JPH08247556A - Bath adapter and hot water supply system using the adapter - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To prevent a great amount of high temperature hot water from flowing into a bath tub by installing a mixing discharge unit which mixes hot water from a hot water line with hot water in a bath tub sucked up from an inlet port to a bath adapter mounted on the bath tub with a hot water supply heater and providing a hot water supply line on/off valve which allows a small amount of hot water to pass even when the vale is closed. CONSTITUTION: This adapter having a hot water supply line 2 connected to a bath pipeline 1 to which hot water is supplied from a hot water supply heater, is provided with a mixing discharge unit 8 which sucks up hot water in a bath tub from an inlet port 7 and discharges the hot water into the bath tub while mixing the hot water with hot water from the hot water supply line 2 by a suction force produced when the supplied hot water, while being turned, is discharged. When the amount of hot water in the bath tub is small, there is provided a hot water supply line on/off valve 3 which closes the hot water supply line 2. This on/off valve 3 is designed in structure so that a small amount of hot water may pass from a small hole 11 of a valve disk when it is closed. This on/off valve 3 is opened by a coil spring-shaped valve drive means 4 which is made of shape memory alloy and deformed in specified shape at a specified temperature or higher.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bath adapter (bath tap for bath) which is attached to a bath to supply hot water from the water heater to the bath, and a hot water supply system using the bath adapter.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional bath adapter used in a hot water supply system having a function (heating function) of raising the temperature of hot water in a bath by supplying hot water, for example, FIG. And, as shown in FIG. 6, the hot water supply passage 52 passes the hot water supplied from the hot water supply device (not shown) through the bath pipe 51, and the hot water from the hot water supply passage 52 is discharged while being swirled. A mixing / discharging unit 58, which has a suction port 57 for sucking hot water in the bathtub by suction force, discharges while mixing hot water from the hot water supply passage 52 and hot water in the bathtub sucked from the suction port 57, and a bath (not shown) No)
When there is no hot water in the bath or the amount of hot water in the bathtub is small, the hot water supply passage 52 is closed and the hot water supply passage opening / closing valve 53 for preventing the hot water from being discharged, and the mixed discharge portion 58 discharges the hot water. A coil spring valve drive means 54 made of a shape memory alloy that is arranged at a position where the hot water is applied and that deforms to a predetermined shape when the temperature rises above a predetermined temperature to operate the hot water supply passage open / close valve 53, and at the time of additional heating. Although the spring 59 is closed by the biasing force of the spring 59, at the time of hot water filling in which a large amount of hot water is supplied, the momentum of the hot water overcomes the biasing force of the spring 59 to an open state, and hot water supply is mainly performed from there. Hot water outlet 60,
A bath adapter including a cover 65 that covers these is used.

In this conventional bath adapter,
The hot water supply passage opening / closing valve 53 for opening and closing the hot water supply passage 52 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the valve driving means 54 is provided with a valve body 55 and a valve seat 56, and uses a shape memory alloy that has a predetermined shape that is deformed (contracted in this example) and memorized when the temperature becomes 93 ° C. or higher. Presses the valve body 55 against the valve seat 56, or
The hot water supply passage 52 can be opened and closed by pulling the valve element 55 pressed by the valve seat 56 away from the valve seat 56.

When the bath adapter constructed as described above is used, hot water is mainly supplied from the hot water outlet 60 for hot water to the bathtub when hot water is supplied, and the bath pipe 5 is used when hot water is additionally heated.
Hot water supplied from 1 (for example, about 93 ℃ hot water),
The hot water in the bathtub sucked through the suction port 57 is discharged in the downward direction into the bath while being mixed in the mixing / discharging section 58, so that additional heating is performed. Then, when the hot water in the bathtub is not sucked through the suction port 57, such as when the hot water in the bathtub is not filled or the amount of hot water in the bathtub is small, the valve drive in which the hot water is made of the shape memory alloy is used. By directly applying to the means 54, the temperature of the valve driving means 54 rises to 93 ° C. or more and deforms (contracts in this example) to a predetermined shape to be memorized, whereby the valve element 55 is pulled down and the valve seat 56.
The hot water supply passage 52 is closed by pressing to prevent hot water from being supplied to the bathtub when the bathtub is not filled with hot water or when the amount of hot water in the bathtub is small.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional bath adapter, when a resin pipe is used as the bath pipe 51, the hot water supply passage opening / closing valve 53 is activated at the time of hot water supply for additional heating, and the hot water supply passage 52 is suddenly opened. When it is closed, the pressure inside the bath pipe 51 rises sharply, the bath pipe (resin pipe) 51 expands and deforms, and in some cases, ruptures, which is unsafe. There is a problem. Therefore, it is necessary to use an expensive flexible tube made of stainless steel or the like as the bath piping, which causes a problem that the reduction of the cost of the hot water supply system as a whole is hindered.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and when the bathtub is not filled with hot water or the amount of hot water in the bathtub is small, a large amount of high-temperature hot water is supplied to the user. And a reliable bath adapter that can prevent the bath pipe from being deformed or damaged even when a resin pipe is used for the bath pipe. The object is to provide a hot water supply system used.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the bath adapter of the present invention is a bath adapter used by being attached to a bathtub to supply hot water from the water heater to the bathtub. From the hot water supply passage, there is a hot water supply passage that allows the hot water supplied from the bathtub to pass through the bath pipe, and a suction port that sucks the hot water from the hot water supply passage while swirling the hot water from the hot water supply passage. The mixing and discharging part that discharges the hot water and the hot water in the bathtub sucked from the suction port while mixing, and the hot water supply passage opening / closing valve for opening and closing the hot water supply passage. A hot water supply passage opening / closing valve configured to allow a small amount of hot water to pass therethrough even in a closed state so as not to rise rapidly, and a material which is arranged at a position where the hot water discharged from the mixing / discharging portion is applied and which is deformed by temperature. Using It made which is characterized by comprising a valve drive means for causing the opening and closing of the hot water supply passage by operating the hot water supply passage opening and closing valve is deformed into a predetermined shape becomes more than a predetermined temperature.

Further, the hot water supply passage opening / closing valve includes a valve body and a valve seat, and at least one of the valve body and the valve seat has a small hole or a cut hole for passing a small amount of hot water even in a closed state. The feature is that a notch is formed.

Further, it is characterized in that the valve driving means is formed by using a shape memory alloy which deforms into a predetermined shape at a predetermined temperature.

Further, the hot water supply system of the present invention is constructed such that the burner is allowed to burn when the amount of water to be heated exceeds a predetermined amount, and the burner is not allowed to burn when the amount of heated water is below the predetermined amount. A hot water supply system comprising a combination of a gas water heater and the bath adapter of the present invention, wherein the amount of water detected by a water amount sensor for detecting the amount of heated water supplied to the gas water heater is the hot water supply of the bath adapter. When the amount of hot water passing through the hot water supply passage opening / closing valve is equal to or less than that when the passage opening / closing valve is closed, the burner of the gas water heater is not burned.

[0011]

In the bath adapter of the present invention, since the hot water supply passage opening / closing valve for opening and closing the hot water supply passage is configured to allow a small amount of hot water to pass therethrough even when the hot water supply passage is closed, the bathtub may not be filled with hot water. , The amount of hot water in the bathtub is small,
The hot water in the bathtub was not sucked in from the suction port of the mixing and discharging part, and the hot water was directly applied to the valve driving means to raise its temperature, deformed into a predetermined shape, and the hot water supply passage opening / closing valve was closed. Even at times, the pressure in the hot water supply passage and the bath piping will not suddenly rise. Therefore, even when a resin pipe is used for the bath pipe, the bath pipe can be reliably prevented from being deformed or damaged, and a large amount of high-temperature hot water is supplied to the bath tub, which causes burns to the user. It is possible to prevent this and improve the reliability.

Further, it comprises a valve body and a valve seat, and
By using a hot water supply passage opening / closing valve in which a small hole or a notch is formed in at least one of the valve body and the valve seat, a small amount of hot water can be surely passed even in the closed state. It is possible to make the bath adapter function reliably.

Further, by using the valve driving means made of a shape memory alloy, hot water is applied due to the fact that there is no hot water in the bathtub or the amount of hot water in the bathtub is small, and the temperature rises. In this case, the hot water supply passage on-off valve can be reliably operated by deforming in response to this promptly, and the bath adapter of the present invention can be effectively provided.

The hot water supply system of the present invention is a combination of a gas water heater configured not to allow combustion of the burner when the amount of heated water to be supplied is below a predetermined amount, and the bath adapter of the present invention. The amount of water detected by the water amount sensor that detects the amount of water to be heated supplied to the gas water heater is determined by the hot water supply passage opening / closing valve of the bath adapter when it is closed. When the amount of hot water passing through is less than or equal to the amount of hot water that passes through, the burner of the gas water heater is not burned, so the combustion of the burner of the gas water heater is stopped when the hot water supply passage opening / closing valve is closed. It is reliably prevented that a small amount of high-temperature hot water is supplied to the bath, as occurs when combustion of the burner is not stopped when the amount of heated water is small. Therefore, according to the hot water supply system of the present invention, safer hot water supply can be performed using the bath adapter of the present invention.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front sectional view showing a bath adapter of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side sectional view, and FIG. 3 is a front sectional view showing a main part thereof.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the bath adapter A of this embodiment includes a hot water supply passage 2 for passing hot water supplied from a hot water supply device (not shown) through the bath pipe 1, and a hot water supply. Equipped with a suction port 7 for sucking the hot water in the bathtub by the suction force generated by discharging the hot water from the passage 2 while swirling the hot water from the hot water supply passage 2 and the hot water in the bathtub sucked from the suction port 7. When hot water is not filled in the mixing / discharging unit 8 and the bath (not shown) or the amount of hot water in the bath is small, the hot water supply passage 2 is closed to prevent hot water from coming out. A hot water supply passage opening / closing valve 3 for operating the hot water supply passage opening / closing valve 3 and a shape for activating the hot water supply passage opening / closing valve 3 when the temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature when the hot water supply passage opening / closing valve 3 is operated. A coil spring valve drive means 4 made of a memory alloy; Although it is closed by the urging force of the spring 9 at the time of heating, at the time of hot-water filling in which a large amount of hot water is supplied, the momentum of the hot water overcomes the urging force of the spring 9 to open the state, and hot water supply is mainly performed from there. Hot water supply part 10 for hot water,
And a cover 15 that covers them. In addition, in the bath adapter A of this embodiment, the hot water supply passage 2
A discharge port (not shown) for discharging hot water from the mixing discharge part 8
Are formed in the tangential direction of the upper end of the cylindrical member 8a constituting the mixing and discharging part 8, and the hot water from the hot water supply passage 2 is swirled and discharged to generate a suction force, thereby The hot water is sucked through the suction port 7.

In the bath adapter A of this embodiment, the hot water supply passage opening / closing valve 3 for opening / closing the hot water supply passage 2 is, as shown in FIG. 3, a small hole 11 so that a small amount of hot water can pass through even in the closed state. And a valve seat 6 formed with
When the temperature exceeds 93 ° C., the valve element 5 is pressed against the valve seat 6 or the valve seat 6 by the valve drive means 4 using a shape memory alloy that is deformed (contracted in this example) and has a predetermined shape to be memorized. The hot water supply passage 2 can be opened and closed by pulling the pressed valve body 5 away from the valve seat 6.

In the bath adapter A configured as described above, the hot water supply passage opening / closing valve 3 for opening and closing the hot water supply passage 2 is opened.
However, since a small amount of hot water passes through the small hole 11 of the valve body 5 even in the closed state, there is no hot water in the bathtub or the amount of hot water in the bathtub is small, so that the mixed discharge part When the hot water in the bathtub is not sucked in through the suction port 7 of 8, the hot water is directly applied to the valve driving means 4 and its temperature rises to 93 ° C. or higher, and the hot water is deformed into a predetermined shape to open and close the hot water supply passage opening / closing valve. Even when 3 is closed, the pressure in the hot water supply passage 2 and the bath pipe 1 does not rise sharply. Therefore, even when a resin pipe is used for the bath pipe 1, the deformation and damage of the bath pipe 1 can be reliably prevented, and a large amount of high-temperature hot water is supplied to the bath user. Can be prevented from being burned and the reliability can be improved.

In the above embodiment, the case where the small hole 11 is formed in the valve body 5 constituting the hot water supply passage opening / closing valve 3 so that a small amount of hot water can pass through even in the closed state has been described.
It is also possible to form a small amount of hot water at the time of closing by forming a cutout in the valve body 5 or forming a small hole or a cutout in the valve seat 6.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the case where the valve driving means 4 made of a shape memory alloy is used has been described. However, the bath adapter of the present invention is not limited to the shape memory alloy, but may depend on the temperature of bimetal or the like. It is also possible to form the valve drive means by using various materials that deform into a predetermined shape.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a hot water supply system according to an embodiment of the present invention. This hot water supply system
The bath adapter A of the above embodiment and a gas configured to allow combustion of the burner 12 when the supplied amount of heated water exceeds a predetermined amount and not allow combustion of the burner 12 when the supplied amount of water to be heated is less than the predetermined amount. It is a hot water supply system configured by combining with a water heater B.

More specifically, in the hot water supply system according to this embodiment, the amount of water (heated water) supplied to the gas water heater B is detected by the water amount sensor 13, and the gas water heater B is detected.
The amount of water to be heated supplied to the hot water supply passage A is equal to or less than the amount of hot water passing through the hot water supply passage opening / closing valve 3 when the hot water supply passage opening / closing valve 3 of the bath adapter A (see FIGS. 1 to 4) is closed (that is, in the danger mode). In this case, the burner 12 of the gas water heater B is not burned to prevent the hot water from being directly supplied to the bathtub 14. In this embodiment, a predetermined amount (about 2.5 L / min) of water flows even when the hot water supply passage opening / closing valve 3 is closed, and the water amount detected by the water amount sensor 13 is 2. 5 L / min
The combustion of the burner 12 is stopped when the temperature becomes below, and the burner 1 when the water amount detected by the water amount sensor 13 becomes 3.5 L / min or more.
2 is allowed to burn.

In the hot water supply system configured as described above, the amount of water detected by the water amount sensor 13 for detecting the amount of water to be heated supplied to the gas water heater B is the bath adapter A.
When the amount of hot water passing through the hot water supply passage opening / closing valve 3 is equal to or less than that when the hot water supply passage opening / closing valve 3 is closed, the gas water heater B
Of the gas water heater B is stopped when the hot water supply passage opening / closing valve 3 is closed. Therefore, the burner 12 of the gas water heater B is stopped when the amount of heated water is small. It is reliably prevented that hot water of a small amount is supplied to the bathtub 14, which is caused when the combustion of is not stopped. Therefore, it is possible to supply hot water safely by using this hot water supply system.

The invention of the present application is not limited to the above embodiment, but the specific structure of the hot water supply passage opening / closing valve constituting the bath adapter, and the shapes of the small holes and notches formed in the valve body and the valve seat. Various applications and modifications can be made within the scope of the invention with respect to the arrangement position thereof, the specific configuration of the valve driving means, the specific configuration of the gas water heater that constitutes the hot water supply system, and the like. Is.

[0025]

As described above, in the bath adapter of the present invention, since the hot water supply passage opening / closing valve is a valve configured to allow a small amount of hot water to pass therethrough even in the closed state, hot water is poured into the bathtub. Or the amount of hot water in the bathtub is small, the hot water in the bathtub is not sucked in from the suction port of the mixing and discharging part,
Even when hot water is directly applied to the valve drive means and its temperature rises and it deforms into a predetermined shape and the hot water supply passage opening / closing valve is closed, the pressure inside the hot water supply passage and bath piping rises sharply. There is nothing to do. Therefore, even when a resin pipe is used for the bath pipe, the bath pipe can be reliably prevented from being deformed or damaged, and a large amount of high-temperature hot water is supplied to the bath tub, which causes burns to the user. It is possible to prevent this and improve the reliability.

Further, it comprises a valve body and a valve seat, and
By using a hot water supply passage opening / closing valve having a small hole or a notch formed in at least one of the valve body and the valve seat, it becomes possible to reliably pass a small amount of hot water even in the closed state, and the bath of the present invention The adapter will be able to function reliably.

Furthermore, by using the valve driving means made of a shape memory alloy, hot water is applied due to the fact that the bath is not filled with hot water or the amount of hot water in the bath is small, and the temperature rises. In this case, the hot water supply passage on-off valve can be reliably operated by deforming in response to this promptly, and the bath adapter of the present invention can be effectively provided.

Further, in the hot water supply system of the present invention, the amount of water detected by the water amount sensor for detecting the amount of water to be heated supplied to the gas water heater is set when the hot water supply passage opening / closing valve of the bath adapter is closed. When the amount of hot water that passes through the hot water supply passage opening / closing valve is equal to or less than that, the burner of the gas water heater is configured not to burn, so that when the burner does not stop burning when the amount of heated water is small, It becomes possible to reliably prevent the hot water from being supplied to the bath even with a small amount. Therefore, according to the hot water supply system of the present invention, safer hot water supply can be performed using the bath adapter of the present invention.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front sectional view showing a structure of a bath adapter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing a structure of a bath adapter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front sectional view showing a main part of a bath adapter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a hot water supply system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a front sectional view showing a structure of a conventional bath adapter.

FIG. 6 is a side sectional view showing a structure of a conventional bath adapter.

FIG. 7 is a front sectional view showing a main part of a conventional bath adapter.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A bath adapter B gas water heater 1 bath piping 2 hot water supply channel 3 hot water supply channel opening / closing valve 4 valve driving means 5 valve body 6 valve seat 7 suction port 8 mixture discharge section 9 spring 10 hot water outlet section 11 small hole 12 burner 13 water volume Sensor 14 Bath 15 Cover

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A bath adapter, which is used by being attached to a bathtub to supply hot water from the water heater to the bathtub, wherein the hot water supply passage allows passage of hot water supplied from the water heater via the bath pipe, and a hot water supply passage. Equipped with a suction port that sucks the hot water in the bathtub by the suction force generated by swirling and discharging the hot water from the hot water, and discharges while mixing the hot water from the hot water supply passage and the hot water in the bathtub sucked from the suction port. Mixing discharge part and hot water supply passage opening / closing valve for opening and closing the hot water supply passage, configured to allow a small amount of hot water to pass even in the closed state so that the pressure inside the hot water supply passage and the bath piping does not rise sharply when closed The hot water supply passage opening / closing valve and the hot water discharged from the mixing and discharging portion are formed at a position where the hot water is discharged, and are formed by using a material that is deformed by temperature. Opening the hot water supply passage Bath adapter characterized by comprising a valve drive means for causing the opening and closing of the hot water supply passage by operating the valve. 2. The hot water supply passage opening / closing valve includes a valve body and a valve seat, and at least one of the valve body and the valve seat has a small hole or a cut hole for passing a small amount of hot water even in a closed state. The bath adapter according to claim 1, wherein a notch is formed. 3. The bath adapter according to claim 1, wherein the valve driving means is formed using a shape memory alloy that deforms into a predetermined shape when a predetermined temperature is reached. 4. A gas water heater configured to allow combustion of the burner when the amount of water to be heated exceeds a predetermined amount, and not allow combustion of the burner when the amount of water to be heated is less than the predetermined amount. A hot water supply system comprising a combination of the bath adapter described in 1, 2, or 3, wherein the amount of water detected by a water amount sensor for detecting the amount of heated water supplied to the gas water heater is the hot water supply passage opening / closing of the bath adapter. A hot water supply system characterized in that the burner of the gas water heater is prevented from burning when the amount of hot water passing through the hot water supply passage opening / closing valve is equal to or less than the value when the valve is closed.