JPH11248243A - Bathtub water filter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent hot water at high temperature for heat sterilization from touching a bather. SOLUTION: A circulation circuit 10 is connected to a bathtub 1. A circulation circuit 10 is provided with a pump 15, a heater 16, and a filter filtering vessel 18 (filter part). A hot water at high temperature 20 is connected to the circulation circuit 10. A control unit 30 (control means) performs filtering operation at all times and performs heat sterilization periodically. When there is a bather in the execution timing of this heat sterilization, the execution of the heat sterilization is avoided, and the another opportunity of the heat sterilization is waited for after a specified time. The detection of the bather is performed based on the water level information from the water level sensor 22 provided in the circulation circuit 10.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a bathtub water filtration device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A bath tub water filtration device which allows a bath tub to be always bathed is known. This filtration device includes a circulation circuit connected to a bathtub, a pump provided in the circulation circuit, a filtration unit,
A heating unit. The pump is constantly operated to circulate hot water (bath water), is filtered by a filtration unit, and is heated by a heating unit, so that the bath can always be filled with clean and predetermined temperature hot water. By the way, recently, it has been pointed out that harmful bacteria may propagate in the filter medium of the filtration unit. Therefore, a device capable of performing heat sterilization by supplying high-temperature hot water to the filtration unit has been developed.

[0003]

In the above-mentioned apparatus, the above-mentioned heat sterilization may be performed when a person is in a bathtub. As a result, the hot water provided for the heat sterilization touches a person who is taking a bath, or the hot water provided for the heat sterilization remains in the circulation circuit, and is discharged into the bathtub during the filtration operation, and the human being is discharged. And sometimes gave bathers discomfort.

[0004]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, heat circulation is performed by supplying high-temperature water to a circulation circuit connected to a bathtub, a pump and a filtration unit provided in the circulation circuit, and the filtration unit. A high-temperature hot water supply means, and a bathtub water filtration apparatus further comprising: a bathing detection means for detecting that a person is taking a bath; and a control means, wherein the control means drives the pump to form a bathtub. The water is circulated in a circulation circuit, a filtration operation mode in which the filtration is performed in the filtration unit, and a heat sterilization mode in which hot water is supplied from the high-temperature water supply unit to the filtration unit and subjected to heat sterilization is executed. When bathing is detected, execution of the heat sterilization mode is avoided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the bath tub water filtration device according to the first aspect, the control means periodically executes a heat sterilization mode, and receives a signal from the bath detection means at the execution timing of the heat sterilization mode. It is characterized in that it receives information and determines whether or not to execute the heat sterilization mode based on this information. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the bathtub water filtration device according to the second aspect, when the control unit avoids execution of the heat sterilization mode in response to the bathing detection by the bathing detection unit,
The heat sterilization mode is executed after the apparatus enters a standby state and waits for information indicating no bathing from the bath detecting means. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the bathtub water filtration device according to the third aspect, the control means, in the standby state, returns to the detection information from the bathing detection means again at a time interval shorter than an execution cycle of the heat sterilization mode. It is characterized in that it is determined whether or not to execute the heat sterilization mode based on the information, and the heat sterilization mode is executed in response to the information of no bathing. The invention according to claim 5 is the bathtub water filtration device according to claim 3, wherein the control means includes:
In the standby state, the detection information from the bathing detection means is constantly monitored, and the heat sterilization mode is executed in response to the information indicating that there is no bathing.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the bath tub water filtration apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the control means includes:
When the bath detecting means detects bathing during the execution of the heat sterilization mode, the execution of the heat sterilization mode is immediately stopped. According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the bathtub water filtration device according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the bathing detecting means includes a water level sensor for detecting a water level of the bathtub, and the control means detects the rise of the water level sensor. It is characterized as bathing. The invention of claim 8 is the bathtub water filtration device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the high-temperature hot water supply means is connected to the circulation circuit via a supply path. According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the bathtub water filtration device according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, the high-temperature hot water supply means includes a heating unit provided in the circulation circuit, and a pump and a filtration unit in the circulation circuit. , Upstream from the heating section,
The downstream side is connected to the downstream side via a communication path, and a flow path switching means is provided at a connection portion between the circulation circuit and the communication path. The flow path switching means is controlled so that the heating section and the filtration section are repeatedly circulated without passing through the communication path.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the bathtub water filtration device includes a circulation circuit 10. This circulation circuit 1
The zero suction end 10a and the discharge end 10b are connected to the bathtub 1. In addition, these suction end 10a and discharge end 10b
It may be inserted through the upper opening of the bathtub 1 and soaked in hot water (bath water).

As shown in FIG. 2, the discharge end 10b has a tip 11 facing the bathtub 1 and a flap 12 rotatably attached to the end face of the tip 11. The tip 11 has a horizontally extending channel 11a,
And a flow path 11b extending slightly obliquely upward. The flap 12 hangs down by its own weight as shown by a solid line, and blocks the flow path 11b. However, when hot water is discharged through the flow paths 11a and 11b, the flap 12 is pushed by this water as shown by a broken line. It is designed to open. This opening angle differs depending on the flow velocity of the discharged hot water.

The circulation circuit 10 includes, in order from the suction end 10a to the discharge end 10b, a pump 15, an electric heater 16 (heating unit), a two-position three-way valve 17, and a filtration tank 18.
(Filtration unit) and an ultraviolet sterilization mechanism 19 are provided.
The first and second ports 17a and 17b of the three-way valve 17 are
The third port 17c is connected to the circulation circuit 10,
It is connected to a water heater 20 (high-temperature water supply means) via a supply path 21.

In the circulation circuit 10, a temperature sensor 21 and a water level sensor 22 are provided between the pump 15 and the electric heater 16. Further, the filtration device includes a control unit 30 (control means). This control unit 3
0 is the time measurement information of the built-in timer and the temperature sensor 21
The pump 15, the electric heater 16, the three-way valve 17, and the water heater 20 are controlled based on the detection information from the water level sensor 22. The control unit 30 is provided with lamps 31 and 32 (mode display means) respectively indicating that a filtering operation mode and a heat sterilization mode described below are being executed.

A control routine executed by the control unit 30 in the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. In response to the power-on, the filtration operation mode is first executed (step 101). In detail, the port 17 of the three-way valve 17
a, 17b and the pump 15 is constantly driven to draw hot water from the bathtub 1 from the suction end 10a of the circulation circuit 10 as shown by the solid line arrow in FIG. Discharge from the end 10b. Then, the amount of heat generated by the electric heater 16 is controlled so that the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 21 becomes the set temperature. Thereby, the hot water temperature of bathtub 1 can be constantly maintained at the set temperature. In addition, since the circulated hot water removes pollutants when passing through the filtration tank 18, the hot water in the bathtub 1 can be maintained clean.

During the above-mentioned filtration operation, the drive voltage to the pump 15 is changed at a relatively long cycle. For example, it is changed so as to draw a sine curve at a period of several minutes. Thereby, the flow velocity of the hot water in the circulation circuit 10 changes periodically, and thus the flow velocity at the time of discharging from the discharge end 10b changes.
Thereby, the inclination angle of the flap 12 changes periodically, and the discharge direction of the hot water changes according to the inclination angle of the flap 12. Specifically, when the flow velocity is high, the discharge direction is nearly horizontal, and when the flow velocity is low, the discharge direction is obliquely downward. As described above, since the ejection direction changes,
The hot water in the bathtub 1 can be evenly mixed with the discharged hot water, and the stagnation portion in the bathtub 1 is eliminated. As a result, the hot water in the bathtub 1 can be uniformly sent to the filtration tank 18, and the cleanliness of the hot water in the bathtub 1 can be maintained high.

During the above-mentioned filtration operation, the water level detected by the water level sensor 22 is read periodically, for example, every few minutes using an internal timer. That is, it is determined whether or not the water level monitoring time has been reached (step 102). If the determination is negative, the filtration operation of step 101 is continued, and if the determination is affirmative, the pump 15 is stopped (step 103). The water level detected by the sensor 22 is read (step 104), and then the pump 15 is driven again (step 105). As described above, the water level is detected by temporarily stopping the pump 15 because the water level sensor 22 includes a pressure sensor provided in the circulation circuit 10, so that pressure fluctuation due to driving of the pump 15 is avoided, and the accurate pressure, that is, the water level is detected. This is for detection.

The control means periodically heat sterilizes the filtration tank 18 using the internal timer, for example, about once a day, during the above-mentioned filtration operation. That is, after the step 105, it is determined whether or not the heat sterilization time has been reached (step 10).
6) Until the heat sterilization time (heat sterilization execution timing) is reached, the filtration operation in step 101 is continuously performed, and the water level detection in steps 103 to 105 is repeatedly performed. When it is determined in step 106 that the heat sterilization time has been reached, it is determined whether or not there is a bather in the bathtub 1 based on the information detected by the water level sensor 22 (step 107). That is, the progress of the detected water level is analyzed, and when the detected water level rises by more than the threshold value compared to the previous detected water level, it is determined that there is a bather. It should be noted that even when the previously detected water level determined to have a bather is maintained this time, it is also determined that there is a bather. Also, if the detected water level from the start of the control is maintained, if the detected water level has decreased by a threshold or more from the previous detected water level determined to have a bather, or if the previous detected water level that has decreased by the threshold or more is maintained, Judge that there is no bather. The maintenance of the detected water level here means
This means that the detected water level does not change more than the above threshold.

When it is determined in step 107 that there is no bather, a heat sterilization mode is executed (step 10).
8). That is, the three-way valve 17 is switched and the first port 1
7a is shut off, the second and third ports 17b and 17c are connected, and high-temperature hot water, for example, hot water having a temperature of 65 ° C. or more, is supplied from the water heater 20 to the circulation circuit 10. When the water heater 20 is a gas water heater, combustion control is also performed. Note that the pump 15 is stopped. The high-temperature hot water supplied to the circulation circuit 10 passes through a filtration tank 18 as indicated by a broken line arrow, and
Heat sterilize the filter medium contained in the container. The hot water provided for the heat sterilization is discharged from the discharge end 10b of the circulation circuit 10 to the bathtub 1. Since the hot water is returned to the bathtub 1 without being discharged to the outside, waste of heat energy and water can be eliminated. The high-temperature hot water is discharged into the bathtub 1 as described above, but since the heat sterilization mode is executed after confirming that there is no bather, the bather does not feel uncomfortable.

During the execution of the heat sterilization mode, the detection is continued for a predetermined time, for example, several tens of minutes, and the process returns to the filtering operation mode of step 101. The timer for measuring the heat sterilization time is cleared at the final stage of the heat sterilization mode, and restarts the measurement.

When it is determined in step 107 that there is a bather, a heat sterilization standby flag is set (step 1).
09). In response to the standby flag set, the internal timer starts measuring the standby time. Next, the filtration operation mode is restarted (step 110). Then, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time, for example, one hour, which is shorter than the cycle of performing the heat sterilization, has elapsed (step 111). If a negative determination is made here, the filtering operation mode of step 110 is continued.
When an affirmative determination is made in step 111, the water level sensor 22
Is read, and it is determined whether or not the detected water level has decreased by more than a threshold value from the previous time, that is, whether or not the detected water level has changed without a bather (step 112). If an affirmative determination is made here, after the above-described heat sterilization mode in step 108 is executed, the flow returns to the filtration operation mode in step 101.

If it is determined in step 112 that there is a bather, a process of giving up heat sterilization is performed (step 11).
3) Return to step 101. The heat sterilization abandonment process is, for example, clearing a timer for measuring the time of heat sterilization. Thus, the heat sterilization mode is executed again after waiting for the heat sterilization cycle described above (step 106).
reference). In the heat sterilization abandonment process, the abandonment flag may be set, and the heat sterilization time may be set to, for example, half the cycle of the normal heat sterilization.

In the above control routine, when it is determined in step 112 that there is a bather, the process may return to step 109. In this case, steps 110, 111, and 112 are repeatedly executed until heat sterilization is performed.

The water level sensor 22 may be installed in the bathtub 1 instead of the circulation circuit 10 to detect the water level in the bathtub 1. In this case, since the water level sensor 22 is not affected by the drive of the pump 15, the control unit 30 can substantially constantly monitor the detected water level from the water level sensor 22 while continuing the filtration operation mode. That is, FIG.
Is executed at a very short cycle, for example, every 10 seconds. More specifically, the detected water level of the water level sensor 22 is read (step 201), and it is determined whether or not the detected water level is higher than a previous water level by a threshold or more (step 202). If the determination is affirmative, the bathing flag is set (step 203), and this routine ends.
When a negative determination is made in step 202, it is determined whether the detected water level is lower than the previous water level by a threshold or more (step 204). If a positive determination is made here, the bathing flag is cleared (step 205), and this routine ends. When a negative determination is made in step 204, this routine ends without changing the flag state.

The control unit 30 executes the routine of FIG. 5 in parallel with the routine of FIG. That is, the same filtration operation mode as in the above-described embodiment is executed (step 210), and when the heat sterilization time is reached (step 21).
1) It is determined whether or not the bathing flag is cleared (step 212). When the determination is affirmative, that is, when it is determined that there is no bather, the same heat sterilization mode as described above is executed (step 213). When a negative determination is made in step 212, that is, when it is determined that there is a bather, a filtering operation mode is executed (step 214), and the process returns to step 212. In other words, until the state of no bather, the filtration operation mode continues to be in a standby state,
When there is no bather, the heat sterilization mode of step 213 is immediately executed.

Steps 213a to 213c of FIG. 6 may be executed instead of step 108 of the routine of FIG. 3 or step 213 of the routine of FIG. More specifically, during execution of the heat sterilization mode (step 21).
3a) determining whether the bathing flag is cleared,
When a negative determination is made, that is, when it is determined that there is a bather, the heat sterilization mode is immediately stopped, and the process returns to the normal filtration operation in step 210. Then, on condition that the bathing flag is cleared, the heat sterilization mode is continued, and when a predetermined time is reached, an affirmative determination is made in step 213c in step 2
Return to 10.

FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the bathtub water filtration device. Here, components corresponding to those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. In this filtration device, the water heater is not connected, and the electric heater 16 serves as high-temperature water supply means. That is, the circulation circuit 10 includes a two-position three-way valve 4
0 is provided. The first port 40 of the three-way valve 40
a is connected to the suction end 10a of the circulation circuit 10, the second port 40b is connected to the suction side of the pump 15, and the third port 40c is connected to the circulation circuit 10 via the communication path 41.
Is connected to the discharge end 10b.

In the filtering operation mode, the first and second ports 4
0a and 40b are connected, and the third port 40c is shut off. Hot water circulates and filtration and heating are performed as in the above-described embodiment (see solid arrows). In the heat sterilization mode, the second port 40b and the third port 40c are connected, and the first port 40a is shut off. When the pump 15 is driven in this state, a limited amount of hot water in the circulation circuit
The hot water is circulated through the heat transfer heater 16, the filtration tank 18, and the communication path 41 (see the broken line arrow), and the hot water is repeatedly heated through the electric heater 16 to become high-temperature hot water, and the filtration tank 18 is sterilized by heat. . In the apparatus of FIG. 7, the control routine of FIG. 3 may be executed, the routines of FIGS. 4 and 5 may be executed, or a part of these routines may be replaced by the steps of FIG. In the apparatus of FIG. 7, high-temperature hot water is only partially discharged into the bathtub 1 in the heat sterilization mode.
During the filtering operation immediately after the end of the heat sterilization mode, the hot water stored in the circulation circuit 10 is discharged to the bathtub 1. As described above, since the heat sterilization during bathing is not performed, the possibility that the bather touches the discharged high-temperature water can be eliminated or reduced.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various forms are possible. For example, the bathing detection means may be an infrared sensor that detects that a person has entered the bathroom, or may detect bathing in response to lighting of the bathroom lighting.

[0026]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the execution of heat sterilization during bathing is avoided, so that hot water provided for heat sterilization may come into contact with a bather. Can be eliminated or minimized. According to the second aspect of the present invention, heat sterilization can be periodically and automatically performed by the control means, and labor is not required. In addition, the presence or absence of bathing is checked at the timing of performing the heat sterilization.
The effect of can be ensured. According to the invention of claim 3, if it is bathing at the timing of heat sterilization execution, it waits,
Since the opportunity for heat sterilization is checked, it is possible to prevent the opportunity for heat sterilization from being significantly reduced. According to the invention of claim 4, if a bath is being performed at the heat sterilization execution timing, the information from the bath detection means is obtained again after waiting for a predetermined time, and there is a chance of heat sterilization, so that the effect of claim 3 is secured. be able to.
This is particularly effective when the detection by the bathing detection means involves a temporary interruption of the filtration operation. According to the invention of claim 5, while bathing is performed at the heat sterilization execution timing, the information from the bath detection means is always obtained and there is a chance of heat sterilization, so that the effect of claim 3 can be secured. Heat sterilization can be performed relatively early. This is particularly effective when the detection by the bathing detection means does not involve a temporary interruption of the filtration operation. According to the invention of claim 6, the heat sterilization is immediately stopped when there is a bather even during the heat sterilization, so that the effect of claim 1 can be obtained more reliably. According to the invention of claim 7, since the bathing is detected by the water level sensor for detecting the bathtub water level, the configuration is simple and the bathing can be reliably detected. According to the invention of claim 8, in the configuration in which the hot water supply means is connected to the circulation circuit via the supply path, the effects of claims 1 to 7 can be obtained. According to the ninth aspect of the invention, the effects of the first to seventh aspects can be obtained in a configuration in which high-temperature hot water supply means is incorporated in the circulation circuit.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic system diagram of a bathtub water filtration device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view showing a discharge end structure of a circulation circuit of the apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a control routine executed by a control unit of the apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a part of a routine for another control mode.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a routine executed in parallel with the routine of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing steps that can be replaced with a part of the routine of FIGS. 3 and 5;

FIG. 7 is a schematic system diagram of a bathtub water filtration device according to another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Bathtub 10 Circulation circuit 10a Suction end 10b Discharge end 15 Pump 16 Electric heater (heating part, hot water supply means) 18 Filtration tank (filtration part) 20 Water heater (high temperature hot water supply means) 21 Supply path 22 Water level sensor (bathing detection) Means) 30 control unit (control means) 40 three-way valve (flow path switching means) 41 communication path

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A bathtub water comprising: a circulation circuit connected to a bathtub; a pump and a filtration unit provided in the circulation circuit; and a high-temperature water supply means for supplying high-temperature water to the filtration unit to perform heat sterilization. The filtration device further includes a bathing detection unit that detects that a person is taking a bath, and a control unit, wherein the control unit drives the pump to circulate bathtub water in a circulation circuit. A filtration operation mode for filtering and a heat sterilization mode in which high-temperature water is supplied from the high-temperature water supply unit to the filtration unit and heat sterilization is performed, and when the bathing detection unit detects bathing, the heat sterilization mode is executed. Bath tub water filtration device characterized by avoiding turbulence. 2. The control means periodically executes a heat sterilization mode, receives information from the bath detecting means at the execution timing of the heat sterilization mode, and determines whether to execute the heat sterilization mode based on the information. The bathtub water filtration device according to claim 1, wherein the determination is made. 3. When the control means avoids the execution of the heat sterilization mode in response to the detection of bathing by the bath detection means, the control means enters a standby state and waits for information on no bathing from the bath detection means to switch to the heat sterilization mode. 3. The bath tub water filtration device according to claim 2, wherein the device is operated. 4. The control means determines whether to execute the heat sterilization mode again in the standby state at a time interval shorter than the execution cycle of the heat sterilization mode based on the detection information from the bathing detection means. 4. The bathtub water filtration device according to claim 3, wherein the heat sterilization mode is executed in response to the information indicating that there is no bathing. 5. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the control means constantly monitors detection information from the bathing detection means in the standby state, and executes the heat sterilization mode in response to the information indicating no bathing. The bathtub water filtration device according to 1. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control means immediately stops execution of the heat sterilization mode when the bath detection means detects a bath during execution of the heat sterilization mode.
6. The bathtub water filtration device according to any one of 5. 7. The bathing detecting means according to claim 1, wherein said bathing detecting means includes a water level sensor for detecting a water level in the bathtub, and said control means judges that the rise of said water level sensor is a bathing. Tub water filtration equipment. 8. The bathtub water filtration device according to claim 1, wherein the high-temperature hot water supply means is connected to the circulation circuit via a supply path. 9. The high-temperature hot water supply means includes a heating section provided in the circulation circuit. In the circulation circuit, an upstream side of the pump, the filtration section, and the heating section and a downstream side thereof have a communication path. Flow path switching means is provided at a connection between the circulation circuit and the communication path, and the control means causes the bath water to pass through the communication path without passing through the bath tub in the heat sterilization mode. The bathtub water filtration device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the flow path switching means is controlled so as to repeatedly circulate the heating unit and the filtration unit.