JPH07318156A - Circulating warm bath - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To remove scales adhered to the surface of a heater and to increase the life of the heater by utilizing the flow of bath water to be circulated with a simple structure. CONSTITUTION:Bath water pumped by a pump is passed through a channel 37 in a heater tank 35 while being heat exchanged with a heat generator 36 inserted into the tank 35. Scaling particles 38 floated in the channel 37 are moved while in contact with the surface of the generator 36 along the water flow, thereby scaling it.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a circulating hot bath machine in which bath water in a bathtub is pumped up, heated by a heater, purified by a filter, and circulated again as clean and appropriate hot water in the bathtub. In particular, it relates to a technique for removing scale that adheres to the surface of the heater.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a hot water circulation type bath device (referred to as a circulation hot bath machine) has been provided. This circulating hot bath
The bath water in the bathtub should be pumped up, heated to the desired temperature with a heater, and purified by a filter (purification tank) to remove foreign matters such as dust contained in the bathwater, and then returned to the bathtub again. It works. In such a circulating hot water bath, as a heater provided in the bath water circulation path, generally, a heating element such as a ceramic heater, a sheath heater, or a cartridge heater is arranged inside the heater tank, and the bath water circulating with the heating element is disposed. It is used that heat exchange with and. Also, the heating of the heater is
The temperature of the circulating bath water is detected by a temperature sensor,
The energization is controlled so that the bath water temperature is kept at the set temperature.

[0003]

In the heater of the circulating warm bath machine as described above, when scale such as scales adheres to the surface of the heater due to long-term use, heat conduction to the bath water is deteriorated and the bath water is deteriorated. The temperature is no longer kept at the set temperature, so in this case, the heater remains in the ON state,
Moreover, not only the ON time is long, but the heater is controlled to a temperature higher than usual, so that there is a problem that the life of the heater is significantly reduced. The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and scales adhering to the surface of a heater can be removed by utilizing the flow of circulating bath water with a simple structure, and the length of the heater can be reduced. It is an object of the present invention to provide a circulating warm bath machine that can have a long life.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, the circulating hot bath machine according to the invention of claim 1 heats the bath water pumped up by the pump to a predetermined temperature. In a circulating hot bath machine, which is equipped with a heater and which circulates and discharges the bath water heated by the heater into the bathtub,
The heater has a heating element inserted in the heater tank, a flow path through which bath water pumped by a pump exchanges heat with the heating element, and a surface of the heating element that is suspended in the flow path and follows the water flow. It is composed of a scale removing member that moves while contacting with the scale and removes foreign matter adhering to the surface of the heating element. Further, in the circulating hot water bath of the invention of claim 2, in addition to the configuration of claim 1, the heater tank is formed in a cylindrical shape, the heating element is formed in a cylindrical shape, and the flow passage portion is formed on the inner wall of the heater tank. And the outer peripheral surface of the heating element, the bath water is configured to flow from one end side of the flow path portion and return to the other end side to flow, and a spiral rib is provided in the flow path portion. The scale removing member is guided by the ribs to be pivotally moved. Further, claim 3
In addition to the structure of claim 1, the circulation hot bath of the invention of claim 1 is characterized in that the flow path portion is formed between the inner wall of the heater tank and the outer peripheral surface of the heating element, and the inflow of bath water into the heater tank. , Consisting of a plurality of annular chambers partitioned in parallel to the outflow, so that the bath water flowing into the chamber becomes a swirl flow,
The outflow is in the tangential direction, and the scale removing member is inserted into the room.

[0005]

According to the circulating hot bath machine of the present invention having the above structure, the bath water in the bathtub is pumped up by the pump and heated to a predetermined temperature by the heater, and the heated bathwater is circulated and discharged into the bathtub. It At this time, the bath water pumped up by the pump passes through the flow passage in the heater tank while exchanging heat with the heating element inserted in the heater bath, and the scale removing member suspended in the flow passage is removed. It is possible to remove the scale, which is a foreign matter, adhering to the surface of the heating element by moving while contacting the surface of the heating element according to the water flow. Further, according to the circulating warm bath of claim 2, in addition to the action of claim 1, the bath water is supplied from one end side of the flow path portion formed between the inner wall of the heater tank and the outer peripheral surface of the heating element. It flows in and is folded back at the other end. According to the flow of bath water, the scale removing member
The scale is adhered to the surface of the heating element and is scraped off by being guided by spiral ribs provided in the flow path to move. According to the circulating warm bath of claim 3, in addition to the effect of claim 1, the flow passage formed between the inner wall of the heater tank and the outer peripheral surface of the heating element is connected to the heater tank of the bath water. It consists of a plurality of annular chambers that are parallel to the inflow and outflow of water, and bath water flows in and out tangentially to this chamber to form a swirl flow, and the scale removing member moves along this swirl flow. As a result, the scale attached to the surface of the heating element is scraped off.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 are views showing a schematic configuration of a circulating hot water bath according to this embodiment. FIG. 1 shows a normal operation mode state, and FIG. 2 shows a jet mode state in which bath water is circulated and vigorously jetted into the bathtub. . The circulation warm bath machine 11 is installed in the vicinity of the bathtub 12, and the circulation pump 14 for pumping and circulating the bath water 13 in the bathtub 12 into the main body of the circulation warm bath machine 11 and the bath pumped by this circulation pump 14. A heater 15 for heating water to a predetermined temperature, a septic tank 16 as a filter for filtering the bath water, and a circulation pump 14
It is composed of a flow path switching valve 17 for switching the flow path of the bath water pumped up by means of the operation mode, and water passage pipes 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d for connecting these respective members. In addition, the circulating hot water bath 11 has a water suction port 19 that faces the inside of the bathtub 12 to pump up the bathwater 13 into the main body, and hot water that has been subjected to treatment such as heating and purification is circulated and discharged from the main body into the bathtub 12. Outlet 20 is provided via the connection pipes 21 and 22.

The septic tank 16 contains a filter material such as porous ceramic balls in a case. Further, the heater 15 detects the hot water temperature with a built-in temperature sensor and controls the heating of the bath water 13 to a set temperature. The flow path switching valve 17 is of a rotary type, and includes a case 25 having a plurality of ports opened therein, a rotatable valve 27 inserted therein, and rotatable.
It comprises a stepping motor (not shown) that drives the rotary valve 27, and a position detection sensor (not shown) that detects the position of the rotary valve 27. The port of the case 25 has a connection pipe 21 and a water passage pipe 18 a on the inlet side of the septic tank 16.
The water passage pipe 18b on the outlet side and the water passage pipe 18c toward the heater 15 are connected to each other. The rotary valve 27 includes the first and second passages 31 and 3 which do not communicate with each other.
2, the passages 31 and 32 communicate with the port of the case 25 in accordance with the position of the rotary valve 27, so that the flow passages are switched.

The operation of the circulating warm bath machine configured as described above will be described. When the user selects a desired operation mode, the rotary valve 27 of the flow path switching valve 17 is rotated to switch the flow paths. As a result, the circulating warm bath machine 11 has two operation modes: a normal operation mode for heating and purifying the bath water 13 (FIG. 1) and a jet mode for ejecting hot water into the bathtub 12 (FIG. 2). Can be switched. In the normal operation mode, a flow path is formed so that the hot water heated and purified through the heater 15 and the septic tank 16 is discharged into the bathtub 12. In the jet mode, the hot water is passed only through the heater 15 without passing through the septic tank 16. The flow path is formed so as to be discharged into the inside.

In the normal mode shown in FIG. 1, the circulation pump 1
Bath water 13 pumped up from the water suction port 19 by the operation of 5
Is the connection pipe 21 and the first passage 3 of the flow path switching valve 17.
1. After passing through the water passage pipe 18a, the water enters the septic tank 16, is purified there, and further, the water passage pipe 18b, the flow path switching valve 1
7 through the second passage 32 and the water passage pipe 18c to enter the heater 15, where it is heated and reaches the outlet 20 through the water passage pipe 18d, the circulation pump 14 and the connection pipe 22, and discharges into the bathtub 12. To be done.

In the jet mode shown in FIG. 2, the bath water 13 pumped from the water suction port 19 by the operation of the circulation pump 14 passes through the connection pipe 21, the first passage 31 of the flow path switching valve 17, and the water passage pipe 18c. The heater 15 enters the heater 15, is heated there, and reaches the outlet 20 through the water passage pipe 18d, the circulation pump 14, the connection pipe 22, and the septic tank 16
It is jetted vigorously into the bathtub 12 without passing through. With this jet mode operation, a jet effect can be applied to the human body while taking a bath to obtain a massage effect and the like. Further, bubbles may be mixed in the jet flow.

Next, the structure of the first embodiment of the heater 15 will be described with reference to FIGS. Heater 15
Is a cylindrical heater tank 35, a cylindrical heating element 36 formed of a sheathed heater or the like inserted in the heater tank 35,
The bath water drawn up by the circulation pump 14 is the heating element 36.
And the flow path portion 3 that passes through while exchanging heat with
7 and spherical scale-removing particles 38 made of a heat-resistant resin or the like as a scale-removing member that floats inside 7 and moves according to the water flow. In addition, the flow path portion 37
Is formed between the inner wall of the heater tank 35 and the outer peripheral surface of the heating element 36, and the spiral rib 3 facing the flow path portion 37.
9, 40 are provided on the inner wall surface of the heater tank 35. Each of the spiral ribs 39 and 40 is twisted by about 180 degrees. Further, the water pipe 18 is provided at one end of the heater tank 35.
c and 18d are connected to each other and communicate with one end side of the flow path portion 37. Then, the bath water that has flowed in from one end side of the flow path portion 37 is turned back at the other end side and flows.
The heating element 36 is energized through the power supply connecting leads 36a and 36b.

The operation of the heater 15 having the above structure will be described. Bath water flows in from one end side of the flow path portion 37 through the water passage pipe 18c, is folded back at the other end side, and is connected to the one end side. More outflow. At this time, the flow path portion 37
The bath water passing through the flow path 37 has spiral ribs 39, 40 in the flow path 37.
Due to the existence of the heat generating element, a swirling flow twisted by 180 degrees is generated, and at that time, the surface is in contact with the surface of the heating element 36 and is heated by heat conduction. At the same time, foreign matter such as scale contained in the bath water adheres to the surface of the heating element 36 as a scale, but the scale-removing particles 38 are guided by the swirling flow or the ribs 39 and 40, so that the scale-removing particles 38 are discharged. It swivels in the direction of the arrow indicated by 4 in the order of numbers, hits the surface of the heating element 36, and moves while touching. As a result, the scale attached to the surface of the heating element 36 can be scraped off. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a decrease in heat conduction on the surface of the heating element 36.

FIG. 6 shows the configuration of the second embodiment of the heater.
This will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. The heater 15 includes a cylindrical heater tank 35, a cylindrical heating element 36 inserted in the heater tank 35 and similar to the above, and a circulation pump 14.
The bath water is made up of a plurality of annular chambers that are partitioned in parallel with respect to the inflow of the bath water into the heater tank 35 and the outflow to the water pipe 18d. A flow path portion 37 that passes through while exchanging heat with
The same plurality of scale removing particles 3 suspended in each of the plurality of flow path portions 37 and moving in accordance with the water flow are the same.
8 and. The water passage pipe 18c and the plurality of flow passage portions 37, and the flow passage portion 37 and the water passage pipe 18d are connected to each other through the communication portions 41 and 42, respectively. The communication parts 41 and 42 are
The bath water is arranged so that the inflow and outflow of the bath water are tangential to the flow channel portion 37 so that the bath water flowing in the flow channel portion 37 becomes a swirling flow.

According to the heater 15 according to the second embodiment having the above-mentioned structure, the bath water passes through the water pipe 18c through the plurality of communication portions 41 and the flow passage portion is formed of a plurality of annular chambers in the heater tank 35. It flows tangentially to 37, becomes a swirl flow in the flow path portion 37, contacts the surface of the heat generating element 36, and exchanges heat. Further, the heated bath water is discharged to the water passage pipe 18c through the communication portion 42. Due to the swirling flow generated in the flow path portion 37, the scale-removing particles 38 in the flow path portion 37 swirl, hit the surface of the heat generating element 36, and the scale adhering to the surface can be scraped off. Is obtained.

The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made. For example, the heater 1
The configuration of 5 may be any shape as long as the scale removing particles 38 can move in accordance with the water flow in the flow path portion 37. Further, the arrangement configuration of the septic tank 16, the heater 15, the circulation pump 14, the flow passage switching valve 17 and the like, which is the internal configuration of the circulation warm bath machine, can be appropriately changed. In addition to the above operation modes, the septic tank 1
A cleaning mode for cleaning 6 may be provided. In this cleaning mode, the bath water pumped by the circulation pump 14 is used for the septic tank 16
First, the septic tank 16 is washed by flowing it in the direction opposite to that in the normal operation, and the water after the washing is drained to the outside of the bath 12 by using a drain valve and a drain hose (not shown). Further, bubbles may be generated in the jet flow by adopting a configuration in which air can be sucked into the outlet 20 during the jet mode operation.

[0016]

As described above, according to the circulating hot bath machine of the present invention, when the bath water pumped up by the pump passes through the flow passage while exchanging heat with the heating element inserted in the heater tank, Since the scale removing member suspended in the flow path moves according to the water flow while contacting the surface of the heating element, the simple structure allows the flow of circulating bath water to be applied to the surface of the heating element. The attached scale can be removed, and the life of the heater can be extended.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a circulating hot water bath according to an embodiment of the present invention in a normal operation mode.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram in a jet mode of the circulating hot bath machine.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of a heater according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view at an angle orthogonal to the sectional direction of the previous figure.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the heater.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of a heater according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a side sectional view of the heater.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the heater.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 circulating hot bath machine 12 bathtub 13 bath water 14 circulating pump 15 heater 16 septic tank (filter) 35 heater tank 36 heating element 37 flow path section 38 particles for scale removal 39, 40 rib

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A pump for pumping the bath water in the bathtub and a heater for heating the bath water pumped up by the pump to a predetermined temperature, and the bath water heated by the heater is circulated and discharged into the bathtub. In the circulating hot water bath, the heater includes a heating element inserted in a heater tank, a flow path section through which bath water pumped by the pump exchanges heat with the heating element, and floats in the flow path section. And a scale removing member that moves in contact with the surface of the heating element in accordance with the flow of water and removes foreign matters adhering to the surface of the heating element. 2. The heater tank is formed in a cylindrical shape, the heating element is formed in a cylindrical shape, the flow path portion is formed between an inner wall of the heater tank and an outer peripheral surface of the heating element, and The scale removing member is configured so as to flow from one end side of the flow path portion and flow back at the other end side, and a spiral rib is provided in the flow path portion, and the scale removing member is guided by the rib. The circulating hot bath machine according to claim 1, wherein the circulating hot bath machine is configured to swivel and move. 3. The flow passage portion is formed between the inner wall of the heater tank and the outer peripheral surface of the heating element, and a plurality of flow passage portions are provided in parallel for inflow and outflow of bath water into the heater tank. It is composed of a partitioned annular chamber, and the inflow and outflow of the bath water are tangential to the chamber so that the bath water flowing in the chamber becomes a swirl flow, and the scale removing member is inserted into the chamber. The circulating hot bath machine according to claim 1, wherein