JPH0416689B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a water flow control device for a water heater such as a gas water heater.

Configuration of conventional example and its problems In the field of water heaters, methods for detecting the temperature of hot water and adjusting the amount of gas and water are already known.

As shown in FIG. 1, it has a burner A, a fuel control valve B, and a heat exchanger C, a temperature detector D that detects the hot water temperature, a comparator E that compares the output of the temperature setting device, and this comparator E. The control valve F and the fuel control valve B of the flow passage are controlled according to the output of the flow channel.

In this conventional example, the amount of water is constant during normal operation, and the amount of water is not changed over time.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to change the amount of water moment by moment when using a water heater, to create a pine surge effect especially when using a shower, and to express the change in water amount using sound waves.

Structure of the Invention In order to achieve this object, the present invention provides a water heater with a water flow controller, a drive device that drives the water flow controller, a signal generator that sends a drive signal that changes the water flow over time, and a water heater. A sound wave generation circuit that generates a sound wave signal in synchronization with a change in the amount of water in the device, and a sounding body driven by the sound wave generation circuit are provided, and the system is configured to notify the user of changes in the amount of water using sound waves.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS A case where an embodiment of the present invention is applied to a gas water heater will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a water flow controller, and water enters a valve chamber 3 from an inflow path 2, and flows into a primary chamber 6 through a gap between a control valve 4 and a control hole 5. Reference numeral 7 denotes a diaphragm that operates together with the control valve 4, and the other side forms a secondary chamber, and a control spring 9 is attached to the secondary chamber 8 and biases it toward the primary chamber 6. The water that has flowed into the primary chamber 6 passes through the valve hole 10a of the water flow control valve 10, is supplied to the heat exchanger 11, is heated, and is supplied to the outlet pipe 12. The downstream side of the water flow control valve 10 is led to the secondary chamber 8 through a communication hole 13 . The water flow control valve 10 is a gear 14
and a motor 15. The valve hole 10 is
As the position of a changes, the relationship between the differential pressure and the amount of water passing through the valve hole 10a changes, and the differential pressure acts on the diaphragm 7 and drives the control valve 4. A signal generator 17 generates signals for driving the drive device 16.

18 is a heat sensitive element such as a thermistor, and a heat exchanger 11
It is connected to the signal generator 17 to detect the temperature of the hot water with which heat was exchanged.

A water amount sensor 19 generates an electric signal according to the amount of water, and is electrically connected to the signal generator 17.

Then, from the signal generator 17, the water amount sensor 1
9 is supplied to a sound wave generation circuit 20, and the sound wave generation circuit 20 drives a sounding body 21 such as a buzzer or a speaker to generate a sound wave. The sounding body 21 is installed in a bathroom remote control box 22 installed in the bathroom.

On the other hand, gas is supplied from a gas supply path 23 through a gas amount adjustment device 24 such as a proportional control valve that can continuously vary the gas amount.
through the heating device 25, and the heat exchanger 11.
heat up.

Next, the operation will be explained. When water flow starts in FIG. 2, the water that has flowed into the water flow controller 1 passes through the water flow control valve 10, flows into the heat exchanger, is heated, and is supplied to the outside from the hot water outlet pipe 12. As the water flows, a flow switch (not shown) is activated, the heating device 25 starts to burn, and the temperature of the water starts to rise.

Depending on the user's preference, the gas amount control device 24 is adjusted to the signal generator 1 so that the hot water temperature set in the signal generator 17 and the hot water temperature detected by the heat-sensitive element 18 are equal.
7 adjusts and stabilizes the water temperature. Thereafter, a signal is sent from the signal generator 17 to the drive motor 15, causing the water flow control valve 10 to rotate forward or reverse. The rotation of the water volume control valve 10 changes the restriction of the valve hole 10a, and the differential pressure across the valve hole 10a acts on the diaphragm 7, driving the control valve 4 and changing the water volume. The amount of water changes every moment depending on the signal sent by the signal generator 17.

Figure 3 shows the temporal changes in water volume. Since the amount of water changes from moment to moment, when used in a shower, it provides a pleasant stimulation and has a pine surge effect.

The degree of change in the amount of water is within a preset range depending on the heating capacity of the heating device 23 and the heat capacity of the heat exchanger 11.

Changes in the amount of water are detected by the water amount sensor 19, and via the signal generator 17, the sound generation circuit 20 drives the sounding body 21 provided in the shower remote control box 22 installed in the bathroom, thereby expressing the change in water amount with sound. .

In other words, the sounding body 21 generates rhythmic sounds in response to changes in the amount of water.

By the way, since the configuration allows the change in the amount of water to be controlled by the signal from the signal generator 17, the amount of water can also be changed by the signal generator 17 in accordance with the musical scale of the musical score or the strength of the rhythm. Therefore, while taking a shower, the melody of the musical score can be played into the bathroom from a sounding device such as a speaker, and the amount of water can be changed accordingly.

In this embodiment, in order to synchronize changes in water volume and sound waves, the signal from the water volume sensor 19 is sent to the signal generator 17, and the sound wave generation circuit 20 receives the signal from the signal generator 17 to drive the sounding body. . However, the signal from the water level sensor 19 may be directly sent to the sound wave generation circuit 20 to drive the sounding body 21, or the signal from the signal generator 17 may be sent to the sound wave generation circuit 20 without using the water level sensor 19. and drives the sounding body 21,
Changes in water volume may also be expressed as sound waves.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the present invention changes the amount of water over time during shower use, so a pine surge effect can be expected, resulting in a comfortable shower.

In addition, since the user is notified of changes in the amount of water by sound from a sounding device such as a buzzer or speaker, even slight changes that can be felt by touching with the hands or skin can be emphasized and expressed. Additionally, since the amount of water changes can be controlled by a signal generator, it can be matched to musical rhythms, musical scales, and melodies, making it possible to enjoy a relaxing shower.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional water heater, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the water heater of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a characteristic diagram showing changes in the amount of water in the water heater. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Water flow controller, 11... Heat exchanger, 16... Drive device, 17... Signal generator, 19... Water flow sensor, 2
0...Sound wave generation circuit, 21...Sounding body, 22...Bathroom remote control box.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A heat exchanger, a heating device that heats the heat exchanger, a water amount controller connected in series with the heat exchanger, a drive device that drives the water amount controller, and the water amount controller. A sound wave generation circuit includes a signal generator that sends a signal to the driving device to temporally change the water flow rate of the controller, and generates a sound wave signal in synchronization with a change in water flow rate of the water flow rate controller, and the sound wave generation circuit A water heater having a sounding body driven by. 2. The water heater according to claim 1, wherein the sounding body is a buzzer or a speaker. 3. Claim 1, wherein the sound wave generation circuit is configured to drive a sounding body in response to a signal from a signal generator.
Water heater as described in section. 4. The water heater according to claim 1, wherein the sound wave generation circuit is configured to drive the sounding body in response to a signal from a water flow sensor that measures the flow rate of the water flow controller. 5. The water heater according to claim 1, wherein the sounding body is provided in a bathroom remote control box.