JPH0289952A - Detection of clogging in circulation metal fitting in automatic bath equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a circulation fitting in an automatic bath system for home use, which automatically detects when the circulation fitting becomes clogged and notifies the user. The present invention relates to a clogging detection method.

[Conventional technology]

The automatic bath system is constructed as shown in FIG.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 1 denotes an appliance main body, which houses a hot water supply heat exchanger 2 and a connected heat exchanger 3. The bathtub 4 and the continuous heat exchanger 3, which are installed at a position away from the appliance main body 1, are connected via a circulation outgoing pipe 5, a return pipe 6, and a circulation fitting 7 installed in the bathtub, A pump 8 is installed in the return pipe 6, and when the pump 8 is driven and the burner (not shown) of the multiple heat exchanger 3 is burned, hot water in the bathtub is transferred to the multiple heat exchanger 3. It is configured for cyclic heating.

In addition, the hot water supply heat exchanger 2 is connected to the water supply pipe 9 and the hot water supply pipe! A branch pipe 12 is provided which is connected to 0 and has a solenoid valve 11 for filling hot water from the hot water pipe 10 to the bathtub.
The discharge port faces the hopper 13.

The lower part of the hopper 13 is connected to the return pipe 6 by an inlet pipe 15 having a solenoid valve 14, which opens the solenoid valve 11.14 and drives the pump 8, which drives the burner (not shown) of the hot water heat exchanger 2. When combusted, hot water heat exchanger 2
The bathtub is configured so that heated hot water can be supplied (so-called hot water filling) into the bathtub via the hopper 13 and the circulation pipe. In addition, in the said structure, the hopper 13 is for isolating the hot water supply waterway and the bathtub waterway.

Although this type of automatic bath device is omitted from illustration.

It is equipped with a microcomputer control section and a remote controller (hereinafter referred to as the remote control). Signals from the flow rate sensor, pressure sensor, water switch, temperature detector, etc. are input to the microcomputer control section, and the signals and instructions set on the remote control are input to the microcomputer control section. For example, when the automatic operation switch on the remote control is turned on, the solenoid valves 11 and 14 are opened and the pump 8 is driven, and when flowing water is detected on the hot water supply side, the system is configured to automatically operate the system. The burner of the heat exchanger 2 is ignited to fill the bathtub 4 with hot water at a temperature slightly S lower than the boiling temperature set on the remote control.
When it is detected that the water level inside has reached the water level set by the remote control (for example, detected by the pressure sensor 16), the above-mentioned filling of hot water is stopped, the pump 8 is driven, and the burner of the multiple heat exchanger 3 is fired. The system is configured to perform a continuous operation and automatically stop the continuous operation when it is detected that the temperature of the water in the bathtub has reached the temperature set on the remote control.

In addition to the automatic operation described above, the remote control is equipped with a combination operation switch, and when the combination operation switch is turned on, only the combination operation is performed.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

In the above-mentioned automatic bath equipment, when operating in tandem,
Because the pump sucks in not only bath water but also dirt and hair from inside the bathtub, a device such as a wire mesh is attached to the suction port of the circulation fitting to prevent dirt from being sucked in.

FIG. 4 shows an example of this, in which a circulation fitting 7 is installed across the bathtub 4, and a cover 7 is installed inside the circulation fitting.
8 is attached to separate the suction side 7b and the discharge side 7c, and a meshure d for preventing dust suction is attached to the suction port.

In the conventional technology mentioned above, as it is used, dirt adheres to the suction port of the circulation fitting, and if the user uses it without noticing this, the circulation water company may be damaged when the pump is driven for reheating. When the amount decreases and reaches the limit, the dry firing prevention device inside the appliance is activated and the appliance stops. In such cases, if the user cleans the circulation fittings, the appliance will operate normally, but in the past there was no way to detect that the circulation fittings were clogged.
Generally, users often determine that the appliance is broken and request repair.

In order to improve the problems of the prior art as described above, the present invention is capable of notifying the user that the circulation fitting is clogged when dirt adheres to the circulation fitting and reaches a certain limit. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for detecting clogging of a circulation fitting that can be performed.6 [Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention aims to achieve the above objects.

The pressure or flow rate in the circulation pipe during normal coupled operation is detected and the value is stored in the control board.

When the equipment is subsequently operated in tandem, the pressure or flow rate in the circulation pipe at that time is detected, the detected value is compared with the memorized value, and this is used when the difference between the two exceeds a certain level. It is characterized by something that was intended to inform the public.

[Effect]

When the circulation fittings become clogged, the internal pressure of the pump increases, which increases the pressure in the circulation pipe and reduces the circulation flow rate.If the detected value increases or decreases to a certain level or more, the device itself is abnormal. It is possible to notify the user with a buzzer or lamp before the system stops.

〔Example〕

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are flowcharts of the present invention using a pressure sensor, with FIG. 1 being a flowchart for the first continuous operation after installation of the equipment, and FIG. 2 being a flowchart for the subsequent continuous operation.

As shown in Figure 1, after installing the equipment, when you turn on the continuous operation switch (or when you turn on the automatic operation switch and start continuous operation after filling water), the pump 8
The pressure in the circulation pipe at that time is detected by the pressure sensor 16, and if necessary, this is stored in the control board as an average value for X seconds, and the continuous operation is continued to perform continuous combustion. When it is detected that the set temperature has been reached, the pump 8 is stopped and the continuous operation is ended.

Next, during the first and subsequent coupled operations, as shown in Fig. 2, the pressure in the circulation pipe is detected by the pressure sensor 16 during the coupled operation, and whether the detected value has increased by a certain level or more than the memorized value or not. Compare how. Under normal conditions, the detected value and the stored value are at the same level, so in that case, continue to operate the pump as is, and when the set temperature is reached, the pump 8
, and end the twin operation.

While bathing several times as described above, dirt adheres to the circulation fitting 7, and the internal pressure of the pump rises due to the resistance of the suction port due to the dirt, and therefore the pressure detected by the pressure sensor also rises. When it is detected that the detected value has exceeded the above-mentioned certain level, the user is notified of this with a buzzer, lamp, etc. after the completion of the combination. The lighting indicates that the circulation fittings need to be cleaned.

This embodiment is applied to a type in which the water level of the bathtub is detected by a pressure sensor, and the pressure sensor for detecting the water level of the bathtub is also used for detecting clogging.

This can be implemented simply and easily by only slightly changing the configuration of the control board.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show an embodiment in which clogging of the circulation fittings is detected using a flow rate sensor.

That is, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, a flow rate sensor 17 is disposed in the return pipe 6 of the circulation connection pipe.

The flow rate in the circulation pipe during normal coupled operation is detected by the flow rate sensor and the detected flow rate is stored in the control board, and during subsequent coupled operation, the flow rate is detected by the flow rate sensor 17 as shown in FIG. Detects the flow rate in the circulation pipe during continuous operation, compares the detected flow rate with the memorized flow rate, and if it is detected that the detected flow rate has become below a certain level than the memorized flow rate, this This was done to inform the user.

This embodiment detects a decrease in the flow rate due to clogging of the circulation fitting, and it is obvious that it can achieve the same effect as the one using the pressure sensor described above.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, in an automatic bathing device, when dust or the like adheres to the circulation fittings and reaches a certain limit, this can be automatically detected and the user can be notified. There is.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIGS. 1 and 2 are flowcharts showing the clogging detection method according to the present invention, FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an outline of an automatic bath equipment to which the method shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is applied, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing an example of a circulation fitting, FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of an automatic bath apparatus to which the method shown in FIG. 5 is applied. 1... Appliance body, 2... Heat exchanger for hot water supply, 3...
Heat exchanger for continuous connection, 4... Bathtub, 5... Outgoing pipe for continuous connection, 6
...-Return pipe, 7... Circulation fitting, 8... Pump,
9...Water supply pipe, lO...Hot water supply pipe, 11.14...
・Solenoid valve, I2...branch pipe, 13...hopper, 1
5...Introduction pipe, 16...Pressure sensor, 17...
flow rate sensor.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. The appliance body is equipped with a heat exchanger for reheating, the heat exchanger for reheating is connected to a circulation fitting of a bathtub via a circulation pipe, and the heat exchanger is installed in the circulation pipe. In an automatic bath device that circulates and heats hot water in a bathtub by driving a heated pump, a pressure sensor is disposed in the circulation pipe, and the pressure in the circulation pipe during normal reheating operation is determined by the pressure. The detected pressure is detected by the sensor and stored in the control board, and during subsequent reheating operation of the appliance, the pressure in the circulation pipe is detected by the pressure sensor, and the detected pressure is compared with the stored value. A method for detecting clogging of a circulation fitting in an automatic bathing device, characterized in that when it is detected that the detected pressure has become a certain level or higher than a memorized value, the user is notified of this. 2. The appliance body is equipped with a heat exchanger for reheating, the heat exchanger for reheating is connected to the circulation fitting of the bathtub via a circulation pipe, and a pump disposed in the circulation pipe is driven. In an automatic bath device that circulates and heats hot water in a bathtub, a flow rate sensor is disposed in the circulation pipe, and the flow rate in the circulation pipe during normal reheating operation is detected by the flow rate sensor, and the The detected flow rate is stored in the control board, and during the subsequent reheating operation of the appliance, the flow rate in the circulation pipe during the reheating operation is detected by the flow rate sensor, and the detected flow rate is compared with the stored flow rate, A method for detecting clogging of a circulation fitting in an automatic bath device, characterized in that when it is detected that the detected flow rate has become less than a certain level than the memorized flow rate, the user is notified of this.