JPH0581249B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to an electric water heater that pumps liquid in a container with an electric pump to dispense hot water.

Prior Art FIG. 10 shows a conventional electric water heater. That is, a container 1 for storing a liquid 2 such as water is provided inside a main body 3, and a heating element 4 for heating and keeping the liquid 2 warm and a temperature sensing element 5 such as a thermistor for detecting liquid temperature are provided on the outer bottom surface of the container 1, which stores a liquid 2 such as water. is installed.

The upper part of the container 1 is opened and closed by a lid 6, and a hot water passage 9 led out from the bottom rises upward and is connected to a hot water outlet 10. An electric pump 7 is connected to the hot water outlet path 9, and the container 1
The liquid 2 inside is sent out to the outlet 10. Reference numeral 8 indicates an overturn check valve which is connected to the hot water outlet path 9 and prevents the liquid from accidentally flowing out when the liquid falls over. Reference numeral 11 indicates a control for controlling the energization of the heating element 4 in response to an electric signal from the temperature sensing element 5. 12 is an operating knob.

When the pump 7 is operated by operating the operating knob 12, the liquid in the container 1 is pumped up into the outlet channel 9 and discharged from the outlet 10.

By the way, when the liquid is heated via the heating element 4, the temperature of the liquid in the hot water outlet path 9 hardly rises. Therefore, at the beginning of hot water taping, hot water at a predetermined temperature could not be obtained due to the liquid in the hot water tap path 9. Furthermore, since the liquid in the hot water outlet path 9 was not heated, the limescale components contained in the liquid were not removed, and the hot water initially discharged had a smell of limescale.

Therefore, recently, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-110318, a bypass path is branched from the downstream side of the hot water outlet path to the container via a switching valve, so that the temperature of the liquid in the hot water outlet path is lower than that of the liquid in the container. When the temperature drops below the temperature, the pump is automatically activated to force the liquid in the outlet path back into the container via the bypass path, or as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-111328. Drive the pump arbitrarily,
A system in which the liquid in the hot water outlet path is forced to return to the container via a bypass path has been considered.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention In the conventional electric water heater described above, the liquid in the hot water outlet path is forced to return to the container via the bypass path, so the temperature of the liquid in the hot water outlet path is lower than that of the liquid in the container. This means that hot water at a predetermined temperature can be obtained from the beginning.

However, in the former electric water heater described in JP-A-1-110318, the heating element hardly heats the liquid in the hot water outlet path.
Because heat is easily radiated, the pump is driven intermittently from the beginning of boiling water, causing noise problems.

Furthermore, in the latter electric water heater described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-111328, the pump is arbitrarily driven, so the operation is cumbersome and human errors are likely to occur frequently.

Furthermore, these electric water heaters are primarily focused on forcing the liquid in the hot water outlet to flow back into the container, and sufficient consideration has not been given to descaling.

The present invention solves these conventional problems and makes it possible to obtain delicious hot water at a predetermined temperature from the beginning of taping.

Means for Solving the Problems A first means of the present invention for achieving the above object includes a container containing a liquid heated by a heating element;
A temperature-sensitive element that detects the temperature of this liquid, an electric pump that sends out the liquid in the container through a hot water outlet, and a temperature-sensitive element that is branched from the upstream side of the hot water outlet at the tip of the hot water path, and a temperature sensing element that detects the temperature of the liquid. A bypass path connected to a water sprinkler provided in the phase part and a hot water outlet downstream from the bypass path and the bypass path branching section are selectively opened and closed, and the bypass path side is always open. When the set valve means and the liquid temperature in the container reach a predetermined temperature, the pump is driven for a predetermined period of time in response to an electric signal from the temperature sensing element, and the pump is operated between the hot water outlet path and the container via the bypass path. It is equipped with a control circuit that circulates the liquid.

In the second and third means, the hot water sprinkler is removable and the hot water spraying direction is set toward the inner wall surface of the container.

Furthermore, the fourth means forms an overflow port in the water sprinkler.

A fifth means includes a water quality conditioner built into the water sprinkler.

Effect According to the first means of the present invention, when the liquid in the container is heated by the heating element and exceeds the insulating temperature and reaches a predetermined temperature value close to the boiling temperature, the liquid in the container is heated by the electric signal from the heat-sensitive element. The pump is driven for a predetermined period of time. Here, since the valve means opens the bypass path side, the liquid in the container is forcibly circulated for a predetermined time from the outlet path → bypass path → inside the container → the outlet path, and the temperature of the liquid in the outlet path and the container becomes equal. . Furthermore, since the liquid from the bypass path is sprayed into the gas phase inside the container via the water sprinkler, the chlorine components therein are evaporated.

In the second method, since the water sprinkler is detachable, it can be easily maintained.

If the water sprinkler is set so that the water spray direction is directed toward the inner wall surface of the container, as in the third method, no dripping noise on the liquid surface will occur.

With the fourth means, even if the water sprinkler becomes clogged, a circulating flow is ensured and the pump is not overloaded.

According to the fifth means, purification of the liquid can be further improved by using a water quality conditioner built into the water sprinkler.

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In FIGS. 1 to 5, a container 15 containing a liquid 16 such as water is installed inside a main body 17, and a heating element 18 for heating and keeping the liquid 16 warm is provided on the outer bottom surface of the container 15. A temperature sensing element 19 such as a thermistor is installed to detect the temperature of this liquid 16. Reference numeral 20 denotes a lid for opening and closing the upper opening of the container 15. A hot water passage 23 leading to a hot water outlet 24 located at the top of the main body 17 is led out and raised from the bottom of the container 15, and an electric pump 21 is connected to the most upstream portion near the container 15.

A bypass path 25 is branched from the downstream side of the hot water tap path 23 via a valve means 22. Container 15
A water sprinkler 26 is provided in the upper gas phase portion of the tank, and the tip of the bypass path 25 is connected to the water sprinkler 26. In other words, the bypass path 25 includes a path from the container 15 to the hot water outlet path 23 to the valve means 22 to the bypass path 25 to the water sprinkler 26, with the pump 21 as a forced circulation means interposed therebetween.
→It forms a circulation path for the container 15.

The valve means 22 selectively opens and closes the bypass passage 25 and the hot water outlet passage 23a downstream of the bypass passage branching portion, and is set so that the bypass passage 25 side is normally open. Then, by operating the operation knob 34 to release hot water, the hot water outlet path 23a side is opened, and the hot water is discharged from the hot water outlet 24 by the action of the pump 21.

Reference numeral 33 denotes a control circuit which controls the heating element 18 in response to an electric signal from the temperature sensing element 19 to boil the liquid 16 in the container 15 and maintain it at a predetermined temperature. At the same time, the pump 21 is driven and controlled to dispense hot water. Further, this control circuit 33 automatically controls the pump 2 when the liquid in the container 15 exceeds the insulating temperature and reaches a predetermined temperature including the boiling temperature.
1 for a predetermined period of time to circulate the liquid in the previous circulation path.

The valve means 22 includes an inlet 35 connected to the upstream side of the outlet path 23, a first outlet 36 connected to the outlet path 23a side, and a second outlet 37 connected to the bypass path 25 side. These first and second outlet ports 3
A valve body 38 selectively opens and closes the valve bodies 6 and 37, and moves forward and backward by an electromagnet 40.
8 and a plunger 39 linked to the plunger 39.

The valve means 22 closes the first outlet 36 connected to the hot water outlet path 23a side by the biasing action of the spring 41 in the normal state when no hot water tapping operation is performed, and closes the first outlet 36 connected to the bypass path 25 side. The outlet 37 is opened to form the previous circulation path.

Furthermore, when the electromagnet 40 is energized, the plunger 39 is attracted against the spring 41, and the valve body 38 opens the hot water outlet path 23a side.

The water sprinkler 26 is configured in a fan shape that extends toward the inner circumference of the container 1, and has a large number of small holes 28 in the bottom surface 27. Further, the inlet 30 is detachably connected to the bypass path 25 via a connecting pipe 29. The outer periphery of the inflow port 30 and the connecting pipe 29
A claw 31 and an engaging portion 32 are respectively formed at the inner periphery rear end to maintain the connected state of the water sprinkler 26 by mutual engagement.

In the above configuration, the liquid 16 supplied to the container 15 is heated by the heating element 18 to raise its temperature, and once it reaches boiling temperature, it is maintained at a predetermined heat retention temperature.

Here, in the liquid temperature raising process, when the predetermined temperature exceeds the heat retention temperature and approaches the boiling temperature, the control circuit 3
3 is a pump 21 in response to an electric signal from a temperature sensing element 19.
is driven for a predetermined time.

However, since the valve means 22 keeps the bypass passage 25 side open, the liquid 16 in the container 15 flows from the container 15 → outlet passage 23 → valve means 22 → bypass passage 25.
→ Water sprinkler 26 → Container 15 is circulated.

Due to this circulation operation, the low temperature liquid in the hot water tap path 23 is sent to the container 15 and mixed therewith, so that the temperature becomes approximately the same as that of the liquid in the container. Furthermore, during the above-mentioned circulation operation, the liquid is sprayed in a shower-like manner from the large number of small holes 28 in the water sprinkler 26 to the upper gas phase portion of the container 15, so that the chlorine components in the liquid are effectively evaporated. .

Now, when the hot water tapping operation is performed via the operation knob 34, the electromagnet 40 of the valve means 22 is energized, the plunger 39 is attracted and retreated, and the valve body 38 is accordingly moved.
The first outlet 36 connected to the hot water outlet path 23a side is opened, and the second outlet 3 connected to the bypass path 25 side is opened.
7 is closed. Since the pump 21 is being driven at the same time, the liquid 16 in the container 15 is flowing through the outlet channels 23 and 2.
It reaches the outlet 24 from 3a and is discharged.

The hot water obtained from the above is at a predetermined temperature from the beginning.
Moreover, it is delicious and has no chlorine smell.

Since the water sprinkler 26 is detachable, it can be easily cleaned or replaced when dirt such as scale or clogging occurs.

Next, FIG. 6 shows a water sprinkler 26 in which a water quality conditioner 42 made of, for example, powdered or particulate activated carbon is incorporated.

In this example, the removal rate of scale components is 95% or more, which is significantly improved compared to about 75% without the water quality conditioner 42. Furthermore, it can also remove trihalomethane and musty odors.

In FIG. 7, the water sprinkling direction of the water sprinkler 26 is set obliquely to the inner surface of the container 15. According to this, the hot water from the water sprinkler 26 flows along the inner surface of the container 15, and the noise of dripping onto the liquid surface can be suppressed.

In FIGS. 8 and 9, an overflow port 44 is formed on the upper surface 46 of the water sprinkler 26, and a pressure regulating valve 45 made of an elastic body is closed from the outer surface.

According to this configuration, when the small holes 28 of the water sprinkler 26 and the water quality conditioner 42 are clogged due to accumulation of mineral components in the hot water, and the internal pressure of the circulation path exceeds a predetermined level, the pressure regulating valve 45 opens and hot water flows out from the overflow port 44. Therefore, accidents such as destruction of the circulation path or overload on the pump 21 causing failure can be prevented.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the present invention automatically drives the pump for a predetermined period of time using an electric signal from a heat-sensitive element when the liquid in the container is heated by the heating element and reaches a predetermined temperature close to the boiling temperature. As a result, the liquid in the container is forced to circulate for a predetermined period of time from the hot water outlet path to the bypass path to the inside of the container and the hot water outlet path, resulting in the following excellent effects.

The temperature of the liquid in the outlet path and the liquid in the container are equal, so hot water at a predetermined temperature is obtained from the beginning.

Since the pump is driven in a timed manner in response to the temperature of the liquid in the container, the pump does not start and stop as frequently as in the case of pumps that respond to the temperature of the hot water outlet. Durability can be increased.

During the circulation operation, the liquid from the bypass path is sprayed into the gas phase inside the container through the sprinkler, so that the chlorine components therein are reliably evaporated. Therefore, delicious hot water can be obtained.

Since the valve means is set so that the bypass side is always open, even if the valve means or control circuit fails, the liquid will circulate between the container and the high temperature liquid will not leak out accidentally. There is no risk of burns, and it is extremely safe.

If the water sprinkler is set to spray water in the direction toward the inner wall of the container, no dripping noise will occur on the liquid surface.
Therefore, further noise reduction can be achieved.

By incorporating a water quality conditioner into the water sprinkler, it is possible to improve the purification of the liquid, thereby providing more delicious and safe hot water.

By making the water sprinkler detachable from the bypass path, you can easily maintain it.
The function of the water sprinkler can be maximized.

If an overflow port is formed in the water sprinkler, circulation flow will be ensured even if the water sprinkler becomes clogged, and the circulation path or pump will not be overloaded.
Therefore, damage to the circulation path and pump can be prevented, and their durability can be increased.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an electric water heater showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 2 and 3 are cross-sectional views showing the operation of the valve means, FIG. 4 is an exploded cross-sectional view of the connection part of the water sprinkler, and FIG. Figure a is a top view of the water sprinkler, Figure 5 b is a sectional view of the water sprinkler, Figures 6 and 7 are sectional views showing other embodiments of the water sprinkler, and Figure 8 a is a further A top view showing another embodiment of the water sprinkler, FIG. 8b is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. , FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a conventional electric water heater. 15... Container, 16... Liquid, 18... Heating element, 19... Temperature sensing element, 21... Pump, 22...
...Valve means, 23... Output channel, 24... Outlet, 2
5...Bypass path, 26...Water sprinkler, 33...Control circuit, 42...Water quality conditioner, 44...Overflow port.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A container containing a liquid heated by a heating element;
A temperature-sensitive element that detects the temperature of this liquid, an electric pump that sends out the liquid in the container through a hot water outlet, and a temperature-sensitive element that is branched from the upstream side of the hot water outlet at the tip of the hot water path, and a temperature sensing element that detects the temperature of the liquid. A bypass path connected to a water sprinkler provided in the phase part and a hot water outlet downstream from the bypass path and the bypass path branching section are selectively opened and closed, and the bypass path side is always open. When the set valve means and the liquid temperature in the container reach a predetermined temperature, the pump is driven for a predetermined period of time in response to an electric signal from the temperature sensing element, and the pump is operated between the hot water outlet path and the container via the bypass path. An electric water heater equipped with a control circuit for circulating liquid. 2. The electric water heater according to claim 1, wherein the water sprinkler is detachably installed in the bypass path. 3. The electric water heater according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the direction of water sprinkling of the water sprinkler is set toward the inner wall surface of the container. 4 Claims 1, 2, and 3 in which an overflow port is formed in the water sprinkler
Any of the electric water heaters listed above. 5 Claim 1, in which a water quality regulator is built into the water sprinkler;
The electric water heater according to any one of 2, 3, and 4.