JP3474719B2 - Water supply device control method - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an operation for stopping water in a water supply device for switching water supply / stopping water based on the operation of an operation switch by a user, which is used in, for example, a domestic water washer. The present invention relates to a method for controlling a water supply device that can switch the operation method of a switch.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, there is known a water supply device for supplying or stopping water by opening and closing a water supply valve by a user operating an operation switch such as a foot switch. Conventionally, the following two methods are known as a method for operating an operation switch for switching between water supply and water stoppage in such a water supply device. That is, 1) When the user turns on the operation switch, a valve opening signal is given to the water supply valve to start water supply. When the user turns on the operation switch again, a closing signal is given to the water supply valve to stop the water supply.
2) When the user turns on the operation switch, a water supply valve is given an opening signal to start water supply, and water supply continues until the user turns off the operation switch.

[0003]

However, when switching the water supply / stopping of the water supply device by the operation method of the operation switch described in 1), when the user wants to supply a small amount of water, There has been a problem that the operation switch has to be operated again within a short time after the start, which requires complicated operation.

On the other hand, when switching the water supply / stopping of the water supply device by the operation method of the operation switch described in 2) above, when the user wants to supply a large amount of water, the operation switch is turned on for a long time. However, there was a problem that it was inconvenient. Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above points, and it is an object of the present invention to improve the operability of operation switches in a method of controlling a water supply device that switches between water supply and water stop by a switch operation by a user. .

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to the invention of claims 1 and 2, the operation switch is operated for a predetermined time or more.
When the switch (600) is turned on, the operation switch is turned on.
Water valve (200, 300) was open until the end
The condition is reached and water is supplied. That is, the operation switch
The water can be stopped by finishing the input of.
Therefore, if the water supply desired by the user is small,
Turn on the operation switch again within a short time to stop the water.
No need for water supply device by simple operation switch operation
Can be stopped. On the other hand, turning on the operation switch
If the time is shorter than the specified time, the operation switch will
The water valve can be kept open until it is turned on.
Water can be done. Therefore, the user's desired salary
If there is a large amount of water, operation is continued during the water supply.
It is not necessary to turn on the work switch. In this way,
How to operate the operation switch that is suitable for the water supply desired by the user
Can be selected to improve the operability of the water supply device
be able to.

[0006]

[0007]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Reference numeral 100 denotes a faucet attached to a sink 101, and a cold water distribution pipe 110 for supplying cold water to the faucet 100 and a hot water distribution pipe 120 for supplying hot water to the faucet 100 are connected to each other. The cold water distribution pipe 110 and the hot water distribution pipe 120 are provided with water supply valves 200 and 300, respectively.
And the water shutoff valves 400 and 450 are connected. At the foot of the sink 101, a foot switch 600 (operation switch in claims) which can be turned on / off by a user's operation such as stepping on / off the tread part (closing / closing of operation switch in claims). ) Is provided. Although not shown, a contact-type switch is provided inside the foot switch 600, and is turned on when the user steps on the tread portion, and is turned off when the user releases the tread portion. The controller 500 uses the water supply valves 200, 300
It is also electrically connected to the foot switch 600 and serves as a valve control unit that controls the operation of the water supply valves 200 and 300.

A water supply valve 200 for supplying or stopping water to the faucet 100 by opening and closing the valve is provided mainly in the middle of a water passage formed inside a body 201 connected to a cold water distribution pipe 110 by a nut 204. A diaphragm type main valve 207, a solenoid valve 203, and a manual valve 225. The body 201 has an inlet 205 and an outlet 228.
It has a water channel formed inside. In the main valve 207 sandwiched between the bodies 201 and 202,
The diaphragm frame plate 208 is the diaphragm holder 20.
It is fixed by 9. Further, the main valve 207 is the valve seat 2
10 can be seated and is biased in the seating direction by a spring 211. The main chamber 212 and the sub chamber 215 are defined by the main valve 207, but communicate with the water channel on the inflow port 205 side by the communication passage 213 formed in the diaphragm frame plate 208. The sub chamber 215 communicates with a second chamber 206 in which the solenoid valve 203 is arranged via a passage 214 formed in the body 202.

The electromagnetic valve 203 is a valve that opens and closes by energizing a coil, which will be described later, and has a structure as shown below. The second chamber 206 has a cylindrical plunger 2
17 is provided so as to be movable in the axial direction, and the tip end surface of the plunger 217 can close the opening of the bypass passage 216 that communicates with the downstream water passage of the main valve 207. A fixed core 218 fixed inside the coil 219 is arranged opposite to the rear end side of the plunger 217. A spring 224 is provided between the plunger 217 and the fixed core 218.
Is urged in a direction to be seated on the opening of the bypass passage 216. The coil 219 is fixed to the body 202 via a yoke 220, a first ring 222, an annular magnet 221 magnetized in the plate thickness direction, and a second ring 223.

Reference numeral 225 denotes a manual valve, which is O so that the tip portion 225a is located at a position facing the main valve 207 in the middle of the water channel.
It is screwed to a body 226 attached to the body 201 by a ring 227, and when the solenoid valve 203 does not operate due to some circumstances or when an opening / closing valve by the faucet 100 is required, water supply to the faucet 100 / It is a valve that switches water shut off.

Since the water supply valve 300 has the same structure as the water supply valve 200, the description thereof will be omitted. Water valve 20
A controller 500 for controlling the operation of the 0, 300 is connected to a power source 501, and a microcomputer (hereinafter, abbreviated as a microcomputer) 502 that gives an opening / closing signal to an electromagnetic valve based on an operating state of a foot switch 600, and this microcomputer 502. It has a voltage monitoring unit 503 that monitors the voltage of the above, and a solenoid valve driving unit 504 that drives the solenoid valve 203 and the solenoid valve 303 of the water supply valve 300 in response to an opening / closing signal from the microcomputer 502. The water supply device A also includes a timer (not shown) that measures the time that the user steps on the foot switch 600.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. First, the operation of the water supply valves 200 and 300 will be described. When the plunger 217 is closed and the main valve 207 is seated on the valve seat, the main chamber 212 and the sub chamber 215 communicate with each other and the main chamber 212 communicates with each other through the communication passage 213. The water pressure on the chamber 212 side and the water pressure on the sub chamber 215 side are equal. Therefore, due to the biasing force of the spring 211 and the surface pressure difference between the main chamber 212 side and the sub chamber 215 side, the main valve 20
The closed state of 7 is maintained and the water is stopped.

In this state, when a positive current is applied to the coil 219, a magnetic force is generated and the plunger 217
Is sucked toward the fixed coil 219, and the bypass passage 21
The opening of 6 opens. Sub chamber 215, passage 214, second chamber 2
06, the bypass passage 216 communicates with each other, and the sub chamber 215 and the downstream side water passage of the main valve 207 communicate with each other, so that the water pressure on the sub chamber 215 side becomes lower than the water pressure on the main chamber 212 side.
As a result, the main valve 207 separates from the valve seat 210 and water is supplied.

Even when the coil 219 is de-energized when the plunger 217 is sucked and the opening of the bypass passage 216 is open, the gap between the plunger 217 and the fixed core 218 is small, so that the annular shape The attraction force of the plunger 217 by the magnetic force of the magnet 221 is larger than the biasing force of the spring 224. Therefore, the plunger 217 remains suctioned, and the open state of the bypass passage 216 is maintained.

When a reverse current is applied to the coil 219 while water is being supplied, a magnetic force is generated in the reverse direction, causing the plunger 217 to close the opening of the bypass passage 216 by the urging force of the spring 224. And move.
The state in which the sub chamber 215 and the downstream water passage of the main valve 207 communicate with each other is released, and the water pressure on the main chamber 212 side and the water pressure on the sub chamber 215 side become equal again. As a result, the main valve 207 is again seated on the valve seat 210, the main valve 207 is closed, and the water is stopped.

As described above, the water supply valves 200 and 300 are opened / closed by applying forward / reverse currents to the coil 219, that is, when an opening / closing signal is given to the electromagnetic valve 203, thereby switching between water supply / stopping. . By the way, solenoid valve 2
The open / close signal for 03 is the foot switch 6 by the user.
00 operation. Hereinafter, what kind of operation of the foot switch 600, which is an essential part of the present invention, to switch the operation of the water supply valves 200 and 300 will be described with reference to FIG.

In the water supply device A, the user operates the foot switch 6
When the user depresses 00 to turn it on, an open signal is given to the solenoid valve 203 to start water supply, and at the same time the user steps on the foot switch 600, that is, the foot switch 6
The operation method of the foot switch 600 at the time of stopping the water supply of the water supply apparatus A is switched according to the time when the state where 00 is on continues.

First, the first operation mode performed when the user wants to supply a large amount of water will be described with reference to FIG. When the user depresses the foot switch 600 to turn on the foot switch 600, an open signal is given to the solenoid valve 203, and the main valve 207 is opened to supply water. At this time, the user does not
When the time during which the pedal is continuously pressed is within the predetermined time T1, the open state of the solenoid valve 203 is maintained. When the user finishes supplying the desired amount of water and the foot switch 600 is stepped on again, a closing signal is given to the electromagnetic valve 203, the main valve 207 is closed, and the water is stopped. That is, the user once depresses the foot switch 600 and then again presses the foot switch 6
The faucet 100 is supplying water until stepping on 00.

Next, the second operation mode performed when the user wants to supply only a small amount of water will be described with reference to FIG. 4 (b). The user steps on the foot switch 600,
When the foot switch 600 is turned on, an open signal is given to the solenoid valve 203 and the main valve 207 is opened, so that water is supplied. At this time, the user uses the foot switch 60.
If the time during which 0 is continuously pressed is equal to or longer than the predetermined time T1, the user releases the foot switch 600 and the foot switch 60
The solenoid valve 203 remains open until 0 is turned off. When the user releases the foot switch 600,
A closing signal is given to the solenoid valve 203, the main valve 207 is closed, and the water is stopped. That is, the user operates the foot switch 6
While stepping on 00, the faucet 100 is supplying water.

Next, the control of the water supply device A in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In step 1, the foot switch 600 is stepped on by the user,
When turned on, an open signal is given to the solenoid valve 203, and the process proceeds to step 2. In step 2, the water supply valve 200 is opened and water supply is started. Continued Step 3
At, the timer starts and the time T during which the user continues to step on the foot switch 600 is measured. Further, in step 4, when the foot switch 600 is turned off, the process proceeds to step 5, the timer is stopped, and the measurement of the time T is completed.

In the next step 6, if the time T during which the user keeps stepping on the foot switch 600 is less than or equal to the predetermined time T1, the user determines to stop the water in the first operation mode, and proceeds to step 7. . In step 7,
The foot switch 600 is stepped on again by the user,
When it is turned on, the process proceeds to step 8. In step 8, the closing signal is given to the solenoid valve 203, and the water supply valve 200 is closed.
Is in a closed state, and the water supply device A stops water. In step 7, when the user does not step on the foot switch 600 again, step 7 is repeated, and the water supply valve 200 is opened during this time, and water supply is continued. When the water is stopped in step 8, the process proceeds to step 9, the foot switch 600 is released, and the process returns to step 1.

On the other hand, in step 6, if the time T during which the user keeps stepping on the foot switch 600 is the predetermined time T1 or more, the user judges that the water supply is performed in the second operation mode, and the process proceeds to step 10. Continued Step 10
At, the closing signal is given to the electromagnetic valve 203, the water supply valve 200 is closed, and the water supply apparatus A stops the water supply.

As described above, the user operates the foot switch 60.
A first method of operating the foot switch 600 when giving a closing signal to the water supply valve 200 in accordance with the time T that continues to step 0
By switching to the operation mode or the second operation mode, the water supply device A can be stopped by the operation method of the foot switch 600 that is easy to operate according to the water supply amount desired by the user.

Specifically, when the amount of water supply desired by the user is small, when the foot switch 600 is stepped on for a predetermined time or longer when the water supply valve 200 is opened, the foot switch 60
When 0 is released, the first operation mode in which the water supply device A is stopped can be set. Therefore, it is not necessary to step on the foot switch 600 again in a short time to stop the water,
The water supply device A can be stopped by a simple operation of the foot switch 600.

On the other hand, when the amount of water supply desired by the user is large, the foot switch 6 is used when opening the water supply valve 200.
By setting the time for stepping on 00 to be shorter than the predetermined time T1, it is possible to enter the second operation mode in which the water supply device A is stopped by stepping on the foot switch 600 again. Therefore, water can be supplied until the foot switch 600 is stepped on again. Therefore, it is not necessary to step on the foot switch 600 while water is being supplied.

The desired predetermined time T1 is derived from the following equation. Predetermined time T1 (second) = amount of water supply desired by the user (ml) x
60 / (Flow rate of water supply device A (l / min) × 1000) Therefore, as one setting example of the predetermined time T1, when the user supplies one glass (200 ml) of water, the desired predetermined time T1 is Calculated by substituting the numerical value into the above formula, the amount of water per cup (ml) x 60 / (flow rate of water supply device A (l / min) x 1000) = 200 x 60 / (8 x 100
0) = 1.5 (seconds), and the desired set time is about 1 second.

Since the water supply valve 300 has the same structure as the water supply valve 200 and performs the same operation, the description thereof will be omitted. By the way, in the embodiment described above, as the operation switch, an embodiment using a foot-operated switch that turns on a contact-type switch by performing an operation such as stepping / release by the user has been described. It may be a push-button type switch that the user pushes with his or her hand. Further, a switch for switching between on and off may be used depending on the magnitude of the force pressing the operation switch, and the method of the operation switch is not particularly limited.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the contact switch which switches the operation by the user directly touching the operation switch is used as the operation switch, but the contact switch is received at an appropriate position. A non-contact operation switch which is provided with a light emitting element and operates by detecting a user's operation may be used. Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, the embodiment in which the present invention is applied to the water supply device attached to the sink has been described, but it may be applied to a water supply device such as a flush toilet, for example.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an entire water supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a water supply valve used in the water supply device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block configuration diagram of xx of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a time chart of various signals according to the present invention, FIG. 4A is a time chart of various signals in the first operation mode, and FIG. 4B is various time charts in the second operation mode. It is a time chart of a signal.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing control of the water supply device.

[Explanation of symbols]

200 water valve 300 water valve 500 Controller that is a valve control unit Foot switch which is 600 operation switch

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Hideyuki Miyajima, 5-1, Koieehoncho, Tokoname City, Aichi Prefecture Inax Co., Ltd. (56) References JP 62-194335 (JP, A) Sankaihei 5 -54671 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) E03C 1/05 F16K 31/06

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A water supply valve that performs water supply and water stoppage, a valve control unit that gives an opening / closing signal to the water supply valve, and an operation switch that controls the operation of the valve control unit, and the water supply valve is in a closed state. In a method of controlling a water supply device in which the valve control unit gives an open signal to the water supply valve when the operation switch is turned on at a certain time, and the water supply valve supplies water, the closing duration of the operation switch is a predetermined time or more.
When the operation switch is turned on, the valve control unit
The first operation mode for giving a closing signal and the closing duration of the operation switch is within a predetermined time.
When the operation switch is turned on again, the valve control unit closes to the water supply valve.
A method of controlling a water supply device, characterized by switching to a second operation mode for giving a signal . 2. A timer for measuring the closing duration of the operation switch is provided, and switching between the first operation mode and the second operation mode is performed according to the closing duration of the operation switch measured by the timer. The method for controlling a water supply device according to claim 1, wherein