and stored in the RAM built in the MPU 7a in a communication routine described later (S205).
Are sequentially executed.

The head information includes data relating to the current water discharge nozzle M which the rotary water discharge body 23 is currently facing the water discharge window 30 and the detection voltage VP of the pressure sensor 75 (the voltage reflecting the pressure in the water flow path 62). ), Data on the execution or stoppage of water discharge from the shower head A, and data on the target water discharge nozzle m to be newly made to face the water discharge window 30. Each data will be described later.

Thereafter, it is determined which of the shower head A, the wash basin n and the bath tub rk is specified as the water discharge destination in the main body side information read in S200 (S210), and any of the water discharge destinations is specified. If not, it is determined that the inflow of water and hot water from the inflow pipes 1 and 2 is not necessary, and the two flow control valves are fully closed (S213).
This routine is ended once.

At this step S210, the water discharge destination is
Alternatively, if it is determined that the tub is a tub callan rk, a drive signal (ON signal) is output to the solenoid valve (washing station solenoid valve 11c or bathtub solenoid valve 11d) of the water discharge switching unit 11 corresponding to each callan to open the solenoid valve. The valve is controlled (S215), and then an off signal is output to the water solenoid valve 11b to perform valve closing control (S215).
220). In other words, if the water discharge destination is the washing place curn n or the bathtub curn rk, there is no obstacle in starting the water discharging, so that each electromagnetic valve is driven as described above to quickly prepare for water discharging from each curan.

Next, a water discharge process from each curan is performed as described below (S230), and this routine ends. In this water discharge process, the hot water discharge connection pipe 1 is determined based on the temperatures of water, hot water, and mixed hot water in the main body side information, the flow rate in the hot water discharge connection pipe 10, the set water discharge temperature, the water discharge amount, and the like.
Calculate the flow rates of the water and hot water to be flown into 0, and calculate the flow control amounts of the flow control valves 3 and 4 corresponding to the calculated flow rates, that is, the drive amounts of the actuators 5 and 6 (stepping drive amounts). I do. Next, a control signal corresponding to the calculated drive amount is output to the water side motor driver 7d and the hot water side motor drive 7e. Therefore,
Since each actuator drives each drive by each drive to adjust the flow rate of each flow control valve, the calculated flow rate of water and hot water flows into the hot and cold water discharge connection pipe 10, and from any one of the above-mentioned currans, the set water discharge temperature and water discharge amount Is spouted.

[0112] The water discharged from the curan is supplied to the shower head designation button 156 on the operation panel PP.
Is newly pressed or the bathtub call instruction button 154 is successively pressed twice to change the body-side information, and the water discharge state based on this information is stored as transitionable in the water discharge state body-side setting routine. Continue until

On the other hand, if it is determined in S210 that the water discharge destination is the shower head A, it is determined whether or not the target water discharge nozzle m in the main body side information matches the current water discharge nozzle M in the head information (S235). . The current water discharge nozzle M is set by the sub-controller 67 based on the output of the potentiometer 65, as described later.

If it is determined in step S235 that the target water discharge nozzle m does not match the current water discharge nozzle M, the output of the drive signal (ON signal) to the all-water solenoid valve 11b of the water discharge switching unit 11 is passed. Valve opening control of the solenoid valve (S240)
And the valve closing control of the electromagnetic valve (S245) through the output of the OFF signal to the shower electromagnetic valve 11a are sequentially executed in this order, and the process proceeds to the next S300. That is, when the target water discharge nozzle m and the current water discharge nozzle M do not match, the shower electromagnetic valve 11a is closed and the shower head A
The flow of hot and cold water into the shower head A is stopped, and preparation is made for the completion of indexing of the water discharge nozzle by the water discharge nozzle rotation control performed by the sub-controller 67 of the shower head A described later.

On the other hand, if it is determined in S235 that the target water discharge nozzle m and the current water discharge nozzle M match, it is determined that the flow of hot water into the shower head A can be started, and the shower water electromagnetic valve 11a of the water discharge switching unit 11 is started. Opening control of the solenoid valve through the output of the drive signal (ON signal) (S250)
And the valve closing control of the solenoid valve (S255) through the output of the OFF signal to the water solenoid valve 11b is sequentially executed in this order, and the process proceeds to the next S300.

In S300 following S245 and S255, the following water discharge temperature control is performed so that water can be discharged from the shower head A at the water discharge temperature set in the main body side information (S300). That is, based on the temperature of the water itself in the inflow pipe 1 and the temperature of the hot water itself in the inflow pipe 2 detected by the thermistors 1a and 2a, the temperature of the mixed hot and cold water obtained when mixing the water and the hot water at these temperatures is determined. A flow ratio of water and hot water for matching the set water discharge temperature is calculated.

Next, in order to discharge water at the set water discharge temperature, S
The following flow control is performed so that the shower head A can discharge water at the set water discharge amount in the main body side information while maintaining the flow ratio of water and hot water calculated in 300 (S40).
0).

This flow rate control will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. As shown in the figure, in this flow control, first, it is determined whether or not the water discharge from the shower head A is instructed in the read main body side information (S403). Here, the shower water switch 73
Is off, and since the output of each water discharge mode instruction button is off, if it is determined that the water discharge from the shower head A is not executed in the main body side information, the flow from each inflow pipe is determined. Since it is not necessary to inflow of water and hot water, both flow control valves are fully closed (S405), and this routine is ended once.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the water discharge from the shower head A is instructed in the main body side information because the output of either the shower water discharge switch 73 or each water discharge mode instruction button is on, the main body The flow rates of water and hot water are determined based on the level value N (any one of the values 1 to 5) of the set water discharge amount for the current water discharge nozzle M (one of the water discharge nozzles 24 to 27) in the side information, The drive amounts of the actuators 5 and 6 for flowing the determined flow rates of water and hot water through the respective inflow pipes are calculated, and the flow rate control valves 3 and 4 are driven via the motor drivers 7d and 7e (S407). At this time, the flow ratio of water and hot water calculated in S300 is of course maintained.

The set water discharge amount of each level value is stored in advance in the ROM built in the MPU 67a for each water discharge nozzle, and even if the set water discharge amount has the same level value, water is actually discharged from each water discharge nozzle. The water discharge amount differs for each water discharge nozzle. For example, if it is a straight water discharge nozzle 24,
At the set water discharge amount of level 3, water is discharged at 7 liters per minute, and if the water discharge nozzle 27 is squatting, water is discharged at 10 liters per minute even at the set water discharge amount of level 3.

Next, from the level value N of the set water discharge amount and the current water discharge nozzle M, the set water discharge amount conversion voltage VMN of the flow map for the current water discharge nozzle M is read (S41).
0). As shown in FIG. 23, this flow rate map is a pressure in the hot water flow passage 62 detected by the pressure sensor 75 when water is discharged from each water discharge nozzle at the set water discharge amount of each level value (1 to 5), that is, the set discharge. The water volume conversion voltage VMN and each of the above-mentioned level values are associated with each water discharge nozzle.
a stored in a built-in ROM. The suffix M in the set water discharge amount conversion voltage VMN indicates one of the signs A, B, C, and D for distinguishing the water discharge nozzle of each water discharge mode, and the suffix N indicates the set level value 1 to 5. Indicates either.

For example, the set water discharge amount is the water discharge amount of level 4, and the current water discharge nozzle M is the straight water discharge nozzle 2
If it is 4, the current water discharge nozzle M (water discharge nozzle 24)
With regard to, VB4 is read as the set water discharge amount conversion voltage VMN. Similarly, if the set water discharge amount is the water discharge amount of the level value 3 and the current water discharge nozzle M is the squatting water discharge nozzle 27, VD3 is read.

The set water discharge amount conversion voltage VMN (VA1 to VD5) for each water discharge nozzle is obtained by converting the set water discharge amount of each level value into the sensor output voltage of the pressure sensor 75. Is required. The set water discharge amount of each level value is actually discharged from the water discharge nozzle, and the output voltage of the pressure sensor 75 is sampled when the actual water discharge amount measured by the flow measuring device outside the nozzle matches the set water discharge amount. Then, a significant voltage is obtained from the sampling voltage by using a statistical method or the like, and the obtained voltage is stored as a set water discharge amount conversion voltage VMN.

After reading the set water discharge amount converted voltage VMN in this way, the set water discharge amount converted voltage VMN is compared with the detection voltage VP of the pressure sensor 75, and the flow rate is controlled according to the result.

The reason why the flow rate is controlled using the detection voltage VP of the pressure sensor 75 is as follows. The flow rate Q of the fluid such as hot water passing through the flow path (the hot water flow path 62 in this embodiment) is a unit correction constant K in consideration of the viscosity of the fluid and the like.
And the pressure difference ΔP, which is obtained by subtracting the atmospheric pressure P0 from the pressure P in the hot water flow path 62, and the flow coefficient CV and the pressure difference ΔP by the following equation. Q = K · CV · (△ P) ^1/2 = K · CV · (P−P0)
^1/2

The flow coefficient CV in this equation is a flow coefficient that is predetermined according to the form of water discharged from each of the water discharge nozzles 24 to 27, that is, the size and shape of the hole of each water discharge nozzle (see FIG. 6). Further, the pressure difference ΔP obtained by subtracting the atmospheric pressure P0 from the pressure P in the hot and cold water flow passage 62 is obtained through a predetermined conversion formula f (VP) which is uniquely determined by using the detection voltage VP of the pressure sensor 75 as a variable. Does not deviate from the value. Therefore, the above equation can be expressed as follows: Q = K · CV · (f (VP))
Can be transformed to ^1/2 .

Therefore, the flow rate can be indirectly compared by comparing the set water discharge amount conversion voltage VMN obtained by converting the set water discharge amount of each level value into the sensor output voltage with the detection voltage VP of the pressure sensor 75. Thus, the flow rate can be controlled.

In order to compare the set water discharge amount conversion voltage VMN with the detection voltage VP of the pressure sensor 75 in order to perform the flow rate control, first, the detection voltage VP is calculated by adding the allowable measurement error voltage α to the set water discharge amount conversion voltage VMN. It is determined whether the voltage is equal to or higher than the added voltage (S413). The permissible measurement error voltage α depends on the variation in the detection accuracy in the manufacture of the pressure sensor 75 and the detection voltage VP of the pressure sensor 75 due to the sudden vertical movement of the shower head A when handling the shower head A by hand. It is predetermined in consideration of fluctuations and the like.

Here, if it is determined that the detected voltage VP is equal to or higher than the voltage obtained by adding the allowable measurement error voltage α to the set water discharge amount conversion voltage VMN, the total inflow amount of water and hot water from each inflow pipe, that is, the flow rate is determined. The drive amounts of the actuators 5 and 6 for reducing the amount by a predetermined amount are calculated, and the flow rate control valves 3 and 4 are driven via the motor drivers 7d and 7e (S41).
5). Thereafter, this routine ends. When the flow rate adjusting valves 3 and 4 are driven, the flow rate ratio between the water and the hot water calculated in S300 is of course maintained. Thus, thereafter, the water discharge amount is corrected to decrease. In addition, a different value is prepared for the unit for decreasing the flow rate for each water discharge nozzle.

On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in S413, it is determined whether or not the detected voltage VP is equal to or lower than the voltage obtained by subtracting the allowable measurement error voltage α from the set water discharge amount conversion voltage VMN (S4).
17). Here, if a negative determination is made, the detection voltage VP can be determined to be within the allowable range centered on the set water discharge amount conversion voltage VMN, in combination with the determination in S413, so that there is no need to adjust the flow rate. This routine is temporarily ended without performing the processing. As a result, the water discharge from the shower head A is continued with the previous water discharge amount (set water discharge amount).

However, if an affirmative determination is made in S417, the drive amounts of the actuators 5 and 6 for increasing the total inflow of water and hot water from the respective inflow pipes by a predetermined amount are calculated, and the flow rate adjustment valves 3 and 6 are calculated. 4 is driven via the motor drivers 7d and 7e (S420). Thereafter, this routine ends. Thus, thereafter, the water discharge amount is corrected to increase.
The unit for increasing the flow rate is the same as the unit for decreasing the flow rate, and a different value is prepared for each water discharge nozzle.

The water discharge routine for performing such processing is as follows.
As described above, since the interrupt is executed every 250 ms,
The flow rate control based on the main body side information including all the information (depression information of each switch, information of water amount, temperature, etc.) necessary for performing water discharge in a water discharge form desired by the user is also 250 m.
This is done every s.

Next, a communication routine for exchanging data between the main controller 7 and the sub-controller 67 will be described. This communication routine includes a main controller side communication routine that is executed by the MPU 7a every 125 ms while the power button 150 is in the on state, and a sub routine that receives an interrupt signal from the main controller side communication routine. The sub-controller side communication routine is executed by the controller 67 at each interruption, and each processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 24 is performed.

In the main controller communication routine,
First, the main body side information stored in S207 of the above water discharge routine is read (S500), and then it is determined from the read information whether or not the water solenoid valve 11b is in an open state (S500).
510).

If it is determined that the valve is in the closed state, it is determined that hot water has flowed into the shower head A, and the target water discharge nozzle related data including the water discharge nozzle index prohibition data is synthesized. (S520) If it is determined that the valve is in the open state, it is determined that there is no inflow of hot water into the shower head A, and target water discharge nozzle related data including water discharge nozzle indexing permission data is synthesized (S530). The target water discharge nozzle related data has a data structure of a plurality of bits, and one of the bits is assigned with index prohibition data (value 0) or index permission data (value 1), and target bits are assigned to other predetermined bits. Data on the water discharge nozzle (data necessary for switching the current water discharge nozzle to the target water discharge nozzle) is assigned. It should be noted that data regarding the target water discharge nozzle is allocated in a predetermined order.

Then, S following S520 and S530
In 540, serial conversion of the combined data of the target water discharge nozzles of a plurality of bits and transmission of the converted data are performed (S540). Thereafter, a head information request signal for requesting the transmission of the head information from the sub-controller 67 is transmitted (S550), and this routine is ended once.

In the serial conversion in S540, the interrupt signal (1
Bit), a start signal (1 bit), and an ID signal (2
Bit) etc. to make transmission data of a predetermined number of bits,
This transmission data is converted to serial data as shown in FIG.

In other words, serial conversion is performed by setting the interrupt bit to the first transmission bit, the start bit to the second transmission bit, and the ID bit to the third and fourth transmission bits. I do. Then, the transmission data after the serial conversion is transmitted to the MPU on the main controller 7 side.
The signal is transmitted directly from 7a to the interrupt terminal of the MPU 67a on the sub-controller 67 side via one I / O 7b and one control wire 89b.

This transmission system is a start-stop synchronization system, and each data bit length is 100 μsec in all.

The sub-controller 6 receiving this data
In the MPU 67a of FIG. 7, an external interrupt occurs due to the interrupt bit in the transmission data (reception timing in FIG. 25), and the processing up to that point is temporarily interrupted, and the sub-controller side communication routine shown in FIG. .

That is, when the sub-controller-side communication routine starts in response to an external interrupt, it waits for the input of a start bit (L level) following the interrupt bit, and waits for 150 μsec after inputting the bit (reception timing). (Reception timing) Then, data is input every 100 μsec, and the data is input to the RAM built in the MPU 67a.
(S600).

The reception of data is continued until a stop bit (L level) is input at the reception timing. If a stop bit input cannot be confirmed at the reception timing, a stop bit error is set. Also, a parity check is performed on the input data immediately before the stop bit (L level). If OK, the input data is adopted, and if NG, a parity check error is set.

Thereafter, in the sub-controller-side communication routine, S5 in the main controller-side communication routine is executed.
It waits for the input of the head information request signal transmitted at 50 (S610). When this request signal is input, the head information stored in the RAM built in the MPU 67a is read by a head information setting routine to be described later (S620), and a plurality of data included in the head information are converted into serial data (6).
30). This serial conversion is performed by adding an ID signal (2 bits) or the like for distinguishing the transmission source (in this case, the sub-controller 67), similar to the processing in S540, and the head information data is replaced with the target nozzle related data. Used.

As will be described later, the head information includes data relating to the current water discharge nozzle M, the detection voltage VP of the pressure sensor 75, data relating to the execution or stoppage of water discharge from the shower head A, and the data relating to the target water discharge nozzle m. And data is included.

Next, the transmission data after serial conversion is
MPU 67a on the sub-controller 67 side to I / O 67
b, directly to the interrupt terminal of the MPU 7a on the main controller 7 side via another one of the control wires 89b (S6).
40), end the sub-controller side communication routine.

On the other hand, the MPU 7a of the main controller 7
In response to the reception of the serially converted head information data including the interrupt bit and the ID bit, an external interrupt occurs.
The head information receiving routine shown in FIG. 26 is executed by interruption.

In the head routine receiving routine, the transmitted head information data is received and temporarily stored (S560), and based on the head information data, data relating to a predetermined item of the main body side information is updated and stored (S560). S5
70). In S570, as shown in FIG. 26, it is determined whether or not the shower switch 74 has been operated based on the head information data (S572). If a negative determination is made, no processing is necessary and the head routine reception routine is temporarily terminated. I do.

If an affirmative determination is made in S572, it is determined that the user wants to switch the water discharge mode based on the operation of the shower switch 74, and the data relating to the target water discharge nozzle m in the main body side information is updated and stored. (S57
4). Next, it is determined whether or not the shower water discharge switch 73 has been operated based on the head information data (S57).
6) If a negative determination is made, it is determined that no processing is necessary, and this routine is once ended.

If the determination in S576 is affirmative, it is determined that the user wants to execute the water discharge or change to the water stop based on the operation of the shower water discharge switch 73, and the data relating to the water discharge from the shower head A in the main body side information. Is updated and stored (S578). That is, if the data on the water discharge from the shower head A in the main body side information up to that time is the water discharge execution data, the data is the water stoppage data,
If it is water stoppage data, it will be water discharge execution data.

Thus, the head routine reception routine in the main controller 7 is completed, and data relating to a predetermined item of the main body side information is updated.

That is, every time the main controller side communication routine is executed every 125 ms, the MPU 7a updates the head information (S560), and further, every time the head routine reception routine is executed.
Since the data relating to the predetermined item of the main body side information is updated in (S574, S578), S2 of the water discharge routine is performed.
The main body information and the head information read in 00 and S205 become the latest data each time. As a result, the water discharge routine uses the latest data included in the main body information and the head information as control parameters in various processes.

Next, the control performed by the sub-controller 67 in addition to the sub-controller-side communication routine will be described. On the sub-controller 67 side, head information setting control (routine) for setting head information from the pressure sensor 75, the shower water discharge switch 73, and the like in the shower head A, and setting the target water discharge nozzle to the water discharge window 3
The water discharge nozzle indexing control (routine) for indexing the water discharge nozzle to reach zero is repeatedly executed at a predetermined cycle. Each of these routines is executed in each interrupt cycle as described later.
Considering that the interrupt timings overlap, the execution priority is determined in the order of the head information setting routine and the water discharge nozzle indexing routine. As described above, the sub-controller-side communication routine is forcibly executed by temporarily interrupting the head information setting routine and the water discharge nozzle indexing routine each time an external indexing is performed.

The head information setting routine is executed every 15 ms while the power is turned on via the power supply circuit 7c of the main controller 7.
Each process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 27 is performed.

First, the head information based on the pressed state of the shower water discharge switch 73 and the shower switch 74 in the shower head A and the sensor output from the potentiometer 65 and the pressure sensor 75 is read (S70).
0). Specifically, from the output of the potentiometer 65,
The current water discharge nozzle M facing the water discharge window 30 is specified, and either the execution of water discharge from the shower head A or the stop of water is specified from the switch output of the shower water discharge switch 73, and the pressing operation of the shower switch 74. The target water discharge nozzle m is specified based on the
Is read as head information together with the detected voltage VP.

The execution of water discharge from the shower head A or the stop of water is performed every time the shower water discharge switch 73 is pressed.
It is specified alternately by the PU 67a. The specification of the target water discharge nozzle m is performed based on the number of times the shower changeover switch 74 is pressed and the current water discharge nozzle M. In other words, every time the shower switch 74 is pressed once, the next water discharge nozzle M following the current water discharge nozzle M along the rotation direction of the rotary water discharge body 23 becomes the target water discharge nozzle m. For example, when the water discharge nozzle 24 is the current water discharge nozzle M,
If the shower changeover switch 74 is operated once, the water discharge nozzle 25 becomes the target water discharge nozzle m if it is twice, and the water discharge nozzle 27 becomes the target water discharge nozzle m if it is three times (FIG. 6). reference). That is, each time the shower switch 74 is pressed, the target water discharge nozzle m is sequentially fed from the current water discharge nozzle M and specified.

Thereafter, the read head information is transferred to MP
The data is updated and written to a predetermined address in the RAM incorporated in the U67a (S710), and this routine is once ended.

That is, by executing the above-described head information setting routine, the head information based on each switch output and sensor output in the shower head A is updated and stored every 15 ms. The head information is transmitted to the main controller 7 and used for the various controls described above.

Next, a water discharge nozzle indexing routine for indexing a water discharge nozzle will be described. This water discharge nozzle indexing routine is executed every 2 ms while the power is turned on via the power supply circuit 7c of the main controller 7, and performs each processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. .

First, the target water discharge nozzle m is read from the transmission data from the main controller 7 stored in S600 of the sub-controller side communication routine (S80).
0) and reading of the current water discharge nozzle M in the head information stored in S710 of the head information setting routine (S
810) are sequentially executed in this order. Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the read target water discharge nozzle m matches the current water discharge nozzle M (S820).

Here, if it is determined that the target water discharge nozzle m and the current water discharge nozzle M match, this routine is temporarily terminated without performing any processing assuming that indexing of the water discharge nozzle is not necessary.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the target water discharge nozzle m does not match the current water discharge nozzle M, the data (whether the water discharge nozzle can be indexed) is determined from the transmission data stored in S600 of the sub-controller side communication routine. (Either the prohibition data or the index permission data) is read (S8).
30) Then, it is determined whether or not the water discharge nozzle can be indexed based on this data (S840).

Here, if it is determined that the indexing is impossible based on the indexing prohibition data, this routine is temporarily terminated without performing any processing. However, if it is determined that indexing is possible based on the indexing permission data, a control signal is output to the motor driver 67e to drive the geared motor 66 to rotate the water discharge nozzle, that is, the rotary water discharger 23 (S850). finish.

As described above, the water discharge nozzle indexing routine is set to 2 m
By repeatedly executing the process every s, the geared motor 66 is driven until the target water discharge nozzle m matches the current water discharge nozzle M only when indexing of the water discharge nozzle is permitted by the transmission data from the main controller 7. Then, the rotating water discharge body 23 continues to rotate. As a result, the target water discharge nozzle m faces the water discharge hole to the water discharge window 30, and the indexing is completed. For example, the current water discharge nozzle M is
If the target water discharge nozzle m is the water discharge nozzle 26 (see FIGS. 4 and 6), the geared motor is driven until the water discharge nozzle 26 makes its water discharge hole face the water discharge window 30, that is, until the rotary water discharge body 23 rotates 180 degrees. 66 will be driven.

Here, the state of the detection signal output from the potentiometer 65, the state of driving of the geared motor 66, the state of water discharge from the water discharge nozzle, and the like will be described in association with each other. For convenience of description, a case where the current water discharge nozzle M is the water discharge nozzle 24 (spray) and the target water discharge nozzle m is the water discharge nozzle 26 (foam) will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in the figure, water is discharged from the water discharge nozzle 24 in the form of water discharge of spray, that is, while the current water discharge nozzle M is determined to be the water discharge nozzle 24 (spray) in the main body side information and the head side information. , Foam designation button 1
When the switch 59 is pressed or the shower water discharge switch 73 is pressed twice to switch the water discharge mode to the foam, the main body side information is updated in S120, the head side information is updated in S710, and S574 and S578 are performed. After the updating of the main body side information by the
6 (foam).

Therefore, a negative determination is made in S235, and all the water is drained by opening the all-water solenoid valve 11b (S240), and thereafter, closing the shower electromagnetic valve 11a (S245).
As a result, the water discharge from the shower head A stops. Then, in response to the opening of the water electromagnetic valve 11b, indexing of the water discharge nozzle is permitted (S530), and a rotation drive signal is output to the motor driver 67e (S850). As a result, the geared motor 66 starts rotating.

When the geared motor 66 starts to rotate in this way, the rotating water discharger 23 and the brush support 10
1 also rotates integrally, so that the circular circuit pattern 115 b and the annular circuit pattern 114 via the brush body 103 are formed.
And the conduction between the protruding circuit pattern 111b and the annular circuit pattern 114 are cut off.

Thereafter, the output of the rotation drive signal to the motor driver 67e is continued, the geared motor 66 continues to rotate, and the arc circuit pattern 115d and the annular circuit pattern 114 are electrically connected via the brush body 103, and subsequently, Then, the protruding circuit pattern 111d that defines the stop position (indexing completion position) of the water discharge nozzle and the annular circuit pattern 114 are conducted. Accordingly, it is determined that the target water discharge nozzle m and the current water discharge nozzle M completely coincide with each other due to the conduction of the two circuit patterns and the conduction of the arc circuit pattern 115d and the annular circuit pattern 114 preceding the circuit patterns S235 and S820.
Is determined. That is, the water discharge nozzle 26 (foam) that is the target water discharge nozzle m has reached the stop position.

Each of the arc circuit patterns 115a to 115a
5d is wider than the projecting circuit pattern 111a and the like, and the arc circuit pattern 115d and the annular circuit pattern 114 are electrically connected before the projecting circuit pattern 111d and the annular circuit pattern 114 are electrically connected. This is to make the MPU 67a recognize that the rotation has occurred near the output position, and to avoid erroneous detection due to superimposition of noise on the signal line connected to the potentiometer 65.

Upon receiving this determination, the motor driver 67e
A brake signal is output to the motor and the geared motor 66 is forcibly stopped, and the water discharge nozzle 26 (foam) reaches the stop position.
To a complete stop in the stop position. In response to this, the shower electromagnetic valve 11a is opened (S250), and water is discharged from the shower head A in the form of foam. Further, through the closing of the all water solenoid valve 11b (S255), the soot water that has been performed so far stops. And the water solenoid valve 11
When the valve b is closed, indexing of the water discharge nozzle is prohibited (S52).
0) After that, no rotation drive signal is output to the motor driver 67e until a new water discharge mode switching instruction is issued.

When the indexing of the water discharge nozzle 26, which has been the target water discharge nozzle m, is completed, the main body side information is updated in S120, the head side information is updated in S710, and S57.
After the updating of the main body side information in step S578, the water discharge nozzle 26 (foam) is set as the current water discharge nozzle M.

According to the water discharge device TS of this embodiment having the above-described configuration, the following effects can be obtained.

First, in performing water discharge control such as flow rate control, when various data are transmitted between the main controller 7 and the sub-controller 67, a plurality of types of data are transmitted to both controllers serving as data transmission sources. After serially converting the control data, the control data is transmitted via two control wires 89b. In other words, from the main controller 7, the water discharge nozzle indexing permission data for instructing the rotation control of the geared motor 66 in the sub-controller 67 and various data necessary for switching the current water discharge nozzle M to the target water discharge nozzle m are used. The target water discharge nozzle related data is serially converted and transmitted. Also, the sub-controller 67 serially converts head information including a plurality of types of data such as data relating to the current water discharge nozzle M, the detection voltage VP of the pressure sensor 75, and data relating to execution of shower water discharge or water stoppage, and transmits the data. Then, the controller on the side receiving the transmission converts each data into a signal necessary for processing, and performs the various controls described above.

Therefore, the number of control signal communication wires conventionally required for each processing function is set between the water discharge device main body side and the shower head A side which are separated from each other via the shower hose h. There can be two. As a result, from the main controller 7 to the sub-controller 67 in the shower head A, even if the control electric wire 89b is buried and wired around the shower hose h along the shower hose h, the number of buried electric wires is small. Therefore, the flexibility and operability of the shower hose h are not impaired, and the handling of the shower head A is not hindered. That is, data communication between the water discharge device main body side and the shower head A side is enabled while the operability of the shower head A is maintained.
Further, even if the connection is made in a limited space at the lower end of the shower head A, the connection state of the electric wires can be ensured due to the small number of electric wires, and the reliability in data transmission can be improved.

Second, at the time of data transmission, transmission data to which a 2-bit ID signal for identifying a transmission source (main controller 7 and sub-controller 67) is added is serial-converted and transmitted. The side can immediately recognize the source of the data.

As a result, when the data receiving side, for example, the main controller 7 transmits different data to the transmission source of the data after receiving the data, when the content of the data is decoded and the return destination is recognized. The processing load on the main controller 7 can be reduced and the processing efficiency can be improved.

In particular, when a data transmission destination is provided in addition to the sub-controller 67 of the showerhead A, for example, as shown in FIG. When the controllers nS and rS are provided, the above-described effects become remarkable.

Third, since the wire bundle 89 is inserted into the equipment storage space 63 along the center of the lower end hole 76, which is the center of rotation of the shower head A, the shower head A rotates with respect to the shower hose h. Even if it moves, the torsional load applied to the wire bundle 89 can be reduced. Therefore, the wire bundle 89
Can be avoided, and the reliability of electric signal transmission can be improved. Further, since it is not necessary to provide a so-called slack portion for absorbing a large twist or the like in the wire bundle 89 around the hose joint body 81, the hose joint body 81
The entire shower head A including the above is made compact, and the usability when held by hand is improved.

Fourth, stopper pin 81a and groove 62a
Thereby, the rotation range of the shower head A is restricted to approximately 360 degrees, and the twist of the wire bundle 89 is also limited. Therefore, the damage of the wire bundle 89 due to the twist can be more reliably avoided. Therefore, the reliability of data transmission can be further improved.

The set water discharge amount converted voltage VMN is compared with the detection voltage VP of the pressure sensor 75. If the detected voltage VP is within an allowable range centered on the set water discharge amount converted voltage VMN, the previous water discharge amount ( The water discharge from the shower head A is continued as it is (set water discharge amount), and if it is out of the allowable range, the water discharge amount is increased or decreased. Moreover, the flow rate control with such an increase / decrease correction of the water discharge amount based on the main body side information including all information necessary for performing water discharge in a water discharge form desired by the user,
Updating and storing the information on the main body are repeated.

That is, in the main body side information, the indexing of the water discharge nozzle which has been the target water discharge nozzle m is completed, and when the indexing completed water discharge nozzle is set as the current water discharge nozzle M in the main body information, the indexing is completed. The above flow rate control is performed for the discharged water nozzle. As a result, only by operating the shower changeover switch 74, it is possible to realize the switching of the water discharge form by indexing the water discharge nozzle and the water discharge with the water discharge amount corresponding to the water discharge form after the switching, and the usability of the shower head A is improved. Can be improved.

In addition, the water discharge device TS of this embodiment is
The following effects are obtained. In forming the hot water flow path 62 in the shower head body D, the hot water flow path 62 is formed along the inner peripheral wall of the head case 61 from the upper end to the lower end of the head case 61, and the formation position is set to one of the inner peripheral walls. Position. As a result, it is possible to secure a sufficient flow passage area and prevent the water discharged from the shower head A from being uncomfortable due to insufficient flow rate. Also, the head case 61
A large part of the internal space including the center of the device is used as a device storage space 63 for storing the electric drive unit 64, so that various electric devices can be stored, and an assembling operation is performed with a margin in the arrangement of the electric devices. Can be made easier.

Rotary water discharge body 23 for switching water discharge form
An electric drive unit 64 for driving the rotation is suspended from the rotary water discharger 23 via the rotary shaft 29. As a result, since the axial displacement between the rotary water discharger 23 and the electric drive unit 64 along the axis of the rotary shaft 29 does not occur, the electric drive unit 64 due to the axial deviation when rotating the rotary discharger 23 is rotated. Load can be reduced. Further, power saving and downsizing of the drive motor can be achieved based on the reduction of the load. Furthermore,
Even if the rotating shaft 29 is tilted due to a biased force applied to the rotary water discharge body 23 with the inflow of hot water, the rotation transmission of the rotary water discharge body 23 is not hindered, and the water discharge nozzle through the rotation of the rotary water discharge body 23 is surely inserted. Switching, that is, switching of the water discharge mode is possible.

An anti-rotation piece 70 is provided on the outer peripheral surfaces of the potentiometer 65 and the reduction gear portion 66a constituting the electric drive portion 64 so as to engage with the engaging concave portion 71 of the inner peripheral wall of the head case 61 with a predetermined gap. . Therefore, although the electric drive unit 64 is suspended and supported by the rotary water discharger 23, it can move up and down along the rotation axis direction and does not rotate. Drive unit 64
Do not wake up. As a result, the rotation is reliably transmitted to the rotary water discharger 23, and the water discharge mode can be switched accurately and reliably.

When hot water is not flowing, a stopper flange 68 fixed to the rotating shaft 29 with a slight gap between the lower surface of the upper side wall 69 and the upper end surface of the electric drive unit 64 and the head case 61 It was provided between the side wall 69. As a result,
Even if the hot and cold water flows into the shower head A and the rotary water discharge body 23 and the electric drive portion 64 float by the fluid pressure, the stopper flange 68 abuts on the upper side wall 69 of the head case 61 and further electric power is generated. It is possible to avoid floating of the dynamic drive unit 64 along the rotation axis. For this reason, no tensile stress is applied to the rotating shaft 29 below the stopper flange 68 in the axial direction, and the electric drive unit 6
4 to avoid the load associated with this stress.
Can be suitably driven.

In sealing the rotary water discharge body 23 on the bottom surface thereof, the pressure sealing machine C2 having a seal member 50 on its upper surface is slidably incorporated in the circular recess 42 of the water discharge seal base C1 along the flow direction of hot water. Was used. When the hot and cold water flows in, the pressure-bonding seal board C2 slides due to the inflow pressure, and the upper surface thereof is brought into close contact with the bottom surface of the rotary water discharge body 23 with the upper surface as a pressure receiving surface. It is pressed against to perform the sealing function. On the other hand, when hot water is not flowing, the pressure bonding seal board C2 sinks into the bottom of the circular concave portion 42 and does not adhere to the bottom surface of the rotary water discharge body 23 because no flow pressure is applied. As a result, the rotation of the rotary water discharge body 23 performed when the hot or cold water is not flowing is caused by the rotation of the rotary water discharge body 2.
Since the operation is performed in a state where the frictional resistance between the bottom surface 3 and the upper surface of the seal portion C is small, the operation is performed smoothly. Therefore, the load on the geared motor 66 can be reduced through the smooth rotation of the rotary water discharger 23.

The load on the electric drive unit 64 can be reduced by avoiding misalignment of the shaft (), rotating the water discharge body 23 under low frictional resistance (), and securing a sufficient volume of the device storage space 63 (). Through power saving and downsizing of the motor, the driving source is a battery, and this battery can be stored in the device storage space 63.

Since the potentiometer 65 is mounted coaxially with the geared motor 66 via the rotary shaft 29, the positioning accuracy and control reliability can be improved.

A water passage 86 communicating the shower hose h and the hot and cold water flow passage 62 is provided in the hose joint body 81 with a number of holes (6).
Since the hole is formed and the effective passage area is made the same as that of the hot water channel 62, it is possible to prevent the inadvertent pressure fluctuation when the hot water flows into the hot water channel 62. Therefore, a detection error in the detection voltage VP of the pressure sensor 75 can be reduced.

Since the cord passage 88 serving as the wiring route of the wire bundle 89 is formed so as not to interfere with the water passage 86, the wiring route of the wire bundle 89 is separated from the hot and cold water flow passages to avoid electric leakage and to reduce safety. Can be improved.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the water discharging device of the other embodiment, only the electrical configuration is different from that of the above-described embodiment, and therefore, the different configuration will be described. In this description, the same members as those in the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.

As shown in FIG. 31, the main controller 7 on the operation unit P side incorporates a switch for opening and closing its own circuit in addition to the electric equipment such as the water amount sensor 8 described above (not shown) and stores serial data. And a high-pass filter circuit 7B that incorporates a switch for opening and closing its own circuit and extracts a high-frequency component of a signal.

The data superimposition circuit 7A inputs various control signals together with serially converted transmission data from the MPU 7a via the I / O 7b, and interposes a built-in switch between the power supply wire 89a and the high-pass filter circuit 7B. Let it. Then, it operates as follows by a control signal from the MPU 7a. The circuit of the built-in switch is closed over a period in which no control signal is input from the MPU 7a. When the serial-converted transmission data is input from the MPU 7a together with the data transmission start signal, the power switch 89a and the high-pass filter circuit 7B are first activated by the built-in switch.
Then, the serial transmission data received is superimposed on the power supply wire 89a and transmitted.

The high-pass filter circuit 7B normally has the built-in switch in the open state, is connected to the interrupt terminal of the MPU 7a, and operates as follows. When the built-in switch is in the open state, the high-frequency component superimposed on the power supply wire 89a is extracted from the power supply wire 89a through the built-in switch of the data superimposing circuit 7A in the closed state. If the extraction result is a serial transmission data pattern relating to the head information that should be transmitted from the sub-controller 67, the switch incorporated therein is closed to output the extracted data to the interrupt terminal of the MPU 7a. With this, MPU
An external interrupt is applied to 7a, and the above-described head information receiving routine starts (see FIG. 24). Then, after outputting the extracted data, the built-in switch is opened. Also, MPU
When a data transmission start signal is output from 7a to data superimposing circuit 7A, it receives this control signal and opens its own built-in switch.

The sub-controller 67 on the showerhead A side also has a data superposition circuit 67A and a high-pass filter circuit 67B, similarly to the main controller 7, and is connected to the main controller 7 via a power supply wire 89a. I have. Then, the serialized data is communicated between the two controllers to perform the flow control and the like described above.

Further, as shown in FIG. 32, a power supply circuit 89c for applying a power supply voltage to both the main controller 7 and the sub-controller 67 is separately provided, and a power supply wire 89d wired from the power supply circuit 89c is A configuration in which the data superimposing circuits 7A and 67A of both controllers described above are connected may be employed. Then, the power supply wire 89d is used in place of the power supply wire 89a. In addition,
In this case, as shown in FIG.
c and the like can be omitted.

According to the water discharge device of the above two other embodiments having such an electrical configuration, the water discharge device main body side and the shower head A side which are separated from each other via the shower hose h are located between them. Data communication can be performed using a power supply wire 89a that is indispensable for applying a power supply voltage to each electric device. As a result, the wire bundle 89 is connected between the main controller 7 and the shower head A by the shower hose h.
It is only necessary to wire along the line, and the number of electric wires can be reduced as compared with the above embodiment. Moreover, the flexibility and operability of the shower hose h can be maintained as they are, and the usability can be improved. Also, as in the above embodiment,
It is possible to ensure the connection state of the electric wires in the limited space for connection, improve the reliability in data transmission, and reduce the size of the hose connection portion E that secures the space for this connection. A can be reduced in size.

The embodiments of the present invention have been described above.
The present invention is not limited to such embodiments at all, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist of the present invention. Therefore, a modified example will be described below. For example, the water discharge device T according to the present invention
Although the embodiment in which S is applied to a hot water supply system for a bathroom has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be used for a so-called system kitchen that integrally controls water around the kitchen. Further, as a water discharge port incorporating a water discharge mode switching mechanism, it is needless to say that the present invention can be applied not only to the shower head A but also to a water spray nozzle or the like for watering a garden. Further, the nozzle is not limited to the one connected to the hose or the like, but may be a nozzle fixed to a pipe such as a steel pipe, a callan, or the like as long as it has a water discharging function and a function of giving various instructions from the water discharging port.

Further, as the MPU in each controller of the main controller 7 and the sub-controller 67, an MPU which has input / output terminals and which can be used for data transmission and reception by time-dividing these terminals may be used.
By doing so, the wire bundle 89 wired between the two controllers along the shower hose h can be made into two power wires 89a and one control wire 89b. It is possible to improve the reliability of data communication through securing the flexibility and operability of h and ensuring the connection state of the electric wires.

Further, in the water discharge device TS of the present embodiment, when comparing the set water discharge amount (flow rate) with the actual water discharge amount, the set water discharge amount conversion voltage VMN obtained by converting the set water discharge amount into the sensor output voltage and the pressure. Using the detection voltage VP of the sensor 75,
The following configuration can also be adopted. That is, a flow rate map shown in FIG. 33 is used instead of the flow rate map of FIG. In this flow map, a set water discharge amount QMN of each level value (1 to 5) and a flow coefficient CVM are associated with each water discharge nozzle. Then, the set water discharge amount read from the flow rate map is compared with the calculated actual water discharge amount, and the flow rate control may be performed according to the result. The subscripts M and N in the set water discharge amount QMN and the flow coefficient CVM
Indicates any one of the codes A to D for distinguishing the water discharge nozzle of each water discharge mode and the set level values 1 to 5, as in the case of the set water discharge amount conversion voltage VMN.

For example, the set water discharge amount is the water discharge amount of level 4, and the current water discharge nozzle M is the straight water discharge nozzle 2
If it is 4, the set water discharge amount QB4 and the flow coefficient CVB are read, and the set water discharge amount QB4 and the actual flow rate Q0 calculated from the flow coefficient CVB, the detection voltage VP of the pressure sensor 75, the unit correction constant K, and the like. Compare. This actual flow rate Q0 is
It is calculated from the following formula. Q0 = K · CVB · (f (VP)) ^1/2

Further, by applying known PD control or PID control to the drive control of the geared motor 66, the rotation operation of the rotary water discharger 23 can be smoothed. In addition, the drive speed at the time of starting the geared motor 66 is gradually increased, so that the power consumption of the geared motor 66 can be reduced.

In addition, the electric equipment to be used is not limited to the electric equipment used in the present embodiment. Instead of the potentiometer 65, an encoder or the like is used to detect the position of the rotary water discharger 23, and the geared motor 66 is used. Alternatively, a stepping motor, a DC motor, an ultrasonic motor, or the like may be used, and the type of the actuator is not limited.

In the detection of the rotational position of the rotary water discharger 23 by the potentiometer 65, the detection value (output voltage) of the potentiometer 65 when the four water discharge nozzles 24 to 27 exactly match the water discharge window 30 is, for example, 4
V, 8 V, 12 V, 16 V, or other different voltage values may be used. In this case, each voltage value and each water discharge nozzle may be associated in advance, and it is possible to accurately detect which water discharge nozzle faces the water discharge hole in the water discharge window 30 based on the output voltage value. Is possible.

Further, whether or not each of the water discharge nozzles 24 to 27 has its water discharge hole facing the water discharge window 30 is detected by a separate sensor provided at a different position for each water discharge nozzle, for example, a micro switch or the like. , Each spout nozzle 24-2
Independent potentiometers may be provided between the seven, and various structures for improving the resolution of index detection can be adopted.

In addition, it is possible to carry out programming so as to automatically change the flow rate at a constant cycle in each of various water discharge modes. Specifically, when comparing the set water discharge amount (flow rate) with the actual water discharge amount based on the detection voltage VP of the pressure sensor 75, the set water discharge amount is fixed as a preset water discharge amount. What is necessary is just to comprise so that the set water discharge amount which is a comparison object of water amount may be changed for every predetermined time. For example, even if the set water discharge amount is level 3,
The set water discharge amount in the comparison calculation is changed to the set water discharge amount of levels 3, 4, and 5 every predetermined time. Also, programming can be performed so that the water discharge mode is automatically switched. In this case, the index of the water discharge nozzle may be executed every predetermined time. In such a control, if the detected voltage VP of the highly responsive pressure sensor 75 is used as a control parameter, it is possible to diversify the shower water discharge through a fine flow rate change.

As shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 16, the electric wire bundle 89 may be knitted around the shower hose h while being swirled around the shower hose h.

[0208]

As described above in detail including the embodiments, according to the water discharging apparatus of the first aspect, the signal line for mutual communication between the faucet main body and the main body side is converted into a serial signal. By transmitting data, it is possible to cover two signal lines, one for transmission from the faucet main body and the other for transmission from the main body side. As a result, by reducing the number of electric wires used for data transmission, even if the electric wires are connected in a limited space, the connection state can be ensured, and the reliability in data transmission can be improved. Even if the signal line is wired integrally with a hose or the like connected to the faucet main body and the main body side, flexibility and operability of the hose itself can be ensured because the number of signal lines is small.

According to the water discharge device of the present invention, when serially transmitting the coded control information, the transmission data is transmitted by adding data for identifying the transmission source to the transmission data. The source of the data can be immediately recognized.

As a result, when the data receiving side transmits different data to the transmission source of the data after receiving the data, the processing load is higher than in the case where the contents of the data are decoded and the return destination is recognized. And the processing efficiency can be improved.

According to the water discharge device described in claim 3, when information is exchanged between the faucet main body and the main body side,
Since the transmission data is transmitted while being superimposed on the power supply wire, it is possible to perform not only application of the power supply voltage but also reliable communication of information with the power supply wire alone. That is, the number of electric wires between the faucet main body and the main body side can be minimized without the need for electric wires for data communication.

[0212] In the pipe joint according to the fourth aspect, the electric wiring connected to the electric equipment housed in the equipment housing space of the faucet main body can be connected to the faucet main body until reaching the joint fitting hole of the equipment housing space. It follows the drilling trajectory along the substantially rotation center of the relative rotation between the pipe and the pipe, and enters the device storage space. Therefore, according to this pipe joint, even if relative rotation occurs between the faucet main body and the pipe, the twist generated in the electric wiring is reduced, and the electric wiring is prevented from being damaged due to the twist. The reliability of signal transmission can be improved. In addition, since electrical wiring can be connected to electrical equipment without providing a so-called loose part to absorb large twists, etc., the faucet faucet with a pipe joint is compact and easy to handle when held by hand. Becomes

According to the pipe joint according to the fifth aspect, the amount of relative rotation that occurs between the faucet main body and the pipe is regulated, and the torsion determined by the amount of rotation that regulates the torsion that occurs in the electric wiring. By setting it within the range, it is possible to more reliably avoid the damage of the electric wiring due to the torsion, and to further improve the reliability of the transmission of the electric signal.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a bathroom when a water discharge device TS is applied to a bathroom hot water supply system.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram used for explaining a schematic electrical configuration of the water discharge device TS and each device configuration.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for describing an operation panel unit PP provided in the operation unit P.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view for explaining a configuration of a shower head A.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line II of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining each of the water discharge nozzles 24 to 27 in the rotary water discharge body 23.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a seal portion C.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a seal portion C.

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of a water discharge seal base C1 constituting the seal part C.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view around the seal portion C used for explaining a state of sealing by the seal portion C.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged cross-sectional view around the seal portion C used for explaining a state of sealing by the seal portion C.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 4;

FIG. 13 is a front view of the shower head A.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. 4;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 4;

FIG. 16 is an explanatory view used to explain the incorporation of the electric wire bundle 89 via the hose connecting portion E.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram mainly illustrating a main controller 7 in the operation unit P for describing an electrical configuration of the water discharge device TS.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram mainly illustrating a sub-controller 67 in the shower head A for describing an electrical configuration of the water discharge device TS.

FIG. 19 is an essential part perspective view and an essential part rear view used for describing the configuration of a potentiometer 65 for detecting the rotational position of the rotary water discharger 23.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a water discharge state main body side setting routine performed by the main controller 7 for setting a water discharge state.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing a water discharge routine performed by the main controller 7 to execute water discharge based on a set water discharge state.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating the flow control in FIG. 21 in detail.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram of a flow rate map used for explaining flow rate control.

FIG. 24 shows a main controller 7 and a sub controller 6
7 is a flowchart for explaining a communication routine for exchanging data with the communication device 7;

FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the structure of transmission data.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing the processing of a head routine reception routine that is performed on the main controller 7 side and is interrupted by receiving data transmission from the sub-controller 67;

FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing a head information setting routine performed by the sub-controller 67 to set head information.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart showing a water discharge nozzle indexing routine performed by the sub-controller 67 for indexing a water discharge nozzle.

FIG. 29 is a timing chart for explaining the state of a detection signal output from the potentiometer 65 and the state of driving of the geared motor 66 in association with each other.

FIG. 30 is an explanatory view used to explain an effect of the water discharge device TS of the embodiment.

FIG. 31 is a block diagram for explaining an electrical configuration of another embodiment.

FIG. 32 is a block diagram for explaining an electrical configuration of another embodiment.

FIG. 33 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 23 in a modified example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 3 flow control valve 4 flow control valve 7 main controller 8 water flow sensor 9 thermistor 10 hot and cold water discharge connection pipe 11 water discharge switching section 24 to 27 water discharge nozzle 29 rotation axis 62 hot water flow path 63 equipment storage space 64 electric drive section 65 potentiometer 66 geared motor 67 Sub-controller 73 Shower water discharge switch 74 Shower changeover switch 75 Pressure sensor 81 Hose joint main body 85 Support projection 88 Cord passage 89 Wire bundle 85a Code hole 89a Power supply wire 89b Control wire A Shower head B Water discharge part C Seal part C1 Water discharge seal Base C2 Crimping seal board D Shower head body E Hose connection part MO Hot water mixer tap PP Operation panel part TS Water discharger h Shower hose

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Mikio Horimoto 2-1-1, Nakajima, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka Prefecture Inside Totoki Equipment Co., Ltd. (72) Masahito Ichimatsu 2-1-1 Nakajima, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka Prefecture No. 1 Toto Kiki Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-61-153422 (JP, A) JP-A-61-27447 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB Name) E03C 1/042 E03C 1/05 A47K 3/28

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A faucet main body having a built-in driving unit and driving unit control means for controlling the faucet, for discharging an inflowing fluid from a spout port, and the faucet via a pipe connected to the faucet main body. And a main body-side control means for controlling the flow of fluid into the main body, wherein the water discharge device is wired along the pipe and communicates with each other via a signal line connecting the two control means. The means includes control information necessary for controlling inflow of a fluid into the faucet body,
A faucet-side information generation unit that generates the information in association with the drive state of the drive unit; a faucet-side transmission unit that codes the generated control information and serially transmits the coded control information via the signal line; The body-side control means includes: a body-side information generation unit that generates control information necessary for controlling the driving unit in association with a state of fluid flowing into the faucet body; and the generated control information. A water discharge device comprising: a main body-side transmission unit that encodes the encoded control information and serially transmits the encoded control information via the signal line. 2. The water spouting device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the two control means transmits serially the coded control information by adding data for identifying a transmission source to the transmission data. Water spouting device. 3. The water spouting device according to claim 1, wherein the water faucet is wired between the drive unit control means of the faucet main body and the main body side control means, and a power supply voltage is applied to both control means. A power supply wire for applying the power, the drive unit control means includes a superimposition unit for superimposing data transmitted by the faucet side transmission unit on the power supply wire, and the main body side control means includes a main body side. A water discharging device, comprising: a superimposition unit configured to superimpose data transmitted by a transmission unit on the power supply wire. 4. A water faucet main body having an internal fluid flow passage reaching a water discharge port and a device housing space for housing electric equipment and a pipe reaching the water faucet main body, wherein the water faucet main body is connected to the pipe. And a pipe fitting for connecting the faucet main body and the pipe while permitting relative rotation between the two. A joint flow passage for communicating the internal fluid flow passage with the pipe;
A wiring hole into which electric wiring connected to the electric device is communicated from the outside to a joint fitting hole of the device storage space, and
The wiring holes are bored along a drilling locus substantially along the center of rotation of the relative rotation before reaching the joint fitting hole. And pipe fittings. 5. The rotation restricting means according to claim 4, wherein a rotation amount of a relative rotation between the faucet main body and the pipe via the joint main body is restricted within a predetermined range. A pipe joint having a.