JPH0426887Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a bathtub device that allows a fixed amount of water or hot water to flow into the bathtub.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, the method of supplying a fixed amount of water or hot water (the case of water will be explained below, but the same applies to hot water) to a bathtub is to rotate an impeller with a stream of water, and to match the rotation speed with the amount of water, to turn a valve. There are two methods: one method is to close the valve to stop the water supply, the other is to connect a pressure switch that detects the water pressure to the opening provided at the bottom of the bathtub and adjust the water pressure and water level, that is, the water volume, to close the valve and stop the water supply. It is commercially available as a buzzer and utilizes the fact that the electrical resistance of water is extremely low compared to air. Two electrodes are set at the desired water stop level and the electrical resistance between the electrodes is detected. There is a method in which a buzzer sounds when the resistance drops, and the person listens to this sound and shuts off the water.

On the other hand, although it is not intended to supply water or hot water to a bathtub, in a device for draining moisture in a fuel tank of an internal combustion engine, etc., an electrode similar to that of the bath buzzer is used to detect a high level of water. It is known that two electrodes, an electrode and a low-level detection electrode, are arranged, and a solenoid valve is opened and closed according to the signals from these two electrodes (for example,
146978 and Utility Model Application Publication No. 116010/1983).

[The problem that the idea aims to solve]

Among the conventional techniques mentioned above, the method of rotating an impeller has the problem of inaccurate water supply due to differences in flow velocity and dirt, and the method of using a pressure switch usually The water level when the bathtub is full is around 50cm, therefore 0.05
Since the pressure is extremely small (Kg/cm ^{2 )} , not only is a high-precision pressure switch required, but the bathtub itself has to be drilled, which is extremely uneconomical.

Furthermore, the bath buzzer is a separate device from the bathtub, so in order to avoid getting in the way when taking a bath, the bath buzzer must be set at the still water level in the bathtub each time. People who heard the buzzer had to go to turn off the water, which was an inconvenience.

In addition, if the method of installing high-level detection electrodes and low-level detection electrodes, which is known for internal combustion engine drainage devices, is used and placed in the bathtub, the cost of dedicated electrodes increases, and these electrodes get in the way when taking a bath. In order to prevent this from happening, the bathtub itself must be processed, which raises the problem of increased costs.

The present invention was devised in view of the problems of the prior art, and its purpose is to provide a bathtub that is inexpensive, and can accurately and reliably supply a fixed amount of water or hot water to the bathtub. The aim is to provide equipment.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to solve the problems of the above-mentioned conventional technology, the inventors conducted various studies and found that a plurality of various conductive metal fittings, etc., which are installed at appropriate positions in a normal bathtub, were used to detect water level. It has been found that by using these metal fittings as electrodes, water supply or hot water supply can be automatically stopped when the resistance value between the electrodes of these various metal fittings decreases due to water or hot water interposed between the electrodes.

That is, the bathtub device according to the present invention is provided with a conductive drain fitting at the bottom of the tank, and a metal for fixing a chain connected to the drain plug of the drain fitting above the tank. A bathtub with a metal fixing bolt or a metal handle attached,
An on-off valve such as a solenoid valve is provided to detect the electrical resistance between the supply pipe that flows water or hot water into the bathtub and the conductive member between the drain fitting and the fixing bolt or the conductive member between the drain fitting and the handle. and a controller that operates the on-off valve.

In addition, in the case of synthetic resin as the material of the bathtub in this invention, it is non-conductive and there is no problem, but in the case of metal such as stainless steel, the above-mentioned drain fitting and fixing material are used as an electrode through an insulator. All you have to do is attach the bolts and handles to the bathtub.

〔Example〕

Examples will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing an embodiment of a bathtub device according to the present invention, in which 1 is a bathtub made of synthetic resin or the like;
Reference numeral 2 denotes a conductive drain fitting provided in an ordinary bathtub, and the drain fitting 2 is fixed to a drain provided at the bottom of the bathtub 1 with a nut 4 via a packing 3.

Similar to the drain fitting 2, 5 is a metal fixing bolt for a chain 8, which is usually installed near the water level above the bathtub 1 and has a drain plug 9 made of rubber or the like connected to its lower end. The fixing bolt 5 is attached to the bathtub with a nut 7 via a packing 6.

10 is a supply pipe through which water or hot water flows into the bathtub 1, and 11 is a solenoid valve attached to the supply pipe 10. Reference numeral 12 denotes a controller, which is electrically connected to the drain fitting 2, the fixing bolt 5, and the solenoid valve 11, and has an internal resistance value detection circuit and a solenoid valve control circuit (not shown).

With the above structure, when water or hot water is supplied to the bathtub, when the water level reaches the fixing bolt 5, which is a conductive member, water or hot water flows between the drain fitting 2 and the fixing bolt 5. When the electric resistance is filled, the electrical resistance value decreases rapidly, but this change is detected by the resistance value detection circuit in the controller 12 and a signal is sent to the solenoid valve control circuit. As a result, the solenoid valve 11 connected to the solenoid valve control circuit is closed, and the supply of water or hot water is stopped.

FIG. 2 is a system diagram of a bathtub device according to a different embodiment from that shown in FIG. 1, and instead of the fixing bolt 5, which is a conductive member in FIG. Usually, a handle made of metal, which is a conductive material, is used.

In the above embodiment, the fixing bolt 5 is used as a conductive member attached near the water level above the bathtub.
Alternatively, instead of using the handle 14, as shown in FIG. 3, it is equally effective to use an overflow pipe 13 made of a conductive material. If there is any other conductive member in place of the drain fitting which is a conductive member, it can also be used.

[Effect of idea]

As explained above, the present invention includes a conductive drain fitting installed at an appropriate position in a normal bathtub;
Since the various metal fittings attached to the fixing bolts or handles are used as electrodes for water level detection, there is a great economical effect in that a bathtub with a fixed amount of water stopping function can be provided at a low cost with a simple configuration. This also has the advantage of ease of use, as these electrodes do not get in the way when bathing.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a system diagram of a bathtub device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a system diagram of a bathtub device according to another embodiment of the invention. FIG. 3 is a system diagram of a bathtub device showing another example. Explanation of symbols, 1, 1a, 1b... bathtub, 2...
Drain fitting, 3...Packskin, 4...Nut, 5
... Fixing bolt, 6 ... Packing, 7 ... Nut, 8 ... Chain, 9 ... Drain plug, 10 ... Supply pipe,
11... Solenoid valve, 12... Controller.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A conductive drain fitting is provided at the bottom of the tank, and a metal fixing bolt or a metal fixing bolt is provided above the tank to fix the chain connected to the drain plug of the drain fitting. A bathtub to which a handle is attached, a supply pipe that is equipped with an on-off valve such as a solenoid valve to flow water or hot water into the bathtub, and a conductive member between the drain fitting and the fixing bolt, or between the drain fitting and the handle. and a controller that operates the on-off valve by detecting electrical resistance between the conductive member and the conductive member.