JPH07275839A - Circulating hot bath machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a circulating hot bath machine which purifies water always properly irrespective of the size of a bathtub and the amount of water in the bathtub. CONSTITUTION:A control circuit controls the amount of a purifying solution to be incorporated into bath water by a pump 8 on the basis of the bottom surface area of a bathtub set up by a bathtub bottom surface area setting key installed on a control panel and the water level of the bathtub measured by a level sensor 4.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a circulating hot water bath machine capable of purifying bath water in a bathtub and always keeping it in proper water quality.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a circulating warm bath machine (commonly called a 24-hour bath) for bathing at a desired bath water temperature at a desired time has been provided at home. The circulating hot bath is a device for purifying the bath water by circulating the bath water between the inside of the main body of the circulating hot bath and between the baths, and controlling the temperature of the bath water so as to reach a desired temperature.

In such a circulating hot bath machine, for example,
Japanese Patent Publication No. 1-44363 discloses a purification solution in which a mineral component is extracted from a natural mineral and is added to bath water. According to this one,
Organic substances were deposited and aggregated by always mixing a fixed amount of the purification solution into the bath water.

[0004]

However, in the conventional circulating hot water bath machine as described above, although the size of the bathtub used by each household is different and the amount of bath water is also different, The amount of cleaning solution added to the water was constant. Therefore, for example, in the case of a small size and a small amount of bath water in the bath, the concentration of the purification solution in the bath water may be high, which may adversely affect the bath and the human body. Also,
On the other hand, when the bath water is large and contains a large amount of bath water, the concentration of the purification solution in the bath water becomes extremely low, and there is a drawback that sufficient purification capacity cannot be obtained.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and provides a circulating warm bath machine that always performs an appropriate purifying action regardless of the size of the bathtub and the amount of bath water in the bathtub. The purpose is to do.

[0006]

In order to achieve this object, the circulating hot bath machine of the present invention comprises a setting means for setting the bottom area of the bath and a water level measuring means for measuring the water level of the bath water in the bath. A bottom area of the bathtub set by the setting means, and a control means for controlling the amount of the purification solution added to the bath water by the addition means, based on the water level of the bath water measured by the water level measurement means. Is equipped with.

Further, the control means obtains the volume of the bath water from the bottom area of the bathtub set by the setting means and the water level of the bath water measured by the water level measuring means, and based on the volume value. Then, the amount of the purification solution added to the bath water may be controlled by the addition means.

Further, there is provided storage means for storing the amount of the cleaning solution to be added by the adding means based on the bottom area of the bathtub and the water level of the bath water, and the control means is the bathtub set by the setting means. Bottom area and the water level of the bath water measured by the water level measuring means, the addition amount stored in the storage means is selected, and the addition is performed so that the selected amount of the purification solution is added to the bath water. The means may be controlled.

[0009]

In the circulating hot water bath of the present invention having the above-mentioned structure, the control means controls the addition means based on the bottom area of the bathtub set by the setting means and the water level in the bathtub measured by the water level measuring means. Controls the amount of cleaning solution added to the bath water.

Further, the control means obtains the volume of bath water from the bottom area of the bathtub set by the setting means and the water level of the bath water measured by the water level measuring means, and based on the volume value. Thus, the amount of the purification solution added to the bath water can be controlled by the adding means.

Further, based on the bottom area of the bathtub and the water level of the bath water, the amount of the purification solution to be added by the adding means is stored in the storage means, and the selecting means is the bottom of the bathtub set by the setting means. By the area and the water level of the bath water measured by the water level measuring means, the addition amount stored in the storage means is selected, and the addition means is added to add the selected amount of the purification solution to the bath water. Control.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the circulating hot bath of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

First, an outline of the circulating hot water bath of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

The apparatus main body 1 of the circulating warm bath machine in this embodiment
Is disposed above the installation base 57 installed on the bathtub 55, and has a function of purifying the bath water in the bathtub 55 and adjusting the temperature. The method for purifying the bath water of the circulating warm bath of this embodiment is such that a purification solution of a natural mineral group containing a high concentration of various kinds of metal ions is injected into the bath water to precipitate and agglomerate an organic matter, and this is filtered. By doing so, the bath water is constantly purified to maintain an optimum bathing condition.

A control panel 90 for inputting a bathing time zone and a set temperature is provided on the front surface of the apparatus body 1.
Are arranged.

FIG. 1 shows the detailed structure of the circulating hot water bath of this embodiment.
Will be explained.

The circulating hot water bath according to the present embodiment has a storage section 102 for storing a purified solution composed of a mineral group solution.
A filtering unit 40 for filtering organic substances deposited and condensed by the cleaning solution; a heating unit 5 for adjusting the temperature of the bath water; and a circulation pump 2 for circulating the bath water.
A main body cover 120 formed of a material such as plastic for protecting them, a suction unit 10 for sucking bath water into the apparatus main body 1, and an outflow for flowing purified bath water into the bath. It is composed of a part 11 and water channels 18, 19, 22, 46, 41, 45 for connecting the above-mentioned components. A window 58 is provided on the installation table 57. Below the apparatus body 1 corresponding to the window 58, a water level sensor 4 as a water level measuring means for measuring the water level of the bath water in the bathtub is arranged. The water level sensor 4 is composed of an ultrasonic transmitter 95 and a receiver 96, and is connected to a control device (not shown) which will be described later.

Explaining the details of each component, the suction part 10 includes a filter 12 for removing large dust such as hair floating in the bath water, and a suction cup 16 for fixing the suction port inside the bath. It is composed of. The filter 12 is formed in a columnar shape with a material such as plastic and has a plurality of slits 14 on its side surface.
Is provided. The upper part of the filter 12 is
The waterway 1 is open so that bath water can pass through it, and will be described later.
8 is connected.

The discharge part 11 includes a nozzle 13 and a suction cup 1.
7 and 7. The nozzle 13 is provided for increasing the flow velocity of the bath water discharged into the bath and stirring the bath water, and is installed at the tip of the water passage 19. The suction cup 17 is for fixing the discharge part 11 in the bath, and is installed on the left side of the nozzle 13 in FIG.

The water channels 18 and 19 are formed of a material such as plastic into a cylindrical shape, and both ends thereof are open so that bath water can pass therethrough.
2 is connected to the upper part, and the upper end is connected to a water channel 22 described later. On the other hand, the water channel 19 has an upper end connected to a water channel 46 described later and a lower end connected to the discharge unit 11.

The water passage 22 is made of a material such as an acid resistant plastic and is formed in a cylindrical shape, and both ends thereof are open so that bath water can pass therethrough. The lower end of the water channel 22 is connected to the water channel 18, and the upper end is connected to the heating unit 5 described later. A pipe 76, which will be described later, is connected to the center of the water channel 22 so that the purification solution can flow in.

The water channel 46 is made of a material such as plastic and is formed in a cylindrical shape. Both ends are open so that bath water can pass through, the lower end is connected to the upper portion of the water channel 19, and the upper end is described later. It is connected to the circulation pump 2.

The water channel 41 is formed of a material such as plastic into a cylindrical shape. Both ends are open so that bath water can pass through, the lower end is connected to the upper part of the heating part 5 described later, and the upper end is It is connected to a filtration container 42 described later.

The water passage 45 is made of a material such as plastic and is formed into a cylindrical shape. Both ends are open so that bath water can pass through, and the lower end is connected to the circulation pump 2 described later.
The upper end portion is connected to the lower portion of the filtration container 42 described below.

The storage section 102 has a tank 6 as a storage means for storing the cleaning solution, a pump 8 as an adding means for mixing a fixed amount of the cleaning solution into the bath water, and a pipe 7.
6 and is installed at the left end in FIG.

The tank 6 is formed of a material such as plastic that can withstand an acidic solution into a substantially square column shape, and the upper portion is opened so that the cleaning solution can be replenished. It is closed. A discharge part 26 is formed at the bottom of the tank 6, and the lower end of the discharge part 26 is connected to a pump 8 described later and is open so that the cleaning solution can flow out.

The pump 8 moves from the tank 6 to the water channel 2
The cleaning solution is added to No. 2 and is configured to be driven for a certain period of time by a signal from a control device (not shown), and is installed under the discharge unit 26.

The pipe 76 is for flowing the purification solution sent out from the pump 8 into the water passage 22, and is formed in a cylindrical shape with a material such as acid-resistant plastic, and the purification solution flows out at both ends. So open. The left end thereof is connected to the pump 8 and the right end thereof is connected to the water channel 22.

As shown in FIG. 2, the heating section 5 includes a heating container 8
0, the heater 81, and the thermistor 51. The heating container 80 supports the heater 81 and the thermistor 51, is formed of a material such as plastic into a cylindrical shape, and is installed under the filtration unit 40.

In the heating container 80, a circular hole for letting the bath water into is opened at the lower left end in FIG.
It is connected to the waterway 22. Further, a circular hole for letting out the bath water is opened at the upper right end and connected to the water channel 41.

Further, the heater 81 is for maintaining a predetermined temperature, and is provided in the inside of the tube 52, which is a U-shaped tube 52 made of a material having high thermal conductivity such as stainless steel. And a heating element 53, and the heating container 8
It is installed at the left end of 0. Further, the thermistor 51
Is for measuring the temperature of the bath water and is arranged at the bottom of the heating container 80 and connected to a control device (not shown).

The filtering section 40 is composed of a container 42 and a filtering agent 47 for removing organic substances deposited and aggregated by the cleaning solution. The container 42 is for accommodating the filtering agent 47, is formed of a material such as plastic into a substantially cylindrical shape, and is installed on the right side of the accommodating portion 102 in FIG. The upper portion of the container 42 is opened so that the filtering agent 47 can be taken out, and is closed by a lid 44 when the apparatus body 1 is used. Also, in the lower left part, the bath water is filtered by the filtering unit 4.
Open to 0, bottom right open to filtered bath water exit. Further, inside the container 42, a net 48 is installed at the bottom so that the filtering agent 47 does not flow out into the water channels 41 and 45.

The circulation pump 2 is used to circulate the bath water through the above-mentioned heating section 5 inside the apparatus main body 1, the filtration section 90, etc., and the upper part is connected to the water channel 45, and the lower part is connected to the water channel 46. It is connected.

The solution stored in the above-mentioned tank 6 is a cleaning solution for removing organic substances etc. of the bath water. In this embodiment, a natural mineral group solution, that is, vermiculite weathered with mica-based minerals, So-called saprolite is dissolved in an aqueous solution of an inorganic acid to produce an acidic additive containing a large number of metal salts and non-metal salts. By pouring this purification solution into the water to be treated (bath water), the suspended substances in the water to be treated (bath water) are aggregated and the dissolved organic substances are decomposed and deposited, and the suspended substances are aggregated. It is something to try. Specifically, the coagulant for water treatment precipitation described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 1-44363 is applied to bath water.

This water treatment precipitation flocculant has a function of precipitating and aggregating an organic substance dissolved in the bath water in an invisible state to form flocs. The flocked organic matter has a size that can be easily removed. Therefore, by mixing the water treatment precipitation flocculant with the bath water, the organic matter dissolved in the bath water, which could not be removed by the conventional filter agent, is flocculated, and the flocculated organic matter is filtered by the above-mentioned filtration. The filtering agent 47 of the part 40 enables the removal.

The ceramic balls as the above-mentioned filtering agent 47 are formed of a porous material. Therefore, the above-mentioned flocculated organic matter is filtered by the ceramic balls. Next, the electrical configuration of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The controller is configured as in FIG. 3 and is connected to operate as follows.

The apparatus main body 1 is supplied with electric power from a power source (not shown), so that the circulation pump 2 and the heater 8 are supplied.
1 is driven according to the program of the control circuit 30 of FIG. 3 as the control means. As a result, the bath water is circulated inside the apparatus main body 1 and the temperature of the bath water is kept constant.

The control circuit 30 is further connected to the control panel 90, the thermistor 51 and the water level sensor 4.

The control panel 90 is an input device 36 as setting means provided for setting bathing information such as a bath bottom area and bathing temperature, and a display for displaying a warning of these values or a failure. And device 37. The storage device 39 is for storing bathing information and the like input by the input device 36, and is composed of a RAM.

In addition, the control circuit 30 has a clock 38 for measuring the passage of time. In the reservation data, this is the passage of time until the bathing start time, the heater 8
It plays the role of a timer such as the timing of driving 1.

Next, the operation of the apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the flow charts of FIGS. It is determined whether or not the bathtub bottom area setting key is pressed for the first time after the power is turned on to the apparatus body 1 (step 1, hereinafter, step is represented by S),
In the case of pressing the bathtub bottom area setting key for the first time, it is displayed on the display device 37 to enter the bathtub bottom area (S
2) Wait until the user finishes entering the bathtub bottom area (S
3).

In S1, when the bathtub bottom area setting key for the first time after the power is turned on is already depressed and the bathtub bottom area setting key is depressed again or not at all, the default value as the bathtub bottom area, or The already set value is loaded (S20), and the distance to the bottom surface of the bath, which will be described later, is also loaded with the default value or the already measured value (S21). Then, the process proceeds to step S8 described below.

When it is judged in S3 that the input of the bottom area is completed, the distance from the installation position of the water level sensor 4 to the bottom of the bath is measured by the water level sensor 4 (S).
4). After that, a display device 3 is provided to inject bath water into the bathtub.
5 is displayed (S5), the user judges whether or not the injection of the bath water into the bathtub is completed by pressing the injection end key provided on the control panel 90 (not shown), and the injection end key is pressed. Wait until (S6).

When the injection end key is pressed in S6, the circulation pump 2 is driven (S7), and it is determined whether or not the temperature setting key provided on the control panel 90 (not shown) is pressed (S8). , If the temperature setting key is pressed, the temperature is stored in the storage device 39 (S
9) If the temperature setting key is not pressed, the process proceeds to S10 described later.

After that, the heater 81 is controlled to keep the temperature at the preset temperature stored in S9 or at the default value stored in the storage device 39 (S10).

Next, since the addition of the cleaning solution is started at the timing stored in advance in the storage device 39, it is judged whether or not the timing of adding the cleaning solution has come (S1).
1) If it is determined that it is time to add the cleaning solution, first, the water level sensor 4 measures the distance from the position of the water level sensor 4 to the water surface of the bath water (S12). The volume of bath water is obtained by calculation from the input value and the result measured in S4 (S1
3). That is, since the value obtained by subtracting the measurement value of S12 from the measurement value of S4 is the height of the bath water, the volume of the bath water can be obtained from the bottom area and height input in S2.

Next, the amount of the purification solution obtained in S13, which corresponds to the volume of the bath water, is added (S14). In this embodiment, the pump 8 is controlled so that 0.1 cc of the purification solution is added to the bath water with respect to 1 liter of the bath water. It should be noted that less than 1 liter of the calculation result of the bath water volume is preset so as to be discarded. The addition of the cleaning solution is
The control circuit 30 drives the pump 8 for a predetermined time to pump out a predetermined amount of the cleaning solution from the tank 6 and add it to the bath water. When the main body of the circulating hot water bath is continuously operated, the stop key of the input device 36 is pressed, and the above steps S8 to S15 are continuously controlled until the stop key is detected (S15). S11
When it is determined that it is not the timing of adding the cleaning solution in the step of (1), the process proceeds to S15.

Incidentally, instead of S13 and S14, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the storage device 39 stores in advance the bottom area, each water level in the bottom area, and the addition amount corresponding to each water level, and the set bottom area and the water level measured by the water level sensor 4 are stored. Thus, the addition amount stored in the storage device 39 may be selected, and the pump 8 may be controlled so as to add the selected addition amount to the bath water.

As is clear from the above description,
In the circulating warm bath of this embodiment, the amount of the solution added to the bath water is controlled in accordance with the amount of bath water contained in the bath, so that the solution concentration is controlled to be optimum.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described in detail above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

For example, an ultrasonic sensor was used as the apparatus for measuring the height of the bath water in this embodiment, but any other method may be used as long as it is a method for electrically measuring the height of the bath water. It may be. That is, for example, a pressure sensor may be installed in the lower part of the bathtub, and the pressure of the bathwater at the bottom of the bathtub may be directly measured by this, and the height at which the bathwater is injected may be calculated and obtained, or various methods can be implemented. Is.

Further, in the present embodiment, the purification solution is a natural mineral group solution, that is, vermiculite so-called saprolite in which mica-based minerals are weathered, is dissolved in an aqueous solution of an inorganic acid, and an acidic addition containing many metal salts and non-metal salts is added. Although it is produced as an agent, it may be a solution of a so-called general purifying germicide or the like.

Further, although ceramic balls were used as the filtering agent in the present embodiment, any material having the ability to filter the flocculated substance existing in the bath water by passing water may be used, and paper such as filter paper may be used. It may be a filter, activated carbon or the like. Further, when bathing is performed at the time of injecting the cleaning solution in S11 described above, the amount of bath water may be erroneously measured. Alternatively, a bathing key for inputting the start and end of bathing is provided on the input device 36, and when this key is pressed, it is determined that bathing is in progress. You may control so that it may be stopped until it is given.

[0054]

As is apparent from the above description,
The circulating hot water bath of the present invention, by the setting means for setting the bottom area of the bath, sets the bottom area of the bath, and measures the water level of the bath water in the bath by the water level measuring means at the timing of adding the purification solution. Since the control means controls the amount of the purification solution added to the bath water by the addition means on the basis of the water level and the bottom area, an appropriate purification action can always be performed.

Further, the volume of the bath water is obtained from the bottom area of the bathtub set by the setting means by the control means and the water level of the bath water measured by the water level measuring means, and based on the volume, the adding means is provided by the adding means. Since the amount of the purification solution added is controlled, the proper purification action can always be performed more accurately regardless of the size of the bath or the amount of bath water in the bath.

Further, based on the bottom area of the bathtub and the water level of the bath water, the amount of the purification solution to be added by the adding means is stored in the storage means, and the selecting means is the bottom of the bathtub set by the setting means. By the area and the water level of the bath water measured by the water level measuring means, the addition amount stored in the storage means is selected, and the addition means is added to add the selected amount of the purification solution to the bath water. Since it is controlled, it is not necessary to calculate the volume of bath water in the bathtub in advance,
It is possible to obtain an effect such that the proper purifying action can be performed more quickly at all times.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a circulating hot bath machine.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a configuration of a heating unit.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration.

FIG. 4 is a memory configuration diagram in which a bottom area of a bath and an addition amount corresponding to a water level of bath water are stored.

FIG. 5 is a first flowchart showing the operation of the control circuit.

FIG. 6 is a second flowchart showing the operation of the control circuit.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a state where the circulating hot water bath is installed in a bath.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Device Main Body 2 Circulation Pump 4 Water Level Sensor 5 Heating Section 6 Tank 8 Pump 30 Control Circuit 35 Display Device 36 Input Device 39 Storage Device

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A circulating hot water bath machine having an addition means for mixing a certain amount of the purification solution into the bath water from a storage means storing the purification solution, and a setting means for setting the bottom area of the bath and a bath for the bath in the bath. Based on the water level measuring means for measuring the water level of the water, the bottom area of the bathtub set by the setting means, and the water level of the bath water measured by the water level measuring means, the water is added to the bath water by the adding means. A circulating hot bath machine, comprising: a control means for controlling the amount of the cleaning solution. 2. The control means obtains the volume of bath water from the bottom area of the bath set by the setting means and the water level of the bath water measured by the water level measuring means, and based on the volume value. The amount of the purification solution added to the bath water is controlled by the adding means.
Circulating hot bath machine described in. 3. A storage means for storing the amount of the purification solution added by the addition means based on the bottom area of the bathtub and the water level of the bath water, and the control means comprises the bathtub set by the setting means. Bottom area and the water level of the bath water measured by the water level measuring means, the addition amount stored in the storage means is selected, and the addition is performed so that the selected amount of the purification solution is added to the bath water. The circulating hot bath machine according to claim 1, wherein the means is controlled.