JP3210078B2 - Electric water heater - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electric water heater that heats and keeps a stored liquid and discharges the liquid outside the container.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, interest in drinking water safety, taste, odor and the like has increased, and products such as water purifiers have been receiving attention. Among electric water heaters, those having the function of extending the boiling time and increasing the removal rate of chlorine and the like in tap water are increasing.

Hereinafter, a conventional electric water heater will be described. An example of a schematic configuration of a conventional electric water heater is as shown in FIG. 5, in which 31 is a main body, 32 is a container having an upper surface opening disposed in the main body 31, and 33 is a lid covering an opening of the container 32. And 34 are heating elements for heating the liquid in the container.

An electric pump 35 is a means for leading the liquid in the container 32 out of the body. The pump 35 is driven by a motor 36, sucks the liquid through a suction port 37, and guides the pump 35 and the outside of the body. The liquid is led out of the body via a water pipe 39 communicating with the outlet 38.

[0005]

In such a conventional construction, when tap water or the like is supplied into the container 32 and the water is heated, the boiling time is increased in order to increase the removal rate of chlorine and the like in the tap water. However, it takes several minutes to boil it to a sufficiently satisfactory level, resulting in problems such as an increase in power consumption and filling of the room with steam. . The same applies to moldy odors and harmful substances such as trihalomethane contained in water.

An object of the present invention is to solve such a conventional problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electric water heater that can more efficiently remove unnecessary components in a stored liquid.

[0007]

In order to achieve this object, an electric water heater according to the present invention comprises a container for storing a liquid, a means for heating the liquid in the container, and the liquid being led out of the container. An electric pump and an operation unit for controlling the operation of the pump by external operation are provided, and the lower part of the container and the suction port of the pump are communicated with each other. Outgoing route to outlet
Branch to form a circulation path communicating with the upper part of the container,
A switching valve is disposed at a branch portion, and the outlet path and the circulation path
Of the derivation route
Providing a liquid detecting means near the full water level of the container,
In the stage, during the circulation, the liquid level of the outlet path reaches the detection water level
Stop the operation of the pump and issue an alarm.
And it formed.

[0008]

[Action] Ri by this configuration, along with the use of the pump where it is electrically detecting means as the circulation means, by any chance, switching valve
If there is a failure and liquid leaks to the outlet path during circulation,
Stop the pump operation when the liquid level reaches the detection water level.
Therefore, there is no danger of overflow from the outlet. Also at this point
To give some warning, so it is safer to supply water
Sometimes when liquid is filled beyond the rated full water level
Can be notified to the user, making it very easy to use.
You.

[0009]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a main body, 2 denotes a container having an upper surface opening disposed in the main body 1, 3 denotes a cover for covering the opening of the container 2, and 4 denotes a heat generating member for heating the liquid in the container. Body.

Reference numeral 5 denotes an electric pump, which is a means for leading the liquid in the container 2 out of the container, and is driven by a motor 6.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a switch for controlling the operation of the motor 6, which is interlocked with an externally operated knob 8, and the switch 7 and the knob 8 constitute an operation section.

The pump 5 has a suction port 9 and a first discharge port 1.
0 and a second discharge port 11 are formed, and the first discharge port 10 and the second discharge port 11 are selectively selected by a switching valve 12 which is a switching means.

The suction port 9 of the pump 5 communicates with the lower part of the container 2, and the first discharge port 10 is connected to the first water passage 13.
Through the outlet 14.

The second outlet 11 is connected to the second channel 1
5 communicates with the upper part of the container 2.

As shown in FIG. 1, when the second discharge port 11 is shut off by the switching valve 12 and the first discharge port 10 is selected, the outlet path from the lower part of the container 2 to the outlet 14 is changed. When the first discharge port 10 is shut off and the second discharge port 11 is selected as shown in FIG. 2, a circulation path from the lower part to the upper part of the container 2 is formed.

Reference numeral 16 denotes a case containing a water purification agent 17 such as activated carbon, which is disposed at the outlet of the second water channel 15 to the container 2.

When the pump 5 is operated in the state shown in FIG. 1, that is, in a state in which the outlet path from the lower part of the container 2 to the outlet 14 is formed, the liquid in the container 2 is discharged from the first discharge port 10. , Through the first water channel 13 and out of the body through the outlet 14.

When the pump 5 is operated in the state of FIG. 2, that is, in a state where a circulation path from the lower part to the upper part of the container 2 is formed, the liquid in the container 2 is discharged from the second discharge port 11 and It is refluxed into the container 2 through the second water channel 15.

At this time, since the liquid passes through the water purification agent 17 contained in the case 16, unnecessary components in the liquid are removed.

In the above-described configuration, in a part or all of the heating and heat retaining process of the liquid in the container 2, FIG.
If the pump 5 is operated in a state where the circulation path as shown in (1) is formed, the liquid is continuously purified during that time.

The operation time of the pump 5, in other words, the setting of the circulation time cannot be uniformly set. For example, during the heating process of the liquid, the total amount of the liquid in the container 2 is calculated from the temperature rising speed. Thus, there is a method of setting a necessary and sufficient circulation time corresponding to the amount.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the switching valve 12 is interlocked with the knob 8, and is operated when the knob 8 is operated, that is, when the liquid is drawn out of the body to form a drawing path. .

Therefore, when the knob 8 is not operated,
The switching valve 12 is in a normal state and forms a circulation path.

According to this configuration, even if the pump 5 operates erroneously due to a failure of the control circuit or the like, the lead-out path is closed, so that the pump 5 merely circulates.
There is no danger of being unexpectedly led out of the body.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, at the time of circulation, at a position higher than the head a generated by the operation of the pump 5,
The highest point b in the lead-out route from the pump 5 to the outlet 14 is arranged.

With this configuration, even in the event that the switching valve fails and liquid leaks to the outlet path during circulation, the liquid does not exceed the highest point b in the outlet path. There is no danger of overflow.

In FIGS. 3 and 4, reference numeral 18 denotes a glass tube arranged in the middle of the lead-out path. The glass tube has a specific gravity smaller than that of the liquid in the container 2 and changes in the liquid level due to its buoyancy. A follower 19 is arranged to follow.

Reference numeral 20 denotes a stopper for preventing the float 19 from flowing out of the glass tube 18.

Reference numeral 21 denotes a liquid level detecting unit which has a light emitting element 22 and a light receiving element 23, and the float 19 is located between the two elements, and detects the presence of a liquid level by blocking irradiation light.

In this configuration, as described above, in the event that the switching valve fails and liquid leaks to the outlet path side during circulation, when the liquid level reaches the detection water level, the pump 5
If there is no operation, there is no danger of overflow from the outlet.

It should be noted that it is safer if any alarm is issued at this point. Further, with this configuration, it is also possible to develop the detection when liquid is supplied beyond the rated full water level at the time of water supply, which is extremely convenient.

[0033]

As described above, according to the present invention ,
Switching valve failed and liquid leaked to the outlet path during circulation
When the liquid level reaches the detection water level, the pump
Is stopped, so there is no danger of overflow from the outlet.
It is more secure because it gives some warning
Even when liquid is filled over the rated full
The user can be notified of the fact, and it becomes very convenient.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a circulating state of a stored liquid showing an embodiment of an electric water heater of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which the stored liquid is led out.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part showing the circulation state.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the main part.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an example of a conventional electric water heater.

[Explanation of symbols]

 5 Pump 8 Knob 12 Switching Valve 13 First Water Channel 15 Second Water Channel 17 Water Purifier 19 Float 21 Liquid Level Detector

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-3-264010 (JP, A) JP-A-2-237517 (JP, A) JP-A-2-234725 (JP, A) JP-A-2-234 104316 (JP, A) JP-A-5-103724 (JP, A) JP-A-4-10824 (JP, U) JP-A-61-10150 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. ⁷ , DB name) A47J 27/21

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A container for accommodating a liquid, means for heating the liquid in the container, an electric pump for leading the liquid out of the body, and an operation unit for controlling the operation of the pump by an external operation The lower part of the container and the suction port of the pump are communicated with each other.
Branch from the outlet route leading to the outlet to the outside of the vessel
Form a circulation path communicating with the upper part of the
Arranging, one of the derivation route and the circulation route
At the same time as near the full water level
Liquid detecting means is provided, wherein said liquid detecting means
When the liquid level in the outlet path reaches the detection water level,
An electric water heater that stops turning and issues an alarm .