JPH0417329B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to anti-freezing of water heaters.

Configuration of Conventional Example and Its Problems In the conventional water heater, as shown in FIG. 1, water (hereinafter referred to as dead water) remains in the hot water pipe 3 connecting the water heater 1 and the hot water inlet 2. In winter, when the temperature drops below freezing, dead water remaining in the water heater 1 and the hot water pipe 3 freezes, leading to accidents such as the water heater becoming unusable and the hot water pipe 3 breaking. As a countermeasure, measures have been taken to warm the hot water supply pipe 3, which is at risk of freezing, with a heater or the like. This means
Problems include that installation is difficult when the cable is long or embedded in a wall, etc., and safety measures are required to prevent electrical leakage and overheating. In addition, the means to open the hot water supply valve 4 and keep a small amount of water flowing all the time is as follows.
The hot water supply valve 4 must be opened and closed each time, and it is difficult to supply the necessary amount of hot water at the required time to prevent freezing. There were problems such as forgetting to turn off the hot water supply, and the problem of having to constantly run hot water from the hot water supply port 2 when not in use.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves these conventional problems and aims to automatically prevent freezing of hot water pipes.

Structure of the Invention In order to achieve this object, the present invention provides a water heater that can set the hot water temperature, a water outlet in which a hot water supply port and a drain port are paired, a supply valve that supplies hot water to the hot water supply port, and a drain port. The system is equipped with a drain valve that supplies hot water to the hot water supply system, a temperature detection section that can be mounted at any position to detect the temperature near the hot water supply pipe, and a hot water supply control section that controls the entire hot water supply system. With this configuration,
When the outside temperature drops and the temperature sensor detects a temperature below freezing, the drain valve is controlled to open more as the temperature drops, allowing the minimum amount of hot water to be supplied when freezing is likely. It has the effect of automatically preventing freezing by pouring it into the pipe.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 shows a water heater according to the invention. Hot water from the water heater 1 is supplied through a hot water supply pipe 3 to a water outlet 6 where a hot water supply port 4 and a drain port 5 are paired. The opening and closing of the hot water supply valve 4 is controlled by the hot water supply control section 7, and hot water from the hot water supply pipe 3 is supplied to the hot water supply port 2. The opening and closing of the drain valve 8 is controlled by the hot water supply control section 6, and hot water from the hot water supply pipe 3 is supplied to the drain port. The water temperature detection section 9 is provided in the water outlet section 6 and detects the temperature of hot water at the water outlet section 6. The operation unit 10 sets the hot water temperature and amount of hot water, and instructs to start and stop hot water supply. The temperature detection unit 11 is attached to a free position and detects the temperature near the hot water supply pipe 3.

In the above configuration, when there is no demand for hot water supply and the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 11 falls below freezing, the hot water supply control unit 7 increases the amount by which the drain valve 5 is opened as the temperature decreases, and increases the amount of water flowing into the hot water supply pipe 3. do. As a result, the lower the temperature, the greater the amount of hot water flowing into the hot water pipe 3, and the freezing of the hot water pipe 3 can be prevented with the minimum necessary amount of water. Since the temperature detection unit 11 can be installed in any position, it can be installed near the area where the temperature drops the most, such as in the exposed outdoor area of the hot water pipe 3, and there is no need for installation work to the existing hot water pipe. do not have. A hot water supply request is made by setting the hot water temperature and amount of hot water from the hot water supply port 2 using the operation unit 10. The hot water supply control unit 7 causes the water heater 1 to dispense hot water at a set temperature, and the water temperature detection unit 9 detects the water temperature of the water output unit 6 . Here, if the water temperature at the water outlet 6 is within the allowable range of the set temperature, the hot water supply valve 4 is opened to supply the required amount of hot water to the hot water supply port 2. If the water temperature at the water outlet 6 is outside the allowable range of the set temperature, close the drain valve 8 before starting hot water supply.
is opened, hot water is supplied to the drain port 5, and dead water in the hot water supply pipe 3 is discharged. When the water temperature at the water outlet 6 falls within the allowable range of the set temperature, the drain valve 8 is closed and the hot water supply valve 4 is opened. This allows hot water at the set temperature to be supplied to the hot water supply port 2 from the start of hot water supply. The water outlet 6 has a configuration in which a hot water supply port 2 and a drain port 5 are provided as a pair, so that water can be discharged to prevent freezing and dead water in the hot water supply pipe 3 can be drained from the non-water outlet 5 when hot water is discharged. This prevents hot water from flowing from the hot water supply port 2 when not in use, and dead water at a temperature other than the set temperature from flowing out from the hot water supply port 2 when hot water is dispensed.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the hot water supply device of the present invention is provided with a pair of hot water supply ports and a drain port in the water outlet, and a temperature detection unit that can be installed in any position and detects the air temperature, so that the detected temperature does not drop below freezing If the outside temperature drops and the water supply pipes are at risk of freezing, the water supply pipes will be opened only as much as necessary to prevent freezing. can be passed to. Furthermore, since the hot water used to prevent freezing is discharged from the drain port, the problem of having to discharge water from the hot water supply port when not in use can be solved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the basic structure of a conventional water heater, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the basic structure of a water heater according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1... Water heater, 2... Hot water inlet, 3... Hot water pipe,
4...Hot water supply valve, 5...Drain port, 6...Hot water supply control section, 7...Drain valve, 10...Temperature detection section.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A water heater that can set the temperature of hot water, a water outlet that includes a pair of hot water inlet and drain outlet for discharging hot water from the water heater, a hot water valve that supplies hot water to the hot water outlet, and a hot water supply valve that supplies hot water to the drain outlet. a drain valve that supplies water, a temperature detection unit whose mounting position can be changed freely and detects the air temperature, and when there is no demand for hot water to the hot water supply port and the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit falls below freezing,
A hot water supply device comprising: a hot water supply control unit that opens the drain valve and controls the opening/closing amount to increase as the temperature decreases.