JPH08285430A - Cold water feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To make a temperature of cold water in a water storage tank uniform and prevent heat from flowing into the water storage tank from the external side as much as possible. CONSTITUTION: A water storage tank 13, which is cooled by cooling pipes 15, is provided in a case main body 12, and water W in the water storage tank is allowed to circulate by a circulating water passage 29 and a circulating pump 30. An operation controlling circuit controls a water feed valve 21 on the basis of detection made by float switches 24, 25 to keep a water level in the water storage tank at a proper level and controls a refrigerating cycle on the basis of detection made by an icing sensor 36 to keep a quatity of ice I in the water storage tank in a proper quantity. The operation controlling circuit stops the operation of the circulating pump 30 in a time zone from nine o'clock in the evening to eight o'clock in the following morning, during which a cold water feeder is not used, with the aid of a 24-hour timer and a timer switch.

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. 6 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. 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.

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 to control the temperature of the cold water W in the water storage tank 3. Is maintained at a predetermined temperature (3 to 8 ° C.).

[0004]

In the above-mentioned configuration, as the cold water W is supplied, fresh water having a relatively high temperature is replenished in the water storage tank 3. In the case of No. 1, the supplied warm water was stagnant in the upper layer in the water storage tank 3, and the temperature difference of the water W in the water storage tank 3 was likely to occur. For this reason, there is a drawback that the water W cannot be cooled efficiently, and there is a possibility that the warm water W is supplied.

Therefore, it is conceivable to provide a circulating water passage connecting the inner bottom portion and the upper portion of the water storage tank 3 to circulate the water W in the water storage tank 3. However, for example, during the non-use time such as at night, fresh water is supplied. If the water W in the water storage tank 3 is circulated despite not being present, on the contrary, there is a problem that the external heat flows in via the circulation water passage located outside the water storage tank 3 and the cooling efficiency is lowered. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to make it possible to equalize the temperature of cold water in a water storage tank and to prevent the inflow of heat from the outside during a time period when there is no supplement of fresh water. It is to provide a cold water supply device that can be prevented as much as possible.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the cold water supply apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention is a water storage tank to which fresh water is replenished, and the water in the water storage tank is cooled to partially A cooler for freezing water, a circulating water passage connecting the inner bottom of the water storage tank and the upper portion of the water storage tank, a circulation pump provided in the middle of the water circulation tank, and the circulation pump is operated during an operation time period. In addition, an operation control circuit for stopping the operation of the circulation pump during a non-use time such as night is provided. The cold water supply device according to claim 2 of the present invention is a water storage tank to which fresh water is replenished, a cooler for cooling water in the water storage tank to freeze a part thereof, and an inner bottom portion of the water storage tank. And a circulating water channel connecting the upper part of the water storage tank, and a circulating pump provided in the middle of this circulating water channel,
A drain valve provided in series with the water storage tank, and the circulation pump is operated during an operating time period, and the operation of the circulation pump is stopped during a non-use time period such as nighttime, and a predetermined time in the non-use time period. And an operation control circuit for opening the drain valve to discharge the unfrozen water in the water storage tank.

[0007]

According to the chilled water supply device of claim 1 of the present invention, ice and chilled water coexist in the water storage tank, of which cold water is circulated from the inner bottom of the water storage tank by the operation of the circulation pump. Circulation through to return to the top of the water tank. Therefore, the supplied warm fresh water does not stay in the upper part of the water storage tank, and the temperature of the water becomes uniform. Further, the supplied fresh water melts the ice to become cold water, and the supplied fresh water quickly becomes cold water by heat exchange with the ice. Then, the operation control circuit operates the circulation pump during the operation time period and stops the operation of the circulation pump during the non-use time period such as nighttime. Inflow of heat can be prevented.

By the way, it is known that when water is frozen, it is frozen in order from a pure portion of the water. Therefore, when ice and water are allowed to coexist in the water storage tank, the amount of ice tends to increase and the concentration of impurities in unfrozen water tends to increase during nonuse times such as nighttime when fresh water is not supplied. According to the chilled water supply device of the second aspect of the present invention, the operation control circuit opens the drain valve at a predetermined time in the non-use time zone to temporarily discharge the unfrozen water in the water storage tank. Water with a relatively high impurity concentration in the water storage tank is discharged in the zone, and cold water with a low impurity concentration and good taste can be supplied during subsequent use. In addition, draining unfrozen water during nonuse periods suppresses the growth of various bacteria, which is convenient in terms of hygiene.

[0009]

As described above, according to the cold water supply apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, the water in the water storage tank circulates through the circulating water passage, so that the temperature of the water in the water storage tank is made uniform. Therefore, efficient cooling of water can be performed. In addition, since the supplied fresh water can be quickly turned into cold water by exchanging heat with ice, even if a large amount of cold water is supplied in a short time, it is possible to continuously supply sufficiently cold water. it can. Since the operation of the circulation pump is stopped during a non-use time such as at night, it has an excellent practical effect that the inflow of heat from the outside can be prevented as much as possible during a time when the fresh water is not supplied. .

According to the chilled water supply device of the second aspect of the present invention, the temperature of the water in the water storage tank can be made uniform, the water can be efficiently cooled, and the chilled water is replenished. The fresh water can be quickly turned into cold water, and further, the inflow of heat from the outside can be prevented as much as possible during the time period when the fresh water is not supplied. Then, since the water with a high impurity concentration in the water storage tank is temporarily discharged during the non-use time, cold water with good taste can be supplied during the subsequent use, and it is hygienic.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment embodying the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. Figure 1
The whole structure of the cold water supply apparatus 11 which concerns on a present Example is shown, Here, the water storage tank 13 which stores the water W is provided in the main body case 12, and the refrigeration cycle (whole Is omitted). As is well known, the refrigeration cycle is configured by connecting a compressor 14 (only shown in FIG. 3), a condenser, a dryer, a capillary tube, and a cooling pipe 15 in a closed loop, and a refrigerant circulates inside. .

In the water storage tank 13, for example, the cooling pipe 15 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of a metal tank inner wall 16 having a cylindrical container shape with an open upper surface, for example, in a thermally connected state such as soldering. Insulating material around the inner wall 16 of the tank
It is covered with 7. In this case, the cooling pipe 15 is provided so as to be spirally wound around the outer peripheral surface of the tank inner wall 16, and the liquid refrigerant passing through the inside is vaporized by heat exchange with the water W in the water storage tank 13. By doing so, the water W is cooled, and at this time, a part of the water W in the water storage tank 13, that is, a predetermined thickness portion near the inner peripheral surface of the tank inner wall 16 is frozen and the ice I
Generate

A lid 18 made of, for example, a metal is detachably attached to the upper opening of the water storage tank 13. A fresh water supply port 19 is provided on the right side of the lid 18 in the drawing, and the fresh water supply port 19 is connected to a fresh water supply source such as a water supply (not shown) via a water supply passage 20 and is provided in the middle thereof. By opening the water supply valve 21, the fresh water is supplied to the water storage tank 13. The water tank 13
The upper part (the space where water is not stored) communicates with the atmosphere via the communication pipe 22. The lid 18 is provided with a protective cylinder 23 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 23. The protective cylinder 23 is in the shape of a cylindrical pipe and is provided so as to project downward by welding the upper end portion to the central portion of the lower surface of the lid 18. As a result, most of the lower portion of the protective cylinder 23 is soaked in the cold water W in the water storage tank 13.

In this case, the water level switch is
First float switch 24 for detecting a predetermined water level
And a second float switch 25 for detecting the protective water level below that. These first
And the detection signals of the second float switches 24 and 25 are input to an operation control circuit 26 (see FIG. 3) described later, and the operation control circuit 26 opens and closes the water supply valve 21, that is, clean water based on the detection signals. It is designed to control replenishment, etc. Now, in the main body case 12, from the water outlet 27 provided at the center of the bottom of the water storage tank 13,
In the drawing of the water storage tank 13, the left side portion extends upward, and the lid 1
In FIG. 8, a circulating water channel 29 is provided which is connected to a return port 28 provided on the left side. A circulating pump 30 for sending the water W in the direction of arrow A is provided in the middle of the circulating water passage 29 (the portion extending to the bottom in the drawing). As a result, the circulation pump 30 is driven so that the water storage tank 13
As shown by the arrow A, the water W therein is circulated from the water outlet 27, through the circulation water passage 29, and from the return port 28 back into the water storage tank 13. In addition, in the water storage tank 13, the water W is adapted to move in a central portion of the water storage tank 13 surrounded by the ice I and extending in the vertical direction.

Further, a pouring path 31 of a relatively short length is provided so as to branch from the upper part of the circulating water path 29 to take the cold water W to the outside. This outlet 31
The tip of the spout 3 is located outside the body case 12.
2, a spout valve 33 is provided in the middle thereof. This spout valve 33 is normally closed,
When the user operates an operation unit (not shown), the spout valve 33 is opened and the cold water W is spouted from the spout 32. A drain pipe 35 that is opened and closed by a drain valve 34 is provided so as to branch from the lower portion of the circulating water passage 29.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, in the water storage tank 13, an ice sensor 36 for detecting the growth state of the ice I and a temperature sensor 3 for detecting the temperature of the water W are provided.
7 are provided. As is well known, the ice sensor 36 detects ice by utilizing the difference in electric resistance between the ice I and the water W. As shown in FIG. 2, the ice sensor 36 has a rectangular box-shaped plastic holder. Electrodes 3 on both the upper and lower sides of 38
9 and 39 are fixed by screws 40 and 40, and the electric resistance between the electrodes 39 and 39 is detected. The freezing sensor 36 (holder 38) has its upper end screwed to the left side surface in the figure of the lower end of an inverted L-shaped mounting plate 41 attached to the inner wall of the upper end of the water storage tank 13, In addition, the water tank 13 is arranged at a portion close to the left inner wall of the intermediate portion.

The temperature sensor 37 is provided on the right side surface of the mounting plate 41 in the figure so as to be sandwiched between the holding plate 42 having a spring property, so that the cold water W in the water storage tank 13 is provided.
It is designed to detect the temperature of. The operation control circuit 26 controls the compressor 14 based on the detections of the freezing sensor 36 and the temperature sensor 37, so that an appropriate amount of ice I is always generated and the cold water W is cooled to an appropriate temperature. It is like this. FIG. 3 shows an electrical configuration centering on the operation control circuit 26. The operation control circuit 26 is composed of, for example, a microcomputer built-in board, and is supplied with power from the commercial power supply 43 via the power supply circuit 44. Further, as described above, the operation control circuit 26 receives the detection signals of the first and second float switches 24 and 25, and the detection signals of the freezing sensor 36 and the temperature sensor 37. It is like this. Furthermore, the operation control circuit 2
A signal from the time switch 46, which is turned on / off by the 24-hour timer 45, is given to 6.

The operation control circuit 26 is connected to the circulation pump 30 and the drain valve 3 via the relays X1 to X5.
4, the compressor 14, the water supply valve 21, and the spout valve 33 are on / off controlled. At this time, as will be described later in the description of the operation, the operation control circuit 26 is configured to stop the operation of the circulation pump 30 based on the signal from the time switch 46 during the non-use time period at night. Has been done. Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. The operation control circuit 26 controls each mechanism as follows. That is, when water is supplied into the water storage tank 13, the relay X4 is turned on and the water supply valve 21 is opened, so that fresh water is supplied from the replenishment port 19 into the water storage tank 13 through the water supply passage 20. This water supply is performed based on the detection of the first float switch 24. When the predetermined water level is reached and the first float switch 24 is turned off, the relay X4 is turned off and the water supply valve 21 is closed to reach the predetermined water level. The water supply will be done. Further, at this time, when the second float switch 24 detects that the inside of the water storage tank 13 has reached the protective water level,
The relay X1 is turned on and the circulation pump 30 is turned on, so that the cold water W circulates in the circulation water passage 29.

The water W stored in the water storage tank 13 is turned on when the relay X3 is turned on and the compressor 14 of the refrigeration cycle is operated.
As the (refrigeration cycle) is driven, it is cooled by the cooling pipe 15 and a part (the inner wall portion of the water storage tank 13) is frozen to become ice I. When the ice sensor 36 detects that a predetermined amount of ice I has been generated, the relay X3 is turned off and the compressor 14 is turned off so that the ice I is not frozen any more. With this, the inside of the water storage tank 13 is
The ice I having a predetermined thickness and the cold water W coexist. At this time, by the operation of the circulation pump 30 described above,
As shown by the arrow A, the cold water W in the central portion of the water storage tank 13 is circulated from the bottom water outlet 27 through the circulation water passage 29 to the upper portion of the water storage tank 13. As a result, the water W does not stay in the water storage tank 13, the temperature of the water W in the water storage tank 13 becomes uniform, and a temperature difference does not occur, so that the water W is efficiently cooled.

When the user takes out the cold water W, the relay X5 is turned on based on the operation of the operation unit to open the spout valve 33, and the cold water W circulating in the circulating water passage 29 is obtained.
Is poured from the pouring outlet 32 through the pouring path 31.
In this case, since the pouring path 31 is branched from the circulating water path 29, the cold water W circulating in the circulating water path 29 is promptly supplied from the pouring outlet 32 even when a 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. Needless to say, warm water is not supplied due to the uniform temperature of the cold water W described above. Here, by supplying the cold water W, the water storage tank 13
When the water level in the inside becomes equal to or lower than the predetermined water level, the relay X4 is turned on and the water supply valve 21 is opened based on the detection of the first float switch 24, so that new fresh water is stored from the supply port 19 through the water supply passage 20. The tank 13 will be replenished. 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, even when a large amount of cold water W is supplied in a short time,
The sufficiently cold water W can be continuously supplied.
At this time, the first and second float switches 24,
Since 25 is configured to be housed in the protective cylinder 23 provided on the lid 18, it is unlikely to be affected by the ripple of the water surface of the water storage tank 13 due to the circulation of the cold water W and the supply of fresh water,
The water level can be detected accurately.

When the ice I in the water storage tank 13 melts and its amount decreases, the freezing sensor 36 detects the shortage of the ice I, and the compressor 14 is turned on in response to this, 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, since the ice sensor 36 (electrodes 39, 39) is fixed to the holder 38 of the mounting plate 41, the ice 3 grows and the electrode 3
It is possible to prevent the situation where the positions of 4, 34 deviate from each other, and the ice I can be stably detected at the fixed positions. It goes without saying that the protection cylinder 23 is not frozen.

By the way, as described above, by circulating the cold water W through the circulating water passage 29, the temperature of the cold water W in the water storage tank 13 can be made uniform. If the circulation pump 30 continues to operate even if the cold water W is not supplied and then the fresh water is not supplied, on the contrary, there arises a problem that the external heat flows in through the circulation water passage 29 to lower the cooling efficiency. Therefore, in this embodiment, the operation of the circulation pump 30 is stopped during the non-use time period at night. That is, the 24-hour timer 45 is configured to turn on the time switch 46 at 8:00 am and turn off the time switch 46 at 9:00 pm, for example. Based on the turning on and off of the time switch 46, the operation control circuit 26 sets the relay X1 only in the operating time zone (from 8 am to 9 pm) in which the time switch 46 is on. Turn on circulation pump 3
0 is operated and the relay X1 is unconditionally turned off to stop the circulation pump 30 during a non-use time zone at night when the time switch 46 is turned off.
In this way, the circulation channel 29
It is possible to prevent heat from flowing in. It goes without saying that it is possible to suppress the power consumption in the non-use time zone. The cooling operation (ON / OFF control of the compressor 14 based on the freezing sensor 36) is continued during this non-use time.

As described above, according to this embodiment, since the cold water W in the water storage tank 13 is circulated through the circulation water passage 29, the temperature of the water W in the water storage tank 13 can be made uniform. As a result, the water W can be efficiently cooled. In addition, since a part of the water W in the water storage tank 13 is frozen, the supplied fresh water can be quickly made into cold water by heat exchange with the ice I, and a large amount of cold water W can be supplied in a short time. Even in such a case, the sufficiently cold water W can be continuously supplied. Further, since the operation of the circulation pump 30 is stopped during the non-use time period at night, it is possible to prevent the inflow of heat from the outside when the fresh water is not supplied as much as possible.

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. The difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment is that
The operation mode is executed by the operation control circuit 26. That is, in the present embodiment, the operation control circuit 26 stops the operation of the circulation pump 30 during the non-use time period at night as in the first embodiment, but in addition to that, The drain valve 24 is opened at a predetermined time in the use time period so that the unfrozen water W in the water storage tank 13 is discharged through the drain pipe 25. That is, the operation control circuit 26 turns on the relay X2 and opens the drain valve 24 for a predetermined short time after 9 o'clock when the circulation pump 30 is stopped. Further, when the drain valve 24 is opened, the compressor 14 is forcibly turned off.

Here, it is known that when water is frozen, it is sequentially frozen from a pure portion of water. Therefore, when the ice I and the water W are allowed to coexist in the water storage tank 13, the amount of the ice I increases and the impurity concentration of the unfrozen water W becomes a little during the non-use time period such as night when the fresh water is not supplied. Tends to be high. In the present embodiment, the operation control circuit 26 opens the drain valve 24 at a predetermined time in the non-use time zone to discharge the unfrozen water W in the water storage tank 13, so that the water storage tank 13 is in the non-use time zone. The water W having a relatively high impurity concentration therein is once discharged, and at the time of subsequent use, cold water having a low impurity concentration and good taste can be supplied. Further, the continuous storage of the cold water in the water storage tank 13 is a little because the temperature is low, but there is a possibility that various bacteria will slightly grow, but in the present embodiment, the cold water is discharged. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the possibility of proliferation of various bacteria, which is extremely hygienic. In addition, it is needless to say that the same action and effect as the first embodiment can be obtained.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are possible, and these are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. Other than the following, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. (1) Instead of the 24-hour timer 45 and the time switch 46, a microcomputer having a timer function in the operation control circuit may be used to determine the non-use time zone by the built-in timer function. (2) Instead of providing the float switches 24 and 25 in the protective cylinder 23, a communication pipe communicating with the water storage tank may be provided, and a water level switch for detecting the water level of the communication pipe may be provided. Further, another water level detection sensor such as a pressure sensor or an optical sensor can be used.

(3) The cooler may be provided in the water storage tank.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

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

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an electrical configuration centered on a control circuit.

FIG. 4 is a time chart showing the on / off timing of the circulation pump.

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, and is a time chart showing the on / off timings of the circulation pump and the drain valve.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional side view of an entire conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 ... Chilled Water Supply Device 13 ... Water Storage Tank 15 ... Cooling Pipe (Cooler) 26 ... Operation Control Circuit 29 ... Circulating Water Channel 30 ... Circulation Pump 34 ... Drain Valve

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A water storage tank to which fresh water is replenished, a cooler for cooling the water in the water storage tank to freeze a part thereof, and a circulation connecting an inner bottom portion of the water storage tank and an upper portion of the water storage tank. A water channel, a circulation pump provided in the middle of the circulation channel, and an operation control circuit that operates the circulation pump during an operation time period and stops the operation of the circulation pump during an unused time period such as nighttime. Cold water supply device. 2. A water storage tank to which fresh water is replenished, a cooler for cooling the water in the water storage tank to freeze a part thereof, and a circulation connecting an inner bottom portion of the water storage tank and an upper portion of the water storage tank. A water channel, a circulation pump provided in the middle of this circulation channel, a drain valve connected to the water storage tank, the circulation pump is operated during operating hours, and the circulation is performed during non-use times such as at night. A chilled water supply device comprising: an operation control circuit that stops the operation of the pump and opens the drain valve at a predetermined time during the nonuse period to discharge the unfrozen water in the water storage tank.