JP6912307B2 - Sole temperature / cooling stimulator, air conditioning system, floor temperature control device, floor temperature control method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a foot sole heating / cooling stimulator and the like.

Conventionally, hot and cold alternating baths in which hot water and cold water are alternately bathed have been known. By performing hot and cold alternating baths in the feet, the autonomic nerves are stimulated, blood vessels expand and contract, and blood circulation is promoted. It may be possible to improve the swelling and coldness of the legs.

For example, by preparing both hot water and cold water in the bathroom, it is possible to take alternate baths of the feet. Further, by using a foot bath device capable of bathing only the feet, it is possible to perform a hot / cold alternating bath of the feet (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2015-173938 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-106628

However, when a foot bath device or the like is used, it is necessary to switch between hot and cold by itself, and there is a possibility that it will take some time to switch between them. In addition, when a foot bath device or the like is not used, the place where the foot change bath is performed is restricted to a bathroom or the like where there is no problem even if it gets wet with water, and it may take a lot of time and effort to prepare hot and cold water. There is. Therefore, it may not be possible to easily take a hot / cold alternating bath for the feet.

Therefore, in view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a foot sole warm / cold stimulus device or the like that can easily give a hot / cold stimulus to the user's sole.

In order to achieve the above object, in one embodiment of the present invention,
A foot sole warming / cooling stimulator provided under a floor surface on which a user rests his / her feet and having a heat medium passing portion capable of adjusting the temperature of the floor surface by allowing a heat medium to flow through.
The heat medium having a relatively high temperature of a predetermined temperature or higher and the heat medium having a relatively low temperature alternately flow through the heat medium passing portion.
A foot sole warming / cooling stimulator is provided.

Further, in other embodiments of the present invention,
The foot sole warming / cooling stimulator according to the above-described embodiment,
A cooling device that cools the room with the floor surface,
A control device for controlling the sole warming / cooling stimulating device is provided.
In the control device, when the cooling device is operated, the heat medium having a relatively high temperature equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature and the heat medium having a relatively low temperature are provided in the heat medium passing portion. Alternately flow,
An air conditioning system is provided.

Further, in still another embodiment of the present invention,
A floor temperature control device that controls the temperature of the floor.
The heat medium flow portion, which is arranged under the floor surface and allows the temperature of the floor surface to be adjusted by allowing the heat medium to flow, is relative to the heat medium having a relatively high temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature. The heat medium having a relatively low temperature is alternately passed through.
A floor temperature controller is provided.

Further, in still another embodiment of the present invention,
A floor temperature control method for controlling the floor temperature, which is executed by the floor temperature control device.
The heat medium flow portion, which is arranged under the floor surface and allows the temperature of the floor surface to be adjusted by allowing the heat medium to flow, is relative to the heat medium having a relatively high temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature. The heat medium having a relatively low temperature is alternately passed through.
A floor temperature control method is provided.

According to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide a foot sole warm / cold stimulus device or the like that can easily give a hot / cold stimulus to the user's sole.

It is a block diagram which shows an example of the structure of the floor heating system including a floor heating device and a floor surface temperature control device. It is sectional drawing which shows an example of the structure under the floor surface including a heat medium panel.

Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the floor heating system 1 according to the present embodiment. The floor heating system 1 includes a heat source machine 10, a heat medium panel 20, and a remote controller 30. Further, the floor heating system 1 controls, for example, a floor heating device 2 (an example of a sole heating / cooling stimulator) capable of adjusting the temperature of the floor surface of a living room such as a house, and a floor heating device 2 to be controlled. , Includes a floor surface temperature control device 3 for adjusting the floor surface temperature. The floor heating device 2 is an outward path in which a heat medium is circulated between the heat pump cycle unit 11, the circulation pump 12, and the temperature sensor 13, which will be described later, of the heat source machine 10, and the heat source machine 10 and the heat medium panel 20 which will be described later. It is configured to include a pipe 15, a return pipe 16, and a heat medium panel 20. Further, the floor surface temperature control device 3 is configured to include a control unit 14 described later of the heat source machine 10 and a remote controller 30.

The solid line in the figure shows the flow path of the heat medium, and the dotted line shows the signal path of the control / information system.

The heat source machine 10 sends a predetermined heat medium, for example, a water heat medium, to the heat medium panel 20, adjusts the temperature of the heat medium returned from the heat medium panel 20, and sends the heat medium to the heat medium panel 20. That is, the heat source machine 10 adjusts the temperature of the heat medium and circulates the heat medium with the heat medium panel 20. Specifically, the heat source machine 10 and the heat medium panel 20 are connected by an outward pipe 15 and a return pipe 16, and the heat medium sent from the heat source machine 10 is conveyed to the heat medium panel 20 through the outward pipe 15. At the same time, the heat medium returned from the heat medium panel 20 is conveyed to the heat source machine 10 through the return pipe 16. The heat source machine 10 includes a heat pump cycle unit 11, a circulation pump 12, a temperature sensor 13, and a control unit 14.

As the water heat medium, in addition to general tap water, a special liquid containing an antifreeze liquid, a rust preventive, or the like can be adopted.

The heat pump cycle unit 11 includes a refrigerant circulation circuit constituting a known heat pump cycle for both heating and cooling, including a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, a four-way switching valve, and an indoor heat exchanger (all not shown). The heat medium circulating between the heat source machine 10 and the heat medium panel 20, specifically, the heat medium discharged from the circulation pump 12 passes through the indoor heat exchanger of the heat pump cycle unit 11. As a result, heat is exchanged between the refrigerant in the refrigerant circulation circuit and the heat medium, so that the heat medium is heated or cooled according to the relationship between the temperature of the refrigerant and the temperature of the heat medium. Or something.

The circulation pump 12 sucks the heat medium returned from the heat medium panel 20 through the return pipe 16 and discharges it to the outward pipe 15 side (specifically, the heat pump cycle unit 11). As a result, the heat medium circulates between the heat source machine 10 and the heat medium panel 20.

The temperature sensor 13 is a known detecting means for detecting the temperature of the heat medium (hereinafter referred to as the sending temperature Tout) sent from the heat source machine 10 to the outbound pipe 15. The detection signal of the temperature sensor 13, that is, the detection signal corresponding to the transmission temperature Tout is input to the control unit 14.

The control unit 14 controls the operation of the heat source machine 10. The function of the control unit 14 may be realized by any hardware, software, or a combination thereof. For example, the control unit 14 is a microcomputer including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a non-volatile auxiliary storage device, an I / O (Input-Output interface), and the like. Various control processes may be realized by executing various programs configured as the center and stored in the ROM or the auxiliary storage device on the CPU.

The control unit 14 is communicably connected to the remote controller 30 through a predetermined communication line or a predetermined network (for example, a local network in the house), and is connected to the remote controller 30 so as to be able to communicate with the remote controller 30 based on various signals input from the remote controller 30. Control the operation. Details will be described later when the remote controller 30 is described.

The heat medium panel 20 (an example of the heat medium passage portion) is arranged under the floor surface on which the user rests (for example, the floor surface of the living room of the house in which the user lives. Hereinafter, simply referred to as “floor surface”). Will be done.

For example, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a structure under the floor surface including the heat medium panel 20. As shown in FIG. 2, under the floor surface, a plurality of large pulls 41 supported by a base of a house, a bunch of stones and a floor bundle, and a plurality of joists 42 passed in a manner intersecting the plurality of large pulls 41. , A heat insulating material 43 interposed in a gap between a plurality of joists 42, a base plywood 44 mounted on the plurality of joists 42 and covering the joists 42 and the heat insulating material 43 from above, and a base plywood 44. A heat medium panel 20 mounted on the heat medium panel 20 and a flooring material 45 mounted on the heat medium panel 20 are provided. That is, the upper surface of the floor material 45 is the floor surface, and the heat medium panel 20 is arranged directly below the floor material 45 constituting the floor surface. The heat medium panel 20 is formed of, for example, a panel-shaped base material having a predetermined thickness (hatched portion in FIG. 2) made of a foamed resin material or the like, and a concave portion for piping formed on the upper surface side of the base material. Includes a heat transfer line 21 routed along the groove. One end of the heat medium pipe 21 is connected to the outward pipe 15, and the other end is connected to the return pipe 16. As a result, the temperature of the floor surface is heated or cooled according to the temperature difference between the temperature of the heat medium flowing through the heat medium conduit 21 and the floor material 45. That is, the temperature of the floor surface of the heat medium panel 20 can be adjusted by allowing the heat medium conveyed from the heat source machine 10 to flow through the heat medium conduit 21.

Further, the heat medium conduit 21 is provided so as to meander over substantially the entire upper surface of the base material of the heat medium panel 20, for example. Thereby, the heat equalizing property of the entire floor surface can be improved.

Further, the thickness of the floor material 45 is preferably set as thin as possible, for example, 5 mm or less. As a result, the heat capacity of the floor material 45 can be reduced, so that it is possible to improve the followability of the temperature of the floor surface to the temperature of the heat medium flowing through the heat medium conduit 21, and as a result, the floor surface The temperature can be reached to the desired temperature faster.

Further, the heat medium panel 20 may have a configuration in which the heat medium can flow only in a part of all the flow paths through which the heat medium can flow in the heat medium tube 21. .. For example, the heat medium pipe line 21 includes a plurality of pipe routes connected in parallel to the outward pipe 15 and the return pipe 16, and the plurality of pipe paths are when the heat medium panel 20 is viewed in a plan view. It may be arranged in each of a plurality of divided areas in which the entire area is divided into the number of piping routes. Thereby, for example, the heat medium panel 20 can adjust the temperature of only the floor surface corresponding to each division area according to the opening and closing of valves and the like provided at both ends of a plurality of piping paths connected in parallel.

The remote controller 30 transmits a control command to the heat source unit 10 (specifically, the control unit 14) according to an operation by the user, a predetermined setting, or the like, and causes the floor heating system 1 (floor heating device 2). Perform overall control. The remote controller 30 is provided, for example, on the wall surface of an indoor space (living room) where the heat medium panel 20 is provided under the floor surface, and is provided through a predetermined communication line or a predetermined network (for example, a local network in the house). It is communicatively connected to the heat source unit 10. The remote controller 30 includes a display unit 31, an operation unit 32, a room temperature sensor 33, and a control unit 34.

The display unit 31 displays information on various setting states related to the floor heating system 1 by the user and various information such as the current room temperature Ta by the room temperature sensor 33. The display unit 31 is, for example, a liquid crystal display.

The operation unit 32 receives various operation inputs by the user. The operation unit 32 may be, for example, an operation means by hardware such as a push button, or is realized by a GUI (Graphical User Interface) displayed on the display unit 31 and a touch panel type liquid crystal display as the display unit 31. It may be an operation means by the software.

The room temperature sensor 33 is a known detection means for detecting the indoor temperature Ta of an indoor space having a floor surface. The detection signal of the room temperature sensor 33, that is, the detection signal corresponding to the room temperature Ta is input to the control unit 34.

The control unit 34 transmits a control command to the heat source unit 10 according to a predetermined setting condition (initial setting) or a setting condition (user setting) input by the user through the operation unit 32, thereby causing the floor heating system. 1 is controlled and the temperature of the floor surface is controlled. The function of the control unit 34 may be realized by any hardware, software, or a combination thereof. For example, the control unit 34 is mainly composed of a microcomputer including a CPU, RAM, ROM, a non-volatile auxiliary storage device, an I / O, and the like, and executes various programs stored in the ROM and the auxiliary storage device on the CPU. By doing so, various control processes may be realized.

The floor heating system 1 according to the present embodiment has a "floor heating mode" in which the temperature of the floor surface is heated by a relatively high temperature heat medium conveyed from the heat source machine 10 to the heat medium panel 20, which is mainly used in winter. , A heat medium having a relatively high temperature and a heat medium having a relatively low temperature are alternately transferred from the heat source machine 10 to the heat medium panel 20, and the floor surface temperature is relatively high (hereinafter referred to as "floor surface high temperature state"). It has a "sole stimulation mode" that alternately realizes a relatively low state (hereinafter referred to as "floor surface low temperature state"). The control unit 34 switches the operation mode of the floor heating system 1 between the floor heating mode and the sole stimulation mode according to the operation of the user in the operation unit 32. Since the control mode of the floor heating system 1 in the floor heating mode by the control unit 34 is known, the description will be continued below on the premise that the foot sole stimulation mode is set.

In the sole stimulation mode, the control unit 34 has a floor surface high temperature state in which the floor surface temperature is relatively high (for example, a state of 25 ° C. to 36 ° C.) and a floor surface low temperature state in which the floor surface temperature is relatively low (for example, 20). A control command is output to the control unit 14 of the heat source machine 10 so as to alternately generate (° C. to 25 ° C.). The setting condition regarding the floor surface temperature regarding at least one of the floor surface high temperature state and the floor surface low temperature state may be a predetermined setting condition (initial setting), or a setting condition input by the user through the operation unit 32 (the setting condition). It may be user setting).

For example, the control unit 34 determines the temperature condition of the heat medium transferred from the heat source machine 10 to the heat medium panel 20 based on the room temperature Ta or the like input from the room temperature sensor 33 in order to realize and maintain the high temperature state of the floor surface. For example, a range of 25 ° C. to 50 ° C.) is calculated, and a control command including the calculated temperature conditions related to the heat medium is transmitted to the control unit 14 of the heat source machine 10. Specifically, the control unit 34 uses, for example, a calculation map or formula for associating the indoor temperature Ta or the like stored in the internal memory of the auxiliary storage device or the like with the temperature conditions related to the heat medium, and the heat medium. You may calculate the temperature conditions for. Hereinafter, the same applies to the temperature conditions relating to the heat medium in the low temperature state of the floor surface. As a result, the control unit 14 of the heat source machine 10 controls the compressor and the like of the heat pump cycle unit 11 so that the transmission temperature Tout conforms to the temperature conditions included in the control command in response to the control command. Then, a heat medium having a relatively high temperature is circulated between the heat source machine 10 and the heat medium panel 20, and a high temperature state on the floor surface is realized and maintained. The control unit 34 continues the control to realize and maintain the high temperature state of the floor surface according to the setting condition (initial setting) specified in advance or the setting condition (user setting) input by the user through the operation unit 32. The time for which the floor surface high temperature state is continued by the control unit 34 is determined, for example, between 5 minutes and 30 minutes, depending on the initial setting or the user setting.

Similarly, the control unit 34 determines the temperature condition of the heat medium conveyed from the heat source machine 10 to the heat medium panel 20 based on the room temperature Ta or the like input from the room temperature sensor 33 in order to realize and maintain the floor surface low temperature state. (For example, a range of 13 ° C. to 25 ° C.) is calculated, and a control command including the calculated temperature conditions related to the heat medium is transmitted to the control unit 14 of the heat source machine 10. As a result, the control unit 14 of the heat source machine 10 performs the same control as in the case of realizing the high temperature state of the floor surface in response to the control command. Then, a heat medium having a relatively low temperature is circulated between the heat source machine 10 and the heat medium panel 20, and a low temperature state on the floor surface is realized and maintained. The control unit 34 continues the control to realize and maintain the floor surface low temperature state according to the setting condition (initial setting) specified in advance or the setting condition (user setting) input by the user through the operation unit 32. The time for which the floor surface low temperature state is continued by the control unit 34 is determined, for example, between 5 minutes and 30 minutes, as in the case of the floor surface high temperature state, depending on the initial setting or the user setting.

The control unit 34 controls to realize and maintain the floor surface high temperature state (hereinafter referred to as "floor surface high temperature control") and control to realize and maintain the floor surface low temperature state (hereinafter referred to as "floor surface low temperature control"). ) And alternately. For example, the control unit 34 performs the floor surface high temperature control and the floor surface low temperature control as many times as the number of times determined by the preset setting condition (initial setting) or the setting condition (user setting) input from the user through the operation unit 32. The control process for one set is repeated. At this time, the control unit 34 determines the time during which the floor surface high temperature state is maintained (that is, the time during which the floor surface high temperature control is executed) and the time during which the floor surface low temperature state is maintained (that is, the floor surface low temperature control is executed). The time to be performed) may be the same time or different times. Further, the time for maintaining the high temperature state of the floor surface and the time for maintaining the high temperature state of the floor surface may be predetermined initial settings, or may be set by the user through the operation unit 32. You may. As a result, the high temperature state of the floor surface and the low temperature state of the floor surface are alternately realized and maintained, so that the user can easily perform high temperature stimulation and low temperature stimulation from the sole of the foot simply by placing the foot on the floor surface. Can be received alternately.

The control unit 34 may have a mode in which the control process including the floor surface high temperature control and the floor surface low temperature control as one set is repeated as long as the stop operation is not performed by the user through the operation unit 32.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the floor heating device 2 is arranged under the floor surface on which the user puts his / her feet, and the temperature of the floor surface can be adjusted by passing the heat medium through the heat medium panel (heat). It is equipped with a medium flow section). Then, for example, a heat medium having a relatively high temperature of 25 ° C. (an example of a predetermined temperature) and a heat medium having a relatively low temperature flow alternately through the heat medium panel 20. Further, the floor surface temperature control device 3 (specifically, the control unit 34) is arranged under the floor surface, and the heat medium panel 20 is capable of adjusting the temperature of the floor surface by allowing the heat medium to flow through. For example, a heat medium having a relatively high temperature of 25 ° C. or higher and a heat medium having a relatively low temperature are alternately passed through. As a result, as described above, the user can easily receive the high temperature stimulus and the low temperature stimulus alternately from the sole of the foot simply by placing the foot on the floor surface. Therefore, the autonomic nerves of the user are stimulated, the blood vessels expand and contract to promote blood circulation, and it is expected that the swelling of the legs and the sensitivity to coldness will be improved.

Further, in the summer indoor space where air conditioning is used, the floor heating system 1 according to the present embodiment, that is, the sole heating / cooling stimulation mode of the floor heating device 2 and the floor surface temperature control device 3 is used. Since the blood circulation of the user's foot is promoted, it is possible to suppress the coldness of the feet caused by the cold air accumulated in the lower part of the indoor space.

An air conditioning system may be configured by linking the floor heating device 2 and the floor surface temperature control device 3 according to the present embodiment with a cooling device (not shown) in the indoor space in which the floor heating system 1 is introduced. .. For example, in the air conditioning system, when the cooling device is operated, the floor surface temperature control device 3 (specifically, the control unit 34) controls the floor heating device 2 and automatically automatically heat medium panel 20. In addition, a heat medium having a relatively high temperature and a heat medium having a relatively low temperature may be alternately passed through. As a result, it is possible to positively suppress the coldness of the feet in the indoor space in the summer when the air conditioner is used.

Further, in the present embodiment, even if the heat medium panel 20 is configured so that the heat medium can pass through only a part of all the flow paths through which the heat medium can flow. good. As a result, among the entire floor surface corresponding to the heat medium panel 20, the floor surface temperature of only the floor surface portion where the user is located can be adjusted, so that energy loss can be reduced and the floor surface temperature can be brought to an appropriate temperature state more quickly. Can be reached. In addition, since the high temperature condition of the floor surface is realized and maintained only in a part of the entire floor surface, it is possible to suppress the temperature rise in the room and it can be used even in the indoor space in the summer when air conditioning is used. can.

Further, in the present embodiment, the foot sole stimulation mode is realized only by using the heat medium panel 20 used for floor heating in a room having a floor surface as it is and switching the control specifications. As a result, it is possible to realize a floor heating system 1, that is, a floor heating device 2 and a floor surface temperature control device 3, which can give a heating / cooling stimulus to the sole of the user's foot while suppressing an increase in cost.

Further, in the present embodiment, the thickness of the flooring material 45 provided on the upper surface of the heat medium panel 20 is relatively thin, and may be set to, for example, 5 mm or less. As a result, the followability of the floor surface temperature to the temperature of the heat medium conveyed to the heat medium panel 20 is improved, and the floor surface temperature can be switched between the high and low temperature states of the floor surface earlier. It can be realized.

Instead of providing the floor material 45 separately from the heat medium panel 20, the heat medium panel 20 may be integrally formed with the floor surface. For example, the upper surface of the heat medium panel 20 may be configured with a design such as wood grain. As a result, the distance from the heat medium conduit 21 in the heat medium panel 20 to the floor surface can be optimally designed to be relatively thin, so that the same effect as when the thickness of the floor material 45 is made thinner can be obtained. Obtainable.

Although the embodiments for carrying out the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to such specific embodiments, and various aspects are within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims. Can be transformed / changed.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the heat medium panel 20 in which the heat medium line 21 is built is arranged under the floor surface, but the pipe corresponding to the heat medium line 21 is arranged on the base plywood 44. , The foaming resin material or the like may be poured later and buried.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the heat pump type heat source machine is adopted as the heat source machine 10, but a gas type heat source machine may be adopted. In this case, since the heat medium cannot be cooled, when the floor surface is changed from the high temperature state to the floor low temperature state, for example, general tap water as a water heat medium is introduced from the water supply pipe or stored in a buffer tank or the like. It is advisable to introduce a low-temperature heat medium of another system to be used.

1 Floor heating system 2 Floor heating device (sole heating / cooling stimulator)
3 Floor temperature control device 10 Heat source machine 11 Heat pump Cycle unit 12 Circulation pump 13 Temperature sensor 14 Control unit 20 Heat medium panel (heat medium flow part)
21 Heat medium line 30 Remote controller 31 Display unit 32 Operation unit 33 Room temperature sensor 34 Control unit

Claims (8)

A foot sole warming / cooling stimulator provided under a floor surface on which a user rests his / her feet and having a heat medium passing portion capable of adjusting the temperature of the floor surface by allowing a heat medium to flow through.
The heat medium having a relatively high temperature of a predetermined temperature or higher and the heat medium having a relatively low temperature alternately flow through the heat medium passing portion.
Foot sole warming / cooling stimulator. The heat medium flow section is configured so that the heat medium can pass through only a part of all the flow paths through which the heat medium can flow.
The sole warm / cold stimulator according to claim 1. The heat medium passage portion is a heat medium panel used for floor heating in a room having the floor surface.
The foot sole warming / cooling stimulating device according to claim 1 or 2. The heat medium panel is integrally formed with the floor surface.
The foot sole warming / cooling stimulating device according to claim 3. A flooring material provided on the upper surface of the heat medium panel and constituting the floor surface is further provided.
The flooring material has a thickness of 5 mm or less.
The foot sole warming / cooling stimulating device according to claim 3. The foot sole warming / cooling stimulating device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
A cooling device that cools the room with the floor surface,
A control device for controlling the sole warming / cooling stimulating device is provided.
In the control device, when the cooling device is operated, the heat medium having a relatively high temperature equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature and the heat medium having a relatively low temperature are provided in the heat medium passing portion. Alternately flow,
Air conditioning system. A floor temperature control device that controls the temperature of the floor.
The heat medium flow portion, which is arranged under the floor surface and allows the temperature of the floor surface to be adjusted by allowing the heat medium to flow, is relative to the heat medium having a relatively high temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature. The heat medium having a relatively low temperature is alternately passed through.
Floor temperature control device. A floor temperature control method for controlling the floor temperature, which is executed by the floor temperature control device.
The heat medium flow portion, which is arranged under the floor surface and allows the temperature of the floor surface to be adjusted by allowing the heat medium to flow, is relative to the heat medium having a relatively high temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature. The heat medium having a relatively low temperature is alternately passed through.
Floor temperature control method.

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