JP3262643B2 - Hot water storage system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hot water supply apparatus, and more particularly, to an apparatus that uses a hollow portion of a bathtub as a hot water storage section and supplies hot water from the hot water storage section to a bathtub and other necessary hot water taps.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 2, this type of hot water storage / hot water supply apparatus is installed in a separate room 1, in which an electric water heater 2 in which an electric heater 2a is arranged, and a bathtub installed in a bathroom 3. 4 and a hot water supply piping system 5 for supplying hot water boiled by the electric water heater 2 to the bathtub 4.

[0003] Hot water is supplied to the bathtub 4 by the conventional hot water storage / hot water supply apparatus by using hot water produced by the electric water heater 2 and water from a water supply pipe such as a water pipe at a desired temperature by a hot / water mixing tap 6 of a hot water supply piping system 5. The hot water is supplied to the bathtub 4 under the control of the hot water. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 7 denotes a safety valve provided in the electric water heater 2.

[0004]

However, in such a conventional hot water supply / hot water supply apparatus, it is necessary to install the electric water heater 2 in the separate room 1, and the electric water heater 2 is relatively large, At least 2-2.
5 m ² was required. Therefore, there is a problem that in the case of an apartment house such as an apartment, valuable indoor space must be used.

Further, the electric water heater 2 functions as a pressure vessel for storing hot water after the water supplied therein becomes hot water of a predetermined temperature. Since it is manufactured, there is also a problem in terms of resource saving and its improvement has been demanded.

An object of the present invention is to solve such a conventional problem, and to provide a hot-water supply / hot-water supply device which is excellent in resource saving by effectively utilizing a space inside a building. is there.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a hot water supply / hot water supply apparatus, and is configured as follows to solve the above-mentioned technical problem. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the hot water supply / hot water supply apparatus 10 of the present invention includes a hot water production tank 11 having a water level control device 13 and a built-in heater 12, a water supply pipe 14 for supplying water to the hot water production tank 11, A bath 16 having a hollow inner and outer layer and water in the hot water production tank 11 are supplied to the cavity 17 of the bath 16, and the water in the hot water production tank 11 and the cavity 17 in the bath 16 are heated to a predetermined temperature. The hot water production tank 11 and the hollow portion 17 of the bathtub 16 are circulated so as to make hot water, and the hot water stored in the hollow portion 17 of the bathtub 16 is stored in at least the hot water storage portion 18 of the bathtub 16. And a hot water supply pipe system 19 for sending out to the hot water hot water tap 30.

Here, in the hot water storage / hot water supply apparatus 10 of the present invention,
The hot water production tank 11 is installed at a position higher than the bathtub 16, and the water in the hot water production tank 11 is introduced into the hollow portion 17 of the bathtub 16 via the hot water supply piping system 19 by natural fall. It is preferable to keep it.

In the hot water supply apparatus 10 of the present invention, the hot water supply pipe system 19 has one end opening near the bottom of the hot water production tank 11 and the other end opening into the hollow portion 17 of the bathtub 16. A main pipe 20, one end of which opens into the hot water production tank 11 at an upper portion thereof, and
6, a return pipe 28 which is opened at the uppermost end of the cavity 17 and communicates with a hot water tap 29 to the bathtub sump 18; and a communication pipe 26 which directly connects the hot water main pipe 20 and the return pipe 28. A branch pipe 24 having one end communicating with the bathtub sump 18 and the other end connected to the hot water main pipe 20 upstream of a connection between the communication pipe 26 and the hot water main pipe 20.
And a circulating pump 22 provided between a connecting portion 31 between the branch pipe 24 and the communication pipe 26 in the hot water supply main pipe 20.
It is composed of

The hot water supply main pipe 20 has a first valve 21 and a second valve 21, which are located upstream of the connection with the branch pipe 24 and downstream of the connection with the communication pipe 26, respectively.
The communication pipe 26 is provided with a fourth valve 27, the branch pipe 24 is provided with a third valve 25, and the return pipe 28 is connected to the communication pipe 26. A fifth valve 32 is provided downstream of 31 and opens and closes in each hot water supply mode.

[0011]

According to the hot water storage / hot water supply apparatus of the present invention, the water injected from the water supply pipe into the hot water production tank 11 flows into the cavity 17 of the bathtub 16 via the hot water supply pipe system 19, and the hot water production tank 11 Water level control device 13 when a predetermined water level is reached
Stopped by At this time, since the hot water production tank 11 is at a position higher than the bathtub 16, the hot water supply main pipe 20 and the hollow portion 17 of the bathtub 16 are in a full state, and the reflux pipe 28 is also almost in a state of being almost full.

Thereafter, the electric heater 12 in the hot water production tank 11 is energized and the circulation pump 22 is operated, and the hot water is again supplied from the hot water production tank 11 through the hot water supply main pipe 20, the bathtub cavity 17, and the reflux pipe 28. A circulation operation returns to the production tank 11, during which the water in the circulation system is heated by the electric heater 12. When the circulating water reaches a predetermined temperature, the power supply to the electric heater 12 and the operation of the circulating pump 22 are stopped, and the hot water is stored.

Next, when hot water is supplied to the hot water reservoir 18 of the bathtub 16, each valve is controlled to open and close, and the circulation pump 22 is operated so that the hot water stored in the cavity 17 of the bathtub 16 is branched. 24, the hot water supply main pipe 20, the communication pipe 26, and the reflux pipe 28 are sent, and the hot water tap 29 to the hot water storage section 18 is opened to supply hot water. When using hot water or when replenishing hot water in the hot tub of the bath tub, if hot water in the hollow portion is exhausted, the hot water heated in the hot water production tank 11 is connected to the communicating pipe. It is sent to a reflux pipe 28 through 26 and taken out of each hot water tap 29, 30 for use.

[0014]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hot water supply apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a hot water supply / hot water supply apparatus 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The hot water supply apparatus 10 is roughly divided into a hot water production tank 11
, Bathtub 16 and hot water supply piping system 19.

The hot water production tank 11 is an open type having an electric heater 12, a water level control device 13 and an expansion tube 15 inside, and a water supply pipe 14 is connected to the tank 11. The water supply valve attached to the water supply pipe 14 works in conjunction with the water level control device 13 to supply water when the water in the tank 11 is lower than a predetermined water level, and to stop the water supply when the water exceeds the predetermined water level. It opens and closes automatically.

Further, the hot water production tank 11 is provided with the expansion tube 15 as described above, and the expansion tube 15 is an air vent tube for adjusting the pressure in the upper space in the tank 11 so as not to exceed a predetermined value. This hot water production tank 11
Is a heating-circulation type, which does not store a large amount of hot water like an electric water heater, but is a small one of about 20 to 50 liters.

On the other hand, the bath tub 16 installed in the bathroom has a double structure of an inner tub 16a having a heat insulating structure and an outer tub 16b having a heat insulating structure, and a hollow portion 1 is provided between the inner tub 16a and the outer tub 16b.
7 is formed. The heat insulating material is installed in these inner and outer layers.
6b may be on the cavity 17 side or on the outer surface. However, as for the outer layer 16b, attaching the heat insulating material to the outer surface of the outer layer 16b can effectively utilize the hollow portion 17 only for storing hot water described later, and can also have a function as a protective material for the outer surface of the bathtub 16. Is preferred.

The cavity 17 of the bathtub 16 is used as a hot water storage. This hollow part 17 which functions as a hot water storage part
Is preferably about 200 to 400 liters in the case of a general household bathtub. This cavity 17
The hot water storage section, the hot water production tank 11 and the hot water storage section 18 of the bathtub 16 are circulated by a hot water supply piping system 19. That is, one end of a hot water supply main pipe 20 is connected to the bottom of the hot water production tank 11, and the other end of the hot water supply main pipe 20 is provided with a first valve 21, a circulation pump 22 and a second valve 23 in the middle. It communicates with the cavity 17 of the bathtub 16.

One end of a branch pipe 24 is connected to the hot water supply main pipe 20 between a first valve 21 and a circulation pump 22.
The other end communicates with the cavity 17 of the bathtub 16 via a third valve 25. Further, one end of a communication pipe 26 is connected to the hot water supply main pipe 20 between the circulation pump 22 and the second valve 23, and a fourth valve 27 is provided at the other end thereof in the middle of a return pipe to be described later. 28.

One end of the reflux pipe 28 is connected to the hot water production tank 1
1, the other end side is opened at the top of the cavity 17 in the bathtub 16 and is also connected to a hot water tap 29 and a rising hot water tap 30 for the hot water reservoir 18 of the bathtub 16. I have. A fifth valve 32 is provided on the reflux pipe 28 between a connection 31 with the communication pipe 26 and an end opened to the hot water production tank 11.

Reference numerals 33 and 34 denote water taps connected to a water supply pipe 35 such as a water pipe. In addition, bathtub 16
A drain plug 36 for draining the hot water in the hot water reservoir 18 is provided at the bottom of the inner tank 16a, and this drain port communicates directly with the outside without passing through the cavity 17. Further, a drain pipe 37 communicating with the hollow portion 17 is provided in the outer tank 16b.
The hot water in the hollow portion 17 can be discharged by opening a drain valve 38 provided in 7.

Next, the operation of the hot water supply apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment will be described. First, a description will be given of a state in which neither the hot water production tank 11 nor the bathtub 16 contains water. The water supply valve of the water supply pipe 14 is opened to supply water to the hot water production tank 11. At that time, all valves 21, 2
3, 25, 27 and 28 are open. for that reason,
The water supplied into the hot water production tank 11 is supplied to the hot water supply main pipe 20 in the hollow portion 17 of the bathtub 16 at a position lower than the tank.
Flows by natural fall through

When the supply of water to the cavity 17 of the bathtub 16 starts, the air inside is pushed out into the hot water production tank 11 through the reflux pipe 28, and the internal pressure of the open hot water production tank 11 increases due to this. Therefore, the air is discharged to the atmosphere via the expansion tube 15. Thus, the cavity 1 of the bathtub 16
When the inside of the tank 7 is full and the water tank reaches a predetermined level in the hot water production tank 11, the water level control device 13 operates to close the water supply valve (not shown), thereby stopping the water supply. At this time, the hot water supply main pipe 20 and most of the reflux pipe 28 are filled with water.

Next, the third valve 25 and the fourth valve 27 are closed, the electric heater 12 in the hot water production tank 11 is energized, and the circulation pump 22 is operated. Thereby, at the same time as the water starts to be heated in the hot water production tank 11, the hot water production tank 11, the hot water main pipe 20, the bathtub cavity 17, and the reflux pipe 28 are used.
The circulatory system returning to is established.

While the water is circulating in the circulating system, the water in the circulating system gradually becomes hot water, and when the temperature reaches about 50 to 60 ° C., a water temperature detector (not shown) detects this. The energization of the electric heater 12 and the operation of the circulation pump 22 are stopped. As a result, hot water at a predetermined temperature is stored in the hot water production tank 11 and the bathtub cavity 17.

Next, for example, the case of taking a bath will be described. The first valve 21, the second valve 23 and the fifth
Is closed, the third valve 25 and the fourth valve 27 are opened, and the circulation pump 22 is operated. As a result, the hot water stored in the bathtub cavity 17 is removed from the branch pipe 2.
4 flows through the hot water supply main pipe 20 to the reflux pipe 28 via the communication pipe 26.

Thus, when the hot water tap 29 for hot water supply of the hot water reservoir connected to the reflux pipe 28 is opened, hot water is supplied to the hot water reservoir 18 of the bathtub 16 by the water supply pressure of the circulation pump 22. At this time, the water pressure by the circulation pump 22 is about 5 m. The same applies to the supply of hot water to the bathtub hot water storage section 18 during bathing and the use of rising hot water.

When using the rising water or when replenishing the hot water in the hot tub of the bath tub, the bath tub cavity 1
If the hot water in 7 has run out, the first valve 2
The first and fourth valves 27 are opened, and the second valve 23, the third valve 25, and the fifth valve 28 are closed. Thus, the hot water in the hot water production tank 11 can be used by opening the hot water tap 29 or the up hot water tap 30.

When the bathing is completed, the state returns to the initial state, and the water supply to the hot water production tank 11 is started, and the water is supplied to the bathtub cavity 17 to be filled with water. Heating of the water and circulation in the circulation system are started again.

[0030]

As described above, according to the hot water storage / hot water supply device of the present invention, the hot water production tank can be made very small because substantial hot water is stored in the inner and outer layer spaces of the bathtub. Therefore, no special space is required for the installation, the effective area in an apartment house such as a condominium can be increased, and the installation of such a device does not require enormous costs, and is very practical. High in nature.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of a hot-water supply / hot-water supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration explanatory view schematically showing a conventional hot water supply / hot water supply apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Hot water storage / hot water supply device 11 Hot water production tank 12 Electric heater 13 Water level control device 14 Water supply pipe 15 Expansion pipe 16 Bath tub 17 Bath tub cavity 18 Bath tub pool 19 Hot water supply piping system 20 Hot water supply main pipe 21 First valve 22 Circulation pump Reference Signs List 23 second valve 24 branch pipe 25 third valve 26 communication pipe 27 fourth valve 28 reflux pipe 29 hot-water tap for hot-water pool 30 hot-water tap for hot water 31 connection part 32 fifth valve 33 water tap 34 water tap 35 water pipe 36 drain plug 37 drain pipe 38 drain valve

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A hot water production tank provided with a water level control device and having a built-in heater, a water supply pipe for supplying water to the hot water production tank, a bathtub having a hollow space between inner and outer layers, and water in the hot water production tank being supplied to the bathtub. The hot water production tank is supplied to the cavity, and the hot water production tank and the cavity of the bath tub are circulated so that the water in the cavity of the bath tub becomes hot water of a predetermined temperature. A hot water supply apparatus comprising: a hot water supply pipe system for supplying hot water stored in the section to at least a hot water tap for a hot water reservoir of the bathtub and a hot water tap. 2. The method according to claim 2, wherein the hot water production tank is installed at a position higher than the bathtub, and the water in the hot water production tank is naturally dropped into the hollow portion of the bathtub via the hot water supply piping system. The hot-water storage and hot-water supply device according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The hot water supply pipe system, one end of which is open near the bottom of the hot water production tank and the other end of which is open to the cavity of the bathtub, and one end of which is located in the hot water production tank. A return pipe that is open at the top and the other end is open at the top end of the hollow portion of the bathtub and that communicates with a hot water tap to the bathtub sump section; and a communication that directly communicates the hot water supply main pipe with the return pipe. A pipe, a branch pipe having one end communicating with the bath tub sump and the other end connected to the hot water main pipe upstream of a connection between the communication pipe and the hot water main pipe, and The hot-water storage and hot-water supply device according to claim 1, further comprising a circulation pump provided between a connection portion between the branch pipe and the communication pipe. 4. A first valve and a second valve are provided in the hot water supply main pipe upstream of a connection part with the branch pipe and downstream of a connection part with the communication pipe, respectively. A third valve is provided, a fourth valve is provided on the branch pipe, and a fifth valve is provided on the return pipe downstream of a connection with the communication pipe. The hot water supply apparatus according to claim 3, wherein