KR101856980B1 - Device for suplying warm water and bidet having the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a hot water supply device and a bidet including the hot water supply device, and more particularly, to a hot water supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a heater for heating incoming water; A first water supply line for supplying water to the heater; An outflow line through which the heated water is discharged from the heater; A second inlet line branched from the first inlet line and connected to the outlet line; And a flow control unit for controlling a flow rate of the second intake line supplied from the second intake line to the outflow line.

Description

A device for suplying warm water and having a bidet having the hot water supply device and the hot water supply device,

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hot water supply device and a bidet including the hot water supply device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a hot water supply device for stably supplying hot water out of a hot water supply device, It is about the bidet.

The hot water supply device used for household bidet or water purifier is divided into a water tank type in which a heater is installed in a water tank and a hot water type in which water coming from the water is heated whenever necessary.

The water tank type hot water supply device is provided with a heating heater in a water tank for storing hot water so that the temperature of the water in the water tank is maintained at a constant temperature regardless of whether the bidet is used or not. Accordingly, there is a problem that the water tank type hot water supply control device consumes standby power and occupies a large space.

Recently, a hot water type hot water supply device has been widely used. In a hot water type hot water supply device, a user requests use of a bidet, and while the water exits to the discharge port, heat is applied to the water discharged from the heater, Give.

FIG. 1 (a) is a schematic view showing a conventional hot water type hot water supply device, and FIG. 1 (b) is a graph showing an outflow temperature by the conventional hot water type hot water supply device.

Referring to FIG. 1 (a), the hot water supply device may include a heater 10, a first intake line 20, and an outflow line 30.

The heater 10 heats the incoming water, the first intake line 20 supplies water to the heater 10, and the outflow line 30 discharges the heated water from the heater.

The degree of heating of the heater 10 may be determined depending on the temperature of the heater, the flow rate, the target temperature, and the like. Here, if a situation such as a sudden change in the flow rate flowing into the heater by a user's input, or a change in the target temperature with respect to the heater occurs, the degree of heating of the heater may also change drastically.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 1 (b), the temperature of the water coming out of the heater 10 does not immediately adapt to the degree of heating of the heater, but it can oscillate up and down the target water temperature, And then stabilized again to provide water having a target water temperature.

As described above, the conventional hot water supply device can not supply the water of the target water temperature desired by the user at the beginning, thereby causing dissatisfaction of the user.

The object of the present invention is to provide a hot water supply device and a bidet provided with the hot water supply device so that the temperature of the water that the hot water supply device does not suddenly fluctuate.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hot water supply apparatus including: a heater for heating incoming water; A first water supply line for supplying water to the heater; An outflow line through which the heated water is discharged from the heater; A second inlet line branched from the first inlet line and connected to the outlet line; And a flow regulator for regulating the flow rate of the second intake line supplied to the outflow line through the second intake line.

Here, an inlet temperature sensor may be provided at one point of the first intake line, and an outlet temperature sensor may be provided at one point of the outlet line.

Here, the flow rate regulator may adjust the flow rate of the second intake line according to the measured value of the outflow temperature sensor.

Here,

The opening / closing degree of the flow rate valve can be adjusted according to the difference between the target outflow temperature sensor value calculated by the outflow temperature sensor and the measured value by the outflow temperature sensor.

Here,

If the measured value of the outflow temperature sensor is larger than the target outflow temperature sensor value, the flow valve is further opened by a predetermined value, and if the measured value of the outflow temperature sensor is smaller than the target outflow temperature sensor value, Can be controlled to be closed by a predetermined value.

Here, the flow rate regulator may control the opening / closing degree of the flow rate valve using a stepping motor.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bidet comprising: a heater for heating incoming water; A first water supply line for supplying water to the heater; An outflow line through which the heated water is discharged from the heater; A second inlet line branched from the first inlet line and connected to the outlet line; A flow regulator for regulating a flow rate of the second intake line supplied to the outflow line through the second intake line; And a central control device for controlling the opening and closing degree of the flow rate control valve.

Here, an inlet temperature sensor may be provided at one point of the first intake line, and an outlet temperature sensor may be provided at one point of the outlet line.

Here, the central control unit may control opening and closing of the inflow valve according to the sensed value of the outflow temperature sensor.

Here,

The degree of opening and closing of the flow rate regulator can be adjusted according to the difference between the target outflow temperature sensor value calculated by the outflow temperature sensor and the measured value by the outflow temperature sensor.

Wherein the central control unit further opens the flow rate valve by a predetermined value if the measured value of the outflow temperature sensor is larger than the target outflow temperature sensor value and notifies the measured value of the outflow temperature sensor It is possible to control so as to further close the flow rate valve by a predetermined value.

The present invention controls the temperature of water coming out of the hot water supply device in such a manner that high temperature water heated by a heater and low temperature water not heated are mixed. Therefore, even if the water temperature of the water heated by the heater changes abruptly due to the change of the flow rate or the target water temperature, the water temperature of the water coming out from the hot water supply device can be kept constant.

1 (a) is a schematic diagram showing a conventional hot water type hot water supply device.
FIG. 1 (b) is a graph showing the temperature of water which is discharged from a conventional instantaneous hot water type hot water supply device.
2 is a functional block diagram illustrating functions of a hot water supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a functional block diagram illustrating a function of a flow rate controller of a hot water supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a functional block diagram illustrating functions of a central control unit in a bidet according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a graph showing the temperature of water discharged from the hot water supply apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in order that those skilled in the art can easily carry out the present invention. In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention rather unclear. In the drawings, like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings.

In addition, in the entire specification, when a part is referred to as being 'connected' to another part, it may be referred to as 'indirectly connected' not only with 'directly connected' . Also, to "include" an element means that it may include other elements, rather than excluding other elements, unless specifically stated otherwise.

2 is a functional block diagram illustrating functions of a hot water supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2, the hot water supply device according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a heater 10, a first intake line 20, an outflow line 30, a second intake line 40, a flow control unit 50 ), An intake temperature sensor (60), and an outflow temperature sensor (70).

Hereinafter, a hot water supply apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

The first inlet line 20 can supply water to the heater 10 and the heater 10 can heat the water flowing from the first inlet line 20. [ The water heated by the heater 10 may be discharged to the outflow line 30. [ The second intake line 40 is branched from the first intake line 20 and is connected to the outflow line 30 so that the second intake line 40 is not heated by the heater 10 Water can be supplied to the outflow line (30).

An inlet temperature sensor (60) may be provided at one point of the first inlet line, and an outlet temperature sensor (70) may be provided at a point of the outlet line (30).

The heater 10 is provided with a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the water received by the heater 10 and the temperature of the heater 10 in order to provide water having a temperature (target water temperature) The operation of the heater 10 can be controlled according to the temperature of the water discharged from the heater 10, the flow rate of the water received in the heater 10, and the like.

That is, the heater 10 can control the outflow temperature supplied by the heater 10 by adjusting the degree of heating of the heater 10 according to the target water temperature, the intake temperature, the outflow temperature, the flow rate, and the like.

1 (b), if the factors controlling the operation of the heater 10 suddenly change, the degree of heating of the heater 10 may also change drastically. In this case, The temperature of the water exiting the heater 10 may fluctuate up and down the target water temperature.

However, since the hot water supply device further includes the configuration of the second water intake line 40, the temperature of the water provided by the hot water supply device is once more corrected by the water supplied from the second water intake line 40 can do.

That is, the hot water supply device is provided with hot water in which high temperature water discharged from the heater 10 and low temperature water supplied from the second water intake line 40 are mixed.

Therefore, according to the temperature of the water discharged from the heater 10, the amount of water supplied to the outflow line 30 by the second intake line 40 is adjusted so that the hot water supply device supplies the water of the target water temperature can do.

Here, the intake temperature may be a sensing value of the intake temperature sensor 60, and the outflow temperature may be a sensing value of the outflow temperature sensor 70.

The flow control unit 50 may control the flow rate of the second intake line 40 supplied from the second intake line 40 to the outflow line 30. [

Since the water heated by the heater 10 is mixed with the water supplied by the second intake line 40, the temperature of the water provided by the hot water supply device is lower than the temperature of the water supplied by the second intake line 40 It can be determined according to the amount of water. Therefore, it is necessary to control the amount of water supplied by the second intake line 40 by using the flow control unit 50, and by the control of the flow control unit 50, So that the temperature of the supplied water becomes the target water temperature.

Specifically, the greater the amount of water supplied by the second intake line 40, the lower the temperature of the water exiting through the outflow line 30, and the smaller the amount of water supplied by the second intake line 40, The temperature of the water exiting through the outgoing line 30 becomes high.

The flow control unit 50 controls the flow rate of the initial flow rate of the first flow line 40 such that 50% of the maximum flow rate of the second flow line 40 can be supplied to the outflow line 30 through the second flow line 40. [ May be set

The flow control unit 50 will be described in detail below with reference to FIG.

3 is a functional block diagram illustrating a function of a flow rate controller of a hot water supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3, the flow control unit 50 of the hot water supply apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a control unit 51, a stepping motor 52, and a flow rate valve 53 .

Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 3, the flow control unit 50 of the hot water supply apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The control unit 51 can calculate the outgoing temperature of the heater necessary for supplying the hot water having the target water temperature using the input signals a, b, c, and d. The controller compares the calculated outflow temperature of the heater with the measured actual outflow temperature of the heater and generates a control signal for controlling the flow rate of the second intake line supplied to the outflow line when the difference is out of a predetermined range .

The plurality of signals input to the control unit 51 may include an input water temperature a, an outflow water temperature b, a target water temperature c, and a flow rate d flowing into the heater 10.

The target water temperature refers to the temperature of the hot water that the user desires to obtain from the hot water supply device.

The target water temperature may be set based on when the second intake line 40 supplies a flow rate of 50% of the maximum flow rate that can be supplied to the outflow line 30. Therefore, since the water heated in the heater 10 will be mixed with the flow rate of 50% of the maximum flow rate of the second water intake line 40, the heater 10 discharges water having a temperature higher than the target water temperature . ≪ / RTI >

Here, in relation to the above-mentioned target water temperature

Can be established.

If the above formula is changed to a formula for obtaining the target outflow temperature sensor value to be obtained in order to obtain the target water temperature,

You can write down again.

Here, the flow rate (d), the target water temperature (c), and the intake temperature sensor value (a) flowing into the heater are included in a plurality of signals received by the controller, and the maximum flow rate of the second intake line Which is determined according to the cross-sectional area of the flow path constituting the intake line, and corresponds to a predetermined constant.

Accordingly, the control unit 51 can determine the degree of heating by which the heater has the target outflow temperature sensor value, using the above equation.

The target outflow temperature sensor value may be changed according to the flow rate of the air flowing into the heater, the maximum flow rate of the second intake line, the target water temperature value, the intake temperature sensor value,

The control unit 51 may calculate the target outflow temperature sensor value using the above equation and compare the target outflow temperature sensor value with the outflow temperature sensor value based on the actual operation of the heater. The outgoing temperature sensor value (b) by the operation of the actual heater can be obtained from a plurality of signals received by the controller 51.

When the outflow temperature sensor value is equal to the target outflow temperature sensor value, the hot water supply device supplies the hot water having the target water temperature. However, if the outflow temperature sensor value is different from the target outflow temperature sensor value, The device will supply hot water that is different from the target water temperature.

Accordingly, when the difference between the target outflow temperature sensor value and the measured outflow temperature sensor value is out of a predetermined range, the controller 51 compares the target outflow temperature sensor value with the actually measured outflow temperature sensor value, The target water temperature can be maintained by controlling the flow rate of the second intake line. Here, the predetermined range may be (+5 to -0.5).

When the difference between the target outflow temperature sensor value and the actually measured outflow temperature sensor value is out of a preset range, the control unit 51 generates a control signal for controlling the flow rate supplied to the outflow line by the second intake line can do.

The control unit 51 may transmit the generated signal to a device for controlling the flow rate of the second inlet line such as the stepping motor 52 to control the flow rate of the second inlet line supplied to the outlet line.

The stepping motor 52 may rotate by a predetermined angle in accordance with the input of the controller 51 to adjust the opening and closing degree of the flow rate valve 53. [ The stepping motor 52 is a motor that moves at a predetermined angle corresponding to the number of pulses input, and can accurately control the rotation angle of the motor.

Accordingly, the stepping motor 52 can be intermittently rotated by a predetermined angle in accordance with the input of the controller 51, and the degree of opening / closing of the inflow valve 53 is controlled according to the degree of rotation of the stepping motor 52 Lt; / RTI >

The flow rate valve 53 can adjust the amount of water that the second intake line supplies to the outflow line. The opening and closing of the inflow valve 53 is controlled by the control signal of the control unit 51. The opening and closing of the inflow valve 53 is controlled by the control unit 51, And can be controlled by the stepping motor 52 that operates.

Specifically, the flow rate valve 53 can control the amount of water supplied by the second intake line by controlling the size of the cross-sectional area of the open channel. The flow rate valve (53) can block part or all of the flow path of the second intake line by a flow path blocking means such as a disk. The amount of water supplied by the second intake line can be controlled according to the size of the cross-sectional area where the flow path is blocked.

Here, the stepping motor 52 may control the flow path blocking means such as a disk for blocking the flow path of the flow rate valve, thereby adjusting the size of the cross-sectional area for blocking the flow path.

Accordingly, when the outflow temperature sensor value measured from the target outflow temperature sensor value is measured to be higher than the preset range, the controller 51 controls the stepping motor 52 to open the flow valve by a predetermined amount It is possible to send a control signal so as to be more open.

On the other hand, when the outflow temperature sensor value measured from the target outflow temperature sensor value is measured to be lower than the preset range, a control signal is provided to the stepping motor 52 so as to further close the opening degree of the flow valve by a predetermined amount can send.

In addition, if the target outflow temperature sensor value and the measured outflow temperature sensor value are within the preset range, the stepping motor 52 can be controlled such that the flow valve is opened by an initial set value, that is, 50%.

Here, the flow rate control means for regulating the cross-sectional area of the flow path is exemplified as the flow rate regulating means of the flow rate regulator 50. However, the flow rate valve is periodically repeatedly opened and closed by the pulse width modulation method, The flow rate can also be adjusted.

The flow rate regulator 50 exemplifies the stepping motor 52 as the control means of the flow rate valve 53. It is to be understood that any means other than the stepping motor 52, Can be used.

Although not shown, the bidet according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a heater, a first intake line, an outflow line, a second intake line, a flow rate controller, and a main controller unit (MCU).

The heater, the first intake line, the outflow line, and the second intake line are the same as those of the hot water supply device described above, and thus the description thereof is omitted here.

The flow rate regulator may adjust the flow rate of the second intake line supplied from the second intake line to the outflow line.

The central control unit can control the operation of the flow rate control unit and can perform functions and functions of a central control unit used in a general bidet.

Hereinafter, the bidet control unit 80 and the flow control unit 90 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

The central control unit 80 is provided in the bidet so as to control the overall operation of the bidet. The central control unit 80 may perform a function of a central control unit of a general bidet, and may further generate a control signal for controlling the operation of the flow control unit 90.

The central control unit 80 can calculate the outflow temperature of the heater, which is required to supply the hot water having the target water temperature by receiving the signals a, b, c, and d. The controller compares the calculated outflow temperature of the heater with the measured actual outflow temperature of the heater and generates a control signal for controlling the flow rate of the second intake line supplied to the outflow line when the difference is out of a predetermined range .

Accordingly, the central control unit 80 can perform the same function as that of the control unit 51 described above. However, there is a difference in that the central control unit 80 controls the generated control signal to the stepping motor 91 of the flow control unit 90 to control it.

The flow rate regulator 90 may include a stepping motor 91 and a flow rate valve 92. The flow control unit 90 is similar to the flow control unit 50 of the hot water supply unit but does not include the configuration of the control unit 51. The function of the control unit 51 is similar to that of the central control unit 80 You can do it instead.

The stepping motor 91 may rotate by a predetermined angle in accordance with the input of the central control unit 80 to adjust the opening and closing degree of the flow rate valve 92.

The stepping motor 91 and the flow rate valve 92 are the same as those of the stepping motor and the flow rate valve of the hot water supply device described above, and thus a detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

Although not shown, the hot water control method using the hot water supply apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may include an initial setting step, a target outflow temperature sensor value calculation step, an outflow temperature comparison step, and a flow valve control step.

In the initial setting step, the second intake line may be set to supply a flow rate of 50% of the maximum flow rate to the outgoing line. For this purpose, it is possible to control the opening and closing degree of the flow rate valve provided in the second intake line.

The target outgoing temperature sensor value calculating step can calculate the temperature of the water that the water discharged from the heater should have in order to obtain the target water temperature. The calculation of the target outgoing temperature sensor value is the same as described above, and the description thereof is omitted here. The degree of heating of the heater with respect to the inflow water can be determined through the target outflow temperature sensor value.

The outflow temperature comparison step compares the calculated target outflow temperature sensor value with the actually measured outflow temperature sensor value and can control the amount of water supplied by the second intake line to the outflow line in accordance with the difference value . The outgoing temperature comparison step may first determine whether the difference value exceeds a predetermined range. If the difference value is only about 0.5 degree, for example, it is similar to the actual target water temperature, so it is not necessary to control the flow rate separately, and the opening / closing degree of 50% can be maintained.

However, if the difference value is out of a predetermined range, for example, -0.5 to +0.5 degrees, the flow rate of the second intake line may be controlled to maintain the difference within the predetermined range.

And may transmit a control signal to a flow valve provided in the second intake line for controlling the flow rate of the second intake line.

The flow rate valve control step can actually control the flow rate of the second intake line using the result obtained in the outflow temperature comparison step.

That is, if the difference value exceeds +0.5 as in the above example, the flow valve may be further opened to further include cold water in the water supplied by the heater. Conversely, if the difference is less than -0.5 degrees, the flow valve may be further closed to reduce the amount of cold water contained in the water supplied by the heater.

The opening and closing of the flow valve can be controlled by a stepping motor.

5 is a graph showing the temperature of water discharged from the hot water supply apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, the dotted line is the result of the conventional hot water supply device, and the solid line is the result of the hot water supply device of the present invention.

5, the solid line graph shows that the outflow temperature is stably maintained without fluctuating significantly with reference to the target water temperature, as compared with the dotted line. This is because when the outflow temperature is to be higher than the target water temperature as indicated by the dotted line, the flow control unit increases the amount of water flowing in from the second water intake line to prevent a sudden increase in the outflow temperature. On the contrary, The flow control unit reduces the amount of water flowing from the second water intake line to prevent the outflow temperature from being lowered.

Therefore, in the hot water supply apparatus according to the present invention, it is confirmed that even if the water temperature of the water heated by the heater changes abruptly due to the change of the flow rate or the target water temperature, the water temperature of the water coming out from the hot water supply apparatus is kept constant .

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and the accompanying drawings. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims, .

10: Heater
20: First intake line
30: Outgoing line
40: Second intake line
50: flow rate regulator 51:
52: Stepping motor 53: Flow rate valve
60: Input temperature sensor
70: Outflow temperature sensor
80: Central Controller Unit (MCU)

Claims (12)

A heater for heating the incoming water;
A first water supply line for supplying water to the heater;
An outflow line through which the heated water is discharged from the heater;
A second inlet line branched from the first inlet line and connected to the outlet line; And
And a flow regulator for regulating the flow rate of the second intake line supplied to the outflow line through the second intake line,
A water temperature sensor is provided at one point of the first water intake line, and an outflow temperature sensor is provided at one point of the water outlet line,
The flow-
Adjusting the flow rate of the second intake line according to the measurement value of the outflow temperature sensor,
Wherein the second intake line is initially set at a flow rate of 50% of the maximum flow rate.
delete delete The flow rate controller according to claim 1,
A flow rate valve is provided,
And adjusting the opening / closing degree of the flow valve to adjust the flow rate of the second intake line.
[5] The apparatus of claim 4,

And controls the degree of opening / closing of the flow rate valve in accordance with a difference between the target outflow temperature sensor value calculated by the outflow temperature sensor and the measured value by the outflow temperature sensor.
6. The apparatus of claim 5,
If the measured value of the outflow temperature sensor is larger than the target outflow temperature sensor value, the flow valve is further opened by a predetermined value, and if the measured value of the outflow temperature sensor is smaller than the target outflow temperature sensor value, To be closed by a predetermined value.
The apparatus of claim 5 or 6,
And the degree of opening and closing of the flow valve is controlled by using a stepping motor.
A heater for heating the incoming water;
A first water supply line for supplying water to the heater;
An outflow line through which the heated water is discharged from the heater;
A second inlet line branched from the first inlet line and connected to the outlet line;
A flow regulator for regulating a flow rate of the second intake line supplied to the outflow line through the second intake line; And
And a central control device for controlling the operation of the flow rate regulator,
A water temperature sensor is provided at one point of the first water intake line, and an outflow temperature sensor is provided at one point of the water outlet line,
The central control device includes:
Wherein the controller controls opening and closing of the flow rate control unit according to a sensed value of the outflow temperature sensor,
And the second intake line is initially set at a flow rate of 50% of the maximum flow rate.
delete delete 9. The control apparatus according to claim 8,

And controlling the degree of opening / closing of the flow rate adjusting unit according to a difference between the target outgoing temperature sensor value calculated by the outflow temperature sensor and the measured value by the outflow temperature sensor.
12. The control apparatus according to claim 11,
If the measurement value of the outflow temperature sensor is larger than the target outflow temperature sensor value, the flow rate valve provided in the flow rate control unit is further opened by a predetermined value, and the measured value of the outflow temperature sensor is lower than the target outflow temperature sensor value And controls the flow valve to be closed by a predetermined value if the flow rate is small.

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