JPS63108149A - Automatic bath device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform a boiling-up operation within a short period of time by a method wherein when there remains hot water and its temperature is lower than a desired temperature, a hot water feeding is performed and at the same time when the water shows a level capable of performing an additional heating, both hot water feeding and additional heating are simultaneously carried out and when there remains no hot water, a feeding of hot water at a low temperature is carried out and the feeding of hot water at a low temperature and additional heating are simultaneously performed at a level capable of additional heating. CONSTITUTION:Under a condition where there remains no hot water, an ignition instruction signal 40 for a hot water heater 2 is generated, an adjusting signal 42 is supplied to a hot water and cold water mixing plug 7 and then a hot water feeding at temperature slightly lower than a desired temperature is started. When water has reached such a level as additional heating can be performed, a control unit 18 may generate an ignition instruction and ignite an additional heating unit 4. When there remains hot water and its temperature is higher than a desired temperature, a hot water and cold water mixing plug 7 is fully closed in response to an adjusting signal 42 without instructing any ignition for a hot water heater 2. When water has reached a desired water level, a water feeding is stopped and if its temperature is not at a desired boiling temperature in response to a sensing signal 32 of a hot water sensor 16, the additional boiling is started.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an automatic bath device that automatically controls the water level and temperature of a bathtub to raise the bath water by 8 degrees, and particularly relates to This invention relates to an automatic bath device that takes management into account.

(Prior art) According to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 58-75880, etc., the amount and temperature of hot water in a bathtub are detected by a water level detector and a hot water temperature detector, respectively, and boiling is achieved at a target amount and temperature of hot water. An automatic bath device is known.

According to the automatic operation mode of this type of equipment, each sequence of water supply, water supply stop, burner ignition, and burner stop is automatically controlled]! ! ! It cleans the bathtub, but it only boils the water in the bathtub. On the other hand, some bathtubs supply hot water at a predetermined temperature to a bathtub using a water heater and a hot/cold mixer tap. That is, the amount and temperature of hot water in the bathtub are detected by a water level detector and a hot water temperature detector, respectively, and the water heater and hot water mixer faucet having a main unit and reheating unit are operated via the control unit, and the preset amount of hot water is set. And purification is achieved at the set water temperature.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, with any of the conventional devices, water supply and subsequent reheating are performed regardless of whether there is remaining hot water (the amount of hot water is small and the hot water temperature is low). However, since heating was always performed from a low temperature, it took a long time to reach the temperature of 8.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an automatic bath device that can determine the presence of remaining hot water and achieve bathing in the shortest possible time, whether or not there is remaining hot water.

(Means and effects for solving the problem) In order to achieve this object, according to the present invention, the amount and temperature of hot water in the bathtub (1) are measured by a water level detector (15) and a hot water temperature detector (1), respectively.
Detected by B), the water heater (2) having the main unit (3) and the reheating unit (4) and the hot water mixer faucet (7) are operated via the control 22) (1B). In an automatic bath device that is configured to raise the water level at a set amount of hot water and a set water temperature, the water level detector (1B)
5) and the water temperature detector (16) detect the presence or absence of remaining hot water and the water temperature, and if there is remaining hot water and the remaining hot water is lower than the set temperature, the hot water supply II! (2) and the hot water mixer tap (
7) to supply high-temperature hot water, and when the water level is above the water level that allows reheating, a command is issued to proceed with the high-temperature hot water supply and reheating at the same time, and when there is no hot water remaining, the water heater (2) and the hot water mixer A tap (7) is used to supply hot water at a low temperature slightly lower than the set hot water temperature, and a command is given to simultaneously proceed with the low-temperature hot water supply and reheating at a water level above which reheating is possible.

According to this configuration, the water heater makes full use of the function of the device that supplies hot water via the hot water mixer faucet, changes the control depending on whether there is hot water left or not, and minimizes the time required to fill the water. A suitable control sequence can be selected.

(Embodiments of the Invention) The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the same reference numerals in each drawing indicate similar objects.

FIG. 1 is a system diagram of an automatic bath system according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which (1) is a bathtub, (2) is a water heater, and (3) is a main unit that constitutes the water heater (2). ,(4)
is a reheating unit (4) that constitutes a water heater (2) together with a main unit (3). The main unit (3) is equipped with a heat exchanger (3a) and a burner (3b), and similarly The reheating unit (4) includes a heat exchanger (4a) and a burner (4b).
It is equipped with Gas is supplied to the burners (3b) and (4b) of each unit (3) and (4) through the gas pipe (5) and ignited. Burner (3b), (a
The ignition command to b) is given by the control 22) (18)
Sent by 3 with the heat exchanger of the main unit (3)
a) Water distribution'! ? Water is supplied from the water supply side (6a) of (8) and heated, and hot water comes out from the hot water supply side (6a).
) are all connected to the hot and cold water mixing faucet (7), and the bathtub (1) is connected to the hot and cold water mixing faucet (7) and the hot water supply piping (8).
Hot water is supplied to The hot water mixing faucet (7) is configured to set a desired temperature, detect this set temperature with a temperature sensor (7a) such as a thermistor, and mix hot water and water at a predetermined ratio to obtain the desired temperature. , motor (7b
) to open and close the hot water side valve and water side valve in conjunction with each other. Temperature detector (7a) of such hot water mixer faucet (7)
) and motor (7b) are driven by a control unit (
1B) is executed by the command.

The heat exchanger (4a) of the reheating unit (4) has piping (9
) circulates the hot water in the bathtub (1). This bathtub (1)
The hot water is circulated by a circulation pump (1) installed in the middle of the piping (9).
0), that is, the piping (9) is connected to the bathtub (1).
A circulation path is constituted by an outgoing path from the heat exchanger (4a) to the heat exchanger (4a) of the reheating unit (4) via the pump (10), and a return path from the heat exchanger (4a) to the bathtub (1). There is. The outbound path of this circulation path (8) branches midway, allowing hot water to be supplied to the floor heating unit (20) via a three-way valve (19). The three-way valve (19) circulates the hot water in the bathtub (1) to the reheating unit (4) through the normal reheating circulation path (9) when it is off, and circulates the hot water in the bathtub (1) to the reheating unit (4) when it is on. ) The hot water from the bathtub (1) is bypassed to the piping of the bathtub (1) and circulated to the reheating unit (4).

The control unit (18) receives a temperature signal (30) of the hot water passing through the hot water mixing faucet (7), a water level signal (31) of the bathtub (1) from the water level detector (15), and a hot water temperature detector (1B).
It operates using the water temperature signal (32) in the bathtub (1) and the operation signal (33) of the operation panel (17) as input data, and the ignition command signal (4
0), (41).

Drive command signal (4) for the motor (7b) of the hot water mixing faucet (7)
2), a drive signal (43) for the circulation pump (10), a drive signal (44) for the three-way valve (19), etc. are sent out at predetermined timing. In addition, the operation panel (17) is installed outside the bathroom, inside the bathroom, or both.
For example, there is a power switch, automatic operation button, hot water temperature setting button, floor heating activation button, etc. (all not shown).
Encourage specific actions.

FIG. 2 shows the contents of the control unit (18), and the present invention will be described in detail with reference to this. Note that in the following description, the symbols (50) to (78) correspond to the numbers of each block in FIG. Also, for example (5
Codes such as (3y) and (53n) are determined by the decision block (
53) are respectively positive and negative.

First, turn on the power switch on the operation panel (17), set the desired water temperature, and then press the automatic operation button to start the system (50). Therefore, the control unit (18) Set the registers and memory to the initial state (51), and import data from various detectors (52).After this, based on the output detection signal (31) of the water level detector (15), the presence or absence of remaining hot water is determined. Judgment, bathtub (1
) is necessary to supply the entire amount up to a predetermined water level (51), and if the entire amount is required (51y), the control unit 7 executes a routine to start hot water supply with no remaining hot water (51). 18) is selected, generates a command signal (40) to ignite the main unit (3) of the hot water supply m (2), and also supplies an adjustment signal (42) to the hot water mixing faucet (7) to raise the water temperature slightly higher than the set water temperature. Start hot water supply at a low temperature (54), and also determine whether the water level in the bathtub (1) is at a water level that allows reheating, and keep the hot water temperature lower than the set water temperature until the water level of the bathtub reaches a level that allows reheating. Continue the slightly lower temperature hot water supply (54) (55!
1) When the water level of the bathtub reaches a water level that allows reheating (55y), the control unit (18) generates an ignition command signal (41) to ignite the reheating unit (4) to start reheating. After generating the reheat command signal (41) to start (5B), the control unit (18) detects when the water level in the bathtub (1) reaches the set water level based on the detection signal (31) of the water level detector (15). If the set water level has been reached (57y), the hot water supply will be stopped (65), and if the set water level has not been reached (57n), the water temperature will be kept at a low temperature slightly lower than the set water temperature until the set water level is reached (57). Continue hot water supply (54) and repeat the steps up to now. If there is remaining hot water, the judgment on whether to request the full amount of hot water supply will be negative (53n), so control second knee 7) (18) is Step (60
) to select another routine to start with. That is, first, it is determined whether the temperature of the remaining hot water is lower than the predetermined set temperature (BO), and if the temperature is below the set temperature (eoy), the main unit (3) of the three hot water supply units (2) It generates a command signal (40) to ignite the
Supply g1 node signal (42) and start hot water supply at high temperature (
6t), and also determines whether the water level in the bathtub (1) is at a water level that allows reheating (E12), and continues high-temperature hot water supply (61) until the water level of the bathtub reaches a water level that allows reheating (82n). When the water level of the bathtub reaches a water level that allows reheating (62y), the control unit (18) generates an ignition command signal (41) to ignite the reheat unit (4) and start reheating. (63), refiring command signal (41)
After generating the water level detector (18), the control unit (18)
Based on the detection signal (31) in step 5), it is determined whether the water level in the bathtub has reached the set water level ((4), if it has reached the set water level (θ4, stop the hot water supply 85), set If the water level has not been reached (84n), high temperature hot water supply (81) is continued until the set water level is reached, and the previous steps are repeated.

If there is remaining hot water and its temperature is higher than the predetermined temperature (80n), the control signal (42) is supplied to the hot water mixing faucet (7) without instructing the water heater (2) to ignite. Fully close the mixer faucet (7) and start water supply (70), the water supply (70) will continue until the set water level 71), and when the set water level is reached, the water supply will be stopped (72), after which the hot water supply will start. Based on the detection signal (32) of the temperature detector (16), it is determined whether the water temperature in the bathtub (1) is higher than the set temperature 73)
If the set temperature is not reached (73n), reheating is started (74).

After this, common to all the routines up to now, it is determined whether the bathtub temperature has reached the cleansing temperature (75) and the reheating is stopped (76), or if the boiling temperature has subsequently decreased (
At 77y), reheating processing (78) is performed to maintain the boiling temperature.

3 to 5 schematically show the operation of such an embodiment. Figure 3 shows step (53) in Figure 2.
Corresponding to (57), if there is no remaining hot water, hot water supply will start at a temperature slightly lower than the set hot water temperature. a) After the amount of hot water exceeds the water level that allows reheating, reheating will proceed simultaneously with hot water supply. (b) to achieve boiling at the desired temperature. in particular.

According to this example, it took approximately 12 minutes to fill the bathtub (1) with 180 liters of hot water at 42° C. from an almost empty state. Figure 4 corresponds to steps (80) to (64) in Figure 2, and if there is a considerable amount of lukewarm water (a), high-temperature hot water supply and reheating are performed simultaneously (b). Specifically, 130 liters of remaining hot water at 20℃
It took approximately 16 minutes according to this example to reach 0 liters and 42°C. Figure 5 shows the step (70) in Figure 2.
) to (72), and if there is a considerable amount of hot water, (
a), Lower the water temperature by supplying water to the desired temperature (b)
), such a serious condition occurs when the person who previously took a bath feels that the temperature setting is high and changes the temperature setting to a lower temperature side.

Although the operation of the floor heating unit (20) was not explained in the above embodiment, the determination of the set water level (57, 84,
After step 71), a stay 2 can be added that determines whether a floor heating switch (not shown) is in the on state and switches the three-way valve (19) to the floor heating unit (20) side.

In this example, the heat source has been described as a water heater, but
It goes without saying that the object of the present invention is not limited to this, and the object of the present invention can also be achieved by using other heat sources such as a heat pump.

(Effects of the Invention) According to the present invention, by determining the presence or absence of remaining hot water as described above and changing the control content by the control unit / ), the system functions to supply hot water via the hot water mixer faucet by the water heater. It is possible to obtain an automatic bath device that can be utilized for rapid boiling under any conditions.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a system diagram of an automatic bath equipment according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the main part configuration and operation of the automatic bath equipment according to an embodiment of the invention, and FIG.
5 through 5 are explanatory diagrams of the operation of the automatic bath equipment according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the drawing, (1) is the bathtub, (2) is the supply/Igj machine, (3) is the main unit, (4) is the reheating unit, (7)
(15) is a water level detector, (1B) is a hot water temperature detector, (17) is an operation panel, and (18) is a control unit. (18) is a three-way valve, and (20) is a floor heating unit. Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] The amount and temperature of hot water in the bathtub are detected by a water level detector and a hot water temperature detector, respectively, and a water heater and a hot water mixing faucet having a main unit and a reheating unit are operated via a control unit. In an automatic bath device that achieves boiling at a predetermined set amount of hot water and set water temperature, the control unit detects the presence or absence of remaining hot water and the temperature of the hot water using the water level detector and the hot water temperature detector, and detects the remaining hot water. When there is hot water and the temperature is lower than the set temperature, the hot water supply machine and the hot water mixer tap supply high-temperature hot water, and when the water level is above the water level that allows reheating, the high-temperature hot water supply and reheating are instructed to proceed at the same time. If there is no hot water remaining, the water heater and the hot water mixer tap supply hot water at a low temperature that is slightly lower than the set water temperature, and at a water level above which reheating is possible, the low temperature hot water supply and reheating are instructed to proceed at the same time. An automatic bath device characterized by: