JPS61141334A - Electric pot - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] This invention relates to an electric kettle that can display the time it takes to boil water.

C. Prior Art] In recent years, electric water kettles C (hereinafter simply referred to as pots) having a heat-retaining structure have been well received in the market.

Most pots of this type automatically turn on when the water is boiling, and have lamps or other indicators to indicate whether the water is being boiled or kept warm.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

By the way, sometimes we can't wait for the water to boil, and in such cases, it seems like it takes a very long time for the water to boil. For this reason, there has been a strong demand from users for the above-mentioned nine pots to be able to tell how long it takes for the hot water to boil.

In view of the above circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide a pot that can display the time it takes for hot water to boil.

Means for Solving Problem c] In order to achieve the above object, this invention detects the water temperature several times in the initial stage of water heating and calculates the rate of increase in water temperature, or when the power is turned on. By detecting the water temperature and water volume and determining the amount of heat required to boil the water, the estimated time until the water boils is calculated, and this estimated time is displayed. At the same time, a timer is started, and the The display of the predicted time is changed based on the time measurement result of the timer.

〔Example〕

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

FIG. 1 shows the first I! of this invention! FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a pot according to example m. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a metal outer cylinder, and a bottom plate 2 is integrally provided at the lower end of this outer cylinder l. A central part of the bottom plate 2 (in which a recess 2a is formed, and a thermistor 3 is installed in the recess 2a) is installed. Also, a bottom member 4 is installed in the bottom plate 2. A circuit box 5 is provided inside the bottom member 4. A plug receiving portion 6 is also provided in the bottom member 4.

An inner cylinder (C) 7 having a bottom is provided inside the outer cylinder (1). The inner cylinder 7 has an upper end having a smaller diameter than its body and is connected to the upper end of the outer cylinder l by a shoulder part 8, and a bottom part connected to the bottom plate 2 of the outer cylinder l. , a vacuum layer 9 is formed between the outer cylinder l and the inner cylinder 7. Inside the inner cylinder 7, a heater lO is installed in a watertight manner at the bottom of the inner cylinder 7 so as to be able to directly boil the water in the inner cylinder 7.

A thermostat 11 is provided in the center of the heater 10.The operating temperature of this thermostat 11 is approximately equal to the boiling point of water, and when the water temperature is below this temperature, the heater 10 is energized, but when the water temperature exceeds this temperature, the heater 10 is energized. So that the power is cut off.
It's happening.

A lower opening member 12 is attached above the outer cylinder l, the inner cylinder 7, and the shoulder portion 8, and this lower opening member 12ζ moss cylinder 7,),).
□. □, 64o□. , 31□waa 1. A plug body 15 is inserted into this opening 13 through a plug packing 14 in an airtight manner.
This is attached. The plug body 15 is provided with a water passage 16 and a ventilation passage 17. In addition, a pumping pipe 18 is provided in the plug body 15 in a downwardly extending manner.
8 communicates with one end of the two water passages 16. Canal 16
The other end communicates with a water supply mechanism 19 provided at the upper part of the stopper 15, and the water stop mechanism 19 communicates with a water injection pipe 20. As a result, the water pumping port 18a at the tip of the water pumping pipe 18 is
It communicates with a spout 20a at the tip of the water injection pipe 20.

An upper mouth member 21 and a lid body 22 are provided along the lower mouth member 12, and an air pump 23 is incorporated in the lid body 22. This air pump 23 is airtightly communicated with the ventilation passage 17, and by pushing the pusher body 24 at the upper part, the hot water in the inner cylinder 7 is pumped through the pumping pipe 18, the water passage 16, the water stop mechanism '19,
Water can be poured from the spout 2Qa through the water injection pipe 20. There is a steam release hole 25 in the pusher body 24.
The steam generated when the hot water in the cylinder 7 is boiled is energized through the ventilation passage 25 and the air pump 23, and released through the steam release hole 25 to the outside.

A display board 26 is attached to the bottom of such a pot to display the time required for the water to boil. As shown in FIG.
and a heat-retaining light 31 are provided on the left and right, respectively, and a display section 32 is provided between the kettle lamp 30 and the heat-retaining light 31.

This display section 32 consists of 10 indicator lights 33 to 42 arranged in vertical rows. The time scale is marked, and these indicator lights 33 to 42 are lit! li indicates the time it takes for the water to boil. In other words, with all the lights on, the water is boiling (time at t is 1)
The lights turn off sequentially starting from the top, indicating that the time for the water to boil is approaching as the water temperature rises.

Next, FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing the electrical configuration of the same pocket, and the same parts as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are given the same reference numerals. In this figure, a thermostat (thermostat) 11 is connected in series with the heater 10, and the heater 1
'Oj' is connected in series with 9 water heaters 30 and 5 resistors.
0 and the primary coil of a transformer 51 are connected in parallel, and a thermostat 11) is connected in series, with a heat-retaining lamp 31 and a resistor 52 connected in parallel. In this case, the water boiler lamp 30 and the heat retaining lamp 31 are both made of neon lamps, and the resistors 50 and 52 are set to 40Ω.
It has a relatively large resistance value.

On the other hand, a rectifier circuit 53 is connected to the secondary coil of the transformer 51, and the current converted to direct current by the rectifier circuit 53 is supplied to a control section 54. The control section 54 controls the lighting of the large display section 32 as described above based on the detection result of the detection section 55.

Next, FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the detection section 55, the control section 54, and the display section 32. The detection unit 55 includes nine thermistors 3 and resistors 60 connected in series, and the thermistors 3 and resistors 604 are supplied with DC current.

The resistance of the thermistor 3 changes depending on the water temperature, and as a result, the voltage across the thermistor 3 changes as the water temperature changes.

t7'h, the indicator lights 33 to 42 of the display section 32 are respectively LE
D (light emitting diode). The control section 54 consists of a controller 61 and a timer 62. The controller 62 consists of an A/D (analog/digital) converter, an arithmetic unit, an output board, and the like. The controller 61 controls the lighting of the indicator lights 33 to 42 based on the voltage across the thermistor 3 and the time value of the tie f62 supplied from the detection unit 55 to display the time until the water boils.

The operation of the pot having the above configuration will be explained. When a user supplies water into the inner cylinder 7 and inserts a plug into the plug receiving part 6, an alternating current is supplied to the heater 10 through the thermostat, and the heater 10 generates heat. At the same time, water boiler light 30 is lit at JlclC, G construction. 51□, Aya. A53, 4.1・Current is supplied. As a result, as soon as the plug is inserted, direct current is output from the rectifier circuit 53 and the controller 61 starts operating. The controller 61 first calculates the expected time until the water boils. The process of calculating this expected time will be described below. FIG. 5 is a graph showing changes in water temperature over time, with the vertical axis representing water temperature and the horizontal axis representing time. Immediately after the plug is inserted, the controller 61 reads the voltage across the thermistor 3 at time t=o), and determines the water temperature from this voltage value. Let us assume that the water temperature at this time is So. Then,
The controller 61 operates the timer 62 at a predetermined time.

Wait for the period to pass. If the predetermined time T1 has elapsed and it is 9, the controller 61 returns to the server 3 at time C11).
Read the voltage across the water and determine the water temperature.

Suppose that the water temperature at this time was 81°C. The controller 61 generates a temperature rise αS from So, Sl and T,
-SO'=7' is determined, and the time required for the water to boil is calculated from this temperature increase rate α. That is, the inside of the cylinder 7 has excellent heat retention of 1, and the amount of heat emitted from the heater 10 is
Since it is always constant, the temperature of the water in the cylinder 7 should rise approximately linearly. Therefore, the time T2 until the water boils can be easily calculated. Next, Controller 61 c. One of the indicator lights 33 to 42 is set for 90 seconds, and the number of indicator lights corresponding to T2 is turned on from below. The simultaneous controller 61 restarts the timer 62 and starts timing from 0. Then, every 90 seconds, the lit indicator lights 33 to 42 are sequentially turned off from the top. After the expected time has elapsed, all of the indicator lights 33 to 42 go out. On the other hand, when the water is boiled, the thermostat 11 is turned off. Then, the alternating current is supplied to the heat-retaining lamp 31 and the resistor 52, and the heat-retaining light 31 lights up, and the current is reduced by the resistor 52 to become a minute current.As a result, the heater 10 generates heat. stops, the kettle light 30 goes out, and at the same time, the current supplied to the primary coil of the transformer 51 becomes approximately zero.

In this way, the user can know how long it will take for the water to boil, depending on the lighting status of the indicator lights 33 to 420.

Next, FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a detection section 70, a control section 71, and a display section 32 provided in a pot according to a second practical example of the present invention. This second embodiment is the eleventh example mentioned above!
The difference from the embodiment is that the detection unit 70 is provided with a load converter 72 in addition to the temperature detector using the thermistor 3. This load converter 72 is attached to an appropriate location on the bottom surface of the inner cylinder 7 and detects the amount of water being supplied to the inner cylinder 7. Immediately after the plug is inserted, the controller 73 detects the voltage across the thermistor 3 and determines the water temperature. Next, the amount of water is determined from the output of the load converter 72, and from these water temperature and amount, the amount of heat required to boil the water supplied to the inner cylinder 7 is calculated, and this amount of heat is calculated per unit time of the heater lO. Divide by the calorific value of the water to find the estimated time it will take for the water to boil. Hereinafter, in the same manner as in the first embodiment described above, the controller 73 controls the lighting of the indicator lights 33 to 42, so that the user can know the time until the water boils.

In addition, in the embodiment of the present invention, the expected time until water is heated or boiled is calculated from the water temperature and water volume. It is also possible to calculate the estimated time and display this estimated time at the same time as the power is turned on. In this case,
No detection part is required.

Further, in the practical example of the present invention, a thermistor is used, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it goes without saying that other materials such as a thermocouple, a temperature sensing resistor, a temperature sensing reed switch, etc. may also be used.

In addition, in the embodiment of the present invention, L'ED is used, but this is not limited to this, and for example, when there is a limit on power consumption, a liquid crystal display, mechanical means such as a pointer due to the design, etc.
Of course, an EL element or the like may also be used.

[Invention 0 effect]
As explained above, according to the present invention, the estimated time until the water boils is calculated from the water temperature and the amount of water, and this estimated time is displayed, and the estimated time is displayed as time passes. This allows the user to know how long it will take for the water to boil, and eliminates the discomfort of having to wait without knowing when the water will boil.

You can also do other tasks while the water is boiling.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the structure of an electric kettle according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view showing the appearance of the display board, and FIG. 3 is a circuit showing the electrical configuration of the pot. 4 is a block diagram showing the detection section 55, control section 54 and display section 32 of the pot, FIG. 5 is a graph for explaining the operation of the pot, and FIG. Second
Detection unit 7 provided in the electric water kettle according to the embodiment
0 is a block diagram showing a control section 71 and a display section 32. FIG. 32...Display section C display means), 61.73...
... Controller C calculation means, display control means), 6
2...Timer C clocking means), 55.70...
...detection section (detection means). Figure 1゛ゝ32

Claims (1)

[Claims] An electric kettle that automatically switches from a boiling state to a keeping warm state when the water temperature reaches a predetermined temperature includes a detection means for detecting the water temperature or the water temperature and the amount of water; a calculation means for calculating an expected time until the water temperature reaches the predetermined temperature based on the above-mentioned information; a timekeeping means for measuring the elapsed time after the expected time is calculated by the calculation means; An electric water kettle characterized by comprising: a display means for displaying the predicted time; and a display control means for changing the display of the predicted time based on the elapsed time.