JPH0933097A - Hot water feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To avoid a disadvantage produced by feeding hot water in a bathtub in automatic mode when some one is in a bathroom. SOLUTION: There are provided a hot water supply unit A which supplies hot water into a bathtub 1 and a control unit C which controls the operation of this hot water supply unit A. The control unit C is provided with a human body detection sensor S in a hot water feed device which is designed to supply hot water into the bathtub 1 based on instructions of hot water feed instruction means 40 and 44. When the presence of a human body is detected with this human body detection sensor S, the control unit is arranged to control the hot water supply unit A so as to prevent the execution of automatic hot water supply into the bathtub 1.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention comprises hot water supply means for supplying hot water to a bathtub, and control means for controlling the operation of this hot water supply means, said control means being based on a command from a hot water beam command means. And a hot water beam device configured to automatically supply hot water into the bathtub.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the above-mentioned hot water beaming device, conventionally, as shown in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-55254, a kitchen and a bathroom are provided with setting means for setting hot water supply temperature, respectively. A human sensor for detecting the presence of a person inside is provided, and when the human is detected by the human sensor, the hot water supply temperature set by the setting means on the bathroom side and the hot water supply temperature are Predetermined temperature (about 45 °
C) There is a configuration in which the hot water is controlled to be supplied in the following restricted condition. It should be noted that the automatic button serving as the hot water instruction means is provided in each of the kitchen and the bathroom, and the automatic hot water to the bathtub is executed based on the operation thereof.

[0003]

In the above-mentioned structure, for example, the hot water is prevented from being accidentally supplied to the bathroom user so as to improve the safety in use. However, there were the following disadvantages and there was room for improvement.

For example, when hot water is not being poured into the bathtub and the body is mistakenly contacted with the hot water beam command means on the bathroom side while cleaning the bathtub, Alternatively, when there is a small child inside the bathtub or near the bathtub, when the hot water beam command means on the kitchen side issues a command for hot water beam without knowing that there is a person, Although the risk of burns due to hot water being supplied is avoided, automatic hot water beaming will be performed on the bathtub, and the hot water will fall on people or children cleaning the bathtub. There were disadvantages such as being lost.

The present invention has been made paying attention to such a point, and an object thereof is to avoid the disadvantage caused by the automatic hot water beam when there is a person in the bathroom. In point.

[0006]

According to the characteristic construction of claim 1, when the human body detecting means detects the presence of a human body in the bathroom, the hot water supplying means automatically supplies hot water to the bathtub. Since the hot water supply means is controlled by the control means so as not to execute the above, for example, when the presence of a human body is detected by the human body detection means, even if the hot water beam instruction means instructs the hot water beam, There is no automatic hot water supply to the bathtub.

Therefore, even if the bathtub is cleaned in the bathroom or there are children, the bathtub is automatically supplied with hot water even if the hot water beam instructing means issues a command. By avoiding the disadvantage that hot water is falling on people who are cleaning and children,
Safety can be improved.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the human body detecting means detects that a human body is present inside the bathtub, the hot water beam instructing means instructs the hot water beam. Even if there is, since the hot water supply means is controlled by the control means so that the hot water supply means does not perform the automatic hot water supply to the bathtub, the automatic hot water supply to the bathtub is not performed.

Therefore, when a person is in the bathtub for cleaning, or when a child is playing in the bathtub,
Even if the hot water command is issued by the hot water commanding means, the automatic hot water supply to the bathtub is not executed, so avoid the disadvantage that the hot water is falling on the person cleaning the bath or the children. Therefore, while ensuring safety, when cleaning the outside of the bath tub in the bathroom, or when there is a child outside the bath tub in the bathroom, etc. When such disadvantages do not occur, it is possible to avoid the disadvantage that the convenience in using the hot water is reduced by not performing the automatic hot water supply in such a case by executing the automatic hot water supply.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the hot water supply means does not perform automatic hot water supply to the bathtub only while the human body detection means detects the presence of a human body. Since the hot water supply means is controlled by the means, the presence of a human body is detected by the human body detection means even if the hot water beam instruction means instructs the hot water beam, and Even if the automatic hot water supply has not been executed, if the human body detection unit no longer detects the presence of the human body, the automatic hot water supply to the bathtub by the hot water supply unit is executed.

In this way, by avoiding the disadvantage that the person who is cleaning, the child, etc., get hot water,
When the presence of the human body is no longer detected by the human body detecting means while ensuring safety, the hot water beam is executed again without the trouble of instructing the hot water beam by the hot water beam commanding means again. It is possible and easy to use.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the human body detecting means detects the presence of the human body continuously for a set time or longer, the hot water supplying means is controlled so as not to execute the automatic hot water supply to the bathtub. Since the human body detecting means detects the presence of the human body for a short time shorter than the set time, the automatic hot water supply to the bathtub is executed.

As a result, for example, when the hot water beam commanding means is provided in the bathroom, the hot water hot water commanding means is operated, or when the water tap of the bathtub is closed, hot water is supplied. However, there is no disadvantage that the automatic hot water supply is not executed even when the user approaches the bathtub for a short time without any disadvantage.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the human body detection is performed based on the detection operation of the human body detection means after the hot water beam instructing means issues a command when the hot water is not automatically supplied to the bathtub. The means is configured to control the hot water supply means to execute automatic hot water supply to the bathtub if the presence of the human body is not detected continuously for the set time or longer, so that the human body is detected and automatic hot water supply is performed. If a detection error occurs temporarily in the human body detection means when not, or even if the human body exists,
If the human body detection means does not detect the presence of the human body, for example, if the human body detection unit does not detect the presence of the human body for a short time, the automatic hot water supply will not be performed immediately. To be seen.

That is, the automatic hot water supply is executed in a state where it is confirmed that no human body is present, and the safety and the usability can be improved.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the bathroom operation section having the hot water commanding means is installed in the bathroom and the human body detecting means is provided in the bathroom operation section,
For example, after cleaning the bathtub, before moving to another place, by commanding the hot water beam by the hot water beam command means provided in the bathroom operation unit, there is no disadvantage such as forgetting the command operation, Moreover, by providing the human body detecting means in the bathroom operation section, no special mounting support means for attaching the human body detecting means is required, the structure is not complicated, and the labor for construction is reduced accordingly.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, since the operation section having the hot water instruction means is installed at another location outside the bathroom, for example, when the user is in another location,
When starting the hot water beam, it is not necessary to go to the bathroom, and it is possible to efficiently perform the hot water beam without any hassle.

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The hot water spouting device of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a hot water supply device as a hot water beam device according to the present invention. This hot water supply device includes a hot water supply operation unit A as hot water supply means for supplying hot water to a bathtub 1 or a hot water tap 2. The reheating operation unit B for reheating the hot water in 1 is provided.

The hot water supply operation unit A has a gas combustion type burner 3, a hot water supply heat exchanger 4 heated by the burner 3, an igniter 5 for igniting the burner 3, and a burner 3 in the combustion chamber. A frame rod 6 for confirming ignition and a fan 7 for ventilating combustion air to the burner 3 are provided. The heat exchanger 4 of the hot water supply operation unit A includes a water supply passage 13 for supplying water for heating, and a hot water supply passage 14 for supplying hot water after heating to the bathtub 1, the hot water tap 2, and a shower not shown. Is connected, the water supply path 13 and the hot water supply path 14 are connected by a bypass path 15, and a mixing valve 16 is provided at the connection point between the hot water supply path 14 and the bypass path 15. This mixing valve 16
Is for mixing the two while adjusting the ratio of the amount of hot water from the hot water supply passage 14 and the amount of water from the bypass passage 15 to obtain hot water of a desired temperature, which is operated by an electric motor (not shown). To be done.

The water supply passage 13 of the hot water supply operation section A is provided with a thermistor 17 for detecting the incoming water temperature and a water amount sensor 18 for detecting the water flow amount. The hot water supply passage 14 on the downstream side of the mixing valve 16 detects the temperature of the hot water after being mixed by the mixing valve 16.
9. A water flow switch 20 and the like for detecting that the hot water tap 2 has been opened is provided, and via the electromagnetic opening / closing valve 23, the backflow prevention hopper 24, the check valve 25, etc. It is connected to the fired circulation path 21.

Like the hot water supply operation unit A, the reheating operation unit B has a gas combustion type burner 8 in the combustion chamber, and this burner 8
Heat exchanger 9 for hot water supply, an igniter 10 for igniting the burner 8, a frame rod 11 for confirming that the burner 3 is ignited, a fan 12 for passing combustion air to the burner 8, etc. Is provided.

The heat exchanger 9 of the reheating operation section B is connected to a reheating circulation passage 21 for circulating hot water in the bathtub 1, and both openings of this circulation passage 21 are connected via an adapter 22. The opening is communicated with the inside of the bathtub 1. A thermistor 26 that detects the temperature of the hot water after being heated by the heat exchanger 9 is provided on the downstream side of the heat exchanger 9 in the reheating circulation path 21. In addition, in the reheating circulation path 21 that is upstream of the heat exchanger 9 and in the hot water supply path 1
4, a thermistor 27, a water flow switch 28 for detecting that hot water having a preset value or more flows through the circulation path 21, a two-way valve 29, and a reheating pump 3
0, a water level sensor 41 and the like for detecting that hot water of a set water level has been supplied to the bathtub 1 are provided.

The burner 3 of the hot water supply operation section A and the burner 8 of the reheating operation section B are configured to be supplied with fuel gas for general household use, and are connected to the burner 3 of the hot water supply operation section A. The valve 31 is provided with an on / off valve 32 for intermittently supplying the fuel gas and an electromagnetic proportional valve 33 for adjusting the gas supply amount to the burner 3. Another gas supply path 34 is branched from the gas supply path 31 between the on-off valve 32 and the electromagnetic proportional valve 33, and this gas supply path 34 is connected to the burner 8 of the reheating operation section B, and The burner 8 is also provided in this gas supply path 34
An electromagnetic proportional valve 35 for adjusting the amount of gas supplied to the valve is provided.

The operations of the hot water supply operation unit A and the reheating operation unit B are all controlled by the control unit C as control means,
The control unit C operates according to commands from the main controller 36 and the bath controller 37, which can communicate by wire or wirelessly, and a sub controller (not shown).
The control unit C is configured by including a microcomputer, and executes control by a control program stored in advance in a memory (not shown) based on commands from the controllers 36 and 37.

The main controller 36, which is provided as an operation section separately provided outside the bathroom, is usually installed in a kitchen or the like, and as shown in FIG. 2, an operation switch 38 for instructing start and stop of hot water supply, A temperature setting switch 39 for setting the hot water supply temperature, a hot water beam switch 40 as a hot water beam commanding means for instructing automatic hot water beaming to the bathtub 1, a display section 42 for displaying various information, and the like are provided. In this way, it is possible to instruct automatic hot water beaming at another place outside the bathroom such as the kitchen.

Bath controller 3 as a bathroom operation unit
7 is installed in the bathroom, as shown in FIG.
A temperature setting switch 43 for setting a hot water temperature, a warming temperature, a reheating temperature, etc., a hot water beam switch 44 as a hot water beam commanding means for instructing an automatic hot water beam to the bathtub 1, a display section 46 for displaying various information, A reheating switch 47 and the like for reheating is provided.

Further, the bath controller 37 is provided with a human body detection sensor S as human body detection means for detecting whether or not a human body is present in the bathtub 1. As shown in FIG. 4, the human body detection sensor S is provided with a transmitter 48 that emits ultrasonic waves and a receiver 49 that receives the ultrasonic waves reflected by an external object. The distance to the reflecting object can be obtained by measuring the time until the reception of.

As shown in FIG. 5, the bath controller 37 is installed on the upper side of the wall K near the bathtub 1 in the bathroom, and ultrasonic waves transmitted from the human body detecting sensor S are transmitted to the bathtub 1. It is designed to be transmitted over a wide range inside. Then, when the distance to the reflector detected by the human body detection sensor S is shorter than a preset distance, the control unit C determines that there is a person inside the bathtub 1. Has been done. In addition, when the directivity angle of the ultrasonic wave transmission of the transmitter 48 is narrow, as shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of transmitters 48 are arranged side by side with different transmission regions.

Next, the control operation of the entire hot water supply apparatus by the control section C will be briefly described. When the operation switch 38 of the main controller 36 is pressed and, for example, the hot water tap 2 is opened, the general hot water supply mode is set and the water supply passage 13 is opened. When it is detected based on the detection information of the water amount sensor that water equal to or more than the set value flows, the fan 7 is driven, the intermittent valve 32 of the gas supply path 31 is opened, and the solenoid proportional valve 33 is adjusted. Then, the burner 3 of the hot water supply operation unit A is ignited by the igniter 5. The hot water after being heated by the heat exchanger 4 of the hot water supply operation unit A is mixed with the water from the bypass passage 15 by the mixing valve 16 and discharged from the hot water tap 2. At this time, the temperature of the hot water is detected by the thermistor 19, the mixing valve 16 is controlled based on the detection result, and the temperature of the hot water discharged from the hot water tap 2 is set by the temperature setting switch 39 of the main controller 36. Maintained at high temperature.

Next, the operation in the hot water beam mode will be described with reference to the control flowchart. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the hot water switch 4 of the main controller 36.
0 or hot water switch 44 of controller 37 for bath
When the ON button is turned on, the bathing mode is set. At this time, if the human body detection sensor S does not detect the presence of the human body, that is, the reflected wave of the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the transmitter 48 is received. When it is not determined that the human body is present in the bathtub because the measurement time until it is received by the container 49 is shorter than the set time, automatic hot water beaming is started (steps 1, 2, 4). That is, the electromagnetic valve 23 is opened, and the hot water after being heated by the heat exchanger 4 of the hot water supply operation unit A and mixed by the mixing valve 16 is, as shown by the broken line in FIG. It is supplied into the bathtub 1 from both openings of the reheating circulation path 21 via the adapters 22. Even in the hot water refilling mode, the mixing valve 16 is controlled based on the detection result of the thermistor 19, and at this time, the hot water having the temperature set by the temperature setting switch 43 of the bath controller 37 is supplied.

Even if the presence of a human body is detected by the human body detection sensor S (when the measurement time is shorter than the set time), the detection state continues for the set time (for example, several seconds) or more. If not, the automatic hot water beam is executed (step 3), and after the human body presence detection state by the human body detection sensor S continues for the set time or longer, after the human body presence is no longer detected, the non-detection state is set for the set time. The automatic hot water beam is not executed until it continues for more than a few seconds (steps 5 and 6).

When the hot water tap 2 is opened and the water flow switch 20 is turned on after the automatic hot water beam is started, the hot water beam is stopped and the general hot water supply mode is switched to. It is designed to be executed prior to the beam mode (steps 7, 8, 9). When the hot water tap is closed and the water flow switch 20 is turned off,
The automatic hot water welding is restarted (steps 10 and 11).

During automatic hot water welding, the human body detection sensor S
When the presence of a human body is detected in the bathtub and the detected state continues for a set time (several seconds) or longer, the hot water beam is stopped (steps 12, 13, 14). After that, when the human body detection sensor S does not detect the human body and the non-detection state continues for a set time (several seconds) or longer, the hot water beam is restarted (steps 15, 16, 17).
Therefore, even when the presence of the human body is detected by the human body detection sensor S, for example, the hot water beam switch 44 on the bathroom side.
Because of the operation, when there is a person approaching, there is no disadvantage that the hot water beam is stopped, and while the presence of the human body is continuously detected, the automatic hot water beam is not executed and you are in the bathtub. It is designed to prevent people from getting hot water.

When the water level sensor 41 detects that a predetermined amount of hot water has been supplied to the bathtub 1, the hot water beam is stopped (steps 7 and 18). That is, the electromagnetic valve 23 is closed, the electromagnetic proportional valve 33 of the gas supply path 31 is closed, the combustion of the burner 3 is stopped, and the fan 7 is also stopped after a certain period of time.

It is to be noted that, after the hot water has been poured into the bathtub, the reheating mode is automatically set. That is, the electromagnetic valve 23 is closed, the two-way valve 29 is switched, the reheating pump 30 is driven, and the hot and cold water in the bathtub 1 circulates in the reheating circulation path 21 as shown by the solid line in FIG. To do. The temperature of the circulating hot water is detected by the thermistor 27, and if the detected temperature has almost reached the temperature set by the temperature setting switch 43 of the bath controller 37, the reheating pump 30 is stopped and the hot water is discharged. When the mode ends but the temperature detected by the thermistor 27 is lower than the set temperature, the solenoid proportional valve 35 of the gas supply path 34 is opened by the operation of the water flow switch 28, and the burner of the reheating operation part B is activated by the igniter 10. The hot water that is ignited at 8 and flows through the reheating circulation passage 21 is heated by the heat exchanger 9 and is supplied again into the bathtub 1 to perform the additional heating. When the temperature detected by the thermistor 27 reaches the temperature set by the temperature setting switch 43 of the bath controller 37,
The electromagnetic proportional valve 35 is closed, the combustion of the burner 8 is stopped,
Then, the additional heating pump 30 is stopped.

When the bather wants to reheat while staying in the bathtub 1, he presses the reheating switch 47 of the bath controller 37 to enter the reheating mode, and the reheating pump 3
0 is driven and the hot and cold water in the bathtub 1 circulates in the reheating circulation path 21, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 1, and the temperature of the circulating hot and cold water is detected by the thermistor 27.
If the temperature set by the temperature setting switch 43 of the bath controller 37 has been reached, the reheating pump 30 stops and the reheating ends. If the temperature detected by the thermistor 27 is lower than the set temperature, the water flow switch 28 is operated to open the electromagnetic proportional valve 35 of the gas supply passage 34, and the igniter 10 ignites the burner 8 of the reheating operation section B. The hot water flowing through the reheating circulation path 21 is the thermistor 2
Heat exchanger 9 until the temperature detected by 7 reaches the set temperature.
Is heated and supplied into the bathtub 1.

[Other Embodiments] (1) In the above embodiment, whether or not there is a person within the set distance by transmitting ultrasonic waves as the human body detecting means and receiving the reflected wave reflected by the human body. However, instead of such a configuration, by using a configuration for determining the human body by detecting reflected waves of infrared rays or visible light, a thermal sensor for detecting the presence or absence of human heat and the like. Further, it may be configured such that the presence or absence of a moving object such as a human body is determined by capturing an image with a video camera or the like and using the image processing method of a known technique.

(2) In the above embodiment, the hot water beam switch as the hot water beam commanding means is provided in each of the bath controller provided in the bathroom and the main controller provided in the kitchen. The configuration may be provided only in the controller for use, or may be provided only in the main controller.

(3) In the above embodiment, the human body detection sensor is provided in the bathroom controller as the bathroom operation unit, so that a dedicated mounting support and a labor for mounting work are eliminated. Alternatively, the human body detection sensor may be separately attached to a wall of a bathroom, an adapter for hot water supply in a bathtub, or the like by using a supporting tool.

(4) In the above embodiment, when the human body detection sensor continuously detects the presence of the human body for the set time or longer,
Although the automatic hot water refilling to the bathtub is not performed, instead of such a configuration, for example, when the hot water refilling command means is provided outside the bathroom, the human body detection sensor detects the presence of the human body. Then, the configuration may be such that hot water is not immediately poured into the bathtub.

(5) In the above-described embodiment, the automatic hot water beam is not executed while the human body detection sensor detects the presence of the human body. However, the human body detection sensor detects the presence of the human body. After that, the automatic hot water beam may not be executed until a cancellation command is issued.

(6) In the above embodiment, the human body detection sensor detects whether or not the human body is present in the bathtub. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration, and if the human body is present in the bathroom, It may be configured not to perform automatic hot water boiling. By doing so, for example, when a child is playing near the bathtub, the safety can be further improved by stopping the automatic hot water beam.

(7) In the above embodiment, as the hot water beam command means, the hot water beam is supplied based on the ON operation of the hot beam switch, that is, the hot water is supplied to the bathtub and the hot water temperature adjustment control is executed. However, it may be configured as follows. A bathtub hot water tap for supplying hot water to the bathtub is provided, and based on the opening operation of the hot water tap, for example, a water flow switch is turned on to command a hot water beam, and when the open operation is performed, the set temperature is automatically changed. When hot water is supplied and the human body detection sensor detects a human body, the electromagnetic valve provided in the hot water supply passage may be closed to stop hot water supply.

It should be noted that reference numerals are added to the claims for facilitating the comparison with the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the accompanying drawings by the entry.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a water heater

[Figure 2] Front view of the main controller

[Figure 3] Front view of the bath controller

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a human body detection sensor.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an installation state of a bath controller

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a human body detection sensor.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a control operation.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a control operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Bathtub 36 Operation Section 37 Bathroom Operation Section 40, 44 Hot Water Beam Command Means A Hot Water Supply Means C Control Means S Human Body Detection Means

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A hot water supply means (A) for supplying hot water to a bathtub (1) and a control means (C) for controlling the operation of the hot water supply means (A), the control means (C) being provided. , Hot water commanding means (40), (4
A hot water beam device configured to automatically supply hot water into the bathtub (1) based on the command of 4), wherein a human body is present in the bathroom provided with the bathtub (1). Human body detection means (S) for detecting whether or not the human body detection means (S) detects the presence of a human body, and the control means (C) executes automatic hot water supply to the bathtub (1). A hot water beam device configured to control the hot water supply means (A) so as not to do so. 2. The hot water spit device according to claim 1, wherein the human body detecting means (S) is configured to detect whether or not a human body is present in the bathtub (1). 3. The hot water supply means for controlling the hot water supply so that the human body detection means (S) does not automatically supply hot water to the bathtub (1) only while the human body detection means (S) detects the presence of a human body. A hot water spouting device according to claim 1 or 2, which is arranged to control the means (A). 4. The control means (C) does not execute automatic hot water supply to the bathtub (1) when the human body detection means (S) detects the presence of a human body continuously for a set time or longer. 4. The hot water beaming device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, which is configured to control the hot water supply means (A). 5. The control means (C), based on the detection operation of the human body detection means (S), in a state where automatic hot water supply to the bathtub (1) is not performed, the hot water beam commanding means ( If the human body detecting means (S) does not continuously detect the presence of a human body for a set time or longer after instructed by 40) and (44), the automatic hot water supply to the bathtub (1) is executed. The hot water beam device according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, which is configured to control the hot water supply means (A). 6. A bathroom operation unit (37) provided with the hot water beam instruction unit (44) is installed in the bathroom, and the human body detection unit (S) is the bathroom operation unit (3).
The hot water beam device according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, which is provided in 7). 7. The hot water beam according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, wherein the operation part (36) including the hot water beam command means (40) is installed at another place outside the bathroom. apparatus.