JPH11287517A - Bath equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obviate a phenomenon that irrespective of draining bathtub water, hot water remains in a rehearing circulation passage and water comes out from the circulation passage and leaks into an empty bathtub. SOLUTION: When a water lever sensor 26 detects that the water level in a bathtub becomes equal to or below a predetermined water level, a draining signal generating control part 44 judges that discharging is performed and outputs a draining signal to a cleaning start command part 42 and a circulation passage discharge water control part 36. After receiving the draining signal, the cleaning start command part 42 feeds a cleaning start command to a piping cleaning control part 40. Upon receiving this command, the piping cleaning control part 40 performs a piping cleaning of reheating circulation passage by supplying hot water into the reheating circulation passage. Upon completion of the piping cleaning, a cleaning completion signal is outputted to the circulation passage draining control part 36. Upon receiving the draining signal and the cleaning completion signal, the circulation passage draining control part 36 drives a circulation pump 17 and discharge hot water remaining in the reheating circulation passage to the bathtub even when the draining of bathtub water has been performed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bath apparatus capable of performing reheating of bath water.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 8 schematically shows an example of a system configuration of a one-can-two-channel hot-water supply bath composite apparatus which is a bath apparatus developed by the applicant. In FIG. 1, a hot water supply heat exchanger 2 and a reheating heat exchanger 3, which are means for heating hot and cold water, are integrally provided in an appliance case 1. That is,
A hot water supply-side water pipe is inserted through a plurality of common fin plates 4 to form a hot water supply heat exchanger 2, and the fin plates 4
The water pipe on the reheating side is inserted through and installed on the reheating heat exchanger 3
And

[0003] A burner 5 for heating the hot water supply heat exchanger 2 and the reheating heat exchanger 3 in common is disposed below these integrated heat exchangers, and supplies and exhausts the combustion of the burners 5. A combustion fan 6 is provided. A gas passage 9 is connected to the burner 5. The gas passage 9 is connected to solenoid valves 7 and 8 for opening and closing the passage, and a proportional valve for controlling a gas supply amount (burner combustion heat amount) by a valve opening amount. 10 are interposed. The control of the valve opening amount of the proportional valve 10 is specifically performed by controlling the current applied to the proportional valve 10 (valve opening drive current).
The variable control is performed.

A water supply pipe 11 is provided on the inlet side of the hot water supply heat exchanger 2.
Is connected to the water supply pipe 11 and the hot water supply heat exchanger 2
Temperature sensor 1 that detects the temperature of the water that flows into the water
2 and a flow rate detection sensor 13 for detecting a flow rate of water supply (hot water supply) (in the case of hot water filling, a hot water filling flow rate). The inlet side of the water supply pipe 11 is connected to a water pipe.

On the outlet side of the hot water supply heat exchanger 2, a hot water supply pipe 14 is provided.
The hot water supply pipe 14 is led to a desired hot water supply place such as a kitchen through an external pipe. A hot water supply temperature sensor 15 for detecting a hot water supply temperature is provided in a flow path on the outlet side of the hot water supply heat exchanger 2.

A line 1 is provided on the inlet side of the reheater 3.
6 is connected to one end, and the other end of the conduit 16 is connected to the discharge side of the circulation pump 17. And the circulation pump 1
One end of a return pipe 20 is connected to the suction side of 7, and the other end of the return pipe 20 is connected to the bathtub 18 via a circulation fitting 31. A bath temperature sensor 2 for detecting the temperature of hot and cold water in the return pipe 20 as a bath temperature
1 and a flow sensor or a flow sensor (flow switch) 19 as a water flow detecting means for detecting a water flow.

An outgoing pipe 2 is provided at the outlet side of the reheater 3.
2 is connected to one end, and the other end of the forward pipe 22 is connected to the circulation fitting 3.
1 is connected to a bathtub 18 via a tub 1, and a passage returning from the bathtub 18 to the bathtub 18 via a return pipe 20 via a circulation pump 17, a pipeline 16, a reheating heat exchanger 3 and a forward pipe 22 is a bathtub. A reheating circulation passage 23 for performing reheating while circulating water is configured.

The hot water supply pipe 14 of the hot water supply heat exchanger 2 and the additional heating circulation passage 23 (the pipe 16 in FIG. 8) are connected to each other by a hot water passage 24.
A pouring valve 25 constituted by an electromagnetic valve or the like for opening and closing the passage is interposed in 4, and a water level sensor for detecting the water level of the bathtub 18 by the water pressure in the hot water filling passage 24 downstream of the pouring valve 25. (Pressure sensor) 26 is provided.

The flow rate detecting sensor 13 and the temperature sensor 1
2, 15, 21 and sensor output signals from the water level sensor 26 and the like are applied to a control device 27, and a remote control 28 is connected to the control device 27. The remote controller 28 has a hot water supply temperature setting means for setting a hot water supply temperature, a bath temperature setting means for setting a bath temperature, an automatic operation, a reheating operation,
Various operation buttons for commanding a hot water filling operation and the like and a display unit for displaying necessary information are provided.

The control device 27 fetches various sensor output signals and information from the remote controller 28, and controls a hot water supply operation, a hot water filling operation, and a reheating operation according to a sequence program provided therein as follows.

For example, a faucet 30 of a hot water supply passage led to a kitchen or a shower or the like is opened and a hot water supply operation flow rate (for example, 2.5 liter / min) or more at which a hot water supply operation can be started. When the flow rate is detected by the flow rate detection sensor 13, the combustion fan 6 is rotated, and the solenoid valves 7,
8, the fuel gas is supplied to the burner 5, the burner 5 is burned by the ignition of an igniter (not shown), and the hot water temperature detected by the hot water temperature sensor 15 is controlled by the remote controller 28. The valve-opening drive current to the proportional valve 10 is controlled so as to match the hot water supply set temperature set in the above step, and water passing through the hot water supply heat exchanger 2 is heated by the flame of the burner 5 to produce hot water at the set temperature. Hot water is supplied to the hot water supply location via the hot water supply pipe 14. Then, when the faucet 30 is closed and the off signal is output from the flow rate detection sensor 13, the burner combustion is stopped, and the operation in the hot water supply operation mode ends.

When an automatic operation mode or a filling operation mode is commanded by the remote controller 28, the pouring valve 25 is opened. When the flow rate detection sensor 13 detects a flow rate equal to or higher than the above hot water supply operation flow rate, combustion of the burner 5 is started in the same manner as in the hot water supply operation, and hot water is produced by the hot water supply heat exchanger 2. The hot water passes through the hot water supply pipe 14, the hot water supply passage 24, branches off from the pipe 16, passes through the reheater 3, passes through the outgoing pipe 22, and passes through the return pipe 20. It is dropped. When the amount of hot water drops to the set water level or when the set water level is detected by the water level sensor 26, the pouring valve 25 is closed and the combustion of the burner 5 is stopped, and the operation in the filling operation mode is performed. Ends.

In the operation in the reheating operation mode, the circulation pump 17 is driven to rotate while the pouring valve 25 is closed, and the circulation of hot water in the bathtub 18 is performed through the reheating circulation passage 23 and the bath When the bath detection temperature detected by the temperature sensor 21 is lower than the bath set temperature, the burner 5 is burned in response to a running water ON signal from the flow rate sensor (running water sensor) 19, and the reheating circulation passage 23 is provided.
The hot and cold bath tub circulating through is heated by the heat exchanger 3. Then, when the bath temperature sensor 21 detects that the temperature of the bath water reaches the set bath temperature, the circulation pump 17 and the burner 5 are stopped, and the operation in the reheating operation mode ends. .

[0014]

In some cases, hot water may remain in the reheating circulation passage 23 even though the bath tub 18 is drained and the bath tub 18 is emptied. There is a problem that the water leaks from the circulation fitting 31 to the bathtub 18 for some reason after a while after the drainage.

For example, in the one-can, two-water channel type as shown in FIG. 8, during the hot water supply alone operation, not only the hot water supply heat exchanger 2 but also the reheating heat exchanger 3 is burned and heated by the burner combustion. Therefore, if residual water is present in the reheating circulation passage 23 after the drainage of the bathtub 18 is completed as described above, the residual water is heated and volume-expanded, and the circulation fitting 31 is formed.
Leaks into the empty bathtub 18.

As described above, the circulation fitting 31 is placed in the empty bathtub 18.
When a user of the bath apparatus sees that water is leaking from the bathroom, it is conceivable that the user may feel uncomfortable. In addition, water leaked from the circulation fitting 31 as described above is
For example, following the path of flowing along the inner surface of the bath tub to the bottom of the bath tub, and further flowing toward the drain, the path of the hot water is always almost the same, so the dirt due to calcium etc. in the water along the path The line is formed,
There is a problem that the bathtub is soiled.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem, and an object of the present invention is to prevent water from leaking from a circulation passage after being drained from a bathtub for a while and then flushed into an empty bathtub. It is to provide a bath device that can be prevented.

[0018]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention has the following structure to solve the above-mentioned problem. That is, the first invention is
After the bathtub water is drawn in by the drive of the circulation pump, the bathtub water is reheated by the heating means and heated and returned to the bathtub, the circulation pump is driven after receiving the drainage signal of the bathtub water. A circulation passage drainage control unit is provided, and the above-described problem is solved by a configuration in which the circulation pump is driven by the circulation passage drainage control unit to discharge hot water remaining in the reheating circulation passage to a bathtub.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, a drainage signal transmitting means for manually generating a drainage signal for bathtub water is provided. After being issued manually, the circulation passage drainage control unit is configured to drive the circulation pump to solve the above problem.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, a water level detecting means for detecting a bathtub water level, and detecting that the bathtub water level falls below a predetermined water level based on the water level detecting means. And a drainage signal transmission control unit for automatically issuing a bathtub water drainage signal after the bathtub water drainage signal is automatically issued by the drainage signal transmission control unit. Is a means for solving the above-mentioned problem with a configuration for driving a circulation pump.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, a bathtub water level is set based on a drainage signal transmitting means for manually generating a bathtub water drainage signal and a water level detecting means for detecting a bathtub water level. Both a drainage signal transmission control unit for automatically issuing a bathtub drainage signal after detecting that the water level has dropped below a predetermined level is provided, and the circulation passage drainage control unit is provided with a drainage signal transmission unit from the drainage signal transmission unit. A manual operation mode in which a driving operation is started in response to a manually transmitted bathtub water drainage signal, and an automatic operation mode in which a driving operation is started in response to a bathtub water drainage signal automatically transmitted from the drainage signal transmission control unit. And a mode in which the manual mode operation mode is performed with priority over the automatic mode operation mode.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the first, second or third aspect.
Alternatively, in addition to the configuration of the fourth invention, hot water supply means for supplying hot water to the reheating circulation path, and hot water supplied to the reheating circulation path by the hot water supply means after receiving the circulation path cleaning start instruction. A pipe washing control unit for pouring and washing the inside of the recirculation circulation passage with the hot and cold water is provided, and the circulation passage drainage control unit completes the cleaning in the reheating circulation passage controlled by the piping cleaning control unit; After doing
A configuration for driving the circulation pump is a means for solving the above problem.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the circulation passage drainage control section constituting any one of the first to fifth aspects of the present invention is a means for solving the above-mentioned problem by a configuration in which the circulation pump is intermittently driven. .

A seventh aspect of the present invention is a means for solving the above-mentioned problem, wherein the circulation passage drainage control section constituting any one of the first to fifth aspects of the invention has a configuration for continuously driving the circulation pump. .

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of any one of the first to seventh aspects of the invention, there is provided a water flow detecting means capable of detecting the flow of water through the reheating circulation passage. The circulation passage drainage control unit is a means for solving the above-described problem with a configuration having a configuration for stopping the circulation pump after the flow of water in the reheating circulation passage driven by the circulation pump is no longer detected by the water flow detection unit. I have.

A ninth aspect of the present invention includes the configuration of any one of the first to eighth aspects of the present invention, wherein the predetermined device operation mode including the device operation related to bath use is performed by the circulation passage drainage control unit. The above-mentioned problem is solved by a configuration that is performed with priority over the mode.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, the bath apparatus is provided with the configuration of any one of the first to ninth aspects, and the bath apparatus is a hot water supply / bath combined apparatus capable of performing a hot water supply operation. The operation mode is a means for solving the above-mentioned problem by a configuration in which the operation mode is preferentially performed over the operation mode by the circulation passage drainage control unit.

An eleventh aspect of the present invention comprises the configuration of any one of the first to tenth aspects, wherein the supplied water is heated to produce hot water and discharge the hot water. Is provided, the heating means for reheating the bath water is constituted by a reheating heat exchanger incorporated in the reheating circulation passage, and the hot water supply heat exchanger and the reheating heat exchanger are integrally formed, The means for solving the above-mentioned problem is provided by a configuration of a one-can-two-water-channel type hot water supply bath combined device provided with a burner for burning and heating both the integrated hot water supply heat exchanger and the reheating heat exchanger.

In the invention having the above structure, after receiving the bathtub water drainage signal, the circulation passage drainage control section drives the circulation pump. By driving this circulation pump, hot water remaining in the reheating circulation passage can be discharged to the bathtub, and almost all remaining hot water in the reheating circulation passage can be discharged into the bathtub during or immediately after drainage of the bathtub water. This avoids the problem that after a while after draining, water is leaked from the circulation path after being refilled into an empty bathtub.

[0030]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The bath apparatus of the first embodiment has the same system configuration as the one-can-two-channel hot-water supply bath combined apparatus shown in FIG. 8, and in this embodiment, it takes a while after draining the bathtub water. A special control configuration is provided to prevent water from leaking out of the recirculating passage after reheating to an empty bathtub.

FIG. 1 shows a main control configuration of a control device 27 which is characteristic in the first embodiment. As shown by the solid line in FIG.
And a circulation passage drainage control unit 36 and a pipe washing control unit 40
, A data storage unit 41, a cleaning start command unit 42, and a drainage signal transmission control unit 44.

The combustion control unit 35 controls burner combustion in the hot water supply operation, hot water filling operation, reheating operation, and the like as described above. There are various methods for controlling burner combustion. Here, any of these methods may be used to perform combustion control, and a description thereof will be omitted.

The drain signal transmission control section 44 is provided with the water level sensor 26.
The sensor output is taken in every moment as the water level of the bathtub 18, and the taken detection water level is set in advance to a set water level Hsp (for example, higher than the upper end position Hj of the circulation fitting 31 shown in FIG. Specified minute water level ΔH
It is determined whether or not the detected water level is equal to or lower than the set water level Hsp, as compared to the water level above the water level.

When the drainage signal transmission control unit 44 determines that the detected water level is equal to or lower than the set water level Hsp as a result of the comparison, the drain plug (not shown) of the bathtub 18 is pulled out and the bathtub 1 is removed.
8, the bathtub water level is determined to have dropped below the set water level Hsp, and a bathtub water drainage signal indicating that the bathtub 18 is being drained is sent to the circulation passage drainage control unit 3.
6 and output (transmit) to the cleaning start command section 42.

By the way, the water level of the bath tub 18 is
When the water level becomes equal to or lower than the upper end position Hj of the air, air enters from the circulation fitting 31 into the reheating circulation path 23, and the water level sensor 26, which detects the water level by the water pressure, accurately detects the water entering the reheating circulation path 23. Water level cannot be detected. Therefore, in this embodiment, it is determined that there is no possibility that air enters the reheating circulation passage 23 and an incorrect water level is detected due to the adverse effect of the air, and that the bathtub water is being drained. The water level that can be set above the upper end position Hj of the circulation fitting 31 by a predetermined minute water level ΔH is set as the set water level Hsp.

The washing start command section 42 has a built-in timer 43. When a drain signal is applied from the drain signal transmission control section 44, the timer 43 is driven and the timer 43 is driven after the drain signal is added. Measure the elapsed time. Then, the cleaning start command unit 42 reads the measurement time of the timer 43 from time to time, and reads the measurement time from the set time Thk (for example,
It is determined whether or not the time measured by the timer 43 has reached the set time Thk.

The set time Thk is a predetermined water level lower than the set water level Hsp from the set water level Hsp (for example,
This is the time required to drain the water to the water level Hk) at the lower end of the circulation fitting 31, and is obtained in advance by experiments, calculations, and the like, and stored in the data storage unit 41.

When the cleaning start command section 42 determines that the measured time of the timer 43 has reached the set time Thk as a result of comparison between the measured time of the timer 43 and the set time Thk,
It is determined that the water level of the bathtub 18 has become lower than the lower end position Hk of the circulation fitting 31 due to drainage, and a circulation passage cleaning start command is issued to the pipe cleaning control unit 40.

Upon receiving the circulation path cleaning start command, the pipe cleaning control unit 40 starts the circulation path pipe cleaning operation in accordance with a predetermined circulation path pipe cleaning operation procedure. For example, the pipe cleaning control unit 40 fetches the combustion information of the combustion control unit 35 from time to time, and upon receiving a circulation passage cleaning start command, determines whether or not the hot water supply operation is being performed based on the information of the combustion control unit 35. When it is determined that the hot water supply operation is being performed, the process stands by until the hot water supply operation is completed. When it is determined that the hot water supply operation is not being performed, the pouring valve 25 is opened and the hot water is supplied from the hot water supply heat exchanger 2 side. Hot water is supplied into the reheating circulation path 23 through the tension passage 24, and the flow of the hot water cleans the piping of the reheating circulation path 23.

When the pouring valve 25 is opened by the pipe washing control unit 40 as described above, the flow of the water in the water supply pipe 11 is detected by the flow rate detection sensor 13. By 35, burner combustion is started.
From this, the hot water heated by the hot water supply heat exchanger 2 is poured into the reheating circulation passage 23, and the piping of the reheating circulation passage 23 is heated by the hot water as compared with the case where the piping is washed with unheated water. The cleaning effect can enhance the cleaning effect.

At the time of pipe cleaning, the combustion control unit 35 may perform burner combustion control so that the temperature of the hot water set on the remote controller 28 becomes the same as in the hot water filling operation. In addition, when the pouring valve 25 is opened, a pipe cleaning start signal indicating that the pouring valve 25 is opened for pipe cleaning is output from the pipe cleaning control unit 40 to the combustion control unit 35. The combustion control unit 35 may perform burner combustion control so that when the pipe cleaning start signal is added, hot water having a predetermined temperature for pipe cleaning is supplied to the reheating circulation passage 23. Further, the combustion control unit 35 may perform combustion control so that burner combustion is performed using a predetermined amount of combustion heat for pipe cleaning.

As described above, the pipe washing control section 40 controls the pouring valve 2.
After the valve 5 has been opened, the pouring valve 25 is closed when the predetermined amount of hot water has been supplied to the additional heating circulation passage 23.

More specifically, the pipe cleaning control unit 40 integrates the flow rate detected by the flow rate detection sensor 13 from the time the pouring valve 25 is opened, and opens the pouring valve 25. From time to time to detect the total amount of water supplied to the recirculation passage 23, compare the detected amount of supplied water with the set amount of water stored in advance in the data storage unit 41, and set the detected amount of supplied water to the set amount of water. It is determined whether or not it has been reached.

The set water amount is a water amount necessary for sufficiently cleaning the piping of the reheating circulation passage 23, and is obtained in advance by experiments, calculations, and the like, and stored in the data storage unit 41.

When the pipe cleaning control unit 40 determines that the detected supply water amount has reached the set water amount as a result of the comparison between the detected supply water amount and the set water amount, the pipe cleaning control unit 40 determines that the piping of the reheating circulation passage 23 has been sufficiently cleaned. Judgment is made, the pouring valve 25 is closed, and the cleaning of the reheating heating circulation passage 23 is completed, and a pipe cleaning end signal indicating that the pipe cleaning is completed is sent to the circulation passage drain control unit 3
6 is output.

In this embodiment, the hot water supply means for supplying hot water to the additional heating circulation passage 23 by the water supply pipe 11, the hot water supply heat exchanger 2, the hot water supply pipe 14, the hot water filling passage 24 and the pouring valve 25 is provided. The hot water supply means supplies hot water for cleaning the piping from the hot water supply side to the reheating circulating passage 23 as described above.

The circulation passage drainage control unit 36 detects that the drainage signal transmission control unit 44 has added the bathtub water drainage signal and that the pipe cleaning control unit 40 has added the pipe cleaning end signal. The drive of the circulation pump 17 is started.

When the hot and cold water used for washing the pipe remains in the reheating circulation passage 23, the residual water in the reheating circulation passage 23 is removed from the reheating circulation passage 23 by driving the circulation pump 17. Start discharging into the bathtub 18.

The circulation passage drainage control unit 36 is provided with a timer 3
8 and the timer 38 is driven when the circulation pump 17 is started to drive as described above.
7, the elapsed time from the start of driving of the timer 7 is measured.
8 is compared with a set time Tpk stored in advance in the data storage unit 41, and it is determined whether or not the measured time of the timer 38 has reached the set time Tpk.

The set time Tpk is a time obtained by adding a margin time to a time assumed to be necessary for discharging the residual water in the reheating circulation passage 23 to the bathtub 18 by driving the circulation pump 17, and an experiment or calculation is performed in advance. Is stored in the data storage unit 41.

The circulation passage drainage control unit 36 is provided with the timer 38
As a result of the comparison between the measured time Tpk and the set time Tpk, when it is determined that the measured time has reached the set time Tpk, it is determined that the residual water in the additional heating circulation passage 23 has been discharged, and the circulation pump 1
7 is stopped to end the circulation passage draining operation.

Usually, shortly after the drainage of the bathtub 18 is completed,
Since the bathtub is cleaned by a person or the like, the hot water discharged from the reheating circulation passage 23 to the bathtub 18 by the pipe washing control unit 40 and the drainage by the circulation passage drainage control unit 36 is washed away.

According to this embodiment, after the drainage of the bathtub 18 is detected, the circulation pump 17 is driven to discharge the residual water in the reheating circulation passage 23 to the circulation pump 17. The remaining water in the reheating circulation passage 23 is discharged into the bathtub during or immediately after the drainage ends, and the water leaks out of the reheating circulation passage 23 into the empty bathtub 18 after a while after the drainage. Can be avoided.

In particular, in the one-can, two-channel hot-water / bath combined system as shown in FIG.
When the hot water supply operation is performed in a state where there is residual water, not only the hot water supply heat exchanger 2 but also the reheating heat exchanger 3 is burned by the burner combustion. It is considered that the problem of bathtub contamination caused by the leak water described above is likely to increase because the water leaks easily from the bathtub 18 to the empty bathtub 18. However, as shown in this embodiment, the reheating circulation By discharging the residual water in the passage 23 into the bathtub 18 during or immediately after the drainage of the bathtub 18, the above problem can be prevented from occurring, which is very effective.

Further, since the piping is washed by the piping washing control unit 40 during or immediately after draining of the bathtub 18, dirt such as dirt adheres to the inner wall of the piping of the reheating circulation passage 23. For example, if dirt such as dirt adheres to the pipe portion of the reheating heat exchanger 3, the amount of heat given to the water flow of the reheating heat exchanger 3 by the dirt decreases, and the boiling of the bath can be prevented. There is a problem that the time required for climbing becomes longer and the usability deteriorates,
As described above, by automatically performing pipe cleaning every time the bathtub water is drained, it is possible to prevent dirt from adhering to the pipe, and to avoid the above-described problem.

Further, since the pipe cleaning is performed by the pipe cleaning control section 40, the following problems can be surely prevented. The problem is that, for example, when the bathing is started, if the bathtub water used at the time of the previous bathing remains in the additional heating circulation passage 23, the bathing is performed by the bathing. The bath water enters the bathtub 18 together with clean hot water. In particular, when a bath agent or the like is used at the time of the previous bathing, the bath water becomes turbid even though the clean hot water should have been dropped into the bathtub 18. In this embodiment, as described above, the pipe cleaning control unit 40 supplies hot water into the reheating circulation path 23 and pushes out the bath water remaining in the reheating circulation path 23 to the piping 18 while pushing out the bath water. Therefore, the above-described problem can be reliably avoided.

Further, in this embodiment, since the drainage signal of the bathtub 18 is automatically detected and a drainage signal is output, the piping of the reheating circulation passage 23 is not troublesome for the user of the bath. Cleaning and discharge of hot water from the reheating circulation passage 23 can be performed, and the above-described excellent effects can be obtained.

In the embodiment, the reheating circulation passage 2
The discharge of the residual water from the reheating circulation passage 23 can be performed without providing a dedicated pipe or a sensor for discharging the residual water in the recirculation water passage 3. The problem caused by the residual water can be easily avoided.

Hereinafter, a second embodiment will be described. What is characteristic in this embodiment is that the circulation pump 17 is intermittently driven by the circulation passage drainage control unit 36. The other configuration is almost the same as that of the first embodiment. In the description of this embodiment, the first embodiment will be described.
The same components as those of the embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description of the common components will be omitted.

In the embodiment, the reheating circulation passage 2
A circulation pump 17 is provided at the lowest part of the whole 3.

The circulation passage drainage control unit 36 which is characteristic in this embodiment has a built-in counter (not shown) in addition to the timer 38, and the drainage signal transmission control unit 4
After receiving both the bathtub water drainage signal transmitted from 4 and the pipe cleaning end signal transmitted from the pipe cleaning control unit 40, the circulation pump 17 is driven at a predetermined cycle,
When the timer 38 detects that a predetermined on-time for the intermittent operation has elapsed since the pump was driven, a pump on / off operation of stopping the circulation pump 17 is repeatedly performed. When the built-in counter detects that a predetermined number of times has been reached, the intermittent operation of the circulation pump 17 is terminated and the circulation passage draining operation is terminated.

In this embodiment, the configuration of the first embodiment is provided, and the circulation pump 17 is reheated to the circulation passage 2.
3 and a circulation passage drainage control unit 3
6, the intermittent operation of the circulation pump 17 is performed, so that the excellent effects as shown in the first embodiment can be obtained, and the residual water in the reheating circulation passage 23 can be obtained. Most can be reliably discharged by driving the circulation pump 17.

That is, immediately after the circulation pump 17 is driven, the circulation pump 17 sucks the water remaining in the return pipe 20 and discharges it to the pipe 16 side, and the water discharged to the pipe 16 side Residual water in the pipeline 16 and the outgoing pipe 22 is generated by the tub 1
8 extruded. Shortly thereafter, almost all of the residual water in the return pipe 20 is discharged to the pipe 16 side, and when air enters the circulating pump 17, the circulating pump 17 that pushes residual water in the pipe 16 and the outgoing pipe 22 into the bath 18. In this state, even if the circulation pump 17 is continuously driven in this state, the water remaining in the pipeline 16 and the forward pipe 22 is removed from the bathtub 18.
May not be able to be discharged.

On the other hand, when the intermittent operation of the circulation pump 17 is performed, the line 16
The water discharged to the side and remaining as described above flows into the lowest area of the reheating circulation passage 23 by gravity during the off period of the circulation pump 17, that is, the circulation pump 17.
Because the water in the return pipe 20 pushes the water in the pipeline 16 and the forward pipe 22 toward the bathtub 18 when the circulation pump 17 is driven again. become. By repeatedly performing the flow of the residual water by the intermittent operation of the circulation pump 17, most of the residual water in the reheating circulation passage 23 can be more reliably discharged to the bath 18.

Of course, even if the intermittent operation of the circulation pump 17 is not performed and the drive control of the circulation pump 17 is performed by the circulation passage drainage control unit 36 as shown in the first embodiment, the reheating heating circulation passage 23 Although the above-mentioned problems caused by the residual water can be substantially avoided, by performing the intermittent operation of the circulation pump 17 as shown in this embodiment, most of the residual water in the reheating circulation passage 23 is removed. Bathtub 1
8 and the occurrence of various problems caused by the residual water can be avoided more reliably.

Hereinafter, a third embodiment will be described. This embodiment is characterized in that a control structure for discharging the residual water in the reheating circulation passage to the bathtub by driving the circulation pump without performing pipe cleaning during or after drainage of the bathtub is provided. Configuration. Note that the bath apparatus of this embodiment has the same system configuration as the one-can two-channel hot-water supply bath apparatus shown in FIG. The overlapping description of the parts will be omitted.

As shown by the solid line in FIG. 3, the characteristic control device 27 in this embodiment includes a circulation passage drainage control unit 36, a data storage unit 41, and a drainage signal transmission control unit 44. ing.

The drainage signal transmission control unit 44 fetches the water level detected by the water level sensor 26 from time to time, and stores the fetched detected water level in the data storage unit 41 in advance, as in the above embodiments. When the detected water level is determined to have fallen below the set water level Hsp, it is determined that the bathtub 18 is being drained, and the bathtub water drain signal is circulated. Output to the passage drainage control unit 36.

The circulation passage drainage control section 36 has a timer 38 built therein. When the drainage signal is received from the drainage signal transmission control section 44, the timer 38 is driven to measure the elapsed time from when the drainage signal is received. I do. Then, the circulation passage drainage control unit 36 instantaneously updates the time measured by the timer 38 for a set time T stored in the data storage unit 41 in advance.
The measured time of the timer 38 is compared with the set time Tsk
It is determined whether or not has been reached.

The set time Tsk is a time obtained by adding a marginal time to a time assumed to be required for the water level of the bathtub 18 to decrease from the set water level Hsp to the lower end position Hk of the circulation fitting 31 due to drainage. It is obtained in advance by calculation or the like and stored in the data storage unit 41.

The circulation passage drainage control unit 36 is provided with the timer 38
As a result of the comparison between the measured time and the set time Tsk, when it is determined that the measured time has reached the set time Tsk, the water level of the bathtub 18 becomes lower than the lower end position Hk of the circulation fitting 31, and the circulation pump 17 is driven. Also, it is determined that there is no longer a risk that the hot water in the bathtub 18 will be drawn into the recirculating passage 23, and the circulating pump 17 is driven, and as shown in the first embodiment, for a predetermined set time Tpk. Alternatively, the circulation pump 17 may be continuously operated, or the circulation pump 17 may be operated intermittently as shown in the second embodiment.

According to this embodiment, after receiving the drainage signal, the circulation pump 17 is driven to discharge the hot water remaining in the reheating circulation path 23 to the bath 18. The remaining water in the reheating circulation passage 23 can be discharged during or immediately after the drainage of the bathtub water, whereby the reheating and circulation to the empty bathtub 18 can be performed after a while after the drainage of the bathtub water is completed. The problem that water leaks from the passage 23 can be substantially avoided. In particular, as described in the first embodiment, in the one-can-two-water-channel type bath apparatus, if there is residual water in the reheating circulation passage 23 after drainage, the additional water is supplied when the hot water supply operation is performed. As the heating heat exchanger 3 is heated, the residual water expands in volume, and the problem that hot water leaks from the additional heating circulation passage 23 to the empty bathtub 18 easily occurs. Therefore, as shown in this embodiment, By discharging almost all the water remaining in the reheating circulation passage 23 to the bathtub 18 immediately after the end of the drainage, the above problem can be avoided, which is very effective.

Further, since the drainage signal of the bathtub 18 is automatically detected and a drainage signal is output, no human hand is required.
It is possible to perform the operation of discharging the residual water in the reheating circulation passage 23 as described above.

Further, as described above, the reheating circulation path 23
Can be discharged, so that hot water used for bathing can be started from a state in which there is almost no hot water in the reheating circulation path 23. When the refilling starts, the reheating circulation path can be started. It is possible to avoid the problem that the bathtub water used in the previous bath flows out from 23 and the bathtub water becomes turbid even though clean hot water has been dropped.

Hereinafter, a fourth embodiment will be described. What is characteristic in this embodiment is that instead of the drainage signal transmission control section 44 shown in each of the above-described embodiments, a drainage button 45 shown by a chain line in FIGS. And a configuration for manually outputting a bathtub water drain signal. The other configuration is the same as that of each of the above embodiments, and the overlapping description of the common parts will be omitted.

As described above, when the drain button 45 is provided in place of the drain signal transmission control unit 44, when the drain plug of the bathtub 18 is drained according to the instruction manual of the apparatus to drain the bathtub water. An instruction to press the drain button 45 is given to the user of the bath apparatus.

The data storage unit 41 is provided with a drainage time Thw in advance. The drainage time Thw is a time that is considered to be required for the bathtub water level to drop to a water level lower than the lower end position Hk of the circulation fitting 31 after the drain plug of the bathtub 18 is removed, and is obtained in advance by experiments, calculations, and the like. It is stored in the storage unit 41.

As shown in FIG. 1, when the control device 27 is provided with the circulation passage drain control unit 36, the pipe cleaning control unit 40, and the cleaning start command unit 42, the drain button 45 is provided.
Outputs a bathtub water drain signal to the washing start command unit 42 when the button is pressed, and the washing start command unit 42 receives the drain signal, and after receiving the drain signal, drains the data storage unit 41. When the timer 43 detects that the time Thw has elapsed, it determines that the bathtub water level has become lower than the lower end position Hk of the circulation fitting 31, and outputs a circulation passage cleaning start command to the pipe cleaning control unit 40. . In this way, after the circulation passage cleaning start command is issued, the piping cleaning of the reheating firing passage 23 is performed by the piping cleaning control unit 40, and after the completion of the pipe cleaning, the circulation passage drainage control unit 36
The circulation pump 17 is driven by the
The discharge of residual water of No. 3 is performed.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the pipe cleaning control unit 40 and the cleaning start command unit 42 are not provided, the drain button 45 outputs a drain signal of the bathtub water level when the button is pressed. When the timer 38 detects that the drainage time Thw of the data storage unit 41 has elapsed since the drainage signal was received, the circulation pump 17 is output to the circulation passage drainage control unit 36. By driving, the residual water in the reheating circulation passage 23 is discharged.

According to this embodiment, the drain button 45 for manually issuing a bathtub water drain signal is provided on the remote controller 28, so that the drain signal is output manually to re-fire during or immediately after draining. The residual water in the circulation passage 23 can be discharged. In particular, even in a device not provided with a water level detecting means for detecting a bathtub water level, by providing the drain button 45, it is possible to manually output a bathtub water drain signal. The residual water in the reheating circulation passage 23 can be drained, and the effects described in the above embodiments can be obtained.

Hereinafter, a fifth embodiment will be described.

In this embodiment, both a drainage signal transmission control unit 44 for automatically transmitting the drainage signal and a drainage button 45 serving as a drainage signal transmission unit for manually transmitting the drainage signal are provided. FIG. 4 shows a specific control configuration in the case where the control is performed.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG.
The circulation passage drainage control unit 36, in addition to the timer 38,
Automatic system operation control unit 46, manual system operation control unit 47, automatic transmission signal cancel unit 48, and mode switching control unit 5
0. The other configuration is the same as that of each of the above embodiments, and the overlapping description of the common parts will be omitted.

The automatic operation control unit 46 of the circulation passage drain control unit 36 receives the drain signal automatically transmitted from the drain signal transmission control unit 44, and performs the reheating circulation as described in the above embodiments. A configuration is provided for performing an automatic operation mode for controlling the residual water discharging operation of the passage 23.

The manual operation control unit 47 receives the drain signal transmitted manually by operating the drain button 45, and discharges the residual water from the reheating circulation passage 23 as described in each of the above embodiments. And a configuration for performing a manual operation mode for controlling

When the drain button 45 is operated, it means that the user of the bath apparatus desires the operation of discharging the residual water from the reheating circulation passage 23. Based on the idea of giving priority, in this embodiment, the manual operation mode is configured to be performed with higher priority than the automatic operation mode.

That is, the mode switching control unit 50 fetches the operation information of the automatic operation control unit 46 and, based on the information, operates in the automatic operation mode in the reheating circuit 23.
When it is detected that the residual water discharge operation is being performed, the drain button 45 is operated, and when it is detected that the drain signal is output manually, the automatic system operation by the automatic system operation control unit 46 is performed. The residual water discharge operation of the mode is stopped, and the residual water discharge operation of the reheating circulation passage 23 is performed from the beginning in the manual operation mode by the manual operation control unit 47.

The automatic transmission signal canceling section 48 captures the operation information of the manual operation control section 47 and detects that the residual water discharging operation of the reheating circulation passage 23 is being performed in the manual operation mode based on the information. During the operation, when it is detected that the drain signal is automatically output (transmitted) from the drain signal transmission control unit 44, the manual operation mode is performed with higher priority than the automatic operation mode as described above. Then, the automatically transmitted drain signal is canceled, the start of the automatic operation mode is prevented, and the manual operation mode is continued.

The automatic transmission signal canceling section 48
When the residual water discharging operation of the additional heating circulation passage 23 is not performed in the manual operation mode and the drainage signal is automatically transmitted from the drainage signal transmission control unit 44,
The drain signal is applied to the automatic operation control unit 46 to start the residual water discharge operation in the automatic operation mode by the automatic operation control unit 46.

The specific control configuration in this embodiment is configured as described above, and an operation example of the control configuration will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, in step 101, it is determined whether or not the residual water discharge operation is being performed by the automatic operation control unit 46. If it is determined that the residual water discharge operation is being performed in the automatic operation mode, the following process is performed. In step 102,
It is determined whether or not the drain button 45 has been operated and a drain signal has been output manually during the residual water discharge operation of the automatic method. If it is determined that the drain signal has not been manually transmitted, the residual water discharge by the automatic method described above is performed. Continue operation.

When it is determined in step 102 that the drainage signal has been manually transmitted, step 103
Then, the mode switching control unit 50 stops the automatic residual water discharge operation by the automatic system operation control unit 46, and performs the manual residual water discharge operation by the manual system operation control unit 47 from the beginning. Then, during the residual water discharge operation of the manual method, it is determined in step 104 whether or not the drainage signal is automatically transmitted from the drainage signal transmission control unit 44.
When it is determined that there is no automatic transmission of the drainage signal, it is determined in step 105 whether or not the manual residual water discharging operation has been completed, and when it is determined that the manual residual water discharging operation has not been completed, The operation after step 104 is repeatedly performed, and when it is determined in step 105 that the residual water discharging operation by the manual method has been completed, the operation after step 101 is repeatedly performed.

If it is determined in step 101 that the automatic residual water discharging operation is not being performed, it is determined in step 106 whether or not a drain signal has been manually transmitted from the drain button 45. When it is determined that the drain signal has not been transmitted, the operation after step 101 is repeated, and when it is determined in step 106 that the drain signal has been transmitted manually, subsequently, in step 107, the manual operation control unit 47, the manual residual water discharging operation is started.

During the residual water discharging operation of the manual system, the determination operations of steps 104 and 105 are repeated. When it is determined in step 104 that the drain signal is automatically transmitted, the drain signal is automatically transmitted. However, it is determined that the manual residual water discharge operation (manual operation mode) is prioritized over the automatic residual water discharge operation (automatic operation mode). Then, in step 108, the drain signal transmitted automatically is canceled by the automatic transmission signal canceling unit 48, and the residual water discharging operation of the manual system is continuously performed without starting the automatic residual water discharging operation. When it is determined in step 105 that the manual residual water discharging operation has been completed, the operations in and after step 101 are repeatedly performed.

According to this embodiment, since the control system is provided such that the manual operation mode of the residual water discharging operation is performed with higher priority than the automatic operation mode, the residual water discharging operation is performed in the manual operation mode. When the start of the residual water discharge operation by the automatic method is instructed while
Automatic residual water discharge operation and manual residual water discharge operation, such as when a manual residual water discharge operation start command is issued while the residual water discharge operation is being performed in the automatic operation mode. When the batting has occurred, the operation of the apparatus can be smoothly continued without causing any trouble in the control operation. Further, in this embodiment, as described above, since the configuration is such that the manual operation mode is prioritized over the automatic operation mode, that is, the configuration is such that the request of the user of the bath apparatus is prioritized. The device can be operated in response to the request of the user.

Further, as described above, when the residual water discharging operation of the automatic method and the residual water discharging operation of the manual method are batting, it is possible to avoid a malfunction of the control operation. A drain signal transmission controller 44 for transmitting a drain signal and a drain button 45 for manually transmitting a drain signal
It is possible to provide a bath apparatus having both of the above.
Thus, the drain signal transmission control unit 44 and the drain button 45
By providing both, the residual water discharging operation of the reheating circulation passage 23 can be automatically performed based on the drainage signal automatically transmitted from the drainage signal transmission control unit 44. By operating the drain button 45 by the user, the residual water discharging operation of the reheating circulation passage 23 can be performed when the user of the bath apparatus desires.

By the way, a bath apparatus not provided with a control structure as shown in the present embodiment for coping with a situation where the manual residual water discharging operation and the automatic residual water discharging operation are batting. In the meantime, when the manual residual water discharging operation and the automatic residual water discharging operation batting, there is a possibility that a control operation may fail and the device operation may not be performed smoothly. It is configured such that only one of the water discharging operation and the automatic residual water discharging operation can be performed. For this reason, a device capable of performing the automatic residual water discharging operation includes a remote control with a drain button 45. 28 cannot be connected, in other words,
Separately, a remote controller 28 for a bath apparatus capable of automatic residual water discharge operation (without a drain button 45) and a remote controller 28 for a bath apparatus capable of manual residual water discharge operation (with a drain button 45) are separately provided. Had to be prepared,
In the present embodiment, since a control configuration capable of performing both the automatic residual water discharging operation and the manual residual water discharging operation is provided, standardization and commonality of the remote controller can be achieved.

Hereinafter, a sixth embodiment will be described.

In this embodiment, the residual water discharging operation of the additional heating circulation passage 23 as described in each of the above embodiments is performed by a hot water supply operation or a device operation relating to the use of a bath to be described later (hereinafter, referred to as a bath operation). A control configuration for appropriately controlling the operation of the apparatus when the batting is performed. The other configuration is the same as that of each of the above embodiments, and the overlapping description of the common parts will be omitted.

The bath operation is a device operation for creating a comfortable bathing environment. In this embodiment, the bath operation includes at least a hot water operation, a reheating operation, a warming operation, and a hot water operation. Driving. As described above, the filling operation is performed when, for example, the automatic button of the remote controller 28 is operated to detect that the bath apparatus user has issued a command to start the filling operation of the bathtub by the bath apparatus user. This is an operation in which the valve is opened, hot water produced by the hot water supply heat exchanger 2 is poured into the bathtub 18 through the hot water filling passage 24 and the additional heating circulation passage 23 in order, and hot water of the set water level is filled in the bathtub 18.

[0102] The reheating operation means that, for example, when a collecting button (reheating button) or the like of the remote controller 28 is operated and a request from the bather or the like to raise the temperature of the bath is indicated, the collecting button is operated. In response to a reheating start command transmitted manually by the user, as described above, the circulation pump 17 is driven to recirculate the bath water through the reheating circulation passage 23 while reheating and heating in the reheating heat exchanger 3 to form a bath. This is the operation that raises the temperature.

[0103] The above-mentioned heat retention operation is the same as the reheating operation, for example, when it is detected that the temperature of the bath has fallen from the set temperature beyond an allowable range after the completion of the hot water filling operation. This is an operation for keeping the temperature of the bath warm by reheating the bath, and this warming operation may include a water holding operation for keeping the bathtub water level at the set water level based on the detection value of the water level sensor 26 in some cases.

[0104] The filling operation means that when a bathing person or the like indicates that a request to lower the bath water temperature is made by operating, for example, a filling button of the remote controller 28, the operation of the filling button is performed to manually send the filling. In response to the operation start instruction, the operation is a operation of pouring lukewarm water from the hot water supply heat exchanger 2 into the bathtub 18 to lower the temperature of the bath water.

The hot water operation is, for example, when a hot water button is operated on the remote controller 28 and a request for raising the water level in the bathtub is given by a bather or the like, and is manually transmitted by operating the hot water button. In response to the additional hot water operation start command, the hot water of the bath set temperature created by the hot water supply heat exchanger 2 is poured into the bathtub 18 in the same manner as in the hot water filling operation, to raise the bathtub water level.

As described above, the bath operation including the hot water filling operation, the reheating operation, the warming operation, the filling operation, and the hot water operation is an operation for creating an environment for comfortable bathing. It is considered that the bath operation and the hot water supply operation for supplying hot water to a predetermined hot water supply location should be given priority over the residual water discharge operation of the reheating circulating passage 23, and based on this idea, in this embodiment, When the residual water discharge operation is batting with the hot water supply operation or the bath operation, a control structure is provided for performing the hot water supply operation or the bath operation with higher priority than the residual water discharge operation.

That is, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, in addition to the control configuration shown in each of the above embodiments, an apparatus operation status monitoring section 51 and a drainage operation forced stop section 53 are provided.
In the one provided with the drain button 45, a drain operation start prevention part 52 is further provided.

The device operation status monitoring unit 51 monitors operation status of the device by fetching operation information of the combustion control unit 35, the circulation passage drainage control unit 36, etc., and the information of the remote controller 28 from time to time.

The drainage operation forced stop unit 53 takes in the monitoring information of the device operation status monitoring unit 51 and detects that the residual water discharging operation is being performed by the circulation passage drainage control unit 36 based on the monitoring information. Sometimes (during the residual water discharge operation), when the start of the hot water supply operation or the bath operation is detected, the stop water signal for giving priority to the hot water supply operation or the bath operation and forcibly stopping the residual water discharge operation is circulated. It outputs to the passage drainage control unit 36 and the circulation passage drainage control unit 3
6 receives the stop signal, stops the residual water discharge operation. When the start of the bath operation is detected and the residual water discharge operation is stopped, the bath operation is started after the end of the residual water discharge operation. It should be noted that although the reheating operation is started, the burner combustion is not started when it is detected that there is no hot water in the bathtub 18. Therefore, during the residual water discharging operation, that is, hot water is discharged into the bathtub 18. When there is not, even if the collecting button of the remote controller 28 is operated by mistake and the reheating operation is started, the problem of the empty heating is prevented.

[0110] The drain operation start prevention unit 52 takes in the monitoring information of the apparatus operation status monitoring unit 51 and operates the drain button 45 of the remote controller 28 when the hot water supply operation or the bath operation is performed based on the monitoring information. When it is detected that the drain signal is manually transmitted, the manually transmitted drain signal is canceled to prevent the start of the residual water discharging operation, and the hot water supply operation or the bath operation is prioritized over the residual water discharging operation. When the drainage operation start prevention unit 52 detects that the drainage signal is manually transmitted from the drainage button 45 when neither the hot water supply operation nor the bath operation is performed,
The drainage signal is applied to the circulation passage drainage control unit 36, and the circulation passage drainage control unit 36 starts the residual water discharge operation.

An example of a control operation in consideration of the occurrence of a situation in which the residual water discharge operation is replaced with a hot water supply operation or a bath operation will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, at step 201, it is determined whether or not hot water supply operation or bath operation is being performed. If it is determined that hot water supply operation or bath operation is being performed, then at step 202, during this hot water supply operation or bath operation, During operation, it is determined whether or not a drain signal has been manually transmitted from the drain button 45. If it is determined that the drain signal has not been manually transmitted, the determination operation of step 201 is repeated. When it is determined that the drain signal is manually transmitted from the button 45, it is determined that the hot water supply operation or the bath operation is given priority over the residual water discharge operation, and in step 203, the manual operation is performed by the drain operation start prevention unit 52. The drainage signal is canceled, the start of the residual water discharging operation is prevented, and the operation after step 201 is repeated. Cormorant.

If it is determined in step 201 that neither the hot water supply operation nor the bath operation is being performed, the process proceeds to step 20.
In step 4, it is determined whether the drain signal has been manually transmitted from the drain button 45 or automatically transmitted from the drain signal transmission control unit 44. When it is determined in step 204 that the drainage signal has been transmitted, in step 205, since neither the hot water supply operation nor the bath operation is performed, the circulation passage drainage control unit 36 Is started, the residual water discharging operation of the reheating circulation passage 23 is started.

During the residual water discharging operation, it is determined in step 206 whether or not the start (interruption) of the hot water supply operation or the bath operation is detected, and it is determined that there is no interruption of the hot water supply operation or the bath operation. At step 207, it is determined whether or not the residual water discharging operation (draining operation) has been completed. If it is determined that the residual water discharging operation has been continued, the operation from step 206 onward is repeated. When it is determined in step 207 that the residual water discharging operation has been completed, the operation from step 201 onward is repeated.

During the residual water discharging operation, step 206 is performed.
When the interruption of the hot water supply operation or the bath operation is detected, the hot water supply or the bath operation is given priority over the residual water discharge operation. Is forcibly stopped, and the operation after step 201 is repeated.

According to this embodiment, the hot water supply operation mode or the bath operation mode is configured to be performed with higher priority than the operation mode by the circulation passage drainage control unit 36.
When the residual water discharge operation is batting with a hot water supply operation or a bath operation, it is possible to avoid a malfunction of the control operation.

Further, as described above, the hot water supply operation mode or the bath operation mode is configured to be performed with priority over the operation mode by the circulation passage drainage control unit 36. In other words, the degree of demand of the user of the apparatus is reduced. Since the hot water supply operation and the bath operation that are assumed to be higher than the residual water discharge operation are performed with priority over the residual water discharge operation, the device operation can be performed according to the request of the device user, It is possible to provide more comfortable use of hot water and use of a bath.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, but can adopt various embodiments. For example, in each of the above-described embodiments, the pipe cleaning control unit 40 stops the supply of the hot water when the supply of hot water for the predetermined amount of water has been completed and supplied to the recirculation passage 23, thereby terminating the pipe cleaning. For example, the timer is built in the pipe cleaning control unit 40, and the pipe cleaning control unit 40 determines that a predetermined time has elapsed since the opening of the injection valve 25 and the supply of hot water to the additional heating circulation passage 23. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the pouring valve 25 is closed and the pipe cleaning is terminated when the detection is performed by the built-in timer.

In each of the above embodiments, the hot water is supplied to the additional heating circulation passage 23 to clean the pipes. However, the unheated water is supplied to the additional heating circulation passage 23 to wash the pipes. You may. In this case, for example, when the pouring valve 25 is opened by the pipe cleaning control unit 40, a combustion prohibition signal is output from the pipe cleaning control unit 40 to the combustion control unit 35, and the combustion prohibition signal is received in response to the combustion prohibition signal. The control unit 35 is configured not to perform burner combustion.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, the example in which the circulation pump 17 is continuously driven by the circulation passage drainage control unit 36 for a predetermined time has been described, but the flow rate sensor (water flow detection means) is used. Alternatively, the stop timing of the circulation pump 17 may be determined based on the flowing water sensor 19. For example, the circulation passage drainage control unit 36 drives the built-in timer when the circulation sensor 17 detects that the flow of water through the reheating heating circulation passage 23 is stopped by the flow sensor 19 while the circulation pump 17 is being driven. The elapsed time from the detection of water stoppage is measured. Further, the circulation passage drainage control unit 36 continues to detect the stoppage of water flow in the reheating recirculation passage 23 as described above.
9, the circulation pump 17 is stopped when it is confirmed that the water flow stop has been continuously detected by the flow rate sensor 19 until the time measured by the timer reaches a predetermined set time. .

As described above, to stop the circulating pump 17 after the water flow stop is continuously detected for the set time after the water flow stop is detected by the flow rate sensor 19, is as follows. For a good reason. That is, it takes time from driving the circulation pump 17 to drawing water into the pump, and during that time, the reheating heating circulation passage 2 is used.
Since almost no water flows in the pump 3, the flow sensor 19 detects the stoppage of the water flow immediately after the start of the driving of the circulation pump 17, and stops the circulation pump 17 immediately after the stop of the water flow is detected by the flow sensor 19. This causes a problem that the residual water discharging operation ends even though the residual water in the additional heating circulation passage 23 is not discharged at all.

Therefore, the time required for the water in the additional heating circulation passage 23 to start flowing after the circulation pump 17 starts to be driven is determined in advance by experiments, calculations, or the like, and a time obtained by adding a margin time to the calculated time is set. When it is confirmed that the stoppage of the flow of water has been continuously detected for the set time after the stoppage of the flow of water is detected by the flow rate sensor 19, the time is determined by driving the circulation pump 17. Since the residual water in the firing circulation passage 23 is discharged and there is almost no residual water in the circulation passage 23, it is determined that the passage of water is not detected, and the circulation pump 17 is stopped. The above-described problem that the residual water discharging operation ends even when the operation is not performed can be reliably avoided.

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, an example has been described in which the circulation pump 17 is intermittently driven by the circulation passage drainage control unit 36 at predetermined intervals during a predetermined ON time. The stop timing of the circulation pump 17 in the intermittent operation may be determined based on the flow rate sensor 19. For example, the circulation passage drainage control unit 36 is configured to start driving the circulation pump 17 at a predetermined cycle. The circulation pump 17 is stopped when it is confirmed that the water flow stop has been continuously detected until a predetermined set time has elapsed since the water stop was detected.

As described above, after the circulation pump 17 is stopped, the water discharged to the pipe 16 may return to the return pipe 20 through the circulation pump 17 as described above. When the circulation pump 17 is driven again from the state in which the water has returned to 20, the flow sensor 19 detects the flow of water, and the intermittent operation of the circulation pump 17 is performed.

After the intermittent operation of the circulation pump 17 is started by the circulation passage drainage control unit 36 and the circulation pump 17 is drained, that is, the circulation passage drainage control unit 3
6 starts driving the circulation pump 17 and detects flow of water by the flow rate sensor 19.
The circulation pump 17 may be stopped immediately when the stoppage of the water flow is detected by the flow rate sensor 19 during the driving of the pump 7.

Further, in the fourth embodiment, a drain button 45 dedicated to transmitting a drain signal is provided as a drain signal transmitting means.
However, for example, when an automatic operation button for performing automatic operation from hot water filling to warming through reheating is provided on the remote control 28, the automatic operation button is provided with a drain signal transmitting means. You may comprise so that it may function also as. In this case, when the automatic operation button is operated and a command for terminating the automatic operation is issued manually, the command is made to function also as a drain signal.

That is, when the end of the automatic operation is instructed by operating the automatic operation button, it is assumed that the use of the bath is ended. Immediately thereafter, the bathtub 18 is cleaned to clean the bathtub 18. This is because it is assumed that the water is drained, and it is assumed that the automatic operation end command can be made to function also as a drain signal.

In such a case, a predetermined time period (for example, 10 minutes) after the end of the automatic operation is instructed by the automatic operation button, that is, after the drain signal is output.
When elapses, as shown in the above embodiments,
It is configured to start cleaning of the piping of the reheating circulation passage 23 and discharge of residual water.

When the automatic operation button also serves as the drainage signal transmitting means, there is no need to provide a commanding means dedicated to transmitting the drainage signal. The cleaning of the piping of the reheating circulation passage 23 and the discharge of residual water as shown in the above embodiments can be performed without troublesome operation such as operating the signal transmission means.

Further, in the sixth embodiment, the drain operation start prevention unit 52 and the drain operation forced stop unit 53 are provided in the control device 27 of the apparatus main body, but are separate from the control device 27. Is provided on the remote controller 28, and the control device of the remote controller 28
And one or both of the draining operation forced canceling unit 53 may be provided.

In such a configuration, for example,
During the residual water discharging operation, when the automatic button, the collecting button, the filling button, or the hot water button of the remote controller 28 is operated, the draining operation forced stop unit 53 does not perform the signal communication between the remote controller and the apparatus main body unit. , The button operation can be instantaneously detected and a stop signal can be output to the circulation passage drainage control unit 36. In addition, complication of signal communication between the remote controller and the apparatus main body can be prevented. In addition, since information on the device operation status is usually transmitted from the device main body to the remote controller every moment, based on the signal,
When the drain button 45 is operated and a drain signal is manually transmitted during a hot water supply operation or a bath operation, a drain operation start prevention unit 52 provided on the remote controller 28 is provided.
As a result, the drain signal is canceled inside the remote controller 28, that is, the manually transmitted drain signal can be canceled without transmission from the remote controller 28 to the apparatus main body. It is possible to prevent complication of signal communication between the apparatus main bodies.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, the one-can-two-channel hot-water / bath complex shown in FIG. 8 has been described as an example.
The present invention can be applied to any bath apparatus provided with a reheating circulation path incorporating a circulation pump, and is not limited to a one-can-two-channel type bath apparatus. For example, the present invention can be applied to a bath apparatus such as a one-can three-cannel type or a two-can two-cannel type hot water supply bath combined apparatus or a bath apparatus having a bath function alone.

Further, the apparatus shown in FIG. 8 is provided with a water level sensor 26 for detecting a bathtub water level by water pressure. However, even in a bath apparatus not provided with such a water level sensor 26 as a pressure sensor, this apparatus is also provided. The invention is applicable. For example, in an apparatus not provided with a water level detecting means, a drainage signal transmitting means for manually outputting a drainage signal as described above is provided, and a drainage signal is manually output to output residual water in the reheating circulation passage. It is possible to make it discharge.

Further, for example, a water level detecting means for outputting an ON signal when the bathtub water level is equal to or higher than a predetermined water level is provided, and it is determined that the bathtub water level has dropped to a water level lower than the predetermined water level. A drainage signal transmission control unit that automatically emits a bathtub water drainage signal after detecting that the bathtub water level has dropped below a predetermined water level by the water level detection means. It may be provided.

Further, the bath apparatus shown in FIG. 8 is provided with a reheating heat exchanger 3 for heating water flow by burner combustion as a heating means for performing reheating heating. A heating means such as a heater may be used as a reheating heat source.

[0136]

According to the present invention, the circulation pump provided in the reheating circulation path is driven after receiving the drainage signal. The remaining hot and cold water can be discharged into the bathtub by driving the circulation pump, whereby the water leaks from the reheating circulation passage to the empty bathtub after a while after the drainage of the bathtub water. Can be avoided reliably.

In particular, in the one-can-two-channel hot water supply / bath combined system, if the hot water supply operation is performed in a state in which the bathtub is empty and there is residual water in the reheating circulation path, the reheating path is not refilled. The residual water is heated to a high temperature by the hot water supply combustion and expands in volume and easily leaks from the reheating circulation passage to the bathtub. By discharging the residual water into the bathtub, it is very effective because it is possible to prevent the water from leaking from the circulation passage after being drained from the bathtub water for a while after being drained from the bathtub.

As described above, when a user of the bath apparatus sees that water has leaked out from the circulation passage after being drained for a while after the drainage for a while, the user is uncomfortable with the user. It is conceivable to give In addition, water leaking from the reheating circulation path as described above, for example, flows along the inner surface of the bath tub, reaches the bottom of the bath tub, and further follows a path of flowing toward the drain port. Since it is the same, there is a problem that dirt streaks due to calcium etc. in the water are formed along the locus, and there is a problem that the bathtub is stained. Since it is possible to prevent water from leaking from the reheating circulation passage, it is possible to reliably prevent the above problems from occurring.

Further, since the residual water in the reheating circulation passage is discharged, for example, when hot water is dropped from the reheating circulation passage to fill the bathtub, the previous water remaining in the reheating circulation passage may be removed. The problem that the bathing water flows out into the bathtub together with clean hot water due to the hot water filling, and the hot water can be almost certainly avoided.

In the apparatus provided with a drainage signal transmitting means for manually generating a drainage signal for bathtub water, a dedicated sensor for discharging residual water is provided for discharging residual water in the reheating circulation passage. In other words, it is possible to prevent the increase in the number of parts and to perform the operation of discharging the residual water from the reheating circulation passage as described above.

In a device provided with a drainage signal transmission control unit for automatically emitting a bathtub water drainage signal based on a water level detecting means, a bathtub water drainage is automatically detected and a drainage signal is output. Therefore, it is possible to discharge the residual water in the reheating circulation passage without bothering the human, and it is possible to easily avoid the above-described problem caused by the residual water in the reheating circulation passage.

A drain signal transmission means for manually transmitting a drain signal and a drain signal transmission control unit for automatically transmitting a drain signal are provided, and a manual method started by the manually transmitted drain signal is provided. The mode of the residual water discharging operation having a configuration in which the mode of the residual water discharging operation is performed with priority over the mode of the residual water discharging operation of the automatic method which is started by the automatically transmitted drainage signal is used. When the operation and the residual water discharging operation by the automatic method are batting, the operation of the apparatus can be smoothly continued without causing any trouble in the control operation.

As described above, since the manual operation mode is configured to be performed with higher priority than the automatic operation mode, that is, the manual operation mode started when the user of the apparatus requests the operation mode. Priority is given over the automatic operation mode, and the apparatus can be operated in response to the request of the apparatus user.

Further, as described above, when the residual water discharging operation by the manual method and the residual water discharging operation by the automatic method are batting, it is possible to appropriately cope with the batting, and it is possible to prevent the malfunction of the device operation control. A remote control equipped with a drain signal transmitting means for manual transmission can be connected to a bath device that can be operated in the manual operation mode as well as a bath that can be operated in the automatic operation mode. Signals can be connected to the device as well, and remote control can be standardized and shared.

In a configuration in which the predetermined device operation mode including the device operation related to bath use and the hot water supply operation is performed with priority over the operation mode by the circulation passage drainage control unit, the operation is performed by the circulation passage drainage control unit. It is possible to appropriately cope with a situation in which the operation mode is batting with a predetermined device operation mode including a device operation related to bath use and a hot water supply operation, thereby preventing a malfunction of the device operation.

[0146] The apparatus has a configuration in which hot water is supplied into the reheating circulation path to clean the piping of the reheating circulation path, and then the circulation pump is driven to discharge residual water in the reheating circulation path. Is used to wash the piping of the reheating circulation passage, so that dirt such as dirt can be prevented from adhering to the inner wall of the piping. The above-mentioned problem caused by the residual water can be avoided because the water can be discharged. In particular, the hot water supplied to the reheating circulation passage is used to wash the piping while pushing out the bath water remaining in the reheating circulation passage, and then the residual water in the reheating circulation passage is discharged. In such a case, the problem that the water used in the previous bath flows out of the reheating circulation passage during filling can be completely avoided.

In the apparatus in which the circulation pump is intermittently driven in order to perform the operation of discharging the residual water in the reheating circulation path, most of the residual water in the reheating circulation path is discharged by the intermittent operation of the circulation pump. It is possible to discharge more reliably. That is, if the residual water in the reheating circulation passage portion on the pump suction side of the circulation pump is discharged to the reheating heating circulation passage on the pump discharge side by driving the circulation pump, air enters the circulation pump, and Although the pumping ability to push out residual water by air is reduced, the air in the pump can be replaced with water by turning off the circulation pump, and when the circulation pump is driven again, In addition, residual water in the reheating circulation passage can be discharged to the bathtub.
The residual water in the reheating circuit can be more reliably discharged by the flow of water in the reheating circuit as described above.

In the apparatus in which the circulation pump is continuously driven in order to perform the operation of discharging the residual water in the reheating circulation path, the residual pump in the reheating circulation path is continuously driven by driving the circulation pump. Not only can the water be drained, but also the drive noise caused by the pump drive is less noticeable than when the pump is driven intermittently, thus preventing the user of the bath apparatus from feeling discomfort due to noise. be able to.

[0149] During the residual water discharging operation by the circulation passage drainage control unit, the circulation pump is stopped after water flow in the reheating circulation passage driven by the circulation pump is no longer detected by the water flow detection means. Therefore, it is possible to automatically detect, based on the water flow detecting means, that almost the residual water in the reheating circulation passage has been discharged, and every time the operation of discharging the residual water in the reheating circulation passage is performed. The circulating pump can be stopped at an optimal timing for stopping the pump. Due to this, for example, despite the fact that the residual water in the reheating circulation passage was almost completely discharged, the circulation pump was continuously driven unnecessarily, and despite the fact that the residual water remained in the reheating circulation passage, The problem that the circulation pump stops can be reliably avoided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a characteristic control configuration in each embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing water levels of bathtubs used for controlling washing of piping in a reheating circulation passage and controlling discharge of residual water.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a control configuration for performing discharge control of residual water in a reheating circulation passage when a pipe cleaning control unit is not provided.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of a characteristic control configuration of an apparatus having a configuration in which a drain signal is automatically or manually transmitted.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a characteristic control operation in an apparatus having a configuration in which a drain signal is automatically or manually transmitted.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an example of a control configuration for coping with a situation in which the residual water discharge operation is batting with a hot water supply operation or a bath operation.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a control operation for coping with a situation where the residual water discharge operation is batting with a hot water supply operation or a bath operation.

FIG. 8 is a model diagram showing an example of a one-can two-channel hot-water / bath complex.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Hot water supply heat exchanger 3 Reheating heat exchanger 17 Circulation pump 18 Bathtub 23 Reheating circulation path 26 Water level sensor 36 Recirculation path drain control unit 40 Pipe cleaning control unit 44 Drain signal transmission control unit 45 Drain button

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Tetsuya Sato 3--4 Fukamidai, Yamato-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside Gaster Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Akira Nakayama 3-4-2 Fukamidai, Yamato-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Gaster Co., Ltd.

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A bath apparatus having a recirculation passage for drawing in bath water by driving a circulation pump, reheating the bath water by a heating means and returning the bath water to the bathtub, after receiving a drain signal of the bathtub water, A bath apparatus provided with a circulation passage drainage control unit for driving a circulation pump, wherein hot water remaining in the reheating circulation passage is discharged to a bathtub by driving the circulation pump by the circulation passage drainage control unit. 2. A drainage signal transmitting means for manually generating a drainage signal for bathtub water is provided, and after the drainage signal is manually generated by the drainage signal transmitting means, the circulation passage drainage control unit includes a circulation pump. The bath apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bath apparatus is driven. 3. A water level detection means for detecting a bathtub water level, and a drainage signal transmission for automatically issuing a bathtub water drainage signal after detecting that the bathtub water level has dropped below a predetermined water level based on the water level detection means. A control section is provided, and after the drainage signal transmission control section automatically issues a bathtub water drainage signal, the circulation passage drainage control section drives the circulation pump. Item 6. The bath apparatus according to Item 1. 4. A bathtub water level detecting means for manually generating a bathtub water drainage signal, and a bathtub water level detecting means for detecting a bathtub water level, which detects that the bathtub water level has fallen below a predetermined water level. A drainage signal transmission control unit that automatically issues a drainage signal is provided, and the circulation passage drainage control unit receives the drainage signal of the bathtub water manually transmitted from the drainage signal transmission unit, and performs an operation operation. A manual operation mode to be started, and an automatic operation mode to start an operation operation upon receiving a bathtub water drain signal automatically transmitted from the drain signal transmission control unit, are configured to be able to be performed. 2. The bath apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the system operation mode is configured to be performed prior to the automatic system operation mode. 5. A hot water supply means for supplying hot water into the reheating circulation path, and after receiving a circulation path washing start command, the hot water is supplied into the reheating circulation path by the hot water supply means, and the hot water is supplied by the hot water. A pipe washing control unit for washing the inside of the heating circulation passage is provided, and the circulation passage drain control unit controls the circulation pump after the washing in the reheating heating circulation passage controlled by the piping washing control unit is completed. The bath apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bath apparatus is configured to be driven. 6. The bath apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the circulation passage drainage control section drives the circulation pump intermittently. 7. The bath apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the circulation passage drainage control section drives the circulation pump continuously. 8. A water flow detecting means capable of detecting water flow in the reheating circulation passage, wherein the circulation passage drainage control unit controls the water flow in the reheating circulation passage by driving the circulation pump by the water flow detection means. The bath apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a configuration for stopping the circulation pump after the detection is stopped. 9. The system according to claim 1, wherein a predetermined device operation mode including a device operation related to bath use is performed with higher priority than an operation mode performed by the circulation passage drainage control unit. The bath apparatus according to any one of the above. 10. The bath apparatus is a hot water supply / bath combined apparatus capable of performing a hot water supply operation, and the operation mode of the hot water supply operation is performed with priority over the operation mode by the circulation passage drainage control unit. The bath apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: 11. A hot water supply heat exchanger for heating the supplied water to produce hot water and discharging the hot water is provided, and a heating means for reheating the bathtub water is a reheating heat exchanger incorporated in the reheating circulation passage. The hot water supply heat exchanger and the reheating heat exchanger are integrally formed, and a burner for burning and heating both the integrated hot water supply heat exchanger and the reheating heat exchanger is provided. The bath apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the bath apparatus is a one-can-two-water-channel type hot water supply bath composite apparatus.