JPH01296043A - Switch structure for bathtub - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make a precision pressure switch unnecessary so as to reduce the manufacturing cost by feeding the ON/OFF signal generated by touch switches to a control device through a light emitting element, a light receiving element, optical fibers and a photoelectric converter. CONSTITUTION:A controller 11 has touch switches, and, by pressing the touch switches, an output signal is generated which is supplied to a control device 21 attached behind the wall 20 of the bath room. When any of the touch switches is pressed, an interruptor plate 32 interrupts the optical continuity between an light emitting element 33a and a light receiving element 34a by way of optical fibers 35, 36, whereupon an ON output for the optical signal is generated. The ON output is supplied to a photoelectric converter 37 where the ON signal is converted from the optical signal to the electric signal (voltage signal) to be subsequently supplied to the control device 21.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (a) Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a switch structure for a bathtub, which is attached to a bathtub and can set and change conditions for supplying hot water to the bathtub while taking a bath.

(B) Prior Art Conventionally, as one form of the above-mentioned switch structure for a bathtub, there is a structure shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

That is, in the same figure, 50 is a bathtub, and the bathtub 50 has a controller 51 attached to its upper peripheral edge 50a. The controller 51 includes a plurality of bathtub switches 52, 53, 54, etc., and each switch 5
2, 53, and 54 to generate an output signal and send the output signal to the control device 55.
5, a desired electromagnetic on-off valve can be driven to set or change the hot water temperature or the amount of hot water, for example.

In addition, in the above-mentioned bathtub switch structure, in order to prevent electrical leakage accidents, a bathtub switch 5 is installed as shown in FIG.
Air switch and control device 5 that constitute 2, 53, 54, etc.
5, there is an air chamber 56 whose internal volume can be varied by a bathtub switch 52, 53, 54, and an air chamber 56 that communicates with the air chamber 56 via a communication pipe 57, and which allows the internal volume of the air chamber 56 to vary. A pressure switch 58 operated by the pressure switch 58 is interposed.

In such a configuration, when the air switch is pressed,
The diaphragm 59 is displaced due to the change in the internal volume of the air chamber 56 and the pressure fluctuation within the pressure switch ≦8, and this displacement causes the switch body 60 to become a closed contact, and the lead wire 6
1, an electrical ON signal is sent to the control device 55.

(c) Problems to be solved by the invention However, in such a conventional bathtub switch structure,
Since the volume variation in the air chamber 56 when the air switch is pressed is small, the pressure variation in the pressure switch 58 is also small. Therefore, the pressure switch 58 needs to be highly accurate and can detect even minute pressure fluctuations, but such a pressure switch 58 is very expensive, making the entire bathtub switch structure expensive. was.

In addition, if the distance between the air switch and the pressure switch 58 becomes long due to installation conditions, etc., the volume fluctuation of the air chamber 56 becomes smaller and the pressure propagation becomes slower, allowing the pressure switch 58 to operate precisely and accurately. It was extremely difficult to do so.

Furthermore, there is a possibility that chattering may occur in the air chamber 56, the pressure switch 58, or the communication pipe 57 connecting the two, and in this case, the operation of the pressure switch 58 will be inaccurate and rough. It was not possible to accurately control the water temperature, water volume, etc.

An object of the present invention is to provide a bathtub switch structure that can solve the above problems.

(d) Means for solving the problem The present invention provides a bathtub switch that is attached to the upper periphery of the bathtub.
In a bathtub switch structure that can transmit an output signal to a control device installed outside the bathtub by turning on and off the bathtub switch, the bathtub switch has a light emitting light connected to one end of a pair of optical fibers. and a light receiving section;
A touch switch having a cutoff plate capable of cutting off conduction between both parts, a light emitting element and a light receiving element respectively connected to the other end of the blue optical fiber, and conduction/blocking of light between both elements by the cutoff plate. The present invention relates to a switch structure for a bathtub characterized by comprising a photoelectric conversion device that converts the electrical signal into an electrical signal and sends the electrical signal to a control device.

(e) Action and effect With the above configuration, the present invention has the following effects.

■On/off signals from a touch switch can be sent to the control device via the light emitting/light receiving element, optical fiber, and charging conversion device, eliminating the need for a high-precision pressure switch, making the switch structure for bathtubs easier. It can be manufactured at low cost.

■On/off signals from the touch switch can be sent to the control device via the light emitting/light receiving element, optical fiber, and charging conversion device, so even if the distance between the touch switch and the control device is quite long, the control device Attenuation of the signal output transmitted to the controller can be almost eliminated, and on/off signals can be accurately and precisely sent to the control device. Therefore, it becomes possible for the control device to drive various automatic opening/closing valves precisely and accurately, and the temperature and amount of hot water can be accurately controlled, allowing the user to enjoy a comfortable bathing experience.

(f) Examples The present invention will be specifically described below based on examples shown in the attached drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a bathtub 10 equipped with a bathtub switch structure according to the present invention.

As shown in the figure, the bathtub 10 has a watertight controller 11 attached to an upper peripheral edge 10a that is expanded outwardly over the entire upper circumference of the bathtub 10.

In this embodiment, the controller 11 has the following functions:
As shown in FIG. 2, there are a plurality of touch switches, namely, an operation switch 12, a freeze prevention switch I3, a hot water filling switch 14, a boiling/warming switch 15, a top-up switch 16, and a hot water switch 17. , the temperature control switch 18, and the amount of hot water! By operating the touch switches 12 to 19, an output signal is generated, and as shown in FIG. Control device 2
1, and the control device 21 drives a desired electromagnetic on-off valve to perform, for example, hot water filling operation, reheating operation, addition hot water operation, setting and changing the hot water temperature, setting and changing the amount of hot water, etc. I can do it.

The controller 11 includes a hot water temperature display lamp 22, a hot water amount display lamp 23, and an operation display lamp 24 in addition to the touch switch described above.

The present invention is characterized in that, in the above configuration, on/off signals of the bathtub switch or touch switch can be transmitted to the control device 21 substantially using an optical fiber. The same configuration will be specifically explained below.

First, the configuration of the controller 11 will be explained. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the controller 11 includes a
8 Aqueous operation display sheet 25 and the same operation display sheet 25
It is composed of an operation panel 26 to which a switch is attached, a switch mounting board 27, a casing body 28, and a plurality of touch sensors built into the casing body 28.

As is clear from FIGS. 3 and 4, each touch switch has a pressing part A formed at an interval on the operation panel 26, and a switch part B mounted on the switch mounting board 27.
It is composed of.

In this configuration, the pressing part A combines two rectangular spiral notch grooves 30.30 alternately in opposite directions, and furthermore, a back surface of a central portion surrounded by the two notch grooves 30.30. A projection 31 is provided at the bottom of the projection 31, and a blocking plate 32 is attached to the lower end of the projection 31.

By pressing the central portion of the pressing portion A, the shielding plate 32 can be easily moved in the vertical direction.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
20 on both sides, and the shielding plate 32 can be shut off by vertical movement.
A light emitting element 33a and a light receiving element 34a are arranged in a photoelectric conversion device 37 shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. It consists of optical fibers 35 and 36 connected to the

Note that the light receiving element 34a is connected to a photoelectric conversion device 37 including a switching circuit and the like.

On the other hand, in this embodiment, the photoelectric conversion device 37 is connected to a control device 21 attached to the bathtub wall 20, as shown in FIG.
incorporated within.

The photoelectric conversion device 37, as shown in FIG.
It is connected to the input side interface of the control device 21 via lead wires 38, 39 or a printed circuit board.

Next, the operation of the bathtub switch structure having the above configuration will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1, 4, and 5.

When a bather presses any touch switch, for example, the temperature control switch 18, with his/her hand H from inside the bathtub 10, the shielding plate 3
2 interrupts the conduction of light between the light emitting element 33a and the light receiving element 34a via the optical fibers 35 and 36, thereby generating an ON output as an optical signal.

The on-output is then sent to the photoelectric conversion device 37, where the on-output is converted from an optical signal to an electrical signal (voltage signal), and then sent to the control device 21.

Based on the electrical signal, the control device 21 appropriately drives the automatic opening/closing valve of the hot water mixing faucet, etc., changes the mixing ratio of mixed hot water, etc., generates a bath at an appropriate temperature, and supplies it to the bathtub 10. You will be able to do so.

With the above configuration, this embodiment has the following effects.

■On/off signals from touch switches 12 to 19 are transmitted to light emitting/receiving elements 33a, 34a, optical fiber 35.3
6 and the photoelectric conversion device 37 to the control device 21, and a high-precision pressure switch is not required, the bathtub switch structure can be manufactured at low cost.

■On/off signals from touch switches 12 to 19 are transmitted to light emitting/receiving elements 33a, 34a, optical fiber 35.3
6 and the photoelectric conversion device 37 to the control device 21, even if the distance between the bathtub switches 12 to 19 and the control device 21 is considerably long, the control device 21
It is possible to almost eliminate attenuation of the signal output transmitted to the
On/off signals can be accurately sent to the control device 21. Therefore, it becomes possible for the control device 21 to precisely and accurately drive various automatic opening/closing valves, and the temperature and amount of hot water can be accurately controlled, allowing the user to enjoy a comfortable bathing experience.

■Communicates via optical fiber, and the setting device is electrically insulated, so it can be used safely and M can be controlled regardless of electrical noise.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bathtub equipped with a bathtub switch structure according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of a controller incorporating the bathtub switch structure, and FIG. 3 is a plan view of an operation panel of the controller. FIG. 4 is an enlarged explanatory diagram of the main part structure of the touch switch, FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the connection relationship between the bathtub switch structure and the I control device, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a bathtub equipped with the conventional bathtub switch structure. , FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the conceptual structure of the bathtub switch. In the figure, A: Pressing part B: Switch part 10: Bathtubs 12 to 19: Touch switch 2! 2 control device 32; shielding plate 33a: light emitting element 34a: light receiving element 35: optical fiber 36: optical fiber 37: photoelectric conversion device

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A bathtub switch structure in which a bathtub switch is attached to the upper periphery of the bathtub, and an output signal can be transmitted to a control device disposed outside the bathtub by turning on/off the bathtub switch. The bathtub switch has a light emitting part and a light receiving part each connected to one end of a pair of optical fibers, a touch switch with a cutoff plate that can interrupt the conduction between the two parts, and a blue light fiber connected to the other end of the switch. The light emitting element and the light receiving element connected to each other, and a photoelectric conversion device that converts the conduction/blocking of light between the two elements by the shielding plate into an electrical signal and sends the electrical signal to a control device. Features a switch structure for bathtubs.