JP3073704B2 - Water heater - Google Patents

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 apparatus for supplying hot water to a bathroom or a kitchen.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a water heater in which a fixed water stopping function is added (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-121186, etc.). A hot water supply device having a constant water stopping function includes a water filling switch for instructing the start of a constant water stopping operation and a water stop valve for opening and closing a hot water supply passage. Then, when the user sets a desired hot water amount by a hot water amount setting switch provided on an operation means such as a remote controller, and operates the hot water filling switch to open a manual hot water tap provided at a downstream end of the hot water supply path, Hot water supply is continued until the cumulative value of the flow rate of water detected by the flow rate sensor reaches the desired hot water amount, and when the desired hot water filling amount is reached, the water shutoff valve is closed and the hot water supply path is closed. Hot water supply to the manual hot water tap is stopped.

In the case where a hot water supply channel is arranged so as to supply hot water from a hot water supply device to a bath tub, a user opens a manual tub hot water tap connected to the end of the hot water supply channel and performs the above-described operation. After the hot water is supplied up to the desired hot water amount, the water shutoff valve closes and the hot water supply to the bathtub stops. Therefore, the user can perform the hot water filling without performing the operation of checking the amount of hot water in the bathtub and closing the bathtub hot water tap, which is convenient.

However, when hot water is supplied to a plurality of locations, in general, a common hot water supply path is branched outside the hot water heater and connected to hot water taps at each location for ease of construction and cost reduction. I am trying to do it. Therefore, when the water stop valve provided in the water heater is closed, the hot water supply downstream of the hot water supply path is all stopped. Therefore, when the hot water supply path branches downstream and is connected not only to the hot tub manual hot water tap but also to other manual hot water taps in the kitchen or bathroom, the hot water supply to all the manual hot water taps is stopped, Even if the user opens the manual hot water tap, hot water does not come out. Therefore, in order to release the hot water supply stop state and return to a state in which hot water can be supplied from the manual hot water tap, a release switch for instructing opening of the water stop valve is provided. Alternatively, the water filling switch is provided with a function of opening the water stop valve when the water filling switch is operated in a state where the water filling is completed and the water stop valve is closed. .

By the way, generally, the hot water supply temperature at the time of filling is 40 ° C. to 43 ° C., whereas the normal hot water supply temperature other than the filling is varied from 35 ° C. to about 80 ° C.
The temperature of 80 ° C. is called so-called high-temperature hot water, and is a temperature set when the temperature of hot water stretched in the bathtub is rapidly raised.

As described above, the hot water supply temperature at the time of hot water filling (hereinafter referred to as hot water filling temperature) is often different from the normal hot water supply temperature other than hot water filling (hereinafter referred to as normal hot water feeding temperature). If the set temperature is changed from the normal hot water supply temperature to the hot water temperature every time the hot water is filled, the usability is poor.

Therefore, the filling temperature (generally 40 ° C. to 43 ° C.)
° C) and a normal temperature setting means for setting a normal hot water supply temperature (35 ° C to 80 ° C) are separately provided, and when the hot water is instructed, the target hot water supply temperature of the hot water supply device is set. The temperature is changed to the temperature (hot water temperature) set by the hot water temperature setting means, and when the hot water is finished, the target hot water supply temperature is returned to the temperature (normal hot water supply temperature) set by the normal temperature setting means. Can be improved.

When the user forgets to close the manual tub hot water tap after the hot water filling is completed, when the user operates the release switch to open the water stop valve, hot water is supplied from the manual bath tub hot water tap to the bath tub. There is a possibility that hot water in the bathtub overflows.
To prevent this, the hot water is supplied for a predetermined time when the release switch is operated, and if the stop of the running water is not confirmed within the predetermined time, it is considered that the bathtub manual hot water tap has been forgotten to be closed and the water stop valve is provided. May be closed again to stop the hot water supply to the bathtub.

In such a hot water supply apparatus, when the filling is completed, the water stop valve is closed and the hot water supply to each manual hot water tap is stopped. Further, the target hot water supply temperature is changed from the hot water filling temperature to the normal hot water supply temperature. And the user,
When the release switch is operated to open the water stop valve, the hot water supply within the predetermined time is performed at the normal hot water supply temperature. Therefore, in this state, when the user operates the release switch, if the normal hot water supply temperature is set to a high temperature (for example, 80 ° C. for hot water supply), there is a disadvantage that the hot water is supplied. Was.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned inconvenience, and to perform hot water supply at a temperature at which a user feels uncomfortable when performing an operation of preventing a bathtub from overflowing due to forgetting to close a manual bathtub hot water tap. It is an object of the present invention to provide a hot water supply device that does not need to be performed.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a flow rate sensor for detecting a flow rate of water flowing through a hot water supply path, a heating means for heating water flowing through the hot water supply path, and a hot water supply path. A water stop valve for opening and closing, a water supply amount accumulating means for calculating a cumulative value of the flow rate of water detected by the flow rate sensor, a hot water switch for instructing hot water filling, and opening of the water stop valve after hot water filling is completed. A release switch for instructing a valve, a hot water temperature setting means for setting a hot water temperature as a target hot water temperature during hot water filling, and a normal temperature for setting a normal hot water temperature as a target hot water temperature for hot water supply other than hot water. When the setting means and the user operate the hot water switch to open the bathtub manual hot water tap for supplying hot water to the bathtub, the accumulated water amount calculated by the water supply amount accumulating means reaches a predetermined target water amount. Until the hot water at the hot water temperature Water filling control means for performing water filling operation to close the hot water supply path by the water stop valve when the target water amount is reached, and water filling operation by the water filling control means is terminated and When the water shutoff valve is opened by operating the release switch in a state where the valve is closed, the stoppage of the flowing water is detected by the flow rate sensor within a predetermined time after the water shutoff valve is opened. When the water stop valve is held open, the water supply control means for closing the water stop valve when the stoppage of the flowing water is not detected by the flow rate sensor within the predetermined time. When the release switch is operated, if the normal hot water supply temperature is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature set in a range of 45 ° C. to 63 ° C., the time is within the predetermined time, and the stop of flowing water is detected by the flow rate sensor. Goal The hot water temperature, characterized in that a hot water supply temperature change means to the predetermined temperature.

According to the present invention, the filling is completed.
When the user operates the release switch with the water shutoff valve closed, the normal hot water supply temperature set by the normal temperature setting means is set in a range of 45 ° C to 63 ° C. When the temperature is equal to or higher than the temperature, the target hot water supply temperature is changed from the normal hot water supply temperature to the predetermined temperature by the hot water supply temperature changing means. Therefore, the hot water supply temperature when the water shutoff valve is opened becomes the predetermined temperature, and when the user operates the release switch to use the hot water, the hot water supply exceeding the predetermined temperature is performed. Can be prevented. The predetermined temperature (in the range of 45 ° C. to 63 ° C.) is higher than a general hot water filling temperature (40 ° C. to 43 ° C.), so that when the user touches the hot water of the predetermined temperature, the normal hot water supply is performed. It can be recognized that the temperature is set to a high temperature exceeding the predetermined temperature.

[0013] The hot water supply temperature changing means may adjust the target hot water supply temperature from the predetermined temperature to the normal temperature set by the normal temperature setting means when the flow sensor detects the stoppage of the flowing water within the predetermined time. It is characterized by changing to the hot water supply temperature.

[0014] When bathing is to be carried out for a while after the completion of hot water filling, the user sets the normal hot water supply temperature to a high temperature hot water temperature (for example, 80 ° C) by the normal temperature setting means in order to raise the hot water temperature of the cooled bathtub. Then, the release switch may be operated. However, in this case, since the normal hot water supply temperature is a high temperature exceeding the predetermined temperature, the normal hot water supply temperature is changed to the predetermined temperature by the hot water temperature changing means. Therefore, in order to perform high-temperature hot water supply thereafter, there is an inconvenience that some operation must be performed to reset the hot water supply target temperature to the high-temperature hot water supply temperature again.

In such a case, according to the present invention, the hot water supply target temperature is returned to the high hot water temperature by the normally necessary operation of closing the bathtub manual hot water tap, so that the inconvenience is eliminated and the usability is good.

When the target hot water supply temperature is changed to the predetermined temperature by the hot water supply temperature changing means and the hot water is supplied at the predetermined temperature, the normal hot water set by the normal temperature setting means regardless of the target hot water supply temperature. A display means for displaying the hot water supply temperature is provided.

When the target hot water supply temperature is set to the predetermined temperature by the hot water supply temperature changing means and hot water is supplied at the predetermined temperature, the actual target hot water supply temperature is displayed on the display means. The user who has used it is easy to recognize that the normal hot water supply temperature is set to the predetermined temperature. However, the normal hot water supply temperature is not actually changed, and the target hot water supply temperature is again set to the high normal hot water supply temperature when the user closes the bathtub manual hot water tap.

Therefore, when the user who mistakenly recognizes that the normal hot water supply temperature is set to the predetermined temperature subsequently opens a manual hot water tap installed in a bathroom or a kitchen to use hot water, Contrary to the user's will, there is a possibility that the hot water having the normal hot water supply temperature is supplied from the manual hot water tap.

In such a case, according to the present invention, when the target hot water supply temperature is changed to the predetermined temperature by the hot water supply temperature changing means, the display of the display means is not the actual target hot water supply temperature but the normal temperature. By setting the set value, it is possible to prevent a user who sees the display from erroneously recognizing that the setting of the normal hot water supply temperature is the predetermined temperature.

[0020]

FIG. 1 shows an example of an embodiment of the present invention.
This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of the hot water supply device according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the hot water supply device shown in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 1, a water heater according to the present invention has a water heater 1 and a hot water controller 2 for controlling the operation of water heater 1.
And a remote control 3 which is an operation means for giving an instruction of a hot water supply operation to the hot water supply control means 2. The water heater 1 has a combustion chamber 4
And a burner 5 serving as a heating means provided in the combustion chamber 4.
A heat exchanger 7 for heating water in the hot water supply path 6 by the burner 5, an igniter 8 for igniting the burner 5, and a frame rod 9 for detecting a combustion state of the burner 5.
A blower fan 10 for supplying combustion air to the burner 5 is provided below the combustion chamber 4, and fuel gas is supplied to the burner 5 from a gas supply pipe 13 via a main solenoid valve 11 and a gas proportional valve 12. You.

The hot water supply path 6 is connected to a general manual hot water tap 14 for supplying hot water to a kitchen or a washroom, and a bathtub manual hot water tap 16 for supplying hot water to a bathtub 15. In the hot water supply path 6, a flow rate sensor 17 for detecting a flow rate of water supplied to the hot water supply device 1, a water amount servo 18 with a water shutoff valve for adjusting the flow rate of the water supply to the hot water supply device 1 and stopping the water supply, A temperature sensor 19 for detecting the temperature of hot water from the vessel 1 is provided.

A remote controller 3 as an operation means transmits and receives a hot water supply control signal to and from the hot water supply control means 2 by wire or wirelessly. The remote controller 3 includes an operation switch 20 for instructing the start and stop of operation of the hot water supply device, a hot water temperature setting switch 21 which is a normal temperature setting means for setting a desired hot water temperature (normal hot water temperature) other than hot water filling, A water filling switch 22 for instructing start and stop of the fixed amount water stopping operation, and a water amount setting switch 23 for setting a desired hot water supply amount for the fixed amount water stopping operation.
A bath temperature setting switch 2 which is a hot water temperature setting means for setting a desired hot water temperature (hot water temperature) at the time of the fixed amount water stopping operation.
4, a display means 25 for displaying a set hot water amount, a set temperature, a hot water situation, and the like, and a buzzer 26 for notifying a user of the end of hot water filling and the like.

The water filling switch 22 also has a function of a release switch for instructing a valve opening operation of the water quantity servo 18 with a water stop valve. In other words, when the user operates the water filling switch 22 while the filling is completed and the water servo with water shutoff valve 18 is closed, the water servo with water shutoff valve 1 is operated.
8 is opened.

The hot water supply control means 2 includes a water supply amount accumulating means 27
A hot water filling control means 28, a water supply control means 29, and a hot water temperature changing means 30, and in accordance with a hot water control signal transmitted from the remote controller 3, the flow rate of water supplied to the hot water supply passage 6 is controlled by a water stop valve. Adjusted by the servo 18, and the original solenoid valve 11,
The combustion amount of the burner 5 is adjusted by the gas proportional valve 12 and the blower fan 10. In the present hot water supply apparatus, when the user operates the operation switch 20, the entire hot water supply apparatus starts operating, and the water amount servo 18 with the water stop valve is opened. In this state, when the user opens the general manual hot water tap 14 or the bathtub manual hot water tap 16, water supply to the hot water supply path is started, and when the flow rate sensor 17 detects a water supply flow rate equal to or more than a predetermined value, the hot water supply control means 2 The burner 5 is ignited, and the water is heated by the heat exchanger 7. Thereby, the general manual hot water tap 14 and the bathtub manual hot water tap 16
Then, hot water of the temperature set by the hot water supply temperature setting switch 21 is supplied.

Next, the operation of the water heater in the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. After the user operates the operation switch 20 to start the operation of the hot water supply device and then operates the hot water switch 22, the hot water control operation by the hot water control means 28 is started in STEP 1.
In EP2, the hot water temperature set by the bath temperature setting switch 23 is set to a target hot water supply temperature that is a target value of the hot water temperature supplied from the water heater 1. When the user opens the bathtub manual hot water tap 16, water supply to the hot water supply channel 6 is started, and when the detected value of the water supply flow rate by the flow rate sensor 17 becomes a predetermined value or more, the burner 5 is ignited to set the bath temperature. The hot water supply control means controls the combustion amount of the burner 5 so that the hot water at the hot water temperature is supplied by the switch 24. S
TEP3 is a loop for checking the amount of hot water filled in the bathtub 15,
It is checked whether or not the accumulated value of the flow rate detected by the flow rate sensor 17 by the water supply amount accumulating means 27 has reached the hot water amount set by the hot water amount setting switch 23. And the water supply amount accumulating means 27
When the accumulated value of the above reaches the set hot water amount, the process exits the loop and proceeds to STEP4. In STEP4, the water amount servo 18 with the water shutoff valve is closed. As a result, the water supply to hot water supply passage 6 is stopped, the hot water supply from bathtub manual hot water tap 16 to bathtub 15 is stopped, and the filling is completed.

When the water servo with water shutoff valve 18 is in the closed state, it becomes impossible to supply hot water not only to the bathtub manual hot water tap 16 but also to another hot water tap such as the shower manual hot water tap 14. The release of the hot water supply disabled state is performed by the user operating the hot water filling switch 22 in STEP 5 to give an instruction to open the water stop servo with water shutoff valve 18. When the hot water switch 22 is operated in STEP5, the water stop servo with water shutoff valve 18 is opened in STEP6, and water can be supplied to the hot water supply path 6.

Steps 7 to 13 show that when the bathtub manual hot water tap 16 is forgotten to be closed, hot water is supplied to the bathtub 15 by the opening operation of the water amount servo 18 with a water shutoff valve, and the hot water in the bathtub 15 overflows. This is a flow for prevention.
In STEP7, the bathtub 15
In order to limit the amount of hot water supplied to the hot water supply line, the flow rate of water supplied to the hot water supply path 6 is reduced to 6 liters / minute, and a one-minute timer is operated in STEP8.

If the stop of flowing water is detected by the flow rate sensor 17 in STEP 9 after the operation of the one-minute timer and before the one-minute timer expires in STEP 12, the user manually operates the bathtub after completion of the filling operation. It can be determined that the hot water tap 16 is closed. In this case, the water servo with water shutoff valve 1
Even when the valve 8 is operated to open, the bathtub manual hot water tap 16 is connected to the bathtub 15.
Since the hot water supply is not performed, the water volume servo with water shutoff valve is fully opened in STEP 30, and the target hot water temperature is changed from the hot water temperature by the bath temperature setting switch 24 to the normal hot water temperature by the hot water temperature setting switch 21 in STEP 31. Therefore, the user opens the manual hot water taps 14 and 16,
Hot water at the normal hot water supply temperature can be used.

On the other hand, if the one-minute timer expires in STEP 12 before the stop of the flowing water is detected by the flow rate sensor 17 in STEP 9, it can be determined that the user has forgotten to close the bathtub manual hot water tap 16. In this case, when the water volume servo with water shutoff valve 18 is held open, hot water supply from the bathtub manual hot water tap 16 to the bathtub 15 is continued and the bathtub 1
The hot water of 5 overflows. Then, in STEP 13, the water volume servo with water shutoff valve 18 is closed and the bathtub manual hot water tap 16 is operated.
The hot water supply to the bathtub 15 is stopped to prevent the hot water in the bathtub 15 from overflowing.

STEP 10 to STEP 11 are flow charts showing the operation of changing the target hot water temperature by the hot water temperature changing means 30. In STEP 10, hot water supply temperature setting switch 21
The normal hot water supply temperature set by the above is a predetermined temperature of 58 ° C.
If the temperature is less than the predetermined value, the process proceeds to STEP 20 to set the target hot water supply temperature of the water heater 1 to the normal hot water supply temperature.
The overflow prevention loop of TEP12 is executed.

On the other hand, if the normal hot water temperature set by the hot water temperature setting switch 21 is 58 ° C. or higher, for example, 80 ° C., and the normal hot water temperature is set to the target hot water temperature of the water heater 1, the user proceeds to STEP5. When the hot water switch 22 is operated to use the hot water, hot water is supplied. Therefore, in STEP 10, the normal hot water supply temperature is set to 8
When the temperature is 0 ° C., the target hot water temperature of the water heater 1 is set to 58 ° C. instead of the normal hot water temperature (80 ° C.) in STEP11. Thereby, it is possible to prevent hot water from being supplied at a temperature exceeding 58 ° C. during the execution of the overflow prevention loop in STEP9 to STEP12.

The temperature of 58 ° C. in STEP 10 and STEP 11 is the filling temperature (normally 40 to 43 ° C.).
Much higher than the temperature. Therefore, from STEP 9
When the user touches the hot water during execution of the forgetting to close loop in STEP 10, it is possible to recognize that the normal hot water supply temperature by the hot water supply temperature setting switch 21 is set to a high temperature.

The display means 25 is provided in STEP9 to ST9.
The normal hot water supply temperature set by the hot water supply temperature setting switch 21 is displayed even during the execution of the overflow prevention loop of EP12. Thus, it is possible to prevent a user who looks at the display unit 25 from erroneously recognizing the display of the actual target hot water supply temperature as the set value of the normal hot water supply temperature by the hot water supply temperature setting switch 21. Therefore, the user closes the bathtub manual hot water tap 16,
After the target hot water supply temperature is set to the normal hot water supply temperature in STEP 31, the manual hot water tap 14, 1 is used for the user to use the hot water.
When opening 6, it is possible to prevent hot water from being supplied against the user's will.

The predetermined temperature of 58.degree. C. is not strict, and may be set in a range of 45.degree. C. to 63.degree. C. which is higher than a normal filling temperature (40 to 43.degree. C.).

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an example of a hot water supply apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the hot water supply device shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Hot water heater, 2 ... Hot water supply control means, 3 ... Remote control, 4 ... Combustion chamber, 5 ... Burner, 6 ... Hot water supply path, 7 ... Heat exchanger, 8 ... Igniter, 9 ... Frame lot, 10 ... Blower fan, 1
1: Original solenoid valve, 12: Gas proportional valve, 13: Gas supply pipe,
14 ... General manual hot water tap, 15 ... Bathtub, 16 ... Bathtub manual hot water tap, 17 ... Flow rate sensor, 18 ... Water volume servo with water shutoff valve,
19: temperature sensor, 20: operation switch, 21: hot water supply temperature setting switch, 22: hot water filling switch, 23: hot water amount setting switch, 24: bath temperature setting switch, 25: display means, 26: buzzer, 27: water supply amount accumulation Means 28 hot water filling control means 29 water supply control means 30 hot water temperature change means

Continuation of front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) F24H 1/00 602

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A flow rate sensor for detecting a flow rate of water flowing in a hot water supply path, a heating means for heating water flowing in the hot water supply path, a water stop valve for opening and closing the hot water supply path, and a flow rate sensor detected by the flow rate sensor. A water supply amount accumulating means for calculating a cumulative value of the flow rate of water, a filling switch for instructing filling, a release switch for instructing opening of the water shutoff valve after completion of filling, a target hot water supply temperature at filling. A hot water temperature setting means for setting the hot water temperature, and a normal temperature setting means for setting a normal hot water temperature which is a target hot water temperature at the time of hot water supply other than hot water, and a user operating the hot water switch, When the bathtub manual hot water tap for supplying hot water to the bathtub is opened, the hot water supply operation at the hot water filling temperature is continued until the cumulative water amount calculated by the water supply amount accumulating means reaches a predetermined target water amount. When the target water volume is reached, the stop valve A water filling control means for performing a water filling operation for closing the hot water supply path; and, in a state where the water filling operation by the water filling control means is completed and the water stop valve is closed, the water stoppage is performed by operating the release switch. When the valve is opened, the stoppage of the flowing water is detected by the flow rate sensor within a predetermined time after the opening of the water stop valve, and the water stop valve is held open, within the predetermined time. A hot water supply device comprising: a water supply control unit that closes the water stop valve when a stop of flowing water is not detected by the flow rate sensor; wherein when the release switch is operated, the normal hot water supply temperature is increased from 45 ° C. When the temperature is equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature set in the range of 63 ° C., the target water supply temperature is changed to the predetermined temperature within the predetermined time and until the stoppage of the flowing water is detected by the flow rate sensor. Provide means Water heater, characterized in that. 2. The hot water supply temperature changing means sets a target hot water supply temperature from the predetermined temperature by the normal temperature setting means when a stop of flowing water is detected by the flow rate sensor within the predetermined time. The hot water supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the temperature is changed to a hot water supply temperature. 3. When the target hot water supply temperature is changed to the predetermined temperature by the hot water supply temperature changing means, and the hot water is supplied at the predetermined temperature, the normal hot water set by the normal temperature setting means regardless of the target hot water supply temperature. 3. A hot water supply apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a display unit for displaying a hot water supply temperature.