JP3822673B2 - Automatic bath with water level function - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an improvement of an automatic bath apparatus having an automatic water holding level function that repeats pouring so as to maintain a water level of a bathtub at a set water level.
[0002]
[Prior art]
An automatic warming function that detects the bath water temperature at regular intervals set by the warming timer, performs correction if the detected temperature is lower than the set temperature, and injects water to maintain the set temperature if the detected temperature is higher. Having an automatic bath apparatus is well known. In this heat retention mode, it is common to have an automatic water retention level function that repeats pouring to maintain the water level of the bathtub at a set water level.
[0003]
In order to provide this automatic water holding level function, a pressure sensor for detecting the water level of the bathtub is provided in the circulation path connected to the bathtub in the bath apparatus or downstream of the pouring solenoid valve of the pouring circuit. There is a need. In that case, since the relationship between the water level of the bathtub and the output of the pressure sensor varies depending on the height difference between the position of the installed bathtub and the pressure sensor in the bath apparatus, Therefore, it is necessary to memorize the output of the pressure sensor.
[0004]
Furthermore, in order to pour hot water to the set water level when the water level of the bathtub is lowered, the amount of pouring is obtained from the product of the lowered water level and the opening area of the bathtub, and the corresponding amount of pouring is performed. The reason is that during the pouring, the water pressure fluctuates greatly, so that the pouring cannot be performed while monitoring the output of the pressure sensor. Therefore, it is necessary to detect and memorize the opening area of the bathtub connected to the bathtub device after it is installed.
[0005]
Therefore, conventionally, during the first automatic operation after installation, the pressure level corresponding to the water level from the state where there is no residual water to the mounting bracket of the circulation path and the set water level, the amount of pouring water and the amount of change in the water level is obtained. The opening area is detected and stored.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, at the time of the first automatic operation after the installation of the bath apparatus, there may be residual water already in the bathtub for some reason, in which case the water pressure value corresponding to the accurate water level cannot be detected. In addition, depending on the amount of remaining water, additional pouring may cause hot water to overflow from the bathtub, and the opening area of the bathtub cannot be detected.
[0007]
Therefore, conventionally, in automatic operation with the first memory mode, when it is first detected that there is residual water in the bathtub, it is recognized as an error state and the automatic operation is terminated without performing the subsequent water retention level function or heat retention function. Was. Therefore, unless the remaining water at that time is discharged from the bathtub, there is a problem that the automatic operation with the water holding level function and the heat retaining function cannot be performed, and the remaining water is wasted.
[0008]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to perform an automatic operation temporarily with a water retention function or a heat retention function even if residual water remains in the bathtub during the first automatic operation after the installation of the bath apparatus as described above. An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic bath apparatus capable of performing the above.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the present invention, according to the present invention, in an automatic bath pot device having a water holding level function for repeatedly pouring hot water so as to maintain the water level of the bathtub at a set water level, a predetermined amount of hot water is poured into the bathtub so that the predetermined level of the bathtub is reached. When the remaining water is detected in the bathtub device at the start of the storage mode for detecting the water pressure and the opening area of the water and storing them, the water pressure of the residual water is stored as the water pressure of the pseudo set water level, and the water level of the bathtub This is achieved by providing an automatic bath apparatus with a water retention level function, wherein the automatic water retention level function is executed so as to be maintained at a pseudo set water level.
[0010]
That is, when residual water is detected, in order not to waste the residual water, the water level at that time is temporarily stored as a pseudo set water level, the output of the pressure sensor is stored, and the standard bathtub at the time of factory shipment is stored. The water retention function is performed using the opening area of the water. Then, the above-described water pressure and opening area are detected and stored again in the automatic operation from the state without remaining water. Since the opening area of the bathtub does not differ so much even if the type of bathtub is different, there is no problem even if the standard opening area value at the time of factory shipment is used.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiment.
[0012]
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the overall structure of an automatic bath apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The automatic bath pot 100 is provided with a bath combustion chamber 1 and a hot water supply combustion chamber 2, and a bath heat exchanger 10 and a hot water supply heat exchanger 20 are provided in each combustion chamber. Further, the combustion chamber is provided with a bath burner 11 and hot water burner 21 (three ports are provided in FIG. 1), a bath igniter 13 and a hot water igniter 23, a bath frame rod 14 and a hot water frame rod 24 as heat input means. It has been. Also, a common combustion fan 30 is provided for both combustion chambers 1 and 2, and the air burned in each is exhausted through an exhaust port.
[0013]
A bath solenoid valve 12 and a hot water solenoid valve 22 for on / off control of gas supply to the bath burner 11 and the hot water supply burner 21 are provided, and the proportional valve 31 and the original gas solenoid are commonly used for the solenoid valves 12 and 22. A valve 32 is provided. These solenoid valves, proportional valves, igniters, frame rods, combustion fans, various sensors, and the like are controlled by a control device 43 such as a microcomputer mounted on the electrical board 41. The control device 43 is connected to a remote controller 40 in the bathroom or kitchen, receives an operation signal according to a program stored in the memory, and outputs a control signal.
[0014]
Although not shown, the remote controller 40 is provided with various control switches such as an automatic operation switch, an automatic heat retention mode switch, a temperature setting switch, a slime mode switch, and a hot-mesh mode switch. Control is performed according to the control program.
[0015]
The outline of the operation on the water heater side is as follows. First, when the hot water tap is opened, the water amount sensor 25 senses the flow rate of the water supply 28, and after the pre-purge by the combustion fan 30, the main gas solenoid valve 32, the proportional valve 31, and the hot water solenoid valve 22 are opened along with the discharge of the hot water igniter 23. Then, hot water of a predetermined temperature is supplied from the hot water supply port 29. In order to keep the hot water supply temperature at the set temperature, the solenoid valve drive current of the proportional valve 31 is controlled to a value calculated from the outputs of the incoming water thermistor 26, the outgoing hot water thermistor 27 and the water amount sensor 25.
[0016]
On the other hand, on the bath side, by opening the original gas solenoid valve 32, the proportional valve 31, and the bath solenoid valve 12, the bath burner 11 is burned, and a forward pump 18 and a return pipe 19 that are paired tubes and a circulation fitting by a circulation pump 17 The memorial operation is performed while circulating the hot water in the bathtub 47 through 46. In automatic operation such as memory mode operation or automatic hot water operation, hot water obtained by combustion on the hot water supply side is supplied to the circulation circuit on the bath side by opening the hot water solenoid valve 34, and the set temperature is set. An amount of hot water is poured into the bathtub, and then, if necessary, a memorial operation is performed up to the set temperature by burning on the bath side. The check valve 35 is for preventing the water in the bathtub from flowing into the pouring side.
[0017]
In the circulation circuit on the bath side, a pressure sensor 45 for detecting the water level in the bathtub 47, a bath water flow switch 15 for detecting whether water is circulating in the circulation circuit, and the temperature in the circulation circuit. A bath thermistor 16 for detection is provided.
[0018]
FIG. 2 is a flowchart in the automatic operation of the automatic bath apparatus, and shows a flowchart for executing the water retention level and the heat retention function without causing an error even if residual water is detected in the bathtub during the storage mode. Yes.
[0019]
First, when the automatic operation switch of the remote controller connected to the bath apparatus is turned on (S1), whether or not the bathtub data is stored in the memory in the microcomputer 43 mounted on the electrical board 41. A determination is made (S2). Bathtub data are the output value of the pressure sensor 45 corresponding to the water level mentioned above, and the opening area of a bathtub. When the bathtub data is stored, it means that the storage mode operation has already ended, and normal automatic operation is performed using the stored bathtub data (S3).
[0020]
When the bathtub data is not stored, it is necessary to perform the storage mode operation, and it is determined whether or not the remaining water remains in the bathtub. Therefore, the hot water solenoid valve 34 is opened, a small amount of a liter of water is poured from the hot water supply side, and the air in the pair tubes 18 and 19 is removed (S4). Then, the circulation pump 17 is turned on to detect whether or not the bath water flow switch 15 is turned on, and it is determined whether or not there is residual water beyond the circulation fitting 46 in the bathtub (S5). If the bath water flow switch 15 is not turned on, it is determined that there is no remaining water in the bathtub 47, and the flow proceeds to a storage mode flow to be described later (S6).
[0021]
At this time, when the bath water flow switch 15 is turned on and it is detected that there is residual water in the bathtub, an error is conventionally output and the automatic operation is terminated. However, in the present invention, the remaining water level at that time is The output of the pressure sensor 45 with respect to Q is stored as a pseudo set water level (S7). Then, using the pseudo set water level Q and the opening area of the bathtub stored in advance as an initial value, the mode is shifted to the water retention level / heat retention function mode. Steps S11 to S19 are a flow of the water retention level / heat retention function mode.
[0022]
After storing the current pressure of the water level Q, the circulating pump 17 is turned on to detect the temperature of the remaining water, and the remaining water temperature Tc in the bathtub is detected by the bath thermistor 16 (S8). If the bath temperature Tc is less than the set temperature Ts, the bath burner 11 is burned and retreated until the set temperature is reached (S10). Thereafter, the water retention level / heat retention mode is entered (S11).
[0023]
In the water retention level / heat retention function mode, every time a preset interval time elapses, the temperature of the bathtub is checked, and reheating or water injection is performed to reach the set temperature Ts (S13, 15, 17, 18). Then, the interval timer is reset and enters the next interval period. Further, for example, in the example of FIG. 2, the water retention level function constantly monitors the output of the pressure sensor 45 regardless of the elapse of the interval period (S14), and whenever it falls below the pseudo set water level Q, the pseudo set water level Q Pour hot water so that In that case, the amount of water to be poured is obtained by calculation from the product of the lowered water level and the initial value of the bathtub opening area, and poured from the water heater side.
[0024]
In this case, the pseudo set water level Q is only known to be at least higher than the circulating metal fitting 46, but at least the automatic operation at that time is performed so as to be maintained at the pseudo set water level Q, and the remaining in the bathtub Avoid wasting water. Then, after the bathtub data is acquired in the storage mode in step S6, the water retention level / heat retention function mode is executed in accordance with the stored data.
[0025]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the storage mode operation, which is a continuation of step S6 of FIG. The a-liter pouring of step S4 in FIG. 2 is given in advance as an initial value for the amount of pouring from the state in which there is no residual water in the bathtub to which the bath apparatus is connected to the bottom of the circulation fitting 46. A liter is set assuming the smallest bathtub that can be connected. Therefore, when there is residual water that cannot be ignored in the bathtub, it is determined in step S5 in FIG. 2 that there is residual water. If it is determined in step S5 that there is no remaining water, it usually means that the inside of the bathtub is empty or there is at least negligible residual water remaining.
[0026]
Now, referring back to FIG. 3, after confirming that there is no residual water in the bathtub, a very small amount of b liter of pouring less than a liter is repeated until the bathtub water level reaches above the circulation fitting 46 ( S30, 31). It is possible to detect that the bath water level has reached the top of the circulation fitting 46 by turning on the circulation pump 17 and checking the bath water flow switch 15 each time b liter is poured. Then, when it is detected, the output of the pressure sensor 45 corresponding to the water level A at that time is stored together with the total amount of water poured so far (A = a + nb (n is the number of times of b liter pouring)). (S32).
[0027]
Next, a certain amount of c liters is poured (S33), the water level B at that time is detected, and the bath opening obtained by dividing the amount of poured c liters by the change in the water level (B-A) Is obtained by calculation and stored (S34). Thereafter, the amount of pouring required to reach the set water level from the difference in water level up to the set water level is obtained by calculation, and the hot water is poured to the set water level. The output of the pressure sensor 45 corresponding to the set water level Qs at that time is stored. The storage mode flow is thus completed. As a result, in automatic operation after that, pouring to the set water level is performed using the stored bathtub data.
[0028]
In the normal operation of FIG. 2, the stored bathtub data is used to change between the state with residual water and the state without residual water depending on whether or not there is a change in the middle. The necessary amount of pouring is performed.
[0029]
The control sequence shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 2 and 3 is executed by a program stored in a microcomputer mounted on the electrical board 41, for example.
[0030]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, even when there is residual water in the bathtub at the time of the first automatic operation after the installation of the bath tub apparatus, the residual water is provisionally used without being wasted. A pseudo water retention level function can be performed. Then, the pressure corresponding to various water levels in the bathtub and the opening area of the bathtub are acquired in the storage mode performed from the state without remaining water, and thereafter, normal operation is performed using the stored data. Driving is not a problem.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the overall structure of an automatic bath apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart in automatic operation of the automatic bath apparatus.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart in the storage mode of the automatic bath apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Bath combustion chamber 2 Hot water supply combustion chamber 16 Bath thermistor 17 Circulation pump 40 Remote control 41 Electrical board 45 Pressure sensor 47 Bathtub

Claims (1)

In an automatic bath apparatus having a water retention function that repeats pouring to maintain the water level of the bathtub at the set water level,
At the start of the storage mode that detects the water pressure and the opening area of the bathtub at a predetermined water level by pouring a predetermined amount into the bathtub, and stores them,
When detecting residual water in said tub, and stores the pressure of residual water without pouring or pouring for the tub opening area detected when the residual water detected as pressure pseudo set water level, the remaining Executing the water holding level function so that the water level of the bathtub is maintained at the pseudo setting water level according to the water pressure of the pseudo setting water level and the initial value of the opening area of the bathtub at the water holding level mode after water detection ,
When residual water is not detected in the bathtub, a predetermined amount of water is poured into the bathtub to detect and store the opening area of the bathtub and to the set water level to detect and store the water pressure at the set water level. The automatic water bath device with a water level function is characterized in that the water level function is executed so that the water level of the bathtub is maintained at the set water level according to the stored water pressure and opening area of the set water level.

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