JPH04289335A - Freezing-proof type of feed hot-water piping - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent water in pipings from being frozen by draining water automatically from the pipings inside and outside the building, when water in a water feeding system having a water take-in pipe and hot-water feeding pipes laid in ceiling sections in the building and a hot water feeder installed outside the building is cooled to a temperature below or a set temperature, in a very cold district, and when service interruption occurs. CONSTITUTION:Pipings 5, 6 in ceiling sections in the building, and pipings 7, 9 in a hot water feeder 4, are jointed to each other on the upper sections 7a, 9a of the hot water feeder 4, and the highest sections of the pipings 5, 6 in the ceiling sections are provided with a curb stop 10 and automatic air feeding valves 11, 12, and the lowest section of a water take-in pipe 7 in the hot water feeder 4 is provided with a drain cock 13. The curb stop 10 and the drain cock 13 are of spring return motor valves, and in the hot water feeder 4, a thermistor 14 and a controller 15 are arranged. Besides, in the building, a remote controller with a reset switch is set. With it, a water temperature below a set temperature in a very cold district, and freezing at the time of service interruption, can be prevented from being generated.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an apparatus in which a water supply pipe and a hot water supply pipe are installed in an indoor ceiling part and a water heater is installed outdoors.
This invention relates to a freezing prevention system for hot water supply piping that automatically prevents indoor and outdoor piping from freezing during severe cold weather or power outages.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in relatively warm regions, a water heater 4 is installed outdoors 1 such as a balcony, and a part of the water supply pipe 7 connected to the water heater 4 and the hot water supply tube 9
In many cases, the pipes were exposed, and the water supply pipes 5 and hot water pipes 6 in the interior 2 were installed under the floor pipes. The outdoor water heater 4 is connected to a built-in electric heater (not shown), and the exposed pipes 7 and 9 are connected to tape-shaped electric heaters and heat insulators 30 and 3.
No. 1 was used to prevent freezing, and in most cases no drain valve was provided. On the other hand, in extremely cold regions like Hokkaido, the freezing prevention measures described above are insufficient, and as shown in Figure 6.
As shown, the water heater 4 is required to be installed indoors 2, and the water supply pipe 5 and hot water supply pipe 6 are often installed in the ceiling for convenient drainage, and the drain plug 32 is also installed indoors. It was set up in

0003

In the above-mentioned prior art, since the former has under-floor piping, it is not possible to raise and cover only the piping portion with a decorative board or the like, so the entire floor had to be raised. Also, in order to drain water, drain plugs must be installed in parts (a) and (b) of the same diagram, and the pipes must be sloped, so the floor should be raised in this case as well. There was a need. As described above, underfloor piping has the disadvantage that the room space is necessarily narrow because the floor is raised, and it is particularly unsuitable for apartment complexes. If the outside temperature drops extremely, there is a risk that the outdoor water heater 1 and the exposed pipes 7 and 9 may freeze and break. In addition, in the latter case, the water heater 4 is installed indoors 2, and the water supply pipes 5 and 6 are piped to the ceiling, so there is no disadvantage of raising the floor like underfloor piping, but there are restrictions on installation space. ,noise,
There is a risk of gas poisoning or oxygen deficiency, especially
Forced exhaust water heaters have the drawbacks of reduced indoor oxygen concentration, and forced exhaust water heaters have the disadvantages of construction constraints due to double pipes and high total cost.

0004

[Means for Solving the Problems] In view of the above-mentioned state of the prior art, the present invention automatically drains water from indoor and outdoor pipes when the water temperature falls below a set temperature or in the event of a power outage. This system provides a freezing prevention system for hot water supply pipes that prevents freezing and can be reset after water is drained.The system consists of a water supply pipe and a hot water supply pipe that are connected to the indoor ceiling, respectively, and a pipe that connects the inner bottom from the top. A water heater is installed outdoors, in which a water supply pipe is piped to a heat exchanger through the heat exchanger, and a hot water pipe is piped from the heat exchanger to the upper part of the water heater. A water stop valve and an automatic intake valve are installed at the top of the water supply pipe and the hot water supply pipe in the ceiling, respectively, and a drain valve is installed at the bottom of the water supply pipe inside the water heater. Temperature detection means are provided inside the pipes, and the water supply pipes and hot water supply pipes in the water heater are further protected with antifreeze heaters or other heat insulating materials.

[0005] The water stop valve and the drain valve are spring return electric valves or electromagnetic valves, and the water heater inputs a signal from the temperature detection means to operate the water stop valve and the water drain valve. It is equipped with a control means for controlling opening and closing, and allows water to be drained from indoor and outdoor piping at temperatures below a set temperature. Furthermore, a remote control device with a reset switch is provided indoors, and the control means inputs a signal from the remote control device to control opening and closing of the water stop valve and drain valve, so that the water can be reused after draining. This made it possible.

[0006]

[Operation] Normally, the water supply pipes and hot water pipes inside the water heater are protected by anti-freezing heaters or other heat insulating materials and do not freeze, but the water temperature in the water supply pipes inside the water heater is below the set temperature. , the temperature detection means detects the water temperature of the water supply pipe and outputs the signal, and the control means inputs the signal from the temperature detection means to control the water stop valve, which is a spring return electric valve or a solenoid valve. At the same time, the water drain valve consisting of a spring return electric valve or solenoid valve is opened, and air is introduced from the automatic intake valve to drain water from the water supply pipes and hot water pipes in the water heater. Freezing is prevented. Further, in the event of a power outage, the stop valve is automatically closed and the drain valve is automatically opened to drain water.

[0007] After the water has been drained as described above,
When the reset switch of the indoor remote control device is operated to send a signal to the control means, the control means inputs the signal, opens the water stop valve, closes the water drain valve at the same time, and releases the water drain state. Water supply and hot water supply will be carried out again.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the freezing prevention system for hot water supply piping according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram, in which 1 is outdoor, 2 is indoor, and 3 is a pipe shaft. A water heater 4 is installed outdoors 1,
A water supply pipe 5 and a hot water supply pipe 6 are installed in the ceiling of the indoor room 2. The water supply pipe 5 is connected to a water supply pipe 3a inside the pipe shaft 3, and the water supply pipe 3a is provided with a source water drain plug 3b. Inside the water heater 4, a water supply pipe 7 descends from the top of the water heater 4 and is piped to a heat exchanger 8 through the inner bottom, and a water supply pipe 9 is further piped from the heat exchanger 8 to the top of the water heater 4. ing. The water supply pipe 5 in the ceiling part is connected to the upper part 7 of the water supply pipe 7.
In addition, the hot water supply pipe 6 in the ceiling portion is connected to the upper part 9a of the hot water supply pipe 9. In this way, since it is a ceiling piping, there is no need to raise the floor unlike under-floor piping, so it is suitable for installing a water heater in an apartment complex.

[0009] A water stop valve 1 is installed at the top of the water supply pipe 5 in the ceiling.
0 and an automatic intake valve 11 are provided, and an automatic intake valve 12 is provided at the top of the hot water pipe 6. Further, a drain plug 13 is provided at the lowest part of the water supply pipe 7 in the water heater 4. As both the water stop valve 10 and the drain valve 13, small spring return electric valves are used. This is a spring return type motor-driven actuator, and when there is a power outage or no electricity, the water stop valve 10 is automatically closed and the water drain valve 13 is opened, so that the opening and closing of both valves operate in opposite directions. It is manufactured. The water stop valve 10 and drain valve 13 using this spring return electric valve can be opened and closed by direct manual operation. Note that a solenoid valve can be used instead of the spring return electric valve, but in this case, direct manual operation is not possible, so it is always in an ON state when energized.

[0010] The water supply pipe 7 and the hot water supply pipe 9 in the water heater 4 are protected by an antifreeze heater (not shown) or other heat insulating material (not shown) installed in the water heater 4. The water supply pipe 7 is provided with a thermistor 14 as a temperature detection means and a controller 15 as a control means, and the indoor unit 2 is provided with a remote control device 16 with a reset switch 16a and a hot water tap 17. Further, an intake valve 18 is provided in the water supply pipe 5 upstream of the water stop valve 10. The controller 15 includes a remote control operation section A,
It is equipped with a temperature comparison section, a timer B (see FIG. 3), etc., and is electrically connected to the drain valve 13 and thermistor 14 in the water heater 4, and is electrically connected to the water stop valve 10 in the indoor unit 2 and the remote control device 16. connected.

Next, the water draining control means of the controller 15 and remote control device 16 will be explained. FIG. 2 is a drain control circuit diagram of the controller 15 and the remote control device 16. In the figure, A is the remote control operation part of the controller 15, which normally outputs (1) and when the drain switch is turned on (0). ) is output. B is a temperature comparison section which outputs (0) if the temperature is below the set temperature, and outputs (1) if the temperature is above the set temperature. C is a reset switch 16a of the remote control device 16, and switch O
Outputs (0) at N. Normally, both remote control operation section A and temperature comparison section B output (1), and RY1
(Relay 1) is turned OFF, the water stop valve 10 and the water drain valve 13 are turned off.
And 100V is applied to an antifreeze heater 20, which will be described later. (Water flow condition). Remote control operation part A or temperature comparison part B
If either outputs (0), RY1 (Relay 1
) is turned on and power to the system is turned off. (Drained state). Turn on reset switch C (16a)
If it is, it outputs (0), part a becomes (1), and part b becomes (0), which means water is flowing. Even after the reset switch C is turned off, part a remains at (1) for a certain period of time until the electrolytic capacitor is charged, and maintains the water flowing state. After the time is up, depending on the output of the temperature comparator B, the water supply state or water drain state is established.

FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram of the freeze prevention system constructed as described above. In the figure, RY1 (relay 1) is a normally closed relay of the controller 15. 20 is an antifreeze heater, 21 is a thermostat that operates at 4 degrees Celsius or lower, and 10 and 13 are a water stop valve and a drain valve, respectively. Since the relay 19 is normally closed, the antifreeze heater 20, water stop valve 10, and drain valve 13 are energized unless there is a particular ON signal. When the temperature drops below 4 degrees Celsius, thermostat 2
1 is activated, the antifreeze heater 20 heats the water supply pipe 7 and the hot water supply pipe 9 in the water heater 4 to prevent freezing. RY1 is ON
Then, the electricity to the antifreeze heater 20, the drive motor of the water stop valve 10, and the drive motor of the drain valve 13 is turned off.

FIG. 4 is an operational flowchart of the freeze prevention system configured as described above, and the operation of the freeze prevention system will be explained based on this flowchart. When the temperature detected by the thermistor 14 is normal (water temperature of 3 degrees Celsius or higher), the motor of the water stop valve 10 is driven to open the water stop valve 10 and the water drain valve 1 is opened.
The motor No. 3 is driven to close the valve and allow water to flow. or,
When the temperature detected by the thermistor 14 is low (water temperature of 3 degrees Celsius or less), the spring of the water stop valve 10 is first driven to close the water stop valve, and then the spring of the drain valve 13 is driven to open the water valve. Air is introduced from the automatic intake valve 11 and the automatic intake valve 12, and water is drained from a portion of the water supply pipe 5 and hot water supply pipe 6 in the ceiling area and from the water supply pipe 7 and hot water supply pipe 9 in the water heater 4. To restart hot water after draining water, press the reset switch 16a of the remote control device 16, the timer starts as described above, the motors of both the water shutoff valve 10 and the water drain valve 13 are driven, and the water draining state is canceled. Water is now flowing.

As explained above, in this embodiment, water can be automatically drained by a detection signal from the thermistor 14 or a power outage, and hot water can be re-discharged by a forced signal from the reset switch 16a of the remote control device 16. Therefore, if the limit temperature for draining water is set in advance in the controller 15, freezing of the pipes when the water temperature drops is automatically prevented. Furthermore, water is automatically drained during a power outage or when there is no electricity, so if you are going to be away for a long time, for example, if you turn off the breaker, the water will be drained during that time, eliminating the worry of piping freezing. In the above embodiment, the limit temperature for draining water is set to 3 degrees Celsius or less, but the limit temperature for draining water is not limited to that, and may be changed as appropriate depending on the climate of the region where it is used, the structure of the water heater, etc. It is something.

[0015]

Effects of the Invention As described in detail above, the freezing prevention system for hot water supply piping according to the present invention is applicable to water heaters in which the water supply pipes, etc. are piped to the indoor ceiling, and the water supply pipes are piped from the top to the inner bottom and further to the top. is installed outdoors, both pipes are joined at the top of the water heater, and a stop valve and automatic intake valve are installed at the top of the pipe in the ceiling area, and a drain valve is installed at the bottom of the water supply pipe inside the water heater. The stop valve and drain valve are configured with spring return electric valves or solenoid valves, the water heater is equipped with temperature detection means and control means, and a remote control device with a reset switch is installed indoors. Because of this, when the water temperature falls below the set temperature or in the event of a power outage, water is automatically drained from indoor and outdoor pipes to prevent those pipes from freezing, allowing users to use the pipes with peace of mind. Therefore, it is suitable for installing and using water heaters in houses, especially apartment buildings, in extremely cold regions, and has great practical value.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of an embodiment of a freezing prevention system for hot water supply piping according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a drain control circuit diagram of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an operational flowchart of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of conventional water heater installation in a warm region.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of conventional water heater installation in a severely cold region.

[Explanation of symbols]

1.Outdoor, 2.Indoor, 3.Pipe shaft, 4.
・Water heater, 5, 7... Water supply pipe, 6, 9... Hot water supply pipe, 7a
, 9a... Upper part, 8... Heat exchanger, 10... Water stop valve, 1
1, 12...Automatic intake valve, 13...Drain plug, 14...
Thermistor, 15...Controller, 16...Remote control device, 16a...Reset switch, 1
7. Hot water tap, 18. Intake valve, 20. Antifreeze heater, 21. Thermostat. A...Remote control unit,
B. Temperature comparison section and timer, C. Reset switch 16a.

Claims (3)

[Claims] [Claim 1] A water supply pipe and a hot water supply pipe are respectively piped to an indoor ceiling part, and a water supply pipe is piped from the top to a heat exchanger via the inner bottom, and a hot water pipe is further piped from the heat exchanger to the top. A water heater made of In addition to providing a water faucet and an automatic intake valve, a drain valve is installed at the bottom of the water supply pipe in the water heater, a temperature detection means is installed in each of the water supply pipes, and the water supply pipe and hot water supply pipe in the water heater are equipped with an antifreeze heater. A freezing prevention system for hot water supply piping, characterized in that it is protected by a heat insulator or other heat insulating material. 2. The water stop valve and the drain valve are spring return electric valves or electromagnetic valves, and the water heater inputs a signal from the temperature detection means to close the water stop valve and the water drain valve. 2. The freezing prevention system for hot water supply piping according to claim 1, further comprising a control means for controlling opening and closing, and capable of draining water from indoor and outdoor piping at a temperature below a set temperature. 3. A remote control device with a reset switch is provided indoors, and the control means inputs a signal from the remote control device to control opening and closing of the water stop valve and water drain valve, and The freezing prevention system for hot water supply piping according to claim 1 or 2, which is reusable.