JP6454593B2 - Hot water supply system for bathtub - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a hot water supply system for a bathtub in which hot water is circulated between the bathtub and the hot water heater.

  Conventionally, hot water supplying hot water into the bathtub from the hot water adapter (circulation adapter) of the bathtub, hot water in the bathtub is sucked from the hot water adapter and heated by an outdoor water heater, and then the heated hot water is supplied to the hot water adapter. There is a well-known hot water supply system for a bathtub that performs a memorial service for returning to the inside of the bathtub.

  In such a hot water supply system, if a fully automatic water heater is installed, the hot water heater determines whether or not there is any remaining hot water when performing hot water filling, and if there is no remaining hot water, the hot water supply (addition) However, when there is remaining hot water, the hot water supply is not performed, and the temperature rise process (temperature adjustment) by hot water circulation similar to the memorial is performed. When determining the presence or absence of remaining hot water, the water heater circulates hot water, and when the hot water in the bathtub is sucked into the hot water heater via the hot water supply adapter, it is determined that there is remaining hot water, and the hot water in the bathtub is determined. In general, it is determined that there is no remaining hot water when the water is not sucked into the water heater.

  On the other hand, recently, as shown in Patent Documents 1 and 2, a hot-water supply adapter is assembled to the bottom wall of the bathtub, and a drain plug-integrated hot-water supply adapter in which a drain plug is integrated into the hot-water supply adapter has been proposed. .

  In this hot water supply adapter, a drain plug provided on the bottom surface of the bathtub is provided with an openable / closable drain plug, and a discharge port and a suction port are formed in the vicinity of the drain port. And, for example, hot water in the bathtub is sucked back from the suction port and returned to the water heater while the drain port is closed by the drain plug at the time of remembrance, while hot water discharged from the water heater is discharged from the discharge port to the bathtub. Supplied in. Further, when draining, the drain plug is opened, and hot water in the bathtub is discharged from the drain outlet.

JP 2001-149248 A JP 2002-263019 A

  However, in the hot water supply system in which the hot water supply adapter is incorporated in the bottom surface of the bathtub as shown in Patent Documents 1 and 2, if the conventional method for determining remaining hot water is employed, the presence or absence of remaining hot water may not be accurately determined. That is, a general fully automatic water heater performs initial hot water supply (priming water) that fills the piping between the hot water supply adapter and the hot water heater with hot water by first supplying a small amount of hot water into the bathtub when hot water is applied. Then, as described above, hot water is circulated to determine the presence of remaining hot water. When hot water is circulated in such a way that some hot water remains in the bathtub due to the initial hot water supply, hot water in the bathtub is sucked from the suction port of the hot water supply adapter provided on the bottom of the bathtub and returned to the water heater. become. Then, even though there is almost no hot water left in the bathtub, the water heater apologizes and judges that there is "remaining hot water" and adjusts the temperature by circulating hot water without supplying hot water (additional hot water). End up. As a result, there is a problem that a predetermined amount of hot water cannot be sufficiently stored in the bathtub during hot water filling.

  This invention is made in view of said subject, Even if it is a case where the hot water supply adapter is assembled | attached to low ranks, such as a bathtub bottom face, the hot water supply of the bathtub which can determine correctly the presence or absence of remaining hot water The purpose is to provide a system.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention comprises the following means.

[1] Hot water discharged from the water heater passes through the forward pipe and is discharged from the hot water adapter into the bathtub, and hot water in the bathtub is sucked from the hot water adapter and returned to the water heater through the return pipe. A hot water supply system for a bathtub in which the presence or absence of remaining hot water in the bathtub is determined based on whether hot water is sucked into the hot water supply during the hot water circulation. ,
A valve casing disposed higher than the hot water supply adapter and having an interior communicating with the return pipe;
In the valve casing, an air opening that is open to the atmosphere is formed, and
An air opening / closing valve is provided in the valve casing so as to be openable / closable with respect to the air opening,
The atmosphere opening / closing valve is configured to open the atmosphere opening when hot water does not flow into the valve casing, and close the atmosphere opening by flowing hot water into the valve casing. A hot water supply system for a bathtub.

  [2] The hot water supply system for a bathtub according to the above item 1, wherein the air opening / closing valve is configured to close the air opening by buoyancy of hot water flowing into the valve casing.

  [3] The hot water supply system for a bathtub according to the above item 1 or 2, wherein the hot water supply adapter is attached to a bottom wall of the bathtub.

  [4] The hot water supply system for a bathtub according to any one of the preceding items 1 to 3, wherein the air port is provided on an upper wall of the valve casing, and the air port opening / closing valve is constituted by a ball valve.

[5] A communication port on / off valve is provided at the communication port with the return pipe in the valve casing so as to be freely opened and closed.
The communication port opening / closing valve is configured to normally open the communication port by an urging force of an urging means, and close the communication port by a suction action when hot water flows through the return pipe. The hot water supply system of the bathtub of any one of 1-4.

  According to the hot water supply system for a bathtub of the invention [1], when the amount of hot water in the bathtub is equal to or less than a predetermined amount, the hot water does not flow into the valve casing, the air opening is opened, and the return pipe is opened to the atmosphere. Therefore, hot water is not sucked into the bathtub through the return pipe, and it can be accurately determined that there is no remaining hot water.

  According to the invention [2], opening and closing of the atmosphere opening can be performed more reliably, and the operation reliability can be improved.

  According to the invention [3], in the hot water supply system of the bathtub in which the hot water supply adapter is attached to the bathtub bottom wall, the presence / absence of remaining hot water can be accurately determined as described above.

  According to the hot water supply system for a bathtub of the invention [4], the opening and closing operation of the air opening is smoothly performed, and the operation reliability can be further improved.

  According to the hot water supply system for a bathtub of the invention [5], it is possible to more reliably prevent a problem that air flows into the return pipe from the atmosphere port during the circulation of hot water such as memorial service.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a state immediately after the start of hot water in a hot water supply system for a bathtub as an embodiment of the present invention. Drawing 2 is a sectional view showing the state at the time of memorialization in the hot-water supply system of an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the valve mechanism employed in the hot water supply system of the embodiment in an open state. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the valve mechanism according to the embodiment in a closed state of the atmosphere port. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the communication mechanism in the closed state in the valve mechanism of the embodiment.

  FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a hot water supply system for a bathtub according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, in this hot water supply system, a drain plug-integrated hot water supply adapter P is assembled to the bottom wall of the bathtub B in a penetrating state. In the following description, in order to facilitate understanding of the invention, the right side is referred to as “front side” and the left side is referred to as “rear side” in FIG. Further, in FIG. 1, the hatched portions indicate the portions where the hot water W exists (the same applies to FIG. 2 below).

  As shown in FIG. 1, the hot water supply adapter P includes a drain pipe 2. The upper end opening (one end opening) of the drain pipe 2 is configured as a drain outlet.

  On both the front and rear sides of the drain pipe 2 in the adapter P, a discharge channel 3a and a suction channel 3b are formed. The discharge channel 3a is bent forward so that the upper end side is along the bottom of the bathtub in the bathtub, and a discharge port 31a is formed at the tip. Further, the suction flow path 3b is bent rearward so that the upper end side is along the bottom of the bathtub in the bathtub, and a suction port 31b is formed at the tip.

  The drain plug 5 attached to the drain port of the adapter P so as to be freely opened and closed is constituted by a pop-up drain plug. That is, the drain plug 5 is connected via a wire 51 to a drain plug operation section (not shown) provided at the edge of the bathtub. There are two types of pop-up type drain plugs: manual type and automatic type (electric type). In the case of manual type, the drain plug operation part is provided with a knob that can be pushed / retracted, etc. The drain plug 5 is pushed up and the drain port is opened. On the other hand, when the knob is pulled up, for example, the drain plug 5 is pulled down through the wire 51 and the drain port 5 is closed in a watertight state. It has become so. In the case of the automatic type (electric type), the drain plug operation unit is provided with a push button or the like, and when the push button is pushed with the drain plug 5 closed, the wire 51 is pushed in and the drain plug 5 is When the push button is operated from the opened state, the wire 51 is drawn and the drain plug 5 is drawn downward to close the drain port.

  The discharge channel 3a of the adapter P is connected to the discharge port 9a of the water heater 9 through the forward pipe 91a, and the suction channel 3b of the adapter P is connected to the suction port 9b of the water heater 9 through the return tube 91b. Communication connection is established.

  The hot water discharged from the discharge port 9a of the water heater 9 is introduced into the forward connection pipe portion 32a of the adapter P through the forward tube 91a, and further discharged into the bathtub B from the discharge port 31a through the discharge channel 3a. It has come to be. The hot water in the bathtub B sucked from the suction port 31b of the adapter P is sucked into the water heater 9 through the suction flow path 3b and the return pipe 9b.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, a valve mechanism 6 as a remaining hot water error prevention mechanism is provided in the middle of the return pipe 91b. The valve mechanism 6 includes a valve casing 61 disposed at a position higher than the mounting position of the hot water supply adapter P, and the valve casing 61 communicates with the return pipe 91b via the branch pipe 62.

  A communication port 63 as an end opening of the branch pipe 62 is disposed in the valve casing 61, and a flat valve 64 as a communication port opening / closing valve is provided in the communication port 62 so as to be freely opened and closed. That is, a valve shaft 641 provided at the center of the lower surface side of the flat valve 64 is supported so as to be movable in the axial direction (vertical direction) in the branch pipe 62 through the communication port 62. As shown in FIG. When the valve 64 moves upward, the communication port 63 is opened. On the other hand, when the flat valve 64 moves downward as shown in FIG. 5, the outer peripheral edge of the flat valve 64 is the outer peripheral edge of the communication port 63. The communication port 63 is closed by closely contacting the portion (valve seat portion). The valve shaft 641 of the flat valve 64 is biased upward by a biasing means (not shown) such as a spring, and the flat valve 64 is in a state in which the communication port 63 is opened in a normal state. When hot water W flows through the return pipe 91b and the inside of the branch pipe 62 becomes negative pressure, the flat valve 64 moves downward against the urging force of the urging means by the suction action, and the communication port 63 is made to flow. It is supposed to block.

  The upper wall of the valve casing 61 is formed with a cone-shaped valve seat portion 65 whose diameter is reduced toward the upper side, and the tip (upper end) opening of the valve seat portion 65 is configured as an atmospheric port 66. . The atmosphere port 66 is open to the atmosphere via a tube 67. Further, a ball valve 68 as an air opening / closing valve is provided in the valve casing 61 corresponding to the valve seat portion 65.

  The ball valve 68 has a levitation force with respect to the hot water W, and when the valve casing 61 is filled with the hot water W, the ball valve 68 is lifted by the buoyancy as shown in FIG. When the valve seat 65 is in close contact with the valve seat 65, the atmosphere port 66 is closed. When the water level in the valve casing 68 is lowered or when the hot water W in the valve casing 68 is not present, the ball valve 68 is lowered according to the water level and the atmosphere port 66 is opened as shown in FIG. It is like that.

  The water heater 9 used in the hot water supply system of the present embodiment is a fully automatic type, and a control device is provided inside. On the other hand, an operation panel (not shown) is provided on the wall surface of the bathroom or kitchen, and the control device is activated in response to a command from the operation panel to control the drive of the water heater 9, as shown below. Hot water and memorial services are implemented.

  As shown in FIG. 1, when a hot water supply command is given to the water heater 9, first, initial hot water supply (priming water) for supplying a small amount of hot water W into the bathtub B is performed. In this initial hot water supply, hot water W is discharged from the discharge port 9a and the suction port 9b of the water heater 9 with the drain plug 5 closed, and the hot water W passes through the forward pipe 91a and the return pipe 91b to the hot water supply adapter P. It is introduced into the discharge channel 3a and the suction channel 3b and supplied into the bathtub B through the discharge port 31a and the suction port 31b.

  Subsequently, the presence or absence of remaining hot water in the bathtub B is determined by the water heater 9. This determination is made based on whether or not hot water W in the bathtub B is sucked from the suction port 9b of the hot water supply 9 by circulating the hot water W. That is, hot water W is discharged from the discharge port 9a of the water heater 9, and the suction port 9b of the water heater 9 is set to a negative pressure. Hot water W discharged from the discharge port 9a is supplied into the bathtub B from the discharge port 31a of the adapter P through the forward pipe 91a. On the other hand, when there is no predetermined amount of hot water (remaining hot water) W in the bathtub B or a small amount, that is, when the water level in the bathtub B is lower than the height position of the valve casing 61 of the valve mechanism 6, the valve casing 61. Since hot water W does not flow into the ball valve 68, the ball valve 68 is in the lowered state and the air inlet 66 is opened, and the return pipe 91b is also opened to the atmosphere as shown in FIG. For this reason, only air is sucked from the suction port 9b of the water heater 9, and the hot water W is not sucked. Therefore, the water heater 9 determines that "no remaining hot water".

  On the other hand, when a predetermined amount of hot water (remaining hot water) W remains in the bathtub B when determining whether or not there is remaining hot water, that is, the water level in the bathtub B is higher than the height position of the valve casing 61 of the valve mechanism 6. In this case, since hot water W flows into the valve casing 61 via the return pipe 91b as shown in FIG. 2, the ball valve 68 rises to close the atmosphere port 66 and the return pipe 91b is blocked from the atmosphere. Is done. Therefore, since the hot water W in the bathtub B passes through the suction port 31b of the adapter P and the return pipe 91b and is sucked from the suction port 9b of the water heater 9, the water heater 9 accurately determines that “there is remaining hot water”. When it is determined that “remaining hot water is present”, for example, hot water supply (additional hot water) is not performed, and a temperature increase process (temperature adjustment) by hot water circulation described later is performed.

  Here, when the valve mechanism 6 does not exist and the return pipe 91b is always shut off from the atmosphere as in the conventional hot water supply system, there is almost no remaining hot water, that is, there is too little hot water, and hot water is needed. Even so, there is a risk of being apologized and determined that “there is remaining hot water”. That is, in the conventional hot water supply system without the valve mechanism 6, the remaining water remains in a state where a small amount of hot water W remains in the bathtub B to such an extent that drainage is insufficient or the adapter P is immersed by the priming water or the like. When the suction port 9b of the water heater 9 is set to a negative pressure to determine the presence or absence of hot water, the return pipe 91b also has a negative pressure, and the hot water W in the bathtub B is sucked from the suction port 31b of the adapter P. Then, the water is sucked into the water heater 9 through the return pipe 91b. Then, the water heater 9 apologizes and judges that the hot water W is sufficiently left in the bathtub B even though the hot water W needs to be supplied (additional hot water). For this reason, there exists a possibility that the malfunction that the supply of hot water may be completed in the state where there is little hot water W in the bathtub B, and the temperature adjustment by the circulation of the hot water W, etc. is performed may occur.

  On the other hand, in the hot water supply system of the present embodiment, as already described, when the amount of hot water is insufficient, it can be accurately determined that “no remaining hot water”, and thereafter, the hot water W is supplied normally. . In the supply of hot water W, hot water W is discharged from the discharge port 9a and the suction port 9b of the water heater 9, and the hot water W passes through the forward pipe 91a and the return pipe 91b to the discharge port 31a and the suction port 31b of the hot water supply adapter P. To the bathtub B.

  In this way, when a predetermined amount of hot water W is supplied from the water heater 9 into the bathtub B and sufficient hot water W is stored in the bathtub B as shown in FIG. 2, the water level of the bathtub B is set from the valve casing 61 of the valve mechanism 6. Since it is set at a high position, the hot water W in the bathtub B flows into the valve casing 61 through the return pipe 91b, and the ball valve 68 rises as shown in FIG. The inside of the tube 91b is sealed. That is, the hot water W in the bathtub B can be sucked into the water heater 9 through the return pipe 91b.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 2, temperature adjustment is performed by circulating hot water W. In this temperature adjustment, hot water W is discharged from the discharge port 9a of the water heater 9, and the suction port 9b is set to a negative pressure. As a result, hot water W in the bathtub B is sucked into the hot water heater 9 through the return pipe 91b, and after the sucked hot water W is heated by the hot water heater 9, it is discharged from the discharge port 9a of the hot water heater 9. Is done. Hot water W discharged from the water heater 9 is supplied into the bathtub B from the discharge port 31a of the adapter P through the forward pipe 92a. In this way, the hot water W is circulated to raise the temperature of the hot water W in the bathtub B to a predetermined temperature.

  At the time of this temperature adjustment, although the valve casing 61 of the valve mechanism 6 is filled with hot water W and the air port 66 is closed by the ball valve 68, the air port 66 is blocked by the ball valve 68 due to the influence of water flow or the like. The blockage becomes insufficient, and there is a risk that air may flow into the valve casing 61 from the atmosphere port 66 and be introduced into the return pipe 91b. Therefore, in the present embodiment, since the flat valve 64 is provided at the communication port 63 communicating with the return pipe 91b in the valve casing 61 so as to be openable and closable, air can be reliably introduced into the return pipe 91b when the hot water W is circulated. Can be prevented. That is, although the flat valve 64 is normally urged in the opening direction, as shown in FIG. 5, since the hot water W circulates in the return pipe 91b during the hot water circulation, negative pressure is generated in the branch pipe 62 by the circulation. The flat valve 64 closes the communication port 63 by the suction action. Thus, since the space between the valve casing 61 and the return pipe 91b is shut off during hot water circulation, it is possible to reliably prevent the air from being inadvertently introduced into the valve casing 61 and the air from the atmosphere port 66 into the return pipe 91b. Can be prevented.

  In addition, when the drain plug 5 is not blocked at the time of hot water filling, even when the amount of hot water is insufficient after the hot water supply (additional hot water), the temperature is switched to the temperature adjustment by circulating the hot water W. Since the amount of hot water in the bathtub B is insufficient, the valve casing 61 is not filled with the hot water W, the ball valve 68 is opened, and the return pipe 91b is opened to the atmosphere. For this reason, the hot water W is not sucked into the water heater 9 in the same manner as described above, it is determined that there is no remaining hot water (insufficient amount of hot water), a hot water error occurs, a warning sound is generated via the operation panel, etc. Information is displayed.

  On the other hand, even when the chasing is performed in a state where the remaining hot water remains, the same operation as the temperature adjustment (temperature increase processing) by the hot water circulation described above is performed. In other words, when a hot water supply instruction is given to the water heater 9, when the amount of hot water in the bathtub B is sufficient, the hot water W is circulated (medicated) to warm the hot water W in the bathtub. On the other hand, if the amount of hot water in bathtub B is insufficient, it is determined that there is no remaining hot water (insufficient amount of hot water) in the same manner as described above, a memorial error occurs, and a warning sound is generated via the operation panel or the like. Or warning information is displayed.

  As described above, in the hot water supply system for the bathtub according to the present embodiment, since the presence or absence of remaining hot water can be accurately determined, a predetermined amount of hot water W can be reliably stored in the bathtub by the hot water, and there is a problem such as an insufficient amount of hot water. Can be reliably prevented.

  In the above-described embodiment, the supply of hot water W during hot water feeding or the like is performed by a double conveyance method. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and in the present invention, the hot water is supplied only by a forward pipe during hot water welding or the like. The single transfer type can also be adopted.

  In the above-described embodiment, the air opening / closing valve such as a ball valve is closed by buoyancy. However, the present invention is not limited to this. When hot water flows into the valve casing 61, the water flow changes, the water pressure changes, etc. May be configured to open and close the air opening / closing valve.

  The hot water supply system for a bathtub according to the present invention can be applied to a bathtub in a general house, for example.

61: Valve casing 63: Communication port 64: Flat valve (communication port on-off valve)
66: Air port 68: Ball valve 68
8: Nonpolar coupling (circuit regulator)
9: Water heater 91a: Outward pipe 91b: Return pipe B: Bathtub P: Drain plug integrated hot water adapter W: Hot water

Claims (5)

The hot water discharged from the water heater is discharged from the hot water adapter into the bathtub through the forward pipe, and the hot water in the bathtub is sucked from the hot water adapter and returned to the water heater through the return pipe. A hot water supply system for a bathtub in which the presence or absence of remaining hot water in the bathtub is determined based on whether hot water is sucked into the water heater during circulation of the hot water,
A valve casing disposed higher than the hot water supply adapter and having an interior communicating with the return pipe;
In the valve casing, an air opening that is open to the atmosphere is formed, and
An air opening / closing valve is provided in the valve casing so as to be openable / closable with respect to the air opening,
The atmosphere opening / closing valve is configured to open the atmosphere opening when hot water does not flow into the valve casing, and close the atmosphere opening by flowing hot water into the valve casing. A hot water supply system for a bathtub.   The hot water supply system for a bathtub according to claim 1, wherein the air opening / closing valve is configured to close the air opening by buoyancy of hot water flowing into the valve casing.   The hot water supply system for a bathtub according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the hot water supply adapter is attached to a bottom wall of the bathtub.   The hot water supply system for a bathtub according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the air opening is provided on an upper wall of the valve casing, and the air opening / closing valve is configured by a ball valve. A communication port opening / closing valve is provided at the communication port with the return pipe in the valve casing so as to be openable and closable.
The communication port opening / closing valve is configured to normally open the communication port by an urging force of an urging means, and close the communication port by a suction action when hot water flows through the return pipe. Item 5. A hot water supply system for a bathtub according to any one of items 1 to 4.

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