JPH0285588A - Hot water and water mixing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the work efficiency for backlash quantity adjustment by driving a mixing valve at an allowable high speed in the segment corresponding to the backlash quantity with no hunting based on the hunting detected output of the hot water feed temperature. CONSTITUTION:The backlash quantity larger than the maximum value assumed in a hot water and water mixing device is stored in the memory of a control device C in advance. When a hunting detecting means 50 detects no hunting on the hot water feed temperature by a sensor 25 after the hot water feed is started, a mixing valve is driven by a driving motor 33c at an allowable high speed in the segment corresponding to the backlash quantity, then the proper temperature control is performed at the ordinary specific temperature. On the other hand, when hunting is detected, the backlash quantity is reduced by a fixed quantity via a backlash quantity decreasing means 51. When no hunting is detected after the backlash quantity is reduced, the backlash quantity after reduction is stored, the mixing valve is driven at an allowable high speed in the corresponding segment, then ordinary proper temperature control is performed. The control responsiveness of the hot water and water mixing device is improved, and the production time can be shortened.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (A) Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a hot water mixing device, and particularly to a hot water mixing device that controls the temperature of hot water by driving an on-off valve using a drive motor such as a stepping motor.

(b) Conventional hot water mixing device, as is well known, connects a hot water pipe equipped with a hot water valve and a water supply pipe equipped with water pulp to a mixing valve, and mixes the water inside the mixing valve. The hot water is led to a curran etc. through the mixed hot water piping.

This type of hot water mixing device connects a drive motor, such as a stepping motor, to the valve shaft of the mixing valve via a transmission mechanism such as a gear mechanism, and sets this drive motor to the hot water outlet temperature in the mixing hot water pipe. Based on the deviation from the set temperature, electricity is applied to drive the mixing valve, and the mixing ratio of hot water and water flowing into the mixing valve is adjusted to control the hot water temperature.

Incidentally, in recent years, a hot water mixing device as described above has been proposed in which the opening/closing speed of the mixing valve is also electronically controlled for the purpose of improving control responsiveness.

This hot water mixing device in which the opening/closing speed of the mixing valve is variable uses RO? Normally, the opening/closing speed of the mixing valve, that is, the rotational speed of the drive motor, is controlled proportionally to the deviation, and the time required for the outlet water temperature to reach the set temperature (hereinafter referred to as arrival time) is stored in a storage device such as I. We are trying to shorten the term (abbreviated).

However, in the hot water mixing device as mentioned above,
The transmission mechanism between the mixing valve and the drive motor has mechanical backlash such as gear backlash, and the opening/closing speed of the mixing valve is controlled proportionally to the deviation. Since the opening/closing speed becomes smaller, when the drive motor is reversed to adjust the valve opening ratio when the deviation is low, the time required for the drive motor to rotate through the above-mentioned play area becomes longer, and the arrival time becomes longer. Therefore, there was a problem in that control responsiveness at times of low deviation decreased.

In particular, the size of the play mentioned above cannot be uniquely addressed because it differs depending on the individual transmission mechanism, and it is extremely difficult to solve this problem. In No. 62-333174, the amount of play in the power transmission system detected during process inspection of each device is stored as control data in a storage device such as ROM,
In use, a hot water mixing device has been disclosed that drives an electric motor at high speed in a section corresponding to the amount of backlash based on the amount of play that is stored when the mixing valve is driven in the opposite direction to the previous driving direction.

Further, with this configuration, it is possible to shorten the arrival time without causing hot water tapping hunting, and improve the control characteristics especially when the deviation is low.

(c) Problems to be Solved by the Present Invention However, the hot water mixing device described above still has the following problems.

In other words, the amount of backlash was adjusted during the manufacturing stage by manually adjusting the volume of a semi-fixed resistor whose resistance value could be manually adjusted. This resulted in very poor work efficiency, increased manufacturing time, and This resulted in an increase in costs.

An object of the present invention is to provide a hot water mixing device that can solve the above problems.

(d) Means for Solving the Problems The present invention provides a hot water mixing device in which a drive motor is connected to a mixing valve via a transmission mechanism, in which an amount of backlash larger than the maximum amount of backlash that can occur in the transmission mechanism is controlled by electric power. The amount of backlash is calculated from the maximum amount of backlash based on a memory that is stored in advance as a resistance value, etc., a hunting detection device that detects hunting in the hot water outlet temperature during hot water supply operation, and a hunting detection output from the hunting detection device. This relates to a hot water mixing device characterized by comprising a backlash reduction means that reduces the backlash amount to a level that no longer occurs, and a drive means that drives the mixing valve at an allowable high speed in a section corresponding to the same backlash amount. be.

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

In the present invention, a bottle with a rattling larger than the maximum amount of rattling that can occur is stored in a memory in advance, and hunting that occurs when the amount of rattling is large during hot water dispensing is quickly detected by the hunting detection means, and hunting is detected by the detection output. Based on this, the amount of play is gradually reduced until hunting does not occur, and the section corresponding to the amount of play where hunting does not occur is set at a high speed that is allowed, for example,
It is possible to drive the mixing valve at the maximum speed and then perform appropriate temperature control at the specified speed.

Therefore, the control response of the hot water mixing device can be significantly improved, and at the stage of manufacturing the hot water mixing device,
By simply storing the maximum value of the amount of backlash that can occur in advance in the control device, it is possible to ship the product, and it is possible to shorten the manufacturing time and significantly reduce the manufacturing cost resulting therefrom.

Hunting can also be brought to an end in a short time by learning control performed by the control device during hot water supply operation, and after that, the temperature can be controlled appropriately.

(f) Examples The present invention will now be explained in detail based on examples shown in the accompanying drawings.

A hot water mixing device B according to the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 to 4.
This figure shows a water/hot water supply system A.

First, to explain the overall configuration of the water/hot water supply system A, in Figs. 1 and 2, reference numerals 11 and 12 are water supply pipes and hot water supply pipes. Moreover, it is connected via seal rings 16 and 17 to an inflow side opening 14, 15 of a hot water mixing device B, which is controlled by a controller C such as a microprocessor, which will be described later.

The hot water mixing device B also includes a cylindrical valve body 13 and a drive motor 13c, which includes a stepping motor or the like, connected to a valve shaft 13a of the cylindrical valve body 13 via a deceleration mechanism 13b, which will be described later.
It consists of

In addition, the water supply/hot water supply pipe 11.12 is provided with a check valve 19.20 with a strainer in the middle thereof.

Further, below the hot water mixing device B, there is a bathtub spout fitting 30, which is connected to the outflow side opening 21 and will be described later.
A U-shaped connecting pipe 22 is provided to supply discharged water after mixing to the washbasin spout fitting 31 and the shower head 32.

Further, on the downstream side of the connecting pipe 22, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, a rectifier 23. A water amount sensor 24 and a temperature sensor 25 are sequentially provided.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, the connecting pipe 22 has its downstream end branched into three directions, each with a bathtub branch pipe 2.
6. It communicates with the washbasin branch pipe 27 and the shower branch pipe 28.

A solenoid valve 29 is installed in the middle of the branch piping 26 for the bathtub, and its lower end communicates with a spout fitting 30 for the bathtub attached to the bathroom wall, etc., as shown in FIG. ing.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
1 and the shower head 32.

In addition, in the connecting portions between the connecting pipe 22 and the bathtub branch pipe 26, washbasin branch pipe 27, and shower branch pipe 28, four-way valves are installed as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 5. An automatic switching valve consisting of a connecting pipe 22 is installed.
, the branch piping for the bathtub 26. It can be selectively communicated with either the washbasin branch pipe 27 or the shower branch pipe 28.

Note that the automatic switching valve is operated by a cylindrical valve body 33 and a stepping motor or the like connected to the valve shaft 33a of the cylindrical valve body 33 via a speed reduction mechanism 33b, which will be described later. The drive motor 33c is controlled by a controller C as described below.

Further, when the configuration of the drive section of the hot water mixing device B is explained with reference to FIG. 5, as shown in the figure, the speed reduction mechanism 13b is
Inside the casing 40, gears 41, 42.43, 44.4
A gear train for deceleration consisting of 5.46 is installed.

In the gear train, the first gear 41 is
The final stage gear 46 is fixed to the output shaft 47 of the drive motor 13c, while the final stage gear 46 is connected to a valve shaft extension portion 48 formed by protruding the base end of the valve shaft 13a of the hot water mixing faucet B into the casing 40. is fixed to.

Moreover, with this configuration, the valve shaft 13a of the hot water mixing faucet B
can be rotated at an extremely low speed, and the opening/closing angle of the hot water mixer faucet B can be precisely and finely adjusted.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the valve shaft position detection mechanism E includes a disk-shaped permanent magnet 50 attached to the upper surface of the final stage gear 46, and a disk-shaped permanent magnet 50 attached to the inner surface of the casing 40. It is constructed by attaching a magnetic sensor 51 at a position close to 50.

The magnetic sensor 51 detects a change in the magnetic force of the permanent magnet 50 that rotates integrally with the valve shaft 13a, or when a change in magnetic force is not detected within a certain period of time, generates an output signal and controls the valve. By detecting the position of the shaft 13a, that is, the valve opening/closing angle, the hot water/cold water mixing faucet B can be caused to perform a predetermined operation via the control device C.

For example, from the control device C to the drive motor 13c, the valve body 1
Even if the predetermined number of pulses corresponding to the fully open position of 3 are sent,
If the valve body 13 does not reach the fully open position, an output signal can be generated.

Further, FIG. 6 shows a conceptual control circuit of the water supply/hot water supply system A, and as shown in the figure, the hot water mixing device B, the solenoid valve 29, and the automatic switching valve are all connected to the control device C.
The water supply/hot water supply system A will be controlled by
We are aiming for complete automation.

The present invention provides a hot water mixing device B having substantially the above configuration.
Regardless of the amount of play that occurs in the power transmission system, the i75 is characterized by a configuration that can improve the response of the i75 without causing hunting.

That is, as shown in FIG. 5, in the drive unit configuration of the hot water mixing device B, there is no mechanical power transmission system such as a speed reduction mechanism from the drive motor 13c such as a stepping motor to the valve shaft extension 48. There is a rattle.

This backlash causes poor control responsiveness during hot water supply operation, but in this embodiment, such control responsiveness can be significantly improved without causing hunting.

In the circuit configuration shown in FIG. 7, reference numeral 50 denotes hunting detection means, and as schematically shown in FIG. This is a hunting detection means that determines hunting when there is a large vertical fluctuation.

Further, reference numeral 51 denotes a play reduction means that gradually reduces the amount of play in the power transmission system, which is set as a resistance value, based on the detection output from the hunting detection means 50.

By using the hunting detecting means 50 and the play reduction means 51, control responsiveness can be improved despite the presence of play, and hunting can be suppressed, as will be explained in the operating procedure shown in FIG. It can converge automatically.

That is, an amount of backlash that is larger than the maximum amount of backlash expected in the hot water mixing device B is stored in advance in the memory of the control device C as, for example, a resistance value.

After the hot water starts to be tapped (100), the hunting detecting means 50 detects whether or not the hot water temperature fluctuates over a certain range, that is, hunting is occurring (100).
1).

If the hunting detection means 50 does not detect hunting (IOIN), the mixing valve is driven at a high speed, for example, the maximum speed, allowed in the section corresponding to the amount of backlash (102).
Thereafter, the mixing valve is driven at a normal designated speed to perform normal temperature control (103).

On the other hand, if the hunting detection means 50 detects hunting in the tapping temperature (IQIY), the backlash IfIi small means 5
1 to reduce the backlash by a certain amount (104)
.

After the amount of backlash has been reduced, the hunting detection means 50 detects again whether or not hunting has occurred in the tapped water temperature (105).

If the hunting detecting means 50 does not detect hunting (105N), the amount of backlash after reduction is stored in the memory of the control device C (106), and the section corresponding to the amount of backlash is set at an allowed high speed, for example, at the highest speed. The mixing valve is driven at the specified speed 102), and then the mixing valve is driven at the normal specified speed to perform normal temperature control (103).

On the other hand, if the hunting detecting means 50 detects hunting in the tapping temperature (105Y), the backlash reducing means 51 is driven to reduce the backlash (103).

The above steps are continued until the hunting detection means 50 detects no hunting, and after the hunting is no longer detected, the appropriate temperature control is continued using the following steps based on the amount of play.

First, in step (110), it is determined whether or not the deviation ΔTOLD from the previous routine execution (hereinafter referred to as previous deviation) is 0. If the deviation ΔTOLD from the previous time is 0, then in step (111) the current routine is executed. The deviation detected during execution (hereinafter referred to as current deviation) ΔT'stw is stored in a register as the previous deviation ΔTOLI+ in preparation for the next routine execution, and the processing of this subroutine is completed, and the previous deviation ΔToLD is 0. Otherwise, proceed to step (112).

In step (112), it is determined whether or not the current deviation ΔT NEW is 0. If the current deviation ΔT NEW is 0, the processing of this subroutine is terminated, and the current deviation ΔT
If siw is not 0, the next step (113) is performed.

In step (113), the previous deviation ΔTI)LD
It is determined whether the positive and negative signs of and the current deviation Δ'T'14tt+ match, in other words, whether the driving direction of the current mixing valve is the same as the driving direction of the previous mixing valve, and each deviation is determined. ΔT
If the positive or negative of OLIl + ΔTNEW is negative, the processing of this subroutine is terminated, and each deviation ΔTOLJ
If the positive and negative signs of +ΔT□ are different, the process proceeds to step (114).

In step (114), it is determined whether the current deviation ΔTst@ is positive or negative, and if the current deviation ΔT□, is positive, the process of step (115) is performed, and the current deviation ΔT NEW
If is negative, the process of step (116) is performed.

In step (116), the mixing valve rotates the drive motor 13c in the closing direction at the maximum allowable speed. That is, in these steps (115) and (116), based on the resistance value set by the above-mentioned backlash amount reduction means, the drive motor 1
Rotate 3c at high speed. Therefore, this time deviation ΔT, Ii
Regardless of the value of w, the drive motor 13c can quickly rotate through the play area, improving its responsiveness. After the drive motor 13c rotates through the backlash section represented by the above-mentioned resistance value, the rotational speed of the drive motor 13c is set to a value corresponding to the current deviation ΔT1, 4, as described above, so the hot water is dispensed. Temperature does not cause hunting.

Subsequently, in step (117), similar to step (111) described above, the current deviation ΔT NEW is stored in preparation for the next execution of the routine.

As described above, this embodiment has the following functions and effects.

In the present invention, the amount of backlash larger than the maximum amount of backlash that can occur is stored in advance in the memory of the control device C, and the hunting detecting means 50
Hunting is quickly detected by the detection output, the amount of backlash is gradually reduced until hunting no longer occurs, and the mixing valve is operated at an allowable high speed, for example, the maximum speed, in an area corresponding to the amount of backlash where hunting does not occur. drive and then
Appropriate temperature control can be performed at a specified speed.

Therefore, the control response of the hot water mixing device can be significantly improved, and at the stage of manufacturing the hot water mixing device B, only the maximum value of the amount of backlash that can occur in the control device C is stored in advance, and the device is shipped. Therefore, it is possible to shorten the manufacturing time and significantly reduce the manufacturing cost resulting from the shortening of the manufacturing time.

Hunting can also be brought to an end in a short time by learning control by the control device C during the hot water supply operation, and the temperature can then be controlled appropriately.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing the overall configuration of a water supply/hot water supply system equipped with a hot water mixing device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the same, and FIGS. 3 and 4 are lines I=I in FIG. 1. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the power transmission mechanism of the drive motor, FIG. 6 is a conceptual explanatory diagram of the control circuit, FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the main part configuration of the control circuit, FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the hunting phenomenon, FIG. 9 is a flowchart of control responsiveness improvement operation and hunting convergence operation, and FIG. 10 is a flowchart of appropriate temperature control. In the figure, A: Automatic water supply/hot water supply system B: Hot water mixing device C: Control device D: Automatic switching valve 24: Water amount sensor 25: Temperature sensor 50: Hunting detection means 51: Backlash amount reduction means 13c: Drive motor patent applicant Totokiki Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a hot water mixing device in which a drive motor is connected to a mixing valve via a transmission mechanism, an amount of backlash greater than the maximum amount of backlash that can occur in the transmission mechanism is stored in advance as an electrical resistance value, etc. a hunting detection means for detecting hunting in the hot water outlet temperature during hot water supply operation, and a hunting detection means for reducing the amount of backlash from the maximum amount of play to an amount at which hunting no longer occurs based on the hunting detection output from the hunting detection means. A hot water mixing device characterized by comprising: means for reducing the amount of backlash; and driving means for driving the mixing valve at an allowable high speed in a section corresponding to the amount of backlash.