JP3623887B2 - Bathroom unit - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a bathroom unit, and more particularly, to a unit provided with a hot water storage tank that temporarily stores hot water from a water heater, heats and keeps it hot, and supplies it to a water discharge section in the bathroom.
[0002]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Conventionally, hot water is supplied to a water discharge section such as a faucet in a bathroom by boiling the hot water with a water heater and sending it through a pipe for hot water supply.
By the way, such a water heater is usually installed in a place far away from the water discharge part of the bathroom, generally outside the kitchen, so when trying to get hot water from the water discharge part of the bathroom, Cooled cold water comes out.
[0003]
Moreover, it takes time for the water heater to ignite and boil the hot water, and cold water continues to flow out of the water discharge section during this time.
Therefore, the user must wait for a long time until the hot water comes out from the water discharge part, and feels frustrated during this time, and the cold water discharged from the water discharge part during that time is water that is not requested by the user and is discarded as it is. It becomes water for a large amount of death.
This problem is a problem that occurs not only when the water is discharged from the bathroom, but also when the hot water is discharged from a bathroom vanity or other water discharge section.
[0004]
For this reason, the hot water sent from the water heater is temporarily stored, and a hot water storage tank that is heated and kept warm is provided near the water discharge part, and when the water discharge part is discharged, the hot water in the hot water storage tank is stored. An immediate hot water supply apparatus has been proposed in which hot water is immediately discharged from the water discharger by supplying.
[0005]
When this instant hot water supply device is applied to a bathroom unit, for example, when taking a shower at the washing station side, it is possible to discharge hot water from the beginning of shower water discharge, which can be used comfortably in using the bathroom. .
[0006]
By the way, there are mainly bath faucets and wash faucets (generally with showers) as water discharge sections in the bathroom.
In this case, when the hot water in the hot water storage tank is supplied to both the bath faucet and the wash faucet, the following inconvenience occurs.
[0007]
As the bath faucet, a two-handle type mixed faucet or a single hot water faucet having a large water discharge amount is generally used so that a large amount of hot water can be discharged when the hot water is filled and the hot water filling can be completed in a short time.
[0008]
In this case, when the hot water in the hot water storage tank is discharged from the bath faucet, for example, the hot water in the hot water storage tank (for example 70 ℃ or 80 ℃ high-temperature hot water) is discharged, and from the user's point of view, hot water of about 40 ℃ is suddenly discharged, and hot water of 70 ℃ or 80 ℃ etc. suddenly comes out. Cause problems.
[0009]
The temperature of the hot water in the hot water storage tank is set to a high temperature of 70 ° C. or 80 ° C. so that the hot water does not run out immediately, and such hot hot water is discharged directly from the bath faucet. It causes inconvenience.
[0010]
In addition, when the hot water in the hot water storage tank is supplied to both the bath faucet and the wash basin faucet, the hot water in the hot water storage tank is quickly consumed when two faucets are used at the same time. There is also a problem that hot water runs out or water discharge is large and the temperature fluctuates easily.
[0011]
However, the inconvenience as described above can be avoided if the bath faucet is used as an automatic temperature control type mixing faucet that automatically adjusts the water discharge temperature to the set temperature based on the temperature sensing of the temperature sensing section. However, this type of automatic temperature control type mixing faucet has a problem that, in addition to its high price, the amount of water discharged at the time of hot water filling is reduced, so that the hot water filling takes time.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The invention of the present application has been made to solve such problems.
Thus, the bathroom unit according to claim 1 is provided with a hot water storage tank for temporarily storing hot water sent from the water heater and heating and keeping the hot water, and supplying hot water from the water heater to the hot water storage tank. In the bathroom unit, in which a hot water supply pipe is connected and an indoor pipe that leads the hot water in the hot water storage tank to a water discharge section in the bathroom is connected to the hot water storage tank, the hot water supply pipe is connected to the hot water storage section at an upstream portion of the hot water storage tank. A branch pipe on the tank side and a branch pipe on the bus faucet side are branched to connect the branch pipe on the hot water storage tank side to the hot water storage tank, while the branch pipe on the bus faucet side is connected to the indoor pipe for the bath faucet The bus faucet is communicated through the terminal.
[0013]
[Operation and effect of the invention]
As described above, the present invention branches the hot water supply pipe for supplying hot water from the water heater into the hot water tank side branch pipe and the bath faucet side branch pipe at the upstream portion of the hot water tank, and the hot water tank side branch. While the pipe is connected to the hot water storage tank, the branch pipe on the bus faucet side is connected to the bus faucet via the indoor pipe for the bus faucet.
[0014]
In a bathroom unit, in the case of a washing faucet, it is desirable that the hot water discharged directly hits the body and hands of the bather, so that desired hot water can be discharged from the initial stage of water discharge.
[0015]
On the other hand, in the case of a bath faucet, such a thing is not necessarily required.
For example, when hot water is filled in a bathtub with a bath faucet, there is no particular problem even if cold water flows out in the early stage of water discharge.
Subsequently, the hot water boiled up by the water heater is supplied to the bathtub, so that the hot water can be finally filled in the bathtub at a desired temperature.
[0016]
Also, when adding hot water to a bathtub with a bath faucet while using the bathroom, the hot water does not directly hit the bather's body, and when adding such hot water, Before that, the shower faucet was used on the side of the washing faucet, or the hot water supply had already started up because the hot water was already filled in the bathtub, that is, the hot water was boiled up in the water heater. There is little probability that cold water will come out when adding hot water from the bath faucet, or even if cold water comes out, it will switch to hot water immediately.
[0017]
Therefore, it can be said that there is a low need for the hot water spouting for the bath faucet by supplying hot water in the hot water storage tank and discharging hot hot water from the beginning of water discharge.
[0018]
The present invention has been made under such circumstances, and the hot water supply pipe is branched at the upstream portion of the hot water storage tank so as to communicate with the bath faucet directly, that is, without passing through the hot water storage tank. Therefore, according to the present invention, when hot water is discharged into the bathtub with a bath faucet composed of a two-handle type mixing faucet, a single hot water faucet, etc., hot water at a set temperature of the water heater is surely discharged. It is safe because hot water in the hot water storage tank is not discharged from the bath faucet.
[0019]
On the other hand, when it is desired to discharge hot water at a desired temperature from another water discharge part in the bathroom, specifically, a washing faucet, a faucet with an automatic temperature control mechanism can be used for the washing faucet. Hot water at a desired temperature can be discharged from the initial stage of water discharge using the hot water stored in the tank.
[0020]
Further, according to the present invention, the hot water in the hot water storage tank is not consumed on the bath faucet side, so that the hot water tank is hard to run out. Therefore, the hot water storage tank can be downsized.
[0021]
As is apparent from the above description, the present invention is applied to a case where a two-handle type mixed tap or a single hot water tap is used as a bath tap, and further, a mixed tap with an automatic temperature control mechanism is used as a washing tap. The effect is great.
[0022]
In the present invention, the hot water storage tank may be disposed behind the floor and the wall of the bathroom, or may be disposed on the ceiling, and further provided in the bathroom. It can also be left.
[0023]
【Example】
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows the inside of a bathroom. In the figure, 10 is a waterproof pan, 12 is a wall panel, and the floor and wall of the bathroom are constituted by the waterproof pan 10 and the wall panel 12.
The waterproof pan 10 has a washing place 14 and a bathtub mounting portion 16, and a bathtub 18 is mounted on the upper surface of the bathtub mounting portion 16.
Here, in the bathtub 18, a horizontal handrail portion 22 is integrally formed at the upper end of the peripheral wall portion 20. A bath faucet 24 composed of a two-handle type mixed faucet is provided on the foot side portion of the handrail portion 22 in the bathtub 18.
[0024]
On the side of the wash basin 14 of the waterproof pan 10, a counter 26 that is a separate body (or an integral body) is provided so as to be in contact with the wall panel 12. A washing faucet (water discharger) 28 is provided in front of the counter 26.
The washing faucet 28 in this example is a mixing faucet with an automatic temperature control mechanism.
[0025]
Further, a shower head 30 is provided at the upper portion thereof, and the shower head 30 is connected to the washing faucet 28 via a shower hose 32.
Reference numeral 34 denotes a drain outlet provided in the waterproof pan 10.
[0026]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the waterproof pan 10 is provided with a draining ridge 36 along the boundary between the washing place 14 and the bathtub mounting portion 16.
Further, in the waterproof pan 10, the end portion on the washing place 14 side of the bathtub mounting portion 16 and the end portion on the foot side of the bathtub 18, that is, the end portion on the bath faucet 24 side, which is located outside the peripheral wall portion 20 in the bathtub 18. Is provided with a rising portion 38 having a triangular cylindrical shape, a tank opening 40 is formed on the upper surface thereof, and the tank opening 40 is sealed with a hat-shaped and triangular-shaped detachable lid 42. Is closed in a watertight manner (see FIG. 3).
[0027]
A hot water storage tank 46 temporarily stores hot water sent from the water heater, and is provided with an electric heater for heating and keeping the hot water stored inside.
In this example, the hot water storage tank 46 is disposed in a space surrounded by the rising portion 38 and the lid 42 with its upper portion partially protruding upward from the tank opening 40.
[0028]
In FIG. 3, reference numeral 48 denotes a hot water supply pipe for supplying hot water from the hot water heater. This hot water supply pipe 48 is located below the tank opening 40 and upstream of the hot water storage tank 46 on the hot water storage tank 46 side. A branch pipe 50 for supplying hot water and a branch pipe 52 for supplying hot water to the bath faucet 24 are branched.
[0029]
The branch pipe 50 on the hot water storage tank 46 side is connected to the lower part of the hot water storage tank 46, and an indoor pipe 54 for hot water supply for the washing faucet 28 is provided on the lid 42 at the upper part of the hot water storage tank 46. The hot water storage tank 46 is connected via a joint 56 made of an electrically insulating material.
[0030]
On the other hand, the branch pipe 52 on the side of the bath faucet 24 is raised upward in the figure, and the indoor pipe for hot water supply for the bath faucet 28 is connected to the lid 42 through a joint 56 made of an electrically insulating material. 58.
[0031]
60 is a water supply pipe for supplying water, and the tip of the water supply pipe is connected to an indoor pipe 62 for supplying water to the faucets 24 and 28 in the bathroom via a joint 56 made of an electrically insulating material. It is connected.
[0032]
In this example, the hot water supply pipe 48, the water supply pipe 60 and the indoor pipes 54, 58 and 62 are assembled in advance on the bathroom unit side.
[0033]
As shown in FIG. 2, the bathtub mounting portion 16 in the waterproof pan 10 also has an end on the washing area 14 side and an end on the head side of the bathtub 18, that is, the side opposite to the tank opening 40. The rising portion 64 having the same shape as that of the rising portion 38 is provided at a portion located outside the peripheral wall portion 20 of the bathtub, and a pipe connection opening 66 is formed on the upper surface thereof. The pipe connection opening 66 is watertightly closed via a packing 44 by a plate-like and plane-triangular detachable lid 68.
[0034]
Below the pipe connection opening 66, pipes constituting the hot water supply pipe 48 and the water supply pipe 60, that is, a primary pipe 70 for supplying hot water and a primary pipe 72 for supplying water, respectively. Are connected to the unit side pipes 48a and 60a.
The pipe connection opening 66 is for connecting pipes and performing maintenance work on the connection part.
[0035]
The pair of rising portions 38 and 64, the tank opening 40, and the pipe connection opening 66 provided at the end of the bathtub mounting portion 16 on the washing place 14 side are respectively located on the back side of the apron 74 of the bathtub 18. The apron 74 is normally hidden by the apron 74 (see FIG. 1).
[0036]
In the case of this example, the hot water sent from the water heater at a set temperature (for example, a hot water filling temperature of about 40 ° C.) is separated from the branch pipe 52 on the bath faucet 24 side and the hot water tank 46 side at the upstream portion of the hot water storage tank 46. The hot water that is diverted to the branch pipe 50 and flows into the branch pipe 52 on the side of the bath faucet 24 flows through the indoor pipe 58 and is sent to the bath faucet 24 with the set temperature from the water heater.
[0037]
On the other hand, the hot water that has flowed into the branch pipe 50 on the hot water storage tank 46 side pushes out the hot water stored in the hot water storage tank 46 and heated and kept warm (for example, hot water of 70 ° C. or 80 ° C.) into the indoor piping 54. . The extruded hot water is sent to the washing faucet 28, and then mixed with water sent from the water indoor pipe 62 at the washing faucet 28 so as to have a desired temperature.
[0038]
As described above, according to the bathroom unit of this example, when hot water is discharged into the bathtub 18 with the bath faucet 24, the hot water at the set temperature of the water heater can be surely discharged, and the hot water in the hot water storage tank 46 can be discharged. This is safe because no hot water is discharged from the bath faucet 24.
[0039]
On the other hand, when it is desired to discharge hot water at a desired temperature from the washing faucet 28, in this example, the washing faucet 28 uses a faucet with an automatic temperature control mechanism. The hot water at the desired temperature can be discharged.
[0040]
Further, according to this example, the hot water in the hot water storage tank 26 is not consumed on the bath faucet 24 side, so that the hot water storage tank 26 is hard to run out of hot water. Therefore, the hot water storage tank 26 can be downsized.
[0041]
FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the present invention.
In this example, the hot water supply pipe 48 once passes through the lid 42 and enters the bathroom, and branches into the branch pipe 52 and the branch pipe 76 in the bathroom, as shown in FIG.
The branch pipe 52 is connected to the bath faucet 24 through an indoor pipe 58 for hot water supply.
[0042]
On the other hand, the branch pipe 76 further branches into a branch pipe 50 and a bypass pipe 78 for supplying hot water to the hot water storage tank 46 at the upper part of the lid 42.
The branch pipe 50 passes through the lid 42 again, goes out of the bathroom, and is connected to the lower part of the hot water storage tank 46.
[0043]
An outlet pipe 53 extends from the upper part of the hot water storage tank 46 through the lid 42, and is integrated with a bypass pipe 78 in the bathroom and connected to an indoor pipe 54 for hot water supply to the washing faucet 28.
[0044]
In this example, the pipes penetrating the lid 42 are separated at the portion of the lid 42 and are connected to each other by a joint 56 at the separated portion.
As a result, the connecting portion can be removed inside the bathroom, and the connecting portion can be removed to remove the lid 42 without touching the piping under the floor and perform maintenance work on the hot water storage tank 46.
[0045]
In the case of this example, the hot water sent from the water heater branches into the branch pipe 52 on the bath faucet 24 side and the branch pipe 76 on the washing faucet 28 side in the bathroom, and the hot water that has flowed into the branch pipe 52. Is sent to the bath faucet 24 as it is.
[0046]
On the other hand, the hot water flowing into the branch pipe 76 is once divided into the branch pipe 50 and the bypass pipe 78, and the hot water flowing into the branch pipe 50 enters the hot water storage tank 46 and is stored in the hot water storage tank 46 together with this. The hot water storage is pushed out. Then, the hot water pushed out from the hot water storage tank 46 merges with the flow from the bypass pipe 78 and is sent to the washing faucet 28.
[0047]
As a result, when water that has not yet boiled after ignition of the water heater is sent through the hot water supply pipe 48, all the cold water still does not flow into the hot water storage tank 46, and a part of the hot water storage tank passes through the bypass pipe 78. The hot water from 46 is joined to the washing faucet 28 in the bathroom, and all the hot water in the interior is not pushed out in a short time. Internal hot water can be used.
[0048]
5 and 6 show another embodiment of the present invention.
In this example, the hot water storage tank is disposed in the bathroom using the internal space of the counter.
In FIG. 5, a counter 26 is provided separately from the waterproof pan 10 and provided on the waterproof pan 10, and has a top plate 80 and a front plate 82. As shown in FIG. 5, the hot water storage tank 46 is placed on the waterproof pan 10 inside the counter 26.
[0049]
In this example, as shown in FIG. 6, a hot water supply pipe 48 penetrates the waterproof pan 10 from the lower side of the waterproof pan 10 and extends into the counter 26 via a joint 56. 26 branches into a branch pipe 50 on the hot water storage tank 46 side and a branch pipe 52 on the bath faucet 24 side.
[0050]
Thus, also in this example, the hot water supply pipe 48 is branched at the upstream portion of the hot water storage tank 46, and the branch pipe 52 on the side of the bath faucet 24 is connected to the bus faucet 24 via the indoor pipe 58 for hot water supply. Yes. A branch pipe 50 on the hot water storage tank 46 side is connected to the lower part of the hot water storage tank 46.
[0051]
Extending from the upper part of the hot water storage tank 46 is an indoor pipe 54 for supplying hot water to the washing faucet 28.
A drain pipe 84 extends from the lower part of the hot water storage tank 46, and a drain plug 86 is provided at the tip thereof.
[0052]
6 is an electric heater provided in the hot water storage tank 46, and a power cord 90 extends from the electric heater 88 to the outside of the hot water storage tank 46. The power cord 90 penetrates the wall panel 12 in a watertight manner through a bushing, and is connected to a power source via an insulating transformer 92 disposed on the back of the ceiling as shown in FIG.
[0053]
In FIG. 5, 94 is an inspection pawl provided on the ceiling, and 96 in FIG. 6 is an inspection palate for inspecting the floor under the bathroom.
[0054]
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, these are merely examples.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the bath faucet 24 is a two-handle type mixed faucet, but this can be replaced with other faucets such as a hot water single faucet.
1 and 4, the hot water storage tank 46 is disposed below the waterproof pan 10, and in the example of FIG. 5, the hot water storage tank 46 is disposed above the waterproof pan 10 and in the bathroom. It is also possible to arrange the unit on the ceiling or the back side of the wall panel 12.
In addition, the present invention can be applied to various types of bathroom units, and can be configured in various modifications without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the inside of a bathroom unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing the vicinity of the hot water storage tank installation section and the pipe connection opening in FIG. 1;
3 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the hot water storage tank and the peripheral portion of FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged view showing a main part of a bathroom unit according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a view showing the inside of a bathroom unit according to another embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a partially enlarged view of the hot water storage tank and the peripheral portion of FIG. 5;
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Waterproof pan 12 Wall panel 24 Bath faucet 28 Washing faucet 46 Hot water storage tank 48 Hot water supply pipe 50, 52 Branch pipe 54, 58 Indoor pipe

Claims (1)

A hot water storage tank is provided for temporarily storing hot water sent from the water heater and heating and keeping warm, and a hot water supply pipe for supplying hot water from the water heater is connected to the hot water storage tank. In the bathroom unit formed by connecting the indoor piping that leads the hot water storage to the water discharge part in the bathroom to the hot water storage tank,
The hot water supply pipe is branched into a branch pipe on the hot water storage tank side and a branch pipe on the water faucet side at an upstream portion of the hot water storage tank, and the branch pipe on the hot water storage tank side is connected to the hot water storage tank. A bathroom unit characterized in that a branch pipe on the stopper side is connected to the bus faucet via an indoor pipe for the bath faucet.

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