JP3315867B2 - Water heater - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hot water supply device,
The present invention relates to a hot water supply device having a hot water filling function for supplying hot water to a bathtub and a hot water supply function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 1 shows a schematic structure of a hot water supply apparatus having a hot water filling function. The above heat exchange is provided to a hot water supply circuit (41) connected from a water heater (1) having a heat exchanger (10) and a gas burner (11) for heating the same to a hot water tap (4) (48) in a kitchen or a bathroom. A total flow sensor (25) is provided upstream of the vessel (10). On the other hand, the heat exchanger (1) in the hot water supply circuit (41)
A bathtub-side circuit (31) connected to the bathtub (3) branches off from a circuit between the hot-water tap (4) and the hot-water tap (48), and a bathtub (3) is provided in the bathtub-side circuit (31). A bathtub flow sensor (26) and a filling valve (33) are provided to determine the amount of filling, etc.

Also, remote control devices are provided on the walls of kitchens and bathrooms.
(27) and (17) are provided. For example, a remote controller (17) on the bathroom side is provided with a hot water temperature setting device (13), a hot water switch (14), and a hot water switch (15). ing. And, by the control circuit device (5) for judging the output of the remote control devices (27) and (17), the gas inserted into the gas circuit (12) to the filling valve (33) and the gas burner (11). The valve (18) and the like are controlled.

In this apparatus, when the hot water switch (14) or the hot water switch (15) is operated, the hot water valve (33) is opened, and the temperature sensor at the outlet of the heat exchanger (10) is opened. twenty one)
The amount of combustion of the gas burner (11) is controlled so that the detected hot water temperature becomes equal to the set temperature of the hot water setter (13), whereby the filling operation to the bathtub (3) and the adding hot water operation are started. I do.
When the accumulated value of the flow rate (the amount of hot water supplied to the bathtub (3)) output from the bathtub flow sensor (26) reaches the set amount, the hot water filling valve
(33) is closed, and the filling operation and the adding hot water operation are stopped.

[0005] In the conventional hot water supply apparatus, for example, a hot water tap (4) of a hot water supply circuit (41) during a hot water filling operation to a bathtub (3) or a hot water supply operation.
When (48) is opened, the hot water taps (4) and (48) are filled with hot water until the opened hot water taps (4) and (48) are closed so that a sufficient flow of hot water can be taken out from the hot water taps (4) and (48). The valve (33) is maintained in a closed state to interrupt the filling or adding operation. Specifically, when the hot water taps (4) and (48) are opened and there is a difference between the flow rates measured by the total flow sensor (25) and the bathtub flow sensor (26), the output of the total flow sensor (25) is output. Is maintained at a closed state until the water temperature drops to a predetermined value (for example, 2 liters / minute) and it is determined that the hot water taps (4) and (48) are closed.

[0006]

However, when hot water is used in the hot water supply circuit (41) having the hot water taps (4) and (48) as described above, the hot water filling valve (33) is closed uniformly. When the filling operation and the hot water operation are interrupted, for example, the temperature of the water flowing into the water heating section (1) is high and the bathtub (3) and hot water tap (4) (48)
Even if hot water is supplied from the hot water tap (4) (48) at a flow rate sufficient for cooking or use of the shower (49) even if hot water is supplied in parallel with the hot water supply, the hot water filling and hot water operation is forcibly stopped. As a result, the hot water filling and the demand for quick adding hot water were contrary to the demand, and there was a problem that appropriate hot water supply control was not performed in consideration of the actual amount of hot water supplied from the hot water taps (4, 48).

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and the invention of claim 1 is based on "a hot water supply circuit connected from a heat exchanger heated by a gas burner to a hot water tap, and the hot water supply circuit in the hot water supply circuit. A hot water supply apparatus which is provided with a bathtub side circuit which is branched from a circuit between the exchanger and the hot water tap and which is connected to the bathtub and has a hot water filling valve '', and has a sufficient flow rate from the hot water supply circuit having the hot water tap. When hot water can be taken out, the hot water supply operation and the hot water supply operation to the bath tub such as the hot water filling operation and the adding hot water operation are performed in parallel, and in response to the request for quick filling of the bath tub under such conditions. The challenge is to get it.

[0008]

Means for Solving the Problems The means of the invention of claim 1 adopted to solve the above-mentioned problem is that "flowing through a circuit downstream of a branch point of the bathtub side circuit in the hot water supply circuit,
A flow rate determining means for determining a flow rate of water supplied to the hot water tap, and a hot water supply operation by opening the hot water tap and supplying hot water to the bathtub by opening a hot water valve of the bathtub side circuit. When the flow rate determined by the flow rate determination means is equal to or less than the reference flow rate, the fill valve is closed, but when the flow rate exceeds the reference flow rate, the fill valve is kept open. And a water filling valve control means. "

[0009] The reference flow rate is set to a value enough to ensure a sufficient flow rate of hot water from the hot water tap, for example, a value suitable for cooking or use of a shower in a bathroom. Therefore, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when a sufficient amount of hot water suitable for the cooking or the like can be taken out from the opened hot water tap, that is, when the flow rate exceeds the reference flow rate, the hot water filling valve is opened. The hot water supply to the bathtub and the hot water supply operation to the hot water tap are maintained in parallel.

On the other hand, when the output of the flow rate judging means for judging the flow rate of the water flowing in the hot water supply circuit is larger than 0 and equal to or less than the reference flow rate, that is, the hot water tap is opened but the sufficient flow rate of the hot water is supplied. If it cannot be removed from the hot water tap, the hot water valve is closed, thereby allowing a sufficient flow of hot water to be removed from the hot water tap.

[0011]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the hot-water tap is opened and hot-water supply operation is performed while hot water is being supplied to the bathtub for filling or adding hot water, the hot-water tap is operated. When hot water with a sufficient flow rate can be taken out of the bath, the filling of the bathtub and the hot water are not interrupted, so that the bathtub can be quickly filled under such conditions.

[0012]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described. The water circuit, gas circuit, and the like of the hot water supply apparatus according to the present embodiment are configured in the same manner as those of FIG. 1 described above, and the hot water supply apparatus of this embodiment supplies cold water to the bathtub (3). It also has a watering function to lower the temperature of the water, so the remote control (17) has a watering switch
(16) is provided.

A control microcomputer is incorporated in the control circuit device (5), and a control program having the contents shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 2 and 3 is stored in the microcomputer. Hereinafter, the operation of the hot water supply apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

When an operation switch (not shown) is turned on, power is supplied to the control circuit device (5) and a microcomputer incorporated therein, and the microcomputer is turned on as shown in FIG.
The control operation according to the flowchart of FIG. 3 is started. That is, by the steps (ST1) to (ST4) of FIG.
The outputs of the hot water switch (14), the hot water switch (15), the water switch (16) and the total flow rate sensor (25) are monitored. still,
If the total flow sensor (25) is outputting a water flow detection signal even though none of the above-mentioned hot water switch (14), hot water switch (15) and water supply switch (16) are operated, Shows that hot water taps (4) and (48) of hot water supply circuit (41) were opened when hot or cold water was not supplied to bathtub (3) (no hot water or water was supplied). .

Next, the control operation will be described for each operation of filling operation, adding hot water operation, and water supply operation. [About the filling operation] When the filling switch (14) provided on the remote operation device (17) is operated, the operation is performed in step (S).
T1) is confirmed, and in step (ST5), the filling valve (33) is opened and the set water amount K to be filled in the bathtub (3) is 18
Set to 0 liters.

Next, in step (ST4), the total flow sensor (25)
Judge the output. If the total flow rate sensor (25) detects a predetermined flow rate (for example, 2.7 liters / minute) by opening the hot water filling valve (33), step (ST7)
To burn the gas burner (11). That is, gas burner (11)
A gas source valve (not shown) provided in the gas circuit (12) is opened to supply gas to the gas burner (11), and the igniter (19) is operated to burn the gas burner (11).
Further, the amount of combustion of the gas burner (11) is controlled by adjusting the opening of the gas valve (18) so that the temperature detected by the temperature sensor (21) becomes equal to the temperature set by the hot water setter (13).

In step (ST8), the open / close state of the filling valve (33) is determined. Then, during the filling operation, the filling valve (3
Since 3) is open, the control operation proceeds to step (ST9), and it is determined whether or not the hot water taps (4) and (48) are opened. Specifically, the output of the total flow rate sensor (25) for detecting the total flow rate Q1 of water flowing into the heat exchanger (10) for one minute and the bathtub
(3) The difference between the outputs of the bathtub flow sensor (26) for detecting the bathtub-side flow rate Q2 of water supplied for one minute is calculated. If the difference between the outputs is 6 liters / minute or more, it is determined that the hot-water taps (4) and (48) are open, and if the output difference is 12 liters / minute or less, which is the reference flow rate. Then, it is determined that a sufficient flow of hot water suitable for cooking or showering in the bathroom has not flown out of the opened hot water taps (4) (48).
That is, in the case of “6 liters / minute ≦ (Q1-Q2) ≦ 12 liters / minute”, it is determined that the amount of hot water flowing out of the hot water tap (4) (48) is insufficient. Hot water supply circuit (4
In order to prioritize the hot water supply operation to 1) over the filling operation, the filling valve (33) is closed in step (ST10). Therefore, in this embodiment, the total flow sensor (25) and the bathtub flow sensor
By calculating the difference between the total flow rate Q1 detected by (26) and the bathtub side flow rate Q2, the flow rate of water supplied to the hot water taps (4) and (48) is determined. However, as shown by the imaginary line in FIG.
Branch point (46) where the bathtub side circuit (31) branches from the hot water supply circuit (41)
The hot water supply flow sensor (4
5) is provided, and the hot water tap is detected by the hot water tap flow sensor (45).
(4) The flow rate of the water supplied to (48) may be directly detected.

Next, in step (ST11), the total flow sensor (25)
When the total flow rate Q1 measured by the system is determined to be 2 liters / min or less and the hot water taps (4) and (48) are determined to be closed, the hot water filling valve (33) is turned on again in step (ST12). The valve is opened to restart the filling operation. Then, the total amount of water supplied to the bathtub (3) in step (ST13), that is, the hot water switch (1)
If the accumulated value of the bathtub side flow rate Q2 measured by the bathtub flow sensor (26) after the operation of (4) is equal to or less than the set water amount K of 180 liters, the open / close state of the hot water taps (4) and (48) is determined. The control operation returns to step (ST9). And step
At (ST9), the difference between the measured flow rates of the total flow rate sensor (25) and the bathtub flow rate sensor (26) is "6 liters / minute ≦ (Q1-Q2) ≦ 1.
2 liters per minute ". That is, when it is determined that the measured flow rate difference is less than 6 liters / minute and the hot water taps (4) and (48) are not opened, or the hot water taps (4) and (48) are open but extremely restricted If it is determined that the state is in the state, or if the measured flow rate difference is 1
If it is thought that hot water is flowing out of the hot water tap (4) (48) at a sufficient flow rate (appropriate for cooking or using a shower in the bathroom) at a rate exceeding 2 liters / minute, start from step (ST9). The control operation is moved to step (ST13).

Then, at the start of the filling (the filling switch (1
From the time of operation 4)), the bath filling amount, which is the accumulated value of the bathtub side flow rate Q2 measured by the bathtub flow sensor (26), is equal to the set water amount K18.
If it becomes 0 liters or more, the hot water filling valve (3
3) is closed and the gas burner (11) is extinguished, thereby terminating the filling operation. In this embodiment, a total flow sensor (25) and a bathtub flow sensor (26)
The functional unit in the microcomputer that calculates the difference between the total flow rate Q1 measured by these and the bathtub-side flow rate Q2 corresponds to the flow rate determination means described in the first aspect of the present invention. or,
“6 liters / minute ≦ (Q1-Q2) ≦ 12 liters /
The functional part in the microcomputer which determines the condition of "minute" and executes the command to close the filling valve (33) corresponds to the filling valve control means which is the invention specific matter of the first aspect of the present invention. [Regarding hot water operation] When the hot water switch (15) is operated to replenish the hot tub (3) with the lowered water level, the control operation branches from step (ST2) to step (ST6), and the hot water filling valve ( 33) is opened and the set water amount K as the amount of warm water to be supplied to the bathtub (3) is set to 20 liters. Thereafter, control is performed in the same manner as in the above-described hot water filling operation. When it is confirmed in step (ST13) that hot water having the set water amount K (20 liters) has been supplied to the bathtub (3), hot water filling is performed in step (ST14). The valve (33) is closed and the hot water filling valve (33) is extinguished to stop the hot water operation. [About watering operation] When the watering switch (16) is operated to lubricate the hot water in the bathtub (3), the control operation is transferred from step (ST3) to step (ST20) in FIG.
(33) is maintained in the valve open state. That is, the gas burner (11) is burned with the gas burner (11) extinguished.

Then, the cold water flowing into the heat exchanger (10)
The water is supplied from the filling valve (33) to the bathtub (3) without being heated by the heat exchanger (10), and the water supply operation starts. During this watering operation, in steps (ST21) (ST22), hot water taps (4) (48)
While monitoring the open / closed state of the tub, the set water amount K (2
0 liter) of cold water is supplied. That is, when the accumulated value of the bathtub side flow rate Q2 measured by the bathtub flow sensor (26) from the start of the water supply operation is 20 liters or less, which is the set water amount K, in step (ST22), the hot water taps (4) (48) )
The open / closed state of is determined. Then, when it is determined that the hot water taps (4) and (48) are opened, that is, the measured flow rate difference (Q1-Q2) between the total flow rate sensor (25) and the bathtub flow rate sensor (26) is 6 liter / min. If it exceeds, the filling valve (33) is closed in step (ST23) and the gas burner (11) is burned in step (ST24). That is, the hot water tap (4) of the hot water supply circuit (41)
Hot water is supplied to (48) and the filling operation to the bathtub (3) is interrupted by closing the filling valve (33). This allows
Prioritizing the operation of supplying hot water to the hot water taps (4) and (48) over the operation of water supply to the bathtub (3), and when the hot water taps (4) and (48) are opened, the hot water taps (4) and (48) 48) Make it possible to use hot water immediately.

In step (ST25), the total flow rate Q1 detected by the total flow rate sensor (25) is monitored. If the total flow rate Q2 becomes less than 2 liters / minute, it is determined that the hot water taps (4) and (48) are closed. After extinguishing the gas burner (11) in (ST26), the hot water filling valve (33) is opened again in step (ST20),
Restart the watering operation to the bathtub (3). When the accumulated value of the bathtub side flow rate Q2 measured by the bathtub flow sensor (26) from the start of the watering operation (when the watering switch (16) is operated) reaches 20 liters, which is the set water amount K, step (ST27) ) To close the filling valve (33), and the control operation returns to step (ST1) in FIG. [Regarding the case where the hot water taps (4) and (48) are opened in a state where none of the hot water filling operation, the hot water operation and the water filling operation is performed] In this case, from the step (ST4) in FIG. The control operation proceeds to step (ST7) to burn the gas burner (11). In step (ST8), it is confirmed that the hot water filling valve (33) is in the closed state, and in step (ST15), the hot water taps (4) (4)
Monitor 8) for closure. Then, the total flow sensor (2
When it is determined that the total flow rate Q1 measured in 5) becomes 2 liters / minute or less and the hot water taps 4 and 48 are closed, the gas burner 11 is extinguished in step (ST16).

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a water heater.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a control program for controlling the hot water supply apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a control program for controlling the hot water supply apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[Explanation of symbols]

 (3) ・ ・ ・ Bathtub (4) (48) ・ ・ ・ Hot water tap (10) ・ ・ ・ Heat exchanger (11) ・ ・ ・ Gas burner (41) ・ ・ ・ Hot water supply circuit

Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Hiroaki Kumazawa 2-26, Fukuzumi-cho, Nakagawa-ku, Nagoya-shi Inside Linhai Corporation (56) References JP-A-7-269939 (JP, A) JP-A-7-198205 (JP) , A) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) F24H 1/10 302

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A hot water supply circuit connected from a heat exchanger heated by a gas burner to a hot water tap, and a circuit branched from a circuit between the heat exchanger and the hot water tap in the hot water supply circuit, connected to a bathtub and filled with hot water. A hot water supply device provided with a bathtub side circuit having a valve, wherein the flow rate of water flowing through a circuit downstream of a branch point of the bathtub side circuit in the hot water supply circuit is supplied to the hot water tap. Flow rate determining means for determining, when the hot water supply valve is opened and the hot water supply operation is performed during hot water supply to the bathtub by opening the hot water filling valve of the bathtub side circuit, A hot water supply device provided with a fill control valve means for closing the fill valve when the determined flow rate is equal to or less than the reference flow rate, but maintaining the fill valve when the flow rate exceeds the reference flow rate; .