JP6458943B2 - Bathing type heating system - Google Patents

Description

  TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a bathtub installation type heating system that includes a heating unit that is attached to an inner wall surface of a bathtub and can warm a bather, and a supply unit that supplies warm water to the heating unit.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been proposed a heating system that is installed in a bathtub and heats specific parts of a bather's body (for example, a shoulder, a waist, and a sole). For example, one of the conventional bathtub installation type heating systems (hereinafter referred to as “conventional system”) includes a bathtub and a plurality of hot water injection nozzles provided on the wall surface of the bathtub. Multiple hot water spray nozzles are arranged so that one can spray hot water toward the bather's sole and the other can spray hot water to other parts other than the bather's sole Has been. The conventional system controls the timing of injecting hot water from each of the hot water injection nozzles so as to heat the sole of the bather in preference to other parts. From this control, the conventional system aims to reduce discomfort (stagnation and the like) that may occur in the region where the hot water is injected (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent No. 4752592

(Problems to be solved by the invention)
In the conventional system, hot water in the bathtub is taken out (for example, sucked by a pump or the like) from a water intake provided on the bottom surface of the bathtub, and the hot water taken out is jetted from the hot water jet nozzle. In other words, the conventional system is configured to generate (inject) hot water using (circulate) hot water in the bathtub. Based on the principle of generating hot water, in the conventional system, the hot water in the bathtub circulates in the piping from the water intake port to the hot water injection nozzle while repeating contact with the bather. As a result, scales or the like may adhere and accumulate in the pipe. A large amount of scale can cause clogging (clogging) of piping and generation of germs. Therefore, the conventional system requires maintenance such as cleaning the inside of the pipe every predetermined period.

  However, the hygienic condition of the heating system should be kept as good as possible, both from the point of minimizing the maintenance frequency of the heating system and from the original purpose of bathing to keep the bather's body clean. Is desirable.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a bathtub installation type heating system capable of maintaining the sanitary state of the heating system as good as possible without impairing the function as the heating system. There is.

(Means for solving the problem)
The bathtub installation type heating system of the present invention for achieving the above-described problem is as follows.
A "bathtub", a "warming section" that is attached to the inner wall surface of the bathtub and that can warm a bather, and a "supply section" that supplies warm water to the warming section.

More specifically,
The “supply unit” generates hot water to be supplied to the heating unit without using hot water in the bathtub,
The "warming part" is discharged into the bathtub after passing the warm water supplied from the supply part through the warming part.
Configured as follows.

  According to the said structure, warm water is supplied from a supply part toward "The heating part attached to the inner wall face of a bathtub." Therefore, the bather can be heated by the thermal energy of the hot water supplied to the heating unit. Further, the hot water “generated without using hot water in the bathtub” is supplied to the “warming part”, and the warming part “heats the hot water supplied from the supply part. After passing through the section, it is discharged into the bathtub. " Therefore, hot water in the bathtub does not circulate in the heating system. In other words, the heating system of the present invention can isolate the water passage (pipe) in the heating system and the hot water in the bathtub. As a result, the heating system of the present invention can reduce the possibility of blockage of the water passage (pipe) and generation of germs, as well as the maintenance frequency of the heating system itself, compared to the conventional system. it can.

  Therefore, the bathtub installation type heating system of the present invention can maintain the sanitary state of the heating system as well as possible without impairing the function as the heating system.

  By the way, the method by which the heating unit “releases the hot water supplied from the supply unit into the bathtub after passing through the heating unit” is not particularly limited. For example, as this method, a method of providing an opening that can conduct hot water on the surface of the heating unit (that is, providing a discharge port on a casing that cannot conduct hot water) and discharging warm water from the opening is used. Can be. Further, as this technique, a technique in which a part or the whole of the heating part is made of a material that can permeate warm water (for example, a porous material such as a sponge) and the warm water is discharged through the material can be used. In the case of the former method, the opening is the entire surface of the warming part that the bather's body comes into contact with, a part of the surface (for example, the upper end part), and a surface different from the surface (for example, , And the like on the side and back of the heating unit. Similarly, in the latter method, the material through which the hot water is permeable can be applied to the entire surface of the warming part that the bather's body comes into contact with, a part of the surface, and a surface different from the surface. Can be provided.

  The method in which the supply unit “generates hot water to be supplied to the heating unit without using hot water in the bathtub” is not particularly limited. For example, the supply unit may be configured to take in tap water directly from a water pipe and supply the heated tap water to a heating unit after heating the taken tap water with a heating device (electric heater or the like).

  Furthermore, the timing at which the “supply unit” supplies hot water to the heating unit is not particularly limited. For example, the supply unit may always supply hot water to the heating unit during bathing, or may supply hot water to the heating unit only when a predetermined condition is satisfied.

In addition , the supply unit
Based on the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub, the target temperature of the heating unit is determined,
It is determined whether or not a bather is in contact with the warming unit, and hot water is supplied so that the temperature of the warming unit matches the target temperature after the bather contacts the warming unit. starts, Ru is configured.

  According to the above configuration, since the supply unit starts supplying hot water “after the time when the bather contacts the heating unit”, generally, at the moment when the bather contacts the heating unit, The temperature difference from the hot water in the bathtub is small. For example, if the heating part is sufficiently warmed by hot water in the bathtub, this temperature difference is substantially zero. And since a supply part starts supply of warm water after "determining whether the bather is contacting the heating part", the bather's discomfort resulting from this temperature difference can be reduced. This discomfort reducing effect is exhibited particularly when the “target temperature of the warming part” is higher or lower than the temperature of hot water in the bathtub.

  Furthermore, in the heating system of the present invention, in order to "determine the target temperature of the heating unit based on the temperature of hot water in the bathtub", a desired heating mode (for example, a specific part of the body of the bather, It is also possible to easily realize (warming more than other parts touching the hot water in the bathtub).

  By the way, the above-mentioned “target temperature of the heating unit” may be determined in consideration of the effect of heating and the like, and the specific temperature is not particularly limited. For example, the target temperature may be a temperature that is higher by a predetermined temperature than the temperature of hot water in the bathtub, the same temperature as the temperature of hot water in the bathtub, or a temperature that is lower than the temperature of hot water in the bathtub by a predetermined temperature. This target temperature may be the temperature of the heating unit itself (surface temperature), and the temperature of the hot water discharged from the heating unit (or the heat loss on the path from the supply unit to the heating unit). If negligible, it may be the temperature of hot water supplied from the supply unit). The “temperature of the hot water in the bathtub” may be the temperature of the hot water actually present in the bathtub (temperature obtained by a temperature sensor or the like), or a water heater (boiler or the like) that supplies hot water to the bathtub. The set hot water temperature may be sufficient.

  The specific method of “starting the supply of warm water after the time when the bather contacts the heating unit” is not particularly limited. For example, a method may be used in which the supply of warm water is stopped before the bather contacts the heating unit, and the supply of warm water is started after the bather contacts the heating unit. Further, for example, before the bather contacts the heating unit, a temperature different from the target temperature (for example, when the target temperature is higher than the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub, the same temperature as the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub). ), And after the bather comes into contact with the warming part, a method of starting the supply of warm water at a target temperature (a temperature higher than the hot water temperature in the bathtub) may be used.

  In addition, the heating system of this aspect can be used even when hot water does not exist in a bathtub (namely, when only a heating part is used). In this case, for example, the target temperature can be determined using the temperature in the bathtub when the heating unit was used last time.

  Further, the “warming part” may be any member that can heat a specific part of the body of the bather (for example, at least one of the neck, back, waist, and soles), and its structure, shape, number, And the arrangement | positioning on the wall surface of a bathtub, etc. are not restrict | limited in particular.

For example, the heating unit is
It has a storage part which can store the warm water supplied from the supply part inside the warming part, and can be configured to discharge the warm water passed through the storage part toward a bather.

  According to the said structure, the temperature of a heating part can be adjusted with the thermal energy of the stored warm water by storing the warm water supplied from the supply part in the storage part "inside of a heating part". And a bather can be heated by the heating part by which temperature was adjusted in this way. Furthermore, the bather can be heated by the warm water itself by “releasing the warm water that has passed through the storage part toward the bather”.

  In addition, a heating part may be equipped with the structure which can be attached or detached to a bathtub, and may be fixed to a bathtub so that removal is impossible (namely, it may be integrated with a bathtub).

It is a schematic diagram showing the bathtub installation type heating system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing for demonstrating the structure of the heating part of the heating system of FIG. It is a flowchart showing the control routine which the heating system of FIG. 1 performs.

<Outline of device>
Hereinafter, a schematic configuration of a bathtub installation type heating system 100 (hereinafter referred to as “implementation system 100”) according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

  The implementation system 100 includes a bathtub 101, three heating units 102, 103, and 104 attached to the inner wall surface of the bathtub 101, and a supply unit 105 that supplies hot water to the heating units.

  The warming part 102 can contact around the shoulder of the bather 201, the warming part 103 can contact around the waist of the bather 201, and the warming part 104 can contact around the sole of the bather 201. Arranged so that there is. The heating unit 102 is connected to the supply unit 105 via the pipe 106 so that the hot water supplied from the supply unit 105 through the pipe 106 is discharged into the bathtub 101 after passing through the heating unit 102. It has become. The same applies to the heating units 103 and 104.

  The structure of the heating unit 102 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the heating unit 102 includes a main body 102a, a bellows 102b, and a plug 102c. The main body 102a is a member that comes into contact with a specific part of the body of the bather 201 (in the vicinity of the shoulder of the bather 201 in FIG. 2), and has a storage portion A capable of storing hot water therein, and the bather 201 A plurality of openings B capable of conducting hot water are provided on the contacting surface. The bellows 102b is an elastic body having a bellows-shaped cross section in a cross section parallel to the axis (the cross section shown in FIG. 2), and absorbs an impact or the like when the bather 201 comes into contact with the main body 102a. The main body 102a is made to follow the displacement of the bather 201. The plug 102 c is a cylinder for connecting the heating unit 102 and the wall surface of the bathtub 101.

  The wall surface of the bathtub 101 is provided with a through hole for inserting the plug 102c. Furthermore, a socket 101a is provided on the outer wall surface of the bathtub 101 (the wall surface on the side where the bather 201 does not exist) so as to cover the through hole. The socket 101a detachably supports the plug 102c inserted into the through hole. For example, if the plug 102c and the socket 101a are uneven so that the plug 102c is a male screw and the socket 101a is a female screw, the plug 102c can be rotated with respect to the socket 101a so that both can be attached and detached. can do. Further, the socket 101a defines a flow path capable of conducting hot water supplied from the supply unit 105 therein. A backflow prevention valve 101b is provided on the flow path in the socket 101a.

  Further, the socket 101 a is provided with a terminal 101 c for outputting signals from various sensors (not shown) provided in the heating unit 102. As various sensors, for example, a main body temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the main body of the heating unit, a storage temperature sensor that detects the temperature of hot water in the storage unit of the heating unit, and a hot water temperature sensor that detects the temperature of hot water in the bathtub 101 And a human sensor that detects that the bather 201 is in contact with the heating unit 102. The terminal 101c is connected to a supply unit 105 (a control unit 105a described later).

  The above-described series of members (the main body 102a, the bellows 102b and the plug 102c, the socket 101a, and the backflow prevention valve 101b) allow hot water supplied from the supply unit 105 to flow through the flow path in the socket 101a through the backflow prevention valve 101b. After passing, it flows into the storage part A in the main body 102a through the plug 102c and the bellows 102b. The hot water that has flowed into the reservoir A is temporarily stored in the reservoir A and warms the main body 102a. And warm water is discharge | released toward the bather 201 through the some opening part B (namely, in the bathtub 101). In addition, the heating parts 103 and 104 also have the same structure as the heating part 102 shown in FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 1 again, the supply unit 105 includes a control unit 105a that controls supply / stop of hot water to the heating units 102, 103, and 104, and warming unit 102 that supplies hot water based on instructions from the control unit 105a. , 103 and 104, a pump unit 105b is provided.

  The control unit 105a incorporates an electronic control device (CPU or the like), receives signals output from various sensors provided in the heating units 102, 103, and 104, and heats the heating units 102, 103, and 104. Whether or not to supply hot water, the temperature of the supplied hot water, the flow rate of the supplied hot water, and the like are determined. The pump unit 105b includes an electric heater and a pump, and supplies hot water to the heating units 102, 103, and 104 based on an instruction from the control unit 105a. The pump unit 105b generates warm water by heating water taken directly from tap water. That is, the supply part 105 produces | generates the warm water for supplying to the heating parts 102,103,104, without using the hot water in the bathtub 101. FIG.

  Note that a hot water supply port 301 connected to a hot water supply system (gas water heater or the like) different from the hot water supply system in the supply unit 105 is provided on the wall surface of the bathtub 101. Hot water in the bathtub 101 is supplied from the hot water supply port 301.

  The above is the outline of the implementation system 100.

<System operation>
The actual operation of the implementation system 100 will be described with reference to FIG. In the implementation system 100, the CPU of the control unit 105 a (hereinafter simply referred to as “CPU”) executes the “heating control” routine shown in FIG. 3, and the bather 201 contacts the heating units 102, 103, and 104. The operation of the pump unit 105b is controlled in consideration of whether or not it is.

  Specifically, the CPU repeatedly executes the routine of FIG. 3 every time a predetermined time elapses while the bather 201 bathes. When starting the processing of this routine at a predetermined time, the CPU proceeds from step 300 to step 310. In step 310, the CPU obtains the temperature Tb of the hot water in the bathtub 101 at the current time based on the output signal of the hot water temperature sensor provided in the heating units 102, 103, 104.

  Next, the CPU proceeds to step 320. In step 320, the CPU determines a target temperature Ttgt of the heating units 102, 103, 104 based on the temperature Tb of the hot water in the bathtub 101. Specifically, the target temperature Ttgt is the temperature of the main body (see 102a in FIG. 2) of the heating units 102, 103, and 104, and is determined by adding a predetermined temperature difference ΔT to the temperature Tb. The predetermined temperature difference ΔT is set to 1 to 5 ° C., for example.

  Next, the CPU proceeds to step 330. In step 330, the CPU determines whether or not the bather 201 is in contact with at least one of the heating units 102, 103, and 104. This determination is performed based on the output signal of the human sensor provided in the heating units 102, 103, and 104.

  If the bather 201 is not in contact with any of the heating units 102, 103, and 104 at this time, the CPU makes a “No” determination at step 330 to proceed to step 340 to operate the pump unit 105b. Give instructions to stop (do not supply hot water). Thereafter, the CPU proceeds to step 395 to end the present routine tentatively.

  On the other hand, if the bather 201 is in contact with at least one of the heating units 102, 103, 104, the CPU makes a “Yes” determination at step 330 to proceed to step 350 where the bather 201 contacts. An instruction is given to the pump unit so that the temperature of the heating unit that is present matches the target temperature Ttgt. Specifically, the CPU controls the temperature of the hot water discharged by the pump unit 105b so that the difference between the actual temperature of the heating unit (obtained by the main body temperature sensor) and the target temperature Ttgt is zero by feedback control. And determine the flow rate. It should be noted that the flow rate is sufficient as long as the warm water oozes from the heating unit. Thereafter, the CPU proceeds to step 395 to end the present routine tentatively.

  Thereby, the implementation system 100 will start supply of the warm water to the heating part which the bather 201 is contacting after the time when the bather 201 contacts the heating part 102,103,104. In other words, the implementation system 100 includes the heating unit 102 during the period from immediately after the bather 201 contacts the heating units 102, 103, and 104 until the bather 201 leaves the heating units 102, 103, and 104. , 103 and 104 are supplied with hot water.

  As described above, the implementation system 100 isolates the water flow path (the piping 106 and others) in the system from the hot water in the bathtub. Therefore, the implementation system 100 can reduce the frequency of maintenance of the system, in addition to reducing the possibility of blockage of the water passage (pipe 106, etc.) and generation of germs. Furthermore, since the implementation system 100 starts supplying hot water after the bather 201 comes into contact with the heating units 102, 103, 104, the temperatures of the heating units 102, 103, 104 and the hot water in the bathtub 101 are increased. The uncomfortable feeling of the bather 201 due to the difference can be reduced. In addition, the implementation system 100 can heat the bather 201 with the warming portions 102, 103, 104 themselves and the warm water discharged from the warming portions 102, 103, 104.

<Other aspects>
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be employed within the scope of the present invention.

  For example, in the implementation system 100, the main body 102a of the heating unit 102 has an opening B on the entire surface with which the bather 201 comes into contact. However, in the heating system of the present invention, an opening may be formed in a part (for example, only the upper part) of the surface of the heating part that the bather contacts. Furthermore, an opening may be formed in a surface (for example, a side surface and a back surface) different from the surface with which the bather contacts. In addition, unevenness may be formed on the surface that the bather contacts, and an opening may be formed in the recess.

  Furthermore, in the implementation system 100, the opening B of the main body 102a of the heating unit 102 is a through-hole that can always conduct hot water. However, in the heating system of the present invention, the opening of the heating unit may have a mechanism that can be opened and closed (for example, a temperature-dependent automatic opening / closing mechanism using a shape memory alloy, a bimetal, or the like).

  Furthermore, in the implementation system 100, the supply part 105 is producing | generating warm water with the electric heater. However, in the heating system of the present invention, warm water may be generated using a device other than the electric heater (for example, using a gas water heater for supplying hot water to the hot water supply port 301).

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Heating system, 101 ... Bathtub, 102, 103, 104 ... Heating part, 105 ... Supply part, 201 ... Bather

Claims (2)

A bathtub installation type heating system comprising: a bathtub; a heating unit that is attached to an inner wall surface of the bathtub and can heat a bather; and a supply unit that supplies warm water to the heating unit. ,
The supply unit
Generate hot water to be supplied to the heating unit without using hot water in the bathtub,
The heating unit is
The hot water supplied from the supply unit is discharged into the bathtub after passing through the heating unit ,
The supply unit is
Based on the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub, the target temperature of the heating unit is determined,
It is determined whether or not a bather is in contact with the warming unit, and hot water is supplied so that the temperature of the warming unit matches the target temperature after the bather contacts the warming unit. To start the
Bathing type heating system. The heating system according to claim 1 ,
The heating unit is
It has a storage part that can store the hot water supplied from the supply part inside the heating part, and discharges the warm water that has passed through the storage part toward the bather.
Bathing type heating system.

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