JP3848874B2

JP3848874B2 - Forced circulation bath

Info

Publication number: JP3848874B2
Application number: JP2001382891A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 洋祐貞包; 淳三島
Original assignee: 株式会社長府製作所
Priority date: 2001-12-17
Filing date: 2001-12-17
Publication date: 2006-11-22
Anticipated expiration: 2021-12-17
Also published as: JP2003185246A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、浴槽の循環吐出し口から吐出する浴水の温度を調節することが可能な強制循環式ふろ釜装置に関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
強制循環式ふろ釜装置が設けられたふろ設備では、ふろの沸き上げ、ふろの追い焚きいずれの場合でも、浴槽に設けられた循環吸込み口から循環ポンプで吸い込まれた浴水が加熱手段で加熱され、高温になった（例えば、浴槽から吸い込まれた浴水の温度に対して２０〜３０℃の温度が上昇した）浴水が浴槽に設けられた循環吐出し口から吐き出され、この高温の浴水が浴槽内に拡散することで浴槽内の浴水の温度が上昇していく。このとき、浴槽内の浴水の温度を素早く上昇させるために、加熱手段では予め設定された加熱能力で浴水を加熱することが行われている。その結果、浴槽内の浴水の温度が上昇してくると、循環吐出し口から吐出する浴水の温度も上昇していた。
【０００３】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
しかしながら、ふろの使用者が浴槽内に入った状態で追い焚き運転を行うと、循環吐出し口からは熱い湯が吐出してくるため、非常な不快感を感じていた。特に、循環する浴水量が少ない場合は吐き出される浴水の温度は更に高くなるため、不快感はより顕著となっていた。このため、循環吐出し口から熱い浴水が吐き出されないように、加熱手段の加熱能力を抑えることが考えられる。しかし、加熱能力を抑えると、ふろの沸き上げ、ふろの追い焚きに非常に長い時間を要することになり、ふろの沸き上げや追い焚きの能率が悪くなって好ましくない。
本発明はかかる事情に鑑みてなされたもので、浴槽の循環吐出し口から吐出させる加熱後の浴水の温度を浴槽内の浴水温度に応じて調節することが可能な強制循環式ふろ釜装置を提供することを目的とする。
【０００４】
【課題を解決するための手段】
前記目的に沿う本発明に係る強制循環式ふろ釜装置は、使用者が予め設定する浴水の設定温度を定め、循環ポンプで吸い込んだ浴槽の浴水をふろ戻り経路に設けられたふろ戻り温度センサで測定して加熱手段で加熱し、加熱された浴水をふろ往き経路に設けられたふろ往き温度センサで確認して前記浴槽内に吐出する強制循環式ふろ釜装置において、
前記加熱手段が浴水を加熱する際の前記設定温度より高い目標温度を前記ふろ戻り温度センサで測定する浴水温度と前記設定温度との温度差に基づいて調節する目標温度調節手段と、
前記目標温度に基づいて前記加熱手段の運転制御を行う加熱制御手段とを有し、
前記目標温度調節手段には、更に前記目標温度を前記使用者に設定させる手動目標温度設定機能が設けられ、前記ふろ往き温度センサで測定された浴水の温度が該目標温度となるように前記加熱手段の運転制御が行われる。
【０００５】
これによって、浴水温度と設定温度の差が大きい場合は、浴槽内に使用者が入っている可能性が低いため、加熱手段の加熱能力を高く調節して、浴槽内に高温に加熱された浴水を吐出することができる。また、浴水温度と設定温度の差が小さい場合は、浴槽内に使用者が入っている可能性が高いため、加熱手段の加熱能力を低く調節して、加熱されて浴槽内に吐出する浴水の温度と浴槽内の浴水温度との差を小さくすることができる。
また、目標温度を高くして沸き上げ時間、又は追い焚き時間の短縮を優先すること、循環吐出し口から吐出する加熱後の浴水温度を抑えて快適性を追求することのいずれかを任意に選択することが可能となる。
【０００６】
本発明に係る強制循環式ふろ釜装置において、前記目標温度調節手段には、手動で前記目標温度が設定された際には、自動目標温度設定による動作が停止し、前記設定温度を基準として前記目標温度を前記温度差に基づいて設定する自動目標温度設定機能が設けられていることが好ましい。
目標温度が設定温度を基準として設定されるので、設定温度が低い場合は低めに加熱された浴水を循環吐出し口から吐出させることができ、設定温度が高い場合は高めに加熱された浴水を循環吐出し口から吐出させることができる。
【０００７】
【０００８】
本発明に係る強制循環式ふろ釜装置において、前記加熱制御手段には、前記ふろ戻り温度センサで測定された浴水温度が前記設定温度を超えた場合に、前記温度差に応じて加熱能力を調節する機能が設けられていることが好ましい。
これによって、例えば、使用者が熱めのふろに入りたいときに、設定温度を無視して浴槽内の浴水温度を上昇させることができる。その際に、加熱手段の加熱能力を調節することができるので、高温の浴水が浴槽内に吐出されるのを防止して急激に浴水温度が上昇するのを抑えることができる。
【０００９】
【発明の実施の形態】
続いて、添付した図面を参照しつつ、本発明を具体化した実施の形態につき説明し、本発明の理解に供する。
ここに、図１は本発明の一実施の形態に係る強制循環式ふろ釜装置を備えたふろ設備の全体構成ブロック図、図２は同強制循環式ふろ釜装置により浴水を加熱する際の運転状況を説明するフロー図、図３は同強制循環式ふろ釜装置の加熱制御手段における制御内容を説明するフロー図である。
図１に示すように、ふろ設備１０は、浴槽１１と、浴槽１１の浴水１２を加熱する本発明の一実施の形態に係る強制循環式ふろ釜装置１３を有している。そして、強制循環式ふろ釜装置１３は、浴槽１１の浴水１２を加熱する加熱手段１４と、使用者が予め設定する設定温度の指令を行う浴室操作部１５と、浴室操作部１５からの指令を受けて加熱手段１４の運転を制御する制御機構１６を有している。更に、浴室操作部１５には、加熱手段１４が浴水１２を加熱する際の目標温度を使用者が手動設定することができる手動目標温度入力機能が設けられている。以下、これらについて詳細に説明する。
【００１０】
加熱手段１４は、図１に示すように、浴槽１１の側壁に形成された浴水１２の吸込み口１７及び吐出し口１８を接続する循環経路１９と、循環経路１９に接続され浴水１２を加熱する熱交換器２０を有している。ここで、吸込み口１７と吐出し口１８は、例えば、浴槽１１の同一側壁にそれぞれ形成され、吸込み口１７は吐出し口１８よりも浴槽１１の底側に設けられている。吸込み口１７と熱交換器２０の熱交換部２８の入口側とを接続するふろ戻り経路２１には循環ポンプ２２が配設され、循環ポンプ２２の上流側のふろ戻り経路２１には吸込み口１７から循環ポンプ２２により吸引された浴水１２の温度を測定するふろ戻り温度センサの一例であるふろ戻りサーミスタ２３と、熱交換器２０の熱交換部２８の入口側に向かう浴水１２の流水を検知する水流スイッチ２４が配設されている。ここで、循環ポンプ２２としては、ボリュート式やカスケード式等のポンプが用いられる。また、水流スイッチ２４としては、パドル式、電磁式、超音波式、カルマン流式、サーミスタ式、水車式、羽根車式、差圧式の検知器を使用することができる。また、熱交換器２０の熱交換部２８の出口側と吐出し口１８を接続するふろ往き経路２５には、熱交換器２０で加熱された浴水１２の温度を測定するふろ往き温度センサの一例であるふろ往きサーミスタ２６が設けられている。なお、ふろ戻り及びふろ往きの各温度センサとしてはサーミスタ以外に熱電対や測温抵抗体等が使用できる。
【００１１】
熱交換器２０は、加熱源の一例であるガス燃焼機構２７と、ガス燃焼機構２７で発生した熱で浴水１２を加熱する熱交換部２８を有している。そして、ガス燃焼機構２７にはガス点火部２９を備えたガスバーナ３０と、ガスバーナ３０に燃料ガスを供給する燃料供給管３１が設けられている。更に、燃料供給管３１には、燃料ガスの供給及び停止を行う開閉弁の一例である電磁弁３２と、電磁弁３２から供給された燃料ガスの流量調整を行うガス流量調整機構の一例である電磁比例弁３３が配設されている。
このような構成とすることにより、浴槽１１に貯留されている浴水１２を循環ポンプ２２を運転して吸込み口１７からふろ戻り経路２１を介して熱交換器２０に導入し、ふろ戻りサーミスタ２３の測定結果に基づいて熱交換部２８で加熱することができる。また、加熱された浴水１２をふろ往き経路２５内を流水させて、ふろ往きサーミスタ２６で温度の確認をしてから吐出し口１８より浴槽１１内に吐出させることができる。
【００１２】
浴室操作部１５には、浴水１２を加熱する際の設定温度を入力させる設定温度入力機能、加熱手段１４が浴水１２を加熱する際の目標温度を手動で入力させる手動目標温度入力機能、入力された設定温度と目標温度を制御機構１６に伝達すると共に制御機構１６との連携動作を行うための通信信号のやり取りを行う通信機能が設けられている。このような機能を有する浴室操作部１５は、例えばマイクロコンピュータを用いて構成することができる。
制御機構１６には、ふろ戻りサーミスタ２３で測定した浴水１２の温度（以下、浴水温度、又はふろ温度という）と浴室操作部１５から伝達された設定温度との温度差に基づいて加熱手段１４が浴水１２を加熱する際の目標温度を調節する目標温度調節手段３４と、目標温度調節手段３４から伝達された目標温度に基づいて加熱手段１４の運転制御を行う加熱制御手段３５が設けられている。ここで、制御機構１６は、例えばマイクロコンピュータから構成され、ふろ戻りサーミスタ２３、ふろ往きサーミスタ２６、水流スイッチ２４の各検知信号が入力されている。制御機構１６内には予め設定された各種運転内容に応じて、循環ポンプ２２、ガス点火部２９、電磁弁３２、電磁比例弁３３の運転及び動作を制御するプログラムが格納されている。このため、浴室操作部１５から設定温度、あるいは、設定温度及び目標温度の運転指令信号が制御機構１６に入力されると、運転指令信号とふろ戻りサーミスタ２３、ふろ往きサーミスタ２６及び水流スイッチ２４の検知信号に基づいて、循環ポンプ２２、ガス点火部２９、電磁弁３２、電磁比例弁３３の運転及び動作が行われて加熱手段１４の運転が開始される。
【００１３】
目標温度調節手段３４には、加熱手段１４が浴水１２を加熱する際の目標温度を、ふろ戻りサーミスタ２３で測定する浴水温度と設定温度との温度差に基づいて調節する自動目標温度設定機能が設けられている。自動目標温度設定機能では、温度差が大きい場合（例えば、水道水の水温から沸き上げる場合）、加熱手段１４で浴水１２を加熱する際の目標温度を設定温度に対して大きな温度上昇となるように設定する。一方、温度差が小さい場合、加熱手段１４で浴水１２を加熱する際の目標温度を設定温度に対して小さな温度上昇となるように設定する。また、一度沸き上がった浴水１２を沸き上げ後所定時間保温するために行う保温運転では、目標温度を設定温度に対して更に小さな温度上昇となるように設定する。沸き上げの場合、温度差が例えば、４℃を超えているときは目標温度を、例えば上限の７０℃に固定し、温度差が４℃以下のときは設定温度に対する補正値（温度上昇値）を１０〜１５℃として、目標温度を設定温度より補正値だけ高い温度に設定する。更に、保温運転の場合では、補正値を５〜１０℃として、目標温度を設定温度より補正値だけ高い温度に設定する。また、使用者が入浴してから行う追い焚き運転では、補正値を１０〜１５℃として、目標温度を設定温度より補正値だけ高い温度に設定する。沸き上げ運転と保温運転はセットで行われ、追い焚き運転は単独で行われる。通常、ふろ往きサーミスター２６で測定された浴水１２の温度（以下、ふろ往き温度という）が目標温度となるように加熱調節機能が作動して加熱手段１４の運転制御が行われる。ふろ往き温度が目標温度未満の場合、浴水１２の加熱が十分に行われていないので、電磁比例弁３３の開度を増加させるため、加熱調節機能が作動して比例弁出力増加の指示を出す。一方、加熱手段１４による浴水１２の加熱が進行し、ふろ往き温度が目標温度に近づくと目標温度との偏差に基づき、電磁比例弁３３の開度を減少させるため、加熱調節機能が作動して比例弁出力減少の指示を出す。
【００１４】
目標温度調節手段３４には、更に、手動目標温度設定機能が設けられている。浴室操作部１５の手動目標温度入力機能により手動で設定された目標温度は、浴室操作部１５から制御機構１６の目標温度調節手段３４に入力される。そして、目標温度調節手段３４では、手動入力された目標温度に基づいて加熱手段１４の運転制御を行う。なお、手動目標温度入力機能には、設定できる目標温度に上限値（例えば、７０℃）が設けられている。
また、加熱制御手段３５には、ふろ戻りサーミスター２３、ふろ往きサーミスター２６の検出信号に応じて作動し加熱能力を調整する加熱調節機能が設けられている。
【００１５】
次に、本発明の一実施の形態に係る強制循環式ふろ釜装置の運転方法について、図１、図２、図３を用いて詳細に説明する。
制御機構１６が浴室操作部１５から浴水１２を加熱する際の設定温度の指示と沸き上げ運転開始、又は設定温度の指示と追い焚き運転開始の信号を受信すると、循環ポンプ２２が駆動して循環経路１９内に浴水１２を循環させる。循環経路１９内を浴水１２が流水していることを水流スイッチ２４が検知すると、加熱制御手段３５によりガス燃焼機構２７の運転制御が可能になる。その結果、電磁弁３２が開となって燃料ガスがガスバーナ３０に供給され、ガス点火部２９が動作して着火が生じガスバーナ３０の運転が開始する（Ｓ１）。
【００１６】
ガスバーナ３０の運転を開始すると、保温運転判定、すなわち、沸き上げ運転であるか、保温運転であるかの判定が行われる（Ｓ２）。保温運転の場合、目標温度を設定温度より５〜１０℃高い温度に設定して、ふろ往き温度が目標温度となるように加熱制御手段３５で制御して小能力でガスバーナ３０の燃焼を行う（Ｓ３）。次いで、ふろ温度と設定温度の比較を行って（Ｓ４）、ふろ温度が設定温度以上の場合は保温運転が終了したとしてガスバーナの運転を終了する（Ｓ５）。ふろ温度が設定温度以上の場合は保温運転が終了したと判断してガスバーナの運転を終了するが（Ｓ５）、ふろ温度が設定温度未満の場合は、ふろ温度が設定温度以上になるまでガスバーナ３０の燃焼を継続する（Ｓ２→Ｓ３→Ｓ４の繰返し）。保温運転の場合は、初回の沸き上げ運転終了から所定の時間にわたって温度低下を監視し、所定時間経過後に保温運転を終了する。
【００１７】
保温運転でない場合、すなわち、沸き上げ運転の場合では、ふろ温度と設定温度との比較を行って温度差が４℃を超えているときは（Ｓ６）、目標温度を上限の７０℃に固定して大能力でガスバーナ３０の燃焼を行い（Ｓ７）、次いでふろ温度と設定温度の比較を行う（Ｓ４）。また、ふろ温度と設定温度との比較を行って温度差が４℃以下のときは（Ｓ６）、補正値を１０〜１５℃として目標温度がこの補正値だけ高い温度となるように加熱制御手段３５で制御して中能力でガスバーナ３０の燃焼を行い（Ｓ８）、次いでふろ温度と設定温度の比較を行う（Ｓ４）。いずれの場合においても、ふろ温度が設定温度以上となったときは沸き上げが終了したと判断してガスバーナ３０の運転を終了するが（Ｓ５）、ふろ温度が設定温度未満の場合は、ふろ温度が設定温度以上になるまでガスバーナ３０の燃焼を継続する（Ｓ２→Ｓ６→Ｓ７→Ｓ４又はＳ２→Ｓ６→Ｓ８→Ｓ４の繰返し）。
【００１８】
ここで、浴室操作部１５において手動操作によって目標温度が設定された場合、この目標温度が目標温度調節手段３４に伝えられると、自動目標温度設定機能の動作が停止して、加熱制御手段３５による制御は全て手動で設定された目標温度を基準に行われる。従って、保温運転の場合は、ふろ往き温度はこの目標温度となるようにガスバーナ３０で燃焼を行って（Ｓ３）、ふろ温度と設定温度の比較が行われる（Ｓ４）。そして、ふろ温度が設定温度以上の場合は保温運転が終了したと判断してガスバーナの運転を終了するが（Ｓ５）、ふろ温度が設定温度未満の場合は、ふろ温度が設定温度以上になるまでガスバーナ３０の燃焼を継続する（Ｓ２→Ｓ３→Ｓ４の繰返し）。保温運転の場合は、初回の沸き上げ運転終了から所定の時間にわたって温度低下を監視し、所定時間経過後に保温運転を終了する。一方、保温運転でない場合（沸き上げ運転の場合）では、ふろ温度と設定温度との温度差が４℃を超えている（Ｓ６）場合、あるいは、温度差が４℃以下である場合（Ｓ６）のいずれにおいても、ふろ往き温度はこの目標温度となるようにガスバーナ３０で燃焼を行う（Ｓ７、Ｓ８）。そして、ふろ温度が設定温度以上となったときは沸き上げが終了したと判断してガスバーナの運転を終了するが（Ｓ５）、ふろ温度が設定温度未満の場合は、ふろ温度が設定温度以上になるまでガスバーナ３０の燃焼を継続する（Ｓ２→Ｓ６→Ｓ７→Ｓ４又はＳ２→Ｓ６→Ｓ８→Ｓ４の繰返し）。
【００１９】
また、本実施の形態に係る強制循環式ふろ釜装置１３の加熱制御手段３５に、ふろ温度が設定温度を超えたときにその温度差に応じて加熱能力を調節する機能が設けられている場合の強制循環式ふろ釜装置１３の運転方法について図３を用いて詳細に説明する。
ふろが沸き上がっている（設定温度への沸き上げが終了している）が、使用者が熱めのふろに入りたい場合、使用者は浴室操作部１５のあつめ（あるいは追い焚き）運転スイッチを入れることにより、設定温度よりも高い温度への沸き上げが可能となる。使用者が、例えば浴室操作部１５のあつめ運転（又は追い焚き運転）スイッチをいれると（Ｓ９）、循環ポンプ２２が起動し（Ｓ１０）、水流スイッチ２４が水流を検知すると（Ｓ１１）、ふろ戻りサーミスタ２３で測定したふろ戻り温度と、設定温度との比較が行われる（Ｓ１２）。ふろ戻り温度が設定温度より低い場合（ＮＯ）には図２のＡに進み、ふろ戻り温度が設定温度以上の場合（ＹＥＳ）には、次にふろ戻り温度が「設定温度＋所定温度（実施の形態の説明では２℃）」で規定される温度以上であるか比較し（Ｓ１３）、ふろ戻り温度が「設定温度＋所定温度」で規定される温度未満の場合（ＮＯ）、電磁弁３２が開となって燃料ガスがガスバーナ３０に供給されガス点火部２９が動作する（Ｓ１４）。このとき、電磁比例弁３３の開度は点火開度である。次いで、電磁比例弁３３の開度を最小開度とし、最低能力燃焼で燃焼する（Ｓ１５）。あつめ（あるいは追い焚き）スイッチが切りになるか（Ｓ１６）、あるいはふろ戻り温度が「設定温度＋所定温度」で規定される温度以上になるまでＳ１３→Ｓ１４→Ｓ１５→Ｓ１６を繰り返す。Ｓ１３でふろ戻り温度が「設定温度＋所定温度」で規定される温度以上になると（ＹＥＳ）、燃焼及び循環ポンプ２２を停止し（Ｓ１７）、あつめ（あるいは追い焚き）の運転モードを終了する（Ｓ１８）。
【００２０】
以上、本発明の実施の形態を説明したが、本発明は、この実施の形態に限定されるものではない。例えば、ふろ戻り温度と設定温度の温度差が４℃以下であるかどうかで目標温度の設定を変更したが、温度差を１〜１０℃の範囲で任意に、しかも複数設定することができる。更に、複数の温度差で区分される範囲毎に補正値をそれぞれ決めるようにすることもできる。
また、手動で目標温度を設定する場合も、沸き上げ運転及び保温運転は共通の目標温度としたが、個別に設定することもできる。更に、複数の温度領域を設け、各々個別の目標温度を設けることもできる。
【００２１】
【発明の効果】
請求項１及び２記載の強制循環式ふろ釜装置においては、加熱手段が浴水を加熱する際の設定温度より高い目標温度を、ふろ戻り温度センサで測定する浴水温度と設定温度との温度差に基づいて調節する目標温度調節手段と、目標温度に基づいて加熱手段の運転制御を行う加熱制御手段とを有するので、浴水温度と設定温度の差が大きい場合は、浴槽内に使用者が入っている可能性が低いため、加熱手段の加熱能力を高く調節して浴槽内に高温に加熱された浴水を吐出することができ、短時間でふろの沸き上げを行うことが可能となる。また、浴水温度と設定温度の差が小さい場合は、浴槽内に使用者が入っている可能性が高いため、加熱手段の加熱能力を低く調節し加熱されて浴槽内に吐出する浴水の温度と浴槽内の浴水温度との差を小さくすることができ、使用者に不快感を与えないで沸き上げ、追い焚きを行うことが可能となる。
また、目標温度調節手段には、目標温度を使用者に設定させる手動目標温度設定機能が設けられているので、目標温度を高くして沸き上げ時間又は追い焚き時間の短縮化を図るか、あるいは循環吐出し口から吐出する加熱後の浴水の温度を抑えて快適性を追求するかを任意に選択することができ、さまざまな使用者の要望に対応することが可能となる。
【００２２】
ここで、目標温度調節手段に、設定温度を基準として自動的に目標温度を所定の温度に設定する機能を設けると、設定温度が低い場合は目標温度を低く設定することで吐出する浴水温度との温度差を小さくすることができ、浴槽内の使用者の体感温度差を低減することが可能となる。その結果、より快適に浴槽内で過ごすことが可能となる。
【００２３】
【００２４】
請求項２記載の強制循環式ふろ釜装置においては、加熱制御手段には、ふろ戻り温度センサで測定された浴水温度が設定温度を超えた場合に、温度差に応じて加熱能力を調節する機能が設けられているので、設定温度と無関係に浴槽内の浴水温度を上昇させても、より安全にふろの沸き上げ、ふろの追い焚きを行うことが可能となる。その結果、使用者は、より安全に熱めのふろに入浴することが可能となる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の一実施の形態に係る強制循環式ふろ釜装置を備えたふろ設備の全体構成ブロック図である。
【図２】同強制循環式ふろ釜装置により浴水を加熱する際の運転状況を説明するフロー図である。
【図３】同強制循環式ふろ釜装置の加熱制御手段における制御内容を説明するフロー図である。
【符号の説明】
１０：ふろ設備、１１：浴槽、１２：浴水、１３：強制循環式ふろ釜装置、１４：加熱手段、１５：浴室操作部、１６：制御機構、１７：吸込み口、１８：吐出し口、１９：循環経路、２０：熱交換器、２１：ふろ戻り経路、２２：循環ポンプ、２３：ふろ戻りサーミスタ、２４：水流スイッチ、２５：ふろ往き経路、２６：ふろ往きサーミスタ、２７：ガス燃焼機構、２８：熱交換部、２９：ガス点火部、３０：ガスバーナ、３１：燃料供給管、３２：電磁弁、３３：電磁比例弁、３４：目標温度調節手段、３５：加熱制御手段[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a forced circulation puffer device capable of adjusting the temperature of bath water discharged from a circulation discharge port of a bathtub.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In the bath facility equipped with the forced circulation bath apparatus, the bath water sucked in by the circulation pump from the circulation suction port provided in the bathtub is heated by the heating means regardless of whether the bath is heated or refilled. The bath water that has become hot (for example, the temperature of 20 to 30 ° C. has increased with respect to the temperature of the bath water sucked from the bathtub) is discharged from the circulation outlet provided in the bathtub, The temperature of the bath water in the bath rises as the bath water diffuses into the bath. At this time, in order to quickly raise the temperature of the bath water in the bathtub, the heating means heats the bath water with a preset heating capacity. As a result, when the temperature of the bath water in the bathtub rose, the temperature of the bath water discharged from the circulation discharge port also increased.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when the bath user performed a chasing operation in a state where the bath was in the bathtub, hot water was discharged from the circulation discharge port, so that he felt very uncomfortable. In particular, when the amount of circulating bath water is small, the temperature of the discharged bath water is further increased, so that discomfort is more pronounced. For this reason, it is conceivable to suppress the heating capability of the heating means so that hot bath water is not discharged from the circulation discharge port. However, if the heating capacity is suppressed, it takes a very long time to boil and bathe the bath, and the efficiency of boiling and chasing the bath deteriorates.
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and is a forced circulation bath pot capable of adjusting the temperature of the heated bath water discharged from the circulation discharge port of the bathtub according to the bath water temperature in the bathtub. An object is to provide an apparatus.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The forced circulation bath apparatus according to the present invention, which meets the above-mentioned purpose, sets a preset temperature of bath water set by a user in advance, and a bath return temperature provided in the bath return path for bath water in a bathtub sucked by a circulation pump. In the forced circulation bath apparatus that measures with a sensor and heats with a heating means, and confirms the heated bath water with a bath temperature sensor provided in the bath path and discharges it into the bathtub,
A target temperature adjusting means for adjusting a target temperature higher than the set temperature when the heating means heats the bath water based on a temperature difference between the bath water temperature measured by the return temperature sensor and the set temperature;
Have a heating control means for controlling the operation of said heating means based on the target temperature,
The target temperature adjusting means is further provided with a manual target temperature setting function for allowing the user to set the target temperature, and the temperature of the bath water measured by the forward temperature sensor becomes the target temperature. Operation control of the heating means is performed .
[0005]
As a result, when the difference between the bath water temperature and the set temperature is large, it is unlikely that a user is in the bathtub, so the heating capacity of the heating means was adjusted to a high level and the bathtub was heated to a high temperature. Bath water can be discharged. Also, when the difference between the bath water temperature and the set temperature is small, there is a high possibility that the user is in the bathtub. Therefore, the heating capacity of the heating means is adjusted to be low, and the bath is heated and discharged into the bathtub. The difference between the water temperature and the bath water temperature in the bathtub can be reduced.
Arbitrarily either increase the target temperature to give priority to shortening the boiling time or reheating time, or pursuing comfort by suppressing the bath water temperature after heating discharged from the circulation outlet It becomes possible to select.
[0006]
In the forced circulation bath apparatus according to the present invention, when the target temperature is manually set to the target temperature adjusting means, the operation based on the automatic target temperature setting is stopped, and the reference temperature is used as a reference. It is preferable that an automatic target temperature setting function for setting the target temperature based on the temperature difference is provided.
Since the target temperature is set with reference to the set temperature, when the set temperature is low, the heated bath water can be discharged from the circulation discharge port, and when the set temperature is high, the heated bath is heated higher. Water can be circulated and discharged from the outlet.
[0007]
[0008]
In the forced circulation bath apparatus according to the present invention, the heating control means has a heating capacity according to the temperature difference when the bath water temperature measured by the bath return temperature sensor exceeds the set temperature. It is preferable that a function to adjust is provided.
Thus, for example, when the user wants to enter a hot bath, the set temperature can be ignored and the bath water temperature in the bathtub can be raised. At that time, since the heating capability of the heating means can be adjusted, it is possible to prevent the hot bath water from being discharged into the bath and to prevent the bath water temperature from rising rapidly.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings for understanding of the present invention.
Here, FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the overall configuration of a bath facility equipped with a forced circulation type tumbler apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram when heating bath water by the forced circulation type tumbler apparatus. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the contents of control in the heating control means of the forced circulation type tumbler apparatus.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, a bath facility 10 includes a bathtub 11 and a forced circulation bath apparatus 13 according to an embodiment of the present invention that heats bath water 12 of the bathtub 11. The forced circulation bath apparatus 13 includes a heating means 14 for heating the bath water 12 of the bathtub 11, a bathroom operation section 15 for giving a preset temperature command set by the user, and a command from the bathroom operation section 15. And a control mechanism 16 that controls the operation of the heating means 14. Further, the bathroom operation unit 15 is provided with a manual target temperature input function that allows the user to manually set a target temperature when the heating means 14 heats the bath water 12. Hereinafter, these will be described in detail.
[0010]
As shown in FIG. 1, the heating means 14 includes a circulation path 19 that connects the suction port 17 and the discharge port 18 of the bath water 12 formed on the side wall of the bathtub 11, and the bath water 12 that is connected to the circulation path 19. It has a heat exchanger 20 for heating. Here, the suction port 17 and the discharge port 18 are formed on the same side wall of the bathtub 11, for example, and the suction port 17 is provided on the bottom side of the bathtub 11 with respect to the discharge port 18. A circulation pump 22 is disposed in the bath return path 21 that connects the suction port 17 and the inlet side of the heat exchange unit 28 of the heat exchanger 20, and the suction port 17 is disposed in the bath return path 21 upstream of the circulation pump 22. A bathing thermistor 23 which is an example of a bathing temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the bathing water 12 sucked by the circulation pump 22 and a flowing water of the bathing water 12 toward the inlet side of the heat exchanging unit 28 of the heat exchanger 20. A water flow switch 24 for detection is provided. Here, as the circulation pump 22, a volute type or cascade type pump is used. Further, as the water flow switch 24, a paddle type, electromagnetic type, ultrasonic type, Kalman flow type, thermistor type, water wheel type, impeller type or differential pressure type detector can be used. In addition, a bathing path 25 that connects the outlet side of the heat exchanging section 28 of the heat exchanger 20 and the discharge port 18 has a bathing temperature sensor that measures the temperature of the bath water 12 heated by the heat exchanger 20. An example of a forward thermistor 26 is provided. In addition to the thermistor, a thermocouple, a resistance temperature detector, or the like can be used as each temperature sensor for back and forth.
[0011]
The heat exchanger 20 includes a gas combustion mechanism 27 that is an example of a heating source, and a heat exchange unit 28 that heats the bath water 12 with heat generated by the gas combustion mechanism 27. The gas combustion mechanism 27 is provided with a gas burner 30 provided with a gas ignition unit 29 and a fuel supply pipe 31 for supplying fuel gas to the gas burner 30. Further, the fuel supply pipe 31 is an example of an electromagnetic valve 32 that is an example of an on-off valve that supplies and stops fuel gas, and a gas flow rate adjustment mechanism that adjusts the flow rate of the fuel gas supplied from the electromagnetic valve 32. An electromagnetic proportional valve 33 is provided.
By adopting such a configuration, the bath water 12 stored in the bathtub 11 is introduced into the heat exchanger 20 from the suction port 17 through the bath return path 21 by operating the circulation pump 22, and the bath return thermistor 23. It is possible to heat the heat exchange unit 28 based on the measurement result. Further, the heated bath water 12 can be allowed to flow through the flow path 25 and the temperature can be confirmed by the flow thermistor 26 before being discharged into the bathtub 11 from the discharge port 18.
[0012]
The bathroom operation unit 15 has a set temperature input function for inputting a set temperature when the bath water 12 is heated, a manual target temperature input function for manually inputting a target temperature when the heating means 14 heats the bath water 12, A communication function for transmitting the input set temperature and target temperature to the control mechanism 16 and exchanging communication signals for performing a cooperative operation with the control mechanism 16 is provided. The bathroom operation unit 15 having such a function can be configured using, for example, a microcomputer.
The control mechanism 16 includes heating means based on the temperature difference between the temperature of the bath water 12 measured by the bath return thermistor 23 (hereinafter referred to as bath water temperature or bath temperature) and the set temperature transmitted from the bathroom operation unit 15. Target temperature adjusting means 34 for adjusting the target temperature when the bath 14 heats the bath water 12 and heating control means 35 for controlling the operation of the heating means 14 based on the target temperature transmitted from the target temperature adjusting means 34 are provided. It has been. Here, the control mechanism 16 is composed of, for example, a microcomputer, and the detection signals of the bath return thermistor 23, the bath forward thermistor 26, and the water flow switch 24 are input. A program for controlling the operation and operation of the circulation pump 22, the gas ignition unit 29, the electromagnetic valve 32, and the electromagnetic proportional valve 33 is stored in the control mechanism 16 in accordance with various operation contents set in advance. For this reason, when the operation command signal of the set temperature or the set temperature and the target temperature is input from the bathroom operation unit 15 to the control mechanism 16, the operation command signal and the return thermistor 23, the forward thermistor 26, and the water flow switch 24. Based on the detection signal, the operation and operation of the circulation pump 22, the gas ignition unit 29, the electromagnetic valve 32, and the electromagnetic proportional valve 33 are performed, and the operation of the heating unit 14 is started.
[0013]
The target temperature adjusting means 34 has an automatic target temperature setting for adjusting the target temperature when the heating means 14 heats the bath water 12 based on the temperature difference between the bath water temperature measured by the return thermistor 23 and the set temperature. A function is provided. In the automatic target temperature setting function, when the temperature difference is large (for example, when boiling from the tap water temperature), the target temperature when the bath water 12 is heated by the heating means 14 is greatly increased with respect to the set temperature. Set as follows. On the other hand, when the temperature difference is small, the target temperature when the bath water 12 is heated by the heating means 14 is set so as to be a small temperature rise with respect to the set temperature. Further, in the heat retention operation performed to keep the bath water 12 once boiled for a predetermined time after boiling, the target temperature is set so as to be further smaller than the set temperature. In the case of boiling, for example, when the temperature difference exceeds 4 ° C., the target temperature is fixed at, for example, the upper limit of 70 ° C., and when the temperature difference is 4 ° C. or less, a correction value for the set temperature (temperature increase value) The target temperature is set to a temperature higher than the set temperature by a correction value. Furthermore, in the case of the heat retaining operation, the correction value is set to 5 to 10 ° C., and the target temperature is set to a temperature higher than the set temperature by the correction value. Further, in the chasing operation performed after the user bathes, the correction value is set to 10 to 15 ° C., and the target temperature is set to a temperature higher than the set temperature by the correction value. The heating operation and the heat insulation operation are performed as a set, and the reheating operation is performed independently. Usually, the heating control function operates so that the temperature of the bath water 12 measured by the bathing thermistor 26 (hereinafter referred to as bathing temperature) becomes the target temperature, and the operation control of the heating means 14 is performed. When the bath temperature is lower than the target temperature, the bath water 12 is not sufficiently heated. Therefore, in order to increase the opening degree of the electromagnetic proportional valve 33, the heating adjustment function is activated to give an instruction to increase the proportional valve output. put out. On the other hand, when the bath water 12 is heated by the heating means 14 and the bathing temperature approaches the target temperature, the heating adjustment function is activated to reduce the opening of the electromagnetic proportional valve 33 based on the deviation from the target temperature. Instruct the proportional valve output to decrease.
[0014]
The target temperature adjusting means 34 is further provided with a manual target temperature setting function. The target temperature manually set by the manual target temperature input function of the bathroom operation unit 15 is input from the bathroom operation unit 15 to the target temperature adjusting means 34 of the control mechanism 16. The target temperature adjusting means 34 controls the operation of the heating means 14 based on the manually input target temperature. In the manual target temperature input function, an upper limit value (for example, 70 ° C.) is provided for the target temperature that can be set.
In addition, the heating control means 35 is provided with a heating adjustment function that operates according to detection signals from the return thermistor 23 and the forward thermistor 26 to adjust the heating capacity.
[0015]
Next, an operation method of the forced circulation puffer device according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG.
When the control mechanism 16 receives the set temperature instruction and the boiling operation start signal when the bath water 12 is heated from the bathroom operation unit 15, or the set temperature instruction and the reheating operation start signal, the circulation pump 22 is driven. The bath water 12 is circulated in the circulation path 19. When the water flow switch 24 detects that the bath water 12 is flowing in the circulation path 19, the operation of the gas combustion mechanism 27 can be controlled by the heating control means 35. As a result, the electromagnetic valve 32 is opened and the fuel gas is supplied to the gas burner 30, the gas ignition unit 29 is operated to ignite, and the operation of the gas burner 30 is started (S1).
[0016]
When the operation of the gas burner 30 is started, a heat insulation operation determination, that is, a determination as to whether the operation is a heating operation or a heat insulation operation is performed (S2). In the case of the heat insulation operation, the target temperature is set to 5 to 10 ° C. higher than the set temperature, and the gas burner 30 is burned with a small capacity by controlling with the heating control means 35 so that the forward temperature becomes the target temperature ( S3). Next, the bath temperature is compared with the set temperature (S4). If the bath temperature is equal to or higher than the set temperature, the operation of the gas burner is terminated (S5), assuming that the heat retaining operation is terminated. If the bath temperature is equal to or higher than the set temperature, it is determined that the heat retaining operation has ended, and the operation of the gas burner is ended (S5). If the bath temperature is lower than the set temperature, the gas burner 30 is used until the bath temperature is equal to or higher than the set temperature. Is continued (repetition of S2 → S3 → S4). In the case of the heat retaining operation, the temperature decrease is monitored over a predetermined time from the end of the first boiling operation, and the heat retaining operation is terminated after the predetermined time has elapsed.
[0017]
If the temperature difference is over 4 ° C when the temperature difference is over 4 ° C when the warming operation is not performed, ie, in the case of the boiling operation, the target temperature is fixed at the upper limit of 70 ° C. The gas burner 30 is burned with high capacity (S7), and then the bath temperature is compared with the set temperature (S4). When the temperature difference is 4 ° C. or less by comparing the bath temperature and the set temperature (S6), the heating control means is set so that the correction value is 10 to 15 ° C. and the target temperature is increased by this correction value. The gas burner 30 is burned with medium capacity under the control of 35 (S8), and then the bath temperature is compared with the set temperature (S4). In any case, when the bath temperature is equal to or higher than the set temperature, it is determined that the boiling is finished and the operation of the gas burner 30 is finished (S5). If the bath temperature is lower than the set temperature, the bath temperature The combustion of the gas burner 30 is continued until the temperature becomes equal to or higher than the set temperature (repetition of S2 → S6 → S7 → S4 or S2 → S6 → S8 → S4).
[0018]
Here, when the target temperature is set by manual operation in the bathroom operation unit 15, when this target temperature is transmitted to the target temperature adjusting means 34, the operation of the automatic target temperature setting function is stopped, and the heating control means 35 All controls are performed based on a manually set target temperature. Therefore, in the case of the heat-retaining operation, combustion is performed by the gas burner 30 so that the bath temperature becomes the target temperature (S3), and the bath temperature and the set temperature are compared (S4). If the bath temperature is equal to or higher than the set temperature, it is determined that the heat retaining operation has ended, and the operation of the gas burner is terminated (S5). If the bath temperature is lower than the set temperature, the bath temperature is higher than the set temperature. The combustion of the gas burner 30 is continued (repetition of S2 → S3 → S4). In the case of the heat retaining operation, the temperature decrease is monitored over a predetermined time from the end of the first boiling operation, and the heat retaining operation is terminated after the predetermined time has elapsed. On the other hand, when it is not the heat retaining operation (in the case of the boiling operation), the temperature difference between the bath temperature and the set temperature exceeds 4 ° C (S6), or the temperature difference is 4 ° C or less (S6). In either case, combustion is performed by the gas burner 30 so that the going-around temperature becomes the target temperature (S7, S8). When the bath temperature is higher than the set temperature, it is determined that the boiling is finished and the operation of the gas burner is finished (S5). If the bath temperature is lower than the set temperature, the bath temperature is higher than the set temperature. The combustion of the gas burner 30 is continued until it becomes (repetition of S2->S6->S7-> S4 or S2->S6->S8-> S4).
[0019]
In addition, when the heating control means 35 of the forced circulation puffer device 13 according to the present embodiment is provided with a function of adjusting the heating capacity according to the temperature difference when the bath temperature exceeds the set temperature. The operation method of the forced circulation type bath pot device 13 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
If the bath is boiling (boiling to the set temperature has ended) but the user wants to enter the hot bath, the user turns on the hot (or reheating) operation switch of the bathroom operation unit 15 Thus, boiling up to a temperature higher than the set temperature becomes possible. For example, when the user turns on the hot operation (or chasing operation) switch of the bathroom operation unit 15 (S9), the circulation pump 22 is activated (S10), and when the water flow switch 24 detects the water flow (S11), The return temperature measured by the thermistor 23 is compared with the set temperature (S12). If the return temperature is lower than the set temperature (NO), proceed to A in FIG. 2. If the return temperature is equal to or higher than the set temperature (YES), then the return temperature is “set temperature + predetermined temperature (implemented). In the description of the embodiment, it is compared whether the temperature is equal to or higher than the temperature specified by “2 ° C.” (S13), and when the return temperature is lower than the temperature specified by “set temperature + predetermined temperature” (NO), the solenoid valve 32 Is opened, the fuel gas is supplied to the gas burner 30, and the gas ignition unit 29 is operated (S14). At this time, the opening degree of the electromagnetic proportional valve 33 is the ignition opening degree. Next, the opening of the electromagnetic proportional valve 33 is set to the minimum opening, and combustion is performed with the minimum capacity combustion (S15). S13->S14->S15-> S16 are repeated until the hot (or chasing) switch is turned off (S16) or until the return temperature becomes equal to or higher than the temperature defined by "set temperature + predetermined temperature". When the return temperature is equal to or higher than the temperature defined by “set temperature + predetermined temperature” in S13 (YES), the combustion and circulation pump 22 is stopped (S17), and the hot (or reheating) operation mode ends ( S18).
[0020]
As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, the setting of the target temperature is changed depending on whether the temperature difference between the return temperature and the set temperature is 4 ° C. or less, but the temperature difference can be arbitrarily set within a range of 1 to 10 ° C. Further, the correction value can be determined for each range divided by a plurality of temperature differences.
Also, when the target temperature is set manually, the boiling operation and the heat retaining operation are set to a common target temperature, but can be set individually. Furthermore, a plurality of temperature regions can be provided, and individual target temperatures can be provided.
[0021]
【The invention's effect】
3. The forced circulation type water bath apparatus according to claim 1 and 2 , wherein a temperature higher than a set temperature when the heating means heats the bath water is measured by a bath return temperature sensor and a temperature between the bath water temperature and the set temperature. Since there is a target temperature adjusting means for adjusting based on the difference and a heating control means for controlling the operation of the heating means based on the target temperature, if the difference between the bath water temperature and the set temperature is large, the It is possible to discharge the bath water heated to a high temperature in the bathtub by adjusting the heating capacity of the heating means to be high, and it is possible to boil the bath in a short time. Become. In addition, when the difference between the bath water temperature and the set temperature is small, there is a high possibility that the user is in the bathtub. Therefore, the heating capacity of the heating means is adjusted to a low level and the bath water that is heated and discharged into the bathtub is discharged. The difference between the temperature and the temperature of the bath water in the bathtub can be reduced, and it is possible to boil up and retreat without causing discomfort to the user.
Further, the target temperature adjusting means is provided with a manual target temperature setting function for allowing the user to set the target temperature, so that the target temperature is increased to shorten the boiling time or the reheating time, or It is possible to arbitrarily select whether to pursue the comfort by suppressing the temperature of the heated bath water discharged from the circulation discharge port, and it becomes possible to meet the demands of various users.
[0022]
Here, the target temperature regulating means, automatically when the target temperature Ru provided with a function to be set to a predetermined temperature, when the set temperature is low to discharge by setting the target temperature below the set temperature as a reference bath water The temperature difference with temperature can be reduced, and the temperature difference experienced by the user in the bathtub can be reduced. As a result, it becomes possible to spend more comfortably in the bathtub.
[0023]
[0024]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, the heating control means adjusts the heating capacity according to the temperature difference when the bath water temperature measured by the return temperature sensor exceeds the set temperature. Since the function is provided, even when the bath water temperature in the bathtub is increased regardless of the set temperature, the bath can be heated and reheated more safely. As a result, the user can take a bath in a hot bath more safely.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration block diagram of a bath facility provided with a forced circulation bath pot device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flow diagram for explaining an operation situation when bath water is heated by the forced circulation puffer device.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the contents of control in the heating control means of the forced circulation puffer device.
[Explanation of symbols]
10: bath facilities, 11: bath, 12: bath water, 13: forced circulation bath pot, 14: heating means, 15: bathroom operation unit, 16: control mechanism, 17: suction port, 18: discharge port, 19: circulation path, 20: heat exchanger, 21: bath return path, 22: circulation pump, 23: bath return thermistor, 24: water flow switch, 25: bath trip path, 26: bath trip thermistor, 27: gas combustion mechanism , 28: heat exchange section, 29: gas ignition section, 30: gas burner, 31: fuel supply pipe, 32: solenoid valve, 33: solenoid proportional valve, 34: target temperature adjusting means, 35: heating control means

Claims

The bath water set by the user is set in advance, the bath water in the tub sucked in by the circulation pump is measured by the return temperature sensor provided in the return path, and heated by the heating means. In the forced circulation bath pot device that checks with a bath temperature sensor provided in the bath path and discharges into the bathtub,
A target temperature adjusting means for adjusting a target temperature higher than the set temperature when the heating means heats the bath water based on a temperature difference between the bath water temperature measured by the return temperature sensor and the set temperature;
On the basis of the target temperature have a heating control means for controlling the operation of the heating means, the said target temperature adjusting means, provided manually target temperature setting function to further set the target temperature to the user, The forced circulation bath apparatus , wherein operation control of the heating means is performed so that the temperature of the bath water measured by the bath temperature sensor becomes the target temperature .

2. The forced circulation bath apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein when the bath water temperature measured by the bath return temperature sensor exceeds the set temperature, the heating control means has a heating capacity according to the temperature difference. A forced circulation type bath pot device is provided with a function of adjusting the pressure.