JP3074902B2 - Bathtub reheating device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a reheating apparatus for circulating and heating hot water in a bathtub.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been a reheating apparatus of this type as shown in FIGS. FIG. 3 is an overall configuration diagram, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a control sequence of the apparatus. The solid arrows in the figure indicate the flow direction of hot and cold water, and the broken lines indicate control signal lines.

[0003] A heat exchanger 1, a bath tub 2, a heat exchanger 1 for sending hot water from the heat exchanger 1 to the bath tub 2 and a going pipe 3 connecting the bath tub 2 to
A circulation circuit 5 comprising a bathtub 2 for returning hot water from the bathtub 2 to the heat exchanger 1 and a return pipe 4 connecting the heat exchanger 1 and a circulation circuit 5 for forcibly circulating the hot water in the circulation circuit 5 are provided. Hot and cold water conveying means 6, water flow detecting means 7 for detecting the flow of hot water in the circulation circuit 5, heating means 8 for heating the heat exchanger 1,
Temperature setting means 9 for setting the temperature of the hot water flowing in the circulation circuit 5; hot water temperature detecting means 10 for detecting the temperature of the hot water flowing in the return pipe 4; a timer 11 for managing the elapsed time; , A circulation time set value 12 for a timer 11, an operation switch 13 for selecting the start and stop of operation of the entire apparatus, a heating means 8, a hot and cold water conveying means 6, a water flow detecting means 7, and a hot water temperature detecting means 10. , A timer 11, a control means 14 for controlling the operation switch 13, and the like.

The control sequence of the control means 14 will be described below in the order of steps a to l with reference to FIG. (A) Control is started by turning on the operation switch. (B) Activate the hot and cold water transfer means. (C) It is determined whether or not the water flow detection means 7 detects the water flow. If NO, the instruction (j) is executed as it is. (D) If the water flow is detected, the heating means 8 is operated. (E) Reading the set temperature from the temperature setting means 9. (F) A comparison is made between the temperature of the hot water flowing in the circulation circuit 5 and the set temperature. If the hot water temperature is lower, the heating means 8 is operated as a command (g). Conversely, if the hot water temperature is higher, the heating means 8 is stopped as a command (k). (H) The elapsed time of the timer 11 is compared with the circulation time set value 12 for determination. If the elapsed time has not reached the circulation time set value 12, the operation switch 13 is issued as a command (l).
Is checked, and if the operation switch 13 remains ON, the process returns to (e). If the operation switch 13 is turned off, the instruction (l) is executed. Conversely, if the elapsed time has reached the circulation time set value, the instruction (i) is executed. (I) The heating means 8 and the hot and cold water conveying means 6 are stopped. (J) End the control.

[0005]

However, with the above configuration, hot water used in the bathtub remains in the circulation circuit 5 at the time of termination. For example, foreign matter such as bath agent
When mixed in hot water, the hot water also becomes acidic. When such hot water biased toward the acidic side stays in the circulation circuit 5 at the time of termination, the heat exchanger 1, the outgoing pipe 3 and the return pipe 4 are corroded. However, there was a problem that water leaked from a hole caused by corrosion.

An object of the present invention is to solve such a conventional problem, and it is an object of the present invention to secure use safety by preventing or reducing corrosion of a circulation circuit including a heat exchanger and the like.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a reheating apparatus according to the present invention comprises a heat exchanger, a bathtub, and a heat exchanger that sends hot water from the heat exchanger to the bathtub and the bathtub. A circulation circuit comprising an outgoing pipe, a bathtub for returning hot water from the bathtub to the heat exchanger, and a return pipe connecting the heat exchanger, and hot and cold water conveying means provided in the circulation circuit for forcibly circulating hot water in the circulation circuit; A heating means for heating the heat exchanger, a water supply pipe provided in the middle of the circulation circuit for supplying hot water or water to the circulation circuit, and a water supply for opening and closing the water supply pipe to control hot water or water to be injected into the circulation circuit. A water injection valve provided in the middle of the pipe, and control means for controlling the water injection valve so as to inject hot water or water from the water supply pipe into the circulation circuit after stopping the hot and cold water conveying means.

[0008]

According to the present invention, the hot water in the bathtub reaches the heat exchanger via the return pipe by operating the hot water conveying means and the heating means by the above means. After the hot water is heated by the heating means in the heat exchanger, the hot water returns to the bathtub via the going pipe.
When the heating means and the hot and cold water conveying means are stopped, open the water injection valve and inject new hot water or water from the water supply pipe into the circulation circuit, and remove the dirty hot water that was in the circulation circuit up to the outgoing pipe and return pipe. Through the bathtub, the circuit is filled with fresh hot or cold water.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the figure, solid arrows indicate the flow direction of hot water during circulation heating, broken arrows indicate the flow of hot water after completion of circulation heating, and broken lines indicate control signal lines.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of a reheating apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a control sequence in the embodiment.

Reference numeral 15 is a heat exchanger, 16 is a bathtub, 17 is an outgoing pipe, and 18 is a return pipe. The return pipe 18 is a pipe for sending hot water from the bathtub 16 to the heat exchanger 15, and the going pipe 17 is a pipe for sending hot water from the heat exchanger 15 to the bathtub 16. This bathtub 1
6, return pipe 18, heat exchanger 15 and outgoing pipe 17 are connected to each other to form a circulation circuit 19. In the middle of the return pipe 18, hot water transport means 2 for transporting hot water in the return pipe 18.
0, hot water temperature detecting means 21 for detecting hot water temperature in return pipe 18
And a water flow detecting means 22 for detecting the flow of hot water flowing in the return pipe 18. Heat exchanger 15 is heating means 2
The hot water heated by 3 and conveyed from the bath 16 is heated. Further, a water supply pipe 24 for injecting new hot water or water into the return pipe 18 is connected in the middle of the return pipe 18. A water injection valve 25 that controls the flow of hot water or water flowing through the water supply pipe 24 is provided in the middle of the water supply pipe 24. 26
Is a temperature setting means for the user to set the hot water temperature, 27 is a timer for managing the elapsed time, 28 is a circulation time setting means which is the maximum value of the circulation elapsed time, and 29 is a time for keeping the water injection valve 25 open. Is the maximum value of the water injection time.
Reference numeral 30 denotes an operation switch for selecting the start and stop of the operation of the entire apparatus. Reference numeral 31 denotes a control unit. The operation switch 30, the timer 27, the temperature setting unit 26, the water flow detecting unit 22, the hot water temperature detecting unit 21, The means 20, the heating means 23 and the water injection valve 25 are controlled.

The water supply time setting means 29 is connected to the water supply pipe 24.
It is set to a value such that hot water or water injected from the above does not enter the bathtub 16.

The control performed by the control means 25 in the above configuration will be described in the order of steps (a) to (n) and (q) based on the control sequence of FIG. (A) When the operation switch 30 is turned on, the control starts. Further, the timer 27 is started. (B) First, the hot and cold water conveying means 30 is operated. (C) It is confirmed by the water flow detection means 22 whether hot water is flowing in the return pipe 18. If the hot water is not flowing, the instruction of (m) is executed. If the hot water is flowing, the instruction (d) is executed. (D) Activate the heating means. (E) The set temperature is read from the temperature setting means 26. (F) A comparison is made between the temperature of the hot water flowing through the return pipe 18 detected by the hot water temperature detecting means 21 and the temperature set by the temperature setting means 26. If the hot water temperature is lower than the set temperature, the heating means 23 is operated as a command (g). Conversely, if the hot water temperature is higher than the set temperature, the heating means 23 is stopped as a command (n). (H) The time elapsed since the operation switch 30 was turned on by the timer 27 is compared with the circulation time setting means 28. If the elapsed time of the circulation is smaller than the circulation time setting means 28, the ON / O of the operation switch 30 is issued as the command (q)
Check the FF. If it is ON, return to the instruction of (e) and
If it is FF, the instruction (i) is executed. Conversely, if the elapsed time of the circulation is longer than the circulation time setting means 28, the instruction (i) is executed. (I) When the elapsed time of the circulation is longer than the circulation time setting means 28 or when the operation switch 30 is OFF, the heating means 23 and the hot and cold water conveying means 20 are stopped. In addition, the timer 27 is reset and restarted. (J) Open the water injection valve 25. (K) The time after opening the water injection valve 25 counted by the timer 27 is compared with the value of the water injection time setting means 29. If the elapsed water injection time counted by the timer 27 is larger than the set injection time, the injection valve 25
Is closed, and the instruction of (m) is executed. Conversely, if the water injection elapsed time is smaller than the water injection time set value, the state is maintained. (M) End all operations and control.

The operation of the above configuration and control will be described. First, when the user turns on the operation switch 30, the hot and cold water conveying means 20 and the heating means 23 start operating, and the bathtub 16 is turned on.
The hot water inside enters the heat exchanger 15 via the return pipe 18, is heated, and returns to the bathtub 16 via the going pipe 17. On the way, the temperature of the hot water circulating in the circulation circuit 19 is detected by the hot water temperature detecting means 21. When the temperature detected by the hot water temperature detecting means 21 becomes the same as the temperature set in the temperature setting means 26, the heating means 23
Is stopped, and the hot and cold water conveying means 20 continues to operate for a predetermined time.
When the hot and cold water conveying means 20 reaches a predetermined time and stops, or when the user turns off the operation switch 30 and forcibly stops the heating means 23 and the hot and cold water conveying means 20, the water injection valve 25 is set to the water injection time setting means. Open for only 29 hours, fresh hot water or water is injected from the water supply pipe 24 into the return pipe 18. The fresh hot water or water injected from the water supply pipe 24 pushes the dirty hot water which has been staying in the circulation circuit 19 up to the bathtub 16 via the going pipe 17 and the return pipe 18. As a result, the inside of the circulation circuit 19 is replaced with fresh hot water or water injected from the water supply pipe 24.

In the bath 16, the hot water deteriorates due to bathing or use of a bathing agent, becomes dirty and has acidic properties, and corrodes the heat exchanger 15, the outgoing pipe 17 and the return pipe 18. In particular, the retention of acidic hot water in the circulation circuit 19 after use of the apparatus is a main cause of water leakage due to corrosion.
By replacing the hot water in the circulation circuit 19 with fresh hot water or water after use of the device by the above configuration and control, corrosion can be prevented. Further, since water is injected from the water supply pipe 24 only for the time set in the water supply time set value 29, the hot water or water supplied from the water supply pipe 24 does not enter the bathtub 16 because the hot water or water injected from the water supply pipe 24 does not enter the bathtub 16. Thus, the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub 16 is not changed, and the concentration of the bathing agent in the bathtub 16 does not decrease even when the bathing agent is introduced.

[0016]

As described above, the following effects can be obtained in the reheating apparatus of the present invention.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, after the circulation reheating is stopped, new hot water or water is injected into the circulation circuit, so that the hot water in the bathtub having a property deviated toward the acidic side stays in the circulation circuit. As a result, corrosion of a circulation circuit such as a heat exchanger is prevented, and water leakage due to corrosion can be prevented. In particular, it is very effective in preventing water leakage when a bathing agent is used. In addition, it is possible to prevent heavy metals from entering into the hot water due to corrosion of the heat exchanger and the circulation circuit, thereby improving sanitary safety.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of one embodiment of a reheating apparatus for a bathtub according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a control sequence in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional reheating apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a control sequence in the conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 15 heat exchanger 16 bathtub 17 outgoing pipe 18 return pipe 19 circulation circuit 20 hot and cold water conveying means 23 heating means 24 water supply pipe 25 water injection valve 31 control means

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A heat exchanger, a bathtub, a feed pipe connecting the bathtub with the heat exchanger for sending hot water from the heat exchanger to the bathtub, the bathtub returning hot water from the bathtub to the heat exchanger, and A circulation circuit including a return pipe to which a heat exchanger is connected, hot and cold water conveyance means provided in the circulation circuit for forcibly circulating hot water in the circulation circuit, and heating means for heating the heat exchanger; A water supply pipe provided in the middle of the circulation circuit for supplying hot water or water to the circulation circuit; and a water supply pipe provided in the middle of the water supply pipe for opening and closing the water supply pipe to control hot water or water to be injected into the circulation circuit. An apparatus for reheating a bath tub, comprising: a valve; and control means for controlling the water injection valve so as to inject hot water or water from the water supply pipe into the circulation circuit after stopping the hot water supply means.