JPH02290459A - Additional heating device for hot water supply - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To allow the device to regard a constant water level as a reference to make possible measurement of the water level even if an absolute value of the output of a pressure sensor is changed by the variation of air temperature by allowing the device to regard a detected pressure of the pressure sensor corresponding to a reference water level in a bathtub as a reference pressure to store it in a nonvolatile storage means so as to continuously perform the measurement of the water level by the use of the stored reference pressure. CONSTITUTION:In a water level measurement means 13 a detected pressure is made a reference pressure and a nonvolatile storage means 14 capable of rewriting at any time to rewrite it to store it at any time is provided. When a water level reaches a circulation opening 3 and is moved upward gradually, detected pressure increases in response to the increase of the water level. There, the water level of said bathtub 2 at the time when the pressure is heightened from a detected pressure to a specified pressure at first is made a reference water level and this detected pressure is regarded as a reference pressure to rewrite contents written in the means 14 to store them. And thereafter this stored pressure is regarded as a reference pressure to measure the water level of the bathtub 2 to perform specified water level control in hot water feed operation for changing a switch means 11 to the side of a hot water feed passage 10 on the basis of the measured water level and additional beating operation for changing the switch means 11 to the side of an additional heating return passage 7.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] (Industrial application field) The present invention relates to a hot water supply reheating device.

(Prior Art) Recently, hot water reheating devices that can automatically supply a predetermined amount of hot water into a bathtub and reheat the bathtub have been increasingly used in bath equipment. In such a device, means for detecting the water level in bathtub C is essential, and by supplying hot water while monitoring the water level using this means, a desired set water level can be obtained. As a water level detection means, a pressure sensor that detects water pressure according to the water level in the bathtub is often used, and this pressure sensor is installed in a reheating return path that does not involve a reheating heat exchanger. In this configuration, the water level is measured by determining the change in water level with respect to the reference water level from a preset pressure corresponding to the reference water level in the bathtub and the pressure actually measured by the pressure sensor.
The pressure corresponding to the reference water level is conventionally stored in non-volatile storage means such as FROM, which cannot be rewritten during use. Therefore, even if the power switch is turned off or there is a power outage, the reference water level will not be lost.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) By the way, a semiconductor viezoresistive pressure sensor is often used as the pressure sensor, but in this semiconductor pressure sensor, the proportionality constant between the applied pressure and the output (voltage) depends on the ambient temperature. Although it does not change greatly, the absolute value of the output has the disadvantage that it changes greatly depending on the ambient temperature. For example, when the detected pressure change due to the change in ambient temperature between summer and winter is converted into water level, it is about a few marks. For this reason, conventionally, a means for correcting the stored value without rewriting it is required, and automation thereof has been difficult.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and it is an object of the present invention to make it possible to automatically and rationally correct changes in pressure detected by a pressure sensor due to changes in ambient temperature.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The structure of the present invention will be explained with reference to drawings corresponding to embodiments.
A hot water supply pump 5 and a running water switch 6 are connected to a hot water supply route 4 connected to
A reheating return route 7 connected to the circulation port 3 of the bathtub 2 and a hot water supply route 10 connected to the hot water heat exchanger 9 via an air-open water supply section 8 are selectively provided on the upstream side of the hot water supply route 4. In the hot water supply reheating apparatus which is provided with a switching means 11 for switching and a water level measuring means 13 for measuring the water level in the bathtub 2 by a pressure sensor 12 provided in the reheating return path 7, the water level measuring means l3 is The reference water level is the water level in the bathtub 2 when a predetermined pressure rises from the pressure detected by the pressure sensor 12 corresponding to the water level in the circulation port 3 due to hot water supply, and the detected pressure is rewritten and stored as the reference pressure at any time. A rewritable non-volatile storage means 14 is provided, and the storage means 14
The water level is measured from the reference pressure stored in the pressure sensor 12 and the pressure detected by the pressure sensor 12.

(Function) When the switching means 1l is switched to the reheating return path 7 side and the hot water pump 5 is operated, if the water level in the bathtub 2 is above the circulation port 3, the hot water in the bathtub 2 is transferred to the circulation port 3. The hot water flows from there into the additional heating return route 7, and from there passes through the switching means 11 to the hot water supply route 4.
The hot water flows into the bathtub 2 through the water supply switch 6, the hot water bomb 5, the reheating heat exchanger 1, the hot water supply path 4, the circulation port 3, and the bathtub 2, where it is circulated. When the hot water in the bathtub 2 is circulated in this way, the running water switch 6 is turned on, and therefore the running water switch 6 is turned on.
Depending on the state, it is possible to detect whether the water level in the bathtub 2 is above or below the circulation port 3. In such a state, when hot water or water is filled into the reheating return path 7 via the temporary hot water supply path 15, for example, the pressure sensor 12 detects a pressure corresponding to the head difference between the hot water and the water filled between the circulation port 3 and the pressure sensor l2. This detected pressure does not change if the water level in the bathtub 2 is below the circulation port 3.

Here, the switching means 11 is switched to the hot water supply route 10 side, the hot water pump 5 is operated, and hot water is supplied from the hot water supply route 4 to the bathtub 2 via the switching means 11 from the hot water supply route IO, and the pressure sensor 1
The pressure detected by 2 does not change at the above-mentioned value until the water level reaches the circulation port 3. When the water level reaches the circulation port 3 and gradually moves upward, the detected pressure also increases in accordance with the rise in the water level. Therefore, the water level in the bathtub 2 when the pressure increases by a predetermined value from the initial detected pressure is set as the reference water level,
The contents written in the storage means 14 are rewritten and stored using this detected pressure as a reference pressure.

Thereafter, the water level in the bathtub 2 is measured using this memorized pressure as a reference pressure, and based on the measured water level, the switching means 11 is switched to the hot water supply path 10 side for hot water supply operation, and the switching means 11 is switched to the hot water supply route 10 side. A predetermined water level control can be performed in the reheating operation by switching to the return route 7 side. Since the reference pressure is a value that is a predetermined pressure increase from the initial detection pressure corresponding to the water level of the circulation port 3, the pressure sensor 12
Regardless of the absolute value of the output, water level measurements can be performed using a nearly constant water level as the reference water level. Therefore, even if the absolute value of the output of the pressure sensor 12, such as a semiconductor piezoresistive type, changes greatly depending on the ambient temperature, the constant of proportionality between the pressure and the output does not change significantly, it is impossible to always accurately measure the water level. It can be carried out.

On the other hand, in the above-described water level detection based on the state of the water switch 6, if the water switch 6 is turned on and the water level in the bathtub 2 is above the circulation port 3, the water level is stored in the storage means I4 as is. Hot water supply operation or reheating operation can be performed by controlling the water level with reference to the standard pressure. Since the storage means 14 is non-volatile, it is not affected by power outages.

Although this memory I4 is non-volatile, it is constructed so that it can be rewritten at any time. As described above, even if the absolute value of the output of the pressure sensor 12 changes due to changes in the ambient temperature, the water level can be measured using a substantially constant water level as the reference water level. The above storage means 14 is, for example, an EEPROM or an RA with a battery bank.
It can be constituted by a volatile tα element such as M or the like.

(Embodiment) Next, the above-mentioned effects of the present invention will be explained with reference to the configuration of the illustrated embodiment and a flowchart showing a specific example of automatic operation.

Figure 2(a). (b) and (c) show other embodiments of the apparatus of the present invention, which constitute the temporary hot water supply path 15. That is, in this configuration, the second switching means 16 is provided downstream of the hot water pump 5 in the hot water route 4, and the selection port on one side is connected to the reheating heat exchanger 1.
The selection port on the other side is connected to the reheating return route 7.
It is connected to temporary hot water supply route 15 leading to. In such a configuration, when a predetermined switch is turned ON to start automatic operation, the control means 17 first checks whether there has been a power outage since the previous operation and whether large amounts of hot water are being transferred from the bathtub 2 to the washing machine etc. using the hot water bomb 5. In addition to determining whether or not hot water should be transferred,
The water level in the bathtub 2 is measured by the pressure sensor 12, and if there is a power outage or even if there is no power outage, the following sequence is executed if the drop in water level is more than a predetermined value.

First, the water level in the hopper 18 of the air-open water supply section 8 is checked, and if the water level is above a predetermined level, the switching means 11.16
is set to the state shown in FIG. 2(b), the hot water pump 5 is operated, and the burner 19 is set to the combustion state. In this state, the hot water introduced from the hot water heat exchanger 9 to the air-open water supply section 8 can be supplied into the bathtub 2 via the hot water supply path 4 by the pump 5. (Automatic hot water supply 1) Such hot water supply is performed for a short time (for example, about 1 minute), and after the hot water supply is stopped, the operation of the running water switch 6 provided at an appropriate location is checked.

This operation check is ON when supplying hot water and OFF after supplying hot water.
This can be done by confirming that F is obtained.

Next, the upstream switching means 11 is switched, as shown in FIG. 2(c).
The pump 5 is operated for a short time (for example, 40 seconds) in this state (bomb operation 1). During such operation, it is possible to detect whether the water level in the bathtub 2 is above or below the circulation port 3 from the operation of the water flow switch 6. That is, if the water level is below the circulation port 3, the water flow switch 6 will not be turned on even if the pump 5 is operated.

Next, by switching the upstream and downstream switching means 11.16 and performing temporary hot water feeding (temporary hot water feeding 1) in the state shown in FIG. Air bubbles can be expelled to completely fill the tub with hot water, thus making it possible to accurately measure the water pressure by the pressure sensor 12 via the path 7 and to measure the water level in the bathtub 2.

Therefore, when the water level detected by the operation of the water flow switch 6 described above is below the circulation port 3, the pressure detected by the pressure sensor 12 is set as the initial pressure (pressure detection 1
), then the switching means 16 on the downstream side is switched to supply hot water into the bathtub 2 in the state shown in FIG. 2(b) (automatic hot water supply 2). When the water level in the bathtub 2 rises due to such hot water supply and exceeds the circulation port 3, the detected pressure increases by the height, and the hot water supply is stopped at a predetermined pressure rise. In such automatic hot water supply, if there is no increase in the detected pressure at all after a predetermined period of time, for example about 30 minutes, it is determined that the stopper of the bathtub 2 has come loose, an alarm is issued, and the automatic operation is stopped. On the other hand, if there is a predetermined pressure increase, the pump 5 is operated again for a short time in the state shown in FIG. 2(c) (pump operation 2), and the water level in the bathtub 2 is checked again. In this process, an apparent rise in water level caused by errors caused by air bubbles flowing into the piping of the reheating return path 7 during hot water supply up to that point or errors caused by the pressure sensor 12 itself is detected. be able to. That is, due to these errors, the water level may be lower than the circulation port 3.
If the temperature has not been reached, the water flow switch 6 will not be turned on, so in this case, the process returns to the temporary hot water supply 1 process and is operated again.

On the other hand, in this process, even if a predetermined water level is confirmed by turning on the water flow switch 6, the temporary hot water supply (temporary hot water supply 2) is performed again in the state shown in FIG. 2(a). By performing this process, even if the water level is close to the circulation port 3 and air bubbles flow into the piping of the reheating return path 7 in the previous process, that is, the pump operation 2 process, such air bubbles can be eliminated. At the same time, the water level can be completely raised above the circulation port 3. Through the above series of processes, accurate measurement of water pressure by the pressure sensor 12 via the path 7,
Then, the water level in the bathtub 2 can be detected, and the water level corresponding to the detected pressure at this time is set as a reference water level, and the memory contents of the storage means 14 are rewritten and stored using this detected pressure as the reference pressure. Thereafter, the water level in the bathtub 2 can be measured using this newly stored pressure as a reference pressure, and hot water can be supplied to the set water level (automatic hot water supply 3). In this automatic hot water supply 3 process, if the water level does not reach the set level after a predetermined period of time has elapsed, it is determined that the stopper of the bathtub 2 has come loose, and an alarm is issued in the same manner as in the automatic hot water supply 2 process described above, and automatic operation is started. Stop. Further, when the water level in the bathtub 2 reaches the set water level in the automatic hot water supply 3 process, the next reheating operation process is performed.

On the other hand, when the above-mentioned automatic operation is started, there was no power outage or transfer of a large amount of hot water from the bathtub 2 during the previous operation, and the water level detected by the pressure sensor 12 has decreased to the predetermined value a.
In the following cases, the pump 5 is operated for a short time (pump operation 3) in the state shown in Fig. 2(c), and the water level measurement error caused by the error caused by the inflow of air bubbles is caused by the state of the water flow switch 6 at this time. can be detected. That is, as described above, if the water level does not reach the circulation port 3 due to an error, the water flow switch 6 will not be turned on, so in this case, the process branches to the temporary hot water supply 1 process. In addition, when the water flow switch 6 is ON, it is assumed that there is no error due to the inflow of air bubbles, and the water level is detected by the pressure sensor 12, and if the water level decrease is less than a predetermined value b (b<a), the reheating operation is started. At the same time, if the water level drop is larger than the predetermined value b, the temporary hot water supply (-special hot water 3) in the state shown in FIG. After eliminating the possibility of air bubbles flowing into the pipe, the water level is detected again by the pressure sensor 12, and if the water level drops below the predetermined value b due to the water supply in the temporary water supply 3 process, In the reheating operation process, if the predetermined value b is still greater than the predetermined value b, the process moves to the automatic hot water supply 3 process. Note that this temporary hot water supply 3 process is a transition destination when the water flow switch 6 is turned on in the pump operation 1 process.

Next, in the reheating operation, in the state shown in Fig. 2(c),
This is continued until the temperature of the circulating hot water reaches the set temperature, and then the hot water operation is continued for a predetermined period of time, and the automatic operation is ended. This warm water supplement operation detects the water level and water temperature in the bathtub 2 at regular intervals, and if the water level and water temperature in the bathtub 2 have decreased by more than a predetermined value,
This process executes the steps from to b.

In the illustrated configuration, reference numeral 20 is a flow rate sensor, 21 is a two-way valve, and 22 is a ball tap.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, the present invention stores the detected pressure of the pressure sensor corresponding to the reference water level in the bathtub, which is the reference for water level measurement by the pressure sensor, in the nonvolatile storage means as the reference pressure. As long as the water level in the bathtub is above the circulation port, the water level can be continuously measured using the memorized reference pressure even if there is a power outage.Although this storage means is non-volatile, it can be rewritten at any time. Since the reference pressure set as described above is stored in place of the previous memorized value during operation after the bathtub is emptied, the pressure sensor is Even if the absolute value of the output changes due to changes in ambient temperature, for example, changes in air temperature between summer and winter, the water level can be measured using a substantially constant water level as the reference water level.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1(a). (b) and Figure 2 (a), (b)
) and (c) are system explanatory diagrams showing the configuration and operation of the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of automatic operation using the device of the present invention. Code 1... Reheating heat exchanger, 2... Bathtub, 3... Circulation port, 4... Hot water route, 5... Hot water pump, 6...
・Running water switch, 7... Reheating return route, 8... Atmospheric open water supply section, 9... Hot water supply heat exchanger, 10... Hot water supply route, 11.16... Switching, 12... Pressure sensor, 1
3... Water level measuring means, 14... Memory means, 15...
- Temporary hot water supply path, l7... Control means, 18... Hopper flow rate sensor, 19.19'... Burner, 21...
・Two-way valve, 22...Ball tambu.

Claims (5)

[Claims] (1) A hot water pump and a running water switch are installed in the hot water path that connects to the bathtub's circulation port via the reheating heat exchanger, and a reheating return path that connects to the bathtub's circulation port is provided on the upstream side of the hot water path. , a switching means is provided for selectively switching the hot water supply path connected to the hot water heat exchanger via the air-open water supply section, and a water level measuring means is provided for measuring the water level in the bathtub using a pressure sensor provided in the reheating return path. In the hot water reheating device, the water level measuring means has a reference water level that is the water level of the bathtub when a predetermined pressure rises from the detected pressure of the pressure sensor corresponding to the water level of the circulation port due to hot water supply, and measures the detected pressure. The hot water supply adder is characterized in that a rewritable non-volatile memory means is provided which rewrites and stores the reference pressure at any time, and the water level is measured from the reference pressure stored in the memory means and the detected pressure of the pressure sensor. Burning device (2) A hot water reheating device characterized in that the storage means described in item 1 is constituted by an EEPROM. (3) A hot water reheating device characterized in that the storage means described in item 1 is constituted by a volatile storage element backed up by a battery. (4) A hot water reheating device characterized in that the pressure sensor described in item 1 is a semiconductor piezoresistive pressure sensor. (5) A hot water reheating device characterized by having a temporary hot water supply path branching from the downstream side of the hot water pump described in item 1 and leading to the reheating return path.