JPH0552409A - Automatic bath heating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an automatic bath water heating device which has the hot water in its bathtub circulated to a heat exchanger to hold the temperature of the hot water and is provided with bubble bath operating function and in which the temperature in the hot water of the bathtub has no temperature drop even at the time of bubble bath operation. CONSTITUTION:When a bubble bath operation setting device 9 is not setting bubble operation, the time-up signal of a first timer 16 is inputted to a temperature control means 15 by a timer change-over means 18, and everytime a time that is set in the first timer 16 is up the temperature control means 13 changes the control value for a heater 7 to control the temperature in the bathtub 1 constant. When bubble bath operation is set, the time-up signal of a second timer 17 that times up in a time shorter than that by the first timer 16 is inputted to a temperature control means 13 by a timer change-over device 18, and everytime a time shorter than in ordinary operation is up the temperature control means 13 changes the control value for the heater 7, and an automatic bath heating device is thereby provided in which the bath temperature has no temperature drop at the time of bubble bath operation.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic bath apparatus for controlling the temperature of hot water in a bath constantly.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, automatic baths, which can be filled with water and keep warm automatically, have become popular. Recently, more and more devices have a bubble operation function as an additional function. In the past, the bubble operation function was an external function of the automatic bath, so a pump and a circulation circuit for bubbles were provided in addition to the circulation circuit for the automatic bath. However, such a configuration requires a total of two pumps, a circulation pump for reheating and keeping heat and a circulation pump for bubbles in one bath. For this reason,
Recently, there is a water heater for an automatic bath that has a built-in bubble function, and tries to realize the bubble function by using a circulation pump for keeping heat and reheating.

A conventional automatic bath device of this type, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, detects a bath 1, a forward pipe 2 and a return pipe 3 connected to the bath 1, and a circulating water temperature connected to the return pipe 3. Temperature sensor 4, a pump 5 connected to the return pipe 3, a heat exchanger 6 connected to the outflow pipe 2 and the return pipe 3, an electric heater 7 as a heat source for heating the heat exchanger 6, and a heater. Power supply 8 to supply 7, bubble operation setting means 9 for setting bubble operation, and open when the bubble operation is set by being connected to the outflow tube 2, and mixes outside air with water through the air tube 10 to generate bubbles. The solenoid valve 11 to be turned on, the timer 12 that is timed up at 10-minute intervals and continues the timed-up signal for 30 seconds, and the temperature signal detected by the temperature sensor 4 when the time-up signal of the timer 12 is turned from ON to OFF. Enter Therefore, the temperature control means 13 outputs a contact-on signal when the temperature is lower than the preset temperature, the relay 14 which closes the contact to energize the heater 7 when the contact-on signal is input, and the bubble operation setting means 9. Signal, the time-up signal of the timer 12, and the contact-on signal from the temperature control means 13 are ORed to drive the pump 5. In the above configuration, the bubble operation setting means 9, the temperature control means 13, the timer 12, and the pump driving means 15 are configured by using a microcomputer.

The operation of the above structure will be described. When the bubble operation is not set by the bubble operation means 9,
When the timer 12 does not time up, the pump 5 is stopped and the hot water is not circulated. When the timer 12 times out, a time-up signal is sent to the pump driving means 15
Entered in. Since the time-up signal continues for 30 seconds, the pump 5 operates during this period and circulation is performed. Thirty
When seconds have passed and the timer 12 stops the time-up signal, the temperature control means 13 inputs the temperature signal from the temperature sensor 4 and compares it with the set temperature to determine the contact state of the relay 14. If the detected temperature is higher than the set temperature, the contact of the relay 14 is turned off. If the detected temperature is lower than the set temperature, the contact of the relay 14 is turned on. Even if the time-up signal of the timer 12 is turned off, the pump drive means 15 drives the pump 5 if there is a contact-on signal from the temperature control means 13. Therefore, when the detected temperature exceeds the set temperature, the heater 7 The circulation stops after 30 seconds from turning off, and when the detected temperature falls below the set temperature, the heater 7 is turned on to continue circulation, so that the bath is kept at a constant temperature.

Next, when the bubble operation is set by the bubble setting means 9, the pump driving means 15 causes the pump 5 to operate.
The hot water in the circulation path continues to circulate. Further, at this time, the solenoid valve 11 is opened, so that the outside air is mixed with the hot water, and hot water containing bubbles comes out into the bathtub 1 through the forward pipe 2. Also at this time, the timer 12 and the temperature control means 13 perform the above-described operation, perform temperature detection once every 10 minutes, and if it detects that the temperature of the hot water has dropped, it turns on the heater 7 to keep the temperature inside the bath 1 warm. Will be done.

As described above, when the bubble operation is not performed, the hot water in the bathtub 1 is circulated in the circulation path once every 10 minutes to remove the cold water and to stir the bathtub 1 so that the temperature sensor 4 operates. After detecting the temperature inside the bath 1 accurately, the heater 7
Can be controlled. Since the rate of change in the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub 1 is slow, it is usually sufficient to perform the operation once every 10 minutes, and the intermittent operation of the pump 5 can also contribute to energy saving. On the other hand, during the bubble operation, the pump 5 continues to operate to generate bubbles and the circulation is continuously performed. The temperature detection and temperature control are performed once every 10 minutes as in the case where the bubble operation is not performed, and the temperature in the bathtub 1 can be controlled to a constant temperature.

[0007]

In such a conventional automatic bath apparatus, since the temperature detection and the heat source control during the bubble operation and the normal heat retention are performed by the same operation, when the bubble operation is not set. The temperature change speed in the bathtub 1 is small, and it is sufficient to circulate once every 10 minutes to detect the temperature and keep the temperature in order to save energy, but when bubble operation is performed. Since the solenoid valve 11 is open and the outside air is mixed with the hot water, when the outside air temperature is low such as in winter, the decrease in the hot water temperature is faster than when the bubble operation is not performed and the hot water becomes lukewarm to the user. There was a problem of giving discomfort.

In order to avoid this, the temperature is constantly detected by utilizing the fact that hot water constantly circulates during bubble operation,
Further, it is conceivable that a separate temperature control means is provided to prevent the heater 7 from frequently turning on and off by providing a hysteresis for the set temperature, but it is necessary to add another temperature control means, and the structure is It gets complicated.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an automatic bath apparatus having a simple structure and having little temperature fluctuation even during bubble operation.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a bathtub, a forward pipe and a return pipe connected to the bathtub, and a temperature sensor connected to the return pipe for detecting the circulating water temperature. And a pump connected to the return pipe,
A heat exchanger connected to the forward pipe and the return pipe, a heat source for heating the heat exchanger, a bubble operation setting means for setting bubble operation, and a bubble operation by the bubble operation setting means connected to the forward pipe. When it is set, it opens and a solenoid valve that mixes outside air with water through the air tube to generate bubbles,
A first timer that outputs a fixed time signal by timing out at fixed time intervals, a second timer that outputs a constant time signal by timing up at a shorter time interval than the first timer, and the first timer Alternatively, when the signal of the second timer changes from ON to OFF, the temperature signal detected by the temperature sensor is input to change the control value of the heat source, and the bubble operation setting unit controls the bubble operation. When it is not set, the time-up signal of the first timer is input to the temperature control means, and when bubble operation is set, the time-up signal of the second timer is input to the temperature control means. The problem-solving means is provided with a timer switching means for switching signals.

[0011]

According to the present invention, when the bubble operation setting means does not set the bubble operation by the above-mentioned problem solving means, the timer switching means inputs the time-up signal of the first timer to the temperature control means, and The temperature control means changes the control value of the heat source for each time set in the timer, and when the bubble operation is set, the timer switching means inputs the time-up signal of the second timer to the temperature control means. Therefore, the temperature control means changes the control value of the heat source for each shorter time than the first timer set in the second timer, so that the automatic bath device in which the temperature does not drop even during the bubble operation can be provided. ..

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. The same components as those in the conventional example are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted.

As shown, the first timer 16 has 10
The time is up every minute, and the time-up signal continues for 30 seconds. The second timer 17 times up every minute and outputs a signal for 1 second. The timer switching means 18 inputs the time-up signal of the first timer 16 to the temperature control means 13 when the bubble operation is not set by the bubble operation setting means 9, and the second when the bubble operation is set.
The time-up signal is switched so that the time-up signal of the timer 17 is input to the temperature control means 13. The first timer 16, the second timer 17, the temperature control means 13, the timer switching means 18, and the pump driving means 15 in the above-mentioned configuration are composed of a microcomputer.

To explain the operation in the above-mentioned configuration, when the bubble operation setting means 9 does not set the bubble operation, the timer switching means 18 selects 18a, and the time-up signal of the first timer 16 is transmitted. It is input to the temperature control means 13. Since the first timer 16 has the same setting as the timer of the conventional example, the hot water is circulated once every 10 minutes for 30 seconds, and the temperature setting means 13 compares the detected temperature with the set temperature to turn the relay 14 on and off. Decide When the detected temperature is lower than the set temperature, that is, when the hot water is lukewarm, the temperature control means 13 turns on the state of the relay 14, so that the heat exchanger 6 is heated by the heater 7.
The hot water in the circulation path is heated and the temperature rises. Further, at this time, the pump driving means 15 inputs the relay-on signal from the temperature control means 13, so that the operation of the pump 5 is continued,
Continue circulation to heat. When the temperature control means 13 turns off the state of the relay 14, that is, when the detected temperature is higher than the set temperature, the time-up signal stops in 30 seconds, so the pump drive means 15 stops the pump 5 and heating is not performed. When the bubble operation is not set as described above, it is possible to circulate the hot water once every 10 minutes to detect the temperature and control the energization of the heater 7 as in the conventional operation.

When the bubble operation is set in the bubble operation setting means 19, the pump drive means 15 is used.
Drives the pump 5 and the solenoid valve 11 opens,
The outside air is mixed with the hot water to generate bubbles, which come out to the bathtub 1. At this time, the timer switching means 18 selects 18b, and the time-up signal of the second timer 17 is input to the temperature control means 13. Since the time-up signal of the second timer 17 is set to be output once a minute for 1 second, the temperature control means 13 sets the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 4 and the set temperature once a minute. The contact state of the relay 14 is determined by comparison. During the bubble operation, the pump 5 constantly operates to generate bubbles, and therefore the circulation continues regardless of the state of the relay 14.

As described above, unlike the conventional example, during the bubble operation, the time-up signal of the second timer 17 is input to the temperature control means 13 to cause the temperature control means 13 to operate.
Can measure the temperature at a time interval shorter than the normal time to determine the ON / OFF of the relay 14. Therefore,
Since the outside air is taken in, the temperature in the bathtub 1 does not become low even during bubble operation in which the temperature drops rapidly.

Although the present embodiment is applied to the case where electricity is used as a heat source, the present invention can be applied to any type of heat source as long as it can keep warm during bubble operation. Also,
In this embodiment, the setting of the first timer 16 is set once every 10 minutes.
The setting of the second timer 17 was set to 1 second per minute for 0 seconds, but this ratio is not limited, and an optimum value may be set according to various conditions such as the type of heat source and the state of the circulation circuit. It goes without saying that it can be applied.

[0018]

As is apparent from the above-described embodiments, according to the present invention, the temperature is detected and the temperature is controlled by switching the timer so that the time interval is shorter than that during the normal temperature keeping during the bubble operation. During operation, switch to a timer that times up at a shorter time interval than during normal operation and measure the temperature at the timing of this time-up signal,
Since the control value of the heat source corresponding to this can be changed, when the outside air temperature is low such as in winter, the temperature of the hot water decreases in a shorter time than in the case of normal temperature control because the outside air is taken into the hot water to generate bubbles. Even during bubble operation that occurs,
The temperature of the hot water in the bathtub will not drop. Also,
In the temperature control, a method different from the conventional method such as providing a hysteresis in the temperature is not used, and only the timer is switched by the same method as the conventional method.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an automatic bath device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a conventional automatic bath device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Bathtub 2 Outflow pipe 3 Return pipe 4 Temperature sensor 5 Pump 6 Heat exchanger 7 Heater (heat source) 9 Bubble operation setting means 10 Air pipe 11 Electromagnetic valve 13 Temperature control means 16 First timer 17 Second timer 18 Timer switching means

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Nahota Katayama 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A bathtub, a forward pipe and a return pipe connected to the bathtub, a temperature sensor connected to the return pipe for detecting a circulating water temperature, and a pump connected to the return pipe.
A heat exchanger connected to the forward pipe and the return pipe;
A heat source for heating the heat exchanger, bubble operation setting means for setting bubble operation, and open when the bubble operation is set by the bubble operation setting means and is connected to the outflow pipe, and the outside air is mixed with water through the air pipe. And a solenoid valve for generating bubbles, a first timer for time-up every fixed time and outputting a time-up signal for a constant time, and a time-up signal for time-up for a predetermined time interval shorter than the first timer. And a temperature signal detected by the temperature sensor when the time-up signal of the first timer or the second timer is turned from ON to OFF, and the control value of the heat source is set. When the bubble operation is not set by the temperature control means to be represented and the bubble operation setting means, the time-up signal of the first timer is input to the temperature control means. Automatic bath apparatus equipped with a timer switching means for switching so as to enter the time-up signal of the second timer to said temperature control means when the operation is set.