JP3655926B2 - Hot water mixing controller - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to a hot and cold water mixing control device that adjusts the mixing ratio of hot water and water to obtain an optimal mixed hot water temperature.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, this type of hot and cold water mixing apparatus has been shown in FIG. (For example, JP-A-1-31279) In FIG. 5, 1 is a hot water channel, 2 is a water channel, and an automatic pressure regulating valve 3 is provided in relation to each channel. The automatic pressure regulating valve 3 includes a hot water side valve body 4 and a hot water side valve seat 5 for reducing the primary pressure PH1 of the hot water flow path 1, a water side valve body 6 and a water side for reducing the primary pressure PC1 of the water flow path 2. It comprises a valve seat 7, a valve shaft 8 that connects the hot water side valve body 4 and the water side valve body 6, and a piston 9 that operates with a pressure difference between the primary pressure PH1 and the PC1 after decompression of hot water and water. ing. And even if the pressure of hot water or water changes suddenly, the automatic pressure regulating valve 3 moves at that pressure, so that the secondary pressures PH2 and PC2 of hot water and water are always kept equal. Further, a bias means 10 is provided on the valve shaft 8, and the bias means 10 is coupled to the end of the valve shaft 8 and is provided so as to sandwich the bobbin 11 and the coil 12 wound around the bobbin 11 and insulated. The coil 12 is connected to the control means 18 through the flexible portion 14.
[0003]
When a current is passed from the control means 18 to the coil 12, the current crosses the magnetic field generated by the permanent magnet 13, so that a bias force is applied to the valve shaft 8 by Fleming's law. For this reason, the automatic pressure adjustment point is shifted by the amount of the bias force. For example, the secondary pressures PH2 and PC2 of hot water and water are always regulated at a point of 2: 1, and as a result, the hot water temperature increases. . Thus, the mixed hot water temperature is changed by changing the current to the coil 12. The control means 18 superimposes a minute AC signal when a current is passed through the coil 12. This is to reduce the hysteresis characteristic of the magnetic circuit of the bias means 10 and the sliding resistance at the start of driving. 19 is a mixing section of hot water and water, and after mixing, the hot water is discharged through the flow rate control on / off valve 20. The temperature of the hot water is detected by the mixed hot water temperature detecting means (for example, thermistor) 15 and the flow rate is determined by the flow rate detecting means 16. The control means 18 urges the bias means 10 and the flow rate adjusting on / off valve driving means 21 to adjust the temperature so as to match the value of the setting means 17.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the configuration as described above, when the opening / closing function of the flow control on / off valve is a pilot type solenoid valve, it takes time until the pilot valve closes even if the flow control on / off valve driving means sends a close signal. It was. For this reason, if the driving amount of the biasing means is immediately lost when the hot water is stopped, the automatic pressure regulating valve becomes large between the water side valve element and the water side valve seat, and sends a stop signal to actually close the pilot valve. In the meantime, water flows into the mixing section 19. Therefore, when starting the next hot water, this water is discharged first, which is very uncomfortable when using a shower or the like.
[0005]
The present invention solves such a conventional problem, and during the hot water stop operation, the drive amount of the mixing valve is maintained until the water is stopped after the signal of the flow rate adjusting on / off valve driving means becomes equal to or less than a certain value, and the mixing chamber is maintained. Do not change the temperature of the bath. And it aims at improving the stability of the mixed hot water temperature at the start of the next hot water supply.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, a hot and cold water mixing control device of the present invention is connected to a downstream side of the mixing valve and a mixing valve that adjusts the flow rates of the hot water channel and the water channel via a mixing valve driving means. A water stop valve having a diaphragm, a flow control on / off valve connected to a further downstream side of the water stop valve, and having a flow control valve body driven by a flow control on / off valve drive means, the mixing valve drive means and the flow control Control means for controlling the driving amount of the on-off valve driving means, and setting means for setting the flow rate, and the secondary pressure of the flow control valve body is set to the back pressure portion of the flow control valve body and the water stop valve. The flow control valve element drive amount becomes a predetermined value or less when a signal for stopping the hot water from the setting means is input, and the pressure difference between the primary side of the diaphragm and the back pressure chamber Is the value to close the stop valve. Predetermined time to, the control means is for mixing valve driving means a driving amount of the mixing valve and to hold at the stop operation halfway position.
[0007]
[Action]
According to the present invention, by maintaining the drive amount of the mixing valve for a certain period of time when the hot water is stopped, the temperature in the mixing chamber is not greatly changed, and the stability of the hot water temperature at the start of the next hot water is improved. .
[0008]
【Example】
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a hot and cold water mixing control device, and the same parts as those in FIG.
[0009]
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 22 denotes an urging means, and the automatic pressure regulating valve 3 and the urging means 22 form a mixing valve 23. Reference numeral 24 denotes mixing valve driving means for applying a variable bias force to the mixing valve 23 in opposition to the force of the urging means 22. The mixing valve driving means 24 has a first plunger 25 made of a magnetic material, and a first coil 26 that is waterproof and insulated around the first plunger 25, and the first coil 26 is connected to the control means 18. It is connected. The mixed hot water temperature is detected by the mixed hot water temperature detecting means 15.
[0010]
The flow rate is adjusted by a flow rate adjusting on / off valve 20 downstream from the mixing unit 19. The flow rate adjusting on / off valve 20 is provided with a valve body 27, a conical flow control valve body 28 for adjusting the flow rate in the valve body 27, and a corresponding valve seat 29. In order to balance the flow control valve body 28 and the primary pressure of the fluid (pressure of the mixing unit 19), the grooved first diaphragm 30 as a flexible pressure receiving body is connected to the flow control valve body 28 and the valve housing 27. The groove 30a is further deepened so that the effective pressure receiving area is always equal to the diameter of the valve seat 29 regardless of the lift amount of the flow control valve body 28. The first back pressure chamber 31 completely separated from the primary side by the first diaphragm 30 and the secondary side of the flow control valve body 28 are communicated with each other through a communication hole 32.
[0011]
The second back pressure chamber 42 communicated with the first back pressure chamber 31 through the communication hole 45 has a water stop valve 40, which has a second diaphragm 41, and the second diaphragm is the primary side thereof. The second diaphragm 41 serves as a water stop valve 40. The second diaphragm 41 is separated from the first pressure seat 43 due to a pressure difference with the back pressure chamber 42 while communicating slightly. The second diaphragm 41 is provided with a first spring 44 that urges the second diaphragm 41 in a direction to contact the first valve seat 43. In order to open and close the water stop valve 40, there is a pilot valve 46 that opens and closes the communication hole 45, and this pilot valve 46 is connected to the second plunger 37 via the shaft 38.
[0012]
The flow control valve body 28 is urged in a direction to contact the valve seat 29 by a spring 34 as urging means. In addition, there is a second coil 35 and a pipe 36 whose one end face is sealed, and a second plunger 37 driven by the amount of current supplied to the second coil 35 slides inside the pipe 36. The second plunger 37 is configured to be interlocked with the flow control valve body 28 via a shaft 38. The second coil 35, the pipe 36 and the second plunger 37 form the flow rate adjusting on / off valve driving means 21. In the above configuration, the control means 18 adjusts the flow rate by controlling the energization amount to the second coil 35, and the control means 18 cuts off the energization to the second coil 35 in order to stop the hot water. As a result, the flow control valve body 28 urged by the spring 34 comes into contact with the valve seat 29 and the fluid does not flow. At the same time, the pilot valve 46 closes the communication hole 45. Thereby, the pressure difference between the primary side sandwiching the second diaphragm 40 and the second back pressure chamber 42 is eliminated, and the water stop valve 40 is closed by the difference in pressure receiving area. When the second coil 35 is energized, the second plunger 37 is sucked or pushed out, and the pilot valve 46 opens the communication hole 45. Then, due to the pressure difference between the primary side sandwiching the second diaphragm 41 and the second back pressure chamber 42, the second diaphragm 41, that is, the water stop valve 40 is lifted against the first spring 44, and the hot water is discharged. Is started. When the current to the second coil 35 is further increased, the flow control valve body 28 is lifted against the urging force of the spring 34, and fluid (mixed hot water) starts to flow. That is, the control means 18 adjusts the flow control valve body 28 to an arbitrary lift amount by changing the energization amount to the second coil 35, and controls the flow rate.
[0013]
FIG. 2 shows an example of the control means 18. 50 is a mixing valve control means for calculating the driving amount of the mixing valve 23 by inputting signals from the mixed hot water temperature detection means 15 and the setting means 17, and 51 is a mixing valve driving means (first coil) according to the signal from the mixing valve control means 50 ) First driving amount setting means for setting the driving amount of 26, 52 is a flow rate adjusting on / off valve control means for calculating the driving amount of the flow rate adjusting on / off valve 20 by inputting the signal of the setting means 17, and 53 is the above-mentioned flow rate adjusting on / off Second drive amount setting means for setting the drive amount of the flow rate adjusting on / off valve drive means 21 based on the signal of the valve control means 52, 54 is a time measurement when the signal of the second drive amount setting means 53 is below a predetermined value. It is a timer means to start.
[0014]
Next, the operation of the configuration of the present invention will be described. When adjusting the temperature, when a current is passed from the control means 18 to the first coil 26, the first plunger 25 made of a magnetic material applies a bias force to the valve shaft 8 according to Fleming's law. The automatic pressure regulating valve 3 balances when the bias force and the biasing force of the biasing means 22 are balanced. Therefore, the balance point of the automatic pressure regulating valve 3 can be moved by changing the current flowing through the first coil 26. For example, when the current is small, the force of the biasing means 22 is stronger, so that the water side valve body 6 opens more than the hot water side valve body 4, and the mixed hot water temperature is lowered. When the current is increased, the plunger 25 is pushed out in opposition to the force of the urging means 22 to open the hot water side valve body 4, and as a result, the mixed hot water temperature becomes high. In this way, the control means 18 inputs the signal of the mixed hot water temperature detecting means 15 and the signal of the setting means 17 so that the mixed hot water temperature becomes the set temperature so that the mixed hot water temperature becomes the set temperature. The current flowing through the first coil 26 is varied by means 41 to adjust the mixing valve 23.
[0015]
In the case of performing normal hot water supply, there is no particular problem with the above method. However, when the hot water is stopped by the setting means 17, the flow rate control valve body 28 is controlled by closing the flow rate control on / off valve 20. The fluid abuts against the seat 29 and no longer flows. However, a little amount of mixed hot water is leaking between the flow control valve body 28 and the valve seat 29 due to the pressure of the mixing portion 19 or the like. Here, the pilot valve 46 closes the communication hole 45 so that the pressure difference between the primary side sandwiching the second diaphragm 40 and the second back pressure chamber 42 disappears, and the water stop valve 40 closes due to the pressure receiving area difference. It is. The fluid does not flow until the water stop valve 40 is closed. In this case, since the pressure in the second back pressure chamber 42 is not completely closed until the pressure difference disappears, the leakage from the flow rate adjusting on / off valve 20 continues.
[0016]
Therefore, as soon as the mixing valve control means 50 stops energizing the first coil after the drive current to the second coil is cut off, the mixing valve is urged by the urging means 22 so that the water side valve element 6 and the water side valve seat are 7 spreads and the mixing chamber 19 falls to near the water temperature. When the hot water is next discharged in this state, the low-temperature hot water remaining in the vicinity of the mixing unit 19 is discharged.
[0017]
Therefore, the present invention takes the following means to prevent the above phenomenon. During normal hot water supply, the mixing valve control means 50 is driven so that the temperature detected by the mixed hot water temperature detecting means 15 coincides with a preset temperature (or a temperature set by the setting means 17: hereinafter referred to as a set temperature). An amount is set and the current flowing through the first coil 26 is adjusted via the first drive amount setting means 51. This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 3 and the output characteristic diagram of FIG. In the temperature control in step 100 in FIG. A control amount f (E) is calculated in step 103 using this deviation E. Here, f (E) may use any of well-known PID control and fuzzy control, and the type of control is not particularly limited. When the stop process is not performed, the mixing valve control means 50 uses this f (E) to send a signal to the first drive amount setting means 51 to set the current to be passed through the first coil 26 and drive it. This temperature control is repeated at a constant sampling period.
[0018]
When the control means 18 inputs a signal to stop the hot water from the setting means 17 at the time of stop (time t1 in FIG. 4), the flow rate adjusting on-off valve control means 52 is connected to the second coil via the second drive amount setting means 53. The electric current which flows into 35 is lowered | hung, and the flow regulating valve 20 is closed. At this time, the mixing valve control means 50 also inputs the stop signal of the setting means 17 and enters the temperature control at the time of stop. This will be described using a flowchart. In FIG. 3, when the stop process is determined by the signal from the setting means 17 in the temperature control in step 100 (step 104), it is determined whether this stop process is the first time. If it is the first time in step 105, stop processing has not yet been entered, and the drive amount f (E) in this state is stored (M) (step 106). Then, in step 107, the driving amount of the flow rate adjusting on / off valve is input from the signal of the second driving amount setting means 53, and the driving amount of the flow rate adjusting on / off valve (denoted as QI) is set to a predetermined value x as the driving amount that is almost closed. Check whether it is. If the drive amount is large, the control amount f (E) of step 109 for obtaining the temperature deviation of step 108 is calculated, and the mixing valve control means 50 uses the control amount f (E) to obtain the first “drive amount setting means. A signal is output to 51 to set a current to flow through the first coil 26 and drive. When the current QI to the second coil becomes less than or equal to x at time t2, the mixing valve control means 50 detects this via the timer means 54, keeps the driving amount of the mixing valve 23 constant, and does not perform temperature control. Then, the contact time measuring timer means 54 at step 111 by not substantially mixed hot water flows in the flow control valve 28 is a valve seat 29 Ri Do the driving amount QI is zero flow regulating shutoff valve at step 110 at time t3 Start. In step 112, when the time exceeds the predetermined value T as the time required for the pilot valve 46 to close the communication hole 45 and the closing valve 40 to close (time t5), the timer means 54 sends the mixing valve control means 50 to the mixing valve control means 50. Output a signal. When the pilot valve 46 is closed, the water stop 0000 valve 40 is closed and the fluid does not flow completely. Therefore, the mixing valve control means 50 sets the control amount f (E) of the mixing valve 23 to 0 by this signal, and the first valve The driving amount of the coil is set to zero. As a result, the flow rate control valve 28 abuts against the valve seat 29 to control the temperature of the hot water until the flow rate decreases, and further, the time until the water stop valve 40 is closed by closing the pilot valve 46 (in FIG. 4). From t3 to t4), by maintaining the minimum mixing valve drive amount, the mixing valve 23 can be stopped at a position where the temperature can be controlled almost during the outflow time of the mixed hot water due to minute leakage from the flow control valve 28 . Therefore, if the drive amount of the flow rate adjusting on / off valve is set to 0 as shown in FIG. 4E at the time t3 and the mixing valve drive amount is set to 0 as shown by the broken line in FIG. The temperature in the mixing unit 19 drops extremely close to the water temperature as shown by the broken line in FIG. 4B due to the leakage from 28, but this phenomenon is prevented if the mixing valve drive amount is maintained up to t5 . The hot water temperature by the mixed hot water temperature detection means 15 can also be maintained near the set temperature as shown in FIG.
[0019]
After stopping the hot water supply, when a signal for starting the hot water supply is input again from the setting means 17 to the control means 18 (time t6 in FIG. 4), the mixing valve control means 50 determines the start of the hot water in step 114 in the temperature control. At the beginning of the hot water supply, the drive amount of the mixing valve drive means 24 is set to the drive amount when the flow rate for the previous stop process is large. Then, after the driving amount is transmitted to the mixing valve 3, the flow rate adjusting on / off valve 20 is opened.
[0020]
Since the temperature of the mixing part extruded first is close to the set temperature, there is no discomfort of the temperature immediately after the hot water. Further, immediately after the start of pouring, the flow rate of the mixing unit 19 is slow and the response of the mixed hot water temperature detecting means 15 is also lost. Is fixed at a value before the stop process is performed. Then, after the time set in advance in step 101 has elapsed, normal temperature control may be performed. As a result, temperature control is started after the mixed hot water temperature detecting means 15 is stabilized, so that the hot water temperature can be started without causing hunting or the like in the hot water temperature. Furthermore, since the first coil 26 is not energized at the time of stopping, heat generation of the coil can be suppressed and power can be saved.
[0021]
If the above processing is not performed, the mixed hot water temperature and the like are as indicated by broken lines in FIG. First, when the driving amount of the flow rate adjusting on / off valve becomes zero at time t3 when the hot water is stopped, the mixing valve driving amount is set to zero as shown in FIG. Here, as shown in FIG. 4 (c), the flow rate is slightly present because the stop valve 40 is not yet completely closed. If the driving amount of the mixing valve 23 is lost in this state, the opening degree on the water side is increased by the urging means 22, and most of the water flows into the mixing section until time t4. Therefore, the temperature of the mixing unit 19 becomes low as shown in FIG. Since the mixed hot water temperature detection means 15 is downstream of the mixing section 19, it seems that the set temperature is maintained substantially as shown in FIG. However, when a signal for starting the hot water discharge again is input from the setting means 17 to the control means 18 in this state, the flow rate adjusting on / off valve 20 is opened, and the water temperature staying in the mixing portion 19 as shown in FIG. Near hot water is pushed out and discharged. Not only is the discharged hot water temperature uncomfortable at a low temperature, but also the hot water temperature detecting means 15 detects this temperature and the mixing valve control means 50 calculates the drive amount of the first coil so as to reach the set temperature and outputs it. To do. Accordingly, since the drive amount is increased to raise the temperature, an overshoot actually occurs as shown in FIG.
[0022]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the hot and cold water mixing control apparatus of the present invention, the amount of time until the water stop valve closes when the hot water is stopped keeps the drive amount of the mixing valve at a position in the middle of the stop operation. Compared with the case where the drive amount is set to 0, the mixing portion does not decrease to near the water temperature. For this reason, even when starting hot water next time, low temperature hot water does not come out, and hot water near the set temperature can be obtained from the beginning.
[0023]
Therefore, even if it is used for a shower or the like where frequent flow stop and hot water are used, an uncomfortable temperature is not felt, and a safe mixed hot water temperature can be supplied, so that the appliance can be used with peace of mind.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a hot and cold water mixing control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the apparatus. FIG. 3 is a control block flowchart of the apparatus. (B) Diagram of mixed hot water temperature at the time of stopping and starting (b) Diagram of mixing chamber temperature at the time of stopping and starting hot water in the device (c) Diagram of driving amount of mixing valve at the time of stopping and starting hot water in the device (d) Fig. 5 (e) is a view of the flow rate at the time of hot water stop and start in the apparatus. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional hot water mixing control device.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Hot water flow path 2 Water flow path 17 Setting means 18 Control means 20 Flow rate adjustment on-off valve 21 Flow rate adjustment on-off valve drive means 24 Mixing valve drive means

Claims (1)

A mixing valve that adjusts the flow rate of the hot water channel and the water channel via the mixing valve driving means, a water stop valve having a diaphragm connected to the downstream side of the mixing valve, and a further downstream side of the water stop valve A flow control valve having a flow control valve body driven by the flow control open / close valve drive means, a control means for controlling the drive amounts of the mixing valve drive means and the flow control open / close valve drive means, And setting means for setting the secondary pressure of the flow rate control valve body to the back pressure portion of the flow rate control valve body and the diaphragm back pressure portion of the water stop valve. When the signal for stopping the hot water supply is input, the driving amount of the flow control valve element becomes a predetermined value or less, and the predetermined time until the pressure difference between the primary side of the diaphragm and the back pressure chamber becomes a value for closing the water stop valve, The control means is a mixing valve drive means. Hot and cold water mixing control apparatus is characterized in that so as to retain the drive amount of the valve at the stop operation halfway position.

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