JP5582676B2 - Toilet seat device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a toilet seat device having a load that consumes a large amount of power in a short time.

  For example, in a warm water washing type toilet seat apparatus that ejects hot water to a user's washing target part, a heater for generating hot water is provided as a load that consumes electric power. This type of toilet seat device includes a storage-type toilet seat device that preliminarily generates and stores hot water by heating water with a heater, and generates hot water by instantaneously heating water with a heater only during use. There is an instant toilet seat device.

In the storage-type toilet seat device, water is heated by a heater that consumes a small amount of electric power (about 350 W), so the instantaneous power consumption is small. For this reason, the total amount of power consumption increases.
On the other hand, the instant toilet seat device is configured to heat water with a heater that consumes a large amount of electric power (about 1200 W) in a short time to generate hot water instantly. Can be consumed instantly and the total amount of power consumption can be reduced.

However, when many such instant toilet seat devices are installed in a building, for example, in a building, the power consumption of each toilet seat device is large, so it is necessary to increase the total capacity of the distribution system (wiring, breakers, etc.). It takes. In addition, when the instantaneous toilet seat device is installed in a general household, the capacity of the home power distribution system has a rating (15A, 100V), and therefore there is a possibility that the breaker may break when used in combination with other home appliances. .
Due to these circumstances, the instantaneous toilet seat device is practically used due to construction restrictions related to the power distribution system, although the total amount of power consumption can be reduced and the running cost can be reduced compared to the storage toilet seat device. However, there were still some issues to be introduced.

By the way, as a hot water supply system that generates hot water only at the time of use, a method of supplying power from the power storage device to a heater (ceramic heater) for generating hot water that includes a power storage device including a secondary battery and a capacitor is conceivable. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1). If such a hot water supply system is applied to the instant toilet seat device as described above, electric power is stored in the power storage device, and the power stored in the power storage device is supplied to the heater when necessary (when using hot water). By doing so, warm water can be generated. Therefore, it is not necessary to increase the total capacity of the power distribution system, and it is difficult to be restricted by the capacity of the power distribution system.
JP 2004-53098 A

  However, in the instantaneous type (instantaneous type) toilet seat device, since the heater that requires large electric power is used as described above, in order to be able to supply sufficient electric power from the power storage device to the heater, The power storage capacity of the power storage device must be increased. This increases the size and cost of the power storage device, making it difficult to mount the power storage device on the toilet seat device.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to appropriately supply a large amount of power to a load that consumes a large amount of power in a short time without causing an increase in size and cost of the power storage device. An object of the present invention is to provide a toilet seat device that can be used.

A toilet seat device according to the present invention includes a power storage device that stores electric power, an AC / DC conversion unit that obtains DC power from a commercial power source, and a toilet seat device that includes one type of heater as a load that consumes a large amount of power in a short time. a charging device for charging said power storage device by boosting the DC power from the AC / DC converting means, a DC power obtained DC power and the power storage instrumentation placed al obtained from the AC / DC converting means to the heater A power supply unit that can supply power, and a control unit that controls power supply from the power supply unit to the heater, and a DC current from the power storage device is supplied to the heater at an initial stage when the heater is used. It is, then, when the output voltage of said power storage device is reduced until the output voltage of the AC / DC converting means, in particular a DC voltage from the AC / DC converting means is also supplied to the heater With a butterfly.

  According to the toilet seat device of the present invention, the power supply unit supplies power obtained from both the commercial power source and the power storage device to the load that consumes a large amount of power in a short time, and the power supply unit supplies the load to the load. The power supply is controlled by the control means. Thereby, large power obtained by adding power obtained from the power source to power obtained from the power storage device can be appropriately supplied to the load to be supplied with power in a short time.

In addition, since a commercial power source and a power storage device are used together as a power supply source, large power can be supplied to the load without increasing the power storage capacity of the power storage device, and the power storage device can be increased in size and cost. Can be suppressed.
Further, it is not necessary to increase the total capacity of the distribution system, and it is difficult to be restricted by the capacity of the distribution system.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the toilet seat device 1. The main body 2 of the toilet seat device 1 is detachably fixed to the upper surface of the toilet 3. A control panel 4 is attached to the main body 2. The control panel 4 includes various operation switches 5 (such as a butt washing switch, a bidet switch, a stop switch, a water temperature switch, a jet pressure switch, and a toilet seat temperature switch). 3) is operably provided. Electric power is supplied to the toilet seat device 1 from a commercial power source 7 (AC 100 V, 50 Hz or 60 Hz, see FIG. 1) via a power cord 6.

  A toilet seat 8 and a lid 9 made of a synthetic resin material are attached to the main body portion 2 by a hinge portion 10. The toilet seat 8 and the lid 9 are rotatable about a shaft 10a that is horizontal in the left-right direction. The toilet seat 8 can be rotated between a use state (a state shown in FIG. 2) that contacts the upper surface of the toilet bowl 3 substantially horizontally and a non-use state that is inclined upward from the upper surface of the toilet bowl 3. The lid 9 is rotatable between an open state (a state shown in FIG. 2) separated from the toilet seat 8 and a closed state in contact with the toilet seat 8. The toilet seat 8 is one in which the user puts the buttocks in the use state, and a heater wire (not shown) of the toilet seat heater 11 (see FIG. 3) is embedded in the toilet seat 8. The toilet seat heater 11 heats and warms the toilet seat 8 from the inside so that the user does not feel cold when the user puts the buttocks on the toilet seat 8.

  A branch plug 14 is connected to the main body 2 via an electromagnetic valve 12 (see FIG. 3) and a hose 13. This branch plug 14 is connected to a water pipe (not shown), and passes through the hose 13 and the electromagnetic valve 12 in this order from the branch plug 14 to a cleaning nozzle 18 (to be described later). The washing water for washing the local part) and the toilet 3 is injected. The branch plug 14 is connected via a hose 15 to a low tank (not shown) that stores washing water for discharging the waste in the toilet bowl 3.

  A cylindrical cleaning nozzle 18 that extends linearly in the front-rear direction is provided at a substantially central portion of the main body 2. Inside the cleaning nozzle 18, a linear flow passage (not shown) through which the cleaning water in the main body 2 can be circulated is formed, and the front end portion of the cleaning nozzle 18 is used for cleaning a portion to be cleaned by the user. A spout (not shown) for ejecting water is formed. The cleaning nozzle 18 is moved forward according to the amount of rotation of the nozzle motor 19 (see FIG. 3) (a position where the cleaning nozzle 18 protrudes toward the toilet 3 and jets cleaning water into the user's cleaning target part). It moves in the front-rear direction between the retracted position (position accommodated below the toilet seat 8).

  The cleaning nozzle 18 is connected to the main body 2 via a flow rate adjusting valve (not shown). The opening degree of the flow rate adjusting valve is adjusted according to the rotation amount of the flow rate adjusting valve motor 20 (see FIG. 3), and the washing nozzle is adjusted with the jet pressure corresponding to the adjusted opening degree of the flow rate adjusting valve. Wash water is ejected from 18. A heater wire (not shown) of a hot water heater 21 (see FIG. 3) is wound around the cleaning nozzle 18. The warm water heater 21 consumes a large amount of electric power (for example, 1200 W) for a short period of time (for example, when a user cleans a region to be cleaned) and heats the cleaning water flowing through the cleaning nozzle 18 to warm it. This corresponds to the load.

Next, the electrical configuration of the toilet seat device 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
The control circuit 22 (corresponding to the control means) is mainly composed of a microcomputer having a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc. The control circuit 22 includes an operation switch 5, a power supply zero-cross detection circuit 23, and a toilet seat. A thermistor 24, a hot water thermistor 25, and a seating switch 26 are connected. Further, in the control circuit 22, the toilet seat heater 11, the electromagnetic valve 12, the nozzle motor 19, the flow rate adjusting valve motor 20, the hot water heater 21, the LED 27, the buzzer 28, the deodorizing fan 29, and the drying fan 30 respectively have driving circuits 31 to 39. Connected through.

  The power supply zero-cross detection circuit 23 detects a zero-cross point where the voltage supplied from the commercial power supply 7 is 0 V, and outputs a zero-cross signal. The toilet seat thermistor 24 detects the temperature of the toilet seat 8 heated by the toilet seat heater 11 and outputs a temperature signal. The warm water thermistor 25 detects the temperature of the warm water heated by the hot water heater 21. A temperature signal is output.

  The seating switch 26 is a mechanical switch provided in the vicinity of the hinge unit 10 and is turned on when the hinge unit 10 is slightly moved by the weight of the user seated on the toilet seat 8 and outputs a seating signal. As a substitute for the seat switch 26, for example, a human sensor made of an infrared sensor may be used.

  The LED 27 is lit or blinks depending on the operation state of the toilet seat apparatus 1, and the buzzer 28 emits a warning sound or the like according to the operation state of the toilet seat apparatus 1. The deodorizing fan 29 is for removing odors during or after use of the toilet seat apparatus 1, and the drying fan 30 is for supplying hot air to the site to be cleaned of the user after cleaning to dry it. Is.

  The control circuit 22 includes a toilet seat heater 11, a solenoid valve 12, a nozzle motor 19, based on various signals input from the operation switch 5, power supply zero cross detection circuit 23, toilet seat thermistor 24, hot water thermistor 25, and seat switch 26. The driving of the flow rate adjusting valve motor 20, the hot water heater 21, the LED 27, the buzzer 28, the deodorizing fan 29, and the drying fan 30 is controlled via drive circuits 31 to 39, respectively.

  As specific control contents, for example, the control circuit 22 determines whether or not the user has placed the buttocks on the toilet seat 8 based on the presence or absence of a seating signal from the seating switch 26. Further, the control circuit 22 rotates the flow rate adjusting valve motor 20 in accordance with the operation content of the ejection pressure switch of the control panel 4 to control the momentum of the washing water ejected from the washing nozzle 18. The control circuit 22 sets the target water temperature according to the operation content of the water temperature switch of the control panel 4 and controls the drive of the hot water heater 21 so that the temperature signal from the hot water thermistor 25 converges to the target water temperature.

  Next, the drive circuit 35 of the hot water heater 21 and the electrical configuration around it will be described with reference to FIG. The drive circuit 35 includes an AC / DC converter 40 (corresponding to an AC / DC converter), a charging device 41, a discharging device 43, a power supply unit 44, and a heater switch 45.

  The AC / DC conversion unit 40 is connected to the commercial power source 7, the charging device 41, and the power supply unit 44, and uses AC power obtained from the commercial power source 7 using a diode bridge and a smoothing capacitor (none of which are shown). Is converted into DC power and supplied to the charging device 41 and the power supply unit 44. In this case, the AC / DC conversion unit 40 converts AC 100V AC power into DC 140V DC power.

  The charging device 41 is connected to the power storage device 42 provided in the toilet seat device 1, and charges the power storage device 42 based on the DC power obtained from the AC / DC conversion unit 40. The charging device 41 includes a circuit for stepping up or stepping down the voltage of the DC power obtained from the AC / DC conversion unit 40, and a charging control signal (details will be described later) output from the control circuit 22 of the toilet seat device 1. Based on this, the charging voltage to the power storage device 42 can be changed. In this case, the charging device 41 boosts the DC 140 V DC power obtained from the AC / DC converter 40 to DC 280 V (charging voltage suitable for the power storage device 42) and charges the power storage device 42. The voltage suitable for the power storage device 42 is determined according to the maximum charging current of the power storage device 42. For example, if the maximum charging current is 1.5A, the charging current does not exceed 1.5A. The charging voltage is changed to a voltage lower than DC280V. As a result, it is possible to limit the current to prevent the current exceeding the maximum charging current from flowing through the power storage device 42.

The power storage device 42 is made of, for example, a capacitor, and stores DC power obtained from the commercial power supply 7 via the AC / DC conversion unit 40 and the charging device 41.
The discharge device 43 is a switch for turning on / off the discharge of the power storage device 42 based on a discharge control signal (details will be described later) output from the control circuit 22 of the toilet seat device 1. The control circuit 22 controls the driving of the discharge device 43 to discharge the electric power stored in the power storage device 42 at an appropriate discharge timing and supply DC power to the hot water heater 21. In addition, when supplying power to the hot water heater 21, the control circuit 22 can output a signal for making the supply power, supply voltage, or supply current constant as a discharge control signal.

  The power supply unit 44 includes two diodes 46 and 47 that are rectifying elements. The anode of the diode 46 is connected to the AC / DC conversion unit 40, and the anode of the diode 47 is connected to the discharge device 43. The cathodes of these diodes 46 and 47 are both connected to the heater switch 45.

  The heater switch 45 is composed of a switch component (for example, a relay or a gate turn-off type triac), and is connected to the hot water heater 21. The heater switch 45 turns on / off the power supply from the power supply unit 44 to the hot water heater 21 based on a heater control signal (details will be described later) output from the control circuit 22 of the toilet seat device 1. The control circuit 22 controls the driving of the heater switch 45 to adjust the temperature of the hot water generated by the hot water heater 21 to the set target water temperature.

  The commercial power supply 7 is also connected to an AC / DC converter 48 provided separately from the AC / DC converter 40 described above, and the DC power converted by the AC / DC converter 48 is DC / DC. It is converted into DC power of DC 5 V (DC 15 V as required) by the DC converter 49 and supplied to the toilet seat apparatus 1. In this case, among the loads shown in FIG. 3, the control circuit 22, the operation switch 5, the power supply zero cross detection circuit 23, the toilet seat thermistor 24, the hot water thermistor 25, the seating switch 26, the LED 27, and the buzzer 28 are Is operated by DC power of DC 5 V (DC 15 V as necessary) supplied from the AC via the AC / DC converter 48 and the DC / DC converter 49.

  On the other hand, the toilet seat heater 11, the electromagnetic valve 12, the nozzle motor 19, the flow rate adjusting valve motor 20, the deodorizing fan 29, and the drying fan 30 operate with AC 100 V AC power supplied from the commercial power supply 7. Based on the zero-cross signal from the power supply zero-cross detection circuit 23, the control circuit 22 drives the drive circuit of the load driven by the AC power near the zero-cross point. As a result, the current supplied to the load at the moment of operating the load is reduced, and the occurrence of a failure is suppressed.

  Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 shows the power consumption of the hot water heater 21 (see the solid line A) when the hot water heater 21 is used (when the power storage device 42 is discharged) and when it is not used (when the power storage device 42 is charged). It shows changes in power (see solid line B), voltage of power storage device 42 (see solid line C), output voltage of AC / DC converter 40 (see dashed line D), and current in power storage device 42 (see broken line E). is there.

  The control circuit 22 outputs a signal for operating the discharge device 43 as a discharge control signal and a signal for operating the heater switch 45 as a heater control signal when using the hot water heater 21 that ejects hot water from the cleaning nozzle 18. Moreover, the signal which stops the charging device 41 is output as a charge control signal. As a result, DC 280 V DC power stored in the power storage device 42 is supplied to the hot water heater 21 via the diode 47 of the power supply unit 44, and while the power storage device 42 is discharged, the power storage device 41 performs the power storage. Charging to the device 42 is stopped.

  At this time, since the output voltage of the AC / DC conversion unit 40 connected to the diode 46 of the power supply unit 44 is DC 140 V, the hot water heater 21 has an initial stage at which discharge from the power storage device 42 is started. The current from the commercial power source 7 (current supplied from the commercial power source 7 via the AC / DC converter 40 and the diode 46) does not flow, and the large current from the power storage device 42 (from the power storage device 42 to the discharge device 43 and the diode). Current discharged through 47) flows. That is, DC 280V DC power stored in the power storage device 42 is supplied from the power supply unit 44 to the hot water heater 21 (see point a of the solid line A at the start of discharge).

  As the DC power is discharged from the power storage device 42, the voltage (output voltage) of the power storage device 42 gradually decreases (see the change of the solid line C in the period b). At this time, the current (output current) of the power storage device 42 also gradually decreases as the output voltage of the power storage device 42 decreases (see the change of the broken line E in the period b). Accordingly, the DC power supplied to the hot water heater 21 gradually decreases as the output voltage and output current of the power storage device 42 decrease (see the change in the solid line A in the period b).

  And if the output voltage of the electrical storage apparatus 42 falls to the output voltage (DC140V) vicinity of the AC / DC conversion part 40, direct-current power will also be supplied to the hot water heater 21 also from the said AC / DC conversion part 40. . At this time, while the output voltage of the power storage device 42 and the output voltage of the AC / DC conversion unit 40 are in a substantially balanced state in the vicinity of DC 140 V, current is supplied from both the power storage device 42 and the AC / DC conversion unit 40 to the hot water heater 21. (Refer to changes in broken line E and solid line B in period c). When the control circuit 22 detects that the temperature of the hot water generated by the hot water heater 21 has become higher than the set value based on the temperature signal from the hot water thermistor 25, the control circuit 22 controls the heater switch 45 to shut off the heater switch 45. The temperature is output as a signal, and the temperature of the hot water ejected from the cleaning nozzle 18 is controlled.

  On the other hand, when the hot water heater 21 is not used, the control circuit 22 outputs a signal for stopping the operation of the discharge device 43 as a discharge control signal and outputs a signal for operating the charging device 41 as a charge control signal. Thereby, the current from the commercial power supply 7 flows to the power storage device 42 via the AC / DC conversion unit 40, and the voltage (charge voltage) of the power storage device 42 gradually increases (change in the solid line C in the period d). Reference, in this case, has a point e that makes it difficult for the charging voltage to rise due to the characteristics of the power storage device 42). That is, DC power of DC 280V is charged in the power storage device 42, and preparation for supplying large power to the hot water heater 21 is performed when the hot water heater 21 is used next time.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the power supply unit 44 supplies power obtained from both the commercial power supply 7 and the power storage device 42 to the hot water heater 21 that consumes a large amount of power in a short time. The power supply from the power supply unit 44 to the hot water heater 21 is controlled by the control circuit 22. Thereby, the high power obtained by adding the power obtained from the commercial power supply 7 to the power obtained from the power storage device 42 can be appropriately supplied to the hot water heater 21 to be supplied with power in a short time.

Further, since the commercial power source 7 and the power storage device 42 are used together as a power supply source, a large amount of power can be supplied to the hot water heater 21 without increasing the power storage capacity of the power storage device 42. Increase in size and cost can be suppressed.
Further, it is not necessary to increase the total capacity of the distribution system such as wiring and breakers, and it is difficult to be restricted by the capacity of the distribution system.
Further, when the hot water heater 21 is not used, the power storage device 42 is charged based on a small amount of power from the commercial power supply 7, so that a large amount of power is not consumed instantaneously.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. This second embodiment differs from the first embodiment described above in the following points.
That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the toilet seat apparatus 1 includes an AC heater 61 and a DC heater 62 as hot water heaters that consume a large amount of power in a short time. Further, in the drive circuit 63 of the AC heater 61 and the DC heater 62, the commercial power supply 7 is connected to the AC / DC converter 40 and the heater switch 45, respectively. The AC heater 61 is connected to the heater switch 45, and the DC heater 62 is connected to the discharge device 43. In this case, a power supply unit is configured by a power supply line 64 that connects the commercial power supply 7 and the AC heater 61 and a power supply line 65 that connects the discharge device 43 and the DC heater 62.

  The control circuit 22 of the toilet seat apparatus 1 supplies AC power to the AC heater 61 from the commercial power source 7 by outputting an AC heater control signal to the heater switch 45 and controlling the driving of the heater switch 45. / Cut. In addition, the control circuit 22 outputs / discharges a discharge control signal to the discharge device 43 to control driving of the discharge device 43, thereby turning on / off the supply of DC power from the power storage device 42 to the DC heater 62.

  Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 shows the power consumption of the hot water heater when the hot water heater (AC heater 61 and DC heater 62) is used (when the power storage device 42 is discharged) and when it is not used (when the power storage device 42 is charged) (see the solid line F). ), Changes in power supplied from the commercial power supply 7 (see solid line G), voltage of the power storage device 42 (see solid line H), and current in the power storage device 42 (see solid line I).

  When the hot water heater is used, the control circuit 22 outputs a signal for operating the heater switch 45 as a heater control signal to supply AC power of the commercial power supply 7 to the AC heater 61 and discharge a signal for operating the discharge device 43. It outputs as a control signal and supplies DC power of the power storage device 42 to the DC heater 62. Moreover, the signal which stops the charging device 41 is output as a charge control signal.

  As the DC power is discharged from the power storage device 42, the output voltage of the power storage device 42 gradually decreases (see the change in the solid line H when the hot water heater is used). At this time, the control circuit 22 is a signal that gradually increases the output current of the power storage device 42 in response to a decrease in the output voltage of the power storage device 42 in order to keep the DC power supplied to the DC heater 62 constant. Is output as a discharge control signal (see change in solid line I when hot water heater is used). In addition, constant AC power is supplied to the AC heater 61 from the commercial power supply 7 (see change of the solid line G when the hot water heater is used). Accordingly, the total amount of DC power supplied to and consumed by the hot water heater is also constant (see change in solid line F when the hot water heater is used).

  On the other hand, when the AC heater 61 and the DC heater 62 are not used, the control circuit 22 outputs a signal for stopping the operation of the discharge device 43 as a discharge control signal and a signal for operating the charging device 41 as a charge control signal. Output as. As a result, the current from the commercial power source 7 flows to the power storage device 42 via the AC / DC conversion unit 40, and the power storage device 42 is charged with DC power (see change in the solid line H when the hot water heater is not used).

As described above, according to this embodiment, AC power from the commercial power source 7 can be appropriately supplied to the AC heater 61 as necessary, and to the DC heater 62, The DC power stored in the power storage device 42 can be appropriately supplied as necessary. Therefore, the electric power from the commercial power supply 7 consumed instantaneously as the toilet seat apparatus 1 whole can be reduced.
In the configuration of the present embodiment, the hot water heater is separated into the AC heater 61 and the DC heater 62, and these are connected to a power supply unit composed of two power supply lines 64 and 65 for comparison. Can be realized easily.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be modified or expanded as follows.
When a secondary battery is used as the power storage device 42, the power storage voltage is generally low (for example, about DC 28V). In this case, DC 140V DC power may be stepped down to DC 28V DC power in charging device 41, and DC 28V DC power may be boosted to DC 280V DC power in discharging device 43.

  The load for supplying electric power obtained from both the commercial power supply 7 and the power storage device 42 is not limited to the hot water heater 21, the AC heater 61, and the DC heater 62, and is a load that consumes a large amount of power in a short time. For example, the toilet seat heater 11 may be supplied.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The 1st Embodiment of this invention is shown, The block diagram which shows schematically the drive circuit of a hot water heater, and the electric structure of the periphery A perspective view showing the appearance of the toilet seat device Block diagram schematically showing the electrical configuration of the toilet seat device The figure for explaining the action when the hot water heater is used and when it is not used FIG. 1 equivalent diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention 4 equivalent diagram

Explanation of symbols

  In the drawings, 1 is a toilet seat device, 7 is a commercial power supply, 21 is a hot water heater (load, heater), 22 is a control circuit (control means), 40 is an AC / DC conversion unit (AC / DC conversion means), and 41 is charged. Device, 42 is a power storage device, 44 is a power supply unit, 61 is an AC heater, 62 is a DC heater, and 64 and 65 are power supply lines (power supply units).

Claims (2)

In the toilet seat device equipped with one kind of heater as a load that consumes a large amount of power in a short time
A power storage device for storing electric power;
AC / DC conversion means for obtaining DC power from a commercial power source;
A charging device that boosts DC power obtained from the AC / DC conversion means and charges the power storage device;
A power supply unit of the DC power can be supplied to the heater to obtain the DC power and the power storage instrumentation placed al obtained from the AC / DC converting means,
Control means for controlling power supply from the power supply unit to the heater ,
In an initial stage when the heater is used, when a direct current from the power storage device is supplied to the heater, and then the output voltage of the power storage device decreases to the output voltage of the AC / DC conversion means, the AC / DC A toilet seat device in which a DC voltage from the conversion means is also supplied to the heater .
The control means includes
2. The toilet seat device according to claim 1 , wherein the charging device is controlled to stop charging the power storage device while the power storage device is discharged .

Images