JPH0367955A - Warm-keeping device for bath - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To halt a useless warm-keeping action for eliminating waste of the power consumption by providing a change-over device by which an electric circuit of a warm-keeping control circuit is put in non-conduction when a bathroom occupant-detector outputs a signal and in conduction state when an occupant goes out of a bathroom. CONSTITUTION:When a bathroom occupant stays in a bathroom or a bathtub, a bathroom occupant-detector N detects it and outputs a signal to a change-over device S, thereby an electric circuit of a warm-keeping control circuit H is cut off, so that warm-keeping action does not take place. Next, when the occupant goes out of the bathroom, a corresponding signal is output and the change- over device S makes the electric circuit of the warm-keeping circuit conduct, so that the warm-keeping device is held under the control of the warm-keeping control circuit by the warm-keeping control circuit H. Therefore, in the case the occupant stays in the bathroom, the action of the warm-keeping device is halted, and the warm-keeping action is automaticallay restarted after the occupant goes out of the bathroom.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Application and Summary of the Invention] The present invention relates to a bath device, and particularly to a bath device of the type that keeps the water temperature in the bathtub at a constant temperature so that it can always be maintained at an appropriate temperature during bathing. When the bath is opened, the heat keeping operation is automatically stopped to prevent unnecessary heat keeping operations from being performed.

[Prior Art and its Problems] In recent bath equipment, those in which a water heater and a bath reheating device are built into a single casing have become popular. The facility is equipped with a so-called automatic hot water filling device that can supply hot water at a predetermined temperature up to a certain water level. Recently, in addition to this function, a heat retention function has been added, and when the hot water in the bathtub gets cold, the reheating device is operated for a certain period of time to keep the temperature inside the bathtub warm. Maintain gJ temperature at a constant temperature.

Equipped with this heat retention device, it eliminates the inconvenience of the bath water being extremely low when the time interval between baths becomes long due to low outside temperatures such as in winter, and ensures that the temperature is always at the appropriate temperature when bathing. You can take a bath in the hot springs.

In order to maintain heat, it is necessary to detect the temperature of the water in the bathtub. Conventionally, a temperature detection device is installed in the circulation circuit between the bathtub and the bathtub that constitutes the reheating device, and this circulation circuit is The bath N water temperature is detected in the operating state at regular intervals. If the temperature of the water in the bathtub is below the set temperature, the heating means in the reheating device is simultaneously operated to maintain the temperature of the water in the bathtub at a constant temperature.

By the way, when there are people taking a bath in the bathroom, the temperature of the water in the bathtub is set according to the bather's preference by reheating the bathtub as necessary, so it is necessary to keep warm during this time. do not have. On the other hand, continuing this operation for m consecutive times causes wasteful power consumption and the like.

The present invention has been made in view of this point, and includes connecting the heating means of the reheating device and the bathtub through a circulation circuit, and detecting the temperature of the water in the bathtub by forcing the circulation circuit to circulate at regular intervals. In addition, there is no need for wasted power consumption in a "bath warming device" which is equipped with a heat retention control circuit (11) that activates the heating means to maintain the bathtub water temperature at a constant temperature when the bathtub water temperature is below a set temperature. In order to prevent this, the problem is to stop the operation of the heat retaining device when there is a bather in the bathroom.

[Technical means] The technical means of the present invention taken to solve the above problems is to detect that a bather is in the bathtub (B) or in the bathroom, and to output a constant output in this bather detection state. The output of the bather detection means (N) is inputted to a switch device (S), and the switch device (S) inputs the output from the bather detection means (N) to the heat retention control circuit (H). The switch device is designed to make the electric circuit of the bather non-conductive and to make the electric circuit to the heat retention control circuit (I) conductive in the event that the bather leaves the room.

[Function] The above technical means of the present invention works as follows. When a bather is in the bathtub or bathroom, the bather detection means (N) detects this, and the output thereof is sent to the switch device (S). ), thereby cutting off the electric circuit to the heat retention control circuit (H). Therefore, in this case, the heat retention operation will not be performed.

Next, when the bather leaves the bathroom, the corresponding output causes the switch device (S) to conduct the electric circuit to the heat retention control circuit (11), and the heat retention device connects to the heat retention control circuit ().
).

Therefore, when there is a bather in the bathroom, the operation of the heat-retaining device is stopped, and when this state ends, the heat-retaining operation is automatically restarted.

[effect] Since the present invention has the above configuration, it has the following unique effects.

When a bather is in the bathroom, the operation of the heat retaining device is stopped, so that unnecessary heat retaining operations are prevented from proceeding during this time, and wasteful power consumption is also prevented.

Also, outside air in winter? If the temperature is low, if the circulation circuit of the reheating device is forced to circulate with the heating means stopped, the temperature of the water in the bathroom will drop due to the heat exchange action (air cooling action) of the heat exchanger located outside. According to the present invention, since the warming operation is stopped during bathing, such inconvenience during bathing can be prevented.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described based on FIGS. 1 to 4.

The device of this embodiment is A so-called bathtub with a water heater, which has gJ function and a function to circulately heat the bathtub (B), is equipped with an automatic hot water filling device and a heat retention device, and the heat retention control circuit (10 operations of the heat retention device) is implemented by a water level detection type. It is controlled by a bathing sensor, and as shown in Figure 1, the hot water supply circuit (21) on the outlet side of the heat exchanger (2) for hot water supply.
In addition to making it possible to supply hot water to the kitchen, washroom, and bathroom, the hot water supply function can also be used to automatically fill the hot water. ) to control the hot water temperature. A water level sensor (P) is incorporated into a part of the automatic hot water filling device, and this water level sensor (P) also functions as a component of a bather detection means.

The temperature control circuit (5) is configured to include a first temperature control circuit (5a) on the main operation panel (cl) side and a second temperature control circuit (5b) on the sub operation panel (C2) side. As shown in Figure 2, the control circuit includes a temperature sensor (20) such as a main star that detects the temperature on the outlet side of the heat exchanger (2).
, a hot water temperature setting device, and a comparison calculation circuit that compares and calculates the output of the temperature sensor (2o) and the output from the hot water temperature setting device, and the output from the comparison calculation circuit is connected to the heat exchanger (2o).
) is input to a drive circuit (51) for a gas proportional valve (50) that controls the amount of gas supplied to the burner that heats the gas.

The first temperature control circuit (5a) compares the output from the temperature sensor (20) with the output of the hot water temperature setting device (52) on the main operation panel (C1) side, and the other 27th crystallinity control circuit (5b) compares the output from the temperature sensor (20) with the output from the hot water temperature setting device (53) on the side of the sub-operation panel (C2), and these outputs are sent to the drive circuit (51) via the changeover switch (54). ) is entered.

Next, as shown in FIG. 1, the automatic hot water filling device connects the hot water filling circuit (22) branched from the hot water supply circuit (21) on the outlet side of the hot water heat exchanger (2) to a circulation heating circuit. (3), a hot water filling valve (23) consisting of a solenoid valve and a vacuum break valve (24) are inserted into this drying circuit (22), and a circulating heating circuit (3) is connected to the bathtub (B). ) to the water level sensor (
The water level sensor (P) is connected in communication with the water level sensor (P).
The output of is input to a comparison calculation circuit (4) as shown in FIG. Note that this water level sensor (P) is a type of sensor that constantly outputs a detection output. A water level setting device (
The output from the water level setting device (41) is constantly inputted, and the output from the water level setting device (41) and the output from the water level sensor (P) are compared by this comparison calculation circuit (4), and the output from the water level sensor (P) is When the output reaches the set value by the water level setter (41), the comparison calculation circuit (4) outputs a constant output signal. The output from this comparison calculation circuit (4) is input to a switch device (43) which is always on, and this switch device (43) is inserted in series with the hot water filling valve (23). The switch device (43) and the hot water filling valve (23) are made conductive when the hot water filling switch (25) is turned on.

In addition, this water filling switch (25) functions as an auto switch for automatic hot water filling, and also functions as an auto switch for activating a heat retaining device, which will be described later.

The output of the water level sensor (P) is also input to the water level change calculation circuit (1), and the combination of this water level sensor (P) and the water level change calculation circuit (1) functions as a bather detection means. It is. This water level change calculation circuit (1) specifies a degree of change that is greater than the degree of change in the water level in the bathtub fB when the bather is thirsty and smaller than the degree of change in the water level when the bather enters the bathtub CB+. The output of the reference value output means (11) for outputting the water level change reference value is inputted to the water level change calculation circuit (11) together with the output of the water level sensor (P). The output from this water level change calculation circuit (1) is a relay (R3) whose output contact is the aforementioned changeover switch (54).
) connected in series with a switching transistor (10
) is applied to the base of Furthermore, this relay (R1)
The changeover switch (54) serving as the output section is normally connected to the circuit on the first temperature control circuit (5a) side, and the output from the water level change calculation circuit (1) is connected to the base of the switching transistor (10). When applied, the relay (
The conduction of R1) causes the output contact to switch to the second temperature control circuit (
5b).

In addition, in this embodiment, the water level change calculation circuit (1)
As shown in Fig. 3, there is a comparison calculation circuit (12) into which the output from the water level sensor (P) and the output from the reference value output means (11) are input, and the output from this comparison calculation circuit (12). A switching transistor (13
), a timer (10) connected in series with this switching transistor (13), a self-holding circuit (16) into which one output switch of this timer is input, and a reference voltage application circuit (in which the other output switch is inserted). 15), and the voltage applied to this reference voltage application circuit (15) is applied to the gate of the switching transistor (10).

Next, the heat retention device is equipped with a circulation pump (33) of the reheating device.
), solenoid valve (3) inserted in the gas circuit to the burner (30)
0, and a heat retention control circuit (H) that controls these, and this heat retention control circuit (H) is a switch device (S).
It is connected in series with the output contact (R1+) of the relay (R1).

The heat retention control circuit (H) connects a circulation pump (33) for reheating and a burner (3o) to a hot water temperature detection device (
32), and the circulation pump (33) is brought into operation intermittently at regular intervals in order to perform this hot water temperature detection operation. Therefore, this heat retention control circuit (H) includes a relay (R3) connected in series with the output contact (R1+) of the relay (Ro), and a timer circuit (33) that operates the circulation pump (33) for a certain period of time at certain time intervals. T), when the temperature detected by the hot water temperature detection device (32) is lower than the set temperature, the burner (30) and the circulation pump (33) are activated, and when the detected temperature reaches the set temperature, the follow-up is activated. It is composed of a reheating control circuit (19) that stops the operation of the firing function section,
What is this series circuit with the same points for reheating control? The normally closed output contact (R2++) of the relay (R2) connected in parallel with the hot water filling valve (23) is inserted into this circuit. (R
The normally open output contact (R3+) of 3) is inserted into the electric circuit to the timer circuit (T) and the electric circuit to the reheating control circuit (19).

In the heat retention device with this configuration, after automatic hot water filling is completed, as long as the normally closed output contact (++2+) is closed and the output contact (Rz) is in the closed state, the heat retention control circuit ()I) is conductive. , the circulation pump (33) is controlled by the timer circuit (T), and the reheating operation is controlled by the reheating control circuit (19). In other words, if temperature detection is performed at regular intervals, if both temperatures are below the set temperature, the bathtub will be reheated by reheating.
The temperature in B) will be maintained at a constant temperature.

In the embodiment with the above configuration, when you perform the water filling operation and turn on the hot water filling switch (25), the hot water filling switch (25) is automatically turned on. When S filling is started and the output of the water level sensor (P) reaches the set water level, filling is automatically stopped by the output of the comparison calculation circuit (4). During this hot water filling operation, (IJ
The relay (R2) connected in parallel with the J tension valve (23) is in a conductive state, the normally closed output contact (R21) is in a non-conductive state, and the operation of the heat retention control circuit (+1) is stopped. Then, when the filling is completed, the normally closed output contact (R2+
) is closed, the heat retention control circuit (l() is activated, and the heat retention operation described above proceeds).

However, in the circuit to the heat retention control circuit (11), the output contact (R11) of the relay (R1) is connected in series with the normally closed output contact (R21), so the heat retention is performed by this relay (R3). The operation of the control circuit (11) is controlled. In addition, since a changeover switch (54), which serves as the other output contact of the relay (R1), is inserted between the temperature/control circuit and the drive circuit (51), this changes the temperature of hot water supplied to the bathroom. The control state will be switched.

That is, when a bather enters the bathtub (B), the selector switch (54) is switched by the output of the water level change calculation circuit (1) and the relay (R4), and the output of the bather detection means (N) is changed. by the second temperature control circuit (5b)
The hot water temperature setting by the second temperature control circuit (5b) has priority over that of the other second temperature control circuit (5b). In other words, the time for this priority operation is the time set in the timer (14). Therefore, even if you use the shower (27) in the bathroom during this time, the hot water temperature setting device (53) provided on the sub-operation panel (C2)
), and even if the hot water temperature is set to a high temperature on the main control panel (C1) side, this high temperature hot water will be inconveniently spewed out from the shower (27). will be prevented. At the same time, by opening the output contact (R11), the circuit to the heat retention control circuit (H) becomes non-conductive, and the operation of the heat retention device is stopped by the timer (14).
It will stop for the set time.

Here, the setting time of the timer (14) is set to a general bathing time (20 minutes to 30 minutes).

Apart from the water level change calculation circuit (1) described in 2.2, it is also possible to adopt a configuration as shown in FIG. 4 as a water level change calculation circuit (1) that achieves the same purpose.

In this device, the output from the water level sensor (P) is input to a differentiating circuit (17) via an inverting circuit, and this differentiating circuit (
The output from 17) is input to the timer 08), and the output of this timer (18) is input to the relay <I'll) in Fig. 2 whose output contact is the selector switch (54). ) The relay (R1) is configured to be in a conductive state for a set time. Here, the differentiating circuit (17) uses a resistor and a capacitor, and sets the resistance value and capacitance of these to predetermined values.
Needless to say, it is constructed so that a constant output is obtained when there is a change in water pressure when a bather enters the bathtub (B). When the bather leaves the bathtub (B), a constant "negative output" is output.

In addition, in the above embodiments, as a bathing detection sensor,
Although a method of detecting changes in the water level in the bathtub was adopted, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 64-1i26, human detection sensors such as infrared detection sensors were installed in the area where people pass into the bathroom. You can.

Furthermore, this human detection sensor may be combined with the bathing detection sensor of the above embodiment which detects changes in water level.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is an overall diagram of the embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram of its electric circuit diagram, Fig. 3 is a detailed diagram of the water level change calculation circuit (1), and Fig. 4 is a water level change calculation circuit (1). This is an explanatory diagram of another embodiment of 1), in which (B)... Bathtub (N)... Bather detection means (S)... Switch device

Claims (1)

[Claims] Connect the heating means of the reheating device and the bathtub with a circulation circuit,
Heat retention control that detects the temperature of hot water in the bathtub by forcibly circulating the circulation circuit at fixed time intervals, and when the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub is below a set temperature, sets the heating means into an operating state to maintain the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub at a constant temperature. The bath heat retention device F equipped with the circuit (H) includes a bather detection means (N ) output from the switch device (S
), and the switch device (S) activates the heat retention control circuit (H) when there is an output from the bather detection means (N).
) A heating device for a bath, which has a switch device that disconnects an electric circuit to the heating control circuit (H) and connects the electric circuit to the heating control circuit (H) in the event that a bather leaves the room.