JP3683938B2 - How to control the bath - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to a bath pot that circulates and heats water or hot water in a bathtub and a control method thereof.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, this type of automatic bathtub is configured as shown in FIG. 6, for example.
This automatic bath pot 1 shows, for example, a composite water heater, and includes a hot water supply heat exchanger 2 and a bath heat exchanger 3 in the main body.
The hot water supply pipe 4 for hot water supply is provided with a branch pipe 5 branched from here and connected to the recirculation circulation pipe 6. The branch pipe 5 is provided with a pouring electromagnetic valve 9. The recirculation circulation line 6 is connected to the circulation fitting 8 of the bathtub 7 to form a recirculation circulation line. The circulation line 6 includes a circulation pump 10, a bath thermistor 13, and a recirculation water switch. 14 are arranged. Further, a pressure sensor 11 as a water level sensor is provided in the branch pipe 5 communicating with the circulation pipe 6.
[0003]
In such an automatic bath pot 1, when filling the bathtub 7, the hot water solenoid valve 9 is opened and hot water is supplied via the circulation line 6.
Specifically, when an automatic switch (not shown) is turned on, first, the pouring electromagnetic valve 9 is opened, and hot water is double-conveyed from the branch pipe 5 through the return pipe 6a and the forward pipe 6b of the circulation pipe 6.
When hot water is filled up to a preset water level and the pressure sensor 11 detects that the water level in the bathtub 7 has reached the set water level, the pouring electromagnetic valve 9 is closed, the circulation pump 10 is turned on, and the running water switch 14 is turned on. Confirm that this state continues for a certain period of time.
[0004]
Next, the temperature of the hot water drawn from the bathtub 7 is detected by the bath thermistor 13. When the detection result is lower than the lower limit allowable temperature range of the set temperature set by a remote controller or the like (not shown), combustion is performed by the additional burner 15 and the temperature is raised until the set temperature is reached.
[0005]
The automatic operation described above is performed under the control of a control unit (not shown), and this control is performed based on the PQ characteristic based on the bathtub water level (P) and the amount of poured water (Q).
This PQ characteristic is created by detecting the output voltage of the pressure sensor based on the amount of poured water and the bathtub water level. In practice, when the pressure sensor 11 detects a pressure corresponding to the set water level, the hot water filling is automatically stopped.
The PQ characteristics differ depending on the shape of the bathtub to which the automatic bath is connected. Therefore, the PQ characteristics are created corresponding to each bathtub at the time of installation of the appliance and are stored in the computer of the automatic bath. It will be memorized.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in the conventional automatic bath pot 1, when the chasing operation is finished, the buzzer notifies the boiling and shifts to the heat retention mode. During this heat retention mode, the remote control or the like is set in advance in FIG. The indicated water level W1 is held.
[0007]
Therefore, the bather enters the bathtub 7 and the bathtub water level rises from W1 to W2. Here, for example, when another bather uses hot water in the bathtub 7 and the bathtub water level does not fall below the W1, the hot water is not added. When the bather is in the bathtub 7 and the bath water level is only W1, when the bather leaves the bathtub 7, the water level drops, and this water level falls below the 5 cm line above the circulation fitting 8, for example. When it turns, the heat retention mode is turned off, and there is a problem that the hot water is cooled when the next bather takes a bath.
[0008]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems. When the hot water in the bathtub decreases during bathing, the hot water can be added to maintain the bathing water level, avoiding troubles in the heat insulation mode operation, An object of the present invention is to provide a bath tub capable of maintaining the hot water inside at a set temperature and a control method thereof .
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the hot water in the bathtub is drawn into the circulation conduit and heated to circulate to the bathtub, and the hot water temperature in the bathtub is controlled to be kept at the set temperature. A bath with a controller that performs automatic operation so as to hold and control the water level within the set water level, and includes a bathing determination unit that detects that a person has entered or exited the bathtub, and the bathtub After detecting that a person has entered the bath, the bathing judgment unit of the control unit detects that the bath level has fallen due to the water level fluctuation, and the water level fluctuation due to the descent is caused by removing the bathtub plug. Even if it is a water level that terminates automatic operation, if it is determined that the water level fluctuation is caused by a person coming out of the bathtub, it is achieved by a bath pot that is configured not to terminate the automatic operation. Is done.
[0010]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the first aspect, when the bathing determination unit does not determine that a person has come out of the bathtub, the control unit determines that the bathtub water level is lower than the bathing water level. In the case, the hot water is added to the bathtub.
[0011]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the first or second aspect of the invention, after the bathing determination unit detects that a person has entered the bathtub, the control unit performs at predetermined intervals. The present invention is characterized in that the detection timing of hot water temperature detection is changed, hot water temperature is detected at short time intervals, and reheating is performed based on the detection result.
[0012]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the configuration according to any one of the first to third aspects, when the controller enters a bath from a bath pouring integrated flow rate when not bathing, The bath water level is maintained at the bathing water level by obtaining the bath pouring integrated flow rate at the time of bathing by subtracting the bather's volume corresponding to the sinking body volume.
[0013]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the configuration according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the bathing determination unit detects whether or not there has been a fluctuation exceeding a certain water level within a predetermined unit time when detecting the water level in the bathtub. By determining, it is configured to determine whether or not a person has entered or exited the bathtub.
[0014]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the fifth aspect of the invention, whether or not the bathing determination unit has detected a water level exceeding a predetermined amount within a predetermined unit time when detecting the water level in the bathtub. It is characterized by having the structure which discriminate | determines that the person entered the bathtub by judging.
[0015]
Further, in the invention of claim 7, the above-mentioned object is to draw hot water in the bathtub into the circulation pipe, heat it, circulate it to the bathtub, and keep the hot water temperature in the bathtub at the set temperature. In the bath pot control method for performing automatic operation so that the water level in the bathtub is held and controlled at the set water level, the bath water level is detected at predetermined intervals after detecting that a person has entered the bathtub. When the water level detection detects a drop in the bathtub water level, it can be determined that the fluctuation in the water level due to the drop is caused by removing the bathtub stopper. When it is determined that the change is due to the person getting out of the bathtub, this is achieved by the control method of the bath tub that does not end the automatic operation.
[0018]
【Example】
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In addition, since the Example described below is a suitable specific example of this invention, various technically preferable restrictions are attached | subjected, The range of this invention limits this invention especially in the following description. As long as there is no description of the effect, it is not restricted to these aspects.
[0019]
FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing a main configuration of a bath pot applied to the present embodiment. In this case, the configuration of an automatic bath pot as a complex machine having a hot water supply function is shown.
In the figure, an automatic bath pot 20 is provided with a hot water supply heat exchanger 21 and a bath heat exchanger 23 in the main body, and is branched from a hot water supply pipe 45 and connected to a tracking pipe 26. A path 25 is provided.
[0020]
The reheating pipe 26 is connected to the circulation fitting 28 of the bathtub 27 to form a recirculation circulation pipe. The return pipe 26a has a reheating water switch 31, a hot water circulation pump 32, and heat for the bath. A bath thermistor 33 is provided on the entry side of the exchanger 23.
[0021]
A water supply flow sensor 42 and a water supply thermistor 43 are connected to a supply pipe 41 to which water is supplied. A hot water supply thermistor is connected to a hot water supply pipe 45 extending from the water supply pipe 41 through the hot water supply heat exchanger 21. 46 is connected.
A hot water solenoid valve 37 and a pressure sensor 38 as water level detecting means are connected to the branch pipe 25 branched from the hot water supply pipe 45.
[0022]
Each of these operation units, detection units, and the like are connected to the control unit 50, and a remote controller 58 is connected to the control unit 50.
FIG. 2 shows a main device configuration for the control unit 50, and the control method of the bathtub according to the present embodiment is realized by such a device configuration.
That is, in FIG. 2, a remote controller 58 is connected to the control unit 50, and the user can give predetermined instructions such as a set temperature and a set water level in the heat retention mode by the remote controller 58. The remote control 58 is equipped with an automatic switch (not shown).
[0023]
Further, the control unit 50 has a built-in bathing determination unit 59 for determining whether bathing is in progress or not taking a bath. The bathing determination unit 59 is connected to a pressure sensor 38, and a detection signal is input thereto. The
Furthermore, the control unit 50 is connected to the circulation pump 32, the hot water solenoid valve 37, the hot water combustion unit 60, and the bath combustion unit 61, and a control signal is output to each. The hot water combustion unit 60 or the bath combustion unit 61 is a combustion amount adjusting means such as proportional valves 53 and 54 for adjusting the amount of fuel gas supplied to the hot water supply burner 51 or the reheating burner 52, for example.
[0024]
Here, the storage unit built in the control unit 50 stores PQ data and the like necessary for automatic operation of the automatic bath 20.
That is, the operation of the automatic bath 20 is performed by the control unit 50 based on the PQ characteristics based on the bathtub water level (P) and the amount of poured water (Q). As already described, the PQ characteristic is based on the same method as in the prior art, and is created by detecting the output voltage of the pressure sensor 38 based on the amount of poured water and the bathtub water level. Actually, when the pressure sensor 38 detects a pressure corresponding to the set water level, the hot water filling is automatically stopped.
Since this PQ characteristic varies depending on the shape of the bathtub to which the automatic bath is connected, etc., it is created for each bathtub when the appliance is installed and stored in the storage section of the automatic bath. It is something to be made.
[0025]
In such an automatic bath 20, the heat insulation mode operation is performed according to the flow shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.
That is, as shown in FIG. 3, when the automatic operation is finished (ST1), the boil is notified by the buzzer, and the mode is shifted to the heat retention mode (ST2). In addition, this automatic driving | operation means until hot water filling, reheating, and setting temperature rise.
Whenever a predetermined time, for example, 30 minutes elapses (ST3), the temperature of the bathtub 27 is detected by the bath thermistor 33 (ST4). Since the bath thermistor 33 detects the temperature of the hot water drawn into the circulation line 26, the circulation pump 32 is turned on.
[0026]
If the detection result is less than the lower limit allowable temperature range of the set temperature set in advance by the remote controller 58 or the like (ST5), combustion is performed by the tracking burner 52 and tracking is performed until the set temperature is reached (ST6).
When the detection result reaches the lower limit allowable temperature range of the set temperature (ST7), the chasing burner 52 is stopped and chasing is finished (ST8).
Thereafter, the circulation pump 32 is turned off (ST9), the 30-minute timer is reset to return to the heat insulation mode start state (ST10), then the process returns to ST3, and the temperature detection is repeated every 30 minutes.
[0027]
On the other hand, before 30 minutes elapses in ST3, the water level in the bathtub 27 is constantly detected by the pressure sensor 38 (ST11).
If the detection result is less than the preset water level set in advance by the remote controller 58 or the like, hot water is added until the set water level is exceeded (ST12-1).
If the detection result is equal to or higher than the set water level (ST12), it is detected by the pressure sensor 38 whether the bather has bathed in the bathtub 27 (ST13).
Specifically, the current water level in the bathtub 27 is detected by the pressure sensor 38, and the bathing determination unit 59 determines the detected value. For example, the water level in the bathtub 27 is determined within 30 seconds, which is a predetermined unit time. For example, if the water level rises 3 cm or more from the water level, it is determined that the bath has been taken (entered in the bathtub).
Here, as for the unit time and the water level fluctuation within the unit time, the water level fluctuation when the user enters and exits the bathtub is confirmed by experiments, etc., determined in advance and stored in the storage unit of the control unit 50. Can do.
[0028]
If it is not determined that the bath has been taken and four hours have passed since the start of the heat retention mode (ST14), the heat retention mode is turned off (ST15), and the system waits for the next automatic operation.
If four hours have not elapsed since the start of the heat retention mode (ST14), the process returns to step 3 and temperature detection is continued every 30 minutes again.
And when it determines with having bathed in step 13, it transfers to A shown in FIG.
[0029]
That is, as shown in FIG. 4, while storing the bathing water level peculiar to a bather, the function f1 based on the new PQ characteristic which subtracted the body volume of the bather is calculated (ST16).
This PQ characteristic f1 at the time of bathing is shown in FIG. This graph is a function of the bathtub water level and the bathtub pouring integrated flow rate corresponding thereto, and is stored in the control unit 50.
Specifically, when the bathing PQ characteristic f1 is set to the set water level (current water level) Q1 by the bathtub cross-sectional area stored as stored data in the storage unit built in the control unit 50, the bather Is set by detecting that the current water level rises to the bathing water level Q2 by bathing in the bathtub 27 and connects this Q2 and the origin.
[0030]
In this case, the function indicating the PQ characteristic at the time of bathing and the function indicating the PQ characteristic at the time of non-bathing are set so as to open with each other as the water level increases as shown in the figure. This is because when the bather enters the bathtub, the higher the bathtub water level, the more the body sinks into the hot water (for example, up to the abdomen or shoulder), so the volume that sinks into the hot water increases. is there.
Moreover, as shown in FIG. 5, the bathing water level based on the PQ characteristic at the time of bathing may obtain the bathing water level Q2 by subtracting the bather volume corresponding to the water level from the current accumulated pouring flow rate. .
Furthermore, even if the function f1 is not set in this way, if the bathing water level Q2 is obtained by the above-mentioned rise in the water level, it may be simply added to that value.
[0031]
Furthermore, each time the water level rises due to bathing, the value may be stored, and the storage unit built in the control unit 50 may learn it as stored data, and add hot water to the corresponding water level.
In addition, when the PQ characteristics at the time of bathing and at the time of non-bathing are linked to change the set water level during bathing, a new bathing water level is set accordingly. In this case, until the bath water level is lowered to the new bathing water level, the hot water in the bathtub is not used for the addition. Furthermore, if the hot water of the bathtub is used, the bathtub water level is lower than the newly set bathing water level, so that additional hot water is added. At this time, if the user goes out of the bathtub, the bathtub water level becomes a new set water level.
[0032]
Next, every time a predetermined time, for example, 10 minutes elapses as a timing different from that during non-bathing (ST17), the temperature of the bathtub 27 is detected by the bath thermistor 33 (ST18). The circulation pump 32 is turned on immediately before the temperature measurement (for example, one minute before).
[0033]
If the detection result is less than the lower limit allowable temperature range of the set temperature set in advance by the remote controller 58 or the like (ST19), combustion by the reheating burner 52 is continued, and the hot water in the bathtub 27 is maintained at a predetermined circulating flow rate. However, it is chased until the set temperature is reached (ST20).
When the detection result reaches the lower limit allowable temperature range of the set temperature (ST21), the chasing burner 52 is stopped and chasing is finished (ST22).
Thereafter, the circulation pump 32 is turned off (ST23), the 10-minute timer is reset, the process returns to step 17 (ST24), and the temperature detection is repeated every 10 minutes.
[0034]
On the other hand, before 10 minutes have passed, it is checked whether the water level in the bathtub 27 has fluctuated (ST25).
If the water level of the bathtub 27 has fluctuated, it waits until this fluctuation stops (ST26), and first, it is determined whether or not this water level fluctuation is caused by removing the stopper of the bathtub (ST27), that is, circulation. If the water level falls below 5 cm above the fitting, it is determined that the bathtub has been unplugged, and the automatic operation is terminated (ST30).
[0035]
Otherwise, if the water level fluctuation is due to the person getting out of the bathtub (ST28), the bathing water level stored in step 16 and the bathing bath cross-sectional area are cleared without terminating the automatic operation. Then, the process proceeds to B shown in FIG. 3 and returns to the heat insulation start state (ST32). Otherwise, if it is determined that the fluctuation in the water level is a drop in water level due to the use of bathtub water (ST29), additional hot water is added (ST31).
[0036]
Thus, according to this embodiment, the temperature is detected, for example, every 10 minutes during bathing, and the temperature is detected, for example, every 30 minutes during non-bathing, so that the hot water temperature in the bathtub 27 becomes equal to or higher than the set temperature. To keep warm. Therefore, the hot water in the bathtub 27 can always be kept at the set temperature by shortening the temperature measuring time during bathing unlike the conventional case.
Further, before elapse of a predetermined time (for example, 10 minutes during bathing, 30 minutes during non-bathing), the water level in the bathtub 27 is detected, and the detected value is less than the set water level during non-bathing and during bathing. When it becomes less than the bathing water level, the water level in the bathtub 27 is maintained by adding hot water. Therefore, even if the bather goes up from the bath, unlike the conventional case, the water level in the bathtub 27 does not drop significantly and is maintained near the set water level, so the trouble that the heat retention mode is turned off is avoided, and the next bather takes a bath. The hot water is kept at the set temperature when you do.
Furthermore, since the bathing water level is maintained by obtaining the bathing bath sectional area Q2 obtained by subtracting the bather's volume, the water level control corresponding to the bathing water level unique to the bather can be performed.
[0037]
In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the method of the present invention is applied to a composite type automatic bath pot has been described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and all of the automatic bath pots including a circulation conduit for reheating are used. Of course, it is applicable to.
[0038]
【The invention's effect】
As described above , according to the bath pot and the control method thereof according to the present invention, when the hot water in the bathtub decreases during bathing, it is possible to maintain the bathing water level by adding hot water and avoid troubles in the heat insulation mode operation. And the outstanding effect that the hot water in a bathtub can be hold | maintained to preset temperature is exhibited.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing a main configuration of a bath pot applied to the present embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a connection between a control unit and each element.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a method for controlling the bathtub according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a method for controlling the bathtub according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a concept of calculating a cross-sectional area at the time of bathing in the present embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a system diagram showing a main configuration of a conventional bath pot.
FIG. 7 shows a water level in a bathtub, (a) is a cross-sectional view showing a set water level, and (b) is a cross-sectional view showing a bathing water level.
[Explanation of symbols]
20 automatic bath pot 21 heat exchanger for hot water supply 23 heat exchanger for bath 25 branch pipe 26 additional pipe 26a return pipe 26b forward pipe 26c parallel section 27 bathtub 28 circulation fitting 31 additional flowing water switch 32 hot water circulation pump 33 Bath thermistor 37 Pouring solenoid valve 38 Pressure sensor 41 Supply pipe 42 Incoming flow sensor 43 Incoming thermistor 45 Hot water supply pipe 46 Hot water supply thermistor 50 Control unit 58 Remote control 51 Hot water burner 52 Reheating burner 53 Proportional valve 54 Proportional valve 59 Bathing judgment part 60 Hot water combustion section 61 Bath combustion section

Claims (7)

The hot water in the bathtub is drawn into the circulation pipe, heated, circulated to the bathtub, and the hot water temperature in the bathtub is controlled to keep at the set temperature, and the water level in the bathtub is automatically controlled to be kept at the set water level. In a bathtub with a control unit that performs
It has a bathing determination unit that detects that a person has entered or exited the bathtub,
After detecting that a person has entered the bathtub, when detecting a drop in the bathtub water level in the water level fluctuation, the bathing determination unit of the control unit,
It can be determined that the water level fluctuation due to the descent is due to removing the bathtub tap, and even if the water level is to end automatic operation, if it is determined that the water level fluctuation is due to a person coming out of the bathtub, The automatic operation is not terminated.
A bath pot characterized by that. When the said bathing judgment part does not judge that the person came out of the bathtub, when the said control part judges that it is less than a bathing water level about the said bath water level, it was set as the structure which adds hot water to the said bathtub. The bath tub according to claim 1. After the bathing determination unit detects that a person has entered the bathtub, the control unit changes the detection timing of hot water temperature detection performed at predetermined intervals, and detects hot water temperature at short time intervals, The bath tub according to claim 1, wherein the reheating is performed based on the detection result. Bathtub pouring at the time of bathing in which the control unit subtracts the bather's volume corresponding to the volume of the body sinking into the bath when a person enters the bath from the bath pouring accumulated flow rate when not bathing The bath tub according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the bath water level is maintained at a bathing water level by obtaining an integrated flow rate . Configuration the bathing determination unit, when the water level detected in the bath, by determining whether or not there is a change exceeding a predetermined water level within predetermined unit time, to determine whether there has been out of the human into the bathtub and then, characterized in that the, bathtub according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The bathing determination unit determines whether or not a person has entered the bathtub by detecting whether or not the water level has exceeded a predetermined amount within a predetermined unit time when detecting the water level in the bathtub. wherein the structure and the, bathtub according to claim 5. The hot water in the bathtub is drawn into the circulation pipe, heated, circulated to the bathtub, and the hot water temperature in the bathtub is controlled to keep at the set temperature, and the water level in the bathtub is automatically controlled to be kept at the set water level. In the control method of the bathtub
After detecting that a person has entered the bathtub, the bathtub water level is detected every predetermined time,
When a drop in the bathtub water level is detected in the water level detection, it can be determined that the fluctuation in the water level due to the drop is due to removing the bathtub plug, and even if the water level is to terminate the automatic operation, the fluctuation in the water level is not detected from the bathtub. If it is determined that a person has gone out, the automatic operation will not be terminated.
A method for controlling a bath tub.

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