JPH11309090A - Heated toilet seat - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a toilet seat from being too hot or too cold and to save energy with high instantly heating property by magnetically shielding a temperature detecting element in a heated toilet seat. SOLUTION: The temperature detecting element 5 detects the temperature of a heater and a controller controls a power source for induction heating by an output value from the element 5, to control the heater at a proper temperature. Then, since the element 5 is in close contact with the heater through a thermal conductor 7 of high thermal conductivity, the heat is quickly transmitted to more precisely measure the temperature of the heater. In addition, as the element 5 is covered with a magnetically shielding material 6 consisting of a ferromagnetic body, the element 5 interrupts a magnetic field generated from an energizing coil for heating and never generates the raising of a temperature due to induction heating. In addition, as the material 6 is an electrically insulated body or a semiconductor, the raising of a temperature due to the induction heating of the material itself is reduced and a temperature is measured precisely without giving influence to the generated magnetic field.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a comfortable and compact heating toilet seat which enables rapid heating when used by a person.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventionally used heating toilet seat has a structure as shown in FIG. 31 is a toilet seat, and a toilet 33
Is openable and closable by a hinge 34 on the upper side of the, and is heated by a heater 32 provided inside. The heater 32 is connected to a power supply by a power supply line 35. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-25038 discloses a heating toilet seat by an induction heating method using an inverter power supply.

[0003]

In the conventional heating toilet seat, the metal heating element is installed inside the toilet seat.
As a result, the toilet seat surface could not be warmed instantaneously, and as a result, it had to be always energized and temperature controlled to prepare for human use. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-25038 describes basic elements for generating induction heating, but the method of detecting the temperature accurately or the configuration of the temperature sensor is unknown, so that accurate temperature detection was not possible. Furthermore, due to the problems of temperature control and the magnetic flux distribution of the heating element, there is a problem that it is very difficult to reduce the temperature distribution to an appropriate temperature for the heating element.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a heating toilet seat that is comfortable without being too hot or too cold, and has high instantaneous heat, thereby saving energy. Is to provide.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems and Action / Effect The invention according to claim 1 has been made to achieve the above object.
An induction heating power supply that outputs an AC voltage; a heating excitation coil that generates a magnetic field by a current from the induction heating power supply; and a heating element that generates heat by an induction current induced by the magnetic field generated from the heating excitation coil. And a heating toilet seat comprising a temperature detecting element having a temperature detecting function, wherein the temperature detecting element is magnetically shielded.

In the present invention, since the temperature sensing element having the temperature sensing function is magnetically shielded, the magnetic flux penetrating through the temperature sensing element can be reduced, and the temperature sensing element itself can be suppressed from inductive heating. Is now possible.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a magnetic shield is provided by covering the periphery of the temperature sensing element or a part thereof with a material which is an electrically insulating or semiconductor and is a ferromagnetic material. Feature

In the present invention, induction heating of the temperature sensing element itself is suppressed by covering the periphery of the temperature sensing element or a part thereof with a material that is electrically insulating or semiconductor and is a ferromagnetic material. In addition to the fact that the resistance value of the material having the magnetic shield effect is large, it is possible to suppress the induction heating of the magnetic shield material, and it is possible to measure the temperature accurately.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a magnetic shield comprising a ferromagnetic material provided at least between the heating element and the heating excitation coil, at least on the heating excitation coil side of the temperature detection element. A material is disposed, and the temperature sensing element and the heating element are closely adhered to each other with a material having high thermal conductivity.

In the present invention, the wiring of the wiring to the sensor is facilitated by disposing the temperature detecting element between the heating element and the heating exciting coil, and the temperature detecting element is strongly attached to at least the heating exciting coil. By providing a magnetic shield material made of a magnetic material, induction heating of the temperature sensing element itself is suppressed and accurate temperature measurement can be performed, and the temperature sensing element and the heating element are brought into close contact with a material having high thermal conductivity. As a result, the temperature of the heating element is immediately transmitted to the temperature detecting element, so that the temperature of the heating element can be accurately and instantaneously measured.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the temperature detecting element is provided on the surface of the heating element opposite to the heating excitation coil or in the vicinity thereof.

In the present invention, the magnetic flux to the temperature detecting element is magnetically shielded by the heating element by disposing the temperature detecting element on the surface opposite to the heating excitation coil with respect to the heating element or in the vicinity thereof. Therefore, induction heating of the temperature detecting element itself can be suppressed, and the temperature can be accurately measured without separately adding a magnetic shield material to the temperature detecting element.

The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that a magnetic sensor having a magnetic detection function is added.

In the present invention, the temperature calculated from the temperature detecting element can be corrected by measuring the intensity of the generated magnetic field with the magnetic sensor, and the accuracy of the temperature measurement can be improved.

The invention according to claim 6 is characterized in that means for detecting that a person uses the toilet is provided, and heating of the heating toilet seat is started by the output.

In the present invention, a means for detecting that a person uses the toilet is provided, and the heating of the heating toilet seat of the present invention is started by the output thereof, so that the heating can be quickly performed only when the toilet is used. As a result, it became possible to provide a comfortable and power-saving heating toilet seat from the moment of sitting.

The invention according to claim 7 is characterized in that a heat storage element for absorbing and storing heat from the heat generating element is added.

According to the present invention, the addition of the heat storage makes it possible to convert electric energy into heat energy and store it, and to make the radiation temperature from the heat storage comfortable for the human body by the material of the heat storage. It is now possible to select the temperature.

The invention according to claim 8 is characterized in that an elastic body made of a rubber material is added to at least a part of the surface of the toilet seat or the surface of the toilet lid.

In the present invention, by adding an elastic body made of a rubber material to at least a part of the surface of the toilet seat or the surface of the toilet lid, it becomes possible to absorb or attenuate the vibration of the toilet seat generated by heating. .

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, a commercial power supply is used as the induction heating power supply.

In the present invention, by using a commercial power supply as the power supply for induction heating, the power supply section can be simplified, and a compact and low-cost heating toilet seat can be provided.

[0023]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a top view of the toilet seat viewed from above, FIG. 2 is a side view of the heating toilet seat installed on the toilet, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the temperature detecting element of the main heating toilet seat. 1, 2 and 3, 1 is a heating toilet seat, 2 is a toilet bowl, 3 is a heating excitation coil, 4 is a heating element, 5 is a temperature detecting element, 6 is a magnetic shield material of the temperature detecting element, 7 is heat. A highly conductive heat conductor, 8 is a magnetic sensor, 9 is an induction heating power supply that outputs an AC voltage, 10 is a control device, and 11 is a sensor that detects that a person is standing in front of the toilet. When a person stands in front of the toilet, the sensor 7 detects the signal and outputs a detection signal to the control device 10. The output from the control device 10 causes the induction heating power supply 6 to supply an alternating current to the heating excitation coil 3. The electromotive force is generated in the heating element 4 by the generated magnetic field. The electromotive force is a voltage, and a current that is inversely proportional to the specific electric resistance flows through the heating element 4, and the heating element 4 is heated by Joule heat at that time. Since the heating element 4 is provided near the surface of the toilet seat, it can be heated in a short time with a small amount of heat, close to the buttocks of a human body when sitting.

The magnetic field H generated by the heating excitation coil 3
Is linked to the heating element 4, a magnetization M and a magnetic flux are generated in the heating element 4. Assuming that the magnetic flux density is B and the magnetic permeability of vacuum is μ ₀ , B = μ ₀ (H + M) holds, and a material in which M is larger than H (that is, B is larger) is called a ferromagnetic material. . The magnitude M / H of the magnetization M with respect to the magnitude of the applied magnetic field H is called a specific susceptibility, and is a unique value determined by the property of the material with respect to the magnetic field. The electromotive force generated in the heating element 4 is proportional to the magnitude of B. To secure a certain amount of heat generation as the heating element 4, B must first be increased, and the heating element 4 is preferably a ferromagnetic substance. ing. on the other hand,
Due to the generated electromotive force, a current that is inversely proportional to the specific electric resistance of the heating element flows through the heating element 4, and the heating element 4 is heated by Joule heat at that time. Therefore, the heating element 4 is suitably made of a semiconductor or a conductor through which a current can flow.

The temperature detecting element 5 detects the temperature of the heating element 4 and uses the output value from the temperature detecting element 5 to control the control device 10.
Controls the induction heating power supply 6 and controls the heating element 4 to an appropriate temperature. As shown in FIG. 3, since the temperature detecting element 5 is in close contact with the heating element by a heat conductor having high thermal conductivity, the heat of the heating element is quickly transmitted to the temperature detecting element 5, and the temperature of the heating element can be more accurately measured. It became possible to measure. Further, since the temperature detecting element 5 is covered with the magnetic shield material 6 made of a ferromagnetic material, the magnetic field generated from the heating excitation coil 3 is shielded. No temperature rise occurs. Further, since the magnetic shield material 6 is an electrically insulating or semiconductor material, the temperature rise due to induction heating of the magnetic shield material 6 itself can be reduced, and accurate temperature measurement that is not affected by the generated magnetic field can be performed. .

The magnetic shielding material 6 includes iron, nickel,
Cobalt, an alloy based thereon, or an oxide-based magnetic material such as ferrite can be used. However, a metal oxide-based magnetic material such as ferrite is preferable as a material that hardly causes induction heating.

The temperature detecting element 5 can be provided on the surface opposite to the heating excitation coil with respect to the heating element or in the vicinity thereof. In this case, since the magnetic field from the heating excitation coil 3 is shielded by the heating element 4, the temperature detecting element 5
This eliminates the need to separately add a magnetic shield material. In addition, when the heating excitation coil is installed in the toilet seat, the temperature detection element is installed on the human body side surface of the heating element, and by measuring a temperature close to the temperature actually felt by the human hips, It also has the effect that comfortable temperature control becomes possible.

The magnetic sensor 8 measures the strength of the magnetic field and corrects the temperature value calculated from the temperature detecting element. An error factor of the temperature detection element is heat generated by induction heating generated by a temperature sensor, a magnetic shield material, or the like, and correction can be performed using a relationship between a generated magnetic field intensity and a generated heat amount which is checked in advance. Further, the difference between the temperature calculated from the temperature detecting element and the temperature actually sensed by the human body has a correlation with the magnetic field strength, and this can be corrected using the magnetic sensor 8. As the magnetic sensor, a sensor using a magnetoresistance effect element, a Hall element, or the like can be used.

Means for detecting that a person uses the toilet include, for example, a method using an infrared light receiving sensor, a method using a pyroelectric sensor, a pressure sensor provided in front of the toilet, and a pressure change due to weight when a person stands in front. Or a method of detecting the opening / closing of the toilet by providing a sw on the door of the toilet. In any method, by detecting that a person uses the toilet and starting heating of the heating toilet seat of the present invention, heating can be performed quickly and only at the time of using the toilet seat, and it is comfortable from the moment of sitting. In addition, it is possible to provide a heating toilet seat that consumes less power, and it is possible to remarkably save energy as compared with the conventional method of always energizing. Further, the timing of stopping the heating may be based on a signal from the means for detecting the use of the toilet by the person, or may be based on a signal from the seating detecting means, or measure the time after detecting the use of the toilet. A timer or the like may be used. In addition, even if it is detected that a person uses the toilet, it may not be seated on the toilet seat. Therefore, the seating detection means and a timer or the like for measuring the time after detecting the use of the toilet may be used together. Further, it is also possible to detect or estimate the temperature in the toilet using a temperature sensor, a sensor for detecting the temperature of the heating toilet seat, or the like, and to prevent heating when the temperature is a certain level or more.

As shown in FIG. 4, the use of the heat storage element 12 makes it possible to temporarily store the heat energy generated from the heating element 4. When a person stands in front of the toilet, the sensor 7 detects that the induction heating power supply 6 starts supplying an alternating current to the heating excitation coil 3, the heating element 4 is heated, and the heat is absorbed by the heat storage element 12. Is done. After the person is seated, the induction heating power supply 6 stops heating and the person sits down, depending on the output from the seating detection means not shown in FIG. 5 or the time since the person stands in front of the toilet. During the operation, the toilet seat can be maintained at an appropriate temperature by the heat generated from the heat storage body 12. In this case, the actual heating time is limited to a short period of time from when a person uses the toilet to when it is detected to use the toilet, and the energy is significantly reduced as compared with the conventional method of always energizing. This has the effect of saving money. As the heat storage, those using sensible heat or those using latent heat can be used, but those using latent heat have a freezing point of 20 ° C to 40 ° C. This is more preferable because the heat generation temperature can be set to a temperature that is comfortable for the human body, and the amount of heat that can be stored can be large, and the heat storage body can be downsized. In addition, when the heating element is covered with the heat storage element, the temperature is made uniform by the heat storage element, so that there is also an effect that fine temperature control of the heating element is not required, and the operation can be performed without using the temperature detecting element. It is. The heat storage material can use an organic substance such as paraffin wax or a fatty acid or an inorganic hydrate salt as a material utilizing latent heat, and water, an organic substance such as ethylene glycol, an inorganic hydrate salt as a material utilizing sensible heat, or the like. Ceramic or the like can be used.

The elastic body 13 shown in FIG. 5 is made of a rubber material, and is provided on at least a part of the surface of the toilet seat or the surface of the toilet lid, and has an effect of absorbing or attenuating the vibration of the toilet seat generated by the induction heating. Conventionally, toilet seats and toilet lids are already provided with a resin that is close to an elastic body, but this is to support the weight of the human body when seated and to absorb the impact of opening and closing the toilet seat and toilet lid. It is not sufficient for the purpose of absorbing and damping vibration during induction heating. As the kind of the rubber material of the elastic body, for example, a rubber material such as silicone resin can be used, and it can be used together with a resin close to a conventional elastic body installed on a toilet seat or a toilet lid.

The induction heating power supply requires an AC power supply, and its frequency and waveform are not particularly limited.
When the magnetic flux density in the heating element is B and the resistivity of the heating element is ρ, the heat generation amount is proportional to B ₂ f ₂ / ρ, so the frequency is determined in consideration of the required heat amount. By placing the heating element as close as possible to the contact part with the human body and reducing the heat capacity of the heating element, the necessary heat generation can be suppressed, or the heating excitation coil and the heating element should be placed as close as possible, and B should be increased. Thus, a commercial frequency can be used as the frequency. When a commercial frequency is used, that is, when a so-called commercial power supply is used, the amount of generated heat can be controlled by turning on and off a voltage waveform by phase control or the like as temperature control. As a result, there is no need to use an expensive high-frequency power supply, and a small and inexpensive induction heating and heating toilet seat can be provided.

[0033]

According to the present invention, the following effects are exhibited by the above configuration. According to the first aspect, since the temperature detecting element having the temperature detecting function is magnetically shielded, the magnetic flux penetrating the temperature detecting element can be reduced, and the induction heating of the temperature detecting element itself can be suppressed, so that accurate temperature measurement can be performed. became.

According to the present invention, the temperature sensing element or its part is covered with a material which is an electrically insulating or semiconductive material and is a ferromagnetic material, thereby suppressing induction heating of the temperature sensing element itself. In addition to the fact that the resistance value of the material having the magnetic shield effect is large, it is possible to suppress the induction heating of the magnetic shield material, and it is possible to measure the temperature accurately.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the temperature detecting element is disposed between the heating element and the heating excitation coil, the wiring to the sensor can be easily routed, and the temperature detecting element can be placed at least on the heating excitation coil side. By providing a magnetic shield material made of a magnetic material, induction heating of the temperature sensing element itself is suppressed and accurate temperature measurement can be performed, and the temperature sensing element and the heating element are brought into close contact with a material having high thermal conductivity. As a result, the temperature of the heating element is immediately transmitted to the temperature detecting element, so that the temperature of the heating element can be accurately and instantaneously measured.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the magnetic flux to the temperature detecting element is magnetically shielded by the heating element by arranging the temperature detecting element on the surface opposite to the heating excitation coil with respect to the heating element or in the vicinity thereof. Induction heating of the temperature sensing element itself can be suppressed, and the temperature can be accurately measured without adding a magnetic shield material to the temperature sensing element.

According to the fifth aspect, by measuring the intensity of the generated magnetic field with a magnetic sensor, it is possible to correct the temperature calculated from the temperature detecting element, thereby improving the accuracy of the temperature measurement.

According to the sixth aspect, means for detecting that a person uses the toilet is provided, and the heating of the heating toilet seat of the present invention is started by the output of the means, so that the heating can be quickly performed only when the toilet is used. As a result, it became possible to provide a comfortable and power-saving heating toilet seat from the moment of sitting.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the addition of the heat storage body makes it possible to convert electric energy into heat energy and store the heat energy, and the material of the heat storage body makes the radiation temperature from the heat storage body comfortable for the human body. It is now possible to select the temperature.

According to the eighth aspect, by adding an elastic body made of a rubber material to at least a part of the surface of the toilet seat or the surface of the toilet lid, it becomes possible to absorb or attenuate the vibration of the toilet seat generated by the induction heating. Was.

According to the ninth aspect, a commercial power source is used as the induction heating power source, so that the power supply unit can be simplified, and a compact and low-cost heating toilet seat can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a top view illustrating a configuration of a heating toilet seat of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating the configuration of the heating toilet seat of the present invention installed on a toilet.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of a temperature detecting element of the heating toilet seat of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view illustrating a configuration using a heat storage body.

FIG. 5 is a configuration example in which an elastic body is added to a heating toilet seat.

FIG. 6 is a side sectional view illustrating a conventionally used heating toilet seat.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... heating toilet seat, 2 ... toilet bowl, 3 ... heating excitation coil, 4 ...
Heating element, 5: temperature detection element, 6: magnetic shield material, 7 ...
Thermal conductor, 8: magnetic sensor, 9: power supply for induction heating, 10
... Control device, 11 ... Sensor for detecting that a person is standing in front of the toilet, 12 ... Heat storage material, 13 ... Elastic body, 14 ... Toilet lid,
15 ... hinge, 31 ... toilet seat, 32 ... heater, 33 ... toilet bowl, 34 ... hinge, 35 ... power supply line

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Hiroshi Okano 2-1-1 Nakajima, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An induction heating power supply for outputting an AC voltage,
From a heating excitation coil that generates a magnetic field by a current from the induction heating power supply, a heating element that generates heat by an induction current induced by a magnetic field generated from the heating excitation coil, and a temperature detection element having a temperature detection function A heating toilet seat, comprising: a temperature sensing element which is magnetically shielded. 2. The magnetic shield according to claim 1, wherein a periphery or a part of the temperature sensing element is magnetically shielded by being covered with a material that is an electrically insulating or semiconductive and ferromagnetic material. Heating toilet seat as described. 3. A temperature detecting element is provided between a heating element and a heating exciting coil, and a magnetic shield material made of a ferromagnetic material is disposed at least on the heating exciting coil side of the temperature detecting element. The heating toilet seat according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sensing element and the heating element are closely contacted with a material having high thermal conductivity. 4. The heating toilet seat according to claim 1, wherein the temperature detecting element is disposed on a surface of the heating element opposite to the surface opposite to the heating excitation coil or in the vicinity thereof. 5. The heating toilet seat according to claim 1, further comprising a magnetic sensor having a magnetic detection function. 6. The heating toilet seat according to claim 1, further comprising means for detecting that a person uses the toilet, and heating of the heating toilet seat by the output of the means. 7. The heating toilet seat according to claim 1, further comprising a heat storage element for absorbing and storing heat from the heat generating element. 8. The heating toilet seat according to claim 1, wherein an elastic body made of a rubber material is added to at least a part of the surface of the toilet seat or the surface of the toilet lid. 9. The heating toilet seat according to claim 1, wherein a commercial power supply is used as the induction heating power supply.