JPH02275244A - Automatic hot water filling apparatus of bathtub and method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To rapidly fill a bathtub with the desired amount of hot water by connecting the outlet port of a pump to a bath return pipeline via a bypass tube and disposing a shut-off valve to said bypass tube. CONSTITUTION:The outlet port 15 of a pump 13 and the intermediate part of a bath return pipeline 21 are connected to each other by a bypass tube 23 to which a shut-off valve 24 is disposed. The shut-off valve 24 of the bypass tube 23 is opened to supply hot water to a bathtub 19 for a predetermined period of time through a bathtub filling passage and an air release passage via the bypass tube 23, and thereafter, a three-way change-over valve 12 is operated simultaneously with the closing of the shut-off valve 24 to form a circulation passage for additional heating through a supply pipeline 18 and the return pipeline 21, thereby circulating the supplied hot water. In a case where a hot water stream switch 16 connected to the outlet port 15 of the pump 13 is kept ON continuously for a fixed period of time, hot water is judged to be in a residual state, and whether the hot water level in the bathtub 19 is higher than a preset hot water level is judged. In a case where it is higher than the preset hot water level, additional heating and temperature holding operations are carried out through the circulation passage for additional heating. In a case where an output value from a hot water level sensor 22 provided on the bath return pipeline 21 becomes DELTAv1, it is judged that the bathtub 19 is filled with hot water up to the preset hot water level, and the bathtub filling operation is stopped.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (a) Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to an automatic bath filling method that can quickly and reliably fill a bath with a desired amount of hot water.

(B) Conventional technology Conventionally, as a form of hot water supply system capable of filling a bath with a desired amount of hot water, as shown in FIG. There is.

That is, in FIG. 4, a cistern 50 that receives hot water from a water heater (not shown) via a hot water supply pipe 49 is connected in communication with an inlet 54 of a pump 53 via a three-way switching valve 52 provided in a lower pipe 51 thereof. There is.

Further, the discharge port 55 of the pump 53 is connected to a reheating heat exchanger 57 via a water flow switch 56, and on the other hand,
The reheating heat exchanger 57 is connected to a lotus adapter 60 provided in the bath 59 via a bath pipe 58.

On the other hand, one end of a bath return pipe 61 is connected to the bath adapter 60, and the other end of the bath return pipe 61 is connected to the three-way switching valve 52.

Further, a water level sensor 62 is attached to the middle of the bath return pipe 61.

To explain how to fill a bath with hot water in the above hot water supply system, first, set the three-way switching valve 52 to the state shown in the figure, operate the pump 53, and turn the hot water supply pipe 49 → three-way switching valve 52 → pump 53 → reheating heat. Hot water is filled into the bath 59 via the exchanger 57 → the bath pipe 58 → the bath adapter 60.

The amount of hot water in the bath 59 is determined by the bath adapter 6.
When the water level exceeds 0, the water level sensor 62 detects the water level change (water level output change), switches the three-way switching valve 52, connects the bath return pipe 61 to the pump 53, and connects the bath return pipe 61 to the pump 53 → the bath pipe 58 → Bath 59 → Bath return piping 6
1 → Hot water is circulated through a reheating circulation channel consisting of a pump 53, and air in the bath return pipe 61 is vented.

After that, the three-way switching valve 52 is switched again, and the output of the water level change in the bus adapter is used as the reference water level, and the hot water filling flow path described above, that is, the hot water supply pipe 49 - the three-way switching valve 52
→ Pump 53 → Reheating heat exchanger 57 → Bath pipe 58
→ Hot water is continuously filled into the bath 59 via the bath adapter 60 until the set water level is reached.

Thereafter, if necessary, the three-way switching valve 52 is operated to connect the bath return piping 61 to the pump 53, and the pump 5
3 → Bath going pipe 58 → Bath 59 → Bath return pipe 61 →
A reheating circulation flow path including a pump 53 is formed to perform reheating.

(c) Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, the bath hot water supply system and bath hot water filling described above still have the following problems to be solved.

That is, when the bath return pipe 61 is filled with water in the reheating circulation circuit after the water level on the bath adapter 60 is detected,
Since there is no water in the bath return pipe 61 and air remains, the suction force of the pump 53 is not transmitted to the bath 59 side.
It takes a very long time to fill the bath return pipe 61 with water.

Furthermore, when the water level rises beyond the bath adapter 60, the pressure at the water level sensor 62 increases, but if there is air in the bath return pipe 61, the pressure change may be very small due to its compressibility. be.

Therefore, the determination as to whether hot water has been filled up to the bath adapter 60 is delayed, the reference water level becomes high, and the water level after hot water supply is also higher than the set water level.In other words, the reproducibility of the hot water filling level deteriorates, and the desired amount of water is not reached. It becomes impossible to fill with hot water.

An object of the present invention is to provide a bath water filling device and method that can solve the above problems.

(d) Means for Solving the Problems The present invention connects the cistern that receives hot water from the water heater to the suction port of the pump via a three-way switching valve, and connects the discharge port of the pump to the reheating heat exchanger. The reheating heat exchanger is connected to the bath via the bath going pipe and the bath adapter, and the bath is connected to the three-way switching valve via the bath adapter and the bath return pipe. An automatic bath hot water filling device with a water level sensor installed in the middle of the return pipe, characterized in that the discharge port of the pump is connected to the bath return pipe via a bypass pipe, and a cutoff valve is provided in the bypass pipe. This relates to an automatic hot water filling device for baths.

The present invention also provides a method for automatically filling a bath with hot water using the automatic bath water filling device, which comprises: [1] At the start of the hot water filling operation, a shutoff valve is opened, and hot water is filled from the cistern to the pump to the bath pipe. Hot water is filled into the bath through the return pipe consisting of flow path and cistern → pump → bypass pipe → bath return pipe. Hot water is filled into the bath through the hot water filling flow path, and the bath return pipe is filled with hot water. Hot water is filled into the bath via the bath, and the pressure is detected by the water level sensor installed in the bath return piping. ■When the output change of the water level sensor reaches a value equivalent to submerging the bath adapter, the three-way switching valve is activated. Switch to
The bath water is circulated through the reheating circulation path consisting of the bath → bath return piping → pump → bath pillar piping → bath, and the bath return piping is completely filled with hot water. ■Switch the three-way switching valve again. An automatic hot water filling process for a bath characterized by the following steps: 1. Based on the output value of the water level sensor described above, hot water is supplied into the bath through a hot water filling channel until a pressure difference corresponding to the set water level is satisfied. It is related to the method.

(e) Examples Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically explained based on examples shown in the attached drawings.

First, the configuration of the automatic bath water filling device A according to the present invention will be specifically explained with reference to FIG.

As shown in the figure, the automatic bath hot water filling device A is similar to the hot water supply system that can fill a desired amount of hot water into the bath, similar to the automatic bath hot water filling device explained in the prior art section. However, as will be explained later,
The difference is that a bypass pipe for filling the bath return pipe with hot water is provided between the discharge side of the pump and the bath return pipe.

That is, in FIG. 1, a cistern 10 receives hot water through a hot water supply branch pipe 9 branched from a hot water supply pipe 8 connected to a hot water supply heat exchanger 7. It is connected in communication with the suction port 14 . In addition, in the figure, 6 is a water supply pipe for supplying water to the heat exchanger 7 for hot water supply.

Further, the discharge port 15 of the pump 13 is connected to a reheating heat exchanger 17 via a water flow switch 16, and on the other hand,
The reheating heat exchanger 17 is connected to a bath adapter 20 provided in the bath 19 via a bath pipe 18.

On the other hand, one end of a bath return pipe 21 is connected to the bath adapter 20, and the other end of the bath return pipe 21 is connected to the three-way switching valve 12.

Further, a water level sensor 22 is attached to the middle of the bath return pipe 21.

In the present embodiment, in the above configuration, the discharge port 15 of the pump 13 and the middle of the bath return pipe 21 are connected by a bypass pipe 23, and a cutoff valve 24 is further attached to the bypass pipe 23.

With this configuration, by opening the shutoff valve 24, hot water can be directly supplied from the pump 13 to the bath return pipe 21, and air remaining in the pipe 21 can be removed.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, a method for automatically filling a bath with hot water using the automatic bath water filling device A described above will be described.

In the flowchart shown in FIG.
0), (101), and (102) are provided to detect the presence or absence of residual water in the bath 19 up to the bath adapter 20.

That is, as shown in step (100), first, the shutoff valve 24 of the bypass pipe 23 is opened and
0 to 1005ec), hot water supply branch pipe 9 → Siskoon 10
→ Lower piping 11 → Pump 14 → Hot water filling flow path consisting of bath pipe 18, and hot water supply branch pipe 9 → Distance unit 10 →
Hot water is supplied to the bath 19 through an air vent flow path consisting of the lower pipe 11 → pump 14 → bypass pipe 23, and the air in the bath return pipe 21 is vented.

Thereafter, as shown in step (101), the shutoff valve 24
At the same time, the three-way switching valve 12 is operated, and the pump 14 → bath going pipe 18 → bath 19 → bath return pipe 21
→A reheating circulation flow path consisting of the pump 14 is formed to circulate hot water.

In this hot water circulation operation, if the water flow switch 16 connected to the discharge port 15 of the pump 13 is turned on continuously for a certain period of time (for example, about 205 ec), it is determined that ice remains (102Y).

If it is determined that ice remains (102Y), it is determined whether the water level in the bath 19 is higher than the set water level (103).
If the water level is higher than the set water level (103Y), reheating/warming operation is performed through the reheating circulation circuit (104).

Then, in step (102), if it is determined that there is no remaining water (102N), step (105)
As shown in the figure, open the shutoff valve 24 of the bypass pipe 23,
Hot water is supplied to the bath 19 through the bath-going pipe 18 and the bypass pipe 23 for a predetermined period of time (for example, 60 to 1005 ec), and the air in the bath-returning pipe 21 is vented.

Thereafter, as shown in step (106), the shutoff valve 24
At the same time, connect the bath 1 through the bath pipe 18.
Hot water will be supplied within 9 days.

As the hot water is supplied, the output value (pressure difference) of the water level sensor 22 provided in the bath return pipe 21 becomes Δ■, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. If (107Y), the three-way switching valve 12 is operated to form a reheating circulation flow path and circulate hot water (108).

In this hot water circulation operation, if the water flow switch 16 connected to the discharge port 15 of the pump 13 is turned on continuously for a certain period of time (for example, about 405 ec), it is assumed that the bath return pipe 21 is filled with hot water. You will have to judge.

Note that these are determined based on the circulation flow rate, the pipe diameters of the bath-going piping 1B and the bath-returning piping 21, and the certainty of water filling.

Further, after the water flow switch 16 has turned on, it is assumed that the reference water level has been detected (109), and the three-way switching valve 12
is activated, the flow path changes from the reheating circulation flow path to the hot water filling flow path, and hot water is filled through the bath pipe 18 (110).

When the output value (pressure difference) of the water level sensor 22 installed in the bath return pipe 21 becomes ΔV as shown in FIGS.
), it is determined that hot water has been filled in the bath 19 to the set water level, and the hot water filling operation is stopped.

Thereafter, reheating and heat retention operation is performed through the reheating circulation circuit (104).

In addition, in the sequence of the automatic bath water filling method described above, the opening time of the shutoff valve 24 of the bypass pipe 23 is approximately 30 seconds.
It is said that

In addition, the pressure loss of the above-mentioned cutoff valve 24 is set to be the same as that of the bath pipe 18 side with the reheating heat exchanger 17, and the pressure loss of the cutoff valve 24 is
When open, the bath-going pipe 18 and the bath-returning pipe 21 flow at approximately the same flow rate. (This is because the water filling time of the bath return pipe 21 is set by time).

(F) Effects As explained above, in the present invention, when filling a bath with hot water, the water level on the bath adapter can be reliably detected regardless of the presence or absence of air in the bath return piping, and
The reheating circulation flow path consisting of the bath return piping → pump → bath piping can be quickly filled with hot water, reducing the time required to fill it with hot water.

Further, due to the above effects, the reproducibility of the hot water filling level can be significantly improved, and a desired amount of hot water can be filled accurately and reliably.

Furthermore, the presence or absence of residual water up to the bath adapter in the bath is determined by the ON time of the water flow switch in the bath reheating circuit, but before the reheating circulation, the shutoff valve in the bypass pipe is opened and the water is returned to the return pipe. Filling with water also has the effect of allowing quick response.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a conceptual configuration explanatory diagram of the automatic bath water filling device according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a flowchart showing the sequence of the automatic bath water filling method according to the invention, and Fig. 3 shows the operating state of the water level sensor. The graph in FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the conceptual configuration of a conventional bath automatic hot water filling device. In the figure, A: Bath automatic hot water filling device lO: Cistern 13: Pump 16: Water volume switch 17: Reheating heat exchanger 18: Bath going pipe 19: Bath 20: Bath adapter 21: Bath return pipe 22: Water level sensor 23 :Bypass pipe 24:Shutoff valve

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A cistern (10) that receives hot water from a hot water source is connected to an inlet (14) of a pump (13) via a three-way switching valve (12).
), the discharge port (15) of the pump (13) is connected in communication with the reheating heat exchanger (17), and the reheating heat exchanger (17) is connected to the bath pipe (18) and the reheating heat exchanger (17). The bath (19) is connected to the bath (19) via the bath adapter (20), and the bath (19) is connected to the bath adapter (20) and the bath return pipe (
21) to the three-way switching valve (12), and
In an automatic bath water filling device that has a water level sensor (22) installed midway through the bath return piping (21), the pump (13)
The discharge port (15) is connected to the bath return pipe (21) via the bypass pipe (23), and the bypass pipe (23)
) is provided with a shutoff valve (24). 2. A bath automatic hot water filling method using the above bath automatic hot water filling device, [1] At the start of the hot water filling operation, open the shutoff valve (24) and move the cistern (10) → pump (13) → bath. Hot water filled channel and cistern (10) consisting of piping (18)
→ pump (13) → bypass pipe (23) → bath return pipe (21)
) and fill the bath return pipe (21) with hot water. [2] Close the shutoff valve (24) and fill the bath (19) with hot water through the hot water filling flow path. Return piping (21
) The pressure is detected by the water level sensor (22) installed in the bus adapter (20
) reaches a value equivalent to being submerged in water, the three-way switching valve (
12) and change the hot water from the bath (19) to the bath (19).
→ Bath return piping (21) → Pump (13) → Bath-going piping (18) → Bath (19) is circulated through the reheating circulation flow path, completely filling the bath return piping (21) with hot water. [4] Switch the three-way switching valve (12) again and, based on the output value of the water level sensor (22) described above, fill the bath (19) through the hot water filling channel until the pressure difference corresponding to the set water level is satisfied. ) A method for automatically filling a bath with hot water, which is characterized by comprising the above-mentioned steps.