JP3687716B2 - Water heater - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a water heater that activates an alarm device or stops heating when a battery voltage detected by monitoring a battery voltage of a dry battery falls below a predetermined value.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The gas water heater is equipped with a combustion control circuit including a combustion state monitoring circuit for detecting the combustion state of the burner. When the combustion state monitoring circuit detects a misfire or an ignition error of the gas burner, it is placed in the gas pipe to the gas burner. The gas solenoid valve provided is closed to shut off the gas supply to the gas burner.
[0003]
In a small gas water heater, the power for operating the combustion control circuit is covered by a dry battery.
In this way, in a water heater using a dry battery as a power source for operation, a low current type gas solenoid valve with low operating power is used, so the gas solenoid valve can be kept open with a slight current, but the battery voltage is low. If the pressure drops significantly, the operation of the combustion control circuit becomes unstable, and there is a risk that the solenoid valve cannot be reliably driven to close.
[0004]
Therefore, the battery voltage monitoring circuit monitors the voltage of the dry battery, and when the battery voltage drops below a predetermined value, the indicator lamp is turned on (or flashes) to inform the user that the battery needs to be replaced. ing.
In this case, when the display lamp is turned on (or blinking), the predetermined value is set to a voltage immediately before the operation of the combustion control circuit becomes unstable.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the battery voltage monitoring circuit and the lamp control circuit that supplies lighting power to the display lamp are supplied with operating power from the dry battery, as in the combustion control circuit. If the battery voltage cannot be properly monitored or the lamp control circuit cannot be operated, the battery exhaustion is not notified or the gas solenoid valve cannot be closed at an appropriate timing.
Even if the voltage of the dry battery is not lowered, when the dry battery is detached from the battery case, it is not possible to notify that the battery has run out (battery removed).
[0006]
A first object of the present invention is to provide a water heater in which an alarm device operates reliably when the battery voltage of a dry battery becomes a predetermined value or less.
The second object of the present invention is to provide a water heater that can reliably inhibit the operation of the heating source when the battery voltage of the dry battery becomes a predetermined value or less.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, the present invention employs the following configuration.
(1) A water supply pipe, a heat exchanger, and a hot water pipe are connected in series, and a heat exchange water channel having a faucet provided in the middle thereof, a water current generator arranged in the heat exchange water channel, and the heat exchanger A heating source for heating the heating source, a heating control means for controlling the operation of the heating source, a dry battery storing power for operating the heating control means, a battery voltage monitoring means for monitoring the battery voltage of the dry battery, and the battery voltage In a water heater comprising an alarm control means for operating an alarm when the battery voltage detected by the monitoring means falls below a predetermined value, the water current generator supplies operating power for the battery voltage monitoring means and the alarm control means. Covered by the power generated.
[0008]
(2) A water supply pipe, a heat exchanger, and a hot water discharge pipe connected in series, a heat exchange water channel having a faucet provided in the middle, a water current generator arranged in the heat exchange water channel, and the heat exchanger A heating source for heating the heating source, a heating control means for controlling the operation of the heating source, a dry battery storing power for operation of the heating control means, a battery voltage of the dry battery, and the detected battery voltage is less than a predetermined value A battery voltage monitoring means that outputs a battery voltage drop signal when the battery voltage drop signal is input, and a heating stop means that disables the operation of the heating source when the battery voltage drop signal is input. The power for operating the stopping means is covered by the power generated by the water current generator.
[0009]
(3) The water heater has the above-described configuration (1) or (2), and is provided with charging means for storing electric power generated by the water current generator.
[0010]
[Operation and effect of the invention]
[About claim 1]
When the faucet is opened, water flows into the heat exchange water channel, the water flow generator disposed in the heat exchange water channel starts power generation, and the generated power is supplied as operating power for the battery voltage monitoring means and the alarm control means.
The battery voltage monitoring means starts monitoring the battery voltage, and when the detected battery voltage is below a predetermined value, the alarm control means activates the alarm to prompt the user to replace the dry battery.
As described above, since the power for operating the battery voltage monitoring means and the alarm control means is supplied by the water current generator, even if the voltage of the dry battery is greatly reduced or the dry battery is detached from the battery case, it is ensured. Notification can be performed.
[0011]
[About claim 2]
When the faucet is opened, water flows into the heat exchange water channel, the water current generator disposed in the heat exchange water channel starts power generation, and the generated power is supplied as power for operating the battery voltage monitoring means and the heating stop means. The battery voltage monitoring means starts monitoring the battery voltage, and when the detected battery voltage is less than or equal to a predetermined value, the battery voltage monitoring means outputs a battery voltage drop signal to the heating stop means.
That is, when the battery voltage is equal to or lower than the predetermined value, the heating source is in an operation prohibited state.
In this manner, since the electric power for operating the battery voltage monitoring means and the heating stop means is supplied by the water current generator, the operation of the heating source can be surely stopped even if the voltage of the dry battery rapidly decreases.
[0012]
[About claim 3]
Immediately after opening the faucet, the power generated by the water current generator is unstable, and when the faucet opening is small, the power generated by the water current generator may be small.
Therefore, if the power generated by the water current generator is directly supplied to the battery voltage monitoring means, the alarm control means and the heating stop means, the operation of the battery voltage monitoring means, the alarm control means and the heating stop means becomes temporarily unstable. There is a fear.
Therefore, in the water heater having the configuration of claim 3, a charging means for storing the power generated by the water current generator is provided, and the operating power is supplied to the battery voltage monitoring means, the alarm control means and the heating stop means via the charging means. Supply. For this reason, even when the faucet is opened or even when the faucet opening is small, the battery voltage monitoring means, the alarm control means and the heating stop means can be operated normally.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
One embodiment (corresponding to claims 1 to 3) of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in the figure, the gas water heater A includes a heat exchange water channel 1 in which a water supply pipe 11, a heat exchanger 12, and a hot water discharge pipe 13 are sequentially connected, and a water current generator 2 disposed in the water supply pipe 11. A gas burner 3 for heating the heat exchanger 12, a combustion control circuit 4 for controlling ignition / extinguishing of the gas burner 3, a dry battery 5 storing operating power for the combustion control circuit 4, and a battery voltage of the dry battery 5 are monitored. A battery voltage monitoring circuit 6, a battery dead lamp driving circuit 7 for controlling the battery dead lamp 71, a gas valve cutoff circuit 8 for closing the gas valve 81, and a charging means 9 for storing the power generated by the water current generator 2; Is provided.
[0014]
In the water supply pipe 11, a faucet 110, a water governor 111 that also functions as a water pressure responsive member, a water current generator 2, and a hot water temperature regulator 113 that adjusts the amount of bypass water are sequentially arranged from the upstream.
The bypass pipe 14 connects the bypass pipe side outlet 141 of the hot water temperature controller 113 and the mixing unit 142 (in the middle of the hot water pipe 13).
[0015]
The hot water discharge pipe 13 is connected to the mixing section 142 at the distal end side, and a base section of a flexible pipe 131 fitted with a shower head is rotatably connected to the mixing section 142.
[0016]
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the water current generator 2 disposed between the water governor 111 and the hot water temperature controller 113 has a main water channel 21 and a venturi 211 on the water inlet side, and is arranged in the main water channel 21. A turbine-type AC generator 22, a sub-water channel 23 that bypasses the AC generator 22, and a flow-controlled pressure relief valve 24 that is arranged in the sub-water channel 23 and increases in opening as the water pressure increases. .
The characteristics of voltage, current, and power with respect to the amount of water of the water current generator 2 are as shown in FIG. For the measurement, the characteristic measurement circuit shown in FIG. 5 was used.
[0017]
31 is a gas pipe, and from the upstream side, a water pressure responsive valve 312, a gas governor 313, and a capacity regulator 314, which are connected to the water governor 111 by a gas valve 81 and a gas valve rod 811, are sequentially arranged.
[0018]
Reference numeral 51 denotes an operation button. When pressed, the valve shaft 114 of the faucet 110 is pulled to open, and the micro switch 52 is turned on. As a result, water flows through the water supply pipe 11 and battery power is supplied to the combustion control circuit 4.
[0019]
The combustion control circuit 4 combusts based on the igniter circuit 41 that supplies a high voltage to the igniter 411, the flame rod circuit 42 that detects the flame current based on the output of the frame rod 432, and the combined electromotive force of the thermocouples 431 and 421. A thermocouple circuit 43 that detects the state and a gas valve drive circuit 44 that drives the gas valve 81 are included.
[0020]
The dry battery 5 is a single type, and two batteries are connected in series.
The battery voltage monitoring circuit 6 monitors the battery voltage of the dry battery 5, and when the detected battery voltage becomes 1.8 V (predetermined value) or less, the battery voltage drop signal 60 is sent to the gas valve cutoff circuit 8 and the battery dead lamp drive circuit 7. Output to.
[0021]
When the battery voltage drop signal 60 is input, the battery dead lamp driving circuit 7 becomes conductive and lights up the battery dead lamp (red LED).
The gas valve cutoff circuit 8 outputs a gas valve closing signal 80 to the gas valve driving circuit 44 when the battery voltage drop signal 60 is input.
[0022]
The charging means 9 includes a rechargeable battery 91 and a charging circuit 92 that charges the generated power of the water current generator 2 rectified by the bridge diode 20.
Then, the electric power stored in the rechargeable battery 91 is supplied to the battery voltage monitoring circuit 6, the dead battery lamp driving circuit 7, and the gas valve cutoff circuit 8.
[0023]
The gas water heater A of the present embodiment has the following advantages.
The gas water heater A supplies the electric power of the rechargeable battery 91 that stores the electric power generated by the water current generator 2 to the battery voltage monitoring circuit 6, the out-of-battery lamp driving circuit 7, and the gas valve cutoff circuit 8.
When the battery voltage drops to 1.8 V (predetermined value) or less due to the operation of the igniter 411 or the like during the hot water discharge at the end of the life of the dry battery 5, the battery voltage monitoring circuit 6 sends the battery voltage drop signal 60 to the battery dead. Output to the lamp driving circuit 7 and the gas valve shut-off circuit 8.
[0024]
Thereby, since the gas burner 3 stops burning, the gas water heater A is excellent in safety. In addition, the battery dead lamp 71 is surely turned on and prompts the user to replace the dry battery 5, which is convenient.
Even when the operation button is pressed, or even when the opening of the water faucet (not shown) hot water adjustment knob is small, the power of the rechargeable battery 91 is supplied to the battery voltage monitoring circuit 6, the battery dead lamp drive circuit 7, and Since the gas is supplied to the gas valve cutoff circuit 8, the battery voltage monitoring circuit 6, the dead battery drive circuit 7, and the gas valve cutoff circuit 8 operate normally.
[0025]
The present invention includes the following embodiments in addition to the above examples.
a. The charging means 9 may not be provided, and the output of the bridge diode 21 may be directly supplied to the battery voltage monitoring circuit 6, the battery dead lamp driving circuit 7, and the gas valve cutoff circuit 8 (corresponding to claims 1 and 2).
[0026]
b. In the above embodiment, the battery voltage monitoring circuit 6 outputs a signal to the dead battery driving circuit 7 and the gas valve cutoff circuit 8, but the signal is output only to the dead battery driving circuit 7. Alternatively, the signal may be output only to the gas valve cutoff circuit 8 (corresponding to claim 2).
[0027]
c. In the above embodiment, the water current generator 2 is arranged in the water supply pipe 11, but it may be arranged in the hot water discharge pipe 13.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a structural explanatory diagram of a gas water heater according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the gas water heater.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a water current generator used in the gas water heater.
FIG. 4 is a principle diagram of a water current generator used for the gas water heater.
FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram for measuring the characteristics of the generator unit.
FIG. 6 is a graph showing voltage, current, and power characteristics with respect to the amount of water of the water current generator, measured using the characteristic measurement circuit.
[Explanation of symbols]
A gas water heater (water heater)
1 Heat exchange channel 2 Water current generator 3 Gas burner (heating source)
4 Combustion control circuit (heating control means)
5 Battery 6 Battery voltage monitoring circuit (Battery voltage monitoring means)
7 Battery run out lamp drive means (notifier control means)
8 Gas valve shut-off circuit (heating stop means)
9 Charging means 11 Water supply pipe 12 Heat exchanger 13 Hot water outlet pipe 60 Battery voltage drop signal 71 Battery dead lamp (notifier)
110 faucet 111 water governor

Claims (3)

A water supply pipe, a heat exchanger, and a hot water pipe are connected in sequence, and a heat exchange water channel with a faucet provided in the middle,
A water current generator disposed in the heat exchange waterway;
A heating source for heating the heat exchanger;
Heating control means for controlling the operation of the heating source;
A dry battery storing power for operating the heating control means;
Battery voltage monitoring means for monitoring the battery voltage of the dry battery;
In a water heater comprising alarm device control means for operating an alarm device when the battery voltage detected by the battery voltage monitoring means falls below a predetermined value,
A hot water heater characterized in that power for operation of the battery voltage monitoring means and the alarm control means is covered by power generated by the water current generator. A water supply pipe, a heat exchanger, and a hot water pipe are connected in sequence, and a heat exchange water channel with a faucet provided in the middle,
A water current generator disposed in the heat exchange waterway;
A heating source for heating the heat exchanger;
Heating control means for controlling the operation of the heating source;
A dry battery storing power for operating the heating control means;
Battery voltage monitoring means for monitoring the battery voltage of the dry battery, and outputting a battery voltage drop signal when the detected battery voltage falls below a predetermined value;
In a water heater provided with a heating stop means for disabling the heating source when the battery voltage drop signal is input,
A hot water heater characterized in that power for operating the battery voltage monitoring means and the heating stop means is covered by power generated by the water current generator. The water heater according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising charging means for storing electric power generated by the water current generator.

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