JPH0727357A - Fully-automatic hot water supplying apparatus for bath - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a fully-automatic bath hot water supplying apparatus which can accurately control a water level of a bathtub without influence to the flow rate of an external hot water supply cock. CONSTITUTION:A fully-automatic bath hot water supplying apparatus supplies hot water to be output from a heat exchanger 3 to a bathtub 2 through a hopper 7, and also supplies the hot water to an external hot water port. The apparatus supplies the hot water from the exchanger 7 directly to a hopper 7 through a drop-in valve 6, and comprises a bypass valve 12 in parallel with the valve 6 to control switching of the valve 12 in response to the used flow rate of the apparatus.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fully automatic bath water heater capable of pouring hot water discharged from a heat exchanger into a bathtub through a hopper and also supplying water to an external hot water supply port. It is a thing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 shows an example of a conventional fully automatic bath water heater. It should be noted that this figure shows only the main parts related to the present invention. In FIG. 4, 1 is a fully automatic bath water heater, 2
Is a bathtub. The fully automatic bath water heater 1 is equipped with a heat exchanger 3 combined with a heat source such as a gas burner, and the water inlet side of this heat exchanger 3 is connected to a water inlet such as a water supply via a flow sensor 4. There is. The outlet port side is connected to an external hot water supply port such as a faucet via a water control valve 5, is branched downstream of the water control valve 5, and is connected to a hopper 7 via a drop valve 6. . The hopper 7 is connected to the bathtub 2 via a pouring passage 8, and is configured to pour the hot water stored in the hopper 7 into the bathtub 2 via the pouring passage 8.

Reference numeral 9 is a pressure type water level sensor for detecting the water level of hot water in the bathtub 2 provided in the middle of the pouring passage 8, and 10 is for additional heating which communicates with an additional heating mechanism (not shown). The circulation path 11 is a control circuit for hot water supply control, which is configured by a microcomputer or the like.

The operation of the conventional example having the above structure will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Now, when an automatic operation switch (not shown) is turned on to start pouring into the bathtub 2 (step S51), the control circuit 11 opens the drop valve 6 (step S52) and opens the water control valve 5. . Furthermore, the gas burner is controlled to control the heat exchanger 3
The temperature of the hot water discharged from the hot water is adjusted to the preset hot water temperature, and the hot water adjusted to the preset hot water temperature is fed to the hopper 7 through the drop valve 6. Then, the hot water stored in the hopper 7 is started to be poured into the bathtub 2 through the pouring path 8.

During the pouring period, the control circuit 11 monitors the water level in the bathtub 2 by the water level detection signal of the water level sensor 9 (step S53), and the water level in the bathtub 2 is a predetermined level (eg, a predetermined level) higher than the set water level. When the water level lowers by 15 mm H ₂ 0) is reached, the water control valve 5 is narrowed down to a predetermined opening (for example, a flow rate of 15 liters / minute) (step S
54), the flow rate dropped into the hopper 7 is reduced and the pouring into the bathtub 2 is continued. When the water level in the bathtub 2 reaches the set water level (step S55), the drop valve 6 is closed and the pouring into the bathtub 2 is completed (step S56).

As described above, in the conventional fully automatic bath water heater, the water control valve 5 is operated to reduce the flow rate before the water level in the bathtub 2 reaches the set water level. The pressure applied by the flow of water to the water tank becomes small, and the water level of the bathtub 2 can be accurately controlled. Also, since the momentum of pouring is weakened, the drop valve 6
It is possible to prevent overflow at the time of closing.

[0007]

However, in the case of the above-mentioned conventional fully automatic bath water heater, the water control valve 5 for adjusting the flow rate controls the flow rate to the bathtub 2 and at the same time the flow rate to the external hot water supply port such as a faucet. Since it also serves as control, if the water control valve 5 is throttled when hot water is being poured from the external hot water supply port at the same time as pouring the water into the bathtub 2, the flow rate of the external hot water supply port will also be reduced. However, there is a problem in that the flow rate of the external hot water supply port changes depending on the state of pouring the hot water into the bathtub 2, resulting in poor usability. The simplest way to prevent this is to remove the water control valve 5, but if the water control valve 43 is removed, the flow rate of the hot water dropped into the hopper 7 cannot be throttled. There arises a new problem that the water level cannot be controlled accurately.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a fully automatic bath water heater that does not affect the flow rate of the external hot water supply port and can accurately control the water level of the bathtub. That is the purpose.

[0009]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of the principle of a fully automatic bath water heater according to the present invention. In the fully automatic bath water heater of the present invention, hot water discharged from the heat exchanger 3 is directly fed to the hopper 7 through the drop valve 6, and a bypass valve 12 is provided in parallel with the drop valve 6. The opening / closing control of the bypass valve 12 is performed according to the flow rate of the water heater. The same members as those in FIG. 4 are designated by the same reference numerals.

[0010]

The hot water is poured into the bathtub 2 while controlling the opening / closing of the bypass valve 12 according to the flow rate of the water heater. When the set water level is approached, the drop valve 6 is closed and the bypass valve 12
Continue pouring by only. As a result, even when hot water is being poured from the external hot water supply port at the same time as pouring the hot water into the bathtub 2, it is possible to pour the hot water into the bathtub without affecting the flow rate of the external hot water supply port. Become.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the fully automatic bath water heater of the present invention. The same members as those in FIGS. 1 and 4 are designated by the same reference numerals. In FIG. 2, 1 is a fully automatic bath water heater, 2 is a bathtub, and 3 is a heat exchanger. The water inlet side of the heat exchanger 3 is connected to a water inlet such as a water supply via a flow rate regulating valve (MK governor) 13 and a flow rate sensor 4. Also,
The hot water outlet side of the heat exchanger 3 is connected to one water inlet end of the thermomixing valve 14, and is mixed with water supplied from the other water inlet end to produce hot water having a predetermined temperature.

The outlet port end of the thermomixing valve 14 is connected to an external hot water supply port such as a faucet, and is also connected to a hopper 7 via a drop valve 6. A bypass valve 12 is connected in parallel with the drop valve 6. Water is supplied to the hopper 7 through a water supply valve 15, and when the hot water in the bathtub 2 is too hot, the water is supplied through the water supply valve 15 for dilution. ing.

The drop valve 6 and the bypass valve 1 are also provided.
2. Flow rate regulating valves (MK governors) 16, 17, and 18 are provided in front of the water supply valve 15 to appropriately regulate the flow rate of each flow path.

The operation of the above embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Now, when an automatic operation switch (not shown) is turned on to start pouring into the bathtub 2 (step S1), the control circuit 11 causes the bypass valve 12
And open the drop valve 6 (steps S2, S
3) The hot air of a predetermined temperature is discharged from the heat exchanger 3 by controlling the gas burner, and the hot water is mixed with water in the thermomixing valve 14 to adjust the hot water temperature to the set temperature. Then, the hot water adjusted to the set hot water temperature is fed to the hopper 7 through the drop valve 6 and the bypass valve 12, and the pouring of the hot water into the bathtub 2 is started through the pouring passage 8.

The control circuit 11 monitors, based on the flow rate detection signal of the flow rate sensor 4, whether or not the flow rate at that time is a predetermined flow rate (for example, 20 liters / minute) or more (step S4). If it is equal to or higher than the predetermined flow rate, the process proceeds to step S5, and if it is equal to or lower than the predetermined flow rate, the process proceeds to step S8.

In step S4, a predetermined flow rate (2
0 liters / minute) or more), the bypass valve 12 is closed in step S5, and after switching to feed hot water to the hopper 7 only by the drop valve 6, the flow rate detection signal of the flow rate sensor 4 is detected. Based on the above, whether or not the flow rate at that time is below a predetermined flow rate (for example, 10 liters / minute) is monitored (step S6). When the flow rate is below the predetermined flow rate, the process proceeds to step S7, and when the flow rate is above the predetermined flow rate, the process proceeds to step S9.

In step S6, a predetermined flow rate (1
If it is determined that the water level is 0 liters / minute or less, the bypass valve 12 is opened in step S7, the hot water is supplied to the hopper 7 by both the drop valve 6 and the bypass valve 12 again, and then the water level is changed. Based on the water level detection signal of the sensor 8, it is monitored whether the water level in the bathtub 2 has reached a water level lower than the set water level by a predetermined level (for example, 15 mm H ₂ 0) (step S8). When the water level reaches a level lower than the set water level by a predetermined level, the drop valve 6 is closed, hot water is continuously supplied to the hopper 7 only by the bypass valve 12, and the water level in the bathtub 2 is monitored ( Step S12).

On the other hand, when it is determined in step S6 that the flow rate is equal to or higher than the predetermined flow rate (10 liters / minute),
Without opening the bypass valve 12, shift to step S9,
While continuing to supply hot water to the hopper 7 only by the drop valve 6, it is monitored whether or not the water level in the bathtub 2 has reached a water level lower than the set water level by a predetermined level (for example, 15 mm H ₂ 0). When the water level reaches a level lower than the set water level by a predetermined level, the bypass valve 12 is opened (step S10), and then the drop valve 6 is closed (step S).
11) The hot water is continuously supplied to the hopper 7 only by the bypass valve 12 and the water level in the bathtub 2 is monitored (step S12).

When the control valve 11 detects that the water level in the bathtub 2 has reached the set water level by pouring the bypass valve 12 into the bathtub 2 (step S12), the bypass valve 12 is closed to enter the bathtub 2. The pouring is completed (step S56).

As a result of the operation as described above, until the water level in the bathtub 2 reaches a water level lower than the set water level by a predetermined level, the bypass valve 12 is controlled to open / close according to the magnitude of the flow rate at that time. , Bypass valve 12 and drop valve 6
, Or only by the drop valve 6, the pouring into the bathtub 2 is performed. Therefore, even if hot water is being discharged from the external hot water supply port at the same time as pouring the water into the bathtub, the flow rate of the external hot water supply port will not change significantly.

After the water level in the bathtub 2 reaches the water level lower than the set water level by a predetermined level, pouring into the bathtub 2 is continued only by the bypass valve 12 having a small flow rate. The rise in the water level is gentle as in the conventional water heater, and the water level can be accurately controlled as in the conventional case to prevent the overflow. Further, since the flow rate of hot water is small, there is no possibility of causing a water hammer phenomenon even if the valve is closed.

Further, when both the bypass valve and the drop valve are opened, the load on the water heater is reduced, so that the flow rate at low water pressure can be increased. In addition, when the external hot water supply port is opened during pouring into the bathtub 2, the pie bath valve 1
If 2 is closed, the load on the bathtub side will increase, and the hot water will flow more easily to the external hot water supply port side, and the usability of the external hot water supply port will be improved. In the case of the conventional fully automatic bath water heater, even if the external hot water supply port is opened while pouring the water into the bathtub, only a small amount of hot water flows to the external hot water supply port side.

[0023]

As described above, according to the present invention, in the fully automatic bath water heater of this type, hot water discharged from the heat exchanger is directly fed to the hopper through the drop valve. By providing a bypass valve in parallel with the drop valve and controlling the opening / closing of the bypass valve according to the flow rate of the water heater, the following excellent effects can be achieved. (1) Even when used simultaneously with the external hot water supply port, the pouring flow rate into the bathtub can be reduced without affecting the flow rate of the external hot water supply port. (2) Even with a fully-automatic bath water heater that does not have a water control valve, it is possible to control the pouring flow rate into the bathtub. (3) Since the pouring flow rate into the bathtub can be reduced, accurate water level control can be performed and overflow can be prevented. (4) By simultaneously opening the two valves, the drop valve and the bypass valve, the load on the water heater can be reduced and a large amount of hot water can be poured even at low water pressure. (5) When the flow rate used by the water heater exceeds a certain flow rate, the bypass valve can be closed to increase the load on the bathtub side, making it easier for hot water to flow to the external hot water supply port side. Therefore, it is possible to improve the usability when pouring the water into the bathtub and simultaneously using the external hot water supply port.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the principle of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a conventional example.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an operation of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Fully automatic bath water heater 2 Bath tub 3 Heat exchanger 6 Drop valve 7 Hopper 8 Hot water supply passage 9 Water level sensor 11 Control circuit 12 Bypass valve

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A fully automatic bath water heater that pours hot water discharged from a heat exchanger into a bathtub through a hopper and also can supply water to an external hot water supply port. The hot water to be supplied is directly fed to the hopper through the drop valve, and a bypass valve is provided in parallel with the drop valve so that the bypass valve is controlled to open and close according to the flow rate of the water heater. Characteristic fully automatic bath water heater.