JPS63153353A - Automatic bath device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a device capable of taking a bath without necessitating complicated operations, by a method wherein the temperature of hot-water in a bathtub is kept lower than a set temperature before taking the bath while the hot-water temperature is returned to the set temperature automatically when a given time has elapsed after taking the bath. CONSTITUTION:A set temperature Tb in a low temperature setting unit 12 is set so as to be lower than the value Ta of a hot-water temperature setting unit 9 by 2-3 deg.C. A hot-water temperature changing unit 13 selects normally the set temperature Tb of the low temperature setting unit 12 while the set temperature Tb is compared with the temperature Ts of a hot-water temperature sensor 7 by a comparator 10 to control the driving of a control valve 2. When a bathing signal F is inputted from a bathing deciding unit 14 in this case, a timer 15 begins its counting The timer 15 outputs a signal to the hot-water temperature changing unit 13 when a predetermined period of time (tc) has elapsed and whereby the hot-water temperature changing unit 13 switches the set temperature Tb into the set temperature Ta of the hot-water temperature setting unit 9, thereafter, the driving of the control valve 2 is controlled so that the detected temperature of a hot-water temperature sensor 7 shows the set hot-water temperature Ta. When a non-bathing signal E is inputted from the bathing deciding unit 14, the timer 15 is initialized, the set value of the hot-water temperature changing unit 13 is returned to the set value Tb of a low temperature setting unit 12 and the title device waits for next bathing.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic bath device that controls the temperature of water in a bathtub to be constant.

Conventional I) In recent years, automatic bath equipment has begun to appear on the market, and those with various functions such as automatic hot water filling, automatic boiling, and automatic reheating are now on the market.

FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of a conventional gas automatic bath system having an automatic reheating function.

The gas passes through the control valve 2 from the inlet 1 and is combusted in the burner 3.

Combustion heat of the burner 3 is heat exchanged by a heat exchanger 6 in which hot water in a bathtub 5 is circulated by a pump 4 to heat the hot water.

The temperature of the water at the outlet of the bathtub 5 is detected by a water temperature sensor 7 and input to the water temperature control section 8 .

The hot water temperature control unit 8 compares the hot water temperature of the hot water temperature sensor 7 and the preset value of the hot water temperature setting unit 9 using a ratio 10, and the temperature difference is amplified by an amplifier 11 to drive the control valve 2. Control.

Now, assuming that the control valve 2 uses a gas proportional control valve that continuously varies the gas flow rate, when the temperature of the hot water temperature sensor 7 is lower than the value of the hot water temperature setting section 9, the control valve 2 will increase the gas flow rate. flows, and the amount of combustion in the burner 3 increases. Water temperature sensor 7
As the temperature approaches the value of the hot water temperature setting section 9, the combustion amount decreases, and when it becomes equal to the hot water temperature setting value, the burner 3 is extinguished. When the temperature of the water in the bathtub s decreases due to bathing, the burner 3 starts combustion again. As described above, the hot water temperature control unit 8 drives and controls the control valve 2 so that the hot water temperature in the bathtub 5 always maintains the hot water temperature setting @i9, thereby preventing over-boiling or over-cooling.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, with the above-mentioned conventional configuration, the temperature of the water is always kept constant, so it seems that bathing can be done comfortably.

However, when actually taking a bath, it cannot be said that a constant water temperature is necessarily comfortable. For example, everyone has experienced the fact that when you take a bath in winter, you feel very hot at first because your body is cold, and when you fill your bath with water, it becomes lukewarm as your body warms up. For this reason, in the above-mentioned conventional automatic bath, it is necessary to set the value of the water temperature setting part 9 to a low value before taking a bath, and to switch the value of the water temperature setting part 9 to a high value after a period of time has passed after taking a bath. However, the problem was that it was complicated and difficult to take a comfortable bath.

In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides an automatic bathing device that allows bathing without requiring complicated operations.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the automatic bathing device of the present invention includes a bathing determination section that determines whether a person is taking a bath or not, and a bathing determination section that determines whether a person is taking a bath or not. A low temperature setting section that switches the hot water temperature setting value to a set value that is a certain lower temperature when determining that the bath is not taking a bath, and a timer that measures the time when the bathing judgment section judges that the bath is being taken.
The water temperature changing part is configured to change the water temperature so that the water temperature becomes the set water temperature determined by the water temperature setting part after the timer has counted a predetermined time.

(According to the above configuration), the water temperature is maintained at a lower temperature than the set water temperature when no one is taking a bath, returns to the set water temperature after a certain period of time after bathing, and maintains the set water temperature thereafter. It has the effect of controlling the

EXAMPLE Hereinafter, an example of the automatic bath apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is an example of an application to an automatic gas bath system, and parts with the same functions as those in Figure 6 are marked with the same numbers.

The low temperature setting section 12 is 2 to 3 degrees Celsius higher than the value Ta of the hot water temperature setting section 9.
The temperature is set at a low temperature Tb. For example, when the value Ta of the hot water temperature setting section 9 is 4Q.degree. C., rb is 36.degree. C. in the low temperature setting section. The hot water temperature changing section 13 normally selects the set temperature Tb of the low temperature setting section 12, and compares it with the temperature T8 of the hot water temperature sensor 7 using the comparator 10 to drive and control the control valve 2.

Here, when the bathing signal F is input from the bathing determining section 14, the timer 15 starts counting. When the timer 15 has elapsed for a predetermined time ia (for example, 3 to 5 minutes), it outputs a signal to the hot water temperature changing unit 13, which causes the hot water temperature changing unit 13 to change to the set temperature Ta of the hot water temperature setting unit 9. After switching, the control valve 2 is driven and controlled so that the hot water temperature sensor 7 reaches the set hot water temperature Ta. When the non-input signal E is input from the bathing determining section 14, the timer 15 is initialized, the hot water temperature changing section 13 returns to the set value Tb of the low temperature setting section 12, and waits for the next bath.

The above operation is shown in the form of a time chart in FIG. It can be seen that the hot water temperature setting value switches to Ta when time ta has elapsed after the start of bathing.

FIG. 3 shows a flowchart when the hot water temperature control section 8 is configured with a microcomputer. In FIG. 3, numbers are marked next to the flow of the part corresponding to FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment, and the operation of the hot water temperature changing section 13 is different from that in FIG. 2. In this example, at the same time as the bathing signal F is input, the hot water temperature setting value increases from the setting value Tb of the low/temperature setting section 12 toward the setting value Ta, and the water temperature gradually increases until the time ta of the timer 15 elapses. The structure is such that changes are made. As a result, the temperature of the water in the bathtub 5 changes continuously, so that the bather does not feel uncomfortable when the temperature of the water changes. timer 15 time t
Although a has been described as a constant time, it may be variable according to preference, or may be configured to be variable depending on the bathroom temperature or outside air temperature.

The bathing determination unit 14 may have various configurations. The simplest configuration is one in which the bather manually turns on the switch before bathing and turns it off after bathing.

This manual switch can also be used as another switch, for example, it can be linked with a bathroom light switch.

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the bathing determination section 14.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a main part of the bathtub 5, in which an ultrasonic oscillator 16 and a receiver 17 are arranged facing the hot water surface W.

The ultrasonic oscillator 16 is driven by an oscillation circuit 18, and the ultrasonic waves reflected from the hot water surface W are inputted from the receiver 17 to the receiving circuit 19. A fluctuation detection circuit 20 detects fluctuations in the hot water level W from the reflected signal of the receiving circuit 19. When a person takes a bath, the hot water surface W fluctuates, and the receiver 17 can detect the fluctuation of the hot water surface.

Therefore, when the bath water surface W fluctuates, it is assumed that the bath is in progress and the bathing signal F is output. When the bather is not taking a bath, there is no fluctuation in the water level, and the detection circuit 20 determines that the bather is not taking a bath and outputs an output E if the fluctuation does not continue for a certain period of time or more.

According to this configuration, the determination of bathing or non-bathing is automatically made, and the bather does not need to perform the same operation.

Furthermore, since ultrasonic waves are emitted to the hot water surface, it is possible to measure the distance to the hot water surface W, and it is also easy to determine the amount of hot water and automatically add hot water.

In the embodiment, an automatic bath having a configuration in which hot water is forcedly circulated by the pump 4 has been described, but a natural circulation type bath pot may also be used. Furthermore, the location of the hot water temperature sensor 7 may be any configuration that can directly or indirectly measure the water temperature in the bathtub 5, and is not limited to the location shown in FIG. Furthermore, in the embodiment, the control valve 2 was explained using a Ganu automatic bath using a gas proportional control valve, but it is also possible to control the water temperature to a constant level by turning on and extinguishing the burner 3 using an on-off valve. For example, a similar effect can be obtained even with a bathtub using kerosene or the like. In this case, the control valve 2 becomes an oil supply pump.

As described in detail, the automatic bathing device of the present invention has the following effects.

(1) The temperature is kept lower than the set temperature before taking a bath, and automatically returns to the set temperature after a certain period of time after bathing, so when the body gets cold in winter, it gets hot at the beginning of the bath, and after the body warms up, it becomes lukewarm. There is no discomfort and it is comfortable. It's also good for your health because you don't have to suddenly take a hot bath.

(2) Since the temperature is set at a low temperature when the bath is not being taken, even when the time interval between baths is long and the bath is being cooled down, the fuel consumption of the warming reservoir is low, resulting in energy savings.

(3) Since the water temperature settings are all automatically changed, there is no need to change the temperature setting during bathing, so even elderly people can bathe with peace of mind.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the automatic bath device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a time chart illustrating the operation of the automatic bath device, and FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating the operation of the hot water temperature control section. FIG. 4 is a time chart showing the operation of another embodiment, FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the doujin bath determining section, and FIG. 6 is a block diagram explaining a conventional example. a... Burner, 5... Bathtub, 6...
...Heat exchanger, 7...Water temperature sensor, 8...
...Hot water temperature control section, 9...Hot water temperature setting value, 12
. . . Low temperature setting section, 13 . . . Hot water temperature changing section, 14 . . . Bathing judgment section, 15 . . . Timer, T. ...Predetermined hot water temperature setting value, Tb...
・・A set value that is a certain temperature lower than the hot water temperature set value, to...
...a predetermined time. Name of agent: Patent attorney Toshio Nakao and 1 other person12
Figure 3ffl Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 74 Warm class friend section

Claims (1)

[Claims] A burner that burns fuel, a heat exchanger that heats hot water in the bathtub using the combustion heat of the burner, and a heat exchanger that heats hot water in the bathtub using the combustion heat of the burner, and a heat exchanger that heats the hot water so that the hot water temperature reaches a predetermined set value based on a signal from a hot water temperature sensor that detects the hot water temperature. a bathing determination section that determines whether a person is taking a bath; and a bathing determination section that determines whether a person is taking a bath; a low-temperature setting section that switches the temperature to a set value that is a certain temperature lower than the set value of the bath water that has been set, a timer that starts measuring time when the signal from the bathing determination section starts bathing, and a timer that starts measuring the water temperature after a predetermined time. An automatic bath device comprising: a hot water temperature changing section that switches the hot water temperature so that the hot water temperature reaches the predetermined set water temperature.