JP2021156446A - Water heater - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a water heater that is easy to use by eliminating the discomfort of a user regarding the notification of the completion of hot water filling.SOLUTION: A water heater comprises: hot water supply means 2 for supplying heated water to a bathtub 5; hot water amount detection means 42 for detecting an amount of hot water supplied to the bathtub 5; and hot water filling control means 58 for executing automatic hot water filling operation for supplying a preset hot water filling setting amount to the bathtub 5. The hot water filling control means 58 preliminarily notifies a user of a remaining time until hot water filling is completed prior to the completion of the hot water filling, and then notifies the user of the completion of the hot water filling. The hot water filling control means 58 notifies the user of the completion of hot water filling as the remaining time has elapsed after notifying the user of the remaining time until the completion of hot water filling.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a hot water supply device having an automatic hot water filling function for filling a bathtub with hot water.

Conventionally, in a hot water supply device with an automatic hot water filling function, before the completion of hot water filling, the remaining time notification to notify the user of the remaining time until the completion of hot water filling (the remaining minutes until the completion of hot water filling) is provided. , A device that notifies the user of the completion of hot water filling is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

By notifying the remaining time until it becomes possible to take a bath, the user can prepare for bathing using the remaining time as a guide.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-12797

By the way, the remaining time until the completion of the hot water filling is the hot water supply time up to the hot water filling set amount, the stirring time of the hot water in the bathtub after the hot water filling set amount is supplied, and the hot water in the bathtub. Is known to be calculated by adding the estimated boiling time to the set temperature.

However, the hot water filling completion notification may be performed at a time different from the remaining time until the completion of the hot water filling notified in advance.

That is, for example, if the hot water in the bathtub reaches the set temperature when the set amount of hot water is supplied, the hot water in the bathtub is not boiled any more. Therefore, in this case, the completion of hot water filling is notified at a time earlier than the notified remaining time.

In this way, if the hot water filling completion notification is performed at a time different from the notified remaining time, not only does the user feel uncomfortable, but it becomes difficult to proceed with bathing preparation when the hot water filling is completed. It is not easy to use.

In view of the above points, it is an object of the present invention to provide an easy-to-use hot water supply device without discomfort of the user regarding the notification of completion of hot water filling.

In order to achieve such an object, the present invention comprises a hot water supply means for supplying heated hot water to a bathtub, a hot water amount detecting means for detecting the amount of hot water supplied to the bathtub, and a hot water filling setting amount preset for the bathtub. A hot water filling control means for executing an automatic hot water filling operation for supplying hot water is provided, and the hot water filling control means notifies the remaining time until the hot water filling is completed prior to the completion of the hot water filling, and then the hot water filling is completed. In the hot water supply device configured to notify the hot water filling device, the hot water filling control means notifies the completion of hot water filling by notifying the remaining time until the completion of hot water filling. It is a feature.

According to the present invention, since the completion of hot water filling is notified when the notified remaining time elapses, the user does not feel uncomfortable and the usability is improved.

Further, in the present invention, when the hot water filling is completed earlier than the remaining time notified in advance, the hot water filling control means does not notify the completion of the hot water filling when the hot water filling is completed, and the hot water filling is not notified when the remaining time has elapsed. It is characterized by notifying the completion.

According to this, since the completion of hot water filling is not notified earlier than the remaining time notified in advance, it is possible to eliminate the discomfort of the user with respect to the notification of completion of hot water filling.

The schematic diagram which shows the structure of the hot water supply device of embodiment of this invention. The block diagram which shows the functional structure of the main part of a control means. The flowchart which shows the operation of the main part of the hot water supply device of this embodiment. The flowchart which shows the operation following FIG.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the hot water supply device 1 of the present embodiment includes a gas water heater 2 (hot water supply means), a control device 3, and a remote controller 4. The gas water heater 2 and the bathtub 5 are connected to each other via pipes, various valves, and the like. The hot water supply device 1 is installed in, for example, each dwelling unit of an apartment house, a detached house, or the like.

The electrical connection between the control device 3 and the gas water heater 2 to be controlled is omitted for the sake of simplification of the drawing.

The water supplied from the water supply source (for example, tap water) is supplied to the gas water heater 2 through the water supply pipe 6. The water supply pipe 6 is connected to the first water introduction pipe 7. The first water introduction pipe 7 is connected to the second water introduction pipe 10 via the water amount sensor 8 and the bypass servo 9.

In the present specification, when the term "water" is simply used, "water" may include not only unheated cold water but also heated hot water or hot water.

The gas water heater 2 includes a combustion device 11, a bath pump 12, a bath piping system 13, a hot water amount servo 14, a first pouring pipe 15, and a second pouring pipe 16. The combustion chamber 17 of the combustion device 11 is provided with a first burner 18, a second burner 19, a hot water supply heat exchanger 20, and a bath heat exchanger 21. Further, the combustion device 11 is provided with a spark plug 22, a frame rod 23, and an overheat prevention device (temperature fuse) 24.

The first burner 18 and the second burner 19 heat the hot water supply heat exchanger 20 and the bath heat exchanger 21 arranged above the first burner 18. The hot water supply heat exchanger 20 and the bath heat exchanger 21 both have a large number of fins, and are heated by at least one of the first burner 18 and the second burner 19, respectively. The bath heat exchanger 21 is smaller than the hot water supply heat exchanger 20 and is arranged adjacent to the hot water supply heat exchanger 20.

In this way, the combustion device 11 heats the water supplied to the combustion device 11 by burning at least one of the first burner 18 and the second burner 19. A combustion fan 25 and a gas pipe 26 are connected to the combustion chamber 17. The combustion fan 25 sends the air required for combustion of the first burner 18 and the second burner 19 to the combustion chamber 17.

The gas pipe 26 is branched into a first gas branch pipe 27 and a second gas branch pipe 28. The first gas branch pipe 27 guides the gas required for combustion to the first burner 18. The second gas branch pipe 28 guides the gas required for combustion to the second burner 19.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the hot water supply device 1 of the present embodiment, the two water channels of the hot water supply heat exchanger 20 and the bath heat exchanger 21 have a common burner (first burner 18 and second burner 18) in one combustion chamber 17. It is heated by a burner 19) and has a structure called a one-can, two-water channel type.

The gas pipe 26 is provided with a source gas solenoid valve 29 and a gas proportional valve 30. The first gas branch pipe 27 is provided with a first gas solenoid valve 31. The second gas branch pipe 28 is provided with a second gas solenoid valve 32. The original gas solenoid valve 29 controls the supply and stop of gas to the first burner 18 and the second burner 19. The gas proportional valve 30 controls the amount of fuel supplied to the corresponding first burner 18 and the second burner 19 by the valve opening degree. The first gas solenoid valve 31 and the second gas solenoid valve 32 control fuel supply / stop to the corresponding first burner 18 and the second burner 19.

The control device 3 is electrically connected to each control target of the gas water heater 2, and controls the operation of each control target of the gas water heater 2.

Next, the piping of the bathtub 5 will be described. The bath piping system 13 includes a first pipeline 33 and a second pipeline 34. The first pipe line 33 and the second pipe line 34 connect the bath heat exchanger 21 and the bathtub 5, and circulate water between the bath heat exchanger 21 and the bathtub 5.

The first pipe line 33 includes an outlet pipe 35 of the bath heat exchanger 21 and a bath going pipe 36. The bath going pipe 36 does not necessarily have to be clearly distinguished from the outlet pipe 35 of the bath heat exchanger 21, and may be integrally formed with the outlet pipe 35 of the bath heat exchanger 21.

The water flowing through the first pipeline 33 flows from the bath heat exchanger 21 toward the bathtub 5. The outlet pipe 35 of the bath heat exchanger 21 at the upstream end of the first pipeline 33 passes through the inside of the bath heat exchanger 21 and communicates with the inlet pipe 37 of the bath heat exchanger 21. The end of the bath going pipe 36 on the downstream side of the first pipe 33 is connected to the bathtub 5. The bath going pipe 36 is provided with a bath going thermistor 38a.

The second pipeline 34 includes a bath return pipe 39, a bath pump outlet pipe 40, and an inlet pipe 37 of the bath heat exchanger 21. The bath pump outlet pipe 40 does not necessarily have to be clearly distinguished from the inlet pipe 37 of the bath heat exchanger 21, and may be integrally formed with the inlet pipe 37 of the bath heat exchanger 21. When the bath pump 12 is driven, the water flowing through the second pipe line 34 flows from the bath pump 12 toward the bath heat exchanger 21.

The downstream end of the second pipeline 34 passes through the inside of the bath heat exchanger 21 and communicates with the outlet pipe 35 of the bath heat exchanger 21. The bath return pipe 39 of the second pipe line 34 is connected to the bathtub 5 via a circulation fitting (not shown).

The bath return pipe 39 is provided with a bath return thermistor 38b, a bath water amount switch 41, and a water level sensor 42. The bath return thermistor 38b detects the temperature of the water in the bathtub 5. The bath water amount switch 41 detects that water is flowing through the bath pump outlet pipe 40. The water level sensor 42 detects the water level in the bathtub 5.

The second water introduction pipe 10 is provided with a water amount sensor 8. The water amount sensor 8 detects the flow rate of water flowing through the second water introduction pipe 10.

The bypass servo 9 is provided at a connection portion between the first water introduction pipe 7, the second water introduction pipe 10, and the hot water supply bypass pipe 43, and is guided to the hot water supply bypass pipe 43 and the second water introduction pipe 10. Control the ratio of. The hot water supply bypass pipe 43 is connected to the connection portion between the first water introduction pipe 7 and the second water introduction pipe 10 at one end, and is connected to the outlet pipe 44 of the hot water supply heat exchanger 20 at the other end. There is.

A water pipe thermistor 46a is provided in the inlet pipe 45 of the hot water supply heat exchanger 20. The water pipe thermistor 46a detects the temperature of the water flowing through the inlet pipe 45 of the hot water supply heat exchanger 20.

The inlet pipe 45 of the hot water supply heat exchanger 20 communicates with the outlet pipe 44 of the hot water supply heat exchanger 20. The inlet pipe 45 of the hot water supply heat exchanger 20 does not necessarily have to be clearly distinguished from the outlet pipe 44 of the hot water supply heat exchanger 20, and may be integrally formed with the outlet pipe 44 of the hot water supply heat exchanger 20. ..

The outlet pipe 44 of the hot water supply heat exchanger 20 is provided with a heat exchange thermistor 46b, a hot water supply thermistor 46c, a hot water amount servo 14, and a drain plug 47.

The heat exchange thermistor 46b is water flowing through the outlet pipe 44 of the hot water supply heat exchanger 20, and detects the temperature of the water immediately after passing through the hot water supply heat exchanger 20. The hot water supply thermistor 46c is water flowing through the outlet pipe 44 of the hot water supply heat exchanger 20, and detects the temperature of the water on the hot water amount servo 14 side.

The hot water amount servo 14 controls the amount of hot water guided to the hot water supply pipe 48 and the first hot water injection pipe 15. A hot water pouring solenoid valve 49 is connected to the hot water volume servo 14 via a first pouring pipe 15.

The first pouring pipe 15 is the second pouring pipe 16 via the pouring solenoid valve 49, the first check valve 50, the second check valve 51, and the water amount sensor 52 (hot water amount detecting means). It is connected to the.

The second pouring pipe 16 is connected to the bath pump 12. The water amount sensor 52 detects the flow rate of water flowing through the second pouring pipe 16. The air release valve 53 is connected to the first water introduction pipe 7 via the pipeline 54, and is connected to the drain port 56 via the pipeline 55.

As shown in FIG. 2, the control device 3 includes a hot water supply control unit 57, a hot water filling control unit 58 (hot water filling control means), a reheating control unit 59, and a timer 60 as functions.

Further, the remote controller 4 includes an operation unit 61 including various operation switches, a display unit 62 for displaying various information, and a sound notification unit 63 for notifying by voice or alarm. As the display unit 62, one capable of displaying the time is adopted.

The hot water filling control unit 58 controls the hot water filling operation to the bathtub 5, and the reheating control unit 59 controls the reheating operation of the hot water in the bathtub 5. Further, the hot water filling control unit 58 instructs the reheating control unit 59 to perform the reheating operation as needed.

The hot water filling operation will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The hot water filling operation is an operation of heating water supplied from a water supply source (for example, tap water) and supplying it to the bathtub 5.

When the user presses the automatic hot water filling button (not shown) of the operation unit 61 of the remote controller 4, the hot water filling control unit 58 of the control device 3 executes control of the hot water filling operation. In the hot water filling operation, the hot water filling control unit 58 opens the hot water pouring solenoid valve 49. Then, due to the pressure of the water supplied from the water supply source, water flows through the first water introduction pipe 7 and the second water introduction pipe 10 and is supplied to the gas water heater 2.

At this time, since the temperature of the water supplied to the gas water heater 2 is lower than the set temperature of the water filling, the water filling control unit 58 operates the combustion device 11. The water (hot water) heated in the combustion device 11 passes through the outlet pipe 44 of the hot water supply heat exchanger 20 and is guided to the hot water amount servo 14.

The water guided to the hot water amount servo 14 flows through the first hot water filling pipe 15, and passes through the hot water pouring solenoid valve 49, the first check valve 50, the second check valve 51, and the water amount sensor 52, and is second. It is guided to the pouring pipe 16. The water guided to the second pouring pipe 16 enters the bath pump 12, and the water guided to the bath pump outlet pipe 40 flows toward the bath heat exchanger 21.

The water flowing toward the bath heat exchanger 21 is heated in the bath heat exchanger 21 and flows through the outlet pipe 35 and the bath going pipe 36 of the bath heat exchanger 21 in the first pipe line 33, and is a circulation metal fitting. It is supplied to the bathtub 5 via (not shown).

In this way, the hot water filling control unit 58 controls the hot water filling operation until the water level of the hot water in the bathtub 5 reaches the set water level (preset set amount of hot water filling).

Next, the reheating operation will be described. The reheating operation is an operation of circulating and heating the water inside the bathtub 5 and returning the heated water to the bathtub 5.

When the user presses the reheating button (not shown) of the remote controller 4, the reheating control unit 59 controls the reheating operation so that the temperature of the water inside the bathtub 5 matches the set temperature.

Further, in the control of the hot water filling operation by the hot water filling control unit 58, the hot water filling control unit 58 presets the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub 5 when the hot water filling setting amount is supplied to the bathtub 5. If the temperature does not reach the set temperature, the reheating control unit 59 is instructed to control the boiling operation for raising the temperature of the water (hot water) in the bathtub 5.

When the reheating control unit 59 controls the reheating operation, the bath pump 12 is driven. Then, the water in the bathtub 5 flows through the bath return pipe 39 and heads for the inlet pipe 37 of the bath heat exchanger 21.

The water flowing through the bath heat exchanger 21 is heated by at least one of the first burner 18 and the second burner 19. The water heated by the bath heat exchanger 21 flows through the outlet pipe 35 and the bath going pipe 36 of the bath heat exchanger 21 which is the first pipe line 33, and enters the bathtub 5.

Further, the hot water filling control unit 58 completes the hot water filling when the hot water filling set amount is supplied to the bathtub 5 and the hot water in the bathtub 5 reaches the set temperature, and the hot water filling control unit 58 completes the hot water filling, and the display unit 62 of the remote controller 4 and The sound notification unit 63 is driven to notify the completion of hot water filling. Further, a few minutes before the hot water filling control unit 58 notifies the completion of the hot water filling, the hot water filling control unit 58 drives the display unit 62 and the sound notification unit 63 of the remote controller 4 to notify the remaining time until the hot water filling is completed. ..

Next, the notification of the remaining time until the completion of hot water filling by the hot water filling control unit 58 according to the gist of the present invention will be described.

In the 1-can 2-water channel type hot water supply device 1 as described in the present embodiment, when the hot water filling operation is performed, the hot water heated by the hot water supply heat exchanger 20 is regenerated by the bath heat exchanger 21 as described above. It is heated. At this time, the calorific value of reheating cannot be calculated accurately. Therefore, the hot water is filled at a temperature slightly lower than the set temperature (1-2 ° C lower than the set temperature: corresponding to the predetermined temperature in the present invention).

For example, in the hot water supply device 1 of the present embodiment, the hot water in the bathtub 5 is set to the set temperature by filling the bathtub 5 with hot water at a set temperature of -2 ° C and then performing a reheating operation for about 5 minutes. It is designed. Then, the hot water filling control unit 58 gives a notice of the remaining time until the hot water filling is completed as 5 minutes, and notifies the completion of the hot water filling 5 minutes later. At this time, the operation of the hot water filling control unit 58 regarding the notification of the remaining time until the completion of hot water filling and the notification of the completion of hot water filling will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 3 and 4.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the automatic hot water filling button (not shown) of the operation unit 61 of the remote controller 4 is turned on in STEP 1, the hot water filling control unit 58 performs the hot water filling operation (hot water in the bathtub 5) in STEP 2. When the amount of hot water in the bathtub 5 reaches a preset amount of hot water filling, the process proceeds to STEP 3 to end the hot water filling operation.

Next, the hot water filling control unit 58 stirs the hot water in the bathtub 5 for a predetermined time (for example, 1 minute) in STEP 4, and proceeds to STEP 5. The hot water in the bathtub 5 can be agitated by operating the bath pump 12 and circulating the hot water in the bathtub 5 and the bath piping system 13.

Subsequently, when the hot water filling control unit 58 proceeds to STEP 5, it determines whether or not the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub 5 (hereinafter referred to as the bath temperature) is equal to or higher than the preset hot water filling temperature. The bath temperature is detected from the temperature of the bath return thermistor 38b after stirring the hot water in the bathtub 5 in STEP4.

If the bath temperature is equal to or higher than the hot water filling set temperature in STEP 5, the hot water filling control unit 58 proceeds to STEP 6, notifies the remaining time until the completion of hot water filling (5 minutes in this embodiment), and further proceeds to STEP 7. Set the timer 60 (5 minutes in this embodiment). The remaining time is notified on the display unit 62 of the remote controller 4. At the same time, the sound notification unit 63 is driven to notify the remaining time by voice.

After that, the hot water filling control unit 58 waits by STEP 8 and STEP 9 until the timer 60 times up (5 minutes have elapsed). When the timer 60 times up (5 minutes have passed) in STEP 9, the process proceeds to STEP 10 to notify the completion of hot water filling. The hot water filling control unit 58 notifies the completion of hot water filling by driving the sound notification unit 63. Then, the process proceeds to STEP 11, and the hot water in the bathtub 5 is kept warm. In the heat retention operation, when the bath temperature falls below a preset set temperature (for example, a hot water filling set temperature), the reheating control unit 59 controls the reheating operation until the bath temperature reaches the set temperature.

On the other hand, if the bath temperature is not equal to or higher than the hot water filling set temperature in STEP 5, the hot water filling control unit 58 proceeds to STEP 12 in FIG. 4 and instructs the reheating control unit 59 to boil water (hot water) in the bathtub 5. Perform the raising operation. This boiling operation is performed in STEP 13 until the bath temperature reaches the hot water filling set temperature of -2 ° C. or higher.

The reason why the temperature to be compared with the bath temperature in STEP 13 is the hot water filling set temperature of -2 ° C is that the hot water filling set temperature is reached in about 5 minutes (for example, a time shorter than 5 minutes) depending on the amount of heat input during boiling. However, this is because the hot water filling set temperature is set to -2 ° C. The hot water filling set temperature of -2 ° C. used in the present invention is set to a predetermined temperature in the present invention, and is appropriately set according to the capacity (heat input amount) of the combustion device 11.

When the bath temperature reaches the set temperature of hot water filling of -2 ° C or higher in STEP 13, the hot water filling control unit 58 proceeds to STEP 14, notifies the remaining time until the completion of hot water filling (5 minutes in this embodiment), and further proceeds to STEP 15. Set the timer 60 (5 minutes in this embodiment) with.

Next, the hot water filling control unit 58 proceeds to STEP 16 and instructs the reheating control unit 59 to boil water (hot water) in the bathtub 5. This boiling operation is performed in STEP 17 until the bath temperature becomes equal to or higher than the hot water filling set temperature. That is, in the boiling operation in STEP 16, boiling is performed by −2 ° C. in STEP 12 (the hot water in the bathtub 5 is raised by 2 ° C. or more).

When the bath temperature becomes equal to or higher than the hot water filling set temperature in STEP 17, the hot water filling control unit 58 waits for the timer 60 to time up (5 minutes have elapsed) by STEP 18 and STEP 19. When the timer 60 times up (5 minutes have passed) in STEP 19, the process proceeds to STEP 20 to notify the completion of hot water filling. Then, the process proceeds to STEP 21, and the hot water in the bathtub 5 is kept warm. In the present embodiment, the time set in the timer 60 is set to 5 minutes, but this time can be changed as appropriate.

As described above, according to the hot water supply device 1 of the present embodiment, after the hot water in the bathtub 5 reaches the set amount of hot water filling (STEP 3), the remaining time until the completion of hot water filling is notified (STEP 6 or STEP 14). When the remaining time has elapsed (STEP 9 or STEP 19), the completion of hot water filling is notified (STEP 10 or STEP 20). Therefore, the time from the notification of the remaining time until the completion of the hot water filling to the notification of the completion of the hot water filling is equal to the remaining time notified of the completion of the hot water filling, which is convenient.

1 ... Hot water supply device, 2 ... Gas water heater (hot water supply means), 5 ... Bathtub, 52 ... Water amount sensor (hot water amount detection means), 58 ... Hot water filling control unit (hot water filling control means).

Claims (2)

A hot water supply means for supplying heated hot water to the bathtub, a hot water amount detecting means for detecting the amount of hot water supplied to the bathtub, and an automatic hot water filling operation for supplying a preset amount of hot water to the bathtub are executed. In a hot water supply device provided with a hot water filling control means, the hot water filling control means notifies the remaining time until the hot water filling is completed prior to the completion of the hot water filling, and then notifies the completion of the hot water filling.
The hot water filling control means is a hot water supply device characterized in that after notifying the remaining time until the completion of hot water filling, the completion of hot water filling is notified when the notified remaining time elapses. When the hot water filling is completed earlier than the remaining time notified in advance, the hot water filling control means does not notify the completion of the hot water filling when the hot water filling is completed, and notifies the completion of the hot water filling when the remaining time has elapsed. The hot water supply device according to claim 1.

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