JPH05265576A - Mixing device for cold water and hot water - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a mixing device for cold water and hot water in which safety can be obtained without outputting high temperature water from a shower, etc., by closing a hot water output path by opening a drainage path connected to a mixing part when the temperature of mixture of cold water and hot water exceeds upper limit temperature, and opening the hot water output path by closing the drainage path when it is less than the upper limit temperature. CONSTITUTION:Mixing ratio adjusting means 7, 8 which adjust the mixing ratio of hot water and cold water, and a hot water temperature sensor 9 are provided at the mixing part 6 which mixes the hot water from a hot water supply path 3 and the cold water from a water supply path 4 and supplies it to the hot water output path 5. The mixing ratio adjusting means 7, 8 are operated so that the temperature of the mixture of hot water and cold water detected by the hot water temperature sensor 9 can go to a targeted temperature set by a setting means 12. In such a case, the drainage path 13 is connected to the mixing part 6, and a passage switching means 14 to open the hot water output path 5 or the drainage path 13 alternatively is provided. A control means 11 opens the drainage path 13 and closes the hot water output path 5 by operating the passage switching means 14 when the temperature of the mixture of hot water and cold water exceeds the prescribed upper limit temperature, and opens the hot water output path 5 and closes the drainage path 13 when it is less than the upper limit temperature.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention adjusts a mixing section for mixing hot water from a hot water supply channel and water from a water supply channel and supplying it to a hot water discharge channel, and a mixing ratio of hot water and water in the mixing section. Mixing ratio adjusting means, hot water temperature detecting means for detecting the mixed hot water temperature, setting means for setting the target temperature, and the mixed hot water temperature based on the setting information of the setting means and the detection information of the hot water temperature detecting means. The present invention relates to a hot and cold water mixing apparatus including control means for operating the mixing ratio adjusting means so as to reach a target temperature.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional example of such a hot and cold water mixing apparatus (generally called a mixing tap), for example, Japanese Patent Application No. 2-1769.
The one described in No. 58 is mentioned. As a mixing ratio adjusting means, a pulse motor driven valve for individually adjusting the inflow amount of hot water and the inflow amount of water is provided, and both valves are controlled by feedback control based on the detection information of the hot water temperature detecting means. Then, the mixed hot water of the target temperature is obtained.

[0003]

Generally, immediately after the start of hot water discharge, cold water first comes out because of so-called dead water accumulated in the pipe from the hot water supply source to the hot water mixing device, and then, A phenomenon occurs in which overshoot occurs and hot water comes out. Further, a phenomenon may occur in which the temperature of the mixed hot water rapidly rises due to disturbances such as fluctuations in water pressure and rapid changes in the temperature of the supplied hot water. It is not only unpleasant but also dangerous that such hot water is suddenly discharged from a shower or the like, and improvement has been desired.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a safe hot and cold water mixing apparatus in which high temperature hot water is not discharged from a shower or the like.

[0005]

A hot and cold water mixing apparatus according to the present invention comprises a mixing section for mixing hot water from a hot water supply channel and water from the water supply channel to supply the hot water to the hot water discharge channel, and hot water and water in the mixing section. Based on the mixing ratio adjusting means for adjusting the mixing ratio, the hot water temperature detecting means for detecting the mixed hot water temperature, the setting means for setting the target temperature, the setting information of the setting means and the detection information of the hot water temperature detecting means. And a control means for operating the mixing ratio adjusting means so that the temperature of the mixed hot water reaches a target temperature. The first characteristic configuration is that a drainage channel is connected to the mixing section, Flow passage switching means for selectively opening the drainage passage is provided, and the control means operates the flow passage switching means when the temperature of the mixed hot water is equal to or higher than a predetermined upper limit temperature to perform the discharge. Open the passage and the temperature of the mixed hot water is lower than the upper limit temperature. By operating the passage switching means it is in that it is configured to open the tapping channel when.

In a second characteristic configuration, the control means has a first configuration.
In addition to the characteristic configuration of the above, when the mixed hot water temperature is lower than a predetermined lower limit temperature, the flow path switching means is operated to open the discharge path, and when the mixed hot water temperature is equal to or higher than the lower limit temperature. It is configured to open the hot water outlet by operating the flow path switching means.

A third characteristic configuration is the same as the second characteristic configuration, in which the control means closes the discharge passage and activates the alarm means as the state in which the discharge passage is opened has passed a predetermined time or more. The point is that it is configured.

[0008]

According to the first characteristic configuration, when the temperature of the mixed hot water is equal to or higher than the predetermined upper limit temperature, the control means opens the drainage passage connected to the mixing portion and closes the hot water discharge passage. To operate. Therefore, high-temperature hot water above the upper limit temperature is discharged from the drainage channel and is not supplied to the tip (shower or the like) from the hot water outlet channel. On the contrary, when the temperature of the mixed hot water is lower than the upper limit temperature, the drainage passage is closed and the hot water discharge passage is opened.

According to the second characteristic construction, even when the temperature of the mixed hot water is lower than the predetermined lower limit temperature, the drainage channel is opened and the hot water channel is closed in the same manner as above. Therefore, low-temperature water below the lower limit temperature is discharged from the drainage channel and is not supplied to the tip (shower or the like) from the hot water outlet channel. In practice, it is necessary to provide a hysteresis for detecting the temperature of the mixed hot water so that the drainage passage and the hot water discharge passage are not frequently opened and closed near the upper limit temperature or the lower limit temperature. Further, the upper limit temperature and the lower limit temperature may be fixed, but it is convenient to be able to change and set them in accordance with the season and taste.

According to the third characteristic constitution, when the drainage channel is opened for a predetermined time or more, the drainage channel is closed to avoid the state of continuing the drainage forever and to notify the abnormality by the alarm means. .. This works when the dead water discharge state continues for a predetermined time or longer, for example, when the power of the water heater is forgotten to be turned on.

[0011]

According to the first characteristic configuration, a safe hot and cold water mixing apparatus is provided in which high temperature hot water is not discharged from a shower or the like. Further, according to the second characteristic configuration, it is possible to prevent the low temperature water from coming out of the shower or the like, and according to the third characteristic configuration, it is possible to avoid waste of the low temperature water as much as possible. It has become possible.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, a part of the tap water supplied to each house from the water supply pipe is heated to a high temperature by the water heater 1 and is pumped to the hot water supply passage 3 by the spherical motor pump 2. The hot and cold water mixing apparatus of the present embodiment includes a mixing unit 6 that mixes hot water from the hot water supply passage 3 and water from the water supply passage 4 and supplies the mixture to the hot water discharge passage 5.
The mixing part 6 is provided with a hot water side valve 7 for adjusting the inflow amount of hot water supplied from the hot water supply passage 3 and a water side valve 8 for adjusting the inflow amount of water supplied from the water supply passage 4. Both valves 7,
Reference numeral 8 corresponds to a mixing ratio adjusting means for adjusting the mixing ratio of hot water and water in the mixing section 6.

Further, the mixing section 6 has a hot water temperature detecting means (hereinafter referred to as hot water temperature sensor) 9 for detecting the temperature of the hot water, and
A flow rate detecting means (hereinafter referred to as a flow rate sensor) 10 for detecting the flow rate of the mixed hot water is provided, and the detection information of both sensors 9 and 10 is a control means 11 including a microcomputer or the like.
Has been entered in.

The control means 11 has setting means for setting a target temperature and a target flow rate (hereinafter referred to as an operation panel).
12 are connected. The operation panel 12 includes up / down keys 12a, 12 for increasing / decreasing the target temperature and the target flow rate.
In addition to b and the level display LEDs 12c and 12d, hot water discharge selection keys 12e, 12f and 12g and a pilot lamp 12h which also serves as an abnormal lamp are provided.

The control means 11 uses the setting information of the operation panel 12 and the detection information of the hot water temperature sensor 9 and the flow rate sensor 10 so that the mixed hot water temperature becomes the target temperature and the mixed hot water flow rate is the target flow rate. Hot water side valve 7 and water side valve 8
Execute the temperature / flow rate control. The hot water valve 7 includes a valve body 7a and a pulse motor 7b for driving the valve body 7a. Similarly, the water side valve 8 includes a valve body 8a and a pulse motor 8b. The control means 11 controls the opening and closing of the hot water valve 7 and the hot water valve 8 by controlling the pulse motors 7b and 8b in the forward and reverse directions,
The opening / closing speed of both valves 7 and 8 is controlled by controlling the rotation speed.

The temperature / flow rate control is a feedback control for reducing the deviation between the detected temperature of the hot water temperature sensor 9 and the target temperature and the deviation between the detected flow rate of the flow rate sensor 10 and the target flow rate. Yes, the operation amount of both valves 7 and 8 is determined by fuzzy reasoning. In other words, each deviation (and its change amount) is a fuzzy variable in the antecedent part, and the operation amount is calculated by fuzzy inference in which the rotation speed (direction and speed) of the pulse motors 7b and 8b, which is the operation amount, is the consequent part. is doing. The details are described in the specification and drawings of the prior application described above as a conventional example.

By the temperature / flow rate control by the control means 11 as described above, the mixed hot water of the set target temperature is constantly obtained, but the low temperature water or the high temperature hot water transiently comes out at the start of the hot water discharge or the like. Sometimes. For example, due to so-called dead water accumulated in the hot water supply passage 3 from the water heater 1 to the hot and cold water mixing device 6, at the start of tapping, cold water first comes out, and then overshoot occurs and hot water comes out. Occurs. Further, there may occur a phenomenon in which the temperature of the mixed hot water rapidly rises due to disturbance such as fluctuation of water pressure.

In the hot and cold water mixing apparatus 6 of the present embodiment, the cold water and high temperature hot water as described above are discharged without being supplied to the hot water discharge passage 5 under certain conditions. That is, the drainage channel 13 is connected to the mixing section 6, and the solenoid valve block 1 as a flow channel switching means for selectively opening the hot water discharge channel 5 and the drainage channel 13 is provided.
4 are provided. Then, the control means 11 operates the solenoid valve block 14 to switch between the hot water outlet 5 and the drainage channel 13 based on the setting information of the operation panel 12 and the detection information of the hot water temperature sensor 9. Hereinafter, description will be given based on the flowchart of FIG.

First, as shown in (a) and thereafter, the target temperature and flow rate set on the operation panel 12 and the hot water temperature sensor 9 are set.
Also, the temperature / flow rate of the mixed hot water detected by the flow rate sensor 10 is read, and the above-described temperature / flow rate control (operation of the hot water side valve 7 and the water side valve 8) is executed. Next, as shown in (b), it is checked whether the detected temperature t is equal to or higher than a predetermined upper limit temperature (for example, 48 ° C.). If the temperature is equal to or higher than the upper limit temperature, it is further checked whether or not the shower is selected as the hot water outlet (processing (C)). The selection of the shower is performed by the above-mentioned hot water selection key 12f.

When the above two conditions are satisfied, the mixed hot water discharge process is executed (process (d)). That is, the control means 11 operates the solenoid valve block 14 to close the hot water outlet path 5 and open the drainage path 13. On the other hand, when the hot water filling other than the shower or Karan is selected, the drainage channel 13 is closed and the hot water outlet channel 5 is opened, so that the normal hot water discharge process is executed (process (e)).

When the detected temperature t is lower than the upper limit temperature, it is further checked whether or not the detected temperature t is lower than a predetermined lower limit temperature (for example, T-10 ° C.) as shown in process (f). Here, T is the target temperature set on the operation panel 12. If the detected temperature t is lower than the lower limit temperature, that is, if it is lower than the set temperature T by 10 ° C. or more, the above-described discharging process is executed. When the temperature is lower than the lower limit temperature, the normal hot water discharge process is executed.

However, the detected temperature t is within a predetermined range (for example, about 3).
Therefore, for example, the actual detected temperature when the solenoid valve block 14 is switched to the discharge side after the upper limit temperature of 48 ° C. or higher and then switched to the tap water side is about 45 ° C.). ℃.

When the discharged state of the mixed hot water continues for a predetermined time (for example, 1 minute) or more as shown in the process (g) and thereafter, the discharge is stopped and the alarm output is executed. That is, the solenoid valve block 14 is operated to close the drainage channel 13 and operate (blow) the buzzer 15. At the same time, the pilot lamp 12h of the operation panel 12 is made to blink. Therefore, the buzzer 15 and the pilot lamp 12h correspond to the alarm means.

Other examples will be listed below. In the above embodiment, the lower limit temperature is not set to a specific value, but is set to a relative value according to the set temperature. That is, it was judged whether or not the difference from the set temperature was a predetermined value or more. However, the lower limit temperature may be a specific value as well as the upper limit temperature. Further, the upper limit temperature and the lower limit temperature may be changed and set by an operation panel or the like. Alternatively, a dip switch or the like may be used so that it can be changed according to the season.

In the above embodiment, the process of stopping the discharge and executing the alarm output when the discharged state of the mixed hot water continues for a predetermined time or longer is performed when the detected temperature t is lower than the lower limit temperature, that is, when the dead water is discharged. It may be executed only in some cases.

The hot and cold water mixing apparatus of the above embodiment controls not only the temperature of the mixed hot water but also the flow rate, but it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to the case of controlling only the temperature. The mixing ratio adjusting means is not limited to the structure of the above embodiment, but can be variously modified. For example, when the flow rate control is not performed, or when a flow rate control valve is separately provided, the hot water side valve and the water side valve may be integrally configured and open and close in a contradictory manner.

It should be noted that reference numerals are given in the claims for convenience of comparison with the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the configurations of the accompanying drawings by the entry.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a hot and cold water mixing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Fig. 2] Flow chart of hot and cold water mixing control

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 Hot Water Supply Channel 4 Water Supply Channel 5 Hot Water Flow Channel 6 Mixing Section 7, 8 Mixing Ratio Adjusting Means 9 Hot Water Temperature Detecting Means 11 Control Means 12h, 15 Alarm Means 13 Drainage Channels 14 Flow Path Switching Means

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A mixing section (6) for mixing hot water from the hot water supply passage (3) and water from the water supply passage (4) to supply to the hot water discharge passage (5), and hot water in the mixing section (6). Mixing ratio adjusting means (7, 8) for adjusting the mixing ratio of water and water, hot water temperature detecting means (9) for detecting the mixed hot water temperature, setting means (12) for setting a target temperature, and its setting means Based on the setting information of (12) and the detection information of the hot water temperature detecting means (9), the control means (11) for operating the mixing ratio adjusting means (7, 8) so that the hot water temperature of the mixed water becomes a target temperature. A hot and cold water mixing device comprising: a drainage channel (13) connected to the mixing section (6) for switching the hot water discharge channel (5) and the drainage channel (13) selectively. Means (14) are provided,
When the temperature of the mixed hot water is equal to or higher than a predetermined upper limit temperature, the control means (11) operates the flow path switching means (14) to open the discharge passage (13), and A hot and cold water mixing device configured to open the hot water outlet (5) by operating the flow path switching means (14) when the temperature is lower than the upper limit temperature. 2. The control means (11) operates the flow path switching means (14) to open the discharge path (13) when the temperature of the mixed hot water is lower than a predetermined lower limit temperature, and
The hot and cold water mixing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the hot water mixing device is configured to open the hot water discharge passage (5) by operating the flow path switching means (14) when the mixed hot water temperature is equal to or higher than the lower limit temperature. 3. The control means (11) closes the discharge passage (13) and keeps an alarm means (12h, 12h, when the discharge passage (13) is opened for a predetermined time or more.
The hot and cold water mixing apparatus according to claim 2, which is configured to operate 15).