JP2014228151A - Bath water heater - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a bath water heater that can perform hot water filling with reduced waste of hot water supplied to a bathtub when the hot water filling is executed after the drain tap is reclosed by determining whether the drain tap of the bathtub is detached. When a hot water filling operation is started after supplying a first predetermined amount of hot water to the bathtub 2 to determine whether the drain water tap 6 has come off, A hot water of a second predetermined water amount that is equal to or less than the amount of water obtained by subtracting the first predetermined water amount from the set amount of hot water is supplied to the bathtub 2, and the hot water in the bathtub 2 is heated in the circulation path 3. 2 is provided, and an automatic hot water filling control means 21 is provided for controlling so as to supply a third predetermined amount of hot water obtained by subtracting the remaining water amount from the set hot water amount to the bathtub 2. [Selection] Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a bath water heater having a hot water filling function, and more particularly, to a bath water heater capable of detecting the removal of a drain plug of a bathtub during a hot water filling operation of the bathtub.

  In a bath water heater that automatically performs hot water filling and boiling of a bathtub, a circulation path is connected to a circulation port formed on the side wall of the bathtub. The circulation path includes a circulation pump for circulating hot water in the bathtub through the circulation path, a water flow switch that is turned ON / OFF according to the presence or absence of water flow in the circulation path, and a bathtub that circulates in the circulation path. Heating means (such as a heat exchanger and a gas burner) for heating hot water is provided.

  Furthermore, a water supply path for supplying water (including hot water) to the bathtub is connected to the circulation path, and a flow rate sensor for detecting the amount of water passing through the water supply path is provided in the water supply path. When filling the hot water, the user sets the amount of hot water using the remote controller, and operates the automatic hot water filling switch, which is an automatic hot water filling instructing means of the remote controller, so that the detected water amount of the flow sensor becomes the set hot water amount. As such, hot water from the water supply channel is supplied to the bathtub through the circulation channel.

  By the way, the bathtub is provided with a drain outlet for draining hot water used for bathing and a drain plug for closing the drain. And when performing hot water filling in a bathtub, it is necessary to close a drain outlet with a drain plug. However, if the user forgets to close the drain outlet, for example, if the hot water is filled with the drain plug removed, the hot water supplied to the bathtub is drained and is wasted.

  Therefore, conventionally, in this type of bath hot water supply apparatus, when performing hot water filling, an apparatus that performs an operation of determining whether or not a drain plug provided in the bathtub is detached is known (see Patent Document 1 below). In this device, the following operation is performed to determine whether or not the drain plug is detached.

  That is, when the hot water filling operation is started, first, water supply is stopped when an amount of hot water equal to or higher than the circulation port of the bathtub (water level capable of circulation in the circulation path) is supplied to the bathtub. The amount of hot water supplied at this time is collected in advance by supplying water to the bathtub by trial operation or the like.

  Next, the circulation pump of the circulation path is operated. At this time, if the drain plug of the bathtub is not detached, hot water flows from the bathtub to the circulation path through the circulation port, so that the water flow switch is turned on, and from this, it is determined that the drain plug is not detached. If it is determined that the drain plug has not been removed, the water supply stop state is canceled and hot water filling is continued.

  On the other hand, if the user has forgotten to close the drain plug, the drain plug of the bathtub has been removed, and the water level in the bathtub has decreased to below the circulation port, it can be circulated even if the circulation pump in the circulation path is operated. Since hot water does not flow through the road, the water flow switch is turned off. Based on this, it is determined that the drain plug has been removed, hot water filling is stopped, and a notification that the drain plug has been removed is given. Then, the user who has received this notification closes the drain plug in the detached state, and starts filling again by operating the automatic filling switch, thereby completing the filling of the bathtub with the set filling amount. Can be made.

JP 2000-283557 A

  When detachment of the drain plug is determined by the above-described conventional method, the drain plug may be in a state of being completely removed from the drain port or incompletely closing the drain port. If the user is incompletely closing the drain plug and the user is prompted by the above notification to reclose the drain plug, hot water at a level lower than the circulation port may remain in the bathtub.

  However, when hot water filling is started again with hot water remaining in the bathtub, the set amount of hot water is additionally supplied to the remaining hot water in the bathtub. For this reason, the hot water in the bathtub when the hot water filling is completed exceeds the set hot water amount, and in some cases, the hot water may overflow from the bathtub and be wasted.

  In view of the above points, the present invention provides a bath that can perform hot water filling that suppresses waste of hot water supplied to the bathtub when the hot water filling is performed after the drain tap is reclosed by the determination of the removal of the drain plug of the bathtub. It aims at providing a hot-water supply apparatus.

  To achieve this object, the present invention provides a circulation path connected to a circulation port formed on the side wall of a bathtub and circulating hot water in the bathtub by a circulation pump, and a water flow for detecting the presence or absence of a water flow in the circulation path. Detection means, first heating means for heating hot water flowing through the circulation path, a water supply path connected to the circulation path and capable of supplying hot water to the bathtub, and a water supply valve for opening and closing the water supply path, Flow rate detection means for detecting the amount of water flowing through the water supply path, second heating means for heating water flowing through the water supply path, and hot water amount setting for setting the amount of hot water supplied to the bathtub via the water supply path A hot water temperature setting means for setting the temperature of hot water supplied to the bathtub through the water supply channel, a hot water filling amount set by the hot water filling amount setting means, and a hot water filling temperature set by the hot water temperature setting means Based on the water supply valve and the first An automatic hot water filling control means for controlling the heating means to supply hot water to the bathtub, and the circulation pump is driven with the water supply valve closed, and the water flow detecting means A drain plug removal determining means for determining whether or not a drain plug provided in the bathtub is detached based on the presence or absence of a detected water flow, and instructing the automatic filling control means to the automatic filling control means by a user operation Automatic hot water filling instructing means, and when the hot water filling operation is started, the automatic hot water filling control means reduces the amount of hot water heated to the set hot water temperature below the set hot water filling amount and circulates in the bathtub. Supplying until the first predetermined amount of water reaches a level above the mouth, and determining whether or not the drain plug is disconnected by the drain plug disconnection determining means, and the drain plug disconnection determining means indicates that the drain plug is disconnected If judged, When the tensioning operation is stopped, and the drain plug removal determining means determines that the drain valve has not detached, the water supply valve is opened and the hot water filling operation is continued to heat up the set hot water temperature. In the bath hot water supply apparatus for supplying hot water until the set amount of hot water filling, the automatic hot water filling control means, after stopping the hot water filling operation because the drain tap removal judging means has judged that the drain tap has been removed, When a hot water filling operation is instructed by the automatic hot water filling instructing means, a hot water of a second predetermined water amount that is equal to or less than the water amount obtained by subtracting the first predetermined water amount from the set hot water filling amount is added to the bathtub. The hot water of the bathtub flowing through the circulation path is heated by the first heating means while driving the circulation pump, and the amount of heat given to the hot water of the bathtub and the temperature increase of the hot water of the bathtub at this time And On the basis of the amount of remaining water in the bathtub, a third predetermined amount of hot water obtained by subtracting the amount of remaining water from the set amount of hot water is supplied to the bathtub.

  According to the present invention, first, when a hot water filling operation is instructed by the automatic hot water filling instruction means, the automatic hot water filling control means takes the hot water heated to the preset hot water temperature until the first predetermined amount of water is reached. And whether or not the drain plug is detached is determined by the drain plug removal determining means. If it is determined by this determination that the drain plug has come off, the automatic filling control means stops filling. Thereafter, when the user closes the drain plug of the bathtub and operates the automatic hot water filling instruction means, the automatic hot water filling control means supplies the second predetermined amount of hot water to the bathtub. Since the second predetermined amount of water is equal to or less than the amount of water obtained by subtracting the first predetermined amount of water from the set amount of hot water, when hot water remains in the bathtub when the drain plug is closed again Even so, the amount of hot water in the bathtub does not exceed the set amount of hot water, and waste of hot water can be suppressed.

  Here, immediately before starting the supply of the second predetermined amount of hot water, since the user has reclosed the drain plug, the amount of hot water in the bathtub is less than the first predetermined amount of water. It has become. For this reason, the amount of hot water in the bathtub when the second predetermined amount of hot water is supplied does not reach the set amount of hot water.

  Therefore, further, the hot water in the bathtub is heated by the heating means to determine the remaining water amount in the bathtub, and the third predetermined water amount is determined by subtracting the remaining water amount from the set hot water amount. The third predetermined amount of water thus obtained corresponds to the amount of water in which the first predetermined amount of water has decreased due to the removal of the drain plug. Therefore, after supplying the second predetermined amount of hot water to the bathtub, and further supplying the third predetermined amount of hot water to the bathtub, the amount of hot water accumulated in the bathtub is matched with the set hot water amount. be able to.

  As described above, according to the present invention, not only can the hot water filling be performed while suppressing waste of hot water, but also the hot water filling of the set hot water amount can be performed with high accuracy.

  In the present invention, when the hot water filling control means supplies the second predetermined amount of hot water to the bathtub after stopping the hot water filling operation, the automatic hot water filling control means supplies the second predetermined water amount of hot water to the set hot water filling. When supplying at a temperature lower than the temperature, and determining the amount of remaining water in the bathtub, the temperature of hot water in the bathtub is increased to the set hot water temperature, and when supplying the third predetermined amount of hot water to the bathtub, It is preferable to supply a third predetermined amount of hot water at the set hot water temperature.

  According to this, when the second predetermined amount of hot water is supplied to the bathtub after stopping the hot water filling operation, the remaining hot water amount of the bathtub is obtained and at the same time the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub is the set hot water temperature. It becomes. Therefore, it is not necessary to heat the hot water in the bathtub excessively, and wasteful energy consumption can be suppressed. Further, when the third predetermined amount of hot water is supplied at the set hot water temperature, when the set amount of hot water is stored in the bathtub, the hot water temperature is equal to the set hot water temperature. It has become. Therefore, there is almost no need to heat the hot water in the bathtub in the circulation path, and the hot water filling operation can be completed efficiently.

  Further, in the bath hot water supply apparatus of the present invention, the automatic hot water filling control means is configured to obtain the remaining water amount when the hot water of the second predetermined water amount is supplied to the bathtub after the hot water filling operation is stopped. Prior to starting the heating of the hot water, when the drain plug detachment determining means determines whether or not the drain plug is detached, and when the drain plug detachment determining means determines that the drain plug is detached, the first again When a predetermined amount of hot water is supplied to the bathtub, the drain plug detachment determining means determines whether or not the drain plug is detached, and the drain plug detachment determining means determines that the drain plug is disconnected. When it is determined that there is no detachment of the drain plug, it is preferable to start heating the hot water in the bathtub for obtaining the remaining water amount.

  In addition to forgetting to close the drain by the user, it is considered that the disconnection of the bathtub may result in a poor closure due to damage to the drain plug or the biting of foreign matter. In this case, it may be difficult to determine the removal of the drain plug with only one determination.

  Therefore, in the present invention, when the drain plug is disconnected in a state where the second predetermined amount of hot water is supplied to the bathtub, the first predetermined amount of hot water is supplied again to the bathtub and the drain plug is supplied. The presence or absence of deviation is determined. Thereby, determination accuracy can be further improved while suppressing wasteful supply of hot water for determining whether or not the drain plug is detached.

Explanatory drawing which shows typically the structure of the bath hot-water supply apparatus by embodiment of this invention. The block diagram which shows the functional structure of the controller in this embodiment. The flowchart regarding the automatic hot water filling control in this embodiment.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the bath water heater 1 in this embodiment includes a circulation path 3 that circulates hot water in a bathtub 2 and a hot water path 4 (water supply path) that supplies hot water to the bathtub 2.

  A circulation port 5 to which the circulation path 3 is connected is formed on the side wall of the bathtub 2, and a drain plug 6 for discharging hot water in the bathtub is detachably provided at the bottom.

  In the circulation path 3 connected to the circulation port 5 of the bathtub 2, a bath heat exchanger 8 heated by a first gas burner 7 is provided. In addition, the 1st gas burner 7 and the heat exchanger 8 for baths comprise the 1st heating means in this invention.

  In the circulation path 3, the flow path from the bathtub 2 to the inflow side of the bath heat exchanger 8 is a circulation upper flow path 3 a, and the flow path from the outflow side of the bath heat exchanger 8 to the bathtub 2 is circulated downstream. It is set as the path 3b.

  The circulation upper flow path 3 a includes a first temperature sensor 9 that detects the temperature of hot water entering the circulation path 3 from the bathtub 2, a circulation pump 10 that circulates the hot water in the bathtub 2 along the circulation path 3, A water flow switch 11 (water flow detection means) that detects the presence or absence of water flow is provided. The circulation lower flow path 3b is provided with a second temperature sensor 12 for detecting the temperature of hot water going to the bathtub 2 through the bath heat exchanger 8.

  The hot water supply path 4 is provided via a hot water supply heat exchanger 14 heated by the second gas burner 13, and its upstream side is connected to a water pipe (not shown). In addition, the 2nd gas burner 13 and the heat exchanger 14 for hot water supply comprise the 2nd heating means in this invention.

  Further, the hot water supply path 4 is divided into a hot water supply path 4a for supplying hot water to the bathtub 2 and a regular hot water supply path 4b for supplying hot water to a kitchen, a washroom, etc., downstream of the heat exchanger 14 for hot water supply. ing. The hot water supply path 4 a for bath is connected to the circulation path 3 at the downstream end. The downstream end of the regular hot water supply passage 4b is connected to a hot water supply curan (not shown) such as a kitchen or a washroom.

  In the hot water supply path 4a for bath, a hot water solenoid valve 15 (water supply valve) for opening and closing the hot water supply path 4a, a check valve 16 for preventing back flow of hot water from the circulation path 3 to the hot water supply path 4a for bath, and a hot water supply path for bath A flow rate sensor 17 (flow rate detection means) for detecting the water flow rate of 4a is provided.

  Also, the bath water heater 1 of the present embodiment includes a controller 18 that performs operation control including a hot water filling operation and the like that will be described later, and a remote controller 19 that performs various settings and operation instructions for the controller 18 by user operations. Is provided.

  In addition to the automatic hot water filling switch 20 (automatic hot water filling instruction means) for instructing automatic hot water filling operation, the remote controller 19 has a temperature setting switch (hot water temperature) for setting the hot water temperature and the boiling temperature (not shown). (Tensioning temperature setting means), a hot water filling amount setting switch (hot water filling amount setting means) for setting a hot water filling amount, and a number of switches and a speaker for performing various guidance and error notifications are provided. ing.

  The controller 18 is composed of an electronic circuit using a microcomputer, and as shown in FIG. 2, an automatic hot water filling control unit 21 (automatic hot water filling control means) for controlling automatic hot water filling operation, and a drain plug of the bathtub 2. 6, a drain plug detachment determination unit 22 (drain plug detachment determination means) that determines the presence or absence of detachment, a residual water amount detection processing unit 23 that performs detection processing of the residual water amount in the bathtub 2, and a speaker of the remote controller 19 are driven to notify. A notification control unit 24 is provided as a function.

  The controller 18 receives detection signals from various sensors such as the first temperature sensor 9, the second temperature sensor 12, the water flow switch 11, and the flow rate sensor 17, instruction data from the remote controller 19, and the like. Then, the controller 18 controls the circulation pump 10, the hot water solenoid valve 15, the first gas burner 7, and the second gas burner 13 based on the above detection signals and instructions from the remote controller 19.

  Although not shown, the first gas burner 7 and the second gas burner 13 are connected to gas supply passages for supplying fuel gas, and the supply amount of fuel gas is adjusted to each gas supply passage. A gas proportional solenoid valve and an open / close solenoid valve for opening and closing the gas supply path are provided. Each of the first gas burner 7 and the second gas burner 13 includes an ignition plug for igniting by spark discharge, a flame detector for detecting an ignition state, a blower fan for supplying combustion air, and the like.

  Next, the operation related to the automatic filling operation by the controller 18 will be described. Referring to FIG. 3, when automatic hot water filling switch 20 of remote controller 19 is operated and an automatic hot water filling operation is instructed, controller 18 proceeds to STEP 1 by the function of automatic hot water filling control unit 21, and bath 2 A hot water supply with a first predetermined amount of water is performed. That is, the automatic hot water control unit 21 opens the hot water solenoid valve 15 of the hot water supply passage 4a for bath and performs the combustion operation of the second gas burner 13. At this time, hot water of the set hot water temperature set by the user with the remote controller 19 is supplied to the bathtub 2 through the hot water supply path 4 a for the hot water supply path 4 and the circulation path 3. This hot water supply is performed until the integrated amount of the flow rate detected by the flow rate sensor 17 of the hot water supply passage 4a for the bath reaches the first predetermined water amount. The first predetermined amount of water is an amount of a level that is smaller than the set amount of hot water filling and the water level in the bathtub covers the circulation port 5 (an amount at which the water level is located above the circulation port 5). The first predetermined amount of water is collected at the time of trial operation and registered in a memory (not shown) provided in the controller 18.

  Next, proceeding to STEP 2, the automatic hot water filling control unit 21 determines whether or not the drain plug 6 of the bathtub 2 is detached by the drain plug removal determining unit 22. If it is determined in STEP 2 that the drain plug 6 has not been removed, the process proceeds to STEP 3, and if it is determined that the drain plug 6 has been removed, the process proceeds to STEP 4.

  Here, the determination process of whether or not the drain plug 6 is detached by the drain plug disconnection determination unit 22 will be described. The drain plug detachment determination unit 22 monitors the detection signal of the water flow switch 11 while operating the circulation pump 10. At this time, if hot water at a level higher than the circulation port 5 that is the first predetermined amount of water exists in the bathtub 2, the water flow switch 11 continuously outputs an ON signal, and the hot water level in the bathtub 2 is If it is below the circulation port 5, the water flow switch 11 is turned off. When the drain plug 6 of the bathtub 2 is removed, the hot water level of the bathtub 2 is lower than the circulation port 5. Accordingly, the drain plug detachment determination unit 22 determines that the drain plug 6 is disconnected when the water flow switch 11 is in the OFF state, and determines that the drain plug 6 does not disconnect when the ON signal of the water flow switch 11 is confirmed.

  When it is determined in STEP 2 that the drain plug 6 has not been detached and the process proceeds to STEP 3, the automatic hot water filling control unit 21 opens the hot water solenoid valve 15 of the hot water supply passage 4a for bath and performs the combustion operation of the second gas burner 13. Thus, hot water having a set hot water temperature is supplied to the bathtub 2 via the hot water supply path 4 a for the hot water supply path 4 and the circulation path 3. At this time, since the first predetermined amount of hot water is already stored in the bathtub 2, in STEP 3, the amount of hot water obtained by subtracting the first predetermined amount of water from the set amount of hot water is supplied to the bathtub. The hot water solenoid valve 15 is closed when the integrated amount of the flow rate detected by the flow rate sensor 17 of the hot water supply passage 4a for the bath reaches the amount obtained by subtracting the first predetermined water amount from the set hot water amount, and in STEP 15 Notify completion of filling and end filling operation. The notification in STEP 15 is performed when the notification control unit 24 drives the speaker of the remote controller 19.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in STEP 2 that the drain plug 6 has been detached and the process proceeds to STEP 4, the automatic hot water filling control unit 21 informs the speaker of the remote controller 19 to reclose the drain plug 6 via the notification control unit 24 ( For example, an audio notification such as “Is the bathtub drain plug removed?” Is performed, and the process proceeds to STEP 5 where the automatic filling control unit 21 stops the filling operation. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent a situation where the hot water is filled with the drain plug 6 of the bathtub 2 removed and the hot water is wasted.

  When the user who has received the above notification closes the drain tap 6 of the bathtub 2 and operates the automatic hot water filling switch 20 of the remote controller 19 to instruct an automatic hot water filling operation, the automatic hot water filling control unit 21 goes through STEP 6 to STEP 7. Proceed to

  In STEP 7, the automatic hot water controller 21 does not perform the combustion operation of the second gas burner 13, and opens the hot water electromagnetic valve 15 of the hot water supply passage 4 a for bath to supply unheated water to the bathtub 2. At this time, the second predetermined amount of unheated water is supplied to the bathtub. In the present embodiment, the second predetermined water amount is the same as the water amount obtained by subtracting the first predetermined water amount from the set hot water filling amount. At this time, the amount of water supplied to the bathtub 2 is the same as STEP 3, but is different from STEP 3 in that it is non-heated water (water having a temperature lower than the set hot water temperature). In the present embodiment, the second predetermined water amount may be an amount equal to or smaller than the water amount obtained by subtracting the first predetermined water amount from the set hot water filling amount.

  Also, when the automatic hot water filling switch 20 of the remote control 19 is operated after the removal of the drain plug 6 of the bathtub 2 is detected and the hot water filling is stopped, it has been conventionally determined that the drain tap 6 of the bathtub 2 is detached. Therefore, the amount of hot water supplied to the bathtub is not considered, and the bathtub 2 is regarded as empty, and the set amount of hot water is supplied to the bathtub 2. However, when the amount of hot water in the bathtub 2 is drained little by little due to insufficient closure of the drain plug 6, the level of the hot water in the bathtub 2 is only slightly below the circulation port 5, When the user closes the drain plug 6 again, most of the first predetermined amount of hot water may remain in the bathtub 2. For this reason, when the set amount of hot water is supplied to the bathtub 2 again, the set amount of hot water is added to the hot water remaining in the bathtub 2, and in some cases, the hot water may overflow from the bathtub 2.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, when the automatic filling switch 20 of the remote controller 19 is operated after the removal of the drain plug 6 of the bathtub 2 is detected and the filling is stopped, the automatic filling control unit 21 supplies water of the second predetermined amount of water in STEP 7, so that a situation where hot water overflows from the bathtub 2 can be reliably avoided.

  Subsequently, when proceeding to STEP 8, the automatic hot water filling control unit 21 determines whether or not the drain plug 6 of the bathtub 2 has been detached by the drain plug removal determination unit 22 in the same procedure as STEP 2. In STEP 8, if it is determined that the drain plug 6 has not been removed, the process proceeds to STEP 11, and if it is determined that the drain plug 6 has been removed, the process proceeds to STEP 9.

  In STEP 8, when it is determined that the drain plug 6 is detached, the user operates the automatic hot water filling switch 20 of the remote controller 19 without reclosing the drain plug 6, and the user selects the drain plug. It is conceivable that the drain plug 6 is still drained when the automatic hot water filling switch 20 of the remote controller 19 is operated even though the reclosing 6 is performed.

  Therefore, the process proceeds to STEP 9, and the automatic hot water filling control unit 21 supplies the first predetermined amount of non-heated water to the bathtub 2, further proceeds to STEP 10, and the drain plug removal determination unit 22 performs drainage of the bathtub 2. The presence or absence of removal of the stopper 6 is determined. As described above, the determination accuracy is improved by performing the determination of the detachment of the drain plug 6 a plurality of times, while the supply amount of the non-heated water to the bathtub 2 can be minimized in STEP 9.

  In STEP 10, if it is determined that the drain plug 6 has been removed, the process returns to STEP 4, and if it is determined that the drain plug 6 has not been removed, the process proceeds to STEP 11.

  If it progresses to STEP11, the automatic hot water filling control part 21 performs the boiling process of the water of the bathtub 2 (At this time, since it passed through STEP7 or STEP9, the unheated water is stored in the bathtub 2). That is, the automatic hot water filling control unit 21 operates the circulation pump 10, burns the first gas burner 7, and heats the water in the bathtub 2 by the bath heat exchanger 8. At this time, the automatic hot water filling control unit 21 controls the combustion operation of the first gas burner 7 so that the temperature detected by the second temperature sensor 12 becomes the set hot water temperature.

  When the boiling process in STEP 11 is completed, the automatic hot water filling control unit 21 stops the circulation pump 10 and stops the combustion operation of the first gas burner 7 and proceeds to STEP 12. When proceeding to STEP 12, the automatic hot water filling control unit 21 calculates the remaining water amount of the bathtub 2 by the remaining water amount detection processing unit 23.

  In addition, in the calculation of the residual water amount of the bathtub 2 by the residual water amount detection processing unit 23, a plurality of data collected during the boiling process in STEP11 is used. In calculating the amount of remaining water in the bathtub 2, in this embodiment, the method according to Japanese Patent No. 3850635 previously proposed by the present applicant was used. Here, it will be as follows if the calculation method of the residual water amount of the bathtub 2 is demonstrated easily.

  When the automatic hot water filling control unit 21 operates the circulation pump 10 to perform the combustion operation of the first gas burner 7 and the hot water in the bathtub 2 is heated by the bath heat exchanger 8, the remaining water amount detection processing unit 23 The bath thermal AC input temperature T is sequentially detected by the first temperature sensor 9 over a predetermined time (heat integration time) every predetermined unit time (for example, every second), and the detected first thermal AC input temperature T for the bath is detected. Is stored as a parameter TS. Then, the constant a determined in advance by experiment is divided by the current heat input temperature T for bath, and the heat transfer rate η from the first gas burner 7 to the hot water of the bathtub 2 (this is basically for bath use) (Equal to the thermal efficiency of the heat exchanger 8) is determined (η = a / T).

  Next, the remaining water amount detection processing unit 23 is given to the hot water of the current bathtub 2 from the first gas burner 7 by multiplying the current heat generation amount Qin [J / sec] of the first gas burner 7 by the heat transfer rate η. The amount of heat q [J / sec] is obtained (q = Qin · η). The generated heat quantity Qin of the first gas burner 7 is determined according to a data table based on the energization amount of a gas proportional solenoid valve (not shown) that defines the amount of gas supplied to the first gas burner 7.

  Furthermore, the cumulative value Σq is obtained by cumulatively adding the amount of heat q per unit time. Then, when a predetermined time (heat integration time) has elapsed, the bath thermal AC input temperature T is stored and held as a parameter TE.

  As described above, the actual amount of heat given to the hot and cold water in the bathtub 2 in the period until the heat amount integrated time elapses is finally obtained as the integrated value Σq, The thermal AC input temperature T for the bath when the heat accumulation time elapses is stored and held as the values of the parameters TS and TE, respectively. Hereinafter, the difference between the parameters TS and TE is used as the temperature increase amount ΔT.

  The product obtained by multiplying the temperature rise ΔT of the hot water in the bathtub 2 by the total amount of hot water in the bathtub 2 and the specific heat C [J / ° C./liter] of water is given to the hot water in the bathtub 2 during the period of the heat amount integration time. The actual heat quantity Σq. Therefore, the actual heat amount Σq is divided by a value obtained by multiplying the temperature rise amount ΔT of the hot water in the bathtub 2 and the specific heat C of the water to obtain the remaining water amount in the bathtub 2.

  When the remaining water amount in the bathtub 2 is thus obtained in STEP 12, the automatic filling control unit 21 proceeds to STEP 13, and subtracts the remaining water amount calculated in STEP 12 from the set filling amount to obtain a third predetermined water amount.

  Next, the automatic hot water filling control unit 21 proceeds to STEP 14 and supplies hot water of a third predetermined amount of water to the bathtub 2. That is, the automatic hot water control unit 21 opens the hot water solenoid valve 15 of the hot water supply passage 4a for bath and performs the combustion operation of the second gas burner 13. At this time, hot water of the set hot water temperature set by the user with the remote controller 19 is supplied to the bathtub 2 through the hot water supply path 4 a for the hot water supply path 4 and the circulation path 3. This hot water supply is performed until the integrated amount of the flow rate detected by the flow rate sensor 17 of the hot water supply passage 4a for the bath reaches the third predetermined water amount. Thereby, the hot water filling of the set hot water amount is performed with respect to the bathtub 2 very accurately.

  Then, the automatic filling control unit 21 proceeds to STEP 15 to notify the completion of filling and terminate the filling operation.

  In addition, in this embodiment, although STEP9 and STEP10 are provided and the example which improved the precision which determines the removal of the drain plug 6 is shown, even if it is a case where STEP9 and STEP10 are not provided, with respect to the bathtub 2 Wasteful supply of hot water can be prevented.

  Further, by boiling the hot water in the bathtub 2 to the set hot water temperature at STEP 11, data used for calculating the remaining water amount at STEP 12 is efficiently collected. For this reason, in this embodiment, the amount of remaining water can be calculated without excessively high-temperature boiling by supplying non-heated water to the bathtub 2 in STEP 7 or STEP 9, but it is supplied at this time. Hot water is not limited to non-heated water, and may be hot water having a temperature lower than the set hot water temperature.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Bath hot water supply apparatus, 2 ... Bathtub, 3 ... Circulation path, 4 ... Hot water supply path (water supply path), 5 ... Circulation port, 6 ... Drain plug, 7 ... 1st gas burner (1st heating means), 8 ... Bath Heat exchanger (first heating means), 10 ... circulation pump, 11 ... water flow switch (water flow detection means), 13 ... second gas burner (second heating means), 14 ... heat exchanger for hot water supply (second) 15 ... Hot water filling solenoid valve (water supply valve), 17 ... Flow rate sensor (flow rate detection means), 20 ... Automatic hot water filling switch (automatic hot water filling instructing means), 21 ... Automatic hot water filling control section (automatic hot water control unit) Tension control means), 22... Drain plug detachment determination unit (drain plug detachment determination means).

Claims (3)

A circulation path that is connected to a circulation port formed on the side wall of the bathtub and circulates the hot water in the bathtub by a circulation pump, a water flow detection means that detects the presence or absence of a water flow in the circulation path, and heats the hot water flowing through the circulation path A first heating means, a water supply path connected to the circulation path and capable of supplying hot water to the bathtub, a water supply valve for opening and closing the water supply path, and a flow rate detection means for detecting a water flow rate of the water supply path A second heating means for heating the water flowing through the water supply path, a hot water filling amount setting means for setting the amount of hot water supplied to the bathtub via the water supply path, and a supply to the bathtub via the water supply path A hot water filling temperature setting means for setting the temperature of the hot water to be used, and a hot water filling valve and the second heating means based on the hot water filling amount set by the hot water filling amount setting means and the hot water filling temperature set by the hot water filling temperature setting means. Control the hot water in the bathtub An automatic hot water filling control means for performing the hot water filling operation, and the circulation pump is driven in a state in which the water supply valve is closed, and provided in the bathtub based on the presence or absence of the water flow detected by the water flow detection means. A drain plug detachment judging means for judging whether or not the drain cock is detached, and an automatic hot water filling instruction means for instructing the automatic hot water filling control means to the automatic hot water filling control means by a user's operation,
When the hot water filling operation is started, the automatic hot water filling control means reduces the hot water heated to the set hot water temperature to a level lower than the set hot water amount and above the circulation port of the bathtub. 1 is supplied to the predetermined amount of water, the drain plug detachment determining means determines whether or not the drain plug is detached, and if the drain plug detachment determining means determines that the drain plug is disconnected, a hot water filling operation is performed. When the drain plug detachment determining means determines that the drain plug has not detached, the hot water heated to the set hot water temperature is maintained by opening the water supply valve and continuing the hot water filling operation. In the bath hot water supply apparatus that supplies until the set amount of hot water is reached,
The automatic hot water filling control means, when the hot water filling operation is instructed by the automatic hot water filling switch after the hot water filling operation is instructed by the drain tap removal judging means having determined that the drain tap has come off, the setting A first predetermined heating amount is supplied to the bathtub by supplying a second predetermined amount of hot water that is equal to or less than the amount of water obtained by subtracting the first predetermined amount of water from the amount of hot water filling, and further, while driving the circulation pump, the first heating means The hot water of the bathtub flowing through the circulation path is heated by the above, and the remaining water amount of the bathtub is obtained based on the amount of heat given to the hot water of the bathtub and the temperature rise amount of the hot water of the bathtub at this time, and the remaining water amount is calculated as the set hot water. A bath hot water supply apparatus that supplies a third predetermined amount of hot water obtained by subtracting from a tension amount to a bathtub. In the bath hot water supply device according to claim 1,
When the hot water filling control means supplies the second predetermined amount of hot water to the bathtub after stopping the hot water filling operation, the automatic hot water filling control means supplies the second predetermined amount of hot water at a temperature lower than the set hot water temperature. When the amount of remaining water in the bathtub is determined, the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub is raised to the set hot water temperature, and when the third predetermined amount of hot water is supplied to the bathtub, the third predetermined amount of water A hot water supply apparatus for supplying hot water at a set hot water temperature. In the bath water heater according to claim 1 or 2,
When the hot water filling control means supplies the second predetermined amount of hot water to the bathtub after stopping the hot water filling operation, prior to starting heating the hot water in the bathtub to obtain the remaining water amount. The drain plug detachment determining means determines whether or not the drain plug is detached, and when the drain plug detachment determining means determines that the drain plug is disconnected, the first predetermined amount of hot water is supplied to the bathtub again. By the way, it is determined whether or not the drain plug has been detached by the drain plug detachment determining means, and when the drain plug detachment determining means determines that the drain plug is detached, the hot water filling operation is stopped and the drain plug is not detached. When it is determined, the bath hot water supply device starts heating the hot water in the bathtub for obtaining the remaining water amount.

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