JPH06281245A - Circulation judging method of water level of bathtub - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce noise at the time of circulation judgement by a method wherein when a flow rate per unit time is equal to or larger than a certain flow rate, a shorter circulation judging time is used to perform a circulation judgement and when it is smaller than the certain flow rate, a longer circulation judging time is used to perform the circulation judgement. CONSTITUTION:When a flow rate per unit time is below a first flow rate, a controller 60 judges whether or not the flow rate per unit time is equal to or larger than a second flow rate which is smaller than the first flow rate and when it is not less than the second flow rate, a first circulation judgement is performed and when it is below the second flow rate, a second circulation judgement is performed. The second flow rate is determined beforehand by an experiment corresponding to a hot-water feeding device such as size or length of pipes of a make-up firing circulation circuit 20, inlet water pressure for the circuit 20 so that an obstacle to circulation such as mixture of air can be surely judged even if the judgement is made in a short time. As a result, circulation judgement is surely performed at any time under any conditions and the noise at the judgement can be reduced.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bathtub water level circulation determination method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When hot water from a water heater is automatically dropped into a bathtub to fill the bathtub, first, by dropping the water level, the bath water level is higher than a hole in a circulation fitting of the bathtub, that is, reheating is possible. It is judged whether or not the water level is above the water level. The reference output value corresponding to this reference water level is given to the bath water level sensor in the reheating circulation circuit, and the bath water level sensor further sets the water level based on the reference output value. Conventionally, there has been provided a method of dropping until the output value corresponding to is detected. Conventionally, the circulation determination is performed by setting a fixed circulation determination time irrespective of the situation at the time of entering the circulation determination. For example, drive the circulation pump so that the water flow switch in the circulation circuit is continuous.
If it was turned on for 40 seconds, the determination was OK at that time, and if it was not turned on continuously for 40 seconds, the determination was made by driving the circulation pump for a maximum of 5 minutes.

[0003]

However, the circulation determination is
In particular, when the water level does not reach the level at which the water can be reheated and can be circulated, the circulation pump idles, resulting in a drawback that noise is large.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks of the conventional method and to provide a method for determining the circulation level of the bath water level in which the noise due to the circulation determination is reduced and the circulation determination can be reliably performed.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the bathtub water level circulation determination method of the present invention is such that when hot water is automatically dropped into the bathtub via the bath-heating circuit, the bathtub water level is It is a method of judging the circulation by actually driving the circulation pump to determine whether the water level exceeds the level of the hole of the circulation metal fittings for reheating and circulating, and two kinds of circulation judgment time are prepared and circulation is performed. It is determined whether or not the flow rate per unit time at the time of dropping before the determination is equal to or more than a predetermined constant flow rate, and in the above case, the circulation determination is performed using the shorter circulation determination time, When it is less than the above, the circulation determination is performed using the longer circulation determination time.

[0006]

According to the features of the present invention, when the flow rate per unit time at the time of dropping before the circulation determination is equal to or higher than a predetermined constant flow rate, the circulation determination is the shorter circulation determination. Done in time. When the flow rate is less than a certain value, the circulation determination is performed on the longer side, that is, the conventional circulation determination time. Here, the drop flow rate per unit time before the circulation determination is equal to or more than a predetermined constant flow rate means that there is less air or the like mixed in the reheating circulation circuit and there are few obstacles that make the circulation determination difficult. Means to be judged. Therefore, in this case, it is possible to determine whether or not the water level is at a level at which the water can be reheated and circulated sufficiently reliably even with a relatively short circulation determination time. The predetermined constant flow rate per unit time is experimentally determined. That is, the thickness and length of the tube of the reheating circulation circuit,
An experiment is conducted in advance according to the water filling pressure such as the water pressure to the circulation circuit, and the flow rate is set so that the circulation obstacle such as mixed air can be sufficiently and reliably determined even in a short time determination. As described above, in the method of the present invention, one of two types of circulation determination time is selected after it is first determined whether or not a circulation obstacle such as air exists in the reheating circulation circuit based on the flow rate per unit time. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the noise during the circulation determination while ensuring that the circulation determination can always be surely performed under any condition.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a hot water supply device with a bathtub function in which the method of the present invention is implemented, and FIG. 2 is a flow chart for explaining an embodiment of the method of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, 10 is a bathtub, and a reheating circulation circuit 20 composed of a bath return pipe 21 and a bath outflow pipe 22 is circulated from the bathtub 10 to a reheating heat exchange can body 30. Reference numeral 40 denotes a water heater, in which the water that has entered the water heater 40 through the water inlet pipe 41 is heated there to become hot water and is discharged to the hot water outlet pipe 42. The hot water of the hot water outlet pipe 42 is separated into a general hot water supply passage 44 and a bath automatic hot water supply passage 45 via a water mixing valve 43 and the like. From the water inlet pipe 41, a bath automatic water supply channel
46 broke up.

The bath automatic hot water supply passage 45 is provided with a drop water amount sensor 45a on the way, and hot water is dropped into the hot water solenoid valve 45.
It is poured into the backflow prevention hopper 47 through b. Further, the bath automatic water supply passage 46 is also dropped and poured into the backflow prevention hopper 47 through the water solenoid valve 46b. From the backflow prevention hopper 47, a common drop path 48 is connected to the bath return pipe 21 of the reheating circulation circuit 20 via a three-way valve 51. The bath return pipe
21 is a bath water level sensor 52, both transfer solenoid valves 53, circulation pump
54, a bath water flow switch 55, a bath temperature sensor 56 and the like are provided. Reference numeral 23 is a bypass pipe that bypasses the heat-exchange can body 30 for reheating, and an opening / closing valve 23a is provided on the way.

The bathtub 10 is provided with a circulation fitting 11, a double pipe outer pipe 11a is connected to a bath return pipe 21, and an inner pipe 11b is connected.
Bath bath pipe 22 is connected to. Reference numeral 60 denotes a controller, which has a built-in microcomputer and controls each part of the device in each operation such as a hot water supply operation, an automatic dropping operation into a bathtub, and a reheating operation. Now, when a command to drive the bath is given,
The circulation pump is driven via the controller 60, the bath water enters the bath return pipe 21 from the outer pipe 11a of the circulation fitting 11, and is circulated and heated in the reheating heat exchange can body 30 to be heated in the bath trip pipe.
Return to the bathtub 10 from the inner pipe 11b of the circulation fitting 11 through 22. When the automatic hot water drop operation is commanded, the drop hot water solenoid valve 45b is opened, and the hot water from the water heater 40 flows from the bath automatic hot water supply passage 45 into the backflow prevention hopper.
47, common drop-in passage 48, three-way valve 51, and enter bath return pipe 21. In the case of single-sided transport, the bath return pipe 21 is reheated and flows in the opposite direction to that during circulation, and is introduced into the bathtub 10 from the outer pipe 11a of the circulation fitting 11. In the case of both transports, the circulation pump 54 is driven, both transport solenoid valves 53 are also opened, and the hot water introduced into the bath return pipe 21 flows also to the bath return pipe 22 side, and the bath return pipe 21 and the bath return pipe 21. It flows into the bathtub 10 from both of the pipes 22 through the circulation fitting 11.

Next, the control by the controller 60 in the operation of dropping hot water into the bathtub will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Now, with a remote controller not shown,
When the water level of the bathtub is set and the automatic hot water filling operation switch to the bathtub is turned on, first, the drop hot water solenoid valve 45b
Is opened (S1), hot water is introduced into the circulation circuit 20 via the three-way valve 51, and the maximum amount of 30 liters is reached in both transports through the bath return pipe 21 and the bath outflow pipe 22 through the circulation fitting 11. Drop it into bathtub 10 (S2). During this time, the controller 60 monitors whether the flow rate of the drop per unit time is equal to or higher than the first flow rate set in advance, based on the information from the drop water amount sensor 45a (S3). In the case of the embodiment, for example, the first flow rate is 15 liters / minute when the water pressure is 1.3 Kgf / cm.

When the flow rate per unit time is equal to or higher than the first flow rate (Yes in S3), the controller 60 adopts the inflection point detection mode as the control flow. That is, at the point of time, the both transportations are finished, and the bath water level sensor 52 detects while the bath return pipe 21 is dropped through the outer pipe 11a of the bath circulation metal fitting 11 to carry it down (S4). The output value is monitored by the controller, and the inflection point of the detected output value is detected (S5). This inflection point is the bath water level H
When There becomes a level H _c reaching the outer tube 11a of the circulating fitting 11, so darken come pressure is applied by bath water level to the bath return pipe 21 being made, bath water level sensor 52
The detected output value of 1 changes in a situation different from the output curve up to that point, that is, the detected output curve increases significantly. The starting point of this change is the inflection point. When the inflection point is detected (Yes in S5), it can be estimated that the water level H _c has been almost reached.
A constant amount (this amount can be obtained in advance as an almost accurate amount depending on the size of the circulation fitting 11) so that the water level H ₁ slightly exceeds the hole of the bathtub 10 in both transports.
(S6).

[0013] The predetermined amount by dropping the bath 10 (S6) in both the transport, bath water level but H should become recyclable water level H ₁ reheating, further confirmed circulation determination (S12)
After performing and confirming, the reference water level H ₁ is stored assuming that this water level is a constant reference water level H ₁ . The output value of the bath water level sensor 52 at this time is set to the reference output value P ₁
Is set and stored (S13). The confirmation circulation judgment (S
In the step 12), it also serves as an air purging operation for eliminating the air in the circulation circuit 20. That is, the three-way valve 51 is switched to complete the reheating circulation circuit 20 and the circulation pump 54 is driven in a strong state to circulate the bath water in the circulation circuit 20. Confirm that the bath water flow switch 55 is turned on for a certain period of time to confirm the circulation.
It is said that

When the storage of the reference water level H ₁ and the corresponding reference output value P ₁ of the bath water level sensor 52 are determined (S 1
3), the set water level H so determined even if the output value P _S of the tub water level sensor 52 corresponding to the _S, bathtub water level sensor 52 the output value P _S
Both are carried until is output (S14, S15). As a result, a substantially predetermined set water level can be actually obtained.
In the case of water filling through the inflection point mode, as long as the inflection point can be accurately captured, the water level H ₁ that is the reference for water filling is
However, since it is possible to match the presumed water level quite accurately, the water filling up to the set water level H _S is also accurate.

In the above step S3, when the flow rate per unit time does not exceed the first flow rate during both carrying of 30 liters (NO in S3), the controller 60 actually circulates as a control flow. By adopting a circulation determination mode for determining whether or not there is circulation. That is, the controller 60 further determines whether or not the dropped flow rate per unit time is equal to or greater than the second flow rate that is less than the first flow rate (S7). A determination is made (S8), and if less than the above, a second circulation determination is made (S9). In the case of the embodiment, the second flow rate is, for example, 10 liters / minute when the water pressure is 1.3 Kgf / cm. This second flow rate is empirically determined. That is, the thickness and length of the tube of the reheating circulation circuit, the water pressure entering the circulation circuit, etc.
An experiment is conducted in advance according to the water filling device so that the flow rate of the circulation obstacle such as mixed air can be sufficiently and reliably determined even in a short time. The first circulation judgment is a short circulation judgment time, for example, the circulation pump 54 is driven for 1 minute, and if the water flow switch 55 is continuously turned on for the last 15 seconds, the circulation judgment is OK, that is, the circulation fitting. It is judged that the water level above the 11th hole is high enough to operate the reheating. On the other hand, when the water flow switch 55 is not turned on continuously for the last 15 seconds, the circulation method is a determination method of determining no. However, of course, it is not limited to this specific example. The second circulation determination is the relatively long circulation determination time. For example, when the circulation pump 54 is driven and the water flow switch 55 is continuously turned on for 40 seconds, the circulation determination is OK. On the other hand, if the water flow switch 55 is not turned on continuously for 40 seconds even if the circulation pump 54 is driven for 5 minutes, the circulation determination is determined to be no. However, the present invention is not limited to this specific example.

If the circulation determination is negative (NO) in step S8 or S9, both the fixed amount of water is further conveyed (S10), and the flow returns to step S7 to determine the flow rate (S).
7), circulation determination (S8), (S9), and dropping of a fixed amount of water (S10) are repeated until the circulation determination is OK. Then, in step S8 or S9, the circulation determination is O.
When the value becomes K, a certain amount of water is dropped just in case (S11), and then a confirmation circulation judgment is made (S12). Subsequent operations S12 to S15 are the same as those already described. Since the confirmation circulation determination (S12) also serves as the air purge operation in the reheating circulation circuit 20, in this case, the second circulation determination is performed by the long circulation determination time.

[0017]

According to the method of judging the circulation of the bath water level according to the first aspect of the present invention, the bath water level exceeds the level of the hole of the circulation fitting of the bath, and the reheating circulation is performed. When the circulation pump is actually driven to determine whether or not the water level is higher than the possible water level, two types of circulation determination times are prepared, and the flow rate per unit time at the time of dropping before the circulation determination is It is determined whether or not the flow rate is above a predetermined fixed flow rate, and if it is greater than or equal to it, circulation determination is performed using the shorter circulation determination time, and if less than that, circulation determination is performed using the longer circulation determination time Therefore, it is possible to adopt the appropriate circulation judgment time after first judging whether or not there is a circulation obstacle such as air in the reheating circulation circuit. Make sure that you can make a decision Et al., By eliminating long circulation determination time and unnecessarily, it is possible to reduce noise when the circulating determination.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a hot water supply device with a bath kettle function in which the method of the present invention is implemented.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of the method of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Bathtub 11 Circulation fitting 20 Reheating circulation circuit 21 Bath return pipe 22 Bath outflow pipe 30 Heat reheating can body 40 for reheating 40 Hot water heater 45 Automatic bath hot water supply passage 45a Drop water amount sensor 51 Three-way valve 52 Bath water level sensor 53 Both transfer solenoid valve 54 Circulation pump 55 Bath water flow switch 56 Bath temperature sensor 60 Controller

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] July 7, 1993

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0010

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

The bathtub 10 is provided with a circulation fitting 11,
The bath return pipe 21 is connected to the outer pipe 11a of the double pipe, and the bath return pipe 22 is connected to the inner pipe 11b. Reference numeral 60 denotes a controller, which incorporates a microcomputer and controls each part of the apparatus in each operation such as a hot water supply operation, an automatic dropping operation into a bathtub, and a reheating operation. Now, when the bath reheating operation is commanded, the circulation pump is driven via the controller 60, and the bath water enters the bath return pipe 21 from the outer pipe 11a of the circulation fitting 11, and the reheating heat exchange can body 30. It is circulated and heated to the bath passage pipe 22, and returns from the inner pipe 11b of the circulation fitting 11 to the bathtub 10. When the automatic hot water bath drop operation is commanded, the hot water solenoid valve 45b is opened, and the hot water from the water heater 40 flows from the bath automatic hot water supply passage 45 to the backflow prevention hopper 47, the common drop passage 48, and the three-way valve 51. Pass into the bath return pipe 21. In case of single-sided transportation, the bath goes out from the bath return pipe 21.
Pass the pipe 22 through the inner pipe 11b of the circulation fitting 11 to the bathtub.
Introduced in 10. In the case of both transports, both transport electromagnetic
Hot water introduced into the bath return pipe 21 with the valve 53 also opened
There are circulation fittings from both the bath return pipe 22 and the bath return pipe 21.
It flows into the bathtub 10 through 11.

[Procedure Amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0012

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

When the flow rate per unit time is equal to or higher than the first flow rate (Yes in S3), the controller 60 adopts the inflection point detection mode as the control flow. That is, ends the two conveyance at that point, the darken to bathtubs, bath
Bathtub circulation fittings from the return pipe 21 through the bath outlet pipe 22
While performing by single-sided conveyance performed through the inner tube 11b of 11
(S4) , the detection output value of the bath water level sensor 52 is monitored by the controller, and the inflection point of this detection output value is detected (S4) .
5). This inflection point means that the bath water level H is the circulation fitting 1
When it becomes a level H _c reaching the first outer tube 11a, so coming pressure is applied by bath water level to the wind <br/> Lu return pipe 21, so far the output of the detection output value of the tub water level sensor 52 A situation different from the curve, that is, a change such that the increase of the detection output curve becomes remarkable occurs. The starting point of this change is the inflection point. When the inflection point is detected (Yes in S5), it can be estimated that the water level H _c has been almost reached, and this time, the water level H ₁ just beyond the hole of the circulation fitting 11 should be set. Then, a fixed amount (this amount can be obtained in advance as an almost accurate amount depending on the size of the circulation fitting 11) is dropped into the bathtub 10 by both conveyances (S6).

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. When hot water is automatically dropped into a bathtub through a bath reheating circulation circuit, whether the bath water level exceeds the level of a hole of a circulation fitting of the bathtub and becomes equal to or higher than a water level capable of reheating and circulating. , A method of actually determining the circulation by driving the circulation pump, providing two types of circulation determination times, and the flow rate per unit time at the time of dropping before the circulation determination is a predetermined constant flow rate or more. It is determined whether or not it is, and in the above cases, the circulation determination is performed using the shorter circulation determination time, and in the case of less than that, the circulation determination is performed using the longer circulation determination time. A method for determining the circulation of the bath water level, which is characterized by