JPH03281835A - Water supplier - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve usability of water supplier by a method in which a discharge flow switch and a photoelectric switch are set on the shower head of a hot water supplier, and a controller to supply hot water by detecting the human hand and to change the discharge flow rates by operation of the switch is provided. CONSTITUTION:A switch 24 to switch shower discharge flow rates and straight flow rates and a human hand sensor 41 with a photoelectric switch are provided to the shower head 23 of hot water supplier. A microcomputer to control the amount of hot water according to signals from the sensor 41 is also set to vary the condition of discharge flow by operation of the switch 24. Hot water is supplied to the shower head 23 when the human head is approached and the condition of discharge flow is switched then. A hot water supplier having good usability can thus be obtained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a water supply device such as a water heater, water heater or instantaneous water heater.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, water supply devices and water heaters A are equipped with a shower head equipped with a contact type switch at the hot water supply port of a flexible discharge pipe (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1983-1992). -66
Publication No. 055). Further, in this water heater A, the start and stop of hot water supply is controlled by the user operating a contact type switch at hand.

In addition, in water heater B, a switch is installed on the side of the shower head to switch the discharge flow discharged from the discharge port of the discharge pipe between a shower-like discharge flow and a straight-like discharge flow. (Utility Model Application Publication No. 60-100469, etc.), [Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the case of a water heater that combines water heater A and water heater B, the start of hot water supply, the stop of hot water supply, and the discharge of hot water It is easy to use because it does not require large movements of the hand, such as moving back and forth between the main body of the appliance and the shower head, when changing the flow, unlike conventional devices.

However, in the case of a water heater that combines Water Heater A and Water Heater T3, in order to make the water heater the most user-friendly by reducing the amount of hand movement, it is necessary to move your hand against the shower head by moving both switches. What is desired is something that can perform both operations without moving each time.

An object of the present invention is to provide a water supply device in which both a changeover switch and a detection means can be operated with a relatively small movement.

[Means for Solving the Problems] (Claim 1) The water supply device of the present invention includes a discharge pipe having a discharge port for discharging water, and a discharge flow disposed at the discharge port and discharged from the discharge port 1J. The shower head is equipped with a switch for switching between a shower-like discharge flow and a straight funnel-like discharge flow, and includes a water supply pipe, an opening/closing means for opening and closing the water supply pipe, and a shower head disposed in the shower head and provided with a switch for switching between a shower-like discharge flow and a straight funnel-like discharge flow. a detection means for detecting an object; and a control means for controlling the opening/closing means when the detection means detects the object; A technical means was adopted in which a switch and said detection means were arranged.

(Claim 2) The detection means is disposed on the body portion on the opposite side of the changeover switch.

(Claim 3) The detection means is disposed in the body above the same side as the changeover switch.

I-Function] (Claim 1) When a user grasps the body of the shower head with the palm of his hand, an object to be detected, such as a user's finger, is detected by the detection means disposed on the body.

Therefore, the opening/closing means is controlled by the control means to open the water supply pipe, and water is discharged from the outlet of the discharge pipe. While holding the body of the shower head with your palm, in other words, move your palm:'
The changeover switch is operated by the user's finger or the like without any effort.

Therefore, the discharge flow discharged from the discharge port is switched from a shower-like discharge flow or a straight-like discharge flow to a straight-like discharge flow or a shower-like discharge flow (claim 2). Since it is arranged on the body of the shower head on the opposite side, the user can grasp the body of the shower head with the palm of his hand, for example, operate the changeover switch with the user's thumb, and then use the user's index finger to operate the detection means. By operating the switch (-), both the switch and the detection means can be operated with a small movement.

(Claim 3) Since the detection means is disposed on the L side body part on the same side as the changeover switch, when the user grasps the body part of the shower head with his/her palm, for example, the changeover switch and Both detection means can be operated with a small movement of the user's thumb.

[Effects of the Invention] Since both the switching switch and the detection means can be operated with a relatively small movement, the water supply device is extremely easy to use.

[Example] The water supply device of the present invention will be described based on an example shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 and 8.

1 to 5 show a first embodiment of the invention. 1st
The figure shows a gas water heater.

The gas water heater 1 is a water supply device of the present invention, and is for the kitchen.
This system provides hot water supply. This gas water heater 1 includes a gas burner (not shown), a water supply pipe 2, a water solenoid valve 3, and a microcomputer 4.

The gas burner is housed in a housing 10, and includes 6 gas pipes 11 and 11 for burning fuel gas and air supplied from a gas pipe 11, and a gas electromagnetic valve for opening and closing the gas communication path.
This gas electromagnetic valve 12 (shown in No. 41J) opens the gas passage when energized, and opens the gas passage when the energization is stopped.

The water supply pipe 2 includes a heat exchanger (not shown), a water supply pipe 21, a hot water outlet pipe 22, and a shower head 23.

The heat exchanger is made of metal and is housed in the housing 10,
Occurs with gas burner! 7. Heat retained by the flame and combustion gases 4. :Thus, it flows in and heats the water.

The water supply pipe 21 is made of a metal material and supplies water from a water source to the heat exchanger.

The hot water outlet pipe 22 is a J pipe according to the present invention, and is formed of a metal material. It is something.

12. The hot water pipe 22 can be bent into any shape by the user so that hot water is discharged from the discharge port at the tip (not visible in the figure) towards the washing dishes.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the shower head 23 has a cylindrical shape made of resin and is fitted around the outer periphery of the outlet of the hot water outlet pipe 22, and discharges hot water in the discharge direction. The body part 23a, which is gripped by the user when changing the position of the shower head 23, has a switch 47 for switching the discharge flow discharged from the outlet of the hot water pipe 22 between a shower-like discharge flow and a straight-like discharge flow. A switch 24 is disposed 3, and the structure of this changeover switch 24 is a well-known structure as described in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 100469/1983. De-)
It is disposed in the water supply pipe 21 and opens and closes the water supply pipe 2.

- The water electromagnetic valve 3 opens the water supply pipe 2 when energized and closes the water supply pipe 2 when the energization is stopped. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the control device of the gas water heater 1.

The microphone n = y /biff, -ta 4 is a control means of the present invention, and controls the energization of the water solenoid valve 3 , the gas solenoid valve 12 , the sparker 42 , etc. in accordance with the signal from the bay contact type photoelectric switch 41 . The microcomputer 4 holds the water solenoid valve 3 and the gas solenoid valve 12 open in response to the first detection signal from the photoelectric switch 41, and then opens the water solenoid valve 3 and the gas solenoid valve 12 in response to the second detection signal from the photoelectric switch 41. A hold circuit is provided for releasing the open state of the water solenoid valve 3 and the gas solenoid valve 12 (keeping the valves closed). The gas electromagnetic valve 12 may be driven by a hydraulic response means that detects when the water electromagnetic valve 3 opens and water flows through the water supply piping 2, thereby opening and closing the gas electromagnetic valve 12.

The photoelectric switch li1 is a detection means of the present invention, and is disposed 8 on the body portion 23a of the shower head 23 on the opposite side of the changeover switch 24. This photoelectric switch 41 is equipped with a light emitter and a light receiver! 9) The object to be detected is detected by receiving the light L7 emitted from the projector and reflected by the object to be detected. The 4-photoelectric switch 41 then converts the amount of received light into an electrical signal (for example, a voltage value) and sends it to the microcomputer 4. Note that if the electric signal (for example, voltage value) sent from the photoelectric switch 41 rises above a predetermined level (7j), the microcomputer 4 detects that the electric signal (for example, voltage value) sent from the photoelectric switch 41 is exposed within the detection range on the side of the shower head 23. It is determined that the detected object has entered and the number is 7.

The sparker 42 is placed near the combustion plate of the gas burner (it ignites when energized; Figure 5 shows an example of the operation of the microcomputer 4) [2-Chart 9, Photoelectric switch]. - Judging step S1) whether the electrical signal generated by Sochi 41 or 8 people is above a predetermined level (No), returns.

In step S1, when the electric signal is above a predetermined level (Yes), it is determined whether the flag is on (step S2). The flag is not raised (No
), the water solenoid valve 3 is energized in step S3), the gas solenoid valve 12 is energized in step SA), and the sparker 42 is energized.
(Step S5). Then, it is determined whether a set time has elapsed (step S6). If the set time has not elapsed (No), control in step S6 is performed.

In step S6, the set time has elapsed (Yes
), the energization of the sparker 42 is stopped (step S7).
. Then, it is determined whether the electrical signal input from the photoelectric switch 41 is higher than a predetermined level (step S8
), when the electrical signal is above a predetermined level (Yes),
Control in step S8 is performed.

In step S8, if the electric signal is not at the predetermined level (No), a flag is set (step S9), and then the process returns.

In step S2, the flag is set (Ye
s), step 51 to stop the energization of the gas solenoid valve 12.
0), the water solenoid valve 3 is de-energized (step 511).
).

Then, it is determined whether the electrical signal input from the photoelectric switch 41 is higher than a predetermined level (step 512).
). When the electrical signal is above a predetermined level (Yes),
Control in step S12 is performed.

In step S12, when the electric signal is not higher than the predetermined level (No), the flag is set down (step 513).
), then return.

The operation of the gas water heater 1 of this embodiment will be explained based on FIGS. 1 to 4.

The microcomputer 4 constantly monitors whether the level of the electrical signal input from the photoelectric switch 41 is above a predetermined level.

A user grasps the body part 23a of the shower head 23 so as to wrap it around it, moves the position of the shower head 23, and changes the rotational position of the hot water outlet pipe 22 so that the laundry is present in the hot water discharge direction. When the user holds his or her index finger in front of the photoelectric switch 41 in order to dispense hot water, the light emitted from the light emitter of the photoelectric switch 41 is reflected on the user's index finger, and the light receiver receives the reflected light. By receiving light, the user's index finger is detected. Therefore, the level of the electrical signal sent from the photoelectric switch 41 to the microcomputer 4 becomes a predetermined level or higher.

In this way, when the level of the electrical signal exceeds a predetermined level, that is, when the user's hand is detected within the detection range, the microcomputer 4 controls the water solenoid valve 3, the gas solenoid valve 12, and the sparkler. 42 is energized.

Therefore, hot water is discharged from the tip of the shower head 23 toward the dishes, and hot water supply is started.

At this time, if the user desires a shower-like discharge flow to be discharged from the discharge port, the user can remove the hand from the detection range of the photoelectric switch 41 in order to wash the dishes. The level of the electrical signal sent to the microcomputer 4 drops below a predetermined level. At this time, the water solenoid valve 3 and the gas solenoid valve 12 are maintained in the energized state, so hot water supply continues even if, for example, the index finger is removed from the detection range of the photoelectric switch 41.

In addition, if you want to switch the discharge flow discharged from the discharge port from a shower-like discharge flow to a straight discharge flow, grasp the body part 23a of the shower head 23 with the palm of your hand, and, for example, place your thumb on the switch 23. , and operate the changeover switch 24 to switch to a straight discharge flow.

That is, following the movement of the hand to insert the index finger into the detection range of the photoelectric switch 41, the body portion 23a of the shower head 23 is wrapped to operate the changeover switch 24, so that the action of starting hot water supply and the changeover operation of the changeover switch 24 are performed. can be done in succession with small movements. For this reason,
A gas water heater 1 that is extremely easy to use can be provided.

FIG. 6 shows a shower head adopted in a second embodiment of the present invention.

As in this embodiment, a push button switch 43 as a detection means may be provided on the body portion 23a on the opposite side of the changeover switch 24, and when the push button switch 43 is turned on and
The opening/closing control of the water electromagnetic valve 3 is performed via electric wiring (not shown) by the OFF operation.

In the case of this embodiment as well, in order to press the push button switch 43 with the index finger during hot water supply operation, the user grasps the body portion 23a of the shower head 23 with the palm of the hand so as to wrap it around it. Then, the changeover switch 24 can be operated without moving the position of the palm, that is, by simply moving the thumb while gripping the body portion 23a of the shower head 23 with the palm.

In particular, contact-type detection means (hereinafter referred to as soft-touch detection means) detect changes in electrical resistance or capacitance caused by a hand's touch and start or stop water supply. In the case of a photoelectric switch (referred to as a switch) or a photoelectric switch as the non-contact detection means described above, when an attempt is made to perform a switching operation using the changeover switch 24 during hot water supply,
Since hot water supply may be stopped unnecessarily, it is preferable to shift these detection means upwards on the body portion 23a on the opposite side of the changeover switch 24.

7 and 8 show a shower head adopted in a third embodiment of the present invention.

For this reason, in this embodiment, a photoelectric switch 41 is disposed above the body portion 23a on the same side as the changeover switch 24. For example, the changeover switch 24 can be switched on or off by a small vertical movement of the user's thumb. The body part 23a of the shower head 23 can be used to operate both the photoelectric switch 41 and the changeover switch 24 during hot water supply.
Even if the user grips the body part 23a, the photoelectric switch 41 will not operate unless the thumb is moved above the body part 23a.

Also in this case, a soft touch switch or a push button switch may be used instead of the photoelectric switch 41.

(Modification) In this embodiment, the present invention was used in a gas water heater, but the present invention may be used in other water heaters, instantaneous water heaters, or water heaters.

In this embodiment, a gas burner that performs combustion using fuel gas is used as the heat source, but a burner that performs combustion using liquid fuel may be used as the heat source, or an electric heater may be used as the heat source.

In this example, a direct reflection photoelectric switch was used as a non-contact detection means, but other non-contact detection means such as a photoelectric switch, a proximity switch, an infrared sensor, or an ultrasonic sensor may be used. . Alternatively, a detection means combining a photoelectric switch and an optical fiber may be used.

Note that the positions of the changeover switch and the detection means are not limited to the positions of this embodiment as long as they are in the body of the shower head, such as the upper body on the same side as the changeover switch or on the opposite side.

Further, the changeover switch may be one that passes through the body of the shower head. In this case, it is preferable to provide it above either end of the through-type changeover switch.

In this embodiment, a bendable bellows pipe is used as the hot water tap, but the bendable bellows pipe may not be used.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 5 show a first embodiment of the invention. 1st
Figure 2 is a front view of the gas water heater, Figure 2 is a front view of the shower head, Figure 3 is a side view of the shower head, Figure 4 is a block diagram of the water heater control device, Figure 5 is the microcomputer. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation. FIG. 6 is a side view showing a shower head adopted in a second embodiment of the present invention. 7 and 8 show a third embodiment of the invention. 7th
The figure is a front view of the shower head, and FIG. 8 is a side view of the shower head. In the figure: 1... Gas water heater (water supply device) 2... Water supply piping 3... Water solenoid valve (opening/closing means) 4... Microcomputer (control means) 22... Hot water tap (discharge pipe) 23
...Shower head 23a...Body part 24...
・Selector switch 41...Photoelectric switch (detection means)
43...push button switch detection means)

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) A discharge pipe having a discharge port for discharging water, and a discharge pipe disposed at the discharge port, which divides the discharge flow discharged from the discharge port into a shower-like discharge flow and a straight-like discharge flow. A water supply pipe equipped with a shower head having a changeover switch for switching the water supply pipe, an opening/closing means for opening and closing the water supply pipe, and a detection means disposed in the shower head for detecting an object to be detected, and the detection means detects the object. and a control means for controlling the opening/closing means when an object to be detected is detected, and the shower head is characterized in that the changeover switch and the detection means are disposed on a body portion held by a user. Device. 2) The water supply device according to claim 1, wherein the detection means is disposed on the body portion on the opposite side of the changeover switch. 3) The water supply device according to claim 1, wherein the detection means is disposed in the body above the same side as the changeover switch.