JPH04265321A - Water supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent water from being discharged from a water supply pipe line even if a detection means detects an object or a living thing other than the operator. CONSTITUTION:A water supply device is constituted of a water supply pipe line from which water is discharged, an electromagnetic stop valve 24 opening and closing the water supply pipe line and a plurality of the first and second infrared-ray sensors 71 and 72 for detecting an object. A stop valve controlling circuit 7 for controlling the stop valve 24 in accordance with the output of the first and second infrared-ray sensors 71 and 72 is provided, and the stop valve 24 is opened only when both of the first and second infrared-ray sensors 71 and 72 detect the object.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a water supply device for discharging hot water or water.

0002

[Prior Art] Conventionally, in water supply devices, especially instantaneous water heaters, for example, one infrared sensor is attached to an arbitrary part of the water heater body or hot water outlet pipe, and when the infrared sensor detects a user, hot water is supplied. After opening the electromagnetic water stop valve installed in the pipe and detecting that water has flowed into the hot water pipe with the water flow switch, the heat source is activated to heat the water flowing in the hot water pipe and close the hot water outlet pipe. A device that discharges hot water (prior art) is known.

0003

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the prior art, when an instantaneous water heater is not in use and a living thing such as a cockroach or a mouse crosses the infrared sensor, or if the hot water outlet pipe is swung, the infrared sensor cannot be detected. If the infrared sensor points the attached point at an object such as a wall, there is a possibility that the infrared sensor will detect the creature or object and cause the electromagnetic water shutoff valve to open. As described above, since the instantaneous water heater is operated erroneously, there is a problem in that water or hot water continues to be discharged from the hot water outlet pipe of the instantaneous water heater.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a water supply device in which water is not discharged from a water supply pipe even if the detection means detects an object to be detected, such as a creature or an object other than the user.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention has a water supply pipe through which water is discharged, an on-off valve that opens and closes this water supply pipe, and a plurality of detection means for detecting objects to be detected. A technical means including a control means for opening the on-off valve only when at least two of the detection means detect the object to be detected is employed.

[0006]

[Operation] The present invention provides at least two of the plurality of detection means.
Since the on-off valve is opened only when the detecting means detects an object, water will not be discharged from the water supply pipe even if one detecting means detects the object.

[0007]

Effects of the Invention According to the present invention, even if one detection means detects an object to be detected such as a creature or an object other than the user, as long as at least two detection means do not detect the object, the water supply pipe Water can be prevented from being discharged from the

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The water supply device of the present invention will be explained based on an embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 6. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a control device for an instantaneous water heater, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are diagrams showing a schematic structure of the instantaneous water heater.

The instantaneous water heater 1 is a water supply device of the present invention, which includes a water supply pipe 2 for discharging hot water or water, and a gas pipe for supplying fuel gas to a gas burner 31 provided in the water heater body 3. 4, and a control device 5 for the instantaneous water heater 1.

The water supply pipe 2 is composed of a water supply pipe 21, a heat absorption pipe 22, and a hot water outlet pipe 23. In the water supply pipe 21,
An electromagnetic water stop valve 24, a water governor valve 25, and a water amount adjustment valve 26 are provided. The water stop valve 24 is an on-off valve of the present invention, and opens when energized (turned on) and stops when energized (turned on).
When the valve is turned off), the valve is closed and the water supply pipe 21 is opened and closed. The water governor valve 25 keeps the amount of water constant. The water amount adjustment valve 26 changes the amount of water by controlling the degree of opening of the water supply pipe 21 by turning a temperature control knob (see FIG. 3) 61, particularly in a high temperature range.

The heat absorption pipe 22 is arranged above the gas burner 31, and heats the water by exchanging heat between the water flowing therein and the combustion heat generated by the gas burner 31. The hot water outlet pipe 23 is formed of a flexible pipe and discharges hot water or water from a discharge port. A shower head 27 is fitted to the tip of the hot water outlet pipe 23. This shower head 27 switches the discharge flow discharged from the shower head 27 between a shower-like discharge flow and a straight-like discharge flow by switching a changeover switch (not visible in FIG. 2).

The gas pipe 4 includes an electromagnetic safety valve 41, a water pressure responsive valve 42, a gas governor valve 43, and a gas amount adjustment valve 4.
4 are provided. The safety valve 41 opens when turned on and closes when turned off. The water pressure responsive valve 42 is formed integrally with the water governor valve 25 and opens in conjunction with the detection of water flow. The gas governor valve 43 keeps the gas pressure on the secondary side constant. The gas amount adjustment valve 44 is connected to the temperature control knob 61, and changes the gas amount by controlling the degree of opening of the gas pipe 4 by rotating the temperature control knob 61, especially in a low temperature range. .

The control device 5 is a control means of the present invention, and is provided within the water heater body 3. As shown in FIG. 1, the control device 5 includes a combustion control circuit 6, a water stop valve control circuit 7, a power supply circuit 51, a hot water selector switch 52, and a water flow switch 53. The power supply circuit 51 is composed of a dry battery or the like, and supplies power to the combustion control circuit 6 and the water stop valve control circuit 7.

The hot water selector switch 52 is a switch for switching between hot water mode and cold water mode, and is connected in series between the combustion control circuit 6 and the water stop valve control circuit 7. This hot water selector switch 52 is closed when the hot water mode is selected by the user, and opened when the water mode is selected.

The water flow switch 53 is connected in series between the combustion control circuit 6 and the hot water selector switch 52. The water flow switch 53 is a switch that is closed when the water pressure responsive valve 42 detects a water flow and opens, and is opened when the water pressure responsive valve 42 is closed. Note that the hot water selector switch 52 and the water flow switch 53 are connected to the power supply circuit 51 and the combustion control circuit 6.
They may be connected in series.

The combustion control circuit 6 includes a temperature control knob (see FIG. 3) 61, a sparker 62, a flame rod 63, and a thermocouple 64. The temperature control knob 61 has a variable resistor 65 whose electrical resistance value is varied according to the rotation angle of the temperature control knob 61, and the water flow control valve 26 and the gas flow control valve are controlled according to the output of the variable resistor 65. 44 is controlled.

The sparker 62 ignites the mixture of fuel gas and combustion air flowing out from the gas burner 31.

The flame rod 63 is used to detect the presence or absence of combustion flame in the gas burner 31. The thermocouple 64 detects whether abnormal combustion such as extinction or oxygen deficiency is occurring, and the detection is switched from detection by the flame rod 63 to detection by the thermocouple 64 when a predetermined period of time has elapsed after ignition. .

The water stop valve control circuit 7 has first and second infrared sensors 71 and 72 which are reflective photoelectric switches, and an output holding circuit 73 that holds the outputs of the infrared sensors 71 and 72, and an output holding circuit 73 that holds the outputs of the infrared sensors 71 and 72. A water stop valve drive circuit 74 is built in to open and close the water stop valve 24 according to the output of the holding circuit 73.

The first infrared sensor 71 is a detection means of the present invention, and as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, it is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the shower head 27 and is composed of a light emitting element 75 and a light receiving element 76. There is. The light emitting element 75 is made of, for example, an infrared light emitting diode, and emits infrared light forward. The light receiving element 76 is made of, for example, a phototransistor or the like, and detects infrared rays reflected by an object to be detected, such as a user's hand, that has entered a small detection range of, for example, 3 cm to 5 cm.

The second infrared sensor 72 is a detection means of the present invention, and as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, it is attached to the front surface of the water heater body 3 and is composed of a light emitting element 77 and a light receiving element 78. ing. The light emitting element 77 is made of, for example, an infrared light emitting diode, and emits infrared light forward. The light-receiving element 78 is made of, for example, a phototransistor, and detects infrared rays reflected by an object to be detected, such as a user, within a large detection range of, for example, 50 cm to 100 cm.

The output holding circuit 73 includes light receiving elements 76 and 78.
When both of the light receiving elements 76 and 78 detect infrared rays, the output becomes high level (H level), and when both light receiving elements 76 and 78 detect infrared rays again, the output becomes low level (L level). The water stop valve drive circuit 74 opens the water stop valve 24 when the input is at the H level, and closes the water stop valve 24 when the input is at the L level.

FIGS. 4 to 6 are flowcharts showing an example of the operation of the control device 5. This flowchart starts its operation when a power switch (not shown) is turned on. First, as shown in FIG. 4, it is determined whether the light receiving element 76 of the first infrared sensor 71 is detecting infrared light (
Step S1). When infrared rays are not detected (N), control in step S1 is performed.

In step S1, when infrared rays are being detected (Y), it is determined whether infrared rays are being detected by the light receiving element 78 of the second infrared sensor 72 (step S2).
). When infrared rays are not detected (N), control in step S1 is performed.

[0025] In step S2, when infrared rays are detected (Y), the water stop valve 24 is turned on (step S3).
. Then, it is determined whether the water flow switch 53 is on, that is, whether the water pressure responsive valve 42 is open (step S4). When the water pressure responsive valve 42 is not opened (N), control in step S4 is performed.

In step S4, when the water pressure responsive valve 42 is open (Y), it is determined whether the hot water selector switch 52 is on, that is, whether the hot water mode has been selected with the hot water selector switch 52 (step S4). S5). When hot water mode is not selected (N), control in step S5 is performed.

In step S5, when the hot water mode is selected (Y), the sparker 62 is turned on (step S5).
6) Turn on the safety valve 41 (step S7). Then, it is determined whether ignition is detected by the flame rod 63 (step S8). Ignition not detected (N)
, it is determined whether a predetermined time has elapsed (step S9). When the predetermined time has not elapsed (N), the control in step S8 is performed, and when the predetermined time has elapsed (Y), the safety valve 41 is turned off (step S10).

Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the sparker 18
is turned off (step S11), and it is determined whether infrared rays are detected by the light receiving element 76 of the first infrared sensor 71 (step S12). When infrared rays are not detected (N), control in step S12 is performed.

In step S12, when infrared rays are being detected (Y), the light receiving element 78 of the second infrared sensor 72
to determine whether infrared rays are detected (step S
13). When infrared rays are being detected (Y), the water stop valve 24 is turned off (step S14), and when infrared rays are not being detected (
N), the control in step S12 is performed.

In step S8 shown in FIG. 4, when ignition is detected (Y), the sparker 62 is turned off (step S15) and the first infrared sensor 7 is turned off, as shown in FIG.
It is determined whether infrared rays are detected by the first light receiving element 76 (step S16).

In step S16, when infrared rays are being detected (N), the light receiving element 78 of the second infrared sensor 72
to determine whether infrared rays are detected (step S
17). When infrared rays are detected (Y), the water stop valve 24 is turned off (step S18), and it is determined whether the water flow switch 53 is turned off, that is, whether the water pressure responsive valve 42 is closed (step S19). . When the hydraulically responsive valve 42 is not closed (N), the control in step S19 is performed, and when the hydraulically responsive valve 42 is closed (Y), the safety valve 41 is turned off (step S20) and the process returns.

In step S16 and step S17, when infrared rays are not detected (N), it is determined whether abnormal combustion is detected by the thermocouple 64 (step S17).
21). When abnormal combustion is detected (Y), safety valve 41
is turned off (step S22), and the control in step S12 is performed.

In step S21, when abnormal combustion is not detected (N), whether the hot water selector switch 52 is on or not.
That is, it is determined whether the hot water mode has been selected with the hot water changeover switch 52 (step S23). When the hot water mode is selected (Y), perform the control in step S16,
When hot water mode is not selected (N), step S22
control.

The operation of the instantaneous water heater 1 used in this embodiment will be explained based on FIGS. 1 to 3. For example, if a living thing such as a cockroach or a mouse crosses in front of the first infrared sensor 71, or if the shower head 27 to which the first infrared sensor 71 is attached is pointed at an object such as a wall, or if a child moves the shower head 27. In case of mischief, infrared rays emitted from the light emitting element 75 of the first infrared sensor 71 are reflected by the objects to be detected and are received by the light receiving element 76.

However, since the light receiving element 78 of the second infrared sensor 72 does not receive the infrared rays emitted from the light emitting element 77, the output of the output holding circuit 73 remains at the L level. Therefore, the water stop valve 24 continues to be kept closed, and the instantaneous water heater 1 continues to be in a standby state. Therefore, since hot water or water does not continue to be discharged from the shower head 27, the safety and economical efficiency of the instantaneous water heater 1 can be significantly improved.

[0036] When using the instantaneous water heater 1,
When the user stands in front of the water heater main body 3, infrared light emitted from the light emitting element 77 of the second infrared sensor 72 is reflected by the user's body and is received by the light receiving element 78. When the user brings his or her hand close to the front of the first infrared sensor 71, the infrared light emitted from the light emitting element 75 is reflected by the user's hand and is received by the light receiving element 76. For this reason, 2
Since the two light receiving elements 76 and 78 are both turned on, the output of the output holding circuit 73 becomes high level, and the water stop valve 24 is turned on by the water stop valve drive circuit 74, and the shower head 27 is turned on.
Water is discharged from.

[0037] Therefore, a water flow is generated in the water supply pipe 2, so that the water pressure responsive valve 42 and the water flow switch 53 are activated. Then, when the hot water selector switch 52 is switched to the hot water mode, the gas burner 31 is ignited by the combustion control circuit 6, and hot water is discharged from the shower head 27 of the hot water outlet pipe 23.

(Modification) In this embodiment, the gas burner 31 was used as the heat source, but a burner that burns liquid fuel may be used as the heat source, or a PTC heater or an electric heater made of a metal resistor may be used. good.

As the detection means, in addition to the present embodiment, a non-contact type sensor such as a transmission type photoelectric switch, a proximity switch, or an ultrasonic sensor, or a contact type sensor such as a touch switch may be used. Furthermore, an optical fiber type photoelectric switch that is a combination of a photoelectric switch and an optical fiber may be used.

In this embodiment, two first and second infrared sensors 71 and 72 are used, but three or more detection means are provided, and when at least two detection means detect an object, the valve is opened and closed. The valve may be opened.

In this embodiment, when both the first and second infrared sensors 71 and 72 detect the object again, the opening/closing valve is closed.
The on-off valve may be closed when the infrared ray 71 detects the object again.

In this embodiment, the first infrared sensor 71 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the shower head 27, and the second infrared sensor 72 is attached to the water heater body 3, but all of the plurality of detection means include the shower head 27. It may be attached to any arbitrary position on the hot water outlet pipe 23 or the water heater body 3. For example, first and second infrared sensors 71 and 7 may be installed on the front and back of the shower head 27.
2 may be installed, and the first,
Second infrared sensors 71 and 72 may be attached.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a control device for an instantaneous water heater.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing the overall structure of an instantaneous water heater.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the overall structure of the instantaneous water heater.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the instantaneous water heater control device.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the instantaneous water heater control device.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the instantaneous water heater control device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Instant water heater (water supply device) 2 Water supply pipeline 5 Control device (control means) 24 Water stop valve (open/close valve)

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim 1: (a) a water supply pipe through which water is discharged;
b) an on-off valve that opens and closes this water supply pipe; and (c) a plurality of detection means that detect an object to be detected, and the opening/closing is performed only when at least two of these detection means detect the object to be detected. A water supply device comprising a control means for opening a valve.