JP3232956B2 - 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 which heats and retains water contained in a container so that water can be supplied even when power supply is cut off.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, electric water heaters have been widely used as household goods that can easily heat and maintain water, and have been devised with ease of use, for example, by discharging water in a container using an electric pump. However, there is a usability problem that the pump does not operate and cannot discharge during a power failure.

Conventionally, this type of electric water heater is configured as shown in FIG. Hereinafter, the configuration will be described.

As shown in the figure, a main body container 1 includes a container 2 having an upper surface opening for storing water 81 therein, and a lid 3 for covering an upper portion of the container 2 is disposed at an upper portion of the main body container 1. Also,
A heater (heating means) 4 for heating water 81 in the container 2 and a temperature sensor 5 for detecting the temperature of the water in the container 2 are arranged at the outer and lower portions of the container 2. A discharge port 6 for water 81 is provided near the bottom of the container 2, a water channel is formed by a water guide pipe 8 via an electric pump (discharge means) 7, and an external outlet 9 is provided at the tip.

The electric pump 7 is driven by a motor 10 to discharge water 81 from an external outlet 9. An operation button (operation means) 11 for tapping water 81 in the container 2 and a switch 12 for connecting or disconnecting the operation by the operation are provided at an upper portion of the main body container 1. A switching signal of the switch 12 and a signal of the temperature sensor 5 are input to a control circuit 13, and a commercial power supply 14 is input to the control circuit 13. Although the control circuit 13 is stored inside the main body container 1, it is shown outside in FIG. 6 for simplicity of explanation.

The operation of the above configuration will be described. The control circuit 13 supplies electric power to the heater 4 from the commercial power supply 14 and controls the heating of the container 2 while referring to the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 5 to boil and keep the temperature. Perform the operation. When the user operates the operation button 11 to tap the water 81, a connection signal of the switch 12 is input to the control circuit 13, and the control circuit 13 rotates the electric pump 7 by the motor 10, and outputs the water 81 to the outside outlet. Discharge from 9. The commercial power supply 14
Is supplied by a power cord (not shown) connected to a power outlet (not shown). The power cord is detachably attached by a connection tool (not shown) provided in the main body container 1.

[0007]

In such a conventional electric water heater, when the power cord is detached from the main body container 1, the power of the electric pump 7 is cut off and the operation button 11 is turned off.
There is a problem that water cannot be discharged even if the operation is performed. In addition, there is a similar problem when used in a place where a power outlet is not installed.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and it is an object of the present invention to be able to tap a hot water even when a power cord is removed or a power outlet is not installed.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a container for storing water, a heating means for heating water in the container with a commercial power supply, and a container for storing water in the container. Discharging means for discharging to the outside, operating means for outputting a drive signal for the discharging means, power supply connection detecting means for detecting connection of the commercial power supply, and first drive power supply means serving as a power supply for driving the discharging means A second drive power supply for storing power while the commercial power supply is connected; an electronic control unit for controlling the driving of the heating unit and the discharge unit;
Release means for inputting an instruction to release drive prohibition to electronic control means , wherein the electronic control means controls the discharge means by the first drive power supply means when the commercial power supply is connected. When the commercial power supply is not connected, the discharge means is driven by the second drive power supply means,
Detects that the commercial power supply is not connected, and
The discharge means is driven by the release means.
When the instruction input for canceling the prohibition is received, the state
From the second drive power supply means.
Driving the discharge means is a first problem solving means.

[0010] A container for containing water and a container in the container are provided.
Heating means for heating water with a commercial power supply; and water in the container.
Means for discharging the liquid to the outside of the container, and driving of the discharge means
Operation means for outputting a signal and connection of the commercial power supply are detected
Power supply connection detecting means and a power supply for driving the discharging means
A first drive power supply means for
A second driving power supply means for accumulating a force;
Electronic control means for controlling the driving of the discharge means.
The electronic control means operates when the commercial power supply is connected.
Drives the discharge means by the first drive power supply means
And when the commercial power supply is not connected, the second
While driving the discharge means by a drive power supply means,
The second problem solving means is to receive only the signal of the releasing means for outputting the driving instruction of the discharging means.

[0011]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided:
The presence or absence of the connection of the commercial power supply is detected by the power supply connection detection means. When the commercial power supply is connected, the power is stored in the second drive power supply means, and the discharge means is driven by the first drive power supply means. The water in the container can be tapped. On the other hand, when the commercial power supply is not connected, the discharge means can be driven by the second drive power supply means, and even if the power cord is removed or the place where the power outlet is not installed, the water in the container is kept. You can tap the hot water.

[0012] In addition, biopsy from the commercial power supply is not connected
By setting the electronic control unit to a low current consumption state, it is possible to reduce the consumption of the electric power stored in the second drive power supply unit, and to supply more electric power when the ejection unit is driven. The total discharge amount can be increased.

Further, the electronic control means is returned from the low current consumption state to the normal state, the water thereafter when operating the operating means by driving the discharge means by the second drive power supply means in the container when operating the cancel means When tapping the hot water, first operate the release means, and then operate the operating means to discharge the hot water. Accidents such as accidents can be prevented.

According to the second problem solving means, when the commercial power supply is not connected, the electronic control means receives only the signal of the canceling means, thereby suppressing the consumption of the electric power stored in the second drive power supply means. In driving the discharge means, more power can be supplied to the discharge means, and the total discharge amount can be increased.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The same components as those in the conventional example are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 1, power supply connection detecting means 15
Is for detecting the connection of the commercial power supply 14, the first drive power supply means 16 serves as a power supply for driving the motor 10, and the second drive power supply means 17 To accumulate. Control circuit (electronic control means) 18
When the commercial power supply 14 is connected, the motor 10 is driven by the first drive power supply
, And when the commercial power supply 14 is not connected, the motor 10 is driven by the second drive power supply means 17 to drive the electric pump 7. The release button (release means) 19 is for inputting an instruction to release the drive prohibition of the motor 10 to the control circuit 18.

In FIG. 1, the control circuit 18, the first driving power supply 16, the second driving power supply 17, and the power connection detecting means 15 are provided inside the main body container 1.
It is drawn out for explanation.

FIG. 2 is an electric circuit diagram showing a motor 10 for driving the heater 4 and the electric pump 7 for discharging water 81 in the container 2, a temperature sensor 5 for detecting the temperature of the water in the container 2. The control circuit 18 includes a contact 19a that moves in conjunction with a release button 19 for inputting a release instruction to prohibit tapping of water 81 before tapping the water 81 in the container 2, and a contact 11a that moves in conjunction with the operation button 11 that is operated thereafter. Connected to Also,
The control circuit 18 includes a first drive power supply unit 16, a second drive power supply unit 17, and a power supply connection detection unit 15.

Hereinafter, the interrelationship and operation of the above components will be described. In the control circuit 18, the primary side of the transformer 21 is connected to the commercial AC power supply 14, and the secondary side is full-wave rectified by diodes 22 to 25 and smoothed by the capacitor 26 to form a DC power supply. The DC power obtained by the capacitor 26 is further supplied to the capacitor 2 through the diode 27.
8, a DC power supply is formed. The voltage regulator 29 forms a driving power source for a microcomputer (hereinafter, referred to as a microcomputer) 30.

The microcomputer 30 inputs the temperature sensor 5 constituted by a thermistor and the divided voltage of the resistor 31 to a terminal c to detect the water temperature in the container 2. When the release button 19 is operated, the contact 19a is turned on, and the voltage of the resistor 32 is input to the terminal a to detect the operation of the release button 19. Also,
When the operation button 11 is operated, the contact 11a is turned on, the voltage of the resistor 33 is input to the terminal b, and the operation of the operation button 11 is detected. A voltage signal is input to the terminal d from the power connection detection means 15 including the resistors 34 to 36, and the presence or absence of connection to the commercial AC power supply 14 is detected based on the voltage signal. In addition,
The diodes 37 and 38 are protection diodes for preventing application of an overvoltage to the terminal d.

On the other hand, the microcomputer 30 connects the resistor 39 to the terminal e.
The on / off of the display light emitting diode 40 is controlled via the. The terminal f controls the driving of the motor 10 by switching the transistor 43 via the resistors 41 and 42. Terminal h switches transistor 46 via resistors 44 and 45 to drive relay coil 47,
By driving the relay contact 47a, the power supply to the heater 4 is turned on and off. The diode 48 is connected to the transistor 4
A protection diode 3 and a diode 49 are protection diodes for the transistor 46.

When the terminal i of the microcomputer 30 is turned on (zero voltage output), a voltage determined by the Zener diode 51 is applied to the base terminal of the transistor 50, and a constant current Ic flows through the resistor 52. Here, Ic is represented by the following equation.

Ic = (Vz−VBE) / R52 where Vz: Zener voltage of the Zener diode 51 VBE: Voltage between the base and the emitter of the transistor 50 R52: Resistance value of the resistor 52 This constant current Ic passes through the diode 53 The capacitor 54 is charged.

The second drive power supply means 17 includes a capacitor 5
4, a choke coil 56, a transistor 57, and a drive circuit 58. The drive circuit 58 includes the microcomputer 30
The transistor 57 is turned on and off in response to a drive output signal from the terminal g, and the voltage of the capacitor 54 is boosted to form a predetermined voltage in the capacitor 28 via the diode 59.

The operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. In step 61, it is checked whether or not the commercial power supply 14 is connected.
At the second terminal based on the signal of the output terminal i of the microcomputer 30.
The electric charge is charged in the capacitor 54 in the drive power supply means 17. When the operation button 11 is operated in step 63, the contact 11a is turned on, and the signal is transmitted to the microcomputer 30.
, The motor 10 is driven by the first drive power supply means 16 in step 64, and the electric pump 7 is driven to discharge the water 81 in the container 2. If the commercial power supply 14 is not connected in step 61, step 65
It is determined whether or not the operation button 11 has been operated by the user.
7 drives the motor 10.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the commercial power supply 1
The connection of 4 can be confirmed, and the drive power of the motor 10 can be automatically selected. The water in the container can be discharged even when the power cord is removed or the power outlet is not installed. Can be.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Control circuit (electronic control means) 18 in FIG.
When the commercial power supply 14 is not connected, the state shifts to the low current consumption state. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

The operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. Steps 61 to 64 are the same as the operations of the first embodiment, and thus the description is omitted. If the commercial power source 14 is not connected in step 61, the microcomputer 30 turns off the light emitting diode 40 for display in step 67 to set the entire control circuit 18 in a low current consumption state in which the current consumption is the minimum. Next, at step 65, it is determined whether or not the operation button 11 has been operated. When the operation button 11 has been operated, the operation returns from the low current consumption state to the normal state at step 68.
The motor 10 is driven by the driving power supply means 17 of FIG.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the commercial power supply 1
4 is not connected, the control circuit 18 can reduce the consumption of the power stored in the second drive power supply unit 17 by shifting to the low current consumption state.
When the motor 10 is driven, more power can be supplied, and when the motor 10 is driven, the motor 10 can return to the normal current consumption state.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. Control circuit (electronic control means) 18 in FIG.
When the commercial power supply 14 is not connected and the release button 19 receives an instruction input for canceling the prohibition of driving of the motor 10, the state returns from the low current consumption state to the normal state.
The drive power supply means 17 drives the motor 10 and when the commercial power supply 14 is not connected, only the signal of the release button 19 is received. When the operation button 11 has not been operated for a predetermined time after the operation of the release button 19, the state before the operation of the release button 19 is returned. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

The operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. In step 61, it is checked whether or not the commercial power supply 14 is connected.
At the second terminal based on the signal of the output terminal i of the microcomputer 30.
The electric charge is charged in the capacitor 54 in the drive power supply means 17. When the release button 19 is operated in step 69, the contact 19a is turned on, and the signal is output to the microcomputer 3
0, the timer count is started in step 70, and when a predetermined time is reached in step 71, step 7
At 2, the timer is cleared and the routine returns to step 69.

If the operation button 11 is operated in step 63 before the predetermined time is reached in step 71, the contact
a is turned on, the signal is input to the microcomputer 30, the timer is cleared in step 73, the motor 10 is driven by the first drive power supply 16 in step 64, the electric pump 7 is driven, and the Tap the water 81.

If the commercial power source 14 is not connected in step 61, the microcomputer 30 turns off the display light-emitting diode 40 in step 67 to set the control circuit 18 to a low current consumption state in which the current consumption is the minimum. . Next, at step 74, it is determined whether or not the release button 19 has been operated. When the release button 19 has been operated, at step 75, the state returns from the low current consumption state to the normal state.

Thereafter, a timer count is started in step 76, and when a predetermined time is reached in step 77, the timer is cleared in step 78 and the process returns to step 67. If the operation button 11 is operated in step 65 before the predetermined time is reached in step 77, the contact 11a is turned on,
The signal is input to the microcomputer 30, the timer is cleared in step 79, and the second drive power supply 1
7 drives the motor 10.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the commercial power supply 1
4 is not connected, when an instruction input for canceling the prohibition of driving of the motor 10 is received by the release button 19, the state is returned from the low current consumption state to the normal state, and the second driving power supply unit
7, the water in the container 2 can be discharged by driving the motor 10. When the water is discharged, the release button 19 is operated first, and then the operation button 11 is operated to discharge the water. Hot water is discharged by an erroneous operation such as touching 11 accidentally, and it is possible to prevent an accident such as a burn.

When the commercial power supply 14 is not connected, only the signal of the release button 19 is accepted, thereby suppressing the consumption of the electric power stored in the second drive power supply means 17. Can be supplied to the motor 10.

In the above embodiment, if the operation button 11 has not been operated for a predetermined time after the operation of the release button 19, the state returns to the state before the operation of the release button 19. The present invention is not limited to this, and it is possible to return from the low current consumption state to the normal state only when the release button 19 is operated.

[0038]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention,
According to this, the water in the container can always be discharged to the outside by the discharging means regardless of whether or not the commercial power supply is connected. Ma
It also detects that no commercial power is connected and
The power consumption of the body can be reduced, and the driving of the ejection means
You can extend the time. Also, willingness to take a bath
Even if you push the operating means carelessly, there is no hot water,
Safety can be improved, and furthermore, operation of the release means
By return from the low power consumption state to the normal state ejection detecting means
Drive time is extended by driving the
And the usability can be improved.

Further, according to the invention described in claim 2, suppress the consumption of the charging power of the second driving power supply means, it is possible to extend the drive time of the discharge means, it is possible to improve the usability .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of an electric water heater according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of the electric water heater.

FIG. 3 is an operation flowchart of the electric water heater.

FIG. 4 is an operation flowchart of an electric water heater according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an operation flowchart of an electric water heater according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a system configuration diagram of a conventional electric water heater.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 container 4 heater (heating means) 7 electric pump (discharge means) 10 motor (discharge means) 11 operation button (operation means) 14 commercial power supply 15 power supply connection detection means 16 first drive power supply means 17 second drive power supply Means 18 control circuit (electronic control means)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Masamichi Komada 1006 Kazuma Kadoma, Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Inside Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Kazuhiko Asada 1006 Kadoma Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-7-123608 (JP, A) JP-A-3-7322 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A47J 27/21 101

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A container for storing water, a heating unit for heating water in the container with a commercial power supply, a discharging unit for discharging the water in the container out of the container, and a driving signal for the discharging unit. Operating means for outputting, power supply connection detecting means for detecting connection of the commercial power supply, first drive power supply means serving as a power supply for driving the discharge means, and second power supply means for storing power during connection of the commercial power supply Drive power supply means, electronic control means for controlling the driving of the heating means and the discharge means, and the discharge means
Release instruction for inputting an instruction to release the drive prohibition to the electronic control means
And a stage, the electronic control unit, when the commercial power source is connected to drive said discharge means by the first driving power source means, the second is when the commercial power source is not connected The discharge means is driven by the drive power supply means, and when the commercial power supply is not
To the current consumption state, and the release means
When an instruction input for canceling drive prohibition of the ejection unit is received,
The second drive power returns from the current consumption state to the normal state.
An electric water heater in which the discharge means is driven by a source means . 2. A container for storing water, and water in the container.
Heating means for heating with a commercial power supply; and water in the container.
Discharge means for discharging outside of the device, and drive signal for the discharge means
Detecting the connection of the commercial power supply
A power supply connection detecting means, and a power supply for driving the discharging means.
First drive power supply means for supplying power during the connection to the commercial power supply.
Second driving power supply means for storing, the heating means and the discharge
Electronic control means for controlling the driving of the output means, wherein the electronic control means is connected to the main power supply when the commercial power supply is connected.
The discharge means is driven by the first drive power supply means, and
When the commercial power supply is not connected, the second drive power
To drive said discharge means by the source means, the signal only accepted way the electric water heater of the release means for the drive instruction output of the discharge means.