JPH089774Y2 - Temperature control device - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a temperature adjusting device for adjusting the temperature of hot water supplied to a bathtub when taking a bath.

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional technology, there is JP-A-61-106155. This publication discloses a mixing valve as a member for mixing and producing hot water in a hot water injection control system.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention In the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-106155, which is illustrated as a conventional technique, hot water is mixed by rotating a mixing valve.

In this technique, the mixing valve is rotated to gradually raise the hot water temperature from a low temperature to a high temperature. Therefore, the rotation of the valve cannot be rapidly changed in order to stably supply hot water at a constant temperature. Further, as a mechanism conventionally used for maintaining a constant hot water temperature, a coil-shaped bimetal incorporated in a mixing valve is used, and the coil-shaped bimetal is used to rotate a valve body formed of a cylinder having a plurality of holes on its side. Then, there is a structure in which the opening area of the sprue and the spout in the cylinder can be varied by this hole. The amounts of hot water and water flowing out to the mixing chamber in the housing of the mixing valve are adjusted so that the mixing temperature is mixed in the mixing chamber to maintain the hot water temperature indicated by the scale of the mixing valve. In this mixing valve, the temperature detecting member is bimetal, so even if the hot water source temperature fluctuates, the deformation of the bimetal will be small if the temperature difference between the mixing valve set temperature and the mixing temperature is small, and the friction and play of the valve body As a result, the temperature cannot be tracked so that the accuracy of the temperature is poor, and the temperature of the mixed hot water is not stable due to changes in the hot water source temperature.

Moreover, since the valve element made of a cylinder is rotated by the coiled bimetal, the bimetal driving force is limited,
There is a drawback in that dust is attached to the cylinder, the rotation becomes heavy, and the cylinder does not move due to the dust, or a trouble such as clogging easily occurs, which requires a lot of maintenance labor.

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention aims to solve the drawbacks of the prior art and to provide a hot water temperature control device for obtaining a desired hot water mixture with a stable temperature.

That is, the present invention opens and closes the three-way valve 6 with the geared motor 7
The temperature sensor 22 is provided at the third port 6c which is the outlet of the motor valve 3, and the motor drive unit 35 that processes the detection signal obtained by the temperature sensor 22 and controls the motor valve 3
For controlling the geared motor 7 by an output signal of the drive unit 35, and a VF conversion circuit for generating a frequency in the motor drive unit 35 in proportion to the magnitude of the voltage.
38, the pulse width setting circuit 40 that generates a pulse in synchronization with the output signal of the conversion circuit 38, and the detection circuit obtained from the temperature sensor 22 frequency control the power in the setting circuit 40,
The temperature adjusting device is characterized in that the geared motor 7 is controlled by the controlled electric power.

Further, in the motor drive unit 35, a frequency setting knob 19 for setting the frequency of the VF conversion circuit 38, and a pulse width setting circuit
The temperature adjusting device according to claim 1, further comprising a pulse width setting knob 15 for setting a pulse width of 40.

Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the piping system of the apparatus. Bring hot water, water and power into the equipment from the floor. The taken-in water is connected to the water filter 1, one branch of the outlet of the water filter 1 is connected to the check valve 2 with a water valve, and is connected to the motor valve 3 via the check valve 2 with a water valve. Connected by piping. The hot water taken into the device is connected to the hot water filter 4, one of the outlets of the hot water filter 4 is connected to a check valve 5 with a valve, and is piped to the motor valve 3 via the check valve 5 with a hot water bubble. Connected. The motor valve 3 is a three-way valve 6, water is obtained from the first port 6a of the three-way valve 6, hot water is obtained from the second port 6b, and mixed hot water is discharged from the third port 6c. Valve body
The shaft center of 6d is directly connected to the geared motor 7.

The pipe of the mixed hot water of the motor valve 3 is connected to the bath 10 through a mixing solenoid valve 8 for opening and closing the pipe of the mixed hot water and a manual valve 9 for hot water supply. The other branch of the outlet of the hot water filter 4 is connected via a hot water check valve 11 to a hot water solenoid valve 12 for opening and closing the hot water pipe. The output of the hot water solenoid valve 12 is branched, and one of the branches is connected to a hot water solenoid valve 13 that opens and closes a pipe that supplies hot water to the bathtub 10. The output of the hot water solenoid valve 13 is the bathtub.
Connected to 10 hot water inlets 14. The other branch of the outlet of the hot water solenoid valve 12 is connected to the outlet of a mixing solenoid valve 8 that opens and closes the conduit of the mixed hot water coming from the motor valve 3.

The other branch of the outlet of the water filter 1 is connected to the outlet side of the mixing solenoid valve 8 via the water check valve 16 and the water solenoid valve 17.

A drain 18 is opened on the bottom wall of the bathtub 10. A float switch 20 is provided on the upper part of the inner wall of the bathtub 10 to detect the full amount of hot water.

Next, the electrical configuration will be described. A commercial power source taken from the floor is connected to the electrical box 21 of the device to supply power to each electrical circuit and each electrical control member described later. A temperature sensor 22 composed of a thermocouple is provided at the third port 6c of the motor valve 3, and a conductor of the temperature sensor 22 is connected to the electric box 21. In addition, the electric control members, that is, the water solenoid valve 17, the mixing solenoid valve 8, the hot water solenoid valve 12, the hot water supply solenoid valve 13, and the float switch 20 are electrically connected to the electric box 21.

Next, the configuration of the electric circuit housed in the electric box 21 will be described.

In FIG. 2, a switch section 23 is a hot water increase switch 24 that is turned on when hot water is supplied to the bathtub 10, a hot water increase switch circuit 25 that is activated by a signal from the hot water increase switch 24, the float switch 20, and a desired hot water mixture. Temperature, that is, warm eyes, normal, hot eyes, warm eyes switch 44, normal switch 4
5, hot water switch 46, a hot water supply selection switch 26 consisting of a water switch 43 for setting the supply of only water and a hot water switch 47 for setting the supply of only hot water, and actuated by the signal of the hot water supply selection switch 26 Hot water supply selection switch circuit 27.

The mutual relationship between the water solenoid valve 17, the hot water solenoid valve 12 and the mixing solenoid valve 8 will be described. First, the water solenoid valve 17, the hot water solenoid valve 12 and the mixing solenoid valve 8 can be independently opened and closed, and the mixing solenoid valve can be opened and closed. When the valve 8 is closed, the water solenoid valve 17 and the hot water solenoid valve 12 can be opened simultaneously. The mixing solenoid valve 8 and the water solenoid valve 17 are simultaneously released, and the mixing solenoid valve 8 and the hot water solenoid valve 12 are not simultaneously opened.

The valve drive unit 28 receives a signal from the hot water supply selection switch circuit 27 to obtain a hot water supply opening / closing circuit 29 for operating the hot water solenoid valve 12, the water solenoid valve 17, and the mixing solenoid valve 8, and a signal from the hot water supply switch circuit 25 to obtain a hot water supply solenoid. It comprises a hot water supply circuit 30 for operating the valve 13.

The detection unit 31 obtains a signal for setting the mixed hot water temperature of the hot water supply selection switch circuit 27 to generate a reference voltage with the signal, a temperature sensor 22, and a sensor amplifier for amplifying the signal obtained by the temperature sensor 22. It includes a circuit 33 and a comparison circuit 34 for comparing the output signal of the reference voltage generation circuit 32 and the output signal of the sensor amplification circuit 33.

The motor drive unit 35 includes an amplifier circuit 36 that amplifies the output signal of the comparison circuit 34, an absolute value circuit 37 that captures only the magnitude of the output signal of the amplifier circuit 36, and one of the two outputs from the absolute value circuit 37. Is connected to a VF conversion circuit 38 that generates a frequency proportional to the magnitude of the voltage, and the other of the two outputs is connected to a motor rotation direction instruction circuit 39 that indicates the rotation direction of the geared motor 7. The V-F conversion circuit 38 is accompanied by a frequency setting knob 19 for determining the maximum frequency, and the output of the V-F conversion circuit 38, that is, the rising signal of the pulse, is a pulse having the pulse width set by the pulse width setting knob 15. It is connected to the output pulse width setting circuit 40. The output signal of the pulse width setting circuit 40 and the output signal of the motor rotation direction instruction circuit 39 are connected to a motor valve drive circuit 41 that controls the motor valve 3, and the output of the motor valve drive circuit 41 is connected to the motor valve 3.

An operation panel 42 is attached to the upper surface of the electric box 21,
The operation panel 42 is provided with a hot water supply selection switch 26 including a water switch 43, a warm eye switch 44, an ordinary switch 45, a hot eye switch 46, a hot water switch 47, and a hot water increase switch 24.

 48 in the figure is an overflow port.

Operation The operation of supplying hot water of appropriate temperature to the bathing tub 10 using the temperature control device of the present invention will be described below.

Supply water, hot water and commercial power to the device of the present invention. The water from which dust has been filtered by the water filter 1 is put into the first port 6a of the motor valve 3. The hot water obtained by filtering dust with the hot water filter 4 is put into the second port 6b of the motor valve 3. In the motor valve 3, both the water flowing in from the first port 6a and the hot water flowing in from the second port 6b are simultaneously passed to reach the third port 6c. Third mouth
From 6c, take out the mixed hot water in which water and hot water are mixed. Third mouth
The temperature of the mixed hot water is detected by the temperature sensor 22 in the hole at the mouth end of 6c, and the detected signal is input to each electric circuit. Motor valve 3 after given electrical processing in each electric circuit
Return to. The temperature of the mixed hot water is feedback-controlled by using the temperature sensor 22, each electric circuit and the motor valve 3.

The action of each solenoid valve when the mixed hot water is put into the empty bath 10 will be described.

First, when the power is turned on to the device, the hot water supply solenoid valve 13 is opened by the power. One of the hot water supply selection switches 26 is turned on. Water solenoid valve when the water switch 43 is turned on
17 is opened, and when the hot water switch 47 is turned on, the hot water solenoid valve 12 is opened, and when one of the warm eye switch 44 ordinary switch 45 and hot eye switch 46 is turned on, the mixing solenoid valve 8 is opened.

As an example, when the ordinary switch 45 is turned on, the mixing solenoid valve 8 opens to allow the mixed hot water to pass through. The mixed hot water that has passed through passes through the hot water supply solenoid valve 13 and flows into the bathtub 10. As another example, when the hot water switch 47 and the water switch 43 are turned on at the same time, the hot water solenoid valve 12 and the water solenoid valve 17 are opened, and the hot water and the cold water pass through the respective valves. Passed hot water and water flow into the bathtub 10 through the hot water supply solenoid valve 13. Float switch when bath 10 is filled with hot water
20 works so as to conduct, and the mixing solenoid valve 8 is automatically closed.

 Next, the action of each solenoid valve when increasing the hot water will be described.

When the hot water increase switch 24 is turned on, the circuit of the float switch 20 is ignored, and the hot water supply solenoid valve 13 is closed at all times. Under this circumstance, the ordinary switch 45 is turned on to open the mixing solenoid valve 8 and manually open the hot water supply manual valve 9 as appropriate, so that the mixed hot water flows into the bathtub 10 through the mixing solenoid valve 8 and the hot water supply manual valve 9. To do.

When bathing continuously, the mixed hot water is constantly supplied to the bathtub 10 and the overflowing hot water is discharged from the overflow port 48. The amount of the hot water to be supplied is appropriately adjusted by the hot water supply manual valve 9.

 Next, the operation of each electric circuit will be described.

First, the operation of the switch section 23 and the operation of the valve drive section 28 will be described.

When the water switch 43 existing in the hot water supply selection switch 26 is turned on, the hot water supply selection switch circuit 27 and the hot water supply opening / closing circuit 29 are activated, and as a result, the water solenoid valve 17 is opened, and when the hot water switch 47 is turned on, the hot water supply selection circuit and the hot water supply opening / closing circuit 29 are activated. As a result, the hot water solenoid valve 17 opens. Warm eye switch 44, normal switch 4
5. When one of the hot eye switches 46 is turned on, the hot water supply selection switch circuit 27 and the hot water supply opening / closing circuit 29 are activated and, as a result, the mixing solenoid valve 8 is opened.

When the bathtub 10 is filled with hot water and the float switch 20 operates and becomes conductive, a predetermined signal is input to the hot water supply selection switch circuit 27, and at that time, a command signal from the hot water supply selection switch circuit 27 causes a water solenoid valve 17, a hot water solenoid valve 12, and a mixing solenoid valve 8 to be supplied. The open one closes. While hot water is being supplied to the bathtub 10, the hot water supply is stopped dynamically if the bathtub 0 is filled with hot water even if the operator is looking away.

When the hot water increase switch 24 is pressed, the hot water increase switch circuit 25 operates to close the hot water supply solenoid valve 13 which is normally open.

 Next, the operation of the detection unit 31 will be described.

Hot eye switch 46, normal switch 45, warm eye switch 44
When any one of them is turned on, a predetermined reference voltage corresponding to the turned-on switch is applied from the hot water supply selection switch circuit 27 to the reference voltage generation circuit 32, and the reference voltage generated in the reference voltage generation circuit 32 according to the applied voltage. And a temperature sensor
The comparator circuit 34 compares the voltage detected by 22 and amplified by the sensor amplifier circuit 33.

 Next, the operation of the motor drive unit 35 will be described.

When the voltage difference between the reference voltage and the detected voltage input to the comparison circuit 34 is output from the comparison circuit 34, amplified by the amplification circuit 36, and the absolute value circuit 37 obtains a positive potential when the input signal obtained from the amplification circuit 36 is If it is a negative potential, the signal is inverted and sent to the next stage. The motor rotation direction indicator circuit 39 detects whether the potential is positive or negative. If the potential is positive, the geared motor 7 is used. Create a signal to rotate forward and reverse when negative. V-F conversion circuit
At 38, a signal having a frequency proportional to the magnitude of the signal obtained from the absolute value circuit 37 is generated, and at the pulse width setting circuit 40, a rectangular pulse having a semi-fixed variable pulse width is generated in synchronization with the rising edge of the frequency signal. The motor valve drive circuit 41 operates the motor valve 3 by obtaining the output of the motor rotation direction instruction circuit 39 and the output of the pulse width setting circuit 40.

The period of the voltage applied to the geared motor 7 will be described. The larger the output voltage from the comparison circuit 34, the larger the total energization period of the geared motor 7 as shown in FIG. The number of rotations inside is large. On the contrary, the smaller the output voltage from the comparison circuit 34, the smaller the total energization period of the geared motor 7 as shown in FIG. 4, and the geared motor 7 makes the rated rotation only a few times, and the number of rotations within a fixed time is small. . When the output voltage from the comparison circuit 34 is zero, no voltage is applied to the geared motor 7 and it does not rotate.

The frequency of the VF conversion circuit 38 is set by the frequency setting knob 19. When the frequency is lowered, the voltage energization period to the geared motor 7 is reduced and the response speed becomes slower, and when the frequency is increased, the voltage energization period to the geared motor 7 is increased and the response speed is increased.

When the pulse width setting knob 15 of the pulse width setting circuit 40 is turned to widen the pulse width, the voltage energization period of one pulse to the geared motor 7 becomes longer, and the accuracy and resolution of the response of the motor valve 3 deteriorates. When the width is narrowed, the voltage application period of one pulse to the geared motor 7 is shortened, and the response accuracy and resolution of the motor valve 3 are improved.

The operation of the motor valve 3 with respect to the water pressure fluctuation of the water source and the water pressure fluctuation of the hot water source will be described.

When the water pressure of the water source greatly changes to zero or close to zero, the detected voltage of the temperature sensor 22 greatly differs from the reference voltage. Since this potential difference is large, the frequency of the pulse output from the pulse width setting circuit 40 is high, the energization period of the geared motor 7 becomes dense, and the second opening 6b of the motor valve 3 operates quickly so as to close.

Even when the hot water pressure of the hot water source changes greatly to or near zero, the control system operates in accordance with the above-described operation, and the motor valve 3 is moved quickly. However, motor rotation direction instruction circuit
The signal from 39 is different, and the rotation direction of the geared motor 7 is opposite to the direction of the water pressure reduction described above, and the first opening 6a of the motor valve 3 operates to close.

When the fluctuations in water pressure and hot water pressure are small, the difference between the reference voltage and the detected voltage is small, and therefore the frequency of the pulse output from the pulse width setting circuit 40 is low and the geared motor 7
The energization period is slow and the motor valve 3 operates slowly.

Specifically, when the warm eye switch 44 is pressed, the mixed hot water maintains 38 ° C, when the ordinary switch 45 is pressed, the mixed hot water maintains 40 ° C, and when the hot eye switch 46 is pressed, the mixed hot water is maintained. Is
Feedback control is performed to maintain 42 ° C. That is, one of the hot water supply selection switches 46 is pressed to set the temperature, and when the detected temperature is lower than the set temperature, the opening of the second opening 6b of the motor valve 3 increases and the opening of the first opening 6a decreases. The valve body 6d operates. When the detected temperature is higher than the set temperature, the opening of the first opening 6a of the motor valve 3 increases and the second opening 6b opens.
The valve body 6d operates so that the opening degree of the valve body decreases.

The controllable range of the mixed hot water is the temperature from the water temperature of the water source to the hot water temperature of the hot water source.

Effect of the Invention The temperature control device of the present invention uses a motor valve as a means for mixing water and hot water, and detects the mixed hot water temperature with a temperature sensor consisting of a thermocouple that delicately catches the temperature change and sets the hot water temperature setting. It is something to maintain. The temperature change of the mixed hot water due to the conventional bimetal type mixing valve was greatly affected by the change of the flow rate due to the pressure change, but in the present invention, the temperature of the mixed hot water is detected quickly and the pulse frequency control is used to respond promptly. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a mixed hot water having a variable hot water temperature close to the set value, that is, a stable hot water mixed water.

In other words, even if there are pressure fluctuations in the water pressure of the water source and the water pressure of the hot water source, the temperature of the hot water mixture can be promptly and highly accurately detected as long as it can detect the hot water temperature of the hot water mixture discharged to the third port of the three-way valve. It is possible to control to reach the set value.

Moreover, since the present invention uses a motor valve in which a geared motor is connected to a three-way valve as a means for mixing water and hot water, there are few failures. That is, the three-way valve is a valve in which the first opening, the second opening and the third opening are opened and closed by the rotation of the spherical valve body,
Also, since this valve body is rotated by a geared motor, water and hot water stains and contaminants adhere to or accumulate on the motor valve due to aging, and sliding of moving parts is worse than in the initial state. It never happens. Therefore, it is possible to reliably follow the set value of the temperature of the mixed hot water.

The mainstream of the conventional mixing valve is a bimetal type, and in the case of the bimetal type, a hole rotated by a coiled bimetal in an inner cylinder having a hot water discharge port and a water discharge port at a predetermined internal position in the housing of the mixing valve. The attached outer cylinder is externally fitted, and the hot water temperature is adjusted by adjusting the hot water discharge port and the overlapping area of the water discharge port and the hole of the outer cylinder. In this system, the sliding of the valve body becomes hard or fixed due to the scale and dust in the hot and cold water, and the driving force of the coiled bimetal is blocked by the frictional force of the valve body, so that the temperature cannot be adjusted, but there is a failure. The present invention does not cause the above-mentioned failure of valve body fixation.

Further, the present invention has a structure in which a temperature sensor is provided immediately after mixing water and hot water, a signal obtained from the temperature sensor is subjected to predetermined electrical processing in each electric circuit, and the motor valve is driven by the processed signal. is there. Therefore, the response speed of the motor valve can be adjusted by the frequency output from the VF conversion circuit existing in each electric circuit.

Since the conventional bimetal method uses expansion and deformation of the member, it takes time to react to the change in the hot water temperature of the hot water source, and the response time cannot be adjusted, so it is necessary to use the device. For that reason, the response speed cannot be adjusted on a case-by-case basis, and reliable temperature control cannot be performed.

According to the present invention, the response speed and response accuracy of the motor valve can be adjusted on a case-by-case basis, and hot water having a temperature that reliably follows the set temperature can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

The attached drawings show an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a piping system and a side face of the present invention, Fig. 2 is an electrical configuration diagram, and Figs. 3 and 4 are pulse widths. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing pulses output from the setting circuit, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the principle of a three-way valve, and FIG. 6 is a plan view of an operation panel. 3 ... Motor valve, 6 ... Three-way valve, 6c ... Third port, 7 ... Geared motor, 22 ... Temperature sensor, 32 ... Reference voltage generating circuit, 35 ... Motor drive section

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A three-way valve 6 on the outside of a bath 10 and the three-way valve 6
The temperature sensor 22, the hot water supply selection switch 26, the detection signal obtained by the temperature sensor 22 and the signal related to the output of the hot water supply selection switch 26 at the third port 6c which is the outlet portion of the motor valve 3 for opening and closing the motor A motor drive unit 35 is provided for electrically processing the signal resulting from the comparison with and for controlling the motor valve 3. The drive unit 35 controls the geared motor 7 with the output signal thereof. A temperature sensor 22 is provided with a VF conversion circuit 38 that generates a frequency proportional to the magnitude of the voltage and a pulse width setting circuit 40 that generates a pulse in synchronization with the output signal of the conversion circuit 38. The frequency of the electric power is controlled by the output signal of the pulse width setting circuit 40 based on the detection signal of to control the total energization period, and the total number of rotations of the geared motor 7 within a fixed time is controlled by the frequency-controlled electric power, In the motor drive unit 35, a frequency setting knob 19 for setting the maximum frequency of the VF conversion circuit 38 and a pulse width setting knob for setting the pulse width of the pulse width setting circuit 40 to a predetermined width.
15. A temperature control device characterized by having 15 and.