JPH04197329A - Bathtub washing method and its device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To arrange so that hindrance may not be generated by dust such as hair entering into the circulation pipe passage of a washing liquid, even if a mesh is not provided on the return circulation side of the washing liquid, by making constitution by providing a dust removing mesh on the return circulation opening side of the 2nd return branch pipe. CONSTITUTION:The outlet side of a return pipe 10 is connected to the suction side of a pump 12, and the inlet side of the pipe 10 is provided with the return pipe opening/closing valves 6a, 6b of a solenoid valve or the like, and branching off to the 1st return branch pipe 10a and the 2nd return branch pipe 10b is done. A pressure sensor 8 acting as a water level sensor that detects the water level in a bathtub 1 by means of water pressure, is provided at the 1st return branch pipe 10a. When the 2nd return branch pipe 10b is fitted to the tub 1, a mesh 47 which removes dust, is fixed at the return circulation inlet of a metallic cap 44. Accordingly, as dust such as hair is removed beforehand from a bathtub inside wall surface and a circulation pipe passage, there is no chance of the dust getting caught at an apparatus such as a water flow sensor provided in the circulation pipe passage and hindrance being brought about.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a bathtub cleaning method and apparatus for automatically cleaning a bathtub.

[Conventional technology]

As a device for automatically cleaning bathtubs, it was developed in 1983-71.
No. 869 is known. This device is equipped with a cleaning nozzle that sprays cleaning liquid containing detergent onto the lid of the bathtub, and a water injection nozzle that sprays clean water such as tap water.When cleaning the bathtub, the cleaning liquid is pumped from the detergent tank. A cleaning liquid is supplied to a nozzle, and a cleaning liquid is sprayed from this nozzle into the bathtub to remove dirt, and then clean water is supplied from a water supply source to a water injection nozzle to be sprayed into the bathtub, and the dirt is removed by the cleaning liquid. The dirty components and cleaning liquid in the bathtub are washed away and discharged from the drain hole.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, since this conventional cleaning device sprays the cleaning liquid at room temperature, the chemical cleaning ability of the cleaning liquid is poor, and there is a problem that the inner wall surface of the bathtub cannot be effectively cleaned. Furthermore, the cleaning liquid sprayed from the cleaning nozzle is not used repeatedly, but rather flows out from the drain hole together with the water sprayed next, resulting in wasted detergent usage.

The inventors of the present invention have conducted repeated research on prototypes and have obtained a prototype device that solves these problems. A return pipe is connected to the bottom of the bathtub, the suction side of the pump is connected to the tip of the return pipe, an outgoing pipe is connected to the discharge side of the pump, and the tip of the outgoing pipe is connected to the cleaning nozzle. A heating source is built into the circulation pipe, the cleaning liquid injected from the cleaning nozzle is recovered from the return pipe, the recovered cleaning liquid is guided to the cleaning nozzle by a pump drive, and the heating source is turned on. The heated cleaning liquid is circulated and sprayed onto the inner wall of the bathtub as it passes through, and dirt is removed from the inner wall of the bathtub by the chemical cleaning power of the cleaning liquid and the collision force of the spray.

However, when cleaning a bathtub using this prototype device, if there is hair or other dust attached to the inner wall surface of the bathtub or the surface of the circulation pipe before cleaning starts, this may occur when the cleaning liquid is circulated and sprayed. A problem has arisen in which dust gets caught in water flow sensors and the like installed in the circulation pipes, causing these water flow sensors and other equipment to not operate properly or to cause failures.

Of course, the inlet side of the cleaning fluid circulation pipe (return circulation port side)
It is possible to remove dust that tries to enter the circulation pipe by installing a filter such as a mesh in the bathtub, but since the return circulation side of the circulation pipe is installed at the bottom of the bathtub, when replacing the mesh, it is possible to remove dust that tries to enter the circulation pipe. The problem arises that the bathtub must be removed and turned over, making maintenance such as replacing the mesh virtually impossible.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and its purpose is to eliminate the difficulty in maintenance caused by providing a mesh on the return circulation side of the cleaning solution, and to remove the difficulty of maintenance by providing a mesh on the return circulation side of the cleaning solution. It is an object of the present invention to provide a bathtub cleaning method and an apparatus therefor in which dust such as the like does not enter the circulation pipe of cleaning liquid and cause trouble.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is configured as follows. That is, the bathtub cleaning method of the present invention includes a cleaning nozzle that sprays a detergent-containing cleaning liquid onto the inner wall surface of the bathtub, and a circulation pipe that incorporates a pump and a heater that circulate the cleaning liquid from the bottom side of the bathtub to the cleaning nozzle. A water supply means for supplying water or hot water to this circulation pipe, and a means for draining hot water from the bathtub are provided. Water or hot water is passed through the circulation pipe to wash away dust in the circulation pipe, and water or hot water from the water supply means is injected from the cleaning nozzle through the circulation pipe onto the inner wall of the bathtub. After washing away the attached dust, the cleaning liquid is heated to a predetermined temperature with a heater and circulated through the circulation pipe from the cleaning nozzle to the inner wall of the bathtub to remove dirt from the inner wall of the bathtub, and then the water is supplied. The bathtub of the present invention is characterized in that the water or hot water supplied from the means is sprayed from the cleaning nozzle onto the inner wall surface of the bathtub through a circulation pipe line to wash away the cleaning liquid adhering to the inner wall surface of the bathtub, and the bathtub of the present invention The cleaning device consists of a cleaning nozzle that sprays a detergent-containing cleaning liquid onto the inner wall of the bathtub, a circulation pipe that incorporates a pump and a heater that circulates the cleaning liquid from the bottom of the bathtub to the cleaning nozzle, and this circulation pipe. a water supply means for supplying water or hot water to a bathtub; a means for draining hot water from a bathtub; and a control device that controls the cleaning operation according to a program by spraying dust from a cleaning nozzle onto the inner wall surface of the bathtub to wash away dust in the circulation pipe and the inner wall surface of the bathtub, and the return side of the circulation pipe has a return pipe opening/closing valve. A first return branch pipe for circulating cleaning liquid is provided and connected to the bottom of the bathtub, and a second return branch pipe for reheating hot water circulation is connected to the wall of the bathtub. 1st
The second return branch pipe is an open pipe without a mesh for removing dust, and a mesh for removing dust is provided on the return circulation port side of the second return branch pipe. .

[Effect]

In the present invention, when cleaning a bathtub, first operate the drainage means to drain the remaining hot water from the bathtub, and after emptying the bathtub,
Water or hot water is sent from the water supply means through the circulation pipe into the bathtub to wash away dust such as hair adhering to the inner wall surface of the circulation pipe and drain the water.

Similarly, water or hot water is guided from the water supply means through the circulation pipe to the cleaning nozzle, and is sprayed onto the inner wall surface of the bathtub to wash away and discharge dust such as hair attached to the inner wall surface of the bathtub.

After cleaning the circulation pipe and the inner wall of the bathtub, for example, collect the required amount of cleaning liquid (a mixture of detergent and water (or hot water)) on the bottom of the bathtub, and then start the pump to pump the cleaning liquid halfway through. While being heated to a predetermined temperature with a heater, the water is guided through a circulation pipe to a cleaning nozzle, and the cleaning nozzle circulates and sprays it onto the inner wall of the bathtub to remove dirt from the inner wall of the bathtub. When this cleaning liquid is circulated and sprayed, hair and other dust has been removed from the bathtub inner wall surface and the circulation pipe in advance, so this dust can get caught in devices such as water flow sensors installed in the circulation pipe and cause problems. will disappear.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings. 1st
The figure shows the system configuration of an embodiment of a bathtub cleaning apparatus to which the method of the present invention is applied.

In the figure, a drain pipe 2 is connected to the bottom of a bathtub 1, and this drain pipe 2 is provided with a drain valve 3 made of a solenoid valve, etc., and the drain pipe 2 and the drain valve 3 function as a drainage means. It consists of A pair of cleaning nozzles 4a are provided on opposite side walls of the bathtub 1.
, 4b are attached with their injection holes facing the inner wall surface of the bathtub. The cleaning nozzles 4a and 4b have a built-in valve mechanism, and the injection holes can be opened and closed. An example of the configuration of the valve mechanism is shown in FIG. Cleaning nozzle 4a.

4b, a ball valve 18 is rotatably housed in metal fittings 7a, 7b that are attached to the bathtub via gaskets 20a, 20b such as O-rings, and a nozzle passage 21 is provided inside the ball valve 18, and the tip thereof The side nozzle injection hole 25 is opened in a flat shape.

A rotary shaft 35 is provided protruding from the ball valve 18, and this rotary shaft 35 is connected to the output shaft of a motor 39. In this valve mechanism, the ball valve 18 is rotated by the motor 39,
The cleaning liquid supplied through the nozzle passage 21 is injected into the bathtub with the nozzle injection hole 25 facing the inner surface of the bathtub, and the nozzle injection hole is opened by rotating the ball valve 18 approximately 180 degrees from the state shown in FIG. 25 to Patsukin 20a, 20
b, it can be closed to the bathtub 1 and the spraying of cleaning liquid can be stopped. Branch outgoing pipes 5a, 5b are connected to the cleaning nozzles 4a, 4b, and these branch outgoing pipes 5a,
The outgoing pipe 5, in which the pipes 5b are merged into one, is connected to the discharge side of the pump 12 via a gas combustion type reheating heat exchanger 42 that functions as a heater.

The outlet side of a return pipe 10 is connected to the suction side of the pump 12, and return pipe on-off valves 6a, 6b such as electromagnetic valves are provided on the inlet side of the return pipe 10 to separate the first return branch pipe 10a and the second return branch pipe 10a. The first return branch pipe 1 is branched into a return branch pipe tab.
0a is connected to the bottom of the bathtub 1, in this embodiment a drain pipe 2, and this first return branch pipe 10a is connected to the bottom of the bathtub 1.
A pressure sensor 8 is provided as a water level sensor that detects the water level inside using water pressure. Said second return branch pipe 1
0b is connected to the side wall of the bathtub 1 in communication.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the structure in which the second return branch pipe 10b is attached to the bathtub 1, and the attachment provided on the side wall of the bathtub 1 is inserted into the hole 43 from the inside of the bathtub 1. base 44
from the outside of the bathtub 1.
5 into the screw provided on the outer periphery of the cap 44, and
and the case cap 45 are fastened and fixed to the side wall of the bathtub via a packing 46, and the second return branch pipe 10b is connected to the inflow cylinder portion 48 of the case cap 45. A mesh 47 for removing dust is fixed to the return circulation inlet of the cap 44. The second return branch pipe 10 including the caps 44 and 45
From b to return pipe 10, pump 12, reheating heat exchanger 42
．． The cleaning nozzle 4 passes through the outgoing pipe 5 and the branched outgoing pipes 5a and 5b.
The pipes leading to a and 4b constitute a reheating circulation pipe for hot water, and the pipes from the first return branch pipe 10a to the return pipe 10
, the pump 12, the outgoing pipe 5 and the branched outgoing pipes 5a, 5b to the cleaning nozzles 4a, 4b constitute a cleaning liquid circulation pipe.

The return pipe 10 is equipped with a water flow sensor 1 for detecting the flow of liquid.
3 and a temperature sensor 14 such as a thermistor for detecting the temperature of the liquid, and a detergent supply pipe 15 is connected to the return pipe 10, and this detergent supply pipe 15 is composed of a solenoid valve or the like. Detergent tank 1 via detergent on/off valve 16
7 is connected. The detergent supply pipe 15, the detergent on/off valve 16, and the detergent tank 17 constitute a detergent charging device, and the detergent tank 17 stores liquid detergent.

This detergent injection device, return pipe opening/closing valves 6a, 6b, and pressure sensor 8 are housed in the Kokutai and constitute a cleaning unit 41, and this cleaning unit 41 is installed in a bathroom.

The water flow sensor 13, temperature sensor 14, pump 12, and reheating heat exchanger 42 are housed in the appliance unit 4.
3, and a water heater 33 is further housed inside the appliance unit 43.

A hot water pipe is connected to the outlet side of the hot water heat exchanger 34 of this water heater 33, and this hot water pipe and the circulation pipe for the cleaning liquid and reheating are connected via a hot water pouring on/off valve '36 such as a solenoid valve. It is connected. The hot water pouring on/off valve 36 and the water heater 33 constitute a water supply means for supplying water or hot water to the circulation pipe. A hot water temperature sensor 37 is provided on the outlet side of the hot water heat exchanger 34 to detect the hot water temperature. In addition, hot water heat exchanger 3
A water supply pipe 22 is connected to the inlet side of the water supply pipe 4, and the inlet side of this water supply pipe 22 is connected to a water supply source such as tap water.

The water supply pipe 22 is provided with a flow rate sensor 11 that detects the amount of water supplied, and a water supply temperature sensor 38 that detects the temperature of the supplied water.

Channel opening/closing control (valve opening/closing) of the drain valve 3, cleaning nozzles 4a, 4b, return pipe opening/closing valves 6a, 6b, detergent opening/closing valve 16, and hot water pouring opening/closing valve 36, and operation control of the pump 12. The burner combustion control of the heat exchangers 34 and 42 is performed by the control device 23.
It is carried out by This control device 23 includes a remote control 2.
4 is connected to the remote control 24, and the remote control 24 has a fully automatic button 26 that performs operations from washing to filling to reheating, and a filling water level setting section 27 that sets the water level for filling the hot water.
and a reheating water temperature setting section 19 for setting the bath temperature.

The control device 23, as shown in FIG.
8, judgment/command unit 29, timer 30, and calculation unit 31
and a memory 32. The signal input unit 28 receives a signal from the remote controller 24 , a water level detection signal of =13- from the pressure sensor 8 , a flow rate detection signal from the flow rate sensor 11 , a water flow detection signal from the water flow sensor 13 , and each temperature sensor 14 . It receives the temperature detection signals from .37 and 38 and applies these signals to the judgment/instruction section 29. Judgment/command section 2
9 receives the signal from the signal input unit 28 and the program information given to the memory 32, grasps the progress of the program from bathtub cleaning to filling with hot water to reheating, and performs operations as necessary. , instructs the timer 30 to operate the timer, and further instructs the calculation unit 31 to determine the amount of cleaning liquid to be stored at the bottom of the bathtub 1 at the start of cleaning, that is, the minimum hot water supply or water supply amount necessary for normal pump operation. Instruct the desired calculation and operate various valves as appropriate3. 6 a, 6 b,
16.36 and the cleaning nozzles 4a and 4b, and also operates the pump 12 and controls the combustion of the water heater 33. When starting bathtub cleaning, the remaining hot water in the bathtub is drained and water or hot water is passed from the water supply means to the cleaning liquid and reheating circulation pipes to wash away dust in the circulation pipes, and at the same time, water or hot water is passed from the water supply means to the circulation pipes for washing liquid and reheating. Water or hot water is guided to the cleaning nozzle through a circulation pipe, and the cleaning nozzle sprays it onto the inner wall of the bathtub to control the operation of washing away hair and other dust adhering to the inner wall of the bathtub. Fully automatic operation leading to reheating is controlled according to the program. The memory 32 stores the fully automatic operation program and external input values (for example, set values), and also stores the calculation results of the calculation section 3 (2) as necessary.

This embodiment is configured as described above, and below, the fifth
An example of fully automatic operation will be explained based on the flowchart shown in the figure. First, put a lid on the bathtub (not shown), set the hot water level with the hot water level setting section 27, and set the hot water level with the hot water level setting section 27.
When the fully automatic button 26 of the remote controller 24 is turned on after setting the bath water temperature in step 9, this on signal is applied to the judgment/command section 29 via the signal input section 28 of the control device 23.

The judgment/instruction unit 29 receives the command for the fully automatic operation mode, and first performs the draining operation of the bath water in steps 101 to 104.

That is, in step 101, a water level detection signal from the pressure sensor 8 is received, and it is determined whether or not there is hot water in the bathtub l. When the inside of the bathtub 1 is empty, the drain valve 3 is opened in step 102 and the operation moves on to steps 106 and subsequent steps. On the other hand, when the water level is detected and it is determined that there is hot water in the bathtub, in the next step 103, the cleaning nozzles 4a, 4
b, and at the same time open the return pipe on/off valve 6b. Next, in step 104, the drain valve 3 is opened to start draining the hot water in the bathtub 1. As this hot water is drained, the water level of the hot water that has accumulated in the bathtub gradually decreases, and the cleaning nozzle 4a.

When the water level drops below the injection hole 4b, the cleaning nozzle 4a
Air pressure acts on the pipe side from the injection holes 4b, and the hot water accumulated in the circulation pipe flows into the second tank as the water level in the bathtub l decreases.
It enters the bathtub from the return circulation port of the return branch pipe 10b. When the water level in the bathtub drops beyond this return circulation port, water is drained from the inside of the circulation pipe except for the first return branch pipe 10a, and everything is opened to the atmosphere.

The lowering of the water level in the bathtub due to this drainage is detected moment by moment by the pressure sensor 8. Then, in step 105, bathtub 1
It is determined whether the inside is empty or not.

When the water level is detected by the pressure sensor 8, it is determined that the bathtub 1 is not empty, and when the detection signal of the pressure sensor 8 detects the reference pressure, which is the pressure at which the bathtub is empty, the bathtub 1 is determined to be empty. The next step is 1.
From 06 to 126, the operation moves to hot water cleaning of dust on the inner wall surface of the bathtub and in the circulation pipe.

First, from steps 106 to 110, a dust cleaning operation of the first return branch pipe 10a is performed. That is, in steps 106 and 107, the cleaning nozzles 4a and 4b are closed, the return pipe opening/closing valve 6b is closed, and the return pipe opening/closing valve 6a is opened. Then, in step 108, the hot water pouring on/off valve 36 is opened, and the hot water of sl"C (for example, 60° C.) produced by the water heater 33 passes through the return pipe 10 and the first return branch pipe 10a to the drain pipe 2. By passing this hot water, dust adhering to the pipes in the return pipe 10 and the first return branch pipe 10a is washed out and drained.In step 109, the flow rate sensor 11 Based on the flow rate detection signal from the water heater 33, it is determined whether the hot water passed from the water heater 33 to the first return branch pipe 10a has reached a predetermined value of X12. Based on the flow rate detection signal from 11, the calculation unit 31 cumulatively calculates the detected flow rate, and the cumulative value is set.
1, in step 110 the molten metal pouring on/off valve 36 and the return pipe on/off valve 6a are closed to stop the dust cleaning operation of the first return branch pipe 10a.

Next, from steps Ill to 114, a dust cleaning operation of the second return branch pipe 10b is performed. This operation opens the return pipe on-off valve 6b and the hot water pouring on-off valve 36, and supplies hot water at S2°C (60°C, for example) from the water heater 33 side to the return pipe lO.
This is done by passing the second return branch pipe 10b by z Il. As this hot water flows, not only the dust inside the pipe but also the dust adhering to the mesh 47 is thoroughly removed by applying a reverse pressure (pressure in the opposite direction to the direction in which the dust sinks into the mesh).

After the dust cleaning operation of the second return branch pipe 10b is performed, from step 116 to step 120, the cleaning nozzle 4a performs the dust cleaning operation of the inner wall surface of the bathtub. That is, in step 116, the cleaning nozzle 4a is opened, and then,
By opening the hot water pouring on/off valve 36, -18 = S3"C (for example, 60°C) created on the water heater 33 side
) is supplied from the outgoing pipe 5 through the first branched outgoing pipe 5a to the cleaning nozzle 4a, and is sprayed onto the inner wall surface of the bathtub from the cleaning nozzle 4a. By supplying hot water from the water heater 33 side to the cleaning nozzle 4a in this way, dust in the pipe through which the hot water passes is cleaned, and by spraying hot water from the cleaning nozzle 4a onto the inner wall surface of the bathtub, Dust such as hair adhering to the inner wall surface of the bathtub is washed away and discharged from the drain pipe 2. In step 118, it is determined whether the amount of hot water jetted from the cleaning nozzle 4a has reached a predetermined value injection is stopped.

Next, in steps 121 to 125, the cleaning nozzle 4
Hot water injection from b is performed in the same way. This hot water injection opens the cleaning nozzle 4b and the hot water pouring valve 36, and the high temperature 34°C (60°C, for example) hot water from the 33 water heaters is sent to the cleaning nozzle 4.
This is done by spraying water onto the inner wall surface of the bathtub from b. This jetting of hot water cleans dust from the pipe through which the hot water passes and from the inner wall surface of the bathtub. In step 123, the cleaning nozzle 4b
It is determined whether or not the amount of hot water injected from the washing nozzle 4b reaches a predetermined value Xa1, and when it reaches X,ffi, the hot water pouring on/off valve 36 and the cleaning nozzle 4b are closed, and hot water is no longer injected from the cleaning nozzle 4b. will be stopped. By the above-mentioned dust cleaning operation, the dust adhering to the inside of the cleaning liquid and the reheating circulation pipe and the inner wall surface of the bathtub is washed away, and there is no dust that gets caught in equipment such as the water flow sensor 13 and becomes a hindrance.

In step 126, it is determined whether the hot water injected from the cleaning nozzle 4b onto the inner wall surface of the bathtub 1 has been completely drained from the bathtub 1, by the same operation as in step 105, and when the inside of the bathtub 1 is empty, in step 127 From 129 to 129, a detergent injection operation is performed. During this detergent injection operation, the inside of the circulation pipe is opened to the atmosphere by the draining operation in steps 101 to 105, and the detergent easily enters the circulation pipe.

In this state, the detergent on/off valve 16 is opened in step 127, and detergent is introduced into the circulation pipe from the detergent tank 17. At the same time, in step 128, it is determined whether a predetermined 17 hours have elapsed.

That is, after applying an open signal to the detergent on/off valve 16, the control device 23 counts the time using the timer 30, and
The detergent on/off valve 16 is kept open until one hour has elapsed, and when T1 time has elapsed, a predetermined amount (for example, 2
It is determined that 0 cc) of detergent has been supplied from the detergent tank 17 through the detergent supply pipe 15 into the circulation pipe, and the detergent on/off valve 16 is closed.

Next, the process moves to the cleaning operation from steps 130 to 169. In step 130, the hot water pouring on/off valve 36 is opened, and the hot water of ss"c (for example, 60°C) produced by the water heater 33 is reheated and dropped into the circulation pipe. This dropped hot water is passed from the return pipe lO to the second The detergent enters the bathtub together with the detergent through the return branch pipe 10b.As a result, a cleaning solution containing a mixture of hot water and detergent accumulates in the bathtub 1.Step 131
Then, it is determined whether the amount of hot water supplied to the bathtub has reached a predetermined value Xsl. In other words, the judgment/command section 2
9 receives the flow rate detection signal from the flow rate sensor 11, and causes the calculation unit 31 to cumulatively calculate the amount of water supplied from time to time. While the calculated water amount does not reach X52, the pouring valve 3G is kept open, and when the calculated water amount reaches Xsl, the pouring valve 3G is closed. This X, I! , the hot water is in the bathtub I
As a result, the minimum amount of cleaning liquid (mixture of detergent and hot water) necessary for smoothly operating the pump 12 is stored at the bottom of the bathtub 1.

Said X51! After the hot water is supplied, the hot water pouring on/off valve 36 is closed and the hot water supply is stopped. Next, in step 133, the cleaning nozzle 4b and the return pipe on-off valve 6b are closed, and the return pipe on-off valve 6a is opened. Then, in step 134, the pump 12 is started. By starting the pump 12, the cleaning liquid accumulated at the bottom of the bathtub 1 is sucked into the pump 12 through the first return branch pipe 10a, and the suctioned cleaning liquid flows through the outgoing pipe 5 from the discharge side of the pump 12. The water passes through the cleaning nozzle 4a and is sprayed into the bathtub.

Then, this spouted cleaning liquid flows down to the bottom side of the bathtub l, and the cleaning liquid that has fallen down to the bottom side is sucked into the pump 12 again from the first return branch pipe 10a, and similarly, the outgoing pipe 5
After passing through the cleaning nozzle 4a, it is ejected into the bathtub. In this way, the cleaning liquid is repeatedly sprayed in circulation via the cleaning liquid circulation pipe.

During this circulating injection, the temperature of the cleaning liquid is controlled in step 135.
It will be held from 138 to 138.

That is, the control device 23 determines in step 135 whether the temperature of the cleaning liquid is below Sb'C (for example, 60° C.) based on the temperature detection signal obtained from the temperature sensor 14. When the temperature of the cleaning liquid is S6°C or lower, combustion is performed in the gas burner of the reheating heat exchanger 42 in step 136 to heat the cleaning liquid. Then, in step 137, it is determined again whether the temperature of the cleaning liquid is S6°C or higher, and S
When the temperature is lower than b″C, the burner of the reheating heat exchanger 42 continues to burn and heat the cleaning liquid until the temperature reaches S6.
When the temperature exceeds °C, the burner combustion of the heat exchanger 42 is stopped.

Next, in step 139, it is determined whether 12 hours have passed since the pump 12 was started. If 12 hours have not elapsed, repeat the circulating injection of cleaning liquid,
When T2 hours have passed after the pump was started, the pump 12 is stopped in step 140, and the cleaning nozzle 4a is opened in step 14I.
, and open the cleaning nozzle 4b. And step 14
2, the pump 12 is started again. Then, the cleaning liquid circulating from the bathtub 1 through the first return branch pipe 10a passes through the outgoing pipe 5 and is injected into the bathtub from another cleaning nozzle 4b, and this circulation and injection of the cleaning liquid is repeated. At this time, in steps 143 to 146, the temperature of the cleaning liquid is controlled in the same manner as in steps 135 to 138, and the cleaning liquid is maintained at a temperature of S7°C (for example, 60''C) and is injected into the bathtub 1. .

In step 147, it is determined in step 139 whether or not time T3 has elapsed since the pump was started in step 142.
Step 14 is performed in the same manner as above, and when T3 time has elapsed, step 14 is performed.
8, the pump 12 is stopped. Next, the drain valve 3 is opened in step 149, and the cleaning liquid in the bathtub 1 is drained while the return pipe opening/closing valve 6a is closed in step 150. Next, in step 151, the pouring valve 36 is opened,
SBoC hot water is supplied from the hot water supply heat exchanger 34 side to the cleaning nozzle 4b while cleaning the inside of the outgoing pipe 5 and the branched outgoing pipe 5b, and the hot water is injected from the cleaning nozzle 4b onto the inner wall surface of the bathtub and adheres to the inner wall surface of the bathtub. The washing liquid and the dirt components removed by the washing liquid are washed off to the bottom side of the bathtub 1 and discharged.

In step 152, it is determined whether 14 hours have passed for cleaning with this hot water or not. When T4 hours have passed, in step 153, the hot water pouring on/off valve 36 is closed and the cleaning nozzle 4b is closed.
Stop spraying hot water. Then, in step 154, the cleaning nozzle 4a is opened and the cleaning nozzle 4b is closed. Next, in step 155, the hot water pouring on/off valve 36 is opened, and this time the water heater 33 is opened.
The hot water from side S and "c" is supplied to the cleaning nozzle 4a, and the hot water is similarly jetted from this cleaning nozzle 4a toward the inner wall surface of the bathtub, and the cleaning liquid on the inner wall surface of the bathtub is dropped while washing the pipes.Then, the washing nozzle 4a When the hot water injection time has elapsed for T5 time, the hot water pouring on/off valve 36 is closed in step 157 to stop the hot water injection, and the cleaning nozzle 4a is closed in step 158.

Next, from steps 159 to 163, the inside of the second return branch pipe 10b is cleaned with hot water. That is, in step 159, the return pipe on-off valve 6b is opened, and subsequently the molten metal pouring on-off valve 36 is opened. As a result, the hot water heat exchanger 34
S from. The hot water at °C passes through the return pipe 10, enters the second return branch pipe 10b from the return pipe on-off valve 6b, enters the bathtub 1 while washing the cleaning liquid in the second return branch pipe 10b, and is discharged. . When the hot water cleaning in the second return branch pipe 10b has been completed for T6 hours, the hot water pouring on/off valve 36 is closed, the hot water cleaning in the second return branch pipe 10b is stopped, and the return on/off valve 6b is closed.

Next, from steps 164 to 168, the inside of the first return branch pipe 10a is similarly washed with hot water. For this hot water cleaning, open the return pipe on-off valve 6a and set the temperature at S11°C on the hot water heat exchanger 34 side.
This is done by opening the hot water pouring valve 36 and passing the hot water from the return pipe 10 to the first return branch pipe 10a.

After this first return branch pipe 10a is washed with hot water for an hour T1, the hot water pouring on/off valve 36 is closed in step 167, and hot water supply is stopped. Thereafter, the return pipe on-off valve 6a is closed in step 168, and then the drain valve 3 is closed in step 169.

Next, the process moves to steps 170 to 173 for filling hot water.

First, in step 170, the cleaning nozzles 4a and 4b are opened, and at the same time, the return pipe opening/closing valve 6b is opened.

Next, in step 171, the hot water pouring on/off valve 36 is opened, and the hot water coming out from the hot water heat exchanger 34 side is supplied to the reheating circulation pipe side, passes through both the return pipe 10 and the outgoing pipe 5, and reaches the cleaning nozzle 4a.
, 4b and the second return branch pipe 10b into the bathtub 1. The water level of the hot water being filled is detected by a pressure sensor 8. In step 172, based on the water level detection signal from the pressure sensor 8, it is determined whether the detected water level has reached the water level set by the water filling level setting section 27 of the remote controller 24, and when the detected water level has reached the set water level. Then, the hot water pouring on/off valve 36 is closed, and the hot water filling operation is stopped. During this hot water filling operation, hot water from the water heater side is simultaneously dropped from the outgoing pipe 5 and the return pipe 10 side, so the amount of hot water for filling becomes large, and hot water filling can be completed in a short time.

Next, a reheating operation is performed from steps 174 to 178. First, in step 174, the pump 12 is activated, and the hot water in the bathtub l passes through the mesh 47 from the return circulation port side of the second return branch pipe 10b, and then passes through the return pipe 10.
The hot water is drawn from the discharge side of the pump 12 through the reheating heat exchanger 42 and the outgoing pipe 5, and is discharged into the bathtub 1 from the cleaning nozzles 4a, 4b. After this hot water circulation has started, step 175
Then, the detected temperature of the hot water in the bathtub 1 detected by the temperature sensor 14 is compared with the temperature set by the reheating hot water temperature setting section 19 of the remote controller 24, and if the detected temperature is lower than the set temperature, reheating is performed. The burner combustion of the heat exchanger 42 is started to reheat the circulating hot water. During this reheating, the detected temperature is constantly compared with the set temperature, and reheating is continued until the detected temperature does not reach the set temperature.

Then, when the detected temperature reaches the set temperature, step 17
7, the pump 12 is stopped, and if reheating is in progress, burner combustion of the reheating heat exchanger 42 is further stopped. Next, in step 178, the cleaning nozzles 4a and 4b are closed, and the return pipe opening/closing valve 6b is also closed to complete the reheating operation.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and can take various embodiments. For example, in the above example,
Although the amount of water used to produce the minimum amount of cleaning liquid is detected using the flow rate detection signal from the flow rate sensor 11, it is also possible to use a signal from the pressure sensor 8 or the timer 30 to detect the amount of water. In this case, when the water amount is detected by the pressure sensor 8, the water pressure of the cleaning liquid stored at the bottom of the bathtub 1 is detected, and this detected water pressure is applied as a water amount detection signal to the signal input section 28 of the control device 23.

That is, when cleaning liquid is stored at the bottom of the bathtub 1 during cleaning, the detected water pressure increases as the amount of hot water mixed with the detergent increases. A set water pressure (actually a voltage value) corresponding to the minimum amount of cleaning fluid required to operate the pump 12 normally is given to the judgment/instruction unit 29 of the control device 23 in advance, and the detected water pressure is determined as the set water pressure. When this happens, the water pouring on/off valve 36 is closed assuming that the amount of cleaning liquid stored at the bottom of the bathtub 1 has reached the minimum required amount.

In addition, when detecting the amount of water using the timer 30, the timer 30 is operated from the time the hot water pouring on/off valve 36 is opened, and a time-up signal (water amount detection signal) output when a predetermined period of time has elapsed indicates that cleaning liquid is needed at the bottom of the bathtub. (Indirectly detects the amount of hot water that has been stored, assuming that only the minimum amount has been stored)
The molten metal pouring on/off valve 36 is controlled to be closed.

Further, in the above embodiment, the minimum amount of cleaning liquid necessary for normal operation of the pump 12 is stored at the bottom of the bathtub 1, but it may be stored in the first return branch pipe 10a.

Further, in the above embodiment, the cleaning nozzles 4a and 4b are configured as nozzles with a built-in valve mechanism, but they may be configured as normal nozzles without a valve mechanism.

In this case, for example, as shown by the chain line in FIG. 1, flow path switching valves 9a and 9b such as electromagnetic valves that switch the flow paths of the branch outgoing pipes 5a and 5b are provided to sequentially supply the cleaning liquid to the cleaning nozzles 4a and 4b. All you have to do is spray hot water.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the cleaning fluid and reheating circulation pipes and the inner wall surface of the bathtub are cleaned of dust by pouring hot water from the water supply means. good. However, if dust cleaning is performed with hot water as in this embodiment, the mesh 47 can be sterilized by passing hot water when cleaning the second return branch pipe 10b. It will be done. Further, in the above embodiment, the water supply means is constituted by the water heater 33, and this water heater and the reheating heat exchanger 42 function as an automatic bath pot, but the water heater 33 is omitted and the water supply pipe 22 is It may be directly connected to the hot water pouring on/off valve 36 to constitute a water supply means.

Further, in the above embodiment, the reheating heat exchanger 42 and the hot water supply heat exchanger 34 are configured with a gas combustion type heat source, but they can also be configured with an electric heater or an oil combustion type heat source.

〔Effect of the invention〕

When cleaning a bathtub, after draining the bathtub water and emptying the bathtub, water or hot water is passed through the circulation pipe to wash away dust adhering to the inside of the circulation pipe. Supplying water or hot water to the cleaning nozzle from the water supply means via the channel,
The structure is such that water or hot water is sprayed from the cleaning nozzle onto the inner wall of the bathtub to wash away hair and other dust adhering to the inner wall of the bathtub before cleaning the bathtub. It is possible to reliably prevent the problem that dust enters the circulation pipe and becomes entangled with equipment such as a water flow sensor provided in the circulation pipe, causing trouble. therefore,
It is no longer necessary to provide a mesh on the side of the return circulation port for cleaning liquid provided at the bottom of the bathtub, and as a result, it is possible to be freed from extremely difficult maintenance work such as replacing the mesh.

In addition, a mesh is provided on the return circulation port side of the second return branch pipe on the reheating circulation side, which is easy to maintain, so even if hair or other dust gets into the bathtub,
During reheating, the dust is removed by the mesh and does not enter the circulation pipe, and during reheating, the dust can also get caught in equipment such as water flow sensors in the circulation pipe and cause problems. It disappears. Moreover,
Dust attached to the mesh can be easily removed from the inside of the bathtub (
This makes dust removal work very easy.
Maintenance work such as mesh replacement is easy to perform and does not cause any inconvenience.

Furthermore, since the present invention sprays a heated cleaning liquid, the chemical cleaning ability of the detergent is enhanced, and the chemical cleaning power of the cleaning liquid and the impact force of the jet can cleanly remove stains from the inner wall surface of the bathtub. Furthermore, since the cleaning liquid is repeatedly sprayed in circulation, there is no wastage when using the detergent, making it very economical.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the bathtub cleaning device according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a control device constituting the device of the embodiment, and Fig. 3 is a configuration diagram of the same embodiment. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the structure of the mesh installed on the return circulation port side, and FIG. FIG. 1... Bathtub, 2... Drain pipe, 3... Drain valve, 4a
, 4b...Washing nozzle, 5... Outgoing pipe, 5a, 5b.
... Branch outgoing pipe, 6a, 6b... Return pipe opening/closing valve, 7a,
7b...Metal fittings, 8...Pressure sensor, 9a, 9b...
・Flow path switching valve, 10... Return pipe, 10a... First return branch pipe, 10b... Second return branch pipe, 11
. . . Flow rate sensor, 12 . . . Pump, 13 .
... ball pulp, 19 ... reheating water temperature setting section,
20a. 20b...Packing, 21...Nozzle passage, 22.
... Water supply pipe, 23 ... Control device, 24 ... Remote control, 25 ... Injection hole, 26 ... Fully automatic button, 27-
...Hot water filling water level setting section, 28...Signal input section, 29.
... Judgment/instruction section, 30... Timer, 31... Arithmetic section, 32... Memory, 33... Water heater, 34...
Hot water heat exchanger, 35... Rotating shaft, 36... Hot water pouring on/off valve, 37... Hot water temperature sensor, 38... Water supply temperature sensor, 39... Motor, 41... Cleaning unit, 4
2... Reheating heat exchanger, 43... Mounting hole, 4
4... Cap, 45... Case cap, 46... Packing, 47... Mesh, 48... Inflow tube section.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A cleaning nozzle that sprays a detergent-containing cleaning liquid onto the inner wall of the bathtub, a circulation pipe that incorporates a pump and a heater that circulates the cleaning liquid from the bottom of the bathtub to the cleaning nozzle, and this circulation pipe. A water supply means for supplying water or hot water to the bathtub, and a drainage means for hot water from the bathtub are provided, and when cleaning the bathtub, after draining the remaining hot water in the bathtub and emptying the bathtub, water or hot water is circulated from the water supply means through a circulation pipe. At the same time, water or hot water from the water supply means is sprayed from a cleaning nozzle through the circulation pipe onto the inner wall of the bathtub to wash away dust adhering to the inner wall of the bathtub. , Then, while heating the cleaning liquid to a predetermined temperature with a heater, it is circulated and sprayed onto the inner wall of the bathtub from a cleaning nozzle through a circulation pipe to remove dirt from the inner wall of the bathtub,
Next, a method of cleaning a bathtub in which water or hot water supplied from a water supply means is sprayed from a cleaning nozzle onto the inner wall surface of the bathtub via a circulation pipe to wash away the cleaning liquid adhering to the inner wall surface of the bathtub. (2) A cleaning nozzle that sprays a detergent-containing cleaning liquid onto the inner wall of the bathtub, a circulation pipe that incorporates a pump and a heater that circulates the cleaning liquid from the bottom of the bathtub to the cleaning nozzle, and this circulation pipe. a water supply means for supplying water or hot water to a bathtub, a drainage means for hot water in a bathtub, and a means for passing water or hot water from the water supply means to a circulation pipe at the start of washing the bathtub, and at the same time supplying the water or hot water through the circulation pipe. and a control device that sprays dust from a cleaning nozzle onto the inner wall of the bathtub to wash away dust from inside the circulation pipe and the inner wall of the bathtub, and controls the washing operation according to a program, and the return side of the circulation pipe has a return pipe opening/closing valve. A first return branch pipe for circulating cleaning liquid is provided and connected to the bottom of the bathtub, and a second return branch pipe for reheating hot water circulation is connected to the wall of the bathtub. A bathtub cleaning device in which the first return branch pipe is an open pipe without a dust removal mesh, and the second return branch pipe is provided with a dust removal mesh on the return circulation port side.