JPH11173658A - Bath heater washing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the wasteful use of washing water, and to wash properly even in a terrible fouling condition, by providing a control means that controls an injection means to inject a preset amount of washing water inside a bath heater. SOLUTION: When a water level sensor 109 detects that bathtub water is drained to a predetermined position after the removing of a drain plug 24 of a bathtub 2, a detection signal is inputted to a control part 107, which outputs a control signal to open an open/close valve 52, and which starts the injection of washing water to the inside of a heat exchanger 10 through a water injection hole 14 that is provided in a bath heater 1 from a hot water filling piping 103. Next, the amount of injection corresponding to the injection time that is set by an injection time setting switch 105 is inputted in the control part 107, which determines the injected amount on the basis of the detection output of a water quantity counter Q. When the preset quantity is reached, the control signal is outputted to stop the operation of a hot water supplying burner 4. Moreover, the control signal is outputted to close the open/close valve 52.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bathtub cleaning device, and more particularly to a bathtub cleaning device connected to a bathtub.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional bath apparatus. This bath apparatus includes a hot water supply heat exchanger (5) for supplying hot water to the bathtub (2) and a hot water supply burner for heating the same.
In addition to (4), a bath kettle (1) for reheating the bath water in the bathtub (2) is provided. An opening / closing valve (52) is interposed in the filling circuit (103) downstream of the hot water supply heat exchanger (5), and a branch pipe (103a) from the filling circuit (103) has A hot water tap (51) is interposed. Heat exchanger for hot water supply (5)
When the hot water (51) is opened, the hot water heated in
Water is supplied to the bathroom and kitchen through a), and an on-off valve
When the (52) is opened, the hot water circuit (103) and the bath kettle (1)
Hot water is supplied to the bathtub (2) through the heat exchanger (10).

The bath kettle (1) comprises a heat exchanger (10) and a reheating burner (3) for heating the heat exchanger (10). At the upper part of the heat exchanger (10), a water inlet (14) to which a hot water circuit (103) is connected is provided, and when the hot water tap (52) is opened, the inside of the heat exchanger (10) is opened. Hot water is supplied. Further, inside the heat exchanger (10), a plurality of heat absorbing tubes (11) are arranged in parallel with a predetermined gradient, and each heat absorbing tube (11) is provided with a fin (12). .
And heat exchanger so as to surround these endothermic tubes (11)
The water jackets (13) and (13) of (10) are provided so as to communicate with both ends of the opening of the heat absorbing tube (11).

In the heat exchanger (10), a pair of circulation ports (15) and (16) are provided on the side wall on the side of the bathtub (2), and are provided through an upper water pipe (31) and a lower water pipe (32). Bathtub circulation port (21) (2
Connected to 2). Therefore, the bath kettle (1) heats the heat absorbing tube (11) by heating the reheating burner (3), and reheats the bathtub water by natural circulation via the upper and lower water pipes (31) and (32). I do.

[0005] By the way, such an open-type bath kettle (1)
During use, the inside of the heat exchanger (10) becomes dirty due to the adhesion of descaling and the like, which is not preferable for hygiene, and also causes the bathtub water to be contaminated at the next filling with hot water. For this, the bathtub
When the drain plug (24) of the drain port (23) of (2) is removed and the bathtub water is drained, the on-off valve (52) is opened for a certain time when the bathtub water level falls below the predetermined water level. By the water inlet (14)
The washing water is injected from the tub and removes dirt attached to the inside of the heat exchanger (10).
It is known that the water is drained to the outside of the bathtub (2) through the drain port (23) of (2).

[0006]

However, the cleaning of the conventional bath kettle (1) is automatically performed when draining the bathtub water, and the amount of water injected into the water inlet (14) is limited by the bath kettle. (1)
Constant amount regardless of the degree of contamination
Met. Therefore, when the degree of dirt on the bath kettle (1) is small, the injected washing water is wasted, and when the degree of dirt on the bath kettle (1) is large, it is sufficient to inject the above-mentioned fixed amount of washing water. Cleaning may not be possible.

[0007] Therefore, the inventions of claims 1, 2 and 3 provide a bath-cooker cleaning apparatus capable of preventing use of cleaning water uselessly and capable of appropriately cleaning even if the degree of dirt is severe. That is the task. A fourth object of the present invention is to provide, in addition to the objects of any one of the first to third aspects of the present invention, a bath-cooker cleaning device in consideration of user's convenience.

A fifth object of the present invention is to provide, in addition to the objects of any one of the first to third aspects of the present invention, a bath-tub cleaning apparatus which can appropriately perform cleaning in accordance with the degree of dirt associated with reheating. I do. According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the subject of any one of the first to third aspects of the present invention, there is provided a bath-tub cleaning apparatus capable of accurately grasping the degree of dirt inside and appropriately cleaning according to the degree of dirt. As an issue.

[0009]

A first aspect of the present invention is a cleaning device for a bathtub connected to a bathtub, wherein the injection device injects cleaning water into the bathtub through a water inlet provided in the bathtub. Setting means capable of variably setting the integrated amount of washing water injected by the injection means, and control means for controlling the injection means so as to inject the amount of washing water set by the setting means into the bath kettle. Have.

[0010] According to the present invention, since the integrated amount of the washing water to be injected into the bath from the water inlet provided in the bath can be variably set, the integrated amount of the washing water can be reduced as necessary. You can do more. The invention of claim 2 is characterized in that the control means of claim 1 changes the integrated amount of washing water by changing the injection time by the injection means.

According to this invention, the injection time of the injection means is variable, a small amount of washing water (integrated amount) is injected with a short injection time, and a large amount of washing water (integrated amount) is injected with a long injection time. Is injected. A timer can be considered as a means for measuring the injection time.However, if the flow rate control valve for controlling the amount of the washing water to be injected is not provided, the injection rate per unit time is substantially uniform, so that the flow rate The injecting time may be indirectly measured by detecting the integrated water amount by using.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the flow rate control valve is provided in the injection means of the first aspect, and the control means controls the flow rate control valve to change the injection amount per unit time by the injection means, thereby integrating the washing water. It is characterized in that the amount is variable. According to such an invention, the injection amount per unit time is variable. When the injection amount per unit time is small, a small amount of washing water (integrated amount) is injected, and when the injection amount per unit time is large, a large amount of cleaning water is used. Wash water (integrated amount) is injected.

As a means for measuring the injection amount per unit time, a flow rate sensor can be considered. In this case, the injection time may be constant, or the injection time may be longer as the amount of water per unit time is larger. As a means for measuring the injection time, a timer may be considered, but the injection time may be indirectly measured by a flow rate sensor. Specifically, the product of the injection amount per unit time and the target injection time is calculated, and the integrated amount of the washing water is detected by the flow rate sensor. When the detected integrated amount matches the calculated product, the injection is performed. Should be stopped.

The invention according to a fourth aspect is characterized in that the setting means according to any one of the first to third aspects is an operating device. According to such an invention, the user can variably set the amount of washing water with the operating device. The invention of claim 5 is the invention of claims 1 to 3
In addition to any of the invention specific features, the apparatus further includes a measuring unit that measures a reheating time of the bath kettle, and the setting unit calculates an integrated amount of the washing water injected by the injection unit according to the reheating time measured by the measuring unit. It is characterized by variable setting.

[0015] According to the invention, the reheating time, which is considered to be more serious as the time is longer, is measured. The longer the reheating time, the larger the integrated amount of the washing water injected by the injection means is set. Variable setting. According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in addition to any one of the first to third aspects of the present invention, there is provided a dirt degree detecting means for detecting a dirt degree of the bathtub, and the setting means comprises a dirt degree detected by the dirt degree detecting means. The integrated amount of the washing water injected by the injection means is variably set in accordance with the above.

According to the invention, the degree of dirt is directly detected, and the degree of dirt is detected as accurately as possible.
It can be variably set so that the integrated amount of washing water is appropriate for removing dirt.

[0017]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the integrated amount of washing water injected into the bath from the water inlet provided in the bath can be variably set, so that the amount of washing water can be reduced as necessary. Since the amount of washing water can be increased or decreased, compared to the case where the accumulated amount of washing water is set uniformly, when the degree of contamination is small, the accumulated amount of washing water is set to a small value to prevent useless washing water, When the degree of dirt is high, the integrated amount of the washing water is set to be large, and the dirt can be reliably removed. In other words, the bath can be cleaned with the integrated amount of cleaning water appropriately set according to the degree of contamination.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the integrated amount of washing water can be varied by the injection time, and more specifically, it can be washed with a small amount of washing water by a short injection time and can be washed by a long injection time. Can be washed with a large amount of washing water. Therefore, similarly to the case of the first aspect, the bath can be washed with the integrated amount of washing water appropriately set according to the degree of contamination. According to the invention of claim 3, the injection amount per unit time can be variably set by the flow control valve. Specifically, when the injection amount per unit time is small, a small amount of washing water (integrated amount) is used. When the injection is performed and the injection amount per unit time is large, a large amount of washing water (integrated amount) is injected.

Therefore, as in the case of the first aspect, the bath can be washed with the integrated amount of washing water set according to the degree of contamination. According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the integrated amount of the washing water can be variably set by the operation device that can be operated by the user, the convenience for the user is improved. The invention according to claim 5 is not a setting that depends on the feeling of the user, but measures the reheating time which is a measure of the degree of contamination that is considered to be more severe as the time is longer, and increases the reheating time. As the length becomes longer, the variable setting can be made such that the integrated amount of the cleaning water injected by the injection means is set to be larger, so that the cleaning can be performed in a form corresponding to the degree of contamination.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the degree of dirt can be directly detected to detect the degree of dirt as accurately as possible, and can be variably set so that the integrated amount of washing water is appropriate for removing dirt. In addition, cleaning can be performed in a form in which the correspondence with the degree of contamination is more accurately taken.

[0021]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a bath apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. With reference to FIG. 1, a description will be given below of a bath apparatus which is a part different from the conventional example of FIG. The bath device (101) has a function of cleaning the bath kettle (1) connected to the bathtub (2), a hot water filling circuit (103) as an injection means, and a setting device (105) as a setting means. And a control unit (107) as control means. In other words, the bath filling circuit (103), the setting unit (105) and the control unit (107) constitute a bath kettle cleaning device. A hot water supply heat exchanger (5) heated by a hot water supply burner (4), a water counter (Q), and an on-off valve (52) are provided on the hot water filling circuit (103). When the valve is opened, the filling circuit (1
03), hot water heated to a set temperature is injected into the heat exchanger (10) of the bath kettle (1) from a water inlet (14) provided in the bath kettle (1). This hot water is used as bath water when filling with hot water, and is used as washing water when washing the bath kettle (1). The cleaning water may be supplied by water without operating the hot water supply burner (4). An injection time setting switch (105), which is a setting device, is provided on a remote controller that can be remotely operated, and is capable of setting the injection time of the washing water between 1 minute and 10 minutes. Although not shown, the remote control includes an operation switch for turning on and off the operation of the bath apparatus (101), a bathing switch for instructing a bathing operation, a bath kettle.
There is also provided a cleaning switch for permitting the cleaning of (1). The control unit (107) is controlled by the bathing circuit (103).
From the water inlet (14) provided in (1), into the heat exchanger (10),
The water amount counter (Q) is set so that 10 to 100 liters of washing water, which is an integrated water amount corresponding to the amount set by the injection time setting switch (105) (injection time (1 minute to 10 minutes)). The on-off valve (52) is controlled while reading the detected value.

The cleaning operation will be briefly described. When the drain plug (24) of the bathtub (2) is removed and the water level sensor (109) detects that the bathtub water has been drained to a predetermined position, a detection signal is input to the control unit (107), and the control unit (107) outputs a control signal to open the on-off valve (52), and outputs a control signal to operate the hot water supply burner (4).
From 3), the injection of washing water into the heat exchanger (10) is started through the water inlet (14) provided in the bath kettle (1).

Next, the injection amount corresponding to the injection time set by the injection time setting switch (105) is input to the control unit (107), and the control unit (107) operates the water amount counter (Q). Based on the detected output, the injected amount is judged, and when it reaches the set amount, a control signal is output to stop the operation of the hot water supply burner (4) and control is performed to close the on-off valve (52). Output a signal.

As described above, the injection time setting switch (105)
Can set the injection time of washing water, so that it is possible to prevent the washing water from being wasted when the degree of contamination of the bath kettle (1) is smaller than when automatically injecting a fixed amount.
Even when the degree of contamination of (1) is large, sufficient cleaning becomes possible. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a bath apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, parts different from FIG. 1 will be described. The bath device (201) is equipped with a timer (203) instead of the water flow counter (Q), and a filling time setting switch (105).
Allows setting of the injection time. Regarding the operation, the control section (107) to which the detection signal of the water level sensor (109) is inputted opens the on-off valve (52) as in the case of FIG. The control unit (107) sets the timer (2
03) is started, and the valve is kept open until the measured value of the timer (203) reaches the injection time set by the injection time setting switch (105). 52) is closed.

In the first and second embodiments, the setting of the injection time (1 minute to 10 minutes) by the injection time setting switch (105) has been described. (Not shown), and the integrated amount of the washing water corresponding to the injection time may be set, for example, between 10 and 20 liters. In this case, when the water amount counter is employed as in the first embodiment, the supply of the washing water may be stopped when the integrated amount of the water amount counter matches the set integrated amount. In the case of using a timer as in the embodiment, the injection time of the washing water is calculated from a predetermined injection amount per unit time and a set integrated amount, and the measured value of the timer matches the calculated injection time. Then, the supply of the cleaning water may be stopped.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a bath apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention. With reference to FIG. 3, a part different from FIG. 2 will be described. The bath apparatus (301) includes a timer (303) instead of the timer (203), and includes a memory (305) instead of the injection time setting switch (105). The timer (303) is a measuring means for measuring the reheating time of the bath kettle (1), and measures the operation time of the reheating burner (3). The memory (305) is a setting means capable of variably setting the injection time of the washing water, and stores the time measured by the timer (303).

As for the operation, the control unit (107) operates
The injection time is determined based on the measurement time of the timer (303) stored in (305), and the on-off valve (52) is controlled. In addition,
The injection time is measured by using a timer (303). Thus, by setting the injection time variably according to the reheating time, it becomes possible to wash the bath kettle (1) with an injection amount according to the degree of contamination. In particular, data indicate that the longer the reheating time, the higher the degree of dirt in the heat exchanger (10) of the bath kettle (1), and the degree of dirt is indirectly determined by the reheating time. is there. Therefore, the injection time is set longer as the additional heating time is longer, and the injection time is set shorter as the additional heating time is shorter.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a bath apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 4, a description will be given of a portion different from FIG. 3. The bath device (401)
A timer (403) and a stain detection sensor (405) are provided in place of the timer (303), and a memory (407) is provided in place of the memory (305). The dirt degree detection sensor (405)
A means for detecting the degree of contamination of the bath kettle (1), which is provided on the water jacket (13) of the heat exchanger (10). The memory (407) is a setting means capable of variably setting the injection time, and stores a detection value of the dirt degree detection sensor (405). The timer (403) is stored in the memory by the control unit (107).
The time is measured until the injection time determined based on the detection value stored in (407).

As described above, the dirt degree detecting sensor (405)
By setting the injection time variably according to the degree of dirt detected in the above, the bath pot with the injection amount according to the degree of dirt
(1) cleaning becomes possible. In particular, dirt degree detection sensor
Since (405) directly detects the degree of dirt, it is possible to perform cleaning according to the degree of dirt more accurately. Here, when the degree of contamination is large, the injection time is set long.

In the above-described first to fourth embodiments, the injection time of the washing water is varied according to the degree of contamination. The amount of injection per unit time may be varied. Specifically, as shown by a broken line in FIG. 1, a hot water quantity control valve (60) is provided in the hot water filling circuit (103), and the opening degree of the hot water quantity control valve (60) is changed according to the degree of contamination. Variable injection volume per hour.

That is, the flow control valve (60) is controlled in accordance with the flow rate set by the user, the reheating time or the flow rate automatically set by the degree of contamination detection sensor (405), and the flow rate per unit time is controlled. The injection volume is varied. This makes it possible to reliably remove dirt by increasing the flow rate per unit time when the degree of dirt is high, and to reduce the unit when the degree of dirt is low, as compared with a case where the integrated amount of washing water is uniform. The flow rate per hour can be reduced to prevent useless use of washing water.

The injection amount per unit time is detected by a water amount counter, and the opening of the flow control valve (60) is adjusted by feedback control. As a means for measuring the injection time, a timer can be considered, but the injection time may be indirectly measured by a water amount counter. Specifically, the product of the injection amount per unit time set according to the degree of contamination and the target injection time is calculated, the integrated amount of the washing water is detected by the water amount counter, and the detected integrated amount is calculated. The injection may be stopped when the product matches the product.

Further, in the above embodiment, the injection time is fixed. However, both the injection time and the flow rate per unit time may be variably controlled according to the degree of contamination. Further, the setting device shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1 and the embodiment of FIG. 2 is not limited to a remotely controllable operation device such as a remote controller, but may be a stationary device. Furthermore, in the embodiment of FIG. 3 and the embodiment of FIG. 4, the injection time is directly measured by the timer, but the injection time may be indirectly measured by the water counter.

Further, the contamination degree detecting sensor does not need to be provided in the heat exchanger, and the upper water pipe (31) and the lower water pipe are not required.
It may be provided in the circulation pipe as in (32). Further, the bath apparatus shown in the above embodiment is of a natural circulation type, but may be of a forced circulation type. Furthermore, the detection output of the water level sensor was used for the start of cleaning, but the position where the water level sensor is provided is not limited to the water jacket (13), and a certain period of time has elapsed after the detection output of the water level sensor was obtained. Water may be injected into the bath kettle (1) later. After the bathtub water is completely drained, water may be injected into the bath kettle (1).

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a bath apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a bath apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a bath apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a bath apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional bath apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 (101) (201) (301) (401) ・ ・ ・ Bath unit (103) ・ ・ ・ Boiler circuit (105) ・ ・ ・ Pouring time setting switch (107) ・ ・ ・ Control unit (203) (303) (403) ・ ・ ・ Timer (305) (407) ・ ・ ・ Memory (405) ・ ・ ・ Dirt degree detection sensor

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An apparatus for cleaning a bath kettle connected to a bathtub, wherein said injection means injects washing water into said bath kettle from a water inlet provided in said bath kettle; A setting unit capable of variably setting an integrated amount of washing water; and a control unit for controlling the injection unit so as to inject the amount of washing water set by the setting unit into the bath pot. Cleaning equipment. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control unit changes an integrated amount of the washing water by changing an injection time of the injection unit.
The bath kettle cleaning device according to claim 1. 3. A flow control valve is provided in the injection means, and the control means controls the flow control valve to change an amount of washing water integrated by changing an injection amount per unit time by the injection means. Item 2. The bath kettle device according to Item 1. 4. The bath kettle cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit is an operation device. 5. A measuring means for measuring a reheating time of the bath kettle, wherein the setting means calculates an integrated amount of washing water injected by the injection means according to the reheating time measured by the measuring means. The bathtub cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which is variably set. 6. A dirt degree detecting means for detecting a dirt degree of the bath pot, wherein the setting means integrates the washing water injected by the injecting means according to the dirt degree detected by the dirt degree detecting means. The bath kettle cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the amount is variably set.