JPH08284223A - Cold water supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To quickly cool water supplied to a water storage tank, and easily implement a maintenance work or the like for a level switch. CONSTITUTION: A case 12 of this device is internally provided with a water storage tank 13 for freezing a part of water W contained therein with a cooling pipe 14. Furthermore, a control circuit controls a refrigeration cycle on the basis of data detected with an icing sensor 31 and a temperature sensor 32, thereby keeping the volume of ice I at a pertinent level. Also, a cover to open and close the top of the tank 13 is fitted with a protective cylinder 38 projected downward, and the cylinder 38 is internally fitted with the first float switch 39 for detecting the preset water level, and the second float switch 40 for detecting a protection water level lower than the preset level. Also, the control circuit controls a feed valve 20 on the basis of data detected with the switches 39 and 40, thereby maintaining the suitable volume of water W in the tank 13.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cold water supply device for cooling water supplied in a water storage tank and pouring the cold water from a spout.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional example of a cold water supply device for supplying drinking water in a cooled state, for example, the one shown in FIG. 3 is provided. This one is provided with a water storage tank 3 surrounded by a heat insulating wall 2 and a cooler 4 (refrigeration cycle) for cooling water W in the water storage tank 3 in a main body case 1. Further, the cold water W in the water storage tank 3 is supplied to the outside from the spout 6 through the water outlet pipe 5, and fresh water is supplied to the water storage tank 3 from the water supply pipe 7. ing.

A float switch 8 for detecting the water level in the water storage tank 3 is provided above the side wall of the water storage tank 3, and fresh water from the water supply pipe 7 is detected based on the detection of the float switch 8. Is controlled so that the water level in the water storage tank 3 is maintained at a predetermined water level. Further, a temperature sensor 9 is provided in the middle part of the side wall of the water storage tank 3, and the cooler 4 (refrigeration cycle) is controlled based on the detection of the temperature sensor 9,
The temperature of the cold water W in the water storage tank 3 is a predetermined temperature (3 to 8 ° C)
It is designed to be kept at.

[0004]

In the above-mentioned conventional cold water supply device, new fresh water is supplied to the water storage tank 3 as the cold water W is supplied. When a large amount of cold water W is supplied in time, there is a problem that the supplied new water cannot be quickly cooled, and in order to prevent the water temperature from being supplied without being sufficiently lowered. The water storage tank 3 was made large.

Further, since the float switch 8 is directly attached to the inner wall of the water storage tank 3, it is difficult to clean and maintain the float switch 8 and it is difficult to clean the water storage tank 3. Furthermore, the float switch 8 is easily affected by ripples on the water surface when fresh water is replenished, and malfunctions are likely to occur. In this case, the float switch 8 may not be provided on the inner wall of the water storage tank 3, but a communication pipe communicating with the water storage tank 3 may be provided and a water level switch may be provided so as to detect the water level of the communication pipe. There is. However, in this configuration, since the communication pipe is externally attached to the water storage tank 3, the overall size is increased and the configuration is complicated, and the water in the communication pipe tends to stay without being cooled. It was not very hygienic.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances. An object of the present invention is to quickly cool replenished water and to easily perform maintenance of a water level switch for detecting the water level. It is to provide a chilled water supply device that can be used.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the cold water supply apparatus of the present invention cools the water storage tank having an open upper surface and the outer peripheral portion of the water storage tank so that the internal water is supplied to the central portion. A cooler for freezing, a lid that is detachably attached to the upper opening of the water storage tank, a protective tube that is provided substantially at the center of the lid so as to project into the water storage tank, and this protection A water level switch provided in the cylinder for detecting the water level in the water storage tank, a pouring path for pouring out water in the cooled water storage tank, and a water level in the water storage tank detected by the water level switch being equal to or lower than a predetermined value. It has a water supply channel to replenish fresh water when it becomes.

[0008]

According to the cold water supply device of the present invention described above, when cold water is supplied and the water level in the water storage tank falls below a predetermined value, fresh water is supplied from the water supply channel by detection of the water level switch. However, since ice and cold water coexist in the water storage tank, the replenished fresh water melts the ice into cold water and the replenished fresh water heats up with the ice. It becomes cold water promptly by exchange. Since the water level switch is provided on the lid of the water storage tank, the water level switch can be taken out of the water storage tank by removing the lid, and maintenance and cleaning can be easily performed. Further, since the water level switch is provided in the protective cylinder, it is possible to detect the water level at a position that is unlikely to be affected by the ripples on the water surface of the water storage tank when supplying fresh water, and the water in the protective cylinder remains. Nothing.

[0009]

As described above, according to the cold water supply device of the present invention, since ice and cold water coexist in the water storage tank, the supplied fresh water is quickly converted into cold water by heat exchange with ice. Therefore, even if a large amount of cold water is supplied in a short time, sufficiently cold water can be continuously supplied. Further, since the water level switch is provided in the protective cylinder provided on the lid of the water storage tank, maintenance and cleaning of the water level switch and cleaning of the water storage tank can be easily performed, and moreover, the water level switch of the water level switch due to the wavy surface This has an excellent effect of preventing malfunction.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment embodying the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of a cold water supply device 11 according to the present embodiment, in which a water storage tank 13 for storing water W is provided in a main body case 12 and serves as a cooler. A refrigeration cycle (not shown in the figure as a whole) is provided. As is well known, the refrigeration cycle is configured by connecting a compressor, a condenser, a dryer, a capillary tube, and a cooling pipe 14 in a closed loop, and a refrigerant circulates inside. The water storage tank 13 is
For example, the cooling pipe 14 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of a metal tank inner wall 15 having a cylindrical container shape with an open upper surface, for example, in a thermally connected state by soldering, and the tank inner wall 15 is provided.
The peripheral portion of is covered with a heat insulating material 16. In this case, the cooling pipe 14 is provided so as to be spirally wound on the outer peripheral surface of the tank inner wall 15 almost entirely, and the liquid refrigerant passed through the inside is the water W in the water storage tank 13.
It is configured to cool the water W by being vaporized by heat exchange with the water W. At this time, the water W in the water storage tank 13 is cooled.
A part of the above, that is, a portion having a predetermined thickness near the inner peripheral surface of the tank inner wall 15 is frozen to generate ice I.

A lid 17 made of, for example, a metal is detachably attached to the upper opening of the water storage tank 13. A fresh water supply port 18 is provided on the right side of the lid 17 in the figure, and the fresh water supply port 18 is connected to a fresh water supply source such as a water supply (not shown) through a water supply channel 19 and is provided in the middle thereof. By opening the water supply valve 20, the fresh water is supplied to the water storage tank 13. The water tank 13
The upper part (space part where water is not stored) communicates with the atmosphere via a communication pipe 21. Further, inside the main body case 12, a left side portion of the water storage tank 13 in the drawing is extended upward from a water outlet 22 provided in a central portion of a bottom portion of the water storage tank 13, and a left side portion of the lid 17 in the drawing is provided. A circulating water passage 24 is provided which connects to the return port 23. This circulation channel 24
In the middle of the water (the part that extends the bottom in the figure), water W
A circulation pump 25 that feeds in the direction is provided. As a result, by driving the circulation pump 25, the water W in the water storage tank 13 passes through the circulation water passage 24 from the water outlet 22 and returns to the water storage tank 13 from the return outlet 23, as shown by the arrow A. There is a return cycle. In the water storage tank 13, the water W moves in a central portion surrounded by the ice I and extending in the up-down direction.

Further, a pouring path 26 having a relatively short length is provided for branching out from the upper part of the circulating water path 24 so as to take out the cold water W to the outside. This outlet 26
The tip of the spout 2 is located outside the main body case 12.
7, and a spout valve 28 is provided in the middle thereof. This spout valve 28 is normally closed,
When the user operates an operation section (not shown), the spout valve 28 is opened and the cold water W is spouted from the spout 27. Further, a drain pipe 30 that is opened and closed by a drain valve 29 is provided so as to branch from the lower portion of the circulating water passage 24.

Then, in the water storage tank 13, as shown in FIG.
As also shown, a freezing sensor 31 for detecting the growth state of the ice I and a temperature sensor 32 for detecting the temperature of the water W are provided. As is well known, the freezing sensor 31 detects the freezing position by utilizing the difference in electric resistance between the ice I and the water W, and as shown in FIG. 2, it is made of a plastic having a rectangular box shape. Electrodes 34 and 34 are fixed to the upper and lower surfaces of the holder 33 with screws 35 and 35, and the electric resistance between the electrodes 34 and 34 is detected. This ice sensor 31 (holder 33) is
The upper end portion is screwed to the left side surface in the figure of the lower end portion of the inverted L-shaped mounting plate 36 attached to the inner wall of the upper end portion of the water storage tank 13. It is located near the left inner wall.

Further, the temperature sensor 32 is provided on the right side surface of the mounting plate 36 in the figure so as to be sandwiched between it and a holding plate 37 having a spring property, so that the cold water W in the water storage tank 13 is stored. It is designed to detect temperature. Although not shown, the control circuit for controlling the operation of the refrigeration cycle is
The compressor and the like are controlled based on the detections of the ice sensor 31 and the temperature sensor 32, so that an appropriate amount of ice I is always generated and the cold water W is cooled to an appropriate temperature. As shown in FIG. 1, the lid 17 is provided with a protective cylinder 38 made of metal, for example, and a water level switch for detecting the water level in the water storage tank 13 is provided in the protective cylinder 38. ing. The protective cylinder 38 is in the shape of a cylindrical pipe, and the upper end portion of the lid 17 is at the center of the lower surface of the lid 17.
It is provided so as to project downward by being welded to 7, for example. As a result, most of the lower portion of the protective cylinder 38 is soaked in the cold water W in the water storage tank 13.

In this case, the water level switch is
First float switch 39 for detecting a predetermined water level
And a second float switch 40 for detecting the protective water level below that. Of these, the predetermined water level is almost the full water level in the water storage tank 13 as shown in FIG. The control circuit, based on the detection signal of the first float switch 39, the water supply valve 20.
That is, the opening and closing, that is, the supply of fresh water is controlled, and when the water level in the water storage tank 13 drops below a predetermined value due to water supply, the fresh water is supplied, and when the water level reaches the predetermined water level, the supply is stopped. ing.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described. The water W having a predetermined water level is stored in the water storage tank 13, and the water W is cooled by the cooling pipe 14 and a part (the inner wall portion of the water storage tank 13) is frozen to become ice I. A certain amount of ice I
When the freezing sensor 31 detects that the ice is generated, the refrigeration cycle is controlled so that the ice is not frozen any more. At this time, by driving the circulation pump 25, the water W in the water storage tank 13 is circulated from the bottom water outlet 22 through the circulation water passage 24 to the upper portion of the water storage tank 13 as shown by an arrow A. Become. As a result, the water W does not stay in the water storage tank 13 and the water storage tank 1
The temperature of the water W in 3 is made uniform, and there is no difference in temperature, and efficient cooling is achieved.

When the user takes out the cold water W, the spout valve 28 is opened based on the operation of the operating portion, and the cold water W circulating in the circulating water passage 24 passes through the spout passage 26 and the spout 27. Is poured out from. In this case, since the spout 26 is branched from the circulating water passage 24, the cold water W circulating in the circulating water passage 24 is promptly supplied from the pouring outlet 27 even when the time has elapsed since the previous supply of the cold water W. From the beginning of supply, cold water W that is sufficiently cold comes to be supplied. Here, when the water level in the water storage tank 13 becomes low due to the supply of the cold water W, new fresh water is replenished into the water storage tank 13 from the replenishment port 18 through the water supply passage 19 based on the detection of the first float switch 29. become. The fresh water to be supplied has a relatively high temperature. With the supply, the ice I in the water storage tank 13 melts to become cold water W, and the supplied fresh water exchanges heat with the ice I. Rapidly becomes cold water W. Therefore, a large amount of cold water W in a short time
Even when supplying water, the water is sufficiently cold continuously
Can be supplied.

At this time, since the first and second float switches 39 and 40 are housed in the protection cylinder 38 provided on the lid 17, the water level of the water storage tank 13 at the time of supplying fresh water. The water level can be detected accurately without being affected by the ripples in the water. Moreover, since the water W in the protection cylinder 38 is sufficiently replaced by the water W supplied from the water storage tank 13, it does not stay and is good in hygiene. Furthermore, since the protection cylinder 38 is provided in the central portion of the water storage tank 13, the protection cylinder 38 becomes an obstacle when water is replenished and the circulating water is returned. The effect of disturbing the flow of the cold water W and contributing to the uniformization of the temperature of the cold water W can also be expected.

When the ice I in the water storage tank 13 melts and its amount decreases, the ice sensor 31 detects the shortage of the ice I, the refrigeration cycle is controlled accordingly, and the freezing is newly promoted. Then, an appropriate refrigeration cycle is controlled so as to keep the ice I in an appropriate amount. At this time, the ice sensor 31 (electrodes 34, 34) is attached to the holder 3 of the mounting plate 36.
3 is fixed to the electrodes 34,
A situation in which the position of 34 is displaced can be prevented in advance, and the ice I can be stably detected at a fixed position. It goes without saying that even the protection cylinder 38 is not frozen.

Therefore, when the first and second float switches 39 and 40 are cleaned or maintained, or the inside of the water storage tank 13 is cleaned, the lid 17 is removed from the water storage tank 13. Then, the first and second float switches 39 and 40 are taken out integrally with the removal of the lid 17. Therefore, cleaning and maintenance of the first and second float switches 39 and 40 can be easily performed. Further, since the first and second float switches 39, 40 are taken out from the water storage tank 13, the water storage tank 13 can be easily cleaned.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, since a part of the water W in the water storage tank 13 is frozen, the supplied fresh water can be quickly converted into cold water by heat exchange with the ice I. Even if a large amount of cold water W is supplied in a short time, the sufficiently cold water W can be continuously supplied, and thus the water storage tank 13 does not have to be so large. it can. Further, particularly in the present embodiment, since the cold water W in the water storage tank 13 is configured to circulate through the circulation water passage 24, the temperature of the cold water W in the water storage tank 13 can be made uniform and the efficiency of the water W can be improved. Cooling can be performed.

In this embodiment, the float switch 3 is placed in the protective cylinder 38 provided on the lid 17 of the water storage tank 13.
Since 9 and 40 are provided, the float switch 3
The maintenance and cleaning of the water tanks 9 and 40 and the cleaning of the water storage tank 13 can be easily performed, and the malfunctions of the float switches 39 and 40 due to the ripples on the water surface can be prevented. In addition, connect the communication pipe to the water storage tank 3
Unlike the case where the float switch 8 is externally attached to the communication pipe and the float switch 8 is provided on the communication pipe, the entire size is not increased and the sanitary aspect is excellent. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described by the above description and the drawings. For example, a circulating water channel may not necessarily be provided, and the water level switch is not limited to a float switch, but a pressure sensor, an optical sensor, or the like. Other water level sensors can be used, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall vertical sectional side view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a mounting state of an ice sensor.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional side view of an entire conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 ... Chilled water supply device 13 ... Water tank 14 ... Cooling pipe (cooler) 17 ... Lid 19 ... Water supply channel 26 ... Spout channel 38 ... Protection tube 39,40 ... Float switch (water level switch)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A water storage tank having an open top surface, a cooler for cooling the outer peripheral portion of the water storage tank to freeze the water inside the water storage area except for the central portion, and a water storage tank detachable at the top opening of the water storage tank. A lid provided, and a protective tube provided so as to project into the water storage tank at substantially the center of the lid,
A water level switch provided in the protection cylinder for detecting the water level in the water storage tank, a pouring path for pouring out water in the cooled water storage tank, and a water level in the water storage tank detected by the water level switch are predetermined. A chilled water supply device comprising a water supply channel for replenishing fresh water when the value falls below a value.