JPH0372903B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a water heater such as a gas water heater, and more particularly to a control configuration of a water flow control valve that changes the water flow over time.

Conventional Structure and Problems There are already known methods in the field of water heaters for detecting the temperature of hot water and adjusting the amount of gas and water.

As shown in Fig. 1, it has a burner A, a fuel control valve B, and a heat exchanger C, and when the outputs of a temperature detector D that detects the hot water temperature and a temperature setting device are compared, a comparator and a comparator E are detected. The control valve F and the fuel control valve B of the flow passage are controlled according to the output of the flow channel.

In this conventional example, the amount of water is constant during normal operation, and the amount of water is not changed over time.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The present invention allows the amount of water to be varied over time when a water heater is used, and provides a pine surge effect, particularly when using a shower. The purpose of this invention is to automatically stop the operation of temporally changing the amount of water (hereinafter referred to as water amount fluctuation operation) after a time set by a timer circuit has elapsed.

Structure of the Invention To achieve this object, the present invention provides a temperature controller for controlling the temperature of hot water, a water flow controller for controlling the amount of hot water supplied, a drive device for the water flow controller, and a drive device for the water flow controller, the size of which changes continuously over time. This device is equipped with a signal generator that generates a signal, and a timer circuit that sends the signal from the signal generator to the drive device only for a set time.

With this configuration, when the water heater is used in a water amount fluctuation operation, the water amount fluctuation operation can be automatically stopped when the timer setting time, which is the time desired by the user, comes.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS A case where an embodiment of the present invention is applied to a gas water heater will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

In Fig. 2, 1 is a water flow controller, and water flows through the inflow channel 2.
It enters the valve chamber 3 through the gap between the control valve 4 and the control hole 5 and flows into the primary chamber 6 . Reference numeral 7 denotes a diaphragm that operates together with the control valve 4, and the other side forms a secondary chamber, and the secondary chamber 8 has a control spring 9 that urges it toward the primary chamber 6.

The water that has flowed into the primary chamber 6 is supplied to a heat exchanger 11 through a valve hole 10a of a water flow control valve 10, heated, and supplied to a hot water outlet pipe 12. The downstream side of the water flow control valve 10 is led to the secondary chamber 8 through a communication hole 13 . The water flow control valve 10 is driven by a drive device 16 consisting of a gear 14 and a motor 15. Water flow control valve 1
0 changes the position of the valve hole 10a, the relationship between the differential pressure and the amount of water passing through the valve hole 10a changes, and the differential pressure acts on the diaphragm 7 to drive the control valve 4. Reference numeral 17 denotes a signal generator, which drives the drive device 16 with its signal.

A timer circuit 18 stops sending the signal from the signal generator 17 to the drive device 16 when a set time has elapsed, thereby stopping the water amount fluctuation operation.

19 is a changeover switch of the signal generator 17, and when the fluctuation operation is used continuously, 19b is used continuously, when the timer is used, 19a is used, and when switched to 19c, normal hot water supply with a fixed amount of water can be selected. ing.

On the other hand, gas is supplied from the gas supply path 20 to the temperature controller 2
1, is combusted in a heating device 22, and is heated in a heat exchanger 1.
Heat 1.

Next, the operation will be explained. In FIG. 2, when water flow is started, the water that has flowed into the water flow controller 1 passes through the water flow control valve 10, flows into the heat exchanger 11, is heated, and is supplied to the outside from the hot water outlet pipe 12. As the water flows, a flow switch (not shown) is activated, the heating device 21 starts to burn, and the temperature of the water rises.

Thereafter, when the switch 19 is manually or automatically switched to 19a, a signal is sent from the signal generator 17 only for a preset time by the timer circuit 18, and is transmitted to the drive motor 15, causing the water flow regulating valve 10 to rotate normally or , reverse. The rotation of the water volume control valve 10 changes the restriction of the valve hole 10a, and the differential pressure across the valve hole 10a acts on the diaphragm 7, driving the control valve 4 and changing the water volume. The amount of water changes every moment depending on the signal sent by the signal generator 17.

Figure 3 shows the temporal changes in water volume. Since the amount of water changes from moment to moment, when used in a shower, it provides a pleasant stimulation and has a pine surge effect.

The degree of change in the amount of water is preset by the signal generator 17 so as to be within a predetermined amount of water depending on the heating capacity of the heating device 22 and the heat capacity of the heat exchanger. Furthermore, the set value of the signal generator 17 can be varied so that the user can adjust the range of the predetermined amount of water according to his/her preference.

When the water amount fluctuation operation is performed only for the time set by the timer circuit 18, the water amount change automatically stops and normal hot water supply with a constant water amount is resumed.

The user can adjust the set time of this timer circuit to any time according to his/her preference.

In addition, a changeover switch allows the user to select continuous fluctuation operation, fluctuation operation only for a time set by a timer, or normal hot water supply with a fixed amount of water.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the present invention includes a temperature controller that controls the temperature of hot water, a water flow controller that controls the amount of hot water supplied, and a drive device for the water flow controller, the size of which continuously changes over time. The device is equipped with a signal generator that generates a signal that changes the signal, and a timer circuit that sends the signal from the signal generator to the drive device for a set time only, so that the water flow rate fluctuation operation in which the water volume changes every moment can be controlled after a predetermined time has elapsed. It can be automatically stopped after the shower is used, and the pine surge effect can be continued for an appropriate amount of time by fluctuating the amount of water when using the shower, making it possible to have a comfortable shower. In addition, when washing dishes, etc., the washing method that easily removes stains can be continued for an appropriate amount of time.

Further, the changeover switch allows the user to select between continuous water flow fluctuation operation and regular hot water supply with a constant water flow, which is convenient.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional water heater, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the water heater of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a characteristic diagram showing changes in the amount of water in the water heater. 1...Water flow controller, 16...Drive device, 17...
...Signal generator, 18...Timer circuit, 19...
Changeover switch, 21...Temperature controller.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A temperature controller that controls the temperature of hot water, a water flow controller that controls the amount of hot water supplied, a drive device for the water flow controller, and a signal that generates a signal whose magnitude continuously changes over time. and a timer circuit that sends a signal from the signal generator to the drive device only for a set time. 2. The water heater according to claim 1, which has a configuration in which the set time of the timer circuit can be changed. 3. The water heater according to claim 1, further comprising a changeover switch for switching the operation of the signal generator between continuous operation, timer operation, and stop.