JP3899971B2 - Water heater - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to abnormality detection of a hot water supply apparatus connected to a water pipe.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Since the conventional hot water supply apparatus has no means for detecting abnormal heating using the steam detection means, a control method using the steam detection means using an electric water heater will be described as a conventional technique.
[0003]
In the conventional electric water heater, for example, as shown in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-68426, the water heater is stopped before the boiling is detected, or a steam detecting element as shown in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 60-174118 is used. There was one that detected boiling and stopped hot water normally.
[0004]
That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the electric water heater that does not boil is constituted by a heating means 52 by detecting the liquid temperature in the container 51 and a thermostat 53 that shuts off the heating means 52, and water is put into the container. The thermostat 53 is turned on and heated until the hot water temperature in the container reaches about 92 ° C., and when the temperature reaches about 92 ° C., the thermostat 53 is turned off to maintain the heat retaining temperature.
[0005]
On the other hand, as an electric water heater for performing boiling detection using a vapor detection element, the liquid in the container is boiled by the vapor detection element 54 provided at the end above the container 51 as shown in FIG. When the steam starts to be generated, the steam rapidly raises the temperature of the steam detecting element 54, so that the boiling is stopped by the temperature rise and the heat retaining operation is performed.
[0006]
As described above, these are detection methods relating to what normally stops the boiling operation, and are not intended to detect abnormality.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In such an electric water heater with a configuration that does not boil, when a temperature sensor realized by a thermostat or a thermistor is improperly mounted or a large fluctuation in the temperature around the temperature sensor occurs, the temperature sensor detects the temperature of the liquid in the container. Even if the temperature in the container reaches the temperature at which the kettle is finished without reaching the temperature at which the temperature sensor ends, the heating means continues to be heated without reaching the temperature at which the kettle is finished. There was a risk of damage.
[0008]
The present invention solves these problems, and it is an object of the present invention to stop the heating means with a simple configuration before the equipment is damaged even when the temperature sensor does not work normally.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve this problem, the present invention relates to a hot water supply apparatus having a heating unit connected to a water pipe, a container for storing a liquid, water supply means for supplying water from the water pipe to the container, and a liquid from the container. A discharge means for discharging, a heating means for heating the liquid, and a vapor detection means for detecting vapor generated from the liquid, and the heating means performs an abnormal heating operation based on a detection result of the vapor detection means. When it detects the being, it is provided with a fault detection means for inhibiting driving of said discharge means and the feed water means and the heating means.
[0010]
Thereby, it can be easily detected that an abnormal heating operation is performed by detecting the generation of a certain amount or more of steam. Furthermore, the heating means can be stopped before the equipment is damaged.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is a hot water supply apparatus having a heating unit connected to a water pipe, a container for storing liquid, water supply means for supplying water from the water pipe to the container, and liquid from the container. A discharge means for discharging the liquid, a heating means for heating the liquid, and a vapor detection means for detecting vapor generated from the liquid, and the heating means is heated abnormally based on a detection result of the vapor detection means. When detecting that the running, by providing the abnormality detection means you prohibit the driving of said discharge means and the feed water means and the heating means, abnormal heating by detecting a predetermined amount or more of the steam generator It can be easily detected that the operation is performed.
[0012]
Furthermore, damage to the device due to an abnormal heating operation can be prevented in advance.
[0013]
Furthermore, it is possible to prevent the use of hot water that is not at a desired temperature by the user.
[0014]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, an apparatus that detects an abnormality is configured such that the heating unit is stopped until the power input to the device is temporarily turned off according to the detection result of the abnormality detection unit. The use of equipment can be prohibited until the abnormal cause is removed, and a normal hot water supply device can be used reliably.
[0015]
According to a third aspect of the invention, the abnormality once the heating means until the power off in accordance with the detection result of the detecting means, prohibits any operation of the discharge means for discharging water from the supply water means and the container for supplying water to the container By configuring so, the apparatus detected as abnormal can prohibit the use of the device until the abnormal factor is removed, and the normal hot water supply apparatus can be used reliably.
[0016]
【Example】
Example 1
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, 1 is a water pipe, 2 is a branch plug, 3 is a water stop cock. 4 is a purified water heating unit (heating unit) of a hot water supply apparatus housed in the kitchen unit 5, and there is a container 6 for putting water therein.
[0017]
The water supply means is constituted by a connection pipe 7, a water supply valve 8, a water purification cartridge 9 and a water supply valve 10, and the connection pipe 7 branched from the water pipe 1 by the branch plug 2 is connected to the inlet of the water purification cartridge 9 through the water supply valve 8. Is attached. A switching valve 10 is connected to the outlet of the water purification cartridge 9, and when the water supply valve 8 and the switching valve 10 are both turned on, from the upper part of the container 6 through a water amount detection sensor 11 that can detect the amount of water passing through the water. Water is supplied into the container 6.
[0018]
This water amount detection sensor 11 detects the amount of water passing by measuring the number of pulses from the Hall IC by detecting the change in the magnet attached to the rotating shaft with the Hall IC when the water passes. It is a mechanism to do.
[0019]
The container 6 is in contact with a main heater 12 constituting a heating means for heating water, an auxiliary heater 13 for keeping the heated water, and a temperature sensor 14 comprising a thermistor for detecting the hot water temperature of the container 6. ing. Furthermore, a pump 15 that forms part of drainage means for guiding the water in the container 6 to the upper part of the kitchen unit 5, and a full water detection sensor 16 that detects full water are also attached to the upper part of the container 6. In this embodiment, the full water volume of the container 6 is 2000 ml.
[0020]
17 is a faucet provided in the upper part of the kitchen unit 5, and communicates with the hot water pipe 18 for guiding hot water in the container, the water pipe 19 connected when the switching valve 10 is off, and the upper part of the container 6. And a steam pipe 20 for discharging steam generated in the container 6 to the outside.
[0021]
The steam pipe 20 is provided with steam detection means 21 composed of a thermistor for detecting steam generated and discharged in the container 6. The steam detecting means 21 has a low temperature when the steam is not passing through the steam pipe 20 and a gentle gradient. However, when the steam begins to pass, the temperature rise becomes steep. , And reach a temperature higher than the boiling point.
[0022]
Reference numeral 23 denotes an abnormality detection means that detects whether or not heating is being performed with the temperature sensor 14 in a normal state based on the temperature detected by the steam detection means 21. Reference numeral 24 denotes hot water storage amount detection means, which displays the hot water storage capacity on the operation unit 22 based on the detection result. The method for detecting the hot water storage capacity is calculated from the driving time of the pump 15 and the amount of water detected by the water amount detection sensor 11, and will be described in detail later. Reference numeral 25 denotes backup means for backing up the detection amount of the hot water storage amount detection means 24 in the event of a power failure.
[0023]
An operation unit 22 is provided on the outer surface of the faucet 17 and includes an unlock button switch 33 and a hot water button switch 35 for operating the drainage means, and an abnormality notifying means. The details will be described with reference to FIG.
[0024]
In FIG. 2, when the purified water is discharged, when the purified water button switch 31 is pressed, the purified water LED 32 is turned on and the water supply valve 8 is turned on. When the water supply valve 8 is turned on, the tap water passes through the water purification cartridge 9 and the switching valve 10 is turned off. When the water purification button switch 31 is pressed again, the water purification LED 32 is turned off and the water supply valve 8 is turned off. When the water supply valve 8 is turned off, the water from the water pipe 19 stops.
[0025]
Next, the operation of the discharge means for discharging hot water will be described. When the unlock button switch 33 is pressed, the unlock LED 34 is turned on. If the hot water button switch 35 is pressed within 10 seconds, the pump 15 is driven only while the hot water button switch 35 is being pressed, and the hot water in the container 6 is discharged through the hot water pipe 18.
[0026]
When the hot water button switch 35 is released, the lock release LED 34 is turned off about 10 seconds later, and the pump 15 is turned off, so that hot water from the hot water pipe 18 is prohibited.
[0027]
Next, details of the hot water amount display example will be described with reference to FIG. The amount of hot water 1 LED 36, the amount of hot water 2 LED 37, and the amount of hot water 3 LED 38 change according to the amount of stored water estimated by the stored hot water amount detection means 24 and the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 14.
[0028]
When the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 14 is lower than 90 ° C., the hot water amount 1 LED 36 blinks as shown in FIG. When the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 14 is 90 ° C. or higher, the temperature changes according to the amount of water stored estimated by the hot water storage amount detection means 24. When the amount of stored water estimated by the hot water storage amount detection means 24 is less than 500 ml, as shown in (b), the hot water amount 1 LED 36 is turned on, and when the amount of water storage estimated by the hot water storage amount detection means 24 is less than 1000 ml, As shown in (c), when the hot water amount 1 LED 36 and the hot water amount 2 LED 37 are turned on, and when the stored water amount estimated by the hot water storage amount detecting means 24 is 1000 ml or more, as shown in (d), the hot water amount 1 LED 36 and the hot water amount 2 LED 37 are displayed. The hot water amount 3 LED 38 respectively displays a lighting display.
[0029]
Next, the actual operation will be described with reference to FIGS. When the power is turned on, the water supply valve 8 is turned on after the switching valve 10 is turned on. When the water supply valve 8 is turned on, the water is stored in the container 6 by the switching valve 10 after passing through the water purification cartridge 9 from the water pipe 1. When the amount of water passing through the water amount detection sensor 11 reaches 400 ml, the water supply valve 8 and the switching valve 10 are turned off and the water storage in the container 6 is stopped.
[0030]
Thereafter, the main heater 12 and the auxiliary heater 13 are turned on to heat the water in the container 6. Since the detected temperature of the temperature sensor 14 is less than 90 ° C., the hot water amount 1 LED 36 is displayed blinking as shown in FIG. Thereafter, when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 14 reaches 90 ° C. or more, as shown in FIG. 3B, the hot water amount 1 LED 36 is turned on.
[0031]
Next, when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 14 reaches 95 ° C. or higher, the switching valve 10 and the water supply valve 8 are turned on again, and water is stored again in the container 6. When the amount of water passing through the water amount detection sensor 11 reaches 100 ml, the water supply valve 8 and the switching valve 10 are turned off to stop water storage in the container 6. Here, the water storage amount estimated by the hot water storage amount detection means 24 is 400 + 100 = 500 ml together with the previous water storage amount. Further, as shown in FIG. 3C, the hot water amount 1 LED 36 and the hot water amount 2 LED 37 are turned on.
[0032]
Here, even if a power failure occurs, the backup means 25 stores the estimated water storage amount by the hot water storage amount detection means 24. When the power is restored from the power failure, the backup means 25 restores the water storage amount estimated by the hot water storage amount detection means 24 to 500 ml. When the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 14 reaches 95 ° C., the switching valve 10 and the water supply valve 8 are turned on to store 100 ml of water in the container 6.
[0033]
When such a water supply operation is repeated 15 times, the water storage amount estimated by the hot water storage amount detection means 24 is 400 + 100 × 15 = 1900 ml. When the thermistor detection temperature reaches 95 ° C. and the full water detection sensor 16 detects that the amount of hot water stored in the container 6 is 2000 ml before storing 100 ml of water in the container 6, the switching valve 10 and the water supply valve 8 are turned off, Stop the water storage operation. At the same time, the water storage amount estimated by the hot water storage amount detection means 24 is reset to 2000 ml.
[0034]
Thereafter, when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 14 reaches 95 ° C., the main heater 12 and the auxiliary heater 13 are turned off. As shown in FIG. 3D, the display of the operation unit 22 at that time is a lighting display of a hot water amount 1 LED 36, a hot water amount 2 LED 37, and a hot water amount 3 LED 38. When the detected temperature of the temperature sensor 14 is less than 95 ° C., the auxiliary heater 13 is turned on to keep the hot water in the container 6 at a high temperature.
[0035]
When the lock release button switch 33 is pressed during the reheating operation or the heat-retaining state as described above, the lock release LED 34 is turned on. When the hot water button switch 35 is pressed within 10 seconds, the pump 15 is driven, Hot water in the container 6 is discharged through a hot water pipe 18.
[0036]
At this time, the remaining water amount is determined as follows. In the case of the present embodiment, the pump 15 has a tapping capacity of 2400 ml per minute, so the amount of tapping per second is stored as 2400/60 = 40 ml. Calculate from the drive time and the stored amount of tapping water per second. For example, if the hot water is discharged for 30 seconds, the amount of hot water discharged is 30 s × 40 ml / s = 1200 ml, and the water storage amount estimated by the hot water storage amount detection means 24 is 2000 ml-1200 ml = 800 ml when the water is full. Then, as shown in FIG. 3C, the hot water amount 1 LED 36 and the hot water amount 2 LED 37 are turned on. Further, when the water storage amount estimated by the hot water storage amount detection means 24 is less than 1000 ml, water is stored every 100 ml into the container 6 until the full water detection sensor 16 detects full water. At the same time, the container 6 is heated by the main heater 12 and the auxiliary heater 13.
[0037]
If the abnormality detecting means 23 continuously detects the generation of steam for a predetermined time (300 seconds in this embodiment) while repeating the above-described water storage, boiling, and hot water discharge operations, the temperature sensor 14 is normal. Therefore, the operation of the main heater 12, the auxiliary heater 13, the pump 15, and the switching valve 10 is stopped, and the operation unit 22 is formed. The abnormality notification means to display that fact. In this embodiment, for example, all of the purified water LED 32, the unlock LED 34, the hot water amount 1 LED 36, the hot water amount 2 LED 37, and the hot water amount 3 LED 38 are blinked. Further, it is possible to make a notification using a notification sound such as a buzzer.
[0038]
In this way, with a simple configuration, it is possible to detect abnormality of the temperature sensor at an early stage and stop heating, so that damage to the device can be prevented in advance, and the user can be informed of the abnormal state.
[0039]
Furthermore, in a device that fills up the amount of hot water in the container while repeating the addition of a small amount of water when the temperature rises during boiling, a small amount of steam is ejected even if the temperature sensor is normal. Normal abnormality detection that does not stop can be performed.
[0040]
(Example 2)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, the same number is used for the same component as what was demonstrated in Example 1, and the description is abbreviate | omitted.
[0041]
FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the hot water supply apparatus according to the second embodiment. The difference from the first embodiment is that the power supply monitoring means 26 is provided. The power supply monitoring means 26 detects the on / off state of the power supply and outputs the power supply state to the abnormality detection means 23.
[0042]
When the abnormality detecting means 23 detects the generation of steam continuously for the predetermined time or longer, the abnormality notifying means for stopping the driving of the main heater 12, the auxiliary heater 13, the pump 15 and the switching valve 10 and forming the operation unit 22 Continue to display the effect.
[0043]
In such a state, when the power monitor means 26 detects the power-off state, the main heater 12, the auxiliary heater 13, the water supply valve drive, and the input of the lock release button switch are received, as described above. Water supply, boiling, and hot water can be performed.
[0044]
As described above, it is possible to detect the abnormality of the temperature sensor at an early stage and to stop the heating with a simple configuration, so that damage to the device can be prevented in advance and the user can be informed of the abnormal state. At the same time, since the failure has not been recovered until the power of the device is once turned off, the use can be prohibited with a simple configuration.
[0045]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the present invention can realize a safe hot water supply apparatus that quickly stops heating when an abnormal heating operation occurs and prohibits the use of the apparatus when the apparatus is out of order.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a hot water supply apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an operation unit of the hot water supply apparatus. FIG. 3 (a) is a temperature sensor of the hot water supply apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The figure which shows the operation part display when detection temperature is less than 90 degreeC (b) The figure which shows the operation part display when the detection temperature of the temperature sensor of a hot-water supply apparatus reaches 90 degreeC or more (c) The same, hot-water supply apparatus The figure which shows the operation part display in case the water storage amount estimated by the hot water storage amount detection means of this is less than 1000 ml FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a hot water supply apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a conventional electric water heater.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Water pipe 4 Heating unit 6 Heating container 11 Water quantity detection sensor 15 Pump 16 Full water detection sensor 21 Steam detection means 22 Operation part 23 Power supply monitoring means 24 Hot water storage amount detection means 25 Backup means

Claims (3)

In a hot water supply apparatus having a heating unit connected to a water pipe, a container for storing a liquid, water supply means for supplying water from the water pipe to the container, discharge means for discharging the liquid from the container, and heating the liquid A heating means and a steam detection means for detecting the vapor generated from the liquid, and detecting that the heating means is abnormally heating based on a detection result of the steam detection means; hot water supply device provided with abnormality detection means for inhibiting driving of said discharge means and the feed water means and.   The hot water supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heating unit is kept stopped until the power input to the device is once turned off according to the detection result of the abnormality detection unit. In accordance with the detection result of the abnormality detection means, claims the heating means, and configured so as to prohibit any operation of the discharge means for discharging water from the supply water means and the container for supplying water to the container until it is once powered off 1. A hot water supply apparatus according to 1.

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