JPH0779512B2 - Water heater - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hot water supply apparatus that heats water with gas, oil, electricity or the like and controls a hot water supply apparatus with a wireless remote controller to supply oil.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a hot water supply device that supplies hot water by controlling a hot water supply device with a wireless remote control device has become mainstream.

Conventionally, as a hot water supply device using this type of wireless remote control device, for example, there is one described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 57-77671. That is, the remote control of the burner of the water heater from the wireless remote control device and the return of a pilot or burner status confirmation signal from the water heater to the remote control device are intended to improve operability and safety.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in such a conventional hot water supply device, there is no mention of power saving of a battery as a power source of a wireless remote control device and measures for lowering operability accompanying the power saving. However, in order to put this type of wireless remote control device into practical use, it is important to solve the above two problems.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a hot water supply device having excellent workability without lowering operability.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the present invention transmits an operation switch that operates by a power supply circuit connected to a commercial power source and controls operation of a water heater and an on / off signal of the operation switch to a water heater. A first remote control device having a first wireless transceiver that bidirectionally communicates with the water heater, a second wireless transceiver that operates on a battery and communicates with the water heater, and the water heater A second remote controller including a power supply controller for stopping power supply to the second wireless transceiver when not in use, a third wireless transceiver for communicating with the first and second remote controllers, and communication content thereof The hot water supply device is provided with a hot water supply controller that controls hot water discharge based on the above.

Effect of the Invention According to the present invention, the first remote control device is supplied with power from the commercial power source by the above-mentioned means for solving the problem, and it is not necessary to consider the power consumption so much. Therefore, it is possible to keep the state of being able to communicate with the hot water supply device at all times, and to keep hot water at any time by twisting the faucet. In addition, since the second remote control device is battery-powered, when the water heater is not used, the power supply controller can automatically stop energizing the second wireless transmitter / receiver to save power. Third when using
After turning on the power to the wireless transceiver of
The hot water supply device can be controlled by performing hot water supply operations such as temperature setting. As described above, the second remote control device can be made portable because it is battery-powered although the operation system is slightly lowered.

Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. As shown in the figure, the water heater 1 supplies water from the faucets 3 and 4 through the pipe 2. The heater 5 burns city water by burning gas, for example, to boil hot water. The hot water supply controller 6 controls the heater 5 based on the hot water supply conditions set by the first remote controller 7 and the second remote controller 8. Water heater 1
Is provided with a third wireless transmitter / receiver 9 and communicates with the first and second remote control devices 7 and 8 via an antenna 10 using radio waves. The first remote controller 7 is connected to the commercial power source 11 to receive power, and the commercial power source 11 is connected to the power circuit 12. The operation switch 13 controls the hot water supply operation of the water heater 1, and this operation switch 13
Hot water can be supplied only when 13 is turned on. The first wireless transmitter / receiver 14 communicates with the water heater 1 via the antenna 15 using radio waves. The second remote control device 8 is
It has a power supply structure that operates with the battery 16, and does not require a power supply line to the outside. Therefore, a portable shape can be realized. The second radio transmitter / receiver 17 communicates with the water heater 1 via the antenna 18 using radio waves.

As described above, since the water heater 1 and the first and second remote control devices 7 and 8 communicate with each other by using radio waves, even if there are walls 19 and 20 between them, they are completely shielded by metal. As long as there is no remote control is possible.

The first remote controller 7 is configured as shown in FIG.
The main controller 21 controls the display device 22, the setting device 23, the operation switch 13, and the first wireless transmitter / receiver 14 to make the first remote controller 7 function as a whole. Usually, a one-touch microcomputer is used and its function is realized by executing the program. The power supply circuit 12 is supplied with power from the commercial power supply 11, and is always the first wireless transceiver 14 and main controller.
It is supplying power to 21 etc.

The second remote control device 8 is configured as shown in FIG.
The main controller 24 controls the display 25, the setting device 26, the return switch 27, the second wireless transceiver 17 and the power supply controller 28, and the second controller
The functions of the remote control device 8 as a whole are exhibited. Usually, a one-chip microcomputer is used to realize its function by executing the program. The power supply circuit 29 supplies the power supplied from the battery 16 to the second wireless transmitter / receiver 17 via the power supply controller 28 or to the main controller 24. The power controller 28 is a timer 30 built in the main controller 24.
Controlled by. That is, the main controller 24 causes the timer 30 to elapse a predetermined time after the input signal from the setting device 26 disappears or after the water heater 1 stops the hot water supply operation, and after that time, the power controller 28 is turned on. The power supply to the second wireless transceiver 17 is controlled to stop. Therefore, in this state, communication with the water heater 1 is also impossible,
Control of the display unit 25 and the setting unit 26 is also stopped, and the power saving mode is set. The return switch 27 is a means for activating the function of the second remote controller 8 again after exiting from the power saving mode.

The hot water supply controller 6 in the water heater 1 is configured as shown in FIG. 4, and the main controller 31 includes a water amount detector 32, an igniter 33, and a fuel setting device.
34, the air amount setting device 35, the fuel detector 36, the water level setting device 37, and the third wireless transmitter / receiver 9 are controlled so that the function as the water heater 1 is exerted. The above embodiment shows the construction of a gas or oil instantaneous water heater for burning gas or oil to boil hot water. Usually, the main controller 31 uses a one-chip microcomputer, and the various controllers are organically operated by the program execution, and the heater 5 is operated by these functions. Reference numeral 38 is a power supply circuit that receives power from the commercial power supply 11.

The operation of the above configuration will be described.

When the operation switch 13 of the first remote controller 7 is set to ON, the signal is converted into a radio signal by the first wireless transceiver 14 and transmitted to the water heater 1. When the hot water supply controller 6 of the water heater 1 receives the ON signal from the operation switch 13, the hot water supply controller 6 enters a standby state in which the water boiling operation can be started at any time. At this time, if water is discharged by operating the faucet 3 or 4, the water amount detector
32 detects this and starts boiling water. On the contrary, if the faucet 3 or 4 is stopped, the water amount detector 32 detects this and stops the operation of boiling water. In this way, if the operation switch 13 of the first remote controller 7 is turned on, the faucet 3
Alternatively, hot water can be supplied from 4. on the other hand,
Since the first remote controller 7 is configured to receive power from the commercial power source 11, certain conditions are required for the installation location.

Since the second remote control device 8 is of a battery type, it can be made into a portable shape and can be immediately used wherever the faucet having hot water supply pipes is taken. First, after operating the return switch 27 to energize the second wireless transmitter / receiver 17 to make it possible to communicate with the water heater 1, the hot water supply condition is set by the setting device 26 and transmitted to the water heater 1 by a radio signal. By doing so, you can get your favorite hot water.

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION As is apparent from the above embodiments, according to the present invention, the first
Since the remote control device of is to be supplied with power from a commercial power source, there is almost no need to consider the power consumption of the first wireless transceiver, and even if the operation switch is turned on all day long, there is no problem. You can keep hot water available at any time by twisting the faucet, and compared to the conventional wired system that connects with a water heater with a signal line, you only need to connect it to a commercial power source. Excellent workability.

Further, since the second remote control device is battery-powered,
It can be realized in a portable shape, so that it is possible to carry the second remote control device to an arbitrary faucet and operate the water heater, which is very convenient.

Further, since the first remote controller having the operation switch and the second battery-operated portable remote controller are supplied with power from the commercial power source, one disadvantage can be compensated by the other advantage. Thus, it is possible to provide a practical hot water supply device which has excellent workability and is easy to use.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a water heater according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a first remote controller of the water heater, and FIG. 3 is a block of a second remote controller of the water heater. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a hot water supply controller of the water heater of the hot water supply device. 1 ... Hot water supply device, 6 ... Hot water supply controller, 7 ... First remote control device, 8 ... Second remote control device, 9 ... Third wireless transceiver, 11 ... Commercial power supply, 12 ... Power supply circuit, 13 ... operation switch, 14 ... first wireless transceiver, 16 ... battery,
17 …… Second wireless transceiver, 28 …… Power controller.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A bidirectional communication between an operation switch that operates by a power supply circuit connected to a commercial power source and controls the operation of a water heater and a water heater that transmits an on / off signal of the operation switch to the water heater. A first remote controller having a first wireless transmitter / receiver, a second wireless transmitter / receiver that operates by a battery and communicates with the water heater, and a second wireless transmitter / receiver when the water heater is not used A second remote control device including a power supply controller for stopping energization and capable of remote control operation only when the operation switch is turned on, a third wireless transceiver for communicating with the first and second remote control devices, and the same A hot water supply device configured with a hot water supply device including a hot water supply controller that controls hot water discharge based on communication contents.