JPH09308589A - Hot-water circulation and processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a circulation pump from lowering its self-charging efficiency. SOLUTION: A check valve 71 is to be installed in the mid-course of drain piping system 13 to allow the fluids (hot-water and air) only to be discharged away externally through a 5-way selector valve 4. Even if this connects the No.4 port P4 to the water charging port PO while the valve is turning/moving, a check valve 11 holds at a closed state the system between the outside and the No.4 port P4. This maintains the hot-water at such a state as staying inside a pump 3 without flowing into a bath tub 2. Since this results in holding the hot-water inside the pump 3, which becomes priming, the hot-water in the bath tub 2 can quickly be sucked up into the system, thus allowing the motor to be reduced in load, to be prevented from being burned, and so forth.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hot water circulation treatment device for purifying hot water in a bath while circulating it.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this kind of hot water circulation processing apparatus has a flow path switching valve (five-way switching valve), and the hot water flowing from the inside of the bathtub is changed by the switching operation of the switching valve. , The backwash path is selectively switched. Then, the hot water in the bathtub flows through the respective paths by the driving force of the circulation pump. That is, the hot water flowing on the hot water circulation path flows into the septic tank from the bath and is contacted with the purified stones stored in the septic tank to be purified. After that, the hot water that has passed through the septic tank is returned to the bath again.

The hot water flowing on the backwash path flows into the septic tank from the direction opposite to the flowing direction of the hot water circulation path to wash the inside of the septic tank. After that, the hot water that has passed through the septic tank is drained to the outside of the bathtub from the drainage pipeline without being returned to the bathtub because it is dirty.

The five-way switching valve is provided with a structure for preventing a large load from being applied to the circulation pump during the switching operation. That is, with the circulation pump stopped, the hot water circulation passage and the backwash passage communicate with each other so that the hot water circulation passage is not completely closed during the switching operation of the five-way switching valve. As a result, the hot water circulation path is not completely closed during the switching operation of the five-way switching valve, which reduces the load on the circulation pump.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional hot water circulation processing apparatus, the five-way switching valve is switched while the circulation pump is stopped, and the hot water circulation path and the backwash path are in communication with each other. In this case, the hot water in the circulation pump escapes into the bath via the pipe line that connects the circulation pump and the bath. Therefore, air will enter the circulation pump from the drainage pipe via the five-way switching valve. Even if the circulation pump is re-driven in this state, since air has entered the pump, the self-priming efficiency of the pump is reduced, and hot water cannot be quickly sucked from the bath into the pump.
When the pump is driven for a long time without hot water in the pump, the motor that is the drive source of the pump may be burned.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to prevent the self-priming efficiency of a circulation pump from decreasing.

[0007]

In order to solve the above problems, in the invention described in claim 1, a hot water flow path is provided when hot water sucked from the bath by a circulation pump is returned to the bath again. A hot water circulation path, a drainage path that serves as a hot water flow path when the hot water sucked from the bath by the circulation pump is drained to the outside, and a hot water flow path discharged from the circulation pump. A flow path switching valve that switches to the route side or the drainage route side, and does not completely close the hot water circulation route or the drainage route to reduce the load on the circulation pump during the switching operation, and switches the route with both routes communicating In the hot water circulation treatment device comprising and, on the drainage path,
The gist of the invention is to provide a check valve that allows only the flow of fluid from the flow path switching valve to the outside.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the hot water in the bathtub sucked by the circulation pump is caused to flow in a direction opposite to the hot water circulation path to wash the inside of the septic tank, and the hot water in which the inside of the septic tank is washed is washed. The gist of the present invention is to provide a backwashing path for draining the water to the outside through the drainage pipe.

Therefore, according to the first aspect of the invention, since the air is prevented from flowing into the circulation pump, the deterioration of the self-priming characteristic of the circulation pump is prevented. In the invention described in claim 2, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 1, the inside of the septic tank can be washed, so that the purification layer can be kept clean.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is embodied in a hot water circulation processing device for a domestic bathtub will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus body 1 includes a bath 2
It is for purifying, heating and sterilizing while circulating the warm water inside. The apparatus main body 1 includes a circulation pump 3, a five-way switching valve 4 as a flow path switching valve, a septic tank 5, and a heating / sterilization tank 6. A five-way switching valve 4 is connected to the bathtub 2 via a water absorption pipe 7. A circulation pump 3 is provided on the water absorption pipe 7, and the bath 2 is driven by the circulation pump 3.
The hot water inside is absorbed in the water absorption port P0 of the five-way switching valve 4. The five-way switching valve 4 is switched to a predetermined position by an actuator (not shown).

The first port P1 of the five-way switching valve 4 is connected to the upper part of the septic tank 5 via the first pipe 9a, and hot water is purified by passing through the septic tank 5. In the septic tank 5, a large number of porous purification stones (not shown) for purifying hot water are stored. The warm water becomes cloudy when the filtration capacity of the purified stone is exceeded, but the filtered ability can be restored by washing the purified stone in the septic tank 5. The lower part of the septic tank 5 is connected to the lower part of the heating / sterilization tank 6 via the second pipe 9b. A UV lamp 10 and a ceramic heater 1 are provided in the heating / sterilization tank 6.
1 is stored and the hot water passing through the heating / sterilization tank 6 is U
It is sterilized by the ultraviolet rays emitted from the V lamp 10 and heated to a predetermined temperature by the ceramic heater 11. The upper part of the heating / sterilization tank 6 is connected to the third port P3 of the five-way switching valve 4 via the third pipe 9c.

The second port P2 of the five-way switching valve 4 is for cleaning,
The heated and sterilized hot water is connected to the bath 2 through a water discharge pipe 12 for circulating the hot water in the bath 2. The fourth port P4 of the five-way switching valve 4 is connected to the drain pipe 13 as a drainage path.

Next, a specific structure of the five-way switching valve 4 will be described. As shown in FIG. 5, in this embodiment, a rotary type five-way switching valve 4 is used. Upper opening 14a formed on the upper surface of the casing 14 of the five-way switching valve 4
The water absorption port P0 is fitted and fixed to the water absorption port P0, and the tip of the water absorption port P0 projects upward. Further, the ports P1 to P4 (only the first and third ports P1 and P3 are shown in FIG. 5) are fitted and fixed into the side openings 14b formed on the four side surfaces of the casing 14, and the respective ports are fixed. The tips of P1 to P4 are projected outward. First to first
The fourth ports P1 to P4 are arranged at equal intervals on the same circumference. 180 for the first and third ports P1, P3
° Opposed to the other side. Further, the second and fourth ports P2, P4 are arranged opposite to each other by 180 °.

A valve body 21 is rotatably housed in the casing 14. In the inner peripheral side portion of the casing 14 at a position facing the first to fourth ports P1 to P4,
The guide tube 22 is fixed, and the valve body 21 is slidably engaged with the inner surface of the guide tube 22. The valve body 21 is supported so as to be reciprocally rotatable with respect to the guide tube 22. In addition, at the center of the upper surface of the valve body 21, the hot water intake 2
3 (only shown in FIG. 5) is formed so as to project upward.
The hot water intake 23 is connected to the water intake port P0. A partition wall 24 having a C-shaped plane cross section is formed in the center of the valve body 21. A plurality of partition walls 25 extending radially are integrally formed on the outer surfaces of both ends of the partition wall 24 and the outer surface of the partition wall 24 at the center in the circumferential direction. The space between the outer side surface of the partition wall 24 and the inner side surface of the valve body 21 is divided by the partition wall 25 into first to third flow passages R1 to R3. 6 to 8 show a schematic cross section of the five-way switching valve 8, the casing 14 and the first to fourth ports P1 to P4 are shown integrally for convenience of explanation.

A pair of outlets 27 and 28 are formed on the outer wall of the valve body 21 at both ends of the first flow passage R1. The outlets 27, 28 are in communication with each other via the first flow passage R1. The outlet 27 can correspond to the first port P1 when circulating hot water or the third port P3 when backwashing. Further, the outflow port 28 can correspond to the first port P1 during rinsing and cleaning or the second port P2 during idle circulation. The hot water from the bathtub 2 always flows in from the water absorption port P0 and passes through the first flow passage R1 when the circulation pump 3 is driven, and then the five-way switching valve 4 through the outlet 27 or the outlet 28. 1st port P1 to 4th
It is designed to be drained to port P4.

An outflow port 29 and an inflow port 30 are formed on the outer wall of the valve body 21 at both ends of the second flow passage R2. The outflow port 29 and the inflow port 30 are in communication with each other via the second flow passage R2. The outlet 29 is provided at the second port P2 when circulating hot water or at the fourth port P4 when backwashing.
It is possible to correspond with. The inflow port 30 is the third port P3 when circulating hot water or the first port P3 when backwashing.
It is compatible with 1.

An inflow port 31 and an outflow port 32 are formed on the outer wall of the valve body 21 at both ends of the third flow passage R3. The inflow port 31 and the outflow port 32 are in communication with each other via the third flow passage R3. The inflow port 31 can correspond to the third port P3 during rinsing and cleaning. Further, the outflow port 32 can correspond to the fourth port P4 at the time of rinsing and washing.

Corresponding to the switching operation of the five-way switching valve 4, the hot water flow path is switched during hot water circulation, reverse cleaning, and rinsing cleaning. That is, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, when the valve body 21 is located at the hot water circulation position, the water absorption port P0
And the first port P1 and the second port P2 and the third port P3 communicate with each other, and the fourth port P4.
Is closed by the outer wall of the valve body 21.
During this hot water circulation, hot water in the bathtub 2 is absorbed by the water absorption pipe 7, the five-way switching valve 4, the first pipe 9a, the septic tank 5, the second pipe 9b, the heating / sterilization tank 6, the third pipe 9c, the five-way switching valve. 4 and the water discharge pipe 12 are circulated. The hot water route during the hot water circulation is the hot water circulation route K1 shown by the solid line in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, the valve body 21
Is located in the backwash position, the water suction port P0 and the third
The port P3 and the first port P1 and the fourth port P4 communicate with each other, and the second port P2 is closed by the outer wall of the valve body 21. Then, the hot water in the bathtub 2 at the time of the back washing is the water absorption pipe 7, the five-way switching valve 4, the third pipe 9c, the heating / sterilization tank 6, the second pipe 9b, the septic tank 5, the first pipe 9a, the five-way pipe. It flows in the path of the switching valve 4 and the drain pipe 13. The hot water path at the time of the back washing is the back washing path K2 shown by the solid line in FIG.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 8, the valve body 2
When 1 is located in the rinsing and washing position, the water absorption port P0 and the first port P1, the third port P3 and the fourth port P4
Are communicated with each other, and the second port P2 is closed by the outer wall of the valve body 21. The hot water in the bathtub 2 during the rinsing and washing is the water absorption pipe 7, the five-way switching valve 4, the first pipe 9a, the septic tank 5, the second pipe 9b, the heating / sterilization tank 6, the third pipe 9c, and the five sides. It flows in the path of the switching valve 4 and the drain pipe 13. The hot water path during the rinsing and cleaning is the rinsing and cleaning path K3 shown by the solid line in FIG.

In this embodiment, the valve body 21 is
When the hot water circulation position is switched to the backwash position, the hot water circulation position is rotated counterclockwise, and the time required to complete the rotation from the hot water circulation position to the backwash position is about 30 seconds. Further, when the valve body 21 is switched from the backwash position to the rinse wash position, the valve body 21 is rotated clockwise, and the time required to complete the rotation from the backwash position to the rinse wash position is about. It is 20 seconds. Further, the valve body 21
When switching from the rinse washing position to the hot water circulation position,
It rotates clockwise, and the time required to complete the rotation from the rinse cleaning position to the hot water circulation position is about 7 seconds.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, a check valve 71 is provided in the middle of the drain pipe 13. The check valve 71 allows only the flow of fluid (hot water and air) from the five-way switching valve 4 to the outside.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. The switching of the valve body 21 of the five-way switching valve 4 is performed while the driving of the circulation pump 3 is stopped. This prevents the hot water from being excessively discharged outside the bathtub 2. At this time,
When the ports P4 and P0 communicate with each other while the circulation pump 3 is stopped, the warm water in the circulation pump 3 tries to escape into the bath 2 via the water absorption pipe 7. However, in the present embodiment, since the check valve 71 that allows only the flow of the fluid (hot water and air) from the five-way switching valve 4 to the outside is provided in the middle of the drain pipe 13, the check valve 71 of the valve body 21 is provided. Even when the fourth port P4 and the water absorption port P0 communicate with each other during rotational movement, the check valve 11 keeps the outside and the fourth port P4 closed. As a result, the warm water in the pump 3 does not flow into the bath 2 and is retained in the pump 3. As a result, even if the pump 3 is driven again,
Since warm water serving as priming water remains in the pump 3, the warm water in the bathtub 2 can be quickly sucked in, which in turn reduces the load on the motor and prevents the motor from burning. it can.

The present invention can also be implemented as follows. (1) In the above embodiment, the hot water circulation processing device using the five-way switching valve 4 as the flow path switching valve is embodied.
It may be embodied as a hot water circulation treatment device using a plurality of three-way valves or a hot water circulation treatment device using a six-way switching valve or a seven-way switching valve capable of changing the flow path in five or more directions.

(2) In the above embodiment, the flow passage switching valve is embodied as the rotary type five-way switching valve 4, but it may be embodied as a linear type five-way switching valve. (3) You may embody in the warm water circulation processing apparatus which does not have the backwashing route K2.

[0027]

According to the invention as set forth in claim 1, it is possible to prevent deterioration of the self-priming characteristic of the circulation pump, and moreover, to quickly suck hot water in the bathtub, and at the same time, to improve the performance of the motor for driving the circulation pump. According to the invention described in claim 2, which can prevent seizure and the like, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 1, the inside of the septic tank can be washed, so that the hot water discharged into the bath can be kept clean.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view of a hot water circulation processing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a route of hot water during circulation of hot water.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a route of hot water during back washing.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a path of hot water during rinsing and washing.

FIG. 5 is likewise a vertical cross-sectional view of a five-way switching valve.

FIG. 6 is a plan sectional view of the five-way switching valve during hot water circulation.

FIG. 7 is a plan sectional view of the five-way switching valve during reverse cleaning.

FIG. 8 is a plan sectional view of the five-way switching valve during rinsing and washing.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Warm water circulation treatment device, 2 ... Bathtub, 3 ... Circulation pump, 4
... five-way switching valve (flow path switching valve), 5 ... septic tank, 13 ... drain pipe as drainage path, 71 ... check valve, K1 ... hot water circulation path, K2 ... reverse cleaning path.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A hot water circulation path that serves as a flow path of hot water when returning the hot water sucked from the bathtub by the circulation pump to the bathtub again, and drains the hot water sucked from the bath by the circulation pump to the outside. A drainage path that serves as a flow path for hot water and a flow path for hot water discharged from the circulation pump are switched to the hot water circulation path side or the drainage path side, in order to reduce the load on the circulation pump during the switching operation. A hot water circulation treatment device comprising a hot water circulation path or a drainage path, and a flow path switching valve for switching the path in a state in which the two paths are in communication with each other. A hot water circulation treatment device provided with a check valve that allows only the flow of fluid to the side. 2. The hot water in the bathtub sucked by the circulation pump is caused to flow in a direction opposite to the hot water circulation path to wash the inside of the septic tank, and the hot water washed in the septic tank is passed through the drainage pipe. The hot water circulation treatment device according to claim 1, further comprising a backwashing path for draining the water to the outside.