JPH0814664A - Automatic refilling method for bath tub - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent refilling which overflows a bath tub from being continued even in the case that a water level in the bath tub is rapidly increased due to entering of a person within the bath tub during the refilling operation by a method wherein if a present water level is lower than a set water level within the bath tub, a residual water amount up to the set water level in the bath tub is calculated and then an automatic refilling is started again. CONSTITUTION:In the case that an automatic supplying of water is once stopped due to a detection of a rapid variation of water level, a controller 60 detects a present water level H within a bath tub with a bath tube water level sensor 52 while waiting for a stabilization of the bath tub water level and judges if the obtained present water level H is higher than a set bath tub water level HS and if the water level is higher than the set water level, the automatic refilling operation is terminated. In turn, in the case that the obtained present water level H is lower than the set bath tub water level HS, a residual water amount up to the set bath tub water level HS is calculated in reference to the present water level H and then the refilling is started again so as to supply the residual amount of water. With such an arrangement as above, the requisite residual amount of water is refilled without delay after a rapid variation of the water level and then the water level can be set to the set bath tub water level.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic water replenishing method using a bath reheating circulation circuit for a bath.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A bath reheating circulation circuit is configured for a bathtub so that the bath water can be reheated, and water or hot water from a water heater is automatically dropped into the bathtub. As a result, bath facilities have been conventionally provided that are capable of automatically filling the bathtub or automatically refilling the bathtub. Regarding the automatic water replenishment to the bathtub, when the water level of the bathtub is lowered, the required water replenishment amount is calculated from the lowered water level and a predetermined set water level of the bathtub, and the bathtub is not actually replenished. It adopted a method of replenishing the required amount of replenishment without monitoring the water level. One reason for adopting such a rehydration system is that when replenishing water is performed through the bath reheating circulation circuit, the bath water level detection by the bath water level sensor arranged in the bath reheating circulation circuit is the replenishment water concerned. Is likely to be inaccurate and it is difficult to detect the bathtub water level accurately. This is because particularly when hot water or water is sent from the water heater in the state of being directly connected to the water supply, the water pressure has a great influence, and an accurate bath water level cannot be achieved.

[0003]

However, as described above, in the automatic water replenishment method for supplying hot water by dropping all of the calculated necessary replenishment amount into the bath anyway, for example, when a person enters the bath during replenishment, Even if the hot water overflowed from the bathtub, there was a problem that the water replenishment was continued until the calculated water replenishment amount was reached.

Therefore, the present invention solves the above-mentioned drawbacks of the conventional method, and provides an automatic water replenishment method on the premise that the required amount of replenishment water from the current bath water level at the time of calculation to a predetermined set bath water level is dropped. Providing an automatic water replenishment method for a bathtub so that even if a person enters the bathtub during the water replenishment operation and the bath water level suddenly increases With the goal.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, an automatic water replenishment method for a bathtub according to the present invention is a required amount of water replenishment from the present bathtub water level to a set bathwater level when the bath water level is lowered. It is an automatic water replenishment method for the bathtub, in which the calculated replenishment amount is dropped from the water heater into the bathtub via the bath reheating circulation circuit to replenish the water. It monitors whether there is a sudden change in water level above a certain level per unit time based on the information from the bath water level sensor placed in the room, and if a sudden change in water level above a certain level per unit time is detected, automatic water replenishment is performed at that point. The current water level is detected again after waiting for the water level in the bathtub to stabilize, and if the current water level is equal to or higher than the preset bathtub water level, the water replenishment is terminated as is, and the current water level is not set in the bathtub water level. It is characterized in that so as to resume the automatic rehydration by calculating the residual water content to the set bath level in the case of.

[0006]

According to the features of the present invention, whether or not there is a rapid change in the bath water level per unit time during automatic refilling is monitored based on information from the bath water level sensor placed in the bath reheating circulation circuit. I am trying. That is, the bath water level sensor placed in the bath reheating circulation circuit is that hot water or water is dropped into the bath reheating circulation circuit to replenish water, which makes it difficult to accurately detect the bath water level during the replenishment operation.
It is possible to detect the degree of fluctuation of the bath water level. Therefore, by suspending the automatic water replenishment when a sudden change in water level above a certain level per unit time is detected, even if there is a sudden rise in the water level in the bathtub due to people bathing, etc. It is possible to prevent the hot water or water to be replenished from being unnecessarily overflowing from the bathtub. Then, by suspending the water refilling, the current water level is detected again after waiting for the bath water level to stabilize, and if the current water level is less than the set bath water level, the remaining water amount up to the set bath water level is calculated and automatically calculated. Since the replenishment of water is restarted, it is possible to replenish the required residual water amount without delay after the rapid fluctuation of the water level to reach the set bath water level.

[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, reference numeral 10 denotes a bath, and a bath reheating circulation circuit 20 composed of a bath return pipe 21 and a bath outflow pipe 22 circulates from the bath 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. A bath automatic water supply channel 46 is separated from the water inlet pipe 41.

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 via a three-way valve 51 to the bath return pipe 21 of the bath reheating circulation circuit 20. In the bath return pipe 21, a bath water level sensor 52, a check valve 53, a circulation pump 5
4, bath water flow switch 55, bath temperature sensor 56, etc. are provided.

A circulating metal fitting 11 is provided in the bathtub 10, a bath return pipe 21 is connected to an outer pipe 11a of a double pipe, and an inner pipe 11 is connected.
Bath bath pipe 22 is connected to b. 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, a reheating operation, and an automatic water replenishment operation.
Now, when the bath reheating operation is commanded, the controller 60
The circulation pump 54 is driven via the
From the outer pipe 11a of the above, it enters the bath return pipe 21, is circulated to the heat exchange can body 30 for reheating, is heated, and passes through the bath outward pipe 22 and
Return to the bathtub 10 from the inner pipe 11b of the circulation fitting 11. In addition, when the bath automatic hot water filling operation is instructed, the hot water solenoid valve 45 is dropped.
b is opened, and hot water from the water heater 40
From 45, enter the bath return pipe 21 through the backflow prevention hopper 47, the common drop path 48, and the three-way valve 51. Then, the hot water that has entered the bath return pipe 21 passes through the heat-exchange can body 30 for reheating, from the bath return pipe 22, and also from the bath return pipe 21 via the check valve 53, and passes through the circulation fitting 11 in both transports. Pour into bathtub 10. Of course, water can be supplied through the automatic bath water supply passage 46 in addition to the hot water supply by the automatic bath water supply passage 45 or alone. Also, when the bath is automatically refilled, the hot water from the bath automatic hot water supply channel 45 alone and, if necessary, together with the water from the automatic water supply channel 46 together with the backflow prevention hopper 47, the common drop channel 48, and the three-way After passing through the valve 51, enter the bath return pipe 21, and further return to the bathtub 10 by both transports as in the case of the automatic bath filling operation.

Next, a control example of the automatic water replenishment operation for the bathtub by the controller 60 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Now, when the water level of the bathtub 10 is higher than the water level H ₁ of the circulation fitting 11, the bath water level sensor 52 of the bath reheating circulation circuit 20 can detect the water level of the bathtub 10. Therefore, for example, when a bath is about to be used, the current water level H is equal to or higher than the water level H _{1 of the} circulating metal fitting 11 and the set bathtub in a situation where power is supplied to the control mechanism of the device and control operation is possible. When the water level is lower than H _S , the bath automatic refilling operation is substantially started by turning on the bath automatic filling operation switch or by turning on the bath automatic refilling operation switch (S1). First, the controller 60 determines whether or not the bath water level sensor 52 detects a water level above the water level H ₁ of the circulation fitting 11 (S2), and in the case above (Yes in S2), the set bath water level H _S and the present The necessary amount of supplementary water is calculated from the water level H (S3), and supplemental water is started (S4).
The required amount of supplementary water can be calculated using, for example, the set bath water level H _S , the current water level H, and the bottom area or horizontal cross-sectional area of the bath. Rehydration operation is a bath-fired circulation circuit 20
Is sent to the bathtub 10 by both transports, so when refilling water begins,
During that time, accurate detection of the bath water level by the bath water level sensor 52 of the bath reheating circulation circuit 20 cannot be expected. When the bath water level sensor 52 detects a water level above the water level H ₁ of the circulation fitting 11 (NO in S2), the bath water filling operation mode is performed in which the bathtub 10 is empty.

After the water replenishing operation is started, the controller 60 monitors whether there is a rapid change in water level above a certain level per unit time based on the information from the bath water level sensor 52 (S5), and changes in a rapid level above a certain level per unit time. When (YES in S5) is detected, the automatic water replenishment is temporarily stopped at that point (S6). During the refilling operation, hot water or water from the water heater 40 passes through the bath reheating circulation circuit 20 having the bath water level sensor 52, so that the bath water level sensor 52 cannot detect the accurate bath water level due to the tap water pressure or the like. However, the value read by the bath water level sensor 52 is a value obtained by adding tap water pressure or the like to the bath water level, and the value is proportionally changed to some extent according to the fluctuation of the bath water level. Therefore bath water level sensor
By monitoring the water level information from 52, it is possible to detect when there is a rapid water level change above a certain level per unit time. The purpose of monitoring whether or not there has been a drastic change in water level above a certain amount per unit time is mainly to detect whether or not a person has entered the bathtub during refilling water, and thus is much more significant than the rise in water level due to normal refilling water. Since a change occurs, as the water level fluctuation above a certain amount per unit time,
Even if a general water level fluctuation when a person enters a bathtub is appropriately adopted, it can be sufficiently distinguished from the water level fluctuation due to normal replenishment.

If a sudden change in water level above a certain level per unit time is not detected in step S5 (NO in S5), the controller 60 continues the replenishment of water and replenishes the calculated necessary replenishment amount (S7). Yes), the automatic water replenishment operation ends (S8).

When the automatic water replenishment is temporarily stopped due to the detection of the abrupt water level change (S6), the controller 60 waits for the bath water level to stabilize (Yes in S9), and the bath water level sensor 52 controls the bath water level. The current water level H is detected (S1
0), it is determined whether or not the obtained current water level H is equal to or higher than the set bath water level H _S (S11), and if it is higher than (S11).
Yes), at that point the automatic rehydration operation ends (S
8). On the other hand, when the obtained current water level H is less than the set bath water level H _S (No in S11), the remaining water amount from the current water level H to the set bath water level H _S is further calculated (S12), and the remaining water amount is calculated. Rehydration is restarted to replenish water (S4). The determination as to whether or not the bath water level is stable in step S9 can be based on, for example, the fluctuation of the bath water level detected by the bath water level sensor 52 being below a certain level. Alternatively, it is possible to determine that the bath water level has stabilized after a certain time has elapsed since stopping the rehydration. If the refilling water is stopped and the bath water level stabilizes, the bath water level sensor
It is possible to accurately detect the bath water level by 52.

[0015]

According to the method of automatically refilling a bath according to the first aspect of the present invention, the automatic replenishment of water from the bath water level sensor placed in the bath reheating circulation circuit is performed during the automatic replenishment of water. By monitoring the water level change above a certain level per unit time with the information of the above, and if a sudden water level change above a certain level per unit time is detected, automatic water replenishment is temporarily stopped at that point. Therefore, even if the bath water level suddenly rises due to a person's bathing or the like during the automatic replenishment, it is possible to reliably prevent the replenishment of water and the wasteful overflow of the bath. Then, after waiting for the bath water level to stabilize, the current water level is detected again, and when the current water level is less than the set bath water level, the remaining water amount up to the set bath water level is further calculated to restart automatic water replenishment. Therefore, it is possible to replenish the required residual water amount without delay after the rapid water level change to reach the set bath water level.

[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 20 Bath reheating circulation circuit 30 Heat exchange can body for reheating 40 Water heater 45 Bath automatic hot water supply channel 52 Bath water level sensor 60 Controller H Current water level H _S Setting bath water level

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. When the bath water level is lowered, a necessary amount of replenishment water from the current bath water level to the set bath water level is calculated, and the calculated replenishment water amount is supplied from the water heater through the bath reheating circulation circuit. An automatic water replenishment method for a bathtub that drops water into the bathtub to replenish water, and during automatic water replenishment, there is a sudden change in water level above a certain level per unit time based on information from a bath water level sensor placed in the bath reheating circulation circuit. If there is a sudden change in water level over a certain time, the automatic water replenishment is temporarily stopped, and the current water level is detected again after waiting for the bath water level to stabilize. When the current water level is equal to or higher than the set bath water level, the water replenishment is terminated as it is, and when the current water level is lower than the set bath water level, the residual water amount up to the set bath water level is calculated to restart automatic water replenishment. An automatic water refilling method for bathtubs.