JPS639792A - Mixing device of hot and cold water - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To protect hot and cold water valves and associated components from excessive load which occurs when said valves are fully opened or closed, by electrically driving both of said water valves responding to the signals from a mixed water temperature setting device, a hot water valve position detecting means, and a cold water valve position detecting means. CONSTITUTION:When hot water delivery is stopped, both of a hot water valve 20 and a cold water valve 21 are closed. To deliver hot water, a switch 34 of a mixed water temperature setting device 33 is to be pressed to open said valves 20, 21, while to stop the hot water delivery, another switch 39 is to be pressed. Responding to signals from a hot water valve position detecting means 28 and a cold water valve position detecting means 29, and also to the preset appropriate valve position for closing and opening of said water valves 20, 21, and water valves are controlled to make each of them cease to move when it comes to the respective preset appropriate position described above. Due to the above construction, damage or burning of said valves or their driving means can be prevented, and, as said water valves 20, 21 are not excessively driven over the above appropriate positions to reach to the regions where valve sensitivity is poor, the temperature of mixed water can be held without large fluctuation.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hot water mixing device for supplying hot water to adjust the mixing ratio of hot water and water to obtain an appropriate temperature.

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional hot water mixing device of this type is shown in FIG. (For example, Japanese Utility Model Application No. 61-18424) In FIG. 5, the water supply 1 is branched into two systems, and a hot water supply pipe 3 passing through a water heater 2 and a water supply pipe 4 are connected to a constant temperature water heater 5. . Inside the constant temperature water heater 5, a hot water flow valve 6 is connected to the hot water supply pipe 3, and a water flow valve 7 is connected to the water supply pipe to adjust the mixing ratio. The mixing pipe 8 is provided with a thermistor 9 that detects the temperature of the mixed water, and a controller 10 that arbitrarily adjusts the signal of the thermistor 9 and the temperature of the mixed water.
Based on the signal, the control device 11 controls the hot water flow valve 6 and the water flow valve 7. Mixed hot water is available at faucet 1 located at the end of heating pipe 8.
2, the water is supplied to the bathtub 1a, which is the hot water supply target. The hot water flow valve 6 and the water flow valve 7 are driven by a hot water flow valve motor 14 and a water flow valve motor 15 which are controlled by a control device 11, but the hot water flow valve 6 and the water flow valve 7 have no means for detecting the valve position. Not yet. Then, the water flow valve motor 1S and the water flow valve motor 1s are controlled via the control device 11 using the signal from the thermistor 9 so that the set temperature tm of the controller 1o is reached.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, the above configuration has the following problems.

(1) If the mixed water temperature does not reach the temperature set by the controller 10 even if the hot water flow valve 6 and the water flow valve 7 are fully open or past the fully closed point, since there is no valve position detection means,
Excessive loads were applied to the hot water side valve 6, the water side valve 7, the hot water side motor 14, and the water side motor 15, causing damage to the valve parts and burnout of the motor.

(2) When the temperature of the hot water supplied from the water heater 2 is low or the hot water pressure is low, etc., the water flow valve 6 opens and the water flow valve 7 closes in order to obtain the set temperature, but the valve position For example, the hot water flow valve 6 reaches a so-called low valve sensitivity region where the change in flow rate is small with respect to the amount of displacement, and the temperature of the supplied hot water increases or the hot water pressure increases. In some cases, the control operation to return the temperature to the set temperature was delayed, causing the mixed water temperature to temporarily rise significantly, which was dangerous.

The present invention solves these conventional problems by preventing excessive loads from being placed on the valve itself or the drive means when the valve is fully open or fully closed, and by preventing transients in the mixed water temperature caused by opening the valve too much. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a hot water mixing device that suppresses fluctuations in temperature.

Means to Solve the Problem J: In order to solve the above problem, the hot water mixing device of the present invention has a hot water side valve driven by an electric hot water side driving means, and a hot water side valve driven by the water side driving means. A sewage side valve, a hot water side valve position detecting means for detecting the valve position continuously or in multiple stages, a water side valve position detecting means, a mixing hot water temperature setting device for setting the mixed hot water temperature, and this mixing The hot water temperature setting device includes a hot water temperature setting device, a controller for controlling the hot water side drive means and the water side drive means based on signals from the hot water side valve position detection means and the water side valve position detection means.

According to the above configuration, the present invention detects the valve position of the hot water side valve by the hot water side valve position detection means and the valve position of the water side valve by the water side valve position detection means, and detects at least the hot water side valve and the water side valve. A closing point and an opening point are set, and control is performed to stop the movement of the hot water side driving means and the water side driving means at these closing points and opening points.

EXAMPLES Below, examples of the present invention will be described based on the accompanying drawings. The hot water and water supplied through the hot water supply pipe 16 and the water supply pipe 17 enter the valve frame within one day, pass through a pressure balance valve 19 that equalizes the pressure of hot water and water, and are then passed through the hot water side valve 2o and the water side valve 21. leading to.

The hot water side valve 20 and the water side valve 21 are driven via reduction gears 26 and 27 by a hot water side motor 24 and a water side motor 25, which are electric drive means provided externally via shafts 22 and 23. Ru. The valve position of the hot water side valve 20 is detected by the hot water side valve position detection means 28, and the valve position of the water side valve 21 is detected by the water side valve position detection means 2.
Detected at 9. The temperature of the mixed hot water is detected by a thermistor 30, and the mixed flow rate is detected by a flow rate sensor 31, and the hot water is supplied from the hot water supply port 32 to the object of hot water supply. Instructions to start and stop hot water supply, and settings for mixed hot water temperature and flow rate are performed by a setting device 33. switch 34
is a switch that performs hot water supply according to a preset mixed water temperature, mixed flow rate, and integrated value of the mixed flow rate. A switch a5 is used to specify whether the mixing flow rate is large or small, a switch 36 is used to lower the mixed water temperature, and a switch 37 is used to increase the mixed water temperature. The hot water supply is stopped using the switch 39.

A display section 40 displays the mixed water temperature detected by the thermistor 3o and the mixed flow rate detected by the flow rate sensor 31. The controller 41 receives signals from the thermistor 30, the flow rate sensor 31, and the setting device 33, and the controller 41 receives the signals from the hot water side motor 2.
4. Control the water side motor 25 and the display section 40 of the setting device 33. Both the hot water side valve 20 and the water side valve 21 are constructed as shown in FIG. The main parts of the valve include a fixed valve body 42 to which a ceramic disc with an opening is fixed, and a valve operating body 44 driven by a fitting part 43 at the end of the shaft 22.23. Further, the configurations of the hot water side valve position detection means 28 and the water side valve position detection means 29 are shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b. Axis 2
2 (23) is provided with teeth 'M45, and the shaft 22 (23) is provided with teeth 'M45.
The rotation of 23) causes gear 45 to rotate, which transmits rotation to gear 46, thereby rotating potentiometer 47, which continuously detects the valve position. Gear 45 and gear 46
have different numbers of teeth, and the rotation angle of the shaft 22 (23) is magnified and transmitted to the potentiometer 47.

There are dimensional manufacturing variations in the hot water side valve 20 and the water side valve 21. Further, the potentiometer 47 also has manufacturing variations. Particularly in the case of a hot water mixing device of the present invention using the hot water side valve 20 and the water side valve 21, the timing at which the hot water side valve 20 and the water side valve 21 are opened is important. In other words, the hot water side valve 20 and the water side valve 21 are designed to be rotated from the point where the fixed valve element 42 and the valve operating element 44 close each other's openings, allowing for a certain sealing margin, as the fully closed point of the valve. However, due to dimensional errors between the fixed valve body 22 and the valve body 44, play between the valve body 44 and the fitting portion 43, manufacturing variations in the potentiometer 47, etc., the valve position detected as the sealing margin varies. For this reason, even if the hot water side valve 20 and the water side valve 21 are driven at a constant speed when opening, depending on the size of the seal, the hot water may start coming out first or the water starts coming out first, resulting in a transient hot water supply. The temperature of the water fluctuates. In order to make the transitional mixing ratio of hot water and water appropriate after opening, even if the drive speeds of the hot water side motor 24 and the water side motor 25 are controlled to have a constant relationship, the effect of sealing The mixed water temperature fluctuates significantly transiently.

In order to prevent this, in this embodiment, the valve fully closed point is set by adjusting a predetermined angle after assembly, from the point where the fixed valve 2 and the valve operating body 44 close the openings of each other and the flow rate becomes zero. Hot water side valve 2
0 and the sealing margin of the water side valve 21 are aligned. Specifically, this is carried out as shown in FIG. Assume that the characteristics of the potentiometer 47 on the hot water side and the water side are different as shown in the figure.

Points A and A' are the valve fully closed points with the sealing margin removed, B and B' are the valve fully open points, and C and C'' are the points where the flow rate becomes zero.

When adjusting, use the flow rate sensor 31 at points C and C'',
Alternatively, by using other measuring means or by visual inspection, the positions rotated by a predetermined angle from points C and C' are determined as the valve fully closed points, taking into account the sealing margin. do. The resistance values of the potentiometer 47 corresponding to these points A and A' are set in the controller 41 as RA and RAl.

Further, the full opening points B and B' of the valve are determined within a certain range of valve sensitivity by using the flow rate sensor 31 or other measuring means, and the resistance value of the corresponding potentiometer 47 is set as RB, It is set in the controller 41 as RB'. As a result, the hot water side valve 20 operates when the resistance value of the hot water side valve position detection means 28 is in the range from RA to RB, and the water side valve 21 operates when the resistance value of the water side valve position detection means 29 is in the range from Hx to Rd. , and the sealing margins of the hot water side valve 2o and the water side valve 21 are adjusted to be the same.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained. First, while hot water supply is stopped, both the hot water side valve 20 and the water side valve 21 are closed, and the valve body 44 is closed.
and the fixed valve body 42, the hot water side valve position detection means 28 shows a resistance value RA, and the water side valve position detection means 29 shows a resistance value RA''. When the switch 34 is pressed, the hot water side valve 20 and the water side valve 21 are opened.

When the hot water side valve 20 is opened, the hot water side valve position detecting means 28
The water side valve 21 has a resistance value RA' to RC of the water side valve position detection means 29.
It is driven at a constant speed for the sealing margin up to '. After the hot water and water begin to flow, it is driven at a speed that maintains a constant mixing ratio of hot water and water until the set flow rate is reached. Therefore, the opening timings of the hot water side valve 2o and the water side valve 21 do not deviate, and the temperature of the mixed hot water does not fluctuate greatly even during the opening operation.

As for the temperature of the mixed hot water, the signal from the thermistor 30 is compared with the set value corresponding to the switch 34 of the setting 833, and the controller 41 adjusts the mixing ratio using the hot water side valve 20 and the water side valve 21. The mixed flow rate is determined by comparing the value of the flow rate sensor 31 with the set value corresponding to the switch 34, and the flow rate is adjusted by the hot water side valve 20 and the water side valve 21. At the same time as the switch 34 is pressed, the signal from the flow rate sensor 31 is integrated by the controller 41, and when the set value corresponding to the switch 34 is reached, hot water supply is automatically stopped. This is used when filling a bathtub with hot water. If you wish to stop the flow rate integration, press the switch 39 to stop the hot water supply. When the hot water pressure is low or when the hot water temperature is low and a large flow of hot water is being supplied, the hot water side valve 20 is fully opened, but in this case, the fully open point is the fully open point of the hot water side valve position detection means 28. It is detected by RB, and the valve opening degree is limited by the controller 41 so as not to fall into a region with low sensitivity. When the water pressure is low or when the set value of the mixed water temperature is low, the water side valve position detection means 29 detects the fully open point RB' in the same way, and the valve opening degree is limited. Therefore, the mixed hot water temperature does not vary greatly due to fluctuations in the supplied hot water temperature, hot water pressure, water pressure, etc. In addition, since the drive is limited at the fully open and fully closed points of the valve, excessive force may be applied to the hot water side valve 20 and the water side valve 21, and the hot water side motor 24J? The water side motor 25 is not overloaded. In this embodiment, a potentiometer 47 that detects the valve position steplessly is used as the hot water side valve position detecting means 28 and the water side position detecting means 29. A rotary encoder or the like may also be used.

In addition, the signal of the potentiometer 47 used resistances corresponding to the valve fully open point and fully closed point, but at C and C where the flow rate becomes zero.
It is also possible to consider a control method that uses the ' point or any other arbitrary point. For example, at the start of hot water supply, the hot water side valve 20 and the water side valve 21 are driven at different speeds from the beginning, and the one that reaches points C and C' faster is made to wait, and when the other one reaches the side layer, the mixing ratio of both is changed. There is a method of driving at a driving speed that makes it appropriate. In addition, points C and C' are basically used as signals,
The sealing margin of the valve was determined by using step motors for the hot water side motor 24 and the water side motor 25, and sending a predetermined pulse equivalent to the sealing margin to set the valve to the fully closed point, and in particular, the signals at points A and A' were not used. υ, there is a method that can be used as a final means of stopping only in the unlikely event that the step motor's pulse count fails. Furthermore, only the RC and RC points are detected, the sealing margin is left as it is due to manufacturing variations, and during adjustment, the variation in sealing between the hot water side valve 20 and the water side valve 21 is measured and registered in the controller 41. At the start of hot water supply, the hot water side motor 24 and the water side motor 25 are driven at drive speeds inversely proportional to the seal marks on both sides, so that the timing of arrival at points C and C" where the hot water starts to flow is aligned. There is a way. In addition, when the hot water pressure, water pressure, supplied hot water temperature, and water temperature are constant, the valve position where an appropriate temperature can be obtained is determined, and the hot water side valve position is determined using the hot water side valve position detection means 28 and the water side valve position detection means 29. 2
There is a method of quickly starting hot water supply by controlling the position with 0 and the water side valve 21, and finely adjusting the temperature of the mixed hot water using a signal from the thermistor 30.

The effect of this embodiment is that the hot water side valve position detecting means 28 and the water side valve position detecting means 29 can detect the hot water side valve 2° and the water side valve°21.
Since manufacturing variations in the potentiometers 47 of both the detection means 28 and 29 can be absorbed, the first advantage is that hot water or water does not come out first at the start of hot water supply and the temperature of the mixed hot water does not fluctuate greatly. Further, since the hot water side valve 20 and the water side valve 21 have a water shutoff function, they can serve as both a mixing valve and a water shutoff valve, and have the effect of simplifying the configuration. Further, the hot water side valve position detecting means 28 and the water side valve position detecting means 29 are designed to expose the fully closed valve positions A and A', taking into account the sealing margins of the hot water side valve 20 and the water side valve 21, so that the seal This has the effect of ensuring a certain amount of heat and preventing over-rotation of the hot water side motor 24 and the water side motor.

In this embodiment, a control method in which the signal from the thermistor 30 is fed back is used as an example, but it is also possible to use so-called feedforward control, which measures the hot water temperature, hot water amount, water temperature, and water amount, calculates the mixed hot water temperature, and performs control. The idea of the present invention can also be applied.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the hot water mixing device of the present invention provides the following effects.

(1) The valve positions of the hot water side valve and the water side valve are raised and fully closed by the hot water side valve position detection means and the water side valve position detection means. 1. This prevents the valve from being driven beyond the fully open point. It is possible to prevent damage or burnout of the hot water side valve, the water side valve, the hot water side driving means, and the water side driving means.

(2) Since the hot water side valve and the water side valve are not opened too much and face the area where the valve sensitivity is low, it is possible to prevent the risk of the mixed hot water temperature rising significantly due to a rise in hot water temperature, a rise in hot water pressure, a drop in water pressure, etc. .

(3) Since the closing positions of the hot water side valve and the water side valve can be aligned using the hot water side valve position detection means and the water side valve position detection means, and control that takes into account manufacturing variations, it is possible to Large fluctuations in mixed water temperature can be prevented.

(4 Even if there are manufacturing variations in the hot water side valve, water side valve, hot water side valve position detection means, or water side valve position detection means, the valve position can be detected continuously or in multiple stages.
There is no need to finely adjust the position mechanically, and it is only necessary to electrically adjust and store differences in resistance values, for example, and the adjustment work is easy and the configuration is simple.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a partially cutaway sectional view of a hot water mixing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the hot water side valve and water side valve of the same device, and Fig. 3 (λ) is the same device. Figure 3 (b) is a plan view of the hot water side valve position detection means and water side valve position detection means, Figure 4 is a characteristic diagram of the detection means, and Figure 5 is a conventional hot water mixing device. FIG. 20...Hot water side valve, 21...Water side valve, 24
...Hot water side motor (hot water side drive means), 25...
... Water side motor (water side driving means), 28 ... Hot water side valve position detection means, 29 ... Water side valve position detection means, 33 ... Mixed hot water in setting 2 temperature setting device), 41...
...Controller. Name of agent: Patent attorney Toshio Nakao and 1 other person 2nd
Figure 3 (0L) Guo (ri 4ri!J Q AA'(,C'
887 rotation angle diagram 5

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) A hot water side valve that adjusts the flow rate of hot water, a hot water side driving means that electrically drives the hot water side valve, and an arbitrary valve position of the hot water side valve that is detected continuously or in multiple stages. a water side valve that adjusts the flow rate of water; a water side drive means that electrically drives the water side valve; A water side valve position detection means for detecting the position in stages, a mixing water temperature setting device for setting the mixed water temperature, and a signal from the mixing water temperature setting device, the hot water side valve position detection means, and the water side valve position detection means. A hot water mixing device comprising a controller for controlling the hot water side driving means and the water side driving means. (2) The hot water mixing device according to claim 1, wherein manufacturing variations in the hot water side valve and the water side valve are adjusted using the hot water side valve position detection means and the water side valve position detection means. (3) The hot water mixing device according to claim 1, wherein the hot water side valve and the water side valve have a water shutoff function. (4) The fully closed position of the valve, taking into account the sealing margin between the hot water side valve and the water side valve, is detected by the hot water side valve position detection means and the water side valve position detection means, as described in claim 1 or 2. hot water mixing device.