JPH01221163A - Steam generation control device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the occurrence of an impedance to bathing, by a method wherein when the temperature of water in a tank is reduced to a value lower than a specified value irrespective of the operation state of a heater, a heater is automatically switched so that it is operated at a maximum output. CONSTITUTION:When, during operation of a heater at a low output, a water temperature is reduced to a value lower than a reference temperature due to the feed of water to a tank 1, the output of a comparator 19 is automatically increased from L to H. The set input of an FF 22 is increased from L to H and a reset output is reduced from H to L. Since a switch element 27 is turned ON and a switch element 30 is turned OFF, energization of a heater 3 is started, and energization of a heater 4 is stopped. In which case, water is heated by the heater having a high output. Since heating is heretofore effected by the heater 4 having a low output, automatic heating is executed by means of the heater 3 having a high output in response to lowering of a water temperature. Even when a water temperature is decreased, a water temperature can be rapidly increased, and thus, an impedance on bathing can be reliably prevented from occurring.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a steam generation control device for controlling the generation of steam used, for example, in a steam sauna bath.

(Prior Art) A steam generator that generates steam to be supplied to a steam sauna bath is configured to heat water 2 in a tank 1 with heaters 3 and 4, as shown in FIG. 3, for example. . 5 is a water supply pipe that supplies water into the tank 1, and 6 is a steam pipe that sends generated steam to the bathroom.

By the way, as is well known, the temperature in the bathroom is proportional to the amount of steam generated, and the amount of steam generated is proportional to the output of the heaters 3 and 4. Therefore, when a bather in the bathroom wants to adjust the temperature in the room, the heaters 3 and 4
All you have to do is adjust the output.

However, in the past, in order to adjust the heater output, the power supply was controlled to be turned on and off.

That is, when trying to lower the temperature, the off time is lengthened and the heater output is reduced, and when the temperature is to be raised, the off time is shortened and the heater output is increased.

Although this makes it possible to adjust the temperature in the room, it has the following drawbacks. In other words, when operating with a low heater output, the water in the tank 1 becomes low and when new water is supplied, the heater output is still low even though water should normally be heated rapidly. You will continue to drive as is. This increases the amount of time it takes for steam to be generated, causing problems in bathing.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) This invention automatically switches the heater to operate at maximum output when the temperature of the water in the tank drops below a certain value, regardless of the operating state of the heater. The aim is to prevent this from interfering with bathing as much as possible.

(Means for solving the problem) The present invention includes a selection means for selecting the strength of the output of the heater;
storage means for storing a selection signal by the selection means; energization means for energizing a heater that outputs a selected output according to the selection signal stored in the storage means; detection means for detecting the temperature of water in the tank; The present invention is characterized by comprising a memory input means for causing the memory means to store a selection signal for selecting the maximum output of the heater when the detection means detects a water temperature below a certain temperature.

(Example) An embodiment of the invention will be explained with reference to FIG.

11 is a power source, 12 is a power switch, and 13 is for detecting the temperature of water in the tank 1. For example, a temperature sensor such as a thermistor is used, which has a characteristic that the output voltage V decreases as the detected temperature T increases, as shown in FIG.

14 to 18 are resistors, 19 is a comparator, 20 is a switch that is turned on when trying to raise the temperature of the steam bath,
Conversely, 21 is a switch that is turned on when trying to lower the temperature, and these are selectively operated by the bather.

Reference numeral 22 denotes a storage device such as a flip-flop (hereinafter simply referred to as FF), and a set input terminal 23 to which a set input is applied is connected to the switch 20 and the output terminal of the comparator 19 under an OR condition, and a reset A switch 21 is connected to a reset input terminal 24 to which an input is applied.

The set output terminal 25 of the FF 22 is connected to turn on a switch element 27 such as a transistor connected to a relay 26 by the set output. Further, the reset output terminal 28 of the FF 22 is connected so that a switch element 30 such as a transistor connected to a relay 29 is turned on by a set output.

Each contact 31, 32 of the relay 26, 30 is connected to the heater 3, 4.
It is connected to the. Here, the output capacity of heater 3 is 2K.
W, and the output capacity of the heater 4 is set to IKW.

Next, the operation will be explained. When the power switch 12 is turned on, the voltage of the power supply 11 is changed to the step-down transformer 35. Rectifier 36. It is converted into a constant DC voltage via a smoothing capacitor 37 and applied to a line 38. If the water temperature in the tank 1 is the reference temperature Ti (for example, 94°C or less), the second
From the characteristic diagram shown in the figure, the output voltage of the temperature sensor 13 is higher than VU.

Therefore, the output of the comparator 19 becomes H.

Therefore, the set input of the FF 22 becomes Hl, and therefore the set output becomes H, the switch element is turned on, the relay 26 is operated, its contact 31 is turned on, and the heater 3 is thereby energized.

That is, when the water temperature is below the reference temperature, the water in the tank 1 will be heated by the high output heater 3.

The water is heated as described above, and the water temperature is the reference temperature T
1 or more, the output voltage of the temperature sensor 13 becomes the voltage v
1, the output of the comparator 19 becomes L, and therefore the set input of the FF 22 becomes L. However, the output relationship of the FF 22 does not change at all, so the heater 3 remains energized.

Due to the increased temperature in the bathroom.

If the bather wishes to lower the temperature, he or she turns on the switch 21. Then, the reset input of the FF 22 becomes H, so its set output becomes L and its reset output becomes H.

Therefore, the relay 31 returns to its original state, the switch element 30 is turned on, the relay 29 operates, and its contacts 3
2 is turned on.

As a result, the energization of the heater 3 is stopped and the heater 4 is energized instead. Therefore, the heater will be switched to low output.

When the heater is operated with such a weak output, for example, when water is being supplied to the tank 1.

Suppose that the water temperature has fallen below the reference temperature. Then comparator 19
The output automatically changes from L to H. Therefore, the set input of the FF 22 changes from L to H, the reset input changes from H to L, the set output changes from H to H, and the reset output changes from Hl to L.

Therefore, the switch element 27 is turned on and the switch element 30 is turned off, so that energization of the heater 3 is started and energization of the heater 4 is stopped. As a result, the water is heated by the heater 3 with high power. In other words, the water that had previously been heated by a heater with a low power output is now automatically heated by a heater with a high power output in response to a drop in water temperature.

In the above explanation, the heater 3 is energized for high output operation, but instead of this, all the heaters may be energized for high output operation.
Further, each switch 20, 21 has been described as a manual switch, but instead of this, a rotary type switch may be used, or a non-contact switch may be used.

(Effects of the Invention) As detailed above, according to the present invention, even when the heater is operated at low output, when the water temperature drops, the heater is automatically switched to high output and operated. Even when the water temperature drops, the water temperature can be rapidly increased, so that problems with bathing can be reliably avoided.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a characteristic diagram of a temperature sensor, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a tank.

Claims (1)

[Claims] a heater for heating water in a tank to generate steam; a selection means for selecting the intensity of the output of the heater; and a storage means for storing a selection signal from the selection means;
energizing means for energizing a heater that outputs a selected output according to a selection signal stored in the storage means; a detection means for detecting the temperature of water in the tank; A steam generator comprising a storage input means for storing a selection signal for selecting a maximum output of the heater in the storage means when detected.