JP2007155251A - Bath device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a bath device capable of maintaining hot water filled in a bath tub clean by automatically eliminating residual water inside cleaning piping at a truly required timing without uniform and excessive treatment. <P>SOLUTION: If the bath device does not start supplying hot water in a bath immediately even when a bath automatic switch is turned on, and the device has an added cleaning function (YES in S2), it is determined whether or not the passage of time from the last cleaning exceeds a set time T (S3). If the time does not exceed the set time T, it is determined that the residual water inside the cleaning pipe is clean, and automatic hot water supply and heating control is immediately started (NO in S3, and S5). If the time exceeds the set time T, hot water is newly supplied into the cleaning piping, the residual water in the cleaning pipe is pushed out into the tub, discharged from a discharge plug (S4), and S5 is started. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a bath apparatus having an automatic hot water filling function for a bathtub and an automatic washing function for the bathtub, and in particular, keeps the hot water filled in the bathtub hot by performing an appropriate treatment on the residual water in the washing pipe. Related to technology.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a bath apparatus that has an automatic hot water filling function for a bathtub and an automatic washing function for the bathtub is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2). The automatic hot water filling function is a function for automatically filling hot water at a set temperature to a set water level by a user operating a switch such as an automatic bath switch or an automatic hot water switch. In response, the controller performs combustion operation control of the water heater, monitoring of the amount of hot water supply, and the like. In addition, the automatic cleaning function starts cleaning control when the user operates a switch such as a cleaning switch, and jets mixed hot water with detergent from the cleaning nozzle installed at the bottom of the bathtub toward the inner wall of the bathtub. This is realized by controlling the operation of the controller so that rinse water is discharged by similarly ejecting hot water without detergent after a predetermined time of cleaning processing.

JP 10-300188 A Japanese Patent No. 3598808

  By the way, in the said conventional bath apparatus, although the washing hot water spouted in the bathtub is drained from the drain plug of the bathtub after the washing process, the inside of the washing pipe for supplying the washing hot water to the washing nozzle Since hot water for cleaning remains in the water, there is a concern that this residual water may be mixed with the hot water of the bathtub that has been refilled next time. Here, the tip opening area of the cleaning nozzle on the bottom of the bathtub is extremely small, and the bath water that has been refilled next time and the remaining cleaning hot water are usually in contact with the extremely small tip opening area. It will be limited to minutes. However, as a result of, for example, a violent flow or fluctuation of water pressure in the bathtub hot water accompanying the user's bathing operation or operation leaving the bathtub, the residual water in the cleaning pipe is sucked out even from the tip opening with a very small opening area. The possibility of being mixed with cannot be excluded.

  On the other hand, the filling operation based on the automatic filling function and the washing operation based on the automatic washing function occur independently and independently of each other based on separate switch operations. However, it is left to the individual users to decide at what timing the cleaning operation occurs. For this reason, the above-mentioned residual water may stay for a long time. If the water stays for a long time, the residual water initially maintains a clean state, but fine dust or the like is present on the water surface at the tip opening of the washing nozzle. It is conceivable that the amount increases as it adheres.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and the object of the present invention is to automatically eliminate residual water in the cleaning pipe at a truly necessary timing without being excessively processed. An object of the present invention is to provide a bath apparatus that can keep hot water in a hot water bath.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has a hot water filling function for a bathtub and a cleaning function in the bathtub, and the hot water filling function receives an output of the hot water filling request command and transfers the hot water filling request from the heat source machine to the bathtub. This is realized by the hot water filling control means for performing the hot water filling control for operating the heat source machine, and operating the heat source machine and pouring water from the heat source machine to the bathtub through the hot water pouring path. In response to the output of the request command, the cleaning pipe extending from the heat source unit to the cleaning nozzle installed in the bathtub is opened, while the heat source unit is operated, and hot water is supplied from the heat source unit to the cleaning nozzle through the cleaning pipe. The following specific matters were provided for a bath apparatus configured to be realized by a cleaning control means for performing cleaning control for supplying and jetting hot water from the cleaning nozzle into the bathtub.That is, drainage control means for performing drainage control for supplying hot water from the upstream side to the cleaning pipe and draining residual water remaining in the cleaning pipe into the bathtub through the cleaning nozzle, When the hot water filling request command is output, whether or not it is necessary to execute drainage control by the drainage control means before starting the hot water filling control is determined based on grasping the state of residual water. Execution determination means. The drainage control unit is configured to interrupt the drainage control prior to the start of the hot water filling control when the execution determination unit determines that the execution is necessary (Claim 1).

  In the case of the present invention, even if a hot water filling request command is output by a user's switch operation or the like, if the execution determining means determines that the drainage control needs to be executed, the drainage control means prior to the start of the hot water filling control. Drainage control will be executed. As a result, the hot water for cleaning (residual water) remaining in the cleaning pipe and the cleaning nozzle by the previous cleaning control is pushed out of the cleaning pipe into the bathtub by the hot water supplied from the upstream side. It will be drained out of the bathtub from the drain outlet. For this reason, even if the hot water filling control is continued and the hot water is filled in the bathtub and comes into contact with the hot water in the interior through the cleaning nozzle, the hot water is clean and the inside of the bathtub is kept clean. become. On the other hand, if it is determined by the execution determination means that the drainage control is not necessary, the hot water filling control is started immediately without executing the drainage control. Thus, it is possible to eliminate wasteful energy consumption associated with executing wastewater control and to execute wastewater control at a truly necessary timing. As described above, it is possible to ensure a high degree of hygiene and safety by eliminating the situation that impedes energy saving.

  In the present invention, as the execution determination unit, the state of the residual water is grasped based on the length of time elapsed from the previous execution of the cleaning control by the cleaning control unit to the time when the hot water filling request command is output. On the other hand, if the elapsed time exceeds the set time, it is determined that the drain control by the drain control means is necessary. On the other hand, if the elapsed time does not exceed the set time, the drain control by the drain control means is executed. It can be set as the structure determined to be unnecessary (Claim 2). Since residual water progresses with dust after the time has elapsed, as described above, the status of the residual water can be easily and accurately determined by determining the status of the residual water based on the length of the elapsed time. It becomes possible to perform the drainage control only when it is really necessary.

  When the necessity determination is made according to the length of the elapsed time as described above, the execution determination means is configured to change and set the time value of the set time according to the temperature state of the residual water. The value can be changed and set shorter if the temperature of the residual water is high and longer if the temperature of the residual water is low (Claim 3). The rate of progress of deterioration of residual water as well as dust adhesion to residual water is greatly affected by the level of the water temperature, so the time value of the set time for determining the necessity of drainage control depends on the temperature of the residual water. By changing and setting, it becomes possible to grasp the state of residual water more accurately, and to grasp the timing necessary for drainage control more accurately.

  In this case, an outside air temperature sensor for detecting the outside air temperature is provided, and as the execution determination unit, the temperature state of the residual water is grasped based on the level of the outside air temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor. (Claim 4). In this case, an outside air temperature sensor for detecting the ambient temperature is appropriately omitted by omitting the temperature sensor installation work such as directly detecting the temperature of the residual water in the cleaning pipe through the temperature sensor. It is only necessary to install at the location, and man-hours for manufacturing and installation work can be reduced. On the other hand, since the water temperature of the residual water changes corresponding to the ambient temperature, the state of the residual water can be grasped with the same accuracy as in the case of direct detection of the water temperature. The “outside air temperature” here is not limited to the actual outdoor temperature where water pipes are laid, but also includes the ambient temperature where cleaning pipes are installed. This is because if the temperature has a corresponding relationship with the temperature of the residual water, the state of the residual water can be grasped based on the temperature.

  In the above invention, a drive-controlled drain plug is installed in the bathtub, and the drain control means can also be configured to control the opening / closing operation of the drain plug during drain control (Claim 5). ). In this case, fully automatic control of the drainage operation from the bathtub can be realized, including the drainage of the bathtub hot water remaining in the bathtub since the previous bathing.

  As described above, according to the bath apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 5, the remaining water remaining in the cleaning pipe after the previous execution of the cleaning control is changed to the next hot water by the execution of the drainage control. Prior to the start of hot water filling when a tension request command is output, the hot water is pushed out of the cleaning pipe, drained out of the bathtub, and the cleaning pipe to the cleaning nozzle can be replaced with clean hot water. For this reason, even if the hot water in the bathtub filled with the hot water filling control that is subsequently performed comes into contact with the hot water in the cleaning pipe via the cleaning nozzle, the hot water in the bathtub can be reliably maintained clean. . On the other hand, instead of always executing drainage control uniformly when a hot water filling request command is output, the execution determination means determines whether or not to execute drainage control based on grasping the state of residual water. Since it is executed only when it is determined to be necessary, wasteful energy consumption associated with the uniform execution of drainage control is eliminated, and drainage control is executed at the truly necessary timing. be able to. As described above, it is possible to ensure a high level of hygiene and safety while eliminating the situation that hinders energy saving.

  In particular, according to claim 2, by grasping the state of the residual water based on the length of the elapsed time, the state of the residual water can be easily and accurately grasped, and the timing at which drainage control is truly necessary. It is possible to realize the execution only in the process based on a simple determination criterion.

  According to the third aspect, the state of the residual water can be grasped more accurately by changing and setting the time value of the set time for the elapsed time determination for determining whether or not the drainage control is necessary depending on the temperature of the residual water. This makes it possible to grasp the timing necessary for drainage control more accurately.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the temperature of the residual water is grasped based on the detection of the outside air temperature, so that the installation work of the temperature sensor for directly detecting the temperature of the residual water is omitted, and the manufacturing is performed. The state of residual water can be easily and accurately grasped while reducing man-hours and installation work man-hours.

  According to claim 5, by including the operation control of the drive-controlled drain plug in the drainage control, the drainage operation from the bathtub including the drainage of the bath water remaining in the bathtub from the previous bathing is included. It becomes possible to realize fully automatic control.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a bath apparatus with a bathtub cleaning function according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the same figure, the code | symbol 2 is a heat source machine provided with the hot-water supply function, the hot water filling function, and the reheating function, and the code | symbol 3 is a bathtub washing | cleaning unit.

  The heat source unit 2 receives tap water or the like from a water inlet 21 and causes hot water heated to a predetermined temperature by heat exchange heating with combustion heat of a combustion burner (not shown) to the hot water outlet 22, and this hot water is supplied to a hot water supply pipe. 4 is used to supply hot water to the hot-water taps 41 (only one is shown in FIG. 1) in various places such as a kitchen and a washroom. In addition, the heat source device 2 includes a recirculation circuit including a retreat path 23 and a return path 24 for realizing a retreat function, and is connected to a recirculation pipe 61 and a return pipe 62 that are piped between the heat source unit 2 and the bathtub 5. The bathtub hot water filled in the bathtub can be reheated and heated. That is, the bathtub hot water returned to the heat source unit 2 through the return pipe 62 and the return path 24 is reheated by heat exchange heating by the combustion heat of a combustion burner (not shown) in the heat source unit 2, and the bathtub hot water after the reheating travels. It is circulated so that it is supplied to the bathtub 5 through the path 23 and the forward piping 61, and is retreated to a predetermined boiling temperature. Further, the heat source device 2 includes a pouring passage 25 that branches off from the middle of the hot water supply passage 22 and is connected to the outgoing route 23 of the recirculation circuit. The hot water can be filled in the bathtub 5 through the outgoing path 23 and the outgoing pipe 61 by dropping into the outgoing path 23 and pouring. Each of the above hot water supply, reheating, and hot water filling operations is realized by operation control by the heat source controller 27 based on setting information such as a set hot water temperature and hot water temperature input and set by the kitchen remote controller 26 or the like. ing.

  The heat source controller 27 (see FIG. 2) includes a hot water supply control unit 271, a hot water filling control unit 272, and a reheating control unit 273 as main control units. Here, the hot water filling control by the hot water filling control unit (hot water filling control means) 272 will be briefly described. When the hot water filling switch or the automatic bathing switch of the bathroom remote control 26 or the bathroom remote control 51 in the bathroom B is turned ON by the user, a hot water filling request command is output as the operation command, and the hot water filling control is started. In the hot water filling control, first, a not-shown pouring valve interposed in the pouring passage 25 is opened, and a combustion burner not shown is also burned to heat incoming water from the inlet 21. The hot water is filled by pouring hot water having a predetermined temperature through the outlet channel 22, the pouring channel 25, the outbound channel 23 and the outbound piping 61 to the bathtub 5. Then, the hot water filling is stopped when the predetermined hot water filling amount or the predetermined water level is reached based on the integrated value of the flow rate detection value by the pouring flow sensor not shown or the water level detection value by the internal pressure detection type water level sensor. When the bath automatic switch is turned on, after the hot water filling, the reheating control unit 273 performs reheating control for further raising the temperature to a predetermined boiling temperature and maintaining it.

  The bathtub cleaning unit 3 includes a cleaning pipe 31 for supplying hot water for cleaning to a cleaning nozzle 52 installed on the bottom wall of the bathtub 5, a filter 32 interposed in order from the upstream side with respect to the cleaning pipe 31, and a flow rate adjustment. A water volume servo valve 33, a flow rate sensor 34, a pouring solenoid valve 35, check valves 36 and 36 for preventing backflow, an edge cut-off valve 37 and a venturi pipe 38 for preventing backflow when negative pressure is generated upstream. Configured. In addition, the code | symbol 8 in FIG. 1 is an outside temperature sensor which detects outside temperature, The installation place is not ask | required, but it installs in the appropriate place in the bathtub washing | cleaning unit 3 in this embodiment.

  The cleaning nozzle 52 is installed so as to penetrate the bottom wall of the bathtub 5 and sprays hot water for cleaning with a predetermined range from the front end opening toward the inner side wall. Although only one cleaning nozzle 52 is shown in the figure, two or more cleaning nozzles 52 can be installed in a predetermined arrangement according to the size of the bathtub 5. A drain plug 53 of an automatic opening / closing drive control type is installed on the bottom wall of the bathtub 5, and the drain plug 53 is opened / closed by receiving an opening / closing driving force from the opening / closing drive mechanism 54. . The open / close drive mechanism 54 is installed on the upper surface side of the bathtub 5, and the open / close drive mechanism 54 detects a drain plug state detection sensor 531 that detects whether the drain plug 53 is in an open state or a closed state. (See FIG. 2). The washing pipe 31 has an upstream end branched from the hot water supply pipe 4 and a downstream end communicated with the washing nozzle 52. By opening the pouring electromagnetic valve 35, the outlet of the heat source unit 2 is discharged. Hot water at a predetermined temperature discharged from the passage 22 is supplied as hot water for cleaning. Further, the downstream end of the detergent supply pipe 71 is connected to the venturi pipe 38, and if the detergent solenoid valve 72 is opened, the detergent supplied from the detergent tank 7 is connected to the venturi pipe 38 by a negative pressure suction action. It is mixed with the hot water used for washing.

  The operation elements 53 and 54 related to the cleaning of the bathtub 5 including the operation elements 33, 35 and 72 of the bathtub cleaning unit 3 are controlled by the cleaning controller 9. As shown in FIG. 2, the washing controller 9 is connected to the heat source machine controller 27 so as to be capable of bidirectional communication, and the bathroom remote controller 51 is connected to the washing controller 9 together with the heat source machine controller 27. The cleaning controller 9 performs a cleaning control unit 91 as a cleaning control unit that executes cleaning control for cleaning the inside of the bathtub 5 by the cleaning nozzle 52 and drainage control for draining residual water remaining in the cleaning pipe 31. Whether or not it is necessary to execute the drainage control by the drainage control unit 92 before the drainage control unit 92 as the drainage control means to be executed and the hot water filling control unit 272 of the heat source controller 27 are executed. And an execution determination unit 93 as an execution determination unit that outputs an execution command or a non-execution command to the drainage control unit 92.

  The cleaning control by the cleaning control unit 91 is roughly divided into a cleaning operation with a detergent-mixed hot water in which the detergent in the detergent tank 7 is mixed with a cleaning hot water, and a rinse with only clean cleaning water without mixing the detergent thereafter. It is divided into cleaning operation. Briefly, the control is started when the user turns on the cleaning switch of the bathroom remote controller 51 (or the bathroom remote controller 51 or the cleaning remote controller 30 if the cleaning remote controller 30 is installed), and the opening / closing drive mechanism 54 is opened. After opening the drain plug 53 by opening, the hot water solenoid valve 35 is opened, while the heat source device 2 is combusted via the heat source device controller 27 to cause the heat source device 2 to burn through the hot water supply pipe 4. Hot water for cleaning is supplied to the cleaning pipe 31. Then, the detergent solenoid valve 72 is opened to supply the detergent from the detergent tank 7 to the venturi pipe 38, and the detergent is mixed and mixed in the cleaning hot water by the negative pressure suction action in the venturi pipe 38. As a result, the cleaning hot water mixed with the detergent is ejected from the cleaning nozzle 52 into the bathtub 5 for cleaning. After the cleaning for a predetermined time or a predetermined flow rate is continued, the detergent solenoid valve 72 is closed, and thereafter, rinsing is performed with clean hot water for cleaning. After this rinse cleaning is executed for a predetermined time or a predetermined flow rate, the drain plug 53 is closed after waiting for the elapse of a set time required for drainage, and the cleaning control ends.

  The drainage control by the drainage control unit 92 will be briefly described. Cleaning hot water remains in the cleaning pipe 31 in the range up to the cleaning nozzle 52 at the end of the previous cleaning control, and remains or stays until now. The residual water in the cleaning pipe 31 is drained from the cleaning pipe 31. And this drainage treatment is not always executed uniformly or always before the filling control is performed when there is a filling request, but the draining treatment is executed only when necessary. Yes. The case where it is necessary is a case where the residual water is contaminated with dirt so that the wastewater treatment must be executed. If not, the execution of the wastewater treatment is omitted. Whether or not the drainage process needs to be executed is determined by the execution determination unit 93. The execution determination unit 93 may originally determine whether or not to execute the waste water treatment after detecting the degree of contamination of the residual water based on the determination criterion of contamination. There are various standards, and it is difficult to reflect the actual situation of residual water. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the degree of contamination is determined based on the degree of the elapsed time from the start time of the residual, thereby determining whether or not to execute the waste water treatment. That is, the execution determination unit 93 determines that the drainage treatment is dirty as long as the above-described elapsed time is long, and issues an execution command to the drainage control unit 92. It is determined that wastewater treatment is unnecessary and a non-execution command is issued.

  Specifically, if the elapsed time from the previous “cleaning” (cleaning control) is longer than the set time T for determination, it is determined that the waste water treatment is dirty and the execution command is output, but the execution command is short. For example, a wastewater treatment is unnecessary and a non-execution command is output. Here, there are various user bathing behaviors, and they are not uniform. However, the sequence of bathing, bathing and draining, then bathing again, bathing and repeating draining is considered universal. It is done. In this order, a process called “cleaning” is intervened at the user's own choice. Usually, “cleaning” is performed after the drainage and before filling with water, or “cleaning” is performed. It is thought that it will be one of hot water filling without performing. Even if the “cleaning” is not performed, the “cleaning” should be performed at any time before that. Therefore, as described above, the determination process based on the elapsed time from the previous washing can most reliably determine the state of the remaining water at the present time, no matter what bathing action the user takes. Become. According to this, following a series of bathing operations of bathing, bathing, and draining, “cleaning” is performed, and when a user tries to bathe after a long time (for example, several days), While the above wastewater treatment will be forcibly executed before execution, if the user puts “cleaning” in the previous stage of the next bathing operation after the above series of bathing operations, the wastewater treatment is unnecessary. And will be considered non-executable. Strictly speaking, the starting point of the elapsed time is the end point of cleaning, but even if the starting point of cleaning is used, the difference is very small compared to the value of the set time T. Equivalent determination accuracy can be ensured.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the state value of the set time T is changed according to the season or the outside air temperature, so that the determination of the residual water state is performed according to the actual situation. That is, for example, whether or not water rots or the rate at which water rots is greatly affected by the environmental temperature at that time, and if the temperature is higher, water rot is more likely to occur and the rate of progress is faster. In addition to high and low outside air temperature, this trend is affected by the difference in season (summer or winter) as well. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the time value of the set time T is changed and set according to the level of the outside air temperature. The higher the outside air temperature, the shorter the time value of the set time T, and the lower the outside air temperature, the set time T The time value is changed and set longer. Specifically, the relationship between the outside air temperature range and the set time T is determined in advance based on the test value and the experience value, and this temperature / time relationship table 95 is stored in the cleaning controller 9 in advance, and the outside air temperature sensor 8 is set. In accordance with the detected value, the time value of the set time T used in the determination process at that time is read from the temperature / time relationship table 95, and the set time T for determination in the execution determination unit 93 is changed and set. Yes. As an example of the contents of this temperature / time relationship table 95, if the outside air temperature is “less than 10 ° C.”, “72 hours” is set as the time value of the set time T, and the outside air temperature is “10 ° C. or more and less than 20 ° C.”. Then, “48 hours” is set as the time value of the set time T, and similarly, “24 hours” is set if “20 ° C. or higher and lower than 30 ° C.”, and “30 ° C. or higher” is set. “12 hours” is set.

  Hereinafter, the control content will be described in detail with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. In the flowchart of FIG. 3, drainage control according to the present embodiment is incorporated in automatic bathing control (automatic hot water filling control, automatic boiling control and automatic warming / water replenishment control) that is executed when the user turns on the automatic bathing switch. Although an example is shown, if there is no automatic bath switch and the hot water switch is turned on, or if the user selects the hot water switch and turns on the hot water switch, the drain control is performed for the automatic hot water control. Will be incorporated. The flowchart of FIG. 3 mainly shows the control contents executed by the heat source device controller 27, and cleaning is performed when a predetermined condition (both YES in steps S2 and S3) is confirmed by bidirectional communication with the controller 9. An execution command for drainage processing (step S4; control shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 4 and 5) is issued to the controller 9 so that the cleaning controller 9 performs control.

  First, the bath automatic switch is turned on, the output of the ON operation signal is received, and the bath automatic switch provided in the remote controller 51 or the like is turned on (step S1). Then, whether or not the self is a device to which the bathtub cleaning function is added, that is, the cleaning controller 9 having the cleaning function is connected to the heat source controller 27, and the bathtub 5 may be subjected to bathtub cleaning. If the bathtub cleaning function is added (YES in step S2), the elapsed time after the previous bathtub cleaning is set to the set time T It is determined whether or not it has elapsed (step S3). This determination is performed by the execution determination unit 93, and is performed based on the count value of the timer 94 that starts counting when the previous bathtub cleaning is executed. If the elapsed time exceeds the set time T (YES in step S3), a drainage processing execution command is issued to the cleaning controller 9, and the cleaning controller 9 starts draining control (drainage control). Prior to this, an interrupt is executed (step S4). At the time of the determination in step S3, the time value of the set time T is read from the temperature / time relationship table 95 based on the outside air temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor 8, and this time value is read in the above step S3. The setting time T is set.

  On the other hand, if the bathtub cleaning function is not added in step S2, the waste water treatment is unnecessary, and although the bathtub cleaning function is added, the remaining water in the cleaning pipe 31 after the set time T has not passed. Since it is determined that the water is still kept clean, the automatic hot water filling / boiling control is started immediately without executing the waste water treatment (NO in step S2 or NO in step S3, step S5). When is finished, the process proceeds to heat retention / water replenishment control (step S6). In addition, in each of drainage treatment (step S4), automatic hot water filling / boiling control (step S5), and heat retention / water replenishment control (step S6), if it is determined that various devices are abnormal, the subsequent control is performed. The process is stopped and the process at the time of abnormality is performed (step S7).

  As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the drainage process in step S4 described above first determines whether or not the drain plug is closed based on the detection signal from the drain plug state detection sensor 531 (step S10). If already closed, steps S11 to S14 are skipped and the process proceeds to step S15 (NO in step S10). If open, the motor (drain plug motor) of the opening / closing drive mechanism 54 is opened (step S11). ). When the opening operation is performed, it is confirmed by the detection signal from the drain plug state detection sensor 531 (YES in Step S12) whether or not it has been converted to the open state, and then the drain valve motor is stopped (Step S13). Thereby, drainage of the bathtub hot water filled in the previous stage is performed from the drain plug 53. After waiting for the drainage time considered to be required for draining the bath water (YES in step S14), the residual water in the cleaning pipe 31 is drained (step S15 and subsequent steps).

  In order to drain the residual water, first, the pouring solenoid valve 35 is opened (step S15), and it is confirmed by a signal from the open limiter of the water amount servo valve 33 that the flow rate has increased to a predetermined flow rate (YES in step S16). A combustion operation command is issued to the heat source controller 27 to turn on the combustion lamp (step S17). As a result, hot water heated to a predetermined temperature by the heat source device 2 is poured into the cleaning pipe 31 through the hot water outlet 22 and the hot water supply pipe 4, and remains in the cleaning pipe 31 until then by the poured hot water for cleaning. The remaining residual water is pushed out from the washing nozzle 52 into the bathtub 5. After confirming that the pouring flow rate is ensured by a predetermined value (for example, 3 L / min) based on the detection value from the flow sensor 34 (YES in step S18), the residual water in the cleaning pipe 31 is confirmed. The inside of the cleaning pipe 5 is continuously purged for a predetermined time (for example, 5 seconds) required for all of the water to be drained to the bathtub 5 side (step S19).

  When the purge is completed, the water volume servo valve 33 is throttled to receive a signal output from the closing limiter, and the pouring electromagnetic valve 35 is closed (step S21). At the same time, a combustion operation stop command is sent to the heat source controller 27. And combustion is stopped (step S22). Then, after the drained state continues for a predetermined time (for example, 5 seconds) when the residual water purged in the bathtub 5 is drained from the bathtub 5 through the drain plug 53 (step S23), the opening / closing drive mechanism 54 The drain valve motor is actuated to the closed side (step S24). Based on the detection signal from the drain plug state detection sensor 531 (YES in step S25), it is confirmed that the drain valve motor (opening / closing drive mechanism 54) has been closed (step S25), and the drain valve motor is stopped (step S25). S26). Thus, the discharge of residual water in the cleaning pipe 31 is completed, and thereafter, automatic hot water filling / boiling control is started (step S5; see FIG. 3).

  If the opening detection by the drain plug state detection sensor 531 is impossible for a predetermined number of times in spite of the opening operation in step S11 described above (NO in step S12, NO in step S12 even if steps S11 to S12 are repeated). It is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the drain valve motor (step S27), and the abnormality process in step S7 described above is performed. If there is no signal output from the open limiter in step S16 for a predetermined time (NO in step S16), it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the water volume servo valve 33 (step S28). Process. If the detected value of the pouring flow rate from the flow sensor 34 does not increase to a predetermined value even after a predetermined time has passed in step S18 (NO in step S18), it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the flow sensor 34 (step S18). S29) In the same manner as described above, the abnormal process of step S7 is performed. Further, if the signal output of the closing limiter has not been output for a predetermined time in step S20 (NO in step S20), it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the water amount servo valve 33 (step S30). Performs abnormal processing. Furthermore, if the opening detection by the drain plug state detection sensor 531 is impossible for a predetermined number of times despite the closing operation in step S24 (NO in step S25, NO in step S25 even if steps S24 to S25 are repeated), the drain plug It is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the motor (step S31), and the abnormality process in step S7 is performed as described above.

  According to the above, when the user inputs a hot water filling request for bathing, before the hot water filling control is started, residual water remaining in the cleaning pipe 31 is drained by executing the above drainage treatment (step S4). Thus, freshly supplied clean hot water is disposed at the front end opening of the cleaning nozzle 52 that comes into contact with the hot water. For this reason, even if the hot water is filled after the drainage treatment, the hot water is surely avoided from adversely affecting the hot water in the bathtub 31 due to residual water in the cleaning pipe 31. The bath hot water can be reliably kept clean, so that the user can be provided with a bath apparatus that is highly hygienic and safe and ensures its high hygiene and safety. Become. In addition, such drainage treatment is not always performed uniformly before filling with water, but is switched between execution and non-execution according to the length of time elapsed since the previous cleaning. Therefore, while improving and ensuring the above-mentioned hygiene and safety, it is possible to save energy by omitting unnecessary and unnecessary control operations and executing drainage control only at a truly necessary timing. . At that time, whether to execute or not is determined based on the above-mentioned elapsed time, so whether or not the state of the residual water is a necessary level of drainage should be accurately determined despite its simplicity. Will be able to. Furthermore, since the set time T for determining the elapsed time is changed and set according to the level of the outside air temperature, it is possible to determine whether or not the drainage treatment is necessary according to the actual situation.

<Other embodiments>
In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, Various other embodiments are included. That is, in the above embodiment, the cleaning using the cleaning hot water mixed with the detergent by the same cleaning nozzle 52 and the rinsing cleaning using the clean cleaning hot water without the detergent are performed. For example, in addition to this, a rinse cleaning nozzle 55 (see FIG. 1) dedicated to rinse cleaning may be added. As the rinsing cleaning nozzle 55, the rinsing cleaning hot water is jetted in a range (a range including the bathtub lid) directed upward from the cleaning nozzle 52, and the rinsing cleaning hot water is supplied. The piping may be branched from the cleaning pipe 31 upstream of the venturi pipe 38 via, for example, an on-off valve or a three-way switching valve 39. In this case, as the waste water treatment, the three-way switching valve 39 is switched at the same time as the residual water in the washing pipe 31 on the washing nozzle 52 side or after the waste water treatment on the washing nozzle 52 side. Then, the drainage treatment of the residual water in the branched cleaning pipe on the rinsing cleaning nozzle 55 side may be performed by pouring hot water from the heat source device 2.

  In the above embodiment, when grasping the state of residual water necessary for determining whether or not wastewater treatment is necessary, when performing based on the degree of the elapsed time, the outside air temperature corresponds to the water temperature of the residual water and the water temperature state is estimated. Since it is possible, the outside air temperature sensor 8 detects the outside air temperature, and the standard of the degree of the elapsed time is changed depending on whether the outside air temperature is high or low. The temperature of the residual water may be directly detected by the sensor 311 (see FIG. 1), and the state of the residual time may be changed by directly determining the state of the residual water based on the level of the water temperature.

  In the above embodiment, the hot water is poured for draining the residual water in the cleaning pipe 31. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the water supply may be poured as it is without causing the heat source device 2 to perform the combustion operation. That is, hot water or water may be used as hot water for extruding residual water.

  The above embodiment is directed to the bathtub 5 in which the open / close drive control type drain plug 53 is installed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is also applied to a bathtub in which a normal drain plug that is opened and closed by the user is installed. The invention can be applied. In this case, the user should be informed that the bath water at the time of the previous bathing must be drained and opened by the user's own drain plug before the new hot water is filled. Just keep it.

It is a schematic diagram which shows embodiment of this invention. It is a block block diagram of the various controllers which perform control. It is a flowchart which shows the whole control content concerning bath automatic control. It is a flowchart which shows the first half part of the control content which concerns on waste water treatment. It is a flowchart which shows the second half part of the control content which concerns on waste water treatment.

Explanation of symbols

2 Heat source machine 5 Bathtub 8 Outside air temperature sensor 9 Washing controller 25 Pouring path 27 Heating path controller 31 Washing pipe 34 Pouring solenoid valve 52 Washing nozzle 53 Drain plug 54 Opening / closing drive mechanism 55 Washing nozzle 91 for rinsing Washing control section (cleaning control) means)
92 Drainage control unit (drainage control means)
93 execution determination unit (execution determination means)
95 Temperature / Time Relationship Table 272 Hot Water Fill Control Unit (Water Fill Control Unit)
311 Temperature sensor

Claims (5)

A hot water filling function for a bathtub and a washing function in the bathtub are provided. The hot water filling function receives an output of a hot water filling request command and opens a pouring path from the heat source machine to the bathtub. Is realized by a hot water filling control means for performing hot water filling control for pouring water from the heat source device to the bathtub through the pouring channel, and the cleaning function is received from the heat source device in response to the output of the cleaning request command. While opening the cleaning pipe extending to the cleaning nozzle installed in the bathtub, the heat source unit is operated, hot water is supplied from the heat source unit to the cleaning nozzle through the cleaning pipe, and hot water is injected from the cleaning nozzle into the bathtub. A bath apparatus configured to be realized by a cleaning control means for executing cleaning control,
Drainage control means for performing drainage control for supplying hot water from the upstream side to the washing pipe and draining the remaining water remaining in the washing pipe through the washing nozzle into the bathtub, and the hot water Execution determination for determining whether or not it is necessary to execute drainage control by the drainage control means before starting the hot water filling control when a tension request command is output based on grasping the state of residual water Means and
The cleaning pipe according to claim 1, wherein the drainage control means is configured to cause the drainage control to be interrupted before the start of the hot water filling control when the execution determination means determines that execution is necessary. The bath apparatus according to claim 1,
The execution determination unit is configured to perform the grasping of the state of the residual water based on the length of elapsed time from the execution of the previous cleaning control by the cleaning control unit to the time when the hot water filling request command is output, If the elapsed time exceeds the set time, it is determined that it is necessary to execute drainage control by the drainage control means. On the other hand, if the elapsed time does not exceed the set time, execution of drainage control by the drainage control means is unnecessary. A bath apparatus configured to determine. The bath apparatus according to claim 2,
The execution determination means is configured to change and set the time value of the set time according to the temperature state of the residual water, and the time value is shorter if the water temperature of the residual water is high, and if the water temperature is low, A bath apparatus that is configured to change and set longer. The bath apparatus according to claim 3,
It has an outside air temperature sensor that detects outside air temperature,
The bath apparatus, wherein the execution determination means is configured to grasp the temperature state of the residual water based on whether the outside air temperature is detected by the outside air temperature sensor. The bath apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The bathtub is equipped with an open / close drive control drain plug,
The said drainage control means is comprised so that the opening-and-closing drive control of the said drain valve may also be performed together in the case of drainage control.

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