JP3593803B2 - Hot water cleaning equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an improvement in a hot water cleaning device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A hot water cleaning device that heats cleaning water stored in a tank with a heater that can be turned on and off and discharges water to a local human body generally has a heating temperature of about 47 ° C. to prevent burns of the local human body. It is.
[0003]
Therefore, a so-called feedback control is performed in which a thermistor for detecting the temperature of the washing water is provided in the tank, and when the thermistor detects a temperature of about 47 ° C., the heater is turned off by a controller (microcomputer).
[0004]
Also, as a safety measure when feedback control is not performed properly due to thermistor corrosion, controller runaway, etc., a bimetal switch is provided in the tank, and when the cleaning water reaches about 53 ° C, the heater energization circuit is turned on. It is configured to release the power and turn off the power to the heater.
[0005]
There are two types of bimetal switches, self-return type and manual return type. With the spread of hot water cleaning equipment in recent years, there are cases in which the equipment is transported overseas by compo Temperature has risen, and a new problem has been proposed in which the bimetal releases the energizing circuit of the heater. Therefore, when the temperature drops to a predetermined temperature (for example, about 36 ° C.), it automatically recovers, and the time and effort required for the recovery are reduced. A self-recovery type that does not work is adopted.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when the feedback control by the thermistor and the controller is not performed because the bimetal switch is of the self-recovery type, the power supply to the heater is continued, and the cleaning water of 47 ° C. or more exists in the tank.
[0007]
As described above, the conventional hot water washing apparatus is excellent in that it does not require time and effort to recover when the bimetal malfunctions when the apparatus is transported abroad by composing the apparatus. There was a drawback that the above washing water was present.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A first invention made to solve the above-mentioned problem is a hot water washing apparatus in which washing water stored in a tank is heated by a washing heater that can be turned on and off to discharge water to a human body part, and is connected to a commercial power supply. An electronic control unit that is supplied with power by the supplied power supply circuit unit and turns on and off the power supply to the cleaning heater to maintain the cleaning water at the first temperature, and the temperature of the cleaning water is higher than the first temperature. When the high second temperature is reached, the self-reset type bimetal switch that turns off the power to the cleaning heater, regardless of the power supply state to the cleaning heater by the electronic control unit, and the bimetal switch includes: and storage means for storing the fact that off, both ends of the bimetal switch, which is connected to the a / D input terminal of the electronic control unit, constantly voltage monitoring, the electronic control unit, before When it is detected by the detection value of the A / D input terminal that the power supply to the cleaning heater has been turned off by the bimetal switch, the fact that the bimetal switch has been turned off is written to the storage means and written to the storage means. Reading the read information, determining whether there is a history of turning off the bimetal switch based on the read information, and prohibiting the energization of the cleaning heater if the determination result is affirmative. And
[0009]
In the hot water cleaning apparatus of the first invention, even when a self-recoverable bimetal is employed, when the power to the heater is turned off once by the bimetal, the fact is stored by the storage means. Therefore, even when the bimetal switch returns to its original state, if the control means is turned off, for example, by turning off the heater from the contents stored in the storage means, the temperature in the tank may exceed a predetermined temperature (for example, 47 ° C.). The presence of hot water can be prevented.
[0010]
Further, when the storage means retains the stored contents even when the power is not supplied, the power supply to the heater can be turned off using the stored contents of the storage means even if a power failure occurs.
[0011]
A preferred example of the storage unit is a nonvolatile memory. Further, the storage means may be configured to prohibit the cleaning water from being discharged to a human body local part when the power supply to the heater is turned off by the self-recoverable bimetal. In this case, since the water discharge is immediately prohibited, it is possible to reliably prevent the high-temperature water from being discharged to the human body part.
[0012]
The hot water washing device further includes a water supply adapter that controls the supply water, a pressure reducing valve, a solenoid valve, and a valve unit including a safety valve.If the result of the determination is affirmative, the solenoid valve is closed, and the washing water is closed. Prohibit water spouting.
[0013]
Even if the power from the power supply circuit unit is stopped, the electronic control unit operates for a time sufficient to write into the storage unit .
[0016]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below to further clarify the configuration and operation of the present invention described above.
[0017]
FIG. 1 is an external view showing a Western style toilet equipped with a hot water washing device 10, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hot water / nozzle control device of the hot water washing device. In these figures, a hot water cleaning device 10 is mounted on a toilet body 5, and includes a casing body 11, a nozzle device 12 for ejecting the cleaning water mounted on the casing body 11 to a local area, and an operation for performing an operation. A hot water / nozzle control device 14 (see FIG. 2) for controlling the hot water spouting and nozzle position based on the operation of the operation unit 13;
[0018]
The external water source is connected to a flush water tank (not shown) for storing flush water flowing on the ball surface 5a of the toilet body 5 and, as shown in FIG. Through the piping, it is also connected to the hot water washing device 10 to supply water thereto.
[0019]
The hot water cleaning device 10 includes a valve unit 26 including a water supply adapter 22, a pressure reducing valve 23, a solenoid valve 24, and a safety valve 25, and a cleaning heater 29 while detecting the temperature of supplied water by a hot water temperature thermistor 28 from the upstream. A heat exchanger 30 including a heat exchanger 30 for heating to a suitable temperature, a float switch 31 for detecting a water discharge state, and a bimetal switch 1, a check valve 33, and a flow control valve 35 driven by a flow control motor 34. A flow control unit 36 and an on-off valve unit 37 having a first on-off valve 37a and a second on-off valve 37b are provided, and the nozzle device 12 is connected to the tip thereof. The nozzle device 12 includes a driving device 41 for driving the cleaning nozzle 40 in the axial direction, and the like.
[0020]
The bimetal switch 1 is a self-return type, and is turned off when the washing water in the heat exchanger 30 reaches about 53 ° C., and automatically when the washing water in the heat exchanger 30 reaches about 36 ° C. Is turned on.
[0021]
A rough operation of each unit will be described. When the user sits on the toilet seat 15, a signal to that effect is output from a seating sensor (not shown), and thereafter, the user operates the operation unit 13 and presses, for example, the buttocks washing button 13a (see FIG. 4). Then, the driving device 41 is driven to integrally advance the cleaning nozzle 40 to the cleaning position, the first opening / closing valve 37a of the valve unit 26 is opened, and the jetting of the cleaning water is started.
[0022]
The temperature of the washing water from the nozzle body 40 is controlled to a temperature suitable for local washing by feedback control using the hot water temperature thermistor 28 in the heat exchanger unit 32. When the stop button 13c (see FIG. 3) of the operation unit 13 is pressed after cleaning is completed and the end of cleaning is instructed, the power supply to the cleaning heater 29 is stopped, and the first opening / closing valve 37a is closed to wash the cleaning water. After the ejection is completed, the driving device 41 is reversed to retract the cleaning nozzle 40 to the storage position.
[0023]
A circuit for controlling the cleaning heater 29, the toilet seat heater 53, and the like in the hot water / nozzle control device 14 is controlled by the circuit shown in FIG. 3 and the electronic control device 100 shown in FIG. The electronic control unit 100 is mainly configured by an electronic control unit 101 including a microcomputer.
[0024]
As shown in FIG. 4, the electronic control unit 101 performs various arithmetic processes for controlling the temperature of the washing water and the like according to a preset control program, and the CPU 102 performs various arithmetic processes. ROM 104 in which various control programs, control data, and the like are stored in advance, a RAM 106 in which various data necessary for executing various arithmetic processing by the CPU 102 are temporarily read and written, and data is stored even when power is not supplied. A backup RAM 107, an input processing circuit 108 for inputting a detection signal from each of the above sensors and a signal from a switch and converting the signal into a signal that can be processed by the CPU 102, a solenoid valve 24 and the like, An output processing circuit 109 that outputs a drive signal to the drive unit 111 is provided.
[0025]
The backup RAM 107 is a device that is backed up by a built-in battery but is an electrically writable and readable device such as a flash memory, and various devices that do not erase data even when power is turned off can be applied.
[0026]
Further, a signal from the operation unit 13 is input to the input processing circuit 108 of the electronic control unit 101. The operation unit 13 includes the above-described buttocks cleaning button 13a, bidet cleaning button 13b, stop button 13c, water volume setting button 13d for setting the water discharging volume, water discharging temperature setting button 13e for setting the discharging temperature of the cleaning water, and toilet seat temperature setting. A button 13f and the like are provided.
[0027]
As shown in FIG. 3, the electronic control unit 101 is supplied with power from a power supply circuit unit 110 connected to a commercial power supply V. The power supply circuit section 110 is a constant current circuit that converts a 100 V commercial power supply to a 5 V DC power supply.
[0028]
Further, a heater driving unit 111 is connected to the output processing circuit 109 of the electronic control unit 101. The heater driving circuit 122 is driven by the heater driving unit 111. The heater drive circuit 122 includes a transistor 122a, a relay contact 123a, and a relay coil 123b. When a drive signal is output from the electronic control unit 101 to the heater drive unit 111, the transistor 122a is turned on, the relay coil 123b is excited, and the relay contact 123a is turned on and off. Due to the intermittent operation of the relay contact 123a, the power supply to the washing water heater 29 is controlled via the connection lines L1 and L2 of the commercial power supply V, and the hot water in the heat exchanger 30 is maintained at a predetermined temperature. The washing water heater 29 is connected to the connection lines L1 and L2 of the commercial power supply V.
[0029]
Both ends of the bimetal switch 1 are connected to an A / D input terminal 101a and an A / D input terminal 101b of the electronic control unit 101, and constantly monitor the voltage.
[0030]
Next, the heater temperature control process executed by the CPU 102 of the electronic control unit 101 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, the target set temperature Tm set by the water discharge temperature setting button 13e is read (step S102), and subsequently, the detected temperature TA from the hot water temperature thermistor 28 is read (step S104). The detected temperature TA and the target set temperature Tm are read. If it is determined that there is a deviation equal to or greater than the predetermined temperature ΔT (step S106), a drive signal is output to the heater driving unit 111 (step S108), and the washing water heater 29 is turned on and off to set the target set temperature. The feedback control is executed so as to reach Tm. With this control, the hot water in the heat exchanger 30 is maintained at the target set temperature Tm, and the cleaning water is jetted from the nozzle body 40.
[0031]
Next, the determination processing when the hot water temperature thermistor 28 fails will be described. The failure of the hot water temperature thermistor 28 means that the resistance value of the hot water temperature thermistor 28 is fixed to a constant value due to, for example, corrosion, and the failure causes the processing in FIG. And the phenomenon that the cleaning water heater 29 keeps on. In this case, when the temperature of the cleaning water in the heat exchanger 30 becomes 53 ° C. or higher, the bimetal switch 1 is turned off, the power supply from the commercial power supply V is stopped, and the power supply to the cleaning water heater 29 is turned off. is there.
[0032]
The electronic control unit 101 can know this phenomenon from the detection values of the A / D input terminal 101a and the A / D input terminal 101b. That is, in this case, the detection values of the A / D input terminal 101a and the A / D input terminal 101b are OV and 100V, respectively. Then, the electronic control unit 101 immediately writes in the backup RAM 107 that the bimetal switch 1 is turned off (that is, the hot water temperature thermistor 28 has failed).
Here, it is necessary to select an electronic control unit that operates for a period of time sufficient for writing to the backup RAM 107 even when the power from the power supply circuit unit 110 is stopped.
[0033]
Next, the processing when the bimetal switch 1 returns to its original state will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The routine shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6 is always executed when the electronic control unit 101 is powered on. First, the information written in the backup RAM 107 is read (step S120), and it is determined from the read information whether there is a history of the bimetal switch 1 being turned off (step S122). If the result of the determination in step S122 is negative, this routine ends. On the other hand, if the result of the determination in step S122 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S124 to turn off the power to the heater 29 for cleaning water. A signal to the effect is output, and thereafter, the signal is continuously output, and the energization of the washing water heater 29 is prohibited. Subsequently, the process proceeds to step S126 to output a signal indicating that the electromagnetic valve 24 is to be closed, and thereafter outputs the signal to prohibit the discharge of the cleaning water.
[0034]
It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be embodied in various modes without departing from the gist thereof. For example, the following modifications are also possible.
[0035]
(1) After step S126 in the flowchart of FIG. 6, the fact that the energization of the washing water heater 29 and the prohibition of the ejection of the washing water are prohibited is notified to the outside by means of sound or a light emitting diode or the like. You may. In this case, it is possible to promptly perform a process such as maintenance by calling a service person.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 shows a Western style toilet equipped with a hot water washing apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hot water / nozzle control device of the hot water cleaning device.
FIG. 3 shows a main circuit configuration of the hot water cleaning device.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an electronic control unit and input / output signals thereof.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a heater temperature control process.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a power failure recovery process.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Bimetal switch 1L ... Connection wire 5a ... Ball surface 5 ... Toilet bowl main body 10 ... Hot water cleaning device 11 ... Casing main body 12 ... Nozzle device 13a ... Butt cleaning button 13b ... Bidet cleaning button 13c ... Stop button 13d ... Water amount setting button 13e ... Spout water temperature setting button 13f Toilet seat temperature setting button 13 Operation unit 14 Hot water / nozzle control device 15 Toilet seat 20 Branch metal fitting 21 Connecting pipe 22 Water supply adapter 23 Pressure reducing valve 24 Solenoid valve 25 Safety valve 26 Valve Unit 28: Thermistor for hot water temperature 29: Heater for washing water 29: Heater for washing 30 ... Heat exchanger 31 ... Float switch 32 ... Heat exchanger unit 33 ... Check valve 34 ... Flow regulating motor 35 ... Flow regulating valve 36 ... Flow control unit 37a First open / close valve 37b Second open / close valve 37 Open / close valve unit 40 Nozzle body 40 Cleaning nozzle 41 It operated device 53 ... heater toilet seat 100 ... electronic control device 101a ... A / D input terminal 101b ... A / D input terminal 101 ... electronic control unit 102 ... CPU
104 ... ROM
106 ... RAM
107: Backup RAM
108 input processing circuit 109 output processing circuit 110 power supply circuit section 111 heater driving section 122a transistor 122 heater driving circuit 123a relay contact 123b relay coil

Claims (3)

The wash water was water in the tank, the warm water washing device for jetting water against the human private heated by activatable washing heater,
An electronic control unit that is supplied with power by a power supply circuit unit connected to a commercial power supply and turns on and off power to the cleaning heater to maintain the cleaning water at a first temperature,
When the temperature of the cleaning water reaches a second temperature higher than the first temperature, power is supplied to the cleaning heater regardless of the power supply state of the cleaning heater by the electronic control unit. A self-resetting bimetal switch that turns off,
Storage means for storing that the bimetal switch has been turned off ,
Both ends of the bimetal switch are connected to the A / D input terminal of the electronic control unit, and constantly monitor the voltage,
The electronic control unit writes the fact that the bimetal switch has been turned off to the storage unit when detecting that the energization of the cleaning heater has been turned off by the bimetal switch by the detection value of the A / D input terminal. Reading the information written in the storage means and determining from the read information whether there is a history of the bimetal switch being turned off; if the result of the determination is affirmative, turning on the cleaning heater Ban,
A hot water washing device characterized by the above-mentioned. The hot water cleaning device according to claim 1,
A water supply adapter for controlling supply water, a pressure reducing valve, a solenoid valve, and a valve unit including a safety valve are further provided.
If the result of the determination is affirmative, close the solenoid valve, prohibit the discharge of the wash water,
A hot water washing device characterized by the above-mentioned. The hot water washing device according to claim 1 or 2,
Even if the power from the power supply circuit unit is stopped, the electronic control unit operates for a time only for writing to the storage unit.
A hot water washing device characterized by the above-mentioned.

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