JP5402704B2 - Toilet seat device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a toilet seat device having a heat storage function in a toilet seat.

  Conventionally, this type of toilet seat device has a configuration in which a toilet seat heater is attached to the back surface of the seating surface of the toilet seat, and a heat storage member is provided in close contact with the lower surface of the toilet seat heater, so that the electricity charge is low at midnight. The toilet seat heater is energized, the heat generated by the toilet seat heater is stored in the heat storage member, and in the daytime, the energization of the toilet seat heater is cut off, and the heat of the heat storage member is transmitted to the seating surface of the toilet seat. The surface is maintained at a comfortable temperature (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 8 shows a cross section of a conventional toilet seat device described in Patent Document 1. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 8, the toilet seat 1 is formed in a hollow shape by an upper surface member 2 and a lower surface member 3 serving as seating surfaces, and a heater unit 4 is adhered to the back surface of the upper surface member 2 via a double-sided tape 5. ing. The heater unit 4 is provided with a heater wire 7 in which an insulating coating is applied to a heater base 6 made of aluminum foil via an adhesive. Between the heater unit 4 and the lower surface member 3, a heat storage member 8 in which a heat storage agent made of calcium chloride, sodium sulfate or the like is filled in a polyethylene bag is placed in close contact with the heater unit 4. A toilet seat leg 9 is provided on the lower surface member.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-309089

  However, in the conventional configuration, all the heat that warms the seating surface of the toilet seat is stored in the heat storage member at night, and the seating surface of the toilet seat is comfortable for sitting regardless of whether the toilet seat device is used or not. The heat stored is used to maintain the temperature.

  When considering the energy required for the conventional toilet seat device to warm the seating surface, in addition to the energy equivalent to that used for energizing the toilet seat heater to maintain the seating surface at a constant temperature throughout the day, the seating surface It was inferred that wasted heat was radiated from the heat storage member that was not used effectively for heating, and as a result, a considerable amount of wasted energy was consumed, and there was room for improvement from the viewpoint of energy saving. .

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a toilet seat device with high energy saving performance by effectively utilizing residual heat during use of the toilet seat device.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, a toilet seat device of the present invention includes a main body that can be installed on a toilet and a toilet seat pivotally supported by the main body, and the toilet seat includes a metal seating surface. A substantially annular upper toilet seat casing and a substantially annular lower toilet seat casing are joined at the inner and outer peripheral edges of each other, so that a cavity is formed inside. A heater is attached, a heat storage member is disposed in the cavity, and the heat storage member is connected to at least one of the inner peripheral edge and the outer peripheral edge of the upper toilet seat casing. .

As a result, when the toilet seat is used, the seating surface of the upper toilet seat casing is heated by the toilet seat heater, the temperature is raised to a set temperature at which the seat can be comfortably seated, and among the heat applied to the upper toilet seat casing, The residual heat transmitted to the inner and outer peripheral edges is transmitted to the heat storage member through at least one of the inner and outer peripheral edges, the heat is stored in the heat storage member, and the heat stored in the heat storage member is not in the toilet seat. It can be used to keep the upper toilet seat casing warm at the time of use, and since the remaining heat at the time of use of the toilet seat can be effectively utilized when the toilet seat is kept warm, the energy saving effect can be improved.

  The toilet seat device of the present invention can reduce the power for heating the toilet seat and improve the energy saving effect.

The perspective view which shows the external appearance of the state which installed the toilet seat apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention on the toilet bowl. The schematic diagram which shows the structure of the control system of the toilet seat apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention. The perspective view which shows the external appearance of the toilet seat in Embodiment 1 of this invention The bottom view inside the upper toilet seat casing of the toilet seat in Embodiment 1 of the present invention The top view inside the lower toilet seat casing of the toilet seat in Embodiment 1 of this invention AA sectional view of the toilet seat shown in FIG. (A) Graph showing change in energization pattern of toilet seat heater and surface temperature of toilet seat during temperature rise when using toilet seat, (b) Energization pattern of toilet seat heater, toilet seat surface temperature and heat storage during use and standby of toilet seat Graph showing change in temperature of member Sectional view of a toilet seat of a conventional toilet seat device

  1st invention includes the main body which can be installed on a toilet bowl, and the toilet seat pivotally supported by the said main body, The said toilet seat is a substantially cyclic | annular upper toilet seat casing containing a metal seating surface, A substantially annular lower toilet seat casing is joined at the inner and outer peripheral edges of each other to form a hollow portion inside, and a toilet seat heater is attached to the back surface of the upper toilet seat casing The heat storage member is disposed in the hollow portion, and at least one of the inner peripheral edge and the outer peripheral edge of the upper toilet seat casing is connected to the heat storage member.

  As a result, when the toilet seat is used, the seating surface of the upper toilet seat casing is heated by the toilet seat heater, the temperature is raised to a set temperature at which the seat can be comfortably seated, and among the heat applied to the upper toilet seat casing, The residual heat transmitted to the inner and outer peripheral edges is transmitted to the heat storage member through at least one of the inner and outer peripheral edges, the heat is stored in the heat storage member, and the heat stored in the heat storage member is not in the toilet seat. It can be used to keep the upper toilet seat casing warm at the time of use, and since the remaining heat at the time of use of the toilet seat can be effectively utilized when the toilet seat is kept warm, the energy saving effect can be improved.

  In a second aspect of the invention, in particular, in the first aspect of the invention, the toilet seat heater has a configuration in which a linear heater wire is disposed on a metal sheet, and the heat storage member is opposed to the toilet seat heater by providing a gap. It is arranged to do.

  Thereby, the heat storage member can also receive the radiant heat emitted from the toilet seat heater, and the energy saving effect can be further improved by increasing the heat storage amount.

  In a third aspect of the invention, in particular, in the first or second aspect of the invention, the heat storage member is formed of a metal material.

  As a result, the upper toilet seat casing and the heat storage member can be joined easily and reliably, so that heat transfer between the upper toilet seat casing and the heat storage member can be performed efficiently and stably, and the heat storage member is produced. Can be easily performed.

  According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in particular, in any one of the first to third aspects of the invention, the toilet seat heater is controlled based on a human body detection unit that detects a human body approaching the main body and a detection signal of the human body detection unit. Including a control unit, and when the human body detection means does not detect a human body, the control unit stops energizing the toilet seat heater or energizes a small capacity, and the temperature of the seating surface is not suitable for seating. When the human body detecting means detects a human body, the toilet seat heater is energized with a large capacity, and the temperature of the seating surface is set to a set temperature suitable for seating. The temperature is controlled to rise in a short time.

  Thereby, when the seating surface is heated to the set temperature, heat is stored in the heat storage member, and the stored heat is used to keep the upper toilet seat casing at a low temperature when the human body detection means does not detect the human body. Therefore, a wasteful energization amount when the toilet seat device is not used is suppressed, and a true energy saving effect of suppressing wasteful power can be obtained.

  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 perspective view of the appearance of the toilet seat device according to the present embodiment installed on a toilet, and FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the control system of the toilet seat device 110.

<1> Configuration of Toilet Seat Device As shown in FIG. 1, the toilet seat device 100 includes a main body 200, a toilet lid 300, a toilet seat 400, a remote controller 500, and a human body detection sensor 600, and the main body 200, the toilet lid 300, and the toilet seat 400. Is integrally formed and installed on the upper surface of the toilet bowl 700.

  A toilet lid 300 and a toilet seat 400 are attached to the main body 200 via a toilet seat toilet lid rotation mechanism (not shown) so as to be electrically opened and closed. In the state where the toilet lid 300 is opened as shown in FIG. 1, the toilet lid 300 stands so as to be positioned at the rearmost part of the toilet seat device 100. When the toilet lid 300 is closed, the upper surface of the toilet seat 400 is concealed.

  Further, the main body 200 includes a cleaning water supply mechanism (not shown), a heat exchanger (not shown), a cleaning mechanism including a cleaning nozzle 201, a drying unit (not shown), and a control unit 260. Etc. are built-in.

  A seating sensor 202 is installed at the front corner of the main body 200. The seating sensor 202 is a reflective infrared sensor, and detects the presence of a user on the toilet seat 400 by detecting infrared light reflected from the human body. In addition, an operation unit 203 is provided on a side portion of the main body 200 so that main functions of the toilet seat device can be operated.

  The washing water supply mechanism and the heat exchanger are connected to the washing nozzle 201, and the washing water supplied from the water pipe is heated by the heat exchanger to supply hot water to the washing nozzle. The washing water is spouted out toward the local area to clean the local area of the user. The washing nozzle includes a butt washing nozzle part for washing the butt and a bidet nozzle part for washing the female part.

Further, the drying unit can blow the warm air toward the local area wetted by the washing water and dry the local area.

  Note that the cleaning mechanism and the drying unit are not essential components of the toilet seat device, and may be a toilet seat device that does not include these components.

  The remote controller 500 is provided with a plurality of operation switches. The remote controller 500 is attached to a place such as a wall surface of a toilet room that can be operated by a user seated on the toilet seat 400 and operates each function of the toilet seat device 100.

  The human body detection sensor 600 is attached to a wall surface of a toilet room. The human body detection sensor 600 is a reflective infrared sensor, and detects that a user has entered the toilet room when detecting infrared light reflected from the human body.

  The control unit 260 of the main body 200 controls the operation of each unit of the toilet seat device 100 based on signals transmitted from the remote controller 500, the human body detection sensor 600, and the seating sensor 202.

  When there is no user in the toilet room, the toilet seat device 100 of the present invention stops energization of the toilet seat heater 450 or keeps the temperature low at about 18 ° C. When the user enters the toilet room, a signal from the human body detection sensor 600 is received, and the toilet seat heater 450 is energized. The heater of the toilet seat is an extremely high output heater of about 800 W, and the seating surface of the toilet seat 400 is placed at 40 ° C. for about 6 to 10 seconds after the user enters and exits the toilet room and sits on the toilet seat. Warm to a suitable temperature. After the toilet seat reaches an appropriate temperature, the energization of the toilet seat heater is lowered to a low wattage of about 50 W to maintain the appropriate temperature. When the user gets out of the toilet room, the energization to the toilet seat heater is stopped or the temperature is kept at a low temperature of 20 ° C. or lower. That is, the toilet seat device greatly reduces the power when there is no user in the toilet room.

<2> Configuration of Toilet Seat 400 FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the assembled state of the toilet seat 400, FIG. 4 shows a bottom view of the upper toilet seat casing of the toilet seat 400, and FIG. 5 shows the inside of the lower toilet seat casing of the toilet seat 400. A top view is shown, and FIG. 6 shows an AA cross-sectional view of the toilet seat 400 shown in FIG.

  As shown in the figure, the toilet seat 400 includes a substantially elliptical annular upper toilet seat casing 410 mainly made of aluminum, a substantially elliptical annular lower toilet seat casing 420 made of synthetic resin, and an upper toilet seat casing 410. A substantially horseshoe-shaped toilet seat heater 450 adhered to the back surface of the stool and a heat storage member 430 formed of a metal material are configured as main components.

  Hereinafter, the front side viewed from the seated user is defined as the front portion of the toilet seat 400, and the rear side viewed from the seated user is defined as the rear portion of the toilet seat 400.

  The upper toilet seat casing 410 is formed by pressing an aluminum plate having a thickness of about 1 mm by pressing or the like, and a polyester powder coating film having insulating properties and heat resistance is formed on the front surface and the back surface. Insulating performance can be improved by adopting powder coating that does not easily generate pinholes.

  The upper toilet seat casing 410 has a curved portion 412 formed continuously at the rear portion of a substantially elliptical annular seating surface 411. The seating surface 411 forms an upwardly convex curved surface having an inclination in which the outer peripheral portion is higher than the inner peripheral portion.

  The bent portion 412 and the seating surface 411 are connected by a continuous concave curved surface, and the upper portion is an inclined surface. The upper edge of the bent portion 412 is a large curve close to a horizontal line, and the width of the bent portion 412 is substantially the same as the lateral width of the seating surface 411.

  Further, the inner peripheral edge 415 and the outer peripheral edge 416 of the upper toilet seat casing 410 are bent inward, and an upper toilet seat casing 410 and a lower toilet seat casing 420 are provided at a plurality of locations of the inner peripheral edge 415 and the outer peripheral edge 416. A plurality of engaging holes 418 to be engaged are formed.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a toilet seat heater 450 is adhesively fixed to almost the entire back surface of the upper toilet seat casing 410, and a thermostat 450Q and a temperature fuse 450R are provided on the rear surface of the toilet seat heater 450 as an overheat prevention device. It is installed. On the side surface of the toilet seat heater 450, a thermistor 401a for detecting the toilet seat temperature for feedback control of the toilet seat heater 450 based on the temperature of the seating portion 411 of the toilet seat 400 is installed. In addition, a ground wire 480 that ensures safety is connected to the outer peripheral edge 416 of the upper toilet seat casing 410.

  The toilet seat heater 450 is formed in a substantially horseshoe shape with a part of the front portion cut off. The toilet seat heater 450 is configured by meandering a linear heater between two metal foils made of aluminum. The toilet seat heater 450 is provided with a linear heater so that the seating surface 411 and the bent portion 412 can be heated, and the density is changed depending on the location so that the thigh and buttocks of the seated user can be heated comfortably. It is arranged.

  The lower toilet seat casing 420 is a molded product using a resin material, and is composed of a main body portion 421 whose planar shape is substantially the same as that of the upper toilet seat casing 410, and arm portions 422 that protrude obliquely upward to the rear of both sides of the main body portion 421. ing.

  The inner peripheral edge 425 and the outer peripheral edge 426 of the lower toilet seat casing 420 are formed with a step portion 427 that supports the heat storage member 430 and a plurality of engaging claws 428 that engage the upper toilet seat casing 410 and the lower toilet seat casing 420. .

  The heat storage member 430 is divided into two parts on the left and right sides, has an outer shape substantially similar to both sides of the lower toilet seat casing 420, and is formed by pressing a steel plate having a thickness of about 3 mm. The surface is painted black and is easy to absorb radiant heat.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the heat storage member 430 is installed on the step 427 of the lower toilet seat casing, and by combining the upper toilet seat casing 410 and the lower toilet seat casing 420, the inner peripheral edge 415 of the upper toilet seat casing 410 and the outer periphery 415. The peripheral edge 416 is brought into contact with the upper surface of the heat storage member 430 so that heat can be transferred between the upper toilet seat casing 410 and the heat storage member 430. In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, the toilet seat heater 450 and the heat storage member 430 are installed so that their surfaces face each other, and are arranged to easily receive radiant heat from the toilet seat heater 450.

  The upper toilet seat casing 410 and the lower toilet seat casing 420 are coupled to each other by engaging an engaging claw 428 formed in the lower toilet seat casing 420 with an engaging hole 418 formed in the upper toilet casing 410. 400a is formed, and a watertight means is applied to the coupling portion.

As described above, the upper toilet seat casing 410 is formed using an aluminum plate. However, the upper toilet seat casing 410 is not limited to this, and is not limited to this, but other metal having good heat conduction such as a plate material such as copper or stainless steel or a molded product of magnesium alloy. May be used. Further, the surface treatment applied to the aluminum plate is not limited to the above specifications, and other chemical treatments or other coatings using acrylic or urethane paints can be selected.

<3> Configuration of Control System of Toilet Seat Device FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the control system of the toilet seat device 110.

  The temperature measuring unit 401 in the main body 200 is connected to a thermistor 401 a installed on the surface of the metal foil of the toilet seat 450. Thereby, the temperature measurement part 401 measures the temperature of the toilet seat 400 based on the signal output from the thermistor 401a. Hereinafter, the temperature of the toilet seat 400 measured by the temperature measuring unit 401 through the thermistor 401a is referred to as a measured temperature value.

  There is a slight difference between the measured temperature value by the thermistor 401a and the actual surface temperature of the seating surface 411 of the toilet seat 400, and the temperature setting in the control unit 260 is set in consideration of the temperature difference.

  The heater driving unit 402 in the main body 200 is connected to the toilet seat heater 450 of the toilet seat 400. As a result, the heater driving unit 402 drives the toilet seat heater 450.

  In the present embodiment, the toilet seat device 100 operates as follows. At the time of initial setting, the temperature of the toilet seat 400 is adjusted to be, for example, about 18 ° C. by the control unit 260 controlling the heater driving unit 402, and the temperature at this time is referred to as a standby temperature. The temperature of the toilet seat at this time depends on the measured value of the thermistor 401a.

  When the room temperature is 18 ° C. or higher, the measured value of the toilet seat 400 is naturally 18 ° C. or higher, and therefore the control unit 260 cuts off the power supply to the toilet seat heater 450.

  Here, when the user operates the toilet seat temperature adjustment switch of the remote controller 500, the temperature of the toilet seat when using the toilet seat is transmitted to the control unit 260 via the remote control light receiving sensor. The control unit 260 stores the set temperature received from the remote controller 500 in the control unit 260 storage unit. At this time, the temperature is referred to as a set temperature, and a plurality of set temperatures are prepared in advance and can be selected according to the user's preference.

  When the user enters the toilet room, the human body detection sensor 600 detects the user's entry. Thereby, a user's entry detection signal is transmitted to the control unit 260 via the remote control light receiving sensor.

  The controller 260 detects the user entering the toilet room based on the detection signal from the human body detection sensor 600. The control unit 260 drives the toilet seat toilet lid rotation mechanism to open the toilet lid 300, and specifies the driving seat heater 450 based on the measured temperature value of the toilet seat unit 400 and the set temperature stored in the storage unit. The heater control pattern is selected.

  Based on the selected heater control pattern and time information, the driving of the heater driving unit 402 is controlled.

  Thereby, the toilet seat heater 450 is driven, and the seating surface 411 of the toilet seat 400 is instantaneously raised to the set temperature.

<4> Change in energization pattern and toilet seat temperature of toilet seat heater The drive control of the toilet seat heater 450 is performed by changing the energization capacity for driving the toilet seat heater 450 to three.

  When raising the temperature of the toilet seat 400 with the first temperature gradient, the heater driving unit 402 drives the toilet seat heater 450 with an electric power of about 800 W (800 W drive).

  In addition, when the temperature of the toilet seat 400 is raised at a second temperature gradient that is slightly gentler than the first temperature gradient, the heater driving unit 402 drives the toilet seat heater 450 with about 400 W of power (400 W drive).

  Furthermore, when the temperature of the toilet seat 400 is kept constant, the heater driving unit 402 drives the toilet seat heater 450 with a power of about 50 W (low power driving). Note that low power driving refers to driving the toilet seat heater 450 with sufficiently low power (for example, power within a range of 0 W to 50 W) as compared with 800 W driving and 400 W driving.

  Switching between 800 W drive, 400 W drive, and low power drive is performed by phase control that controls energization from the heater drive unit 402 to the toilet seat heater 450 by the energization rate switching circuit of the control unit 90.

  An AC current is supplied to the heater driving unit 402 from a power supply circuit (not shown). Therefore, the heater drive unit 402 causes the alternating current supplied based on the energization control signal provided from the energization rate switching circuit to flow through the toilet seat heater 450.

  7A is a graph showing a change in the energization pattern of the toilet seat heater and the surface temperature of the toilet seat when the temperature rises when the toilet seat is used, and FIG. It is a graph which shows the change of temperature and the temperature of a thermal storage member.

  7 (a) and 7 (b), a graph showing the relationship between the surface temperature of the toilet seat 400 and the heat storage member and time, and a graph showing the relationship between the energization rate and time when the toilet seat heater 450 is driven. Is shown. (A) shows in detail the change in the short time when the toilet seat 400 is heated, the time axis is in seconds, and (b) is a long time including when the toilet seat is heated and when it is on standby. It shows changes and the time axis is in units of time. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the set temperature of the toilet seat is set to 38 ° C. and the room temperature is lower than 18 ° C.

  During the standby state until the user's entry is detected by the human body detection sensor 600, the toilet lid 300 is closed so as to cover the toilet seat in order to suppress heat dissipation of the toilet seat 400, and the toilet seat 400 is seated. The toilet seat heater 450 is driven with low power so that the surface temperature of the surface 411 is constant at 18 ° C.

  When the human body detection sensor 600 detects that the user has entered the room at time t1, the control unit 290 opens the toilet lid 300 by driving the toilet seat toilet lid rotation mechanism, and also sets the preset inrush current reduction period D2. During this time, 400 W drive is performed. This 400 W drive is performed in order to sufficiently reduce the inrush current, and is 0.5 second in this embodiment. In this case, the surface temperature of the toilet seat 400 is raised with a slightly gentle second temperature gradient.

  Thereafter, the control unit 90 starts the 800 W drive of the toilet seat heater 450 at time t2 after the rush current reduction period D2 has elapsed, and continues the 800 W drive of the toilet seat heater 450 during the preset first temperature increase period D3. To do. In the present embodiment, the temperature increase period D3 is set to 5.5 seconds, and the surface temperature of the seating surface 411 is increased by the first temperature gradient described above.

  Here, the surface temperature of the seating surface 411 of the toilet seat 400 is rapidly increased. The 800 W drive of the toilet seat heater 450 is performed until the surface temperature of the seating surface 411 of the toilet seat 400 reaches a predetermined temperature. This predetermined temperature is not a temperature sufficiently raised to the set temperature, and even if it is lower than that, the lowest limit temperature that does not cause discomfort when the user is seated (this temperature is referred to as a limit temperature). That is all you need. This limit temperature has been found to be about 29 ° C. by subject experiments conducted by the inventors.

  Thus, in the first temperature rising period D3, the surface temperature of the seating surface 411 is rapidly raised to a temperature exceeding the limit temperature by the 800 W driving. At this point, the user can sit on the toilet seat 400 without feeling that the toilet seat 400 is cold.

  In general, when the surface temperature of the toilet seat 400 is rapidly increased, an overshoot is generated in which the temperature rises to a set temperature or higher. However, in this embodiment, when the surface temperature of the seating surface 411 of the toilet seat 400 reaches a temperature exceeding the limit temperature, the 800 W drive of the toilet seat heater 450 is switched to the 400 W drive, so that the temperature gradient is moderated and exceeded. The chute is suppressed and the surface temperature of the seating surface 411 is controlled so as not to exceed the set temperature. As a result, the user is prevented from feeling the toilet seat 400 hot when seated.

  The 400 W drive of the toilet seat heater 450 is performed for the second temperature rising period D4 until the surface temperature of the seating surface 411 of the toilet seat 400 reaches the set temperature of 38 ° C. When the measured value of the thermistor 401a reaches the set temperature, the 400 W drive is performed. To switch to the next drive. The temperature raising period D4 is about 9 to 10 seconds.

  The controller 90 starts low-power driving of the toilet seat heater 450 at time t4 after the elapse of the second temperature rising period D4, and continues low-power driving of the toilet seat heater 450 during the first maintenance period D5. Thereby, the surface temperature of the seating surface 411 of the toilet seat 400 is kept constant at the set temperature.

  When the seating sensor 290 detects that the user is seated on the toilet seat 400 at the time t5, the controller 90 controls the toilet seat heater 450 so that the surface temperature of the toilet seat 400 maintains the set temperature during the first seating period D6. Continue low power drive. In the present embodiment, the first seating period D6 is set to about 10 minutes.

  Then, at time t6 after the elapse of the first seating period D6, the control unit 90 further reduces the energization rate of the low power drive, and the surface temperature of the seating surface 411 of the toilet seat 400 during the second seating period D7. The low-power drive of the toilet seat heater 450 is continued so as to decrease to a temperature (36 ° C.) slightly lower than the set temperature. A temperature slightly lower than the set temperature is referred to as a maintenance temperature. As described above, after the user sits on the toilet seat 400, the controller 90 reduces the surface temperature of the toilet seat 400, thereby preventing the user from getting burned at a low temperature.

  When detecting that the user has left the toilet seat 400 by the seating sensor 290 at time t7, the control unit 90 stops driving the toilet seat heater 450 during the stop period D8. In the present embodiment, D8 is about 20 minutes. As a result, the surface temperature of the seating surface 411 of the toilet seat 400 decreases, and at time t8 when the surface temperature of the toilet seat 400 reaches 18 ° C., low-power driving of the toilet seat heater 450 is started again, and the surface temperature of the toilet seat 400 remains on standby. Low power driving of the toilet seat heater 450 is maintained so as to be constant at a temperature of 18 ° C.

  When the user leaves the toilet seat 400 after leaving the toilet seat 400, the human body detection sensor 600 does not detect the human body, and the control unit 260 drives the toilet seat toilet lid rotation mechanism to suppress heat dissipation of the toilet seat 400. The toilet lid 300 is closed.

<5> Temperature Change of Heat Storage Member The broken line in FIG. 7B shows the temperature change of the heat storage member 430.
The temperature change of the heat storage material 430 changes later than the temperature change of the toilet seat 400 both when the temperature is raised and when it is lowered. In particular, the toilet seat device 100 according to the present embodiment raises the temperature of the seating surface 411 of the toilet seat 400 in a short time. The high-capacity toilet seat heater 450 is provided, and the delay when the temperature rises is considerably large.

  As shown in the figure, the surface temperature of the seating surface 411 reaches the set temperature in seconds from time t1, whereas the temperature of the heat storage member 430 increases in minutes from time t1, and the use of the toilet seat is completed. The temperature rise is continued until time t7, and normally reaches a temperature lower than the set temperature of the toilet seat 400. During this time, the heat of the toilet seat heater 450 is transmitted to the seating surface 411 of the toilet seat 400, and the heat conducted to the inner peripheral edge 415 and the outer peripheral edge 416 of the upper toilet seat casing 410 of the toilet seat 400 is transmitted to the heat storage member 430 and the heat storage member 430 as a whole. The temperature of the heat storage member 430 is raised through a transmission path that conducts heat to the heat. The heat conducted to the inner peripheral edge 415 and the outer peripheral edge 416 of the upper toilet seat casing 410 is residual heat that has not been effectively utilized for heating the seating surface 411, and the heat storage material 430 is heated by the residual heat.

  Further, since the heat storage member 430 is disposed to face the toilet seat heater 450 substantially in parallel, the heat storage member 430 receives the radiant heat radiated from the toilet seat heater 450. Radiant heat radiated from the toilet seat heater 450 is residual heat that is not used for heating the seating surface 411 of the toilet seat 400, and the heat storage member 430 also effectively uses the residual heat in this respect.

  Thus, in addition to the configuration in which a time difference occurs in the transmission path, the upper toilet seat casing 410 is formed of aluminum having a small heat capacity as a material, so that the temperature is raised in a short time, whereas the heat storage member 430 has a heat capacity. Since a large steel plate is used as a raw material, a long heating time is required. Further, the temperature increase of the heat storage member 430 is performed by the residual heat conducted to the inner peripheral edge 415 and the outer peripheral edge 416 of the upper toilet seat casing 410, and the greatest factor of delay is that the absolute amount of heat is small.

  On the other hand, after the use of the toilet seat is completed and the energization of the toilet seat heater 450 is interrupted, the temperature of the heat storage member 430 falls later than the surface temperature of the toilet seat 400. This is because the heat storage member 430 is installed in the cavity 400a of the toilet seat 400, and the toilet seat 400 functions as a heat insulating material. During this time, the heat stored in the heat storage member 430 is transmitted to the upper toilet seat casing 410 and acts to slow down the surface temperature of the toilet seat 400.

  After the energization of the toilet seat heater 450 is interrupted, the surface temperature of the toilet seat 400 drops to 18 ° C., which is the standby temperature, but the temperature change when the heat storage member 430 of the present invention is installed is indicated by a solid line D8. In contrast, when the heat storage member 430 is not installed, it descends during the period D9 as shown by the one-dot chain line. In the case of this embodiment, when the room temperature is about 10 ° C., D9 is about 15 minutes. The time until the temperature drops to 18 ° C. is the difference between D8 (20 minutes) and D9 (15 minutes), and a difference of about 5 minutes occurs. During this time, it is not necessary to perform low-power driving for maintaining the toilet seat 400 at the standby temperature, and power consumption in the standby state can be reduced.

  As described above, the toilet seat device according to the present embodiment stores the residual heat of the toilet seat heater in the heat storage member, and delays the decrease in the surface temperature of the seating surface after the use of the toilet seat is completed, thereby reducing power consumption in the standby state. It becomes possible to reduce, and the effect of energy saving can be acquired.

  In particular, the heat storage member of the present invention is a material in which the surface of the heat storage member is painted black in order to increase the amount of heat received from the seating surface of the toilet seat, as well as the amount of radiant heat that is the residual heat of the toilet seat heater. Yes, the energy saving effect can be further enhanced.

  The toilet seat device according to the present embodiment maintains the toilet seat at an extremely low temperature when not in use, and instantaneously raises the toilet seat with a high-capacity toilet seat heater when used, and is used when the toilet seat is used. Most of the electric power is based on the energy-efficient toilet seat device that is used effectively, and by installing a heat storage member, it is possible to suppress electrical energy when not in use. The effect is brought close to the limit.

  In the present embodiment, it has been described that the drive of the toilet seat heater 450 is stopped immediately when it is detected that the user has moved away from the toilet seat 400. It may be performed after a predetermined time (for example, 1 minute) has elapsed since it was detected that the person has left the toilet seat 400. In this case, the surface temperature of the toilet seat 400 does not drop when the user once again leaves the toilet seat 400 and again feels comfortable and sits on the toilet seat 400 again. Thus, the user can comfortably sit on the toilet seat 400.

  As described above, since the toilet seat device according to the present invention can suppress power consumption in the standby state, the toilet seat device can also be applied to applications such as a heating appliance having a function of switching between the use state and the standby state.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Toilet seat apparatus 200 Main body 260 Control part 400 Toilet seat 400a Cavity part 410 Upper toilet seat casing 411 Seating surface 415 Inner periphery 416 Outer periphery 420 Lower toilet seat casing 425 Inner periphery 426 Outer periphery 430 Heat storage member 450 Toilet seat heater 600 Human body detection sensor (human body detection means) )
700 toilet bowl

Claims (4)

A body that can be installed on the toilet,
Including a toilet seat pivotally supported by the main body,
In the toilet seat, a substantially annular upper toilet seat casing including a metal seating surface and a substantially annular lower toilet seat casing are joined to each other at the inner peripheral edge and the outer peripheral edge, thereby forming a cavity inside. With configuration,
A toilet seat heater is attached to the back of the upper toilet seat casing,
A heat storage member is disposed in the hollow portion,
A toilet seat device having a configuration in which at least one of the inner peripheral edge and the outer peripheral edge of the upper toilet seat casing is connected to the heat storage member. The toilet seat heater has a configuration in which a linear heater wire is disposed on a metal sheet,
The heat storage member is disposed so as to face the toilet seat heater with a gap therebetween.
The toilet seat device according to claim 1. The heat storage member is made of a metal material,
The toilet seat device according to claim 1 or 2. Human body detecting means for detecting a human body approaching the main body;
Based on a detection signal of the human body detection means, including a control unit that controls the toilet seat heater,
When the human body detecting means does not detect a human body, the control unit stops energizing the toilet seat heater or energizes a small capacity so that the temperature of the seating surface becomes a low temperature not suitable for seating. Control to maintain state,
When the human body detecting means detects a human body, the toilet seat heater is energized with a large capacity, and the temperature of the seating surface is controlled to rise to a set temperature suitable for seating in a short time. To
The toilet seat apparatus of any one of Claims 1-3.