JPH04190041A - Bath tub hot water feeding device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform an automatic decreasing in water temperature and water level within a bath tub after feeding water in that bath tub by a method wherein a heating calorie for the bath tub water, cooling amount and an amount of drain water are calculated in response to a water temperature and each of set values at a water level setting part so as to control each of supplying amounts in a hot water passage and a cold water passage and a drain volume in a water discharging passage. CONSTITUTION:When it is desired to decrease a temperature of hot water and to reduce an amount of hot water, a person taking a bath sets to decrease each of water level and water temperature setting parts 16, 17 down to a desired scale, respectively. To a calculation part 20 receiving the operation signals is inputted each of signals of an amount of hot water Vb(l) and a hot water temperature Tb( deg.C) of the set target values. Each of signals of the present hot water amount Va(l) rather than a detected signal from the water level sensor 6 and the present hot water temperature Ta( deg.C) rather than a detected signal of a hot water temperature sensor 7 is inputted to the calculation part 20. Additional condition of a heating calorie N=0 is substituted for a calculation equation 1 and then cold water is supplied from a cold water valve 13 in response to a signal outputted by a driving part 21 receiving an instruction from the calculation part 20 based on this result of calculation. Cold water supplying amount R(l) and water draining amount W(l) are calculated through calculation equations 1, 2 with the signal in which a water amount sensor 14 detects a cold water temperature t( deg.C) and then the calculation part 20 inputs a signal of this solution into a driving part 21.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a domestic bathtub hot water supply device that is capable of raising and lowering the water temperature and water level of a bathtub after filling with water.

Conventional technology Recently, automation of this type of bathtub equipment has progressed, and when the water temperature and water filling amount (or water level) of the bathtub are set using the control unit such as a bath remote control, the bathtub is automatically filled with water at the desired water temperature and water level. It will be done. In addition, when the hot water level decreases, hot water is automatically added to the original water level to keep the bathtub at the set water level.When the hot water cools down due to heat radiation, it is reheated to the set temperature, and when taking a bath, the water temperature and water level in the bathtub are automatically adjusted. It has become well-managed and easy to use.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, although the above function automatically adds hot water to the bathtub by increasing the amount of hot water from the current water level, in order to safely bathe an infant, the water level in the bathtub can be automatically adjusted by reducing the amount of hot water. It was not possible to lower it. Also, like bathers who like hot baths, they wanted to take a lukewarm bath, and even if they lowered the set water temperature, they could not lower the temperature of the water. In other words, conventional bathtub water heaters are
The problem was that it lacked the ability to automatically lower the current amount and temperature of hot water.

Performing this function manually requires labor to draw hot water from the bathtub and throw it away, or to add water from the faucet and stir it with a bath lid, etc. It was a nuisance, even painful, for some people.

Therefore, in order to solve the above problems, the bathtub hot water supply device of the present invention aims to automatically lower the water temperature and water level of the bathtub after filling with water by resetting.

Means for Solving the Problems And in order to achieve the above object, the first means of the present invention is to provide a bathtub having a drainage means, and a device connected to the bathtub to mechanically circulate the bathtub water. a hot water channel for supplying hot water, a cold water channel for supplying cold water to cool and cool the bath water, and a bath water circulation path having a drainage channel for draining a portion of the bath water in order to adjust the temperature and amount of hot water in the bath; A water temperature and water level setting section that sets the water temperature and water level of the bathtub, a calculation section that calculates the heating amount, cooling amount, and drainage amount of the bathtub water based on each set value of the water temperature and water level setting section, and the calculation of this calculation section. The apparatus includes a drive unit that receives a signal and controls the supply amount of each of the hot water channel and the cold water channel and the water discharge amount of the drainage channel.

Further, the second means of the present invention is that the circulation path is provided with a cold water channel, a drainage channel, and a circulation heater that heats and raises the temperature of circulating bath water,
The apparatus includes a drive section that receives a calculation signal from the calculation section and controls the heating amount of the circulation heater, the supply amount of the cold water channel, and the drainage amount of the drainage channel.

Furthermore, the third means of the present invention is that a circulation heater is added to the circulation path to heat and raise the temperature of circulating bath water, and in response to a calculation signal from a calculation section, the heating amount of the circulation heater is determined by It is equipped with a drive unit that controls the supply amount of each cold water channel and the amount of water discharged from the drainage channel.

Effects According to the first means, when the water temperature and water level setting section is reset, the calculation section calculates the heating amount, cooling amount, and drainage amount of the bathtub water based on the reset signal, and the calculation section The drive unit that receives the water controls the supply volume of the hot water channel and the cold water channel, and the water discharge volume of the drain channel, heats, cools, and drains the bath water, and can freely adjust the water temperature and water level in the bathtub.

Further, in the present invention, when the water temperature and water level setting section is reset by the second means, the calculation section calculates the heating amount, cooling amount, and drainage amount of the bathtub water based on the reset signal. The drive unit that receives the signal controls the heating amount of the circulation heater, the supply amount of the cold channel, and the drainage amount of the drain channel, heating the bath water,
It cools and drains water, and the water temperature and water level in the bathtub can be adjusted freely up and down.

Further, in the present invention according to the third means, when the water temperature and water level setting section is reset, the calculation section calculates the heating amount, cooling amount, and drainage amount of the bathtub water based on the reset signal. The drive unit that receives the signal controls the heating amount of the circulation heater, the supply amount of each hot water channel and cold water channel, and the drainage amount of the drain channel, heating, cooling, and draining the bath water, and freely raising and lowering the water temperature and water level in the bathtub. can be adjusted to

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the bathtub hot water supply apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention, in which a bathtub 1 has a drain plug 1a for draining used dirty hot water, and a circulation path 3 for mechanically circulating bathwater by a pump 2. Connected. This circulation path 3 is a circulating heating H that heats and raises the temperature of bath water.
5. The circulation heater 4 is provided at a position lower than the lowest bathing water level of the bathtub 1, and is watertightly equipped with a water level sensor 6 for detecting the water level of the bathtub 1. . When the water level sensor 6 detects the water level, the bathtub water can be circulated, and dry heating of the circulation heater 5 can also be prevented. The circulation path 3 is equipped with a hot water temperature sensor 7 that detects the temperature and flow rate of the bathtub water circulated by the pump 2 and measures the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub 1 and the amount of water discharged. A water supply channel 9 having an open water supply tank 8 joins the circulation channel 3, and a drainage channel 10 for draining a portion of the bath water is branched off. A drain valve 11 is provided in the drain channel 10 to control the amount of water drained from the bathtub. The water supply tank 8 has a cold water channel 12 connected to an upper non-water storage part, and is supplied with cold water, such as tap water or well water, which has a lower temperature than the hot water in the bathtub 1. The cold water channel 12 is equipped with a cold water valve 13 that controls the amount of cold water supplied, and a water flow sensor 14 that detects the flow rate and temperature of the cold water.

Further, a bath remote control 15 for operating the device is installed in the bathroom, and a water level setting section 16 for setting the water level and water temperature of the bathtub 1;
A water temperature setting section 17 and an operation switch 18 are each provided. The bath remote control 15, pump 2, etc. are electrically connected to a controller 19 as shown by broken lines in the figure, and are sent signals in the direction of the arrows and supplied with driving power. The controller 19 receives signals from the water level setting section 16, water temperature setting section 17, water level sensor 6, and hot water temperature sensor 7, and controls the circulation heater 5.
a calculation section 20 which calculates the amount of heating by the burner 4, the amount of cold water supplied from the cold water channel 12, and the amount of water drained from the bathtub by the drain channel 10, respectively; have The drive unit 21 receives the summer signal and signals from the water level sensor 6, hot water temperature sensor 7, and water amount sensor 14, and controls the burner 4, drain valve 11, and cold water valve 13.

This device is composed of elements of a bath remote control 15, a bathtub 11, a heat source Z surrounded by a dotted chain line, and a circulation pipe 3a that is a part of a circulation path 3 connecting the bathtub 1 and the heat source Z.

Based on the above configuration, the operation of filling the bathtub 1 with water will be explained first. When the water level setting section 16 and the water temperature setting section 17 of the bath remote controller 15 are set to the desired setting values and the operation switch 18 is turned on, this signal is input to the calculation section 20, the driving section 21 opens the cold water valve 13, and the cold water channel is opened. Cold water supplied from 12 is filled into the bathtub 1 through a water supply tank 8, a water supply channel 9, and a circulation path 3. When the water level sensor 6 detects the lower limit water level of the water level setting unit 16 (the lowest water level at which bathing is possible), the pump 2
operation and heating by the burner 4, heating and heating are simultaneously carried out while continuing to fill the bathtub 1 with water. Thereafter, when the water level sensor 6 detects the set water level, the cold water valve 13 closes to stop the water supply, and when the hot water temperature sensor 7 reaches the set water temperature, the heating of the burner 4 and the operation of the pump 2 are stopped.

In this way, the bathtub 1 is automatically filled with water to the water level and water temperature set in the water level and water temperature setting section 16.17.

When the hot water in the bathtub 1 cools down due to natural heat radiation, bathing, etc. during the subsequent bathing time, the controller 19 receives a signal detected by the hot water temperature sensor 7 and operates the pump 2 to cause the burner 4 to burn. When the hot water temperature sensor 7 detects the set water temperature, the operation of both is stopped and the bathtub 1 is automatically maintained at the set water temperature at all times. Further, when the hot water in the bathtub 1 is pumped out and the amount of hot water decreases, the water level sensor 6 detects the decrease in the water level, and the cold water valve 13 supplies makeup water to the set water level. When the hot water is cooled by supplying water, the water is heated to the set water temperature as described above. In this way, the bathtub 1 is automatically maintained at the set water temperature and water level at all times during the bathing time.

Next, the operation when resetting the water temperature and water level during bathing time will be described.

At this time, the computation unit 20 performs a summer operation, so the operation will be explained first. The calculation unit 20 calculates the following two values based on the relationship between the amount of thermal energy held by the hot water in the bathtub 1 and the amount of hot water.
It has two calculation expressions (1) and (2).

VaXTa+ ((RX t +N) −WXTa)
=VbXTb... (1) Va+ (R-W) =Vb -= (2) Here, Va, Vb; Current and set target hot water volume of bathtub 1 (1)
, Ta, Tb; Current and set target water temperatures of bathtub 1 (
"C), R: Amount of cold water supplied (41 ri, W: Amount of water discharged from the drainage channel 10 (I!,), N: Amount of heating by the circulation heater 5 (
kcal), t i cold water temperature (°C).

However, these two equations require unknown numbers R1N and W
The following three points are included, and the solution cannot be found as is. Therefore, depending on the conditions of each reset, for example, when lowering the target water temperature Tb ('C) of bathtub 1, heating is not required. Therefore, additional conditions such as setting the heating amount N (kcal) to O are given.

Further, the calculation unit 20 has relationship data between the water level and the amount of hot water in the bathtub l, and converts the detection signal of the water level sensor 6 into the amount of hot water and the target amount of hot water vbB) set by the water level setting unit 16 into the water level. I can do it.

Therefore, in case (]), when the bather wants to lower the water temperature and reduce the amount of water, the water level and water temperature setting sections 16 and 17
Perform the reset operation to lower each to the desired scale. The calculation unit 20 that receives this operation signal has a set target hot water amount Vb.
(f), water temperature Tb('C), current water amount Va(1) from the detection signal of water level sensor 6, and current water temperature Ta(''() from the detection signal of water temperature sensor 7) are input. Then, as mentioned above, since the water temperature Tb ("C) is lowered, the incidental condition of the heating amount N-0 is also substituted into the calculation formula (1) and calculation is performed, and the calculation section based on the calculation result Chilled water is supplied from the cold water valve 13 in response to a signal output by the drive unit 21 that receives the instruction from the controller 20. Then, based on the signal that the water flow sensor 14 detects the cold water temperature t (°C), calculation formula (1), ( 2
), the amount of cold water supplied R (the amount of water discharged w B) is determined. When the solution is found, the calculation unit 20 inputs the signal of this solution to the drive unit 21, and the drive unit 21 operates the pump 2 to obtain the cold water supply amount R(2) and the displacement amount W(2) as the required amount of the solution. is integrated from the flow rate per unit time detected by the water flow sensor 14 and the hot water temperature sensor 7. When both R(f) and W(f) reach the required amount, the operation of the pump 2 is stopped, the cold water valve 14 and the drain valve 11 are closed, and the bath N1 is automatically adjusted to the water level and water temperature setting section 16. .Achieve 17 reset goals.

In addition, as case (2), an operation will be described in which an elderly person who likes hot water increases the temperature of the hot water, but wants to further reduce the amount of hot water. At this time, since there is no need to supply cold water, the calculation unit 20 that receives the water level and water temperature reset signal calculates the heating amount N (kcal) and the drainage amount w (I) based on the additional condition that the cold water supply amount R = 0. It is calculated from equations (1) and (2).Then, the pump 2 is operated, the circulating heater 5 heats and raises the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub 1, and the drain valve 11 is opened to discharge the hot water in the bathtub 1. When the required amount is completed, the pump 2 is stopped to finish heating and draining, and the bathtub 1 automatically reaches each set target.

In both cases, the draining operation of the drain valve 11 is performed prior to these operations in order to avoid wasting the energy for supplying cold water and for heating.

In both of the above cases, the water level and water temperature are both reset at the same time, but it is of course possible to reset each independently. Other resetting operations are also performed based on the above equations (1) and (2).

When bathing is finished, the operation switch 18 is turned off, the drain plug 1a of the bathtub 1 is pulled out, and the hot water in the bathtub I and the circulation path 3 is discharged. At this time, the drain valve 11 is not opened, and foreign matter contained in the vortex caused by the bathing operation is not allowed to pass through the drain valve 11, thereby preventing the drain valve 11 from deteriorating its closing function due to the attachment of the foreign matter.

Next, a description will be given of the operation when the operation switch 18 is turned off after the bathing time, but the hot water is not thrown away, and the bath is then reused the next day as case (3). Conventionally, this method of use has traditionally been aimed at saving water and effectively utilizing the thermal energy contained in the remaining hot water.

When the operation switch 18 is turned on in this device as well, water is supplied by the cold water valve [3] and water is drained by the drain valve 11 toward the set value from the previous day in the water level and water temperature setting sections 16 and 17 or the set target of the resetting operation. , heating is performed by a circulation heater 5. In this way, the bathtub 1 automatically reaches each set goal, making it possible to achieve the customary water saving and the like.

In this way, in this embodiment, the water level and water temperature setting section 16
．． By performing the resetting operation 17, the water level and water temperature of the bathtub 1 can be raised and lowered automatically and can be adjusted automatically, making it easy to use. In addition, when the heat source device Z is connected to the bathtub 1 through the circulation pipe 3a, a water circuit is formed, which reduces construction costs and shortens the construction period by saving construction work during installation, making it suitable for home use. .

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, in which, unlike the previous embodiment, a circulation heater is not interposed in the circulation Nl 22, and a water level sensor 23 for detecting the water level in the bathtub 1 is installed in that part. It is a provision. In order to heat and raise the temperature of the bathtub 1 instead of the circulation heater, the water supply tank 8 is connected to a hot water supply path 24 that supplies hot water obtained from a water heater (not shown) or the like. Hot water supply path 2
4 includes a hot water valve 25 for controlling the amount of hot water supplied, and a hot water amount sensor 26 for detecting the temperature of the hot water and the flow rate per unit time. Further, the controller 27 includes a calculation section 28 that receives a detection signal from the hot water amount sensor 26 and the like, and a drive section 29 that controls the hot water valve 25 and the like according to instructions from the operation section 28.

This device is composed of a bath remote control 15, a bathtub 1, a heat source Y surrounded by a dashed line, and a circulation pipe 3a that connects the heat source Y and the bathtub 1 and is part of a circulation path 22. There is. This heat source device Y is similar to the so-called high-temperature hot water type water heater that has been supplied conventionally, but has a cold water channel 12 in the circulation path 22 for cooling and lowering the temperature of the bathtub water, and a part of the bathtub water is drained. A drainage channel 10 is added.

Based on the above configuration, its operation will be explained next.

Filling the bathtub 1 with hot water at the set water temperature and level is the same as with conventional high-temperature hot water heaters, so we will omit the explanation here, and then explain the operation when you want to change the amount and temperature of hot water. do. The calculation unit 28 has the operation of the calculation unit 20 of the previous embodiment, and has the heating amount N (kca
l) will be supplied from the hot water supply path 24. and,
This heating amount N (kcal) is determined by the amount of hot water V(E), which is the sum of the flow rates detected by the hot water amount sensor 26, and the temperature k(”
C) is the product, and is determined by the arithmetic expression (3) shown as N=vXk.

Therefore, in case (4), if you perform the same operation during the bathing time as in case (1) when you want to lower the water temperature and reduce the amount of water, due to the additional condition of heating amount N-0, the calculation unit 28 The driving section 29 operates exactly the same as the calculation section 20 and the driving section 21. When the hot water cools down after the bathtub l reaches the reset target, the calculation unit 28 calculates the required heating amount N (kcal) and drainage amount W (Il) using the calculation formula (1).
), (2), and (3), and upon receiving this signal, the drive section 29 operates the pump 2, opens the hot water valve 25, and supplies hot water to the bathtub 1. When the calculation unit 28 receives the detection signal from the hot water amount sensor 26 and integrates the heating amount N (kcal) shown in calculation formula (3), the operation of the pump 2 is stopped and the hot water valve 25 is closed. On the other hand, before this hot water supply operation, the opening and closing of the drain valve 11 is controlled, and the required amount of hot water in the bathtub 1 is drained by the amount W (j). The water is heated to and maintained at the set water temperature at the set water level.

Next, as case (5), the operation of adding hot water (adding hot water) to the remaining hot water from the previous day and setting the set value or reset target from the previous day as in case (3) will be explained.

Conventionally, this type of high-temperature hot water heater has not been automated for this use case. In other words, in this usage example, 80
Unless a large amount of high-temperature water of ~90°C is poured in, the water temperature cannot be restored to the set temperature, and the hot water in the bathtub L will not reach the set water level. Therefore, first of all, it was necessary to manually dump the hot water into a bathtub before pouring hot water, but it was necessary to judge how much water should be thrown away, and this judgment was not easy and was not easy to use. Ta.

However, in this device, the calculation section 28 uses the detection data of the hot water temperature sensor 7 and the water level sensor 23, and the water level and water temperature setting section 1.
6. Receive the signal of the set target in 17, and calculate the calculation formulas (1) and (2
), (3), the required heating amount N (kcal),
Calculate the cold water supply amount RCI) and the drainage amount wB). and,
The drive unit 29 that receives this signal controls the hot water valve 25, etc.
The bathtub l can be automatically heated to a set target.

In this way, in the second embodiment, cold water is added to the remaining hot water from the previous day to the set water level, the water is heated to the set water temperature, and the remaining water is automatically boiled without having to be thrown away. Become something.

Note that if the temperature of the cold water supplied in the cold water channel 12 is made as low as possible by processing it with a water cooler, for example, the amount of hot water discarded from the drain channel 10 to cool the bathtub water will be reduced, resulting in an economical effect. can get.

FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of the present invention, which is a combination of the first and second embodiments, and is an improved version of the so-called bath water heater etc. already available on the market. It is. That is, compared to the conventional one, a cold water channel 12 for cooling and lowering the temperature of the bathtub water and a drainage channel 1O for draining a part of the bathtub water are added to the circulation path 3. And controller 3
0 has an arithmetic section 31 having the arithmetic expressions (1), (2), and (3), and a drive section 32 that receives signals from the arithmetic section 31 and controls the cold water valve 13 and the like. The calculation unit 31 selectively uses two ways to heat up the bathtub water: hot water supply through the hot water supply line 24 and heating of circulating water through the circulation heater 5, and determines the economical efficiency of operation and the reduction of operating time according to each heating condition. Select an advantageous heating means such as shortening (operating speed).
3. Bathtub 1 - A heat source device X1 surrounded by a dotted chain line A circulation pipe 3a that connects this heat source device X and the bathtub 1 and is part of the circulation path 3
It is composed of Portions corresponding to other symbols are the same as in the previous embodiment.

Based on the above configuration, the dynamic vinegar used to fill the bathtub 1 with water will be explained first. When the water level and water temperature setting units 16, 17 are set and the operation switch 18 is operated, the calculation unit 31 selects hot water supply via the hot water supply path 24, which operates at a faster speed. This is the circulation heater 5
In this case, in addition to the heating time, it takes time to fill the water from the cold water channel 12, and this is to avoid prolonging the time it takes to reach the set target.

However, in this example, the output per unit time of the circulation heater 5 is equal to or lower than that of the hot water supply path 24.

Furthermore, when the bath water becomes cold during the bathing time, heating is performed by the circulation heater 5, giving priority to economic efficiency, and the bath water is heated to the set water temperature without being thrown away. When adding hot water to the remaining hot water from the previous day to boil it, if the amount of hot water in the bathtub 1 is large, it is heated by the circulation heater 5 to save water, and if the amount of hot water is small, it is heated by the hot water supply path 24.
Priority is given to operating speed by supplying high-temperature water from the

In this way, according to the third embodiment, the bathtub 1 can be heated to the set target while maintaining good economic efficiency and heating rate of operation. Note that the determination function of the calculation unit 310 can be further enhanced to determine the best economical efficiency and the best heating rate (while sacrificing the heating rate and economical efficiency to some extent).

In addition, in order to speed up the water filling speed to the bathtub 1, the hot water supplied from the hot water channel 24 can be reheated by the circulation heater 5 and then supplied to the bathtub 1.

Effects of the Invention As is clear from the above explanation, the first claim of the present invention provides an excellent usability in which the water level and temperature of the bathtub can be automatically adjusted by resetting the bathtub so that it can be raised and lowered freely. It is. In addition, in the second aspect of the present invention, the remaining hot water in the bathtub can be heated to a set target without being thrown away, and the operation efficiency is excellent. Furthermore, in a third aspect of the invention, the bathtub can be heated to a set target while maintaining good operating economy and heating rate. Furthermore, in the present invention, when the heat source device is connected to the bathtub through a circulation pipe, the water circuit can be easily constructed, and it is possible to reduce construction costs and shorten the construction period by saving construction work at the time of installation.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of a bathtub water heater according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1...Bathtub, 3.22...Circulation path, 5
......Circulation heater, 10...Drainage channel, 1
2...Cold channel, 16...Water level setting section,
17...Water temperature setting unit, 20.28.31 town-calculation unit, 21.29.32...Drive unit, 24...
...warm waterway. Name of agent: Patent attorney Akira Okagi

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A bathtub with a drainage means, a hot water channel connected to the bathtub to mechanically circulate bath water and supply hot water, a cold water channel that supplies cold water to cool and lower the temperature of the bath water, and a water temperature of the bathtub. A bathtub water circulation path having a drainage path for draining a portion of the bathtub water to adjust the amount of hot water, a water level and water temperature setting section for setting the water level and temperature of the bathtub, an operation switch for instructing operation, and A calculation unit that receives signals from the operation switch, the water level and water temperature setting unit, and calculates the heating amount, cooling amount, and drainage amount of the bathtub water; and a calculation unit that receives the calculation signals from this calculation unit and calculates the supply amount of each of the hot water channel and the cold water channel. , a bathtub water heater equipped with a drive unit that controls the amount of water discharged from a drainage channel. (2) The circulation path is provided with a cold water channel, a drainage channel, and a circulation heater that heats and raises the temperature of circulating bath water, and receives a calculation signal from the calculation section to determine the heating amount of the circulation heater, the supply amount of the cold water channel, The bathtub water heater according to claim 1, further comprising a drive unit that controls the amount of water discharged from the drainage channel. (3) A circulation heater is added to the circulation path to heat and raise the temperature of circulating bath water, and in response to calculation signals from the calculation section, the heating amount of the circulation heater, the supply amount of the hot water channel and the cold water channel, and the drainage water are determined. The bathtub hot water supply device according to claim 1, further comprising a drive unit that controls the amount of water discharged in the channel.