JPH0467100B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Application] The present invention relates to a water heater with a hot water filling device, particularly a water heater of a type that can automatically store a certain amount of hot water in a bathtub by remote control. The drain plug of the bathtub is left open, or
In order to prevent the inconvenience of filling hot water with the tap incompletely closed, the system detects the accumulating speed during automatic hot water filling and stops hot water supply if it is slower than normal automatic hot water filling. The system also provides a warning.

[Prior art and its problems] Recently, water heaters with an automatic hot water filling function have become popular, and the configuration generally shown in FIG. 6 is adopted.

In this device, a heated circuit 10 via a heat exchanger 1 is branched into a normal hot water supply circuit 11 and a hot water filling circuit 12 for bathtub B, and a hot water filling valve 13 is inserted into the hot water filling circuit 12. The hot water filling valve 13 is controlled by the output of a water level switch 2 that detects the water level of the hot water stored in the bathtub B.

Therefore, when the hot water filling valve 13 is opened by the hot water filling operation and the heated circuit 10 is communicated with the bathtub B via the hot water filling circuit 12, hot water from the water heater flows into the bathtub B.
is stored in When the amount of hot water stored in the bathtub B reaches the final set amount, the water level switch 2 detects the corresponding water level, and the output at this time automatically closes the hot water filling valve 13 and fills the hot water. Operation stops.

That is, when the amount of hot water stored in the bathtub B reaches a certain level, hot water supply is automatically stopped and the filling of the bathtub B with hot water automatically proceeds.

However, in this conventional type, when the drain plug 14 in the bathtub B is filled with hot water with the drain plug 14 left open, almost no hot water is stored in the bathtub B, and the hot water is discharged from the drain plug 14. A situation may arise in which the hot water filling operation continues as it is, and the hot water filling operation does not stop.

Further, if hot water is filled with the drain plug 14 incompletely closed, it takes a long time to fill the bathtub, and the hot water in the bathtub B is inconveniently drained after the bathtub B is filled.

This is because the judgment of the closed state of the drain plug 14 is left to humans, and it is not possible to judge whether the drain plug 14 is left open or incompletely closed.

[Technical Problem] The present invention is such that the final hot water amount detection means detects when the hot water filling operation progresses and the amount of hot water stored in the bathtub B reaches the final set amount. In a water heater equipped with a hot water filling device that automatically stops the hot water filling operation based on the detection output at this time, if the drain tap 14 is left open or incompletely closed, hot water is filled. The technical problem is to be able to detect whether or not the hot water storage rate is appropriate at the initial stage of filling hot water in order to be able to stop the filling operation when the hot water filling operation progresses.

*Regarding the invention of the first claim [Technical means] The technical means of the invention of the first claim taken to solve the above technical problem is as follows: The hot water is brought into the output state by the hot water filling operation and the set time is set. The timer 21 is set to be much shorter than the time required to complete the filling of hot water in normal operation, and the timer 21 detects the initial water level to be stored in the bathtub B within the set time of the timer 21, and an initial water level detection means that becomes an output state at the water level; and the timer 21.
and an OR output circuit 20 as an initial water level detection means, and the output of the OR output circuit 20 maintains the hot water filling valve 13 in an open state.
The set water level of the initial water level detection means is set to the initial water level during normal operation. (See Figure 1) [Function] The above technical means of the present invention works as follows.

Due to the hot water filling operation, the timer 21 goes into the output state, so the hot water filling valve 13 goes into the open state due to the output from the OR output circuit 20, and hot water starts to be supplied to the bathtub B via the hot water filling circuit 12. be done. During the set time of this timer 21, the hot water filling operation continues according to the output of this timer 21.

Since the initial water level is set in advance to a predetermined water level, if the drain valve 14 is completely closed, the hot water storage water level will reach the predetermined initial water level within the set time, and the initial water level will be detected within this time. The means enters the output state. Therefore, thereafter, the hot water filling valve 13 is maintained in the open state by the output of the OR output circuit 20 corresponding to the output of this initial water level detection means, and the hot water filling operation continues. When the final hot water storage amount is reached, the final hot water storage amount detection means detects this, and the hot water filling valve 13 is automatically closed based on the output at this time.

Next, if the drain plug 14 is open or if the drain plug 14 is incompletely closed,
The stored hot water level in the bathtub B does not reach the initial water level within the time set by the timer 21. Therefore, when the set time of the timer 21 has elapsed, there is no output from the OR output circuit 20, and the hot water filling valve 13 is not maintained in the open state. That is, the hot water filling valve 13 is closed and hot water filling is stopped.

[Effects] Since the present invention has the above configuration, it has the following unique effects.

When the drain plug 14 is open or incompletely closed, the hot water filling valve 13 closes when the set time of the timer 21 has elapsed, stopping the filling of hot water. This eliminates the inconvenience of hot water continuing to fill in an abnormal state.

Furthermore, since the set time of the timer 21 is set to be much shorter than the time until the end of hot water filling during normal operation, if there is an abnormality such as leakage from the drain plug, Since the hot water filling operation is stopped at this stage, wasted hot water supply can be reliably prevented.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described based on FIGS. 2 and 3.

As shown in FIG. 2, this embodiment employs a water level switch 2 to detect the amount of hot water stored in the bathtub B, as in the conventional example, and a gas circuit and a heated circuit 10. , the hot water filling circuit 12, etc. are constructed in the same manner as in the conventional example described above. The auxiliary water level switch 22, which detects the water level in the bathtub B in the same way as the water level switch 2, is used as the initial supply amount detection means.

This embodiment has an electric circuit as shown in FIG. The details of this circuit will be explained below based on the same figure.

Basically, a known main control device 3 is employed to control combustion, automatic ignition, temperature control, etc. of the appliance, and each part is controlled by this. The main controller 3 is brought into operation by closing the main switch S.

Next, as an electric circuit for automatic hot water filling, a water level switch 2 as a final water level detection means, an auxiliary water level switch 22 as an initial water level detection means,
A hot water filling valve 13 and a timer 21 are incorporated.

In the circuit to the hot water filling valve 13, the output contact of the normally closed water level switch 2 is inserted in series, and the normally open output contact of this water level switch 2 and the auxiliary water level switch 22 as the initial water level detection means The output is connected in series.

The timer 21 has a normally open output contact 23 whose output contact is in a closed state (output state) for a set time, and this normally open output contact 23 and the normally open output contact of the auxiliary water level switch 22 are connected in parallel, and this parallel circuit becomes the OR output circuit 20. When the water level of bathtub B reaches the initial water level or higher, the auxiliary water level switch 22
The output contact of the terminal is maintained in a closed state.
In addition, this initial water level is set to the water level at which the hot water is stored within a few minutes to 10 minutes, which is significantly shorter than the time required from the start of hot water filling under normal conditions to the end of hot water filling during normal operation. I'll keep it. Naturally, as will be described later, the set time of the timer 21 is set slightly longer than the several minutes to 10 minutes.

A hot water filling switch 24 for hot water filling operation is inserted into the circuit to the timer 21, and when this hot water filling switch 24 is closed, hot water filling starts.

As a result of the above operation, the normally open output contact 23 of the timer 21 is closed, and the hot water filling valve 13 is brought into conduction, so that the hot water filling valve 13 is connected to the bathtub B and the heated circuit 1 via the hot water filling circuit 12.
0 and the hot water filling operation progresses.

When the stored hot water level in the bathtub B reaches the initial water level, the auxiliary water level switch 22 is closed, and after the set time of the timer 21 has elapsed, the hot water filling valve 13 is turned on by the circuit on the contact side of the auxiliary water level switch 22. , the valve is kept open. Further, when the inside of the bathtub B reaches a predetermined final stored hot water level, the water level switch 2 is opened, the hot water filling valve 13 is closed, and hot water supply via the hot water filling circuit 12 is stopped.

If the water filling continues with the drain plug 14 left open or leaking,
By the action described above, the hot water filling valve 13 becomes non-conducting and is closed, thereby stopping the hot water filling.

In particular, in this embodiment, as shown in the figure, an alarm circuit is incorporated, so if the water level in the bathtub B does not reach the initial water level within the set time of the timer 21, an alarm buzzer will sound. It is designed to sound 4. Therefore, the abnormality of the drain plug 14 can be clearly determined.

As a configuration for this alarm, this embodiment employs a configuration in which the alarm buzzer 4 is connected in series to a series circuit of the normally closed output contact 41 of the timer 21 and the normally closed output contact of the auxiliary water level switch 22. By adopting this configuration, when the amount of hot water in the bathtub B does not reach the initial supply amount within the set time of the timer 21, the hot water filling valve 13 is closed, and when the normally closed output contact 41 returns to close, the alarm buzzer 4 will sound. Although the above circuit is configured to control the alarm buzzer 4 by a contact circuit, it is also possible to control the alarm buzzer 4 by a non-contact control circuit.

The configuration of the above embodiment is such that the main control device 3 is put into operation by closing the main switch S. It is also possible to configure the device in such a way that it is brought into operation by closing 24.
For this purpose, as shown by the imaginary line in the figure, a configuration is adopted in which the output contact of relay R, which becomes operational when the hot water filling switch 24 is closed, conducts the required parts of the main control device 3. Bye.

*Regarding the invention claimed in the second claim The invention claimed in the second claim is intended to achieve the same object as the invention claimed in the first claim. The purpose is to detect leakage from the bathtub by comparing the

[Technical means] The technical means of the invention of the second claim is as follows: Measure the amount of hot water supplied from the start of filling the hot water, and output the amount until the supplied amount reaches the initial supplied amount of hot water, which is significantly smaller than the final stored amount of hot water. an initial water level detecting means that detects the initial water level of the bathtub B corresponding to the initial supplied hot water amount and becomes an output state at a water level equal to or higher than the initial water level, the initial hot water amount detecting means, and the initial water level. An OR output circuit 20 as a detection means is provided, and the hot water filling valve 13 is maintained in an open state by the output from this OR output circuit 20. (See Figure 4) [Function] The above technical means of the present invention works as follows.

Due to the hot water filling operation, the initial hot water amount detection means goes into the output state, so the hot water filling valve 13 goes into the open state due to the output of the OR output circuit 20, and the hot water filling circuit 1
2, hot water supply to bathtub B is started. Until this initial hot water amount detection means measures the initial amount of hot water supplied, the hot water filling operation continues based on the output from this initial hot water amount detection means.

Since the initial supply amount of hot water is set to a predetermined value in advance, if the drain valve 14 is completely closed, when the initial supply amount of hot water is supplied to the bathtub,
The water level in the bathtub reaches a predetermined water level, and at this point the initial water level detection means 22 enters the output state. Therefore, from now on, the water filling valve 1 is controlled by the output of the OR output circuit 20 corresponding to the output of this initial water level detection means.
3 is maintained in the open state, and the hot water filling operation continues. When the final hot water storage amount is reached, the hot water storage amount detection means detects this, and the hot water filling valve 13 is automatically closed based on the output at this time.

Next, if the drain plug 14 is open or if the drain plug 14 is incompletely closed,
The initial hot water amount detection means detects bathtub B when the initial hot water amount is supplied.
The water level within does not reach the initial water level. Therefore, when the initial hot water amount detection means detects the initial supplied hot water amount,
There is no output from OR output circuit 20, and hot water filling valve 1
3 becomes non-conductive and is not maintained in the open state. That is, the hot water filling valve 13 is closed and hot water filling is stopped.

[Effects] Since the present invention has the above configuration, it has the following unique effects.

The invention of the second claim has the effect of the invention of the first claim because the hot water filling valve 13 is closed at the time of supplying the initial amount of hot water if there is a leak from the bathtub or if you forget to plug it. It has exactly the same effect.

In particular, in the case of the invention of the second claim, since the initial amount of hot water supplied to the bathtub and the corresponding initial water level are compared, even if the water heater changes per unit time, It is possible to detect whether water is leaking from the bathtub.

[Example] An example of the invention of the second claim is shown in FIGS. 2 and 5.
This will be explained based on the diagram.

In this embodiment, the initial hot water supply amount is set to approximately 0.1 m ³ to 0.2 ^{m 3} which is significantly smaller than the final hot water storage amount, and the configuration of the gas circuit and water circuit is implemented according to the invention of claim 1. The configuration is similar to the example (the one in FIG. 2). The electric circuit for this is constructed as shown in FIG.

The configuration of this electric circuit is basically not much different from that of the embodiment of the invention of the first claim shown in FIG.
The initial hot water amount detection means includes a setting device 51 that outputs a signal corresponding to the above-mentioned set value, a flow meter 52 inserted into the hot water filling circuit 12 as shown by the imaginary line in FIG. 2, and the setting device 51. and a comparison calculation device 53 which compares the outputs of the flowmeter 52 and remains in an output state until the measured value of the flowmeter 52 reaches a set value, and enters a non-output state when the measured value of the flowmeter 52 reaches the set value.
It consists of And this comparison calculation device 5
The output voltage of 3 is the switching transistor 54.
is applied to the base of. A PNP transistor is used as the switching transistor 54, and when there is an output from the comparator 53, the circuit is opened.

The switching transistor 54 and the normally open output contact of the auxiliary water level switch 22 are connected in parallel, and this parallel circuit is connected in series to the hot water filling valve 13.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the parallel circuit of the switching transistor 54 and the normally open output contact of the auxiliary water level switch 22 becomes the OR output circuit 20.

With the above configuration, when the measured value of the flow meter 52 reaches the set value, if the stored hot water level in the bathtub has not reached the initial water level, the hot water filling valve 13 is placed in a non-conducting state. Filling the water will automatically stop.

Next, a relay _R1 is connected in series in parallel with the hot water filling valve 13, and its normally open output contact is connected in series with the normally closed output contact of the auxiliary hot water level switch 22, and the relay R1 is connected in series to the circuit of the buzzer 4. is inserted into.

As a result, if the water level in the bathtub B has not reached the initial water level when the measured value by the flow meter 52 reaches the set value, the buzzer 4 will sound.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the principle of the invention of the first claim, Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of the invention, Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the electric circuit thereof, and Fig. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the invention of the second claim. FIG. 5 is an electric circuit diagram of an embodiment of the invention of claim 2, and FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional example.
In the figure, B... Bathtub, 21... Timer, 22... Auxiliary water level switch, 20... OR output circuit, 13...
Hot water filling valve, 52...flow meter.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. As the hot water filling operation progresses, a point in time when the amount of hot water stored in the bathtub B reaches a certain amount is detected by the final hot water storage amount detection means, and the detection at this time is performed. In a water heater equipped with a hot water filling device that automatically stops the hot water filling operation depending on the output, when the hot water filling operation enters the output state and the set time is the required time until the hot water filling ends in normal operation. a timer 21 set to be much shorter than the time; and an initial water level detection means that detects the initial water level to be stored in the bathtub B within the set time of the timer 21 and becomes an output state when the water level is equal to or higher than the initial water level. , the OR output circuit 2 of the timer 21 and the initial water level detection means.
0, and maintains the hot water filling valve 13 in an open state by the output of this OR output circuit 20, and sets the water level set by the initial water level detection means to the initial water level during normal operation. water heater. 2 The hot water filling operation progresses as the hot water filling operation progresses, and the final hot water storage amount detection means detects the point when the amount of hot water stored in bathtub B reaches a certain amount, and the hot water filling operation is performed based on the detection output at this time. In a water heater equipped with a hot water filling device that automatically stops operation, the amount of hot water supplied from the start of filling water is measured, and until this amount reaches the initial hot water supply amount, which is significantly smaller than the final hot water storage amount. an initial water level detecting means that is in an output state; an initial water level detecting means that detects the initial water level of the bathtub B corresponding to the initial supplied hot water amount and becomes an output state at a water level equal to or higher than the initial water level; It is equipped with an OR output circuit 20 of water level detection means,
A water heater with a hot water filling device that maintains a hot water filling valve 13 in an open state by the output from this OR output circuit 20.