JP3312657B2 - Flow control valve in sanitary washing device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sanitary washing apparatus having a local washing function, and more particularly to a flow control valve for adjusting the flow rate of washing water.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A sanitary washing apparatus having a local washing function is provided by:
A typical configuration is to supply cleaning water at an appropriate temperature to a nozzle that sprays cleaning water. In order to supply such cleaning water, a pipe connected to an external water supply system is provided inside the sanitary washing apparatus, and the water pressure of the cleaning water from the heating hot water tank, the opening / closing valve, and the nozzle is provided in the pipe. A flow control valve for adjustment is provided.

[0003] As a flow control valve, a mechanism that mechanically changes the valve opening degree by using a needle valve and connecting a knob of an operation part to the needle valve with a wire has been used conventionally. . In this manual operation, the flow rate can be adjusted from the minimum to the maximum flow rate by utilizing the fact that the valve opening changes depending on the angle at which the knob is turned.

[0004] However, if the user who used the device first keeps the knob on the side where the flow rate is large, for example, the next user turns the knob and adjusts the flow rate so as to make the washing water strength suitable for him. Need to squeeze. For this reason, it is necessary to check the strength of the washing water before use, and if it is not correct, an operation of turning the knob is required, which greatly affects the usability.

[0005] On the other hand, a type in which a valve of a flow control valve is driven by a motor has already been developed, and there is a type in which a valve opening is changed by driving a motor by a remote controller. In such a motor-driven flow control valve, the system for controlling the motor can be designed in various ways, so that the function can be expanded in comparison with a manual type using a knob.

For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-1 / 1988 discloses an inconvenience in the case of the manual picking described above.
There is one described in Japanese Patent No. 22833. This is to control the drive of the motor so that the set flow rate value set by the flow adjusting valve set by the user returns to the most standard flow value after the person leaves the toilet seat. That is, for example, even if the user uses the maximum flow rate, the motor is automatically driven thereafter to return the flow rate to a standard value such as the maximum or minimum intermediate value, and the next person uses it. The basic idea is to set it in an easy state.

[0007]

The flow rate suitable for cleaning varies depending on the individual difference of the user. Therefore, when designing a sanitary washing apparatus, it is usual to increase the flow rate adjustment width by the flow rate adjusting valve in anticipation of this. It is.

However, in the case where the flow width is large as described above, if the operation of driving the motor to a standard certain constant cleaning flow value and resetting it as described in the above-mentioned publication, this standard flow rate is used. If a person sets the flow rate other than the value, the motor is always driven to return to the standard flow rate value. For this reason, in most cases, the motor must be driven after each use, and the valve also moves frequently, which affects the durability of the rotating and sliding parts.
In addition, the total time for energizing the motor, for example, when summed up in units of one month, becomes considerably long, which results in wasteful power consumption.

As described above, the setting of the flow rate of the washing water by the flow rate control valve driven by the motor is convenient for the user who uses it later. Heavy load.

An object of the present invention is to provide a sanitary washing apparatus having a motor-driven flow regulating valve for automatically setting washing water to a standard flow rate after use, eliminating unnecessary movement of a valve mechanism, and It is also to improve usability.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a nozzle device for jetting washing water toward a local portion, a motor-driven flow control valve provided in a flow path system to the nozzle device, and a valve of the flow control valve. In a sanitary washing apparatus, comprising: an operation unit for setting an opening degree; and a control unit for driving a motor of the flow rate adjusting valve based on a setting signal of the operation unit, the control unit includes a valve opening from the operation unit. Degree setting signal, comparing means for comparing a predetermined reference value consisting of an upper limit and a lower limit of the valve opening degree, when the valve opening degree is included in the reference value, the valve of the flow rate regulating valve When the opening degree change is not performed and the valve opening degree is out of the range of the reference value, the valve opening degree change of the flow rate control valve is performed prior to the supply of the washing water to the nozzle device, and characterized the Turkey be set in a range of reference values.

[0012] Further, it is possible to provide upper limit valve opening degree setting means and lower limit valve opening degree setting means for allowing a user to arbitrarily change the reference value of the valve opening degree.

[0013]

If the valve opening between the upper limit and the lower limit of the predetermined flow rate is set as a standard value, as long as the valve opening is set between these reference values, the user who uses the valve continuously will be used. Is operated, this standard flow of washing water is always sprayed from the nozzle device.

If the valve opening is set outside the range of the reference value, when the valve is used thereafter, the flow rate is changed by the flow regulating valve and set to a standard flow rate within the range of the reference value. Is done.

As described above, the flow rate of the standard cleaning water is given a range, and only when the flow rate deviates from this range, the valve opening of the flow control valve is changed prior to the next use. . Therefore, it is possible to reduce the frequency of changing the flow rate of the flow control valve.

If upper limit valve opening setting means and lower limit valve opening setting means are provided so that the reference value of the valve opening can be changed, the width of the reference value of the valve opening can be expanded by these means. Can be.

[0017]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a supply system of washing water in a sanitary washing apparatus of the present invention.

The sanitary washing device for local washing is a warm water washing toilet seat also serving as a toilet seat of a stool, and a heating system and a piping system are provided inside a casing in the same manner as a conventional one. A nozzle device for cleaning is provided at the end of this piping system.

In FIG. 1, in a flow path of washing water to a nozzle device 1, a valve unit 2 connected to an external water supply pipe for opening / closing the flow path, regulating a pressure and adjusting a flow rate, and a hot water tank for heating the water supply. 3 are provided. Nozzle device 1
Is provided with a nozzle body 1a and a cylinder 1b that supports the nozzle body 1a so as to be able to move forward and backward. The output shaft of the nozzle motor 1c is mechanically connected to the nozzle body 1a to reciprocate in the axial direction. The control unit 4 controls the supply of the cleaning water including the control of the nozzle unit 1 and the valve unit 2, thereby controlling the operation of the valve unit 2 and the heater based on the signal from the temperature sensor 3 b of the hot water tank 3. The calorific value of 3a is controlled. The operation of the nozzle device 1 and the opening and closing of the valve unit 2 are operated by an operation unit 5 such as an operation panel or a remote controller provided in a casing of the sanitary washing device.

The valve unit 2 includes a solenoid valve type on-off valve,
It is provided with a pressure regulating valve and a flow regulating valve collectively, and in FIG. As the valve unit 2, for example,
Those described in 2-89377 can be used.
This is provided with a needle as a flow control valve 6 that moves forward and backward in the axial direction while rotating by a motor drive, and that the flow rate of the washing water flowing downstream can be adjusted by the position of the needle.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram relating to the control of the flow regulating valve 6.

The flow control valve 6 includes a synchronous motor 7 that rotates in synchronization with the frequency of the pulse motor, whereby a valve element such as a needle can be rotated to set the internal flow path from fully closed to fully open. I do. As such a configuration, the valves described in the above-mentioned publication can be applied as they are.

The forward and reverse rotation and the amount of rotation of the synchronous motor 7 are controlled by a motor control means 8 such as a microcomputer. This motor control means 8
It is driven by a comparing means 9 for comparing a setting signal of the valve opening (flow rate) by the operating section 5 with a predetermined upper and lower limit reference value of the valve opening (flow rate).

The comparison terminal of the comparison means 9 is provided with an operation means 10 provided in the operation section 5 for adjusting the flow rate of the washing water by expanding and reducing the valve opening by the synchronous motor 7, and to the other comparison terminal. Inputs the current valve opening degree discriminating means 11 of the flow regulating valve 6. The commercial frequency clock conversion circuit 12 is input to the valve opening degree determination means 11. Thereby, the motor control means 8 turns on and off the synchronous motor 7 based on the frequency coefficient from the commercial frequency clock conversion circuit 12, and controls the rotation amount and the rotation angle of the output shaft.

Here, it has already been described that the appropriate strength of the water force of the washing water from the nozzle device 1 varies depending on the individual difference of the user. Due to such a variety of water forces, the sanitary washing device normally displays the strength of the water force on the operation unit 5 or the like.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a model for displaying such a water force. In the illustrated example, the minimum valve opening is set to 0 and the maximum valve opening is set to 10 in a valve opening step pattern.

In such a pattern of the valve opening degree steps, 4 to 6 valve opening steps in the middle range from the minimum value to the maximum value are set to the most appropriate standard values. In addition, such a specification is determined not only from the appropriate strength of the washing water but also from the range of the washing which is considered optimal for human use. Then, it is assumed that the water force is weak at valve opening steps of 0 to less than 4 which are smaller than the valve opening steps of 4 to 6 in the intermediate region, and strong at valve opening steps of 6 to 10 inclusive.

In the present invention, when the person who previously used sets the valve opening with the operation unit 5, if the set value is in the range of the valve opening steps 4 to 6, which is the range of the standard water force. The change of the valve opening of the flow control valve 6 is not executed, and the initial flow value of the next user is used as it is. Also, if the setting of the water force by the person used earlier is in the range of the valve opening degree step 0 to 4 or less or 6 or more to 10, it is within the standard water pressure range before the next person uses and the entire valve is opened. Flow regulating valve 6 so that the value of valve opening step 5 is an intermediate value of the degree step.
The change of the valve opening is executed.

When the valve opening of the flow control valve 6 needs to be changed, the change may be made at any time before the next user performs cleaning. For example, the toilet seat on which a person sits is provided with a pressure-sensitive seating sensor, and when the person who is using the seat has left the toilet seat is detected by the seating sensor, and the signal is input to the control unit 4 to synchronize. The eggplant motor 7 is operated to change the valve opening. Instead,
It is also possible to detect that the next user is sitting on the toilet seat, and to change the valve opening after this point.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart relating to the flow rate setting by the flow rate adjusting valve 6. The control will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, in the flowchart of FIG. 4, the time when a person leaves the toilet seat is used as a reference.

When the cleaning by the nozzle device 1 is completed and the valve unit 2 is closed, the valve opening determined by the operating means 10 in the preceding cleaning step is determined by the valve opening determining means 11. At this time, if the determined valve opening corresponds to the range of the valve opening steps 4 to 6 described in FIG. 3, no signal is input from the comparing means 9 to the motor control means 8. Therefore, the synchronous motor 7 does not operate continuously from the time of cleaning, and maintains the state in which the valve opening of the flow rate adjusting valve 6 is previously set by the operating means 10.
Then, when a later user starts washing, the user will receive the washing water of the valve opening degree steps 4 to 6 in this standard range, and can use comfortably without being too weak or too strong. .

On the other hand, when the valve opening determining means 11 determines the valve opening apart from the valve opening steps 4 to 6 after the end of the supply of the washing water, a signal is input to the motor control means 8 via the comparing means 9. Is done. This signal is used to increase or decrease the valve opening from the preset valve opening to the valve opening step 5 shown in FIG.
Set the rotation direction and amount of rotation of the output shaft. If the valve opening of the flow control valve 6 is set to a value corresponding to the valve opening step 5, the flow is completed.

As described above, in the case where the flow rate of the washing water is set to the valve opening step of 0 to 4 or less or 6 or more to 10 in FIG. The degree changes automatically. For this reason, even if the next user does not set the washing water, the washing water of the valve opening degree step 5, which is the intermediate value between the minimum value and the maximum value, is within the standard water pressure range. . Therefore, even if the washing switch of the operation unit 5 is pressed as it is, the washing water which is too strong or too weak is not bathed, and the washing can be performed comfortably as it is.

It should be noted that a soft start circuit utilizing a time constant circuit or the like can be incorporated in the circuit of the control section 4.
In this case, instead of injecting the washing water at the valve opening step 5 from the beginning, for example, the valve opening steps 2 to
It is possible to inject the washing water to gradually increase the valve opening as a gentle injection of about 3 and finally shift to the valve opening step 5.

Further, in FIG. 3, the range of the standard water force is set to the valve opening steps 4 to 6, but a control means capable of changing this range may be provided. For example, upper limit valve opening setting means and lower limit valve opening setting means are provided, respectively.
If the standard water pressure range is expanded to valve opening steps 3 to 7 by operating these setting means, the frequency of use at the preceding set flow rate value falling within this range increases, so that the flow path of the flow control valve 6 is changed. The frequency of the operation also decreases.

The upper and lower limit valve opening setting means may be disposed separately from a washing switch frequently used in a position where operation is relatively difficult and a normal valve opening setting means so as to prevent erroneous operation. desirable.

As described above, if the valve opening of the flow rate control valve set in advance is within this range based on the valve opening in the standard range of the water level of the washing water, The flow rate change by the flow rate adjusting valve 6 is not executed. For this reason, the number of times of actuation of the valve mechanism of the flow rate adjusting valve 6 of the synchronous motor 7 is significantly reduced as compared with the case where the flow rate is reset to the value based on one specific value as in the related art. Therefore, in addition to reducing the amount of electricity, obstacles such as wear of members can be removed, and durability can be improved. Such an advantage is extremely effective, for example, when used for public use by a large number of people.

[0038]

According to the present invention, no matter how the previously used person sets the flow rate of the washing water, if a later user performs the washing operation without setting the flow rate, the washing operation is performed properly. Wash water with a standard flow rate and water flow can be obtained.

Since the operation of the flow control valve for changing the flow rate is only performed when the flow rate is out of the range of the reference value, the sanitary washing apparatus generally uses an appropriate amount within the range of the reference value. Therefore, the operation frequency of the flow control valve can be suppressed. Therefore, abrasion of the mechanism of the flow control valve can be eliminated, and the durability can be remarkably improved.

Further, if means for changing the upper and lower limits of the reference value of the valve opening can be provided, the range of the reference value can be reduced or expanded, and equipment suitable for general household use or public use can be provided. Available as

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a cleaning water supply system to a nozzle device in a sanitary washing device.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing control relating to a flow control valve.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example in which the water force of cleaning water from a nozzle device is modeled in steps of 0 to 10.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart relating to control of a flow control valve.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Nozzle device 2 Valve unit 3 Hot water tank 4 Control part 5 Operation part 6 Flow control valve 7 Synchronous motor 8 Motor control means 9 Comparison means 10 Operation means 11 Valve opening degree determination means 12 Commercial frequency clock conversion circuit

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A nozzle device for jetting washing water toward a local portion, a motor-driven flow control valve provided in a flow path system to the nozzle device, and an operating means for setting a valve opening of the flow control valve. A sanitary washing device comprising: a control unit that drives a motor of the flow rate control valve based on a setting signal of the operation unit; wherein the control unit includes a valve opening degree setting signal from the operation unit; Comparing means for comparing a reference value consisting of an upper limit and a lower limit of the valve opening, wherein when the valve opening is included in the reference value, the valve opening change of the flow regulating valve is not executed, when the valve opening degree is out of the range of the reference value, to set the range of the reference value prior to the supply of the washing water to the nozzle device performs the valve opening degree change in the flow rate adjusting valve flow control valve in the sanitary washing device comprising a call. 2. The sanitary washing device according to claim 1, further comprising upper limit valve opening setting means and lower limit valve opening setting means capable of arbitrarily changing a reference value of the valve opening by a user. Flow control valve in.