JPH05265577A - Water heater - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] To provide a hot water supply device that can easily obtain a desired hot water temperature. [Structure] The control means 11 for controlling the operation of the hot water supply portion 6 whose hot water temperature can be freely changed includes start command means 12h, 12i, 1
The hot water supply unit 6 is controlled so as to change the hot water outlet temperature in a set pattern based on the start command of 2j, and the hot water outlet temperature at that time is maintained based on the stop command of the stop command means 12h, 12i, 12j. The hot water supply unit 6 is controlled. As the setting pattern, there are one that gradually raises the tapping temperature over the set range, one that gradually lowers it, and one that repeats gradually rising and gradually lowering.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hot water supply device capable of changing a hot water discharge temperature.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As such a hot water supply apparatus, a water heater capable of changing a hot water temperature by changing a heating amount of water, or a hot and cold water mixing method capable of changing a hot water temperature by changing a mixing ratio of high-temperature hot water and water. There are devices (so-called mixing stoppers) and the like. For example, in the case of a hot and cold water mixing device, feedback control based on the deviation between the set target temperature and the detected mixed hot water temperature controls a hot water valve for adjusting the inflow amount of water and a water side for adjusting the inflow amount of water. Operate the valve to adjust the mixing ratio of hot water and water.

[0003]

However, there are cases where it is difficult to set the target temperature at the start of tapping. In general,
In many cases, the target temperature is set not by the specific temperature but by setting the indication value (reference) in several steps. Also, when using it for a shower, etc. Is changing. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a hot water supply device that can easily obtain a desired hot water temperature.

[0004]

The first characteristic configuration of the hot water supply apparatus according to the present invention is that the control means for controlling the operation of the hot water supply portion whose hot water temperature can be changed is based on the start command of the start command means. The hot water supply unit is controlled so as to change according to a set pattern, and the hot water supply unit is controlled so as to maintain the hot water discharge temperature at that time based on the stop command of the stop command means. is there.

A second characteristic configuration is that the setting pattern is
The point is that the outlet heated water temperature is gradually raised over the set range. A third characteristic configuration is that the setting pattern gradually lowers the hot water outlet temperature over the setting range. A fourth characteristic configuration is that the setting pattern repeats a gradual increase and a gradual decrease of the outlet heated water temperature over a set range.

[0006]

The user of the water heater having the first characteristic configuration is
The start command means activates the control for changing the hot water temperature in a set pattern, and when the hot water temperature reaches a desired temperature, the stop command means maintains the hot water temperature at that time. The setting patterns include those shown in the second to fourth characteristic configurations.

In the second characteristic configuration, the setting range (for example, 3
The tap water temperature (for example, 1 ° C./s) over 5 ° C. to 44 ° C.
ec) and gradually lower in the third feature configuration. In the fourth characteristic configuration, the gradual increase and the gradual decrease described above are periodically repeated.

[0008]

Therefore, it is possible to easily set a desired temperature based on the actual hot water temperature which is automatically changing. Also, it is possible to gradually raise the temperature at the start of tapping, or to gradually lower the temperature at the end of tapping,
Along with the unique effects of automatically changing the hot water discharge temperature, such as the Masurge effect due to the temperature cycle when using a shower, we have come to obtain a more convenient water heater.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a hot and cold water mixing apparatus as a hot water supply apparatus will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, a part of the tap water supplied to each house from the water supply pipe is heated to a high temperature by the water heater 1 and is pumped to the hot water supply passage 3 by the spherical motor pump 2. The hot and cold water mixing apparatus of the present embodiment includes a mixing unit 6 that mixes the hot water from the hot water supply passage 3 and the water from the water supply passage 4 and supplies the mixed water to the hot water discharge passage 5. A hot water valve 7 for adjusting the inflow amount of hot water and a water valve 8 for adjusting the inflow amount of water supplied from the water supply passage 4 are provided. The mixing section 6 including these valves 7 and 8 corresponds to the hot water supply section.

Further, in the mixing section 6, a hot water temperature detecting means (hereinafter referred to as a hot water temperature sensor) 9 for detecting the temperature of the hot water, and
A flow rate detecting means (hereinafter referred to as a flow rate sensor) 10 for detecting the flow rate of the mixed hot water is provided, and the detection information of both sensors 9 and 10 is a control means 11 including a microcomputer or the like.
Has been entered in.

An operation panel 12 for setting a target temperature, a target flow rate, etc. is connected to the control means 11. The operation panel 12 includes up / down keys 12a and 12b for increasing / decreasing a target temperature and a target flow rate, LEDs (hereinafter, referred to as level indicators) 12c and 12d for displaying a set level,
Equipped with hot water selection keys 12e, 12f, 12g and the like.

Based on the setting information of the operation panel 12 and the detection information of the hot water temperature sensor 9 and the flow rate sensor 10, the control means 11 makes the mixed hot water temperature (also called hot water temperature) a target temperature, and The temperature / flow rate control is performed to operate the hot water valve 7 and the hot water valve 8 so that the mixed hot water flow rate becomes the target flow rate. The hot water valve 7 includes a valve body 7a and a pulse motor 7b for driving the valve body 7a. Similarly, the water side valve 8 includes a valve body 8a and a pulse motor 8b. The control means 11 is a pulse motor 7
Open / close control of the hot water side valve 7 and the water side valve 8 is performed by controlling forward and reverse rotation of b and 8b, and the opening / closing speed of both valves 7 and 8 is controlled by controlling the rotation speed thereof.

The temperature / flow rate control is feedback control for reducing the deviation between the detected temperature of the hot water temperature sensor 9 and the target temperature, and for reducing the deviation between the detected flow rate of the flow rate sensor 10 and the target flow rate. Yes, the operation amount of both valves 7 and 8 is determined by fuzzy reasoning. In other words, each deviation (and its change amount) is a fuzzy variable in the antecedent part, and the operation amount is calculated by fuzzy inference in which the rotation speed (direction and speed) of the pulse motors 7b and 8b, which is the operation amount, is the consequent part. is doing. The details are described in the specification and drawings of the prior application described above as a conventional example.

The target temperature and the target flow rate by the operation panel 12 can be changed and set in six stages, respectively. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the level indicators 12c and 12d are capable of displaying bar graphs in six steps, and the up / down keys 12a and 12d.
The bar graph increases or decreases by one step each time b is pressed. Then, the control values of the six stages are converted by the control means 11 into digital values corresponding to the target temperature or the target flow rate in the set range according to the hot water discharge mode.

Further, the control means 11 has three automatic temperature change modes for controlling the hot water side valve 7 and the hot water side valve 8 (hot water supply section) so as to change the hot water temperature in a set pattern. The first mode is set range (for example, about 35 ℃ to 4
The tap water temperature is gradually increased over 4 ° C (for example, about 1 ° C / se).
c) Warm-up mode for increasing the temperature, the second mode is a cool-down mode for gradually lowering the outlet heated water temperature over the set range, and the third mode is for gradually increasing and gradually lowering the outlet heated water temperature over the set range. It is in cycle mode. These modes are used for the purpose of gradually raising the hot water temperature at the start of hot water and gradually lowering the temperature at the time of stopping hot water, or for obtaining a massage effect by repeating rising and falling, especially when using a shower. To be done.

The user of this apparatus is equipped with a warm-up key 12h and a cool-down key 1 provided on the operation panel 12.
By pressing 2i or the cycle key 12j, the control mode corresponding to each can be activated. That is, the control means 11 changes the tap water temperature in each of the above-mentioned patterns based on the start command from these keys 12h, 12i, 12j as the start command means. Actually, the outlet temperature is changed by changing the target temperature in the above-mentioned pattern. Therefore, the bar graph display by the level indicator 12d also changes. Further, the hot water temperature is gradually raised or lowered with the mixed hot water temperature when the respective keys 12h, 12i, 12j are pressed as an initial value.

When the same key 12h, 12i, 12j is pressed again during execution of these automatic temperature change modes, the automatic change control of the outlet heated water temperature is stopped and the outlet heated water temperature at that time is maintained. That is, the warm-up key 12h, the cool-down key 12i, and the cycle key 12j also serve as stop command means, and based on the stop command, the control means 11 sets the target temperature to maintain the hot water temperature at that time. Fix and return to normal temperature / flow rate control.

Other examples will be listed below. As the control mode for changing the outlet heated water temperature in the set pattern, it is not always necessary to provide all the three types of automatic temperature changing modes as in the above embodiment, and any one or two of them may be provided.
It may be provided with only one setting pattern. Alternatively, a temperature change pattern different from that in the above embodiment may be used as the setting pattern.

Instead of providing the start command means and the stop command means for each automatic temperature change mode as in the above embodiment, one common one is provided and an automatic temperature change mode (setting pattern) is provided separately. A changeover switch for changing over may be provided. Further, the start command means and the stop command means may be separately provided.

The present invention is not limited to the hot water supply device whose hot water temperature can be freely changed by mixing hot water as in the above embodiment, but can be applied to a hot water supply device (water heater) whose hot water temperature can be changed by changing the heating amount.

It should be noted that reference numerals are given in the claims for convenience of comparison with the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the configurations of the accompanying drawings by the entry.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a hot and cold water mixing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 6 Hot Water Supply Unit 11 Control Means 12h, 12i, 12j Startup Command Means

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A control means (11) for controlling the operation of a hot water supply part (6) whose hot water temperature can be changed is a start command means (12).
h, 12i, 12j), the hot water supply unit (6) is controlled so as to change the hot water outlet temperature in a set pattern based on a start command, and stop command means (12h, 12i, 12j).
The hot water supply device is configured to control the hot water supply unit (6) so as to maintain the hot water discharge temperature at that time based on the stop command. 2. The hot water supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the set pattern gradually raises the hot water outlet temperature over a set range. 3. The hot water supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the set pattern gradually lowers the hot water outlet temperature over a set range. 4. The hot water supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the set pattern repeats a gradual increase and a gradual decrease of the hot water outlet temperature over a set range.