JP4029831B2 - Electric water heater - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electric water heater that learns a user's usage situation and can automatically perform temperature control and supply of liquid to a heating container based on the learned result.

  Conventionally, there is an electric water heater of this type that learns a user's usage situation and automatically performs a heat insulation temperature control based on the learned result (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 9A is a cross-sectional view of a conventional electric water heater described in Patent Document 1. FIG. In FIG. 9, there is a heating container 102 that contains a liquid with an opening on the upper surface in a main body 101, and a lid 103 that covers the upper part of the heating container 102 is disposed. Further, a heating means 104 for heating the liquid in the heating container 102, a temperature detection means 105 for detecting the temperature of the liquid in the heating container, and the liquid in the heating container 102 from the discharge port 106 to the outside. A discharge pump 107 for guiding and a discharge means 108 serving as a drive source of the discharge pump 107 are arranged below, and an operation unit 109 that can be easily operated by a user is arranged in the information.

  FIG. 9B shows the operation unit 109. The operation unit 109 heats the liquid, a hot water switch 109a for discharging the liquid, a hot water lock release switch 109b for permitting the discharge operation, a reboiling switch 109c for reheating the liquid in the heat retaining state, and the liquid. A heat insulation temperature setting selection switch 109d for setting the temperature and a display element 109e for displaying the temperature of the liquid and the heat insulation temperature setting are included.

  When commercial power is supplied via the commercial power supply means 114 for supplying commercial power, the time measuring means 111 is operated, and a usage detection using a signal from the operation unit 109 as an input every predetermined unit time set in advance. The output from the means 110 is stored in the storage means 112. The output from the use detecting means 110 is generated depending on whether or not the discharge operation is actually performed when the user presses the hot water lock release switch 109b and presses the hot water switch 109a to drive the discharge means 108 and discharge the liquid.

  Since the time measuring means 111 is configured to measure the accumulated time of a predetermined unit time, the output of the use detecting means 110 is stored in the storage means 112 while corresponding to the relative time zone in 24 hours a day and its use and non-use. Can be accumulated. When the usage record is accumulated in the storage unit 112 for a predetermined number of days, the control unit 113 performs cumulative addition every predetermined unit time, and identifies a time period in which the number of use days is equal to or more than the predetermined day as a use time period and the other as a non-use time period. To do. After that, the control means 113 automatically controls the heating means 104 so that the temperature is kept at a desired temperature when the current time zone is the use time zone, and the temperature is lower than that when the current time zone is the non-use time zone.

By performing the control in this way, it is possible to automatically control the heat insulation temperature according to the actual use of the user, and to perform the energy saving operation without trouble.
JP 2003-210328 A

  However, in such a conventional technique, since the liquid supply is relied on by the user, even if a liquid at a desired temperature is prepared by predicting the time zone that will be used, if the amount of liquid is small There is a problem that the user needs to supply the liquid, and when supplied, the user has to wait until the liquid reaches a desired temperature.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and has an object of providing hot water having a desired temperature according to a user's actual use, including supply means for automatically supplying a liquid to a heating container. .

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, the electric water heater of the present invention includes supply means for automatically supplying a liquid to the heating container, and controls the heat insulation temperature based on the use results of the user and By controlling the drive timing, energy-saving operation can be performed without trouble, and a liquid having a desired temperature can be provided without trouble.

  The electric water heater of the present invention can automatically perform energy-saving operation according to the actual usage of the user and can provide hot water having a desired temperature.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a heating container that stores a liquid, a heating unit that heats the liquid in the heating container, a liquid level detection unit that detects a liquid level in the heating container, and the heating container. A supply means for supplying a liquid; a discharge means for discharging the liquid in the heating container; a use detection means for detecting a use state; and an output of the use detection means is stored for a predetermined period every predetermined unit time ; A storage means that forgets in order from the oldest memory after a predetermined time has elapsed, and based on the actual usage obtained from the storage means , according to the output frequency from the use detection means in the same time zone, the usage time zone The non-use time zone is identified, the supply means is driven from a predetermined time before the time when the non-use time zone changes to the use time zone, the liquid in the heating container is increased, and the heating means is driven to reach a predetermined temperature. It said in so to keep warm By controlling the operation of the heating means and the supply means to control the heat retention temperature in accordance with the actual use of the user and the timing of supplying the liquid to the heating container, the time period in which the user can be expected not to use it Keep the temperature at a low temperature or turn off the heating means to reduce power consumption, drive the supply means before the time when the user is expected to be used, and prepare the liquid with the desired warming temperature Therefore, it is possible to provide an electric water heater that is easy to use and performs energy-saving automatic operation without trouble.

Furthermore, since a hot water having a desired predetermined temperature can be automatically prepared in a time zone that the user will use, an easy-to-use electric water heater can be provided.

According to a second aspect of the invention, a supply detection means for detecting the driving of the supply means to the electric water heater according to請Motomeko 1, wherein the storage means said supply and use memory means for storing the output of said use detection means By adding the supply storage means for storing the output of the detection means, it is possible to control the heat retention temperature in accordance with the actual usage of the user and to predict the time zone during which the supply means will be driven more accurately. Hot water having a desired temperature can be provided in accordance with the actual usage of the user.

The invention according to claim 3 is supplied by the user by configuring the supply detection means according to claim 2 to detect that the liquid has been supplied into the heating container without going through the supply means. The time zone can be predicted more accurately, the control more suitable for the actual use of the user can be performed, and the usability is further improved.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a discharge amount detection means for detecting the amount of liquid discharged by the discharge means in the electric water heater according to any one of the first to third aspects, and the discharge amount detection means of the storage means. Next, a discharge amount storage means for storing the output for a predetermined number of days every predetermined unit time is added, and the operation of the heating means and the supply means is controlled based on the actual usage obtained from the storage means. The amount of water used can be predicted, so if the amount of water used next time is less than the current warming amount, it will not be supplied, and if it is vice versa, water will be supplied. Therefore, it is possible to provide an electric water heater that can control the supply timing, has a higher energy-saving effect, and is easier to use.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the supply means of the electric water heater according to any one of the first to fourth aspects is connected to the water pipe so that the remaining amount of the liquid of the supply source is substantially ignored. In addition, since an amount of liquid that the user will use and a desired temperature can be prepared according to the actual use, a more convenient electric water heater can be provided.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an electric water heater according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  In the present embodiment, a case where a so-called two-tank electric water heater having an electric water heater body 1 for heating and discharging a liquid and a storage body 2 for storing liquid to be supplied to the electric water heater body 1 is used as an electric water heater will be described. To do.

  The electric water heater body 1 is provided with a heating container 3 for storing and heating the liquid. A lid 4 that can be opened and closed is disposed above the heating container 3, and a heating means 5 that heats the liquid and a temperature detection means 6 that measures the temperature of the liquid are disposed below the heating container 3. The heating means 5 has a large output for boiling the liquid in the heating container 3, for example, a main heater of 750 W, and a relatively small output for keeping the liquid in the heating container 3, for example, an auxiliary heater of 75 W It consists of.

  The discharge means 7 discharges the liquid in the heating container 3 to the outside of the electric water heater main body 1 through the discharge pump 8, the liquid level pipe 9 and the discharge port 10. In the present embodiment, the discharge means 7 is performed using an electric motor.

  The liquid level pipe 9 indicates the liquid level in the heating container 3, and a liquid level detecting means 11 is provided on the side surface of the liquid level pipe 9. The liquid level detecting means 11 is provided with a full water sensor 11a on the upper side in the vertical direction of the liquid level pipe 9, an intermediate sensor 11b on the intermediate side, and a water supply sensor 11c on the lower side. Can be detected in four stages: “empty”, “low”, “medium”, and “full”. In the present embodiment, each of the sensors 11a to 11c is configured by a pair of a phototransistor and a light emitting diode. In addition, although the liquid level detection means 11 in this Embodiment uses what was comprised by the optical sensor, the same effect can be acquired even if it comprises using a weight sensor, an electrode-type water quantity sensor, etc. Further, in the liquid level detection means 11 in the present embodiment, the detection stage is four stages, but the detection stage may be increased as long as the complexity of the control circuit and the cost of the sensor parts allow.

  In the present embodiment, the capacity of the heating container 3 is 2 liters, “small” that can be detected by the liquid level detection means 11 is 0 to 1 liter, “medium” is 1 to 2 liters, and “full” is 2 liters. Further, the capacity of the storage container 12 described later is 2 liters.

  There is a storage container 12 for storing the liquid of the upper surface opening in the storage body 2, a liquid detection means 13 for determining whether or not there is liquid in the storage container 12 below the storage container 12, and the liquid in the storage container 12. Supply means 14 for supplying the heating container 3 from the inside is provided. In addition, when the storage container 12 or the storage body 2 is configured to be detachable, the storage container 12 or the storage body 2 can be replenished by taking the storage container 12 or the storage body 2 to, for example, a water faucet.

  The liquid detection means 13 in this embodiment is constituted by a float with a built-in magnet and a switch that is turned ON / OFF by magnetism. The liquid detection means 13 may be one using a mass sensor or an optical sensor. An electric motor is used for the supply means 14 in the same manner as the discharge means 7.

  Here, the supply means 14 includes a supply pump 15 attached to the lower part of the storage container 12, a supply pipe a16 connected to the supply pump 15, and a supply pipe b17 provided on the side surface of the heating container 3 connectable to the supply pipe a16. The liquid can be supplied from the storage container 12 to the heating container 3 via the.

  Furthermore, the electric water heater main body 1 is provided with an operation unit 18 for a user to perform various operations and a boiling notification means 19 including a buzzer for notifying boiling.

  FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the operation unit 18. The operation unit 18 drives the display element 20 capable of displaying the temperature of the liquid in the heating container 3 and the current setting state and the discharge means 7 to discharge the liquid to the outside of the electric water heater body 1. Hot water switch 21, a hot water lock release switch 22 for permitting discharge operation by the hot water switch 21, and a supply for driving the supply means 14 to supply the liquid in the storage container 12 into the heating container 3. The switch 23, the reboiling switch 24 for boiling again the liquid kept in the heating container 3, the heat insulation temperature setting selection switch 25 for selecting the setting of the heat insulation temperature, and the liquid are kept warm. There are provided a heat-retaining display 26 made up of an LED for informing the fact and a boiling display 27 made up of an LED for informing that the liquid is being heated.

  In order to discharge the liquid from the inside of the heating container 3, the hot water unlocking switch 22 is turned ON, and the hot water discharging switch 21 is pressed when the unlocking state is established. While pressing the hot water switch 21 in the unlocked state, the control means 28 can drive the discharge means 7 to discharge the liquid to the outside of the heating container 3. The unlocking state is prohibited unless the hot water switch 21 is turned on for about 10 seconds, and the hot water switch 21 is not activated unless the hot water lock release switch 22 is turned on again.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the control means 28 in the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for keeping the liquid in the heating container 3 at the set temperature after the commercial power is supplied by the commercial power supply means 29. Note that a microcomputer is used as the control means 28.

  When commercial power is first turned on, the process starts from S1, and the liquid level in the heating container 3 is detected by the liquid level detection means 11 in S2. Here, if the liquid level in the heating container 3 is less than “full”, the process proceeds to S3 and proceeds to a process of checking whether the liquid can be supplied by the supply means 14 to supply the liquid. If “full”, the process proceeds to S6. Proceed to the process of heating the liquid.

  In S3, the presence or absence of the liquid in the storage container 12 is detected from the detection result of the liquid detection means 13, and if there is a liquid, the process proceeds to S4 and the process for supplying the liquid is started. If there is no liquid, it progresses to S11 and progresses to the process which detects whether the liquid level in the heating container 3 is empty. In S11, it is detected from the detection result of the liquid level detection means 11 whether the liquid level in the heating container 3 is “empty”. If “empty”, the process proceeds to S12, and there is no liquid in the heating container 3 and the storage container 12. This is notified to the user, and this process is repeated until the liquid is put back to S2. If the liquid level in the heating container 3 is not “empty” in S11, the process proceeds to S6 and proceeds to a process for heating the liquid in the heating container 3.

  In this embodiment, in order to notify that there is no liquid, the heat retaining display 26 and the boiling display 27 are alternately flashed, for example, alternately flashing every second. Note that the notification method is not limited to this if the liquid level in the heating container is known to be “empty”.

  In the loop of S4 and S5, the supply means 14 is driven to supply the liquid until the liquid in the storage container 12 runs out of the heating container 3 or the liquid level in the heating container 3 becomes “full”.

  In the loop of S6 and S7, the liquid in the heating container 3 is boiled or heated to a set temperature. In the present embodiment, boiling is always performed. In addition, if the safety of liquid general bacteria, etc., and the deliciousness can be satisfied by removal of the chlorine component, it may be heated to the set temperature and then kept at the set temperature.

  When the boiling is detected in S7, the boiling notifying means 19 notifies the boiling, and then proceeds to S8 and proceeds to the process of keeping the temperature at the set temperature. The boiling notification repeats the buzzer three times, for example, 1 second ON and 0.5 second OFF. Note that the boil notification may not be limited to three times for 1 second ON and 0.5 seconds OFF as long as the user at a little distance can confirm that the user has boiled.

  In S8, the heating means 5 is driven based on the detection result of the temperature detection means 6, and the liquid in the heating container 3 is kept at the set temperature. In this embodiment, the set temperature is 85 ° C. The set temperature is a temperature that can be set by the heat insulation temperature setting selection switch 25. When the liquid in the heating container 3 reaches 85 ° C., the process proceeds to S9, where it is detected whether there is an excessive temperature drop (5 ° C. drop). If there is a temperature drop, it is determined that the liquid has been supplied and the process returns to S2. In this embodiment, the excessive temperature drop is assumed to be 5 ° C. However, the temperature is not limited to 5 ° C. if it is understood that the liquid is supplied into the heating container 3.

  If a 5 ° C. decrease is not detected in S9, the process proceeds to S10 to detect whether the liquid in the heating container 3 is low. If the liquid in the heating container 3 is “empty”, the process returns to S2. If it is not “empty”, keep warm. In the present embodiment, the operation is not automatically shifted to the supply operation unless it becomes “empty” during the heat insulation operation, but this control may be performed by “medium”.

  In this embodiment, the temperatures that can be set by the heat retention temperature setting selection switch 25 are 98 ° C. and 85 ° C., but the heat retention temperature that can be set as long as the program capacity of the microcomputer that is the control means 28 and the complexity of the control circuit are allowed. It is possible to increase

  The basic operation of the control means 28 in the present embodiment has been described above. Hereinafter, the operation for learning the usage status of the user will be described.

  When commercial power is supplied via the commercial power supply means 29 for supplying commercial power, the time measuring means 30 is operated, and the usage detection using the signal from the operation unit 18 as an input every predetermined unit time set in advance. The output from the means 31 is stored in the storage means 32. The output from the use detection means 31 is generated depending on whether or not the discharge operation is actually performed when the user presses the hot water lock release switch 22 and presses the hot water switch 21 to drive the discharge means 7 and discharge the liquid.

  Since the time measuring means 30 is also configured to measure the accumulated time of a predetermined unit time, the output of the use detecting means 31 is stored in the storage means 32 while associating the use and non-use of the relative time zone in 24 hours a day. Can be accumulated. When the usage record is accumulated in the storage unit 32 for a predetermined period, the control unit 28 performs cumulative addition every predetermined unit time, and uses the time period in which the cumulative use number is equal to or greater than the predetermined number of times as the use time period and the other as the non-use time period. Identify. Thereafter, the control means 28 automatically controls the heating means 5 so that the temperature is maintained at a temperature desired by the user when the current time zone is the use time zone, or lower than that temperature when the current time zone is the non-use time zone.

  The automatic control method for the heating means 5 and the supply means 14 in the present embodiment will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. Here, the predetermined unit time is 2 hours, the predetermined period is 7 days, and the predetermined number of times of use time and non-use time is determined three times.

  FIG. 4A is a histogram of actual usage after 24 hours have elapsed since the power was turned on. FIG. 4B shows the storage means 32 in the present embodiment, and the address represents each predetermined unit time. For example, the data area at address 0 is a storage area for storing a usage record for 0 to 2 hours, and the data area for address 1 is a storage area for storing a usage record for 2 to 4 hours. By storing the output of the usage detection unit 31 from the address 0 in accordance with the timing of the timing unit 30, it is possible to store the usage record for each relative time zone of 24 hours a day.

  FIG. 4C is a histogram of usage results after 7 days, and FIG. 4D is a storage means 32 in which the usage results for 7 days are accumulated. In the present embodiment, the predetermined period is set to 7 days, and when the accumulated usage record after 7 days has passed is three or more times of determination, it is determined as a non-use time zone when it is less than 3 times.

  FIG. 4 (e) shows the discrimination result between the use time zone and the non-use time zone determined under the above conditions, and FIG. 4 (f) shows the result of the automatic control of the heat insulation temperature in accordance with this. In FIG. 4 (f), 1) represents a heating operation in which the heating means 5 is driven to heat the liquid in the heating container 3 to a set temperature of 85 ° C. when it changes from the non-use time zone to the use time zone. 2) represents an operation for turning off the driving of the heating means 5 until the temperature is lowered to a low temperature keeping temperature (60 ° C.) when it is changed from the use time zone to the non-use time zone, and 3) is a set temperature in the use time zone. 4) indicates that the high temperature heat retaining operation is performed at 85 ° C., and 4) represents the low temperature heat retaining operation in which the temperature is kept at the low temperature heat retaining temperature 60 ° C. in the non-use time zone. As described above, energy is saved in the non-use time zone because the temperature is kept at a temperature lower than the set temperature.

  As described with reference to FIG. 3 in 1) of FIG. 4 (f), the user supplies the liquid by the supply means 14 until the liquid level in the heating container 3 is “full” or the liquid in the storage container 12 runs out. As much liquid as possible can be prepared during the time period that will be used.

  In this embodiment, the heating operation is performed when the non-use time zone changes to the use time zone, and the supply operation is performed. However, when the non-use time zone changes to the use time zone, the liquid at the set temperature is discharged. If the heating operation is performed for a predetermined time in order to be able to provide the temperature, the control of the heat retention temperature and the control of the amount of hot water at the set temperature can be performed according to the actual usage of the user. Here, the predetermined time varies depending on whether boiling is performed during the heating operation. When boiling is performed, the set temperature is short when the set temperature is high, and the set temperature is long when the set temperature is low (to wait for the temperature of the liquid to drop to the set temperature after boiling). On the contrary, when boiling is not performed, only the heating time is considered, and the heating operation and the supply operation are controlled before changing to the use time zone.

  In this embodiment, the heat retaining operation is performed even in the non-use time zone. However, if the heating operation is completely stopped in the non-use time zone, the energy saving effect can be further enhanced.

  Further, in the present embodiment, it has been described that the number of determinations of the use time zone and the non-use time zone is a fixed number. However, for example, a determination number switch is provided in the operation unit 18 so that the user can freely save energy during automatic driving. User convenience is further improved by switching the degree.

  In this embodiment, automatic driving by learning is performed as a default. However, for example, a learning driving changeover switch is provided in the operation unit 18 so that the user can freely select whether or not to perform automatic driving by learning. By doing so, the user convenience is further improved. If learning is continued even when automatic driving is not being performed at that time, the user's use record is accumulated when the next automatic driving is selected, and energy-saving automatic driving is performed more accurately. The user convenience is further improved.

  In this embodiment, the operation when the commercial power is not supplied is not particularly mentioned. However, when the backup power is held and the commercial power is turned off, the operation of the timing unit 30 and the storage of the storage unit 32 are performed by the backup power. If it is held, energy-saving automatic operation and automatic supply that are not affected by ON / OFF of the commercial power supply can be performed, and the usability of the user is further improved.

  Further, in this embodiment, the predetermined period is assumed to be 7 days, and the automatic control of the heat retention operation and the automatic control of the supply operation before the lapse of the predetermined period are not particularly mentioned. By increasing / decreasing according to, energy-saving automatic operation and automatic supply can be performed even before the predetermined number of days elapses. For example, if the number of days elapsed is 2 days, the number of determinations is 1 time, and from 3 days to 4 days is 2 times, and the use / non-use is determined from the cumulative number of each predetermined unit time and the number of determinations. Control may be performed. As a result, the energy-saving automatic operation and automatic supply can be performed even before the predetermined period elapses, and the usability of the user is further improved.

  In this embodiment, the operation after a predetermined period has not been particularly mentioned. However, after the predetermined period has elapsed, the data of the storage means 32 is discarded so that the user's life is forgotten in order from the oldest memory. It becomes possible to respond to changes in patterns, and it is possible to perform automatic energy saving operation and automatic supply in accordance with the actual usage of the user, further improving the convenience of the user.

  Further, in the present embodiment, it has been described that the use detecting means 31 outputs “use” when a discharge operation is performed. However, even if the use detecting means 31 is an operation of the hot water unlocking switch 22, the reboiling switch 24 is also used. Even if it is a water-boiling operation according to the above, or even if it is a water-boiling operation when the liquid is supplied to the heating container 3, or any combination of the above four types of operations, it is equivalent to this embodiment The effect is obtained.

  In the present embodiment, the learning by the 24-hour timer has been described. However, if the clock function and the calendar function are provided and the usage record and the absolute time are stored together, for example, learning on weekdays and holidays is separated, Different patterns can be automatically operated for weekday holidays, and the energy saving effect and usability can be further enhanced by automatic operation.

(Embodiment 2)
The second embodiment will be described below. Since the basic configuration of the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, different points will be mainly described. The same functions as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of an electric water heater in the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the electric water heater described in the first embodiment is used in the storage means 32a having the same function as the storage means 32 described in the first embodiment, and the supply detection means 33 detects the drive of the supply means 14. And supply storage means 32b for storing the output of the supply detection means 33 is added.

  When the commercial power is supplied via the commercial power supply means 29 for supplying the commercial power, the time measuring means 0 operates, and the supply detection means 33 detects the drive of the supply means 14 every predetermined unit time set in advance. Is stored in the supply storage means 32b. The output from the supply detection means 33 is that when the supply switch 23 is pushed and liquid is supplied into the heating container 3, or when the temperature drop in the heating container 3 is 5 ° C., that is, the lid 4 is opened into the heating container 3. One or both of the cases when the liquid is directly supplied is determined as an actual supply, and it is generated depending on whether or not there is an actual supply.

  Since the time measuring means 30 is configured to also measure the accumulated time of a predetermined unit time, the supply storage means 32b supplies the supply detecting means while associating the relative time zone of 24 hours a day with whether or not there was supply. 33 outputs can be stored. When the supply record is accumulated in the supply storage unit 32b for a predetermined period, the control unit 28 performs cumulative addition every predetermined unit time, and sets the time period in which the supply frequency is equal to or greater than the predetermined number of times as the supply time period and the other as the non-supply time period. Identify. Thereafter, when the current time zone is the supply time zone, the control means 28 drives the supply means 14 to supply the liquid until the liquid in the heating container 3 becomes “full” or the liquid in the storage container 12 runs out. Then, the liquid in the heating container 3 is boiled and kept at a set temperature. In the non-supply time zone, the supply is not automatically performed until the liquid level in the heating container 3 becomes “empty”.

  It has been described that the liquid is boiled after the supply means 14 is automatically driven. However, if the taste is satisfied by the safety of general liquid bacteria and the removal of the chlorine component, the liquid is heated to the set temperature without boiling. You may control to heat-retain.

  The automatic control method of the supply means 14 in this Embodiment is demonstrated in detail using FIG. Here, the predetermined unit time is 2 hours, the predetermined period is 7 days, and the determination times of the supply time zone and the non-supply time zone are 3 times.

  FIG. 6A is a histogram of supply results after 24 hours have elapsed since the power was turned on. FIG. 6B shows the supply storage means 32 b in the present embodiment, and the storage means 32 and the data portion described in the first embodiment are merely changed to the number of detections by the supply detection means 33.

  FIG. 4C shows the supply record after 7 days, and FIG. 4D shows the supply storage means 32b in which the supply results for 7 days are accumulated. In this embodiment, since the predetermined period is set to 7 days, when the cumulative supply result after the elapse of 7 days is 3 times or more of the determination times, it is determined as the supply time zone, and when it is less than 3 times, it is determined as the non-supply time zone.

  FIG. 4 (e) shows the determination result of the supply time zone and the non-supply time zone determined under the above conditions, and the supply operation is automatically controlled according to this, thereby supplying according to the actual use condition of the user. When the user wants to use the liquid, a liquid having a set temperature that is full or as close to the full as possible can be provided.

  In the present embodiment, automatic control of the heat insulation temperature is simultaneously performed by the use storage means 32a. At that time, the supply means 33 may be driven independently of the automatic control of the heat retention temperature by the use storage means 32a. However, if there is a supply time zone in the non-use time zone, the supply is continued until the next use time zone. By waiting for the automatic control of the operation, the hot water is not increased in a time zone that the user will not use, and more energy-saving operation can be realized. Further, as described in the first embodiment, control may be performed so that a liquid having a set temperature is prepared before a predetermined time so that a liquid having a set temperature can be prepared when the non-use time zone changes to the use time zone.

(Embodiment 3)
Hereinafter, the third embodiment will be described. Since the basic configuration of the present embodiment is the same as that of the second embodiment, different points will be mainly described. The same functions as those in the first and second embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  The electric water heater of the present embodiment is provided with a discharge amount detecting means for detecting a discharge amount per unit time between the discharge pump 8 and the discharge port 10 of the first and second embodiments, and the use storage means 32a is a use detection means. It is assumed that not only the number of uses, which is an output, but also the output of the discharge amount detection means is stored every predetermined unit time.

  The amount of liquid that will be used in the next use time period when the supply operation is automatically controlled is predicted from the discharge amount stored in the use storage means 32a, and that amount is supplied to increase the liquid at the set temperature. Like that. Thereby, only a minimum amount of liquid can be kept warm, and an energy saving effect can be obtained.

  The amount of liquid to be supplied at one time by automatic control of the supply operation can be obtained by dividing (a predetermined period) the continuous use time period (the sum of the discharge amounts stored in each predetermined unit time). In addition, when the predetermined period has not elapsed, by setting the (predetermined period) to (the number of days elapsed since the commercial power is turned on), substantially the same effect can be obtained even when the predetermined period has not elapsed.

(Embodiment 4)
Hereinafter, the fourth embodiment will be described. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same function as Embodiment 1 and 2, and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of an electric water heater in the present embodiment. In FIG. 7, a faucet 35 that discharges tap water, an operation unit 18 of the electric water heater main body 1, and a discharge port 10 are provided on the upper part of a water sink 34 in a general household, and the electric water heater main body 1 and the water supply are provided below the sink 34. The pipe 36, the supply pipe a16, the supply amount detection means 37 for detecting the amount of liquid flowing through the supply pipe a16, and the supply means 14 for supplying the liquid from the water supply pipe 3 to the heating container 3 through the supply pipe b17 are provided. Between the supply pipe a16 and the supply pipe b17, there is a water purifier 38, which drives the switching valve 39 to supply the liquid supplied by the supply means 14 to the heating container 3 or discharge the purified liquid from the purified water discharge port 40. can do.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the control means 28 in the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for keeping the liquid in the heating container 3 at the set temperature after the commercial power is supplied by the commercial power supply means 29. Note that the difference from the portion described with reference to FIG. 3 in the first embodiment will be mainly described. A different point from FIG. 3 is a part of S13, S14, and S15.

  When commercial power is first turned on, the process starts from S1, and the liquid level in the heating container 3 is detected by the liquid level detection means 11 in S2. Here, if the liquid level in the heating container 3 is less than “full”, the process proceeds to S13, the supply means 14 is driven to supply the liquid, and the process proceeds to S14. If it is “full”, the process proceeds to S6 and proceeds to the process of heating the liquid.

  In S14, if the flow rate of the supply amount is 0 based on the detection result of the supply amount detection means 37, no further supply can be made, so the process proceeds to S11 and proceeds to a process for detecting whether the liquid level in the heating container 3 is empty. If not 0, proceed to S15. In the loop of S13, S14, and S15, the supply means is driven to supply the liquid until the detection result of the supply amount detection means becomes 0 or the liquid level in the heating container 3 becomes “full”. Since the subsequent processing is the same as that described with reference to FIG. The learning method is the same as that described in any one of the first to third embodiments.

  Since the electric water heater of the present embodiment connects the supply means 14 directly to the water supply so that almost no liquid is supplied, automatic control of the heat retaining operation and automatic control of the supply operation are performed according to the actual use of the user. By doing so, an energy saving operation can be realized, and a liquid having a desired amount and a desired temperature can be provided with higher accuracy.

  Further, in such an electric water heater directly connected to the water supply, the frequency of turning off the commercial power supply is less than that of the electric water heater as described in the first to third embodiments, so that the energy saving effect by learning becomes higher.

  The electric water heater according to the present invention is useful as an electric water heater because it can perform an energy-saving automatic operation according to the actual use of the user and can provide a liquid having a desired temperature according to the actual use.

Configuration diagram of electric water heater in Embodiment 1 of the present invention The block diagram of the operation part of the electric water heater in Embodiment 1 of this invention The flowchart of the control means of the electric water heater in Embodiment 1 of this invention The figure which shows the automatic control of the memory | storage means and heat retention temperature in Embodiment 1 of this invention The block diagram of the electric water heater in Embodiment 2 of this invention The figure which shows the supply storage means in Embodiment 2 of this invention. The block diagram of the electric water heater in Embodiment 4 of this invention The flowchart of the control means of the electric water heater in Embodiment 4 of this invention Configuration diagram of conventional electric water heater

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 Heating container 5 Heating means 7 Discharge means 11 Liquid level detection means 31 Use detection means 32 Storage means

Claims (5)

A heating container for storing a liquid; heating means for heating the liquid in the heating container; liquid level detection means for detecting the liquid level in the heating container; supply means for supplying the liquid to the heating container; The discharge means for discharging the liquid in the heating container, the use detection means for detecting the use state, and the output of the use detection means are stored for a predetermined period every predetermined unit time. A storage means forgetting , identifying the use time zone and the non-use time zone according to the output frequency from the use detection means in the same time zone based on the actual use obtained from the storage means , The heating means is driven so as to drive the supply means from a predetermined time before the time when the non-use time zone changes to the use time zone, increase the liquid in the heating container, and drive the heating means to keep the temperature at a predetermined temperature. Of the supply means Electric water heater to control the work. 2. The electricity according to claim 1, further comprising: a supply detection means for detecting the drive of the supply means; and the storage means includes a use storage means for storing the output of the use detection means and a supply storage means for storing the output of the supply detection means. Water heater. The electric water heater according to claim 2 , wherein the supply detection means detects that the liquid has been supplied into the heating container without going through the supply means. Discharge amount detection means for detecting the amount of liquid discharged by the discharge means, and the storage means include discharge amount storage means for storing the output of the discharge amount detection means for a predetermined period every predetermined unit time. The electric water heater according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the operation of the heating unit and the supply unit is controlled based on actual usage obtained from the unit. The electric water heater according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the supply means is connected to a water pipe.

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