JP2000130848A - Water heater - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To reduce useless power consumption of a display unit in a remote controller of a hot water supply device. SOLUTION: The water heater 1 is provided with a can body temperature sensor 13 for detecting the temperature of the can body. Then, after the operation switch 17 of the remote controller 2 is turned on and the hot water is stopped, when the temperature of the can 3 drops below a predetermined temperature, the power of the display panel 22 of the remote controller 2 is suppressed and the brightness is reduced. Drop.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a water heater having a water heater and a remote controller.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an instantaneous water heater, a user can set operation on / off, hot water switching, and the like by a remote controller connected to the water heater. The display unit constituted by a display unit or the like displays the setting contents, the operation state of the water heater, and the like.

[0003] The remote controller is provided with an operation switch for the water heater. When the operation switch is turned on ("on"), the operation switch is turned off ("off"). Power consumption is higher than that, so that if the user forgets to turn off the operation switch of the remote controller, there is a problem that wasteful power is consumed. In particular, when the display unit is a fluorescent tube display or a liquid crystal display with a backlight, wasteful power consumption is large.

[0004] In addition, while standby electric power has become a problem in electric appliances, standby electric power of a remote controller has become a problem in water heaters as well.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, and an object of the present invention is to reduce wasteful power consumption of a display unit in a remote controller of a water heater.

[0006]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION A water heater according to a first aspect of the present invention is a water heater comprising a water heater and a remote controller of the water heater having a light-emitting display unit, wherein the water heater has means for detecting a body temperature of the water heater. When the can body temperature of the water heater falls below a predetermined temperature, the display unit is set to a non-display state or a power saving state.

In this hot water supply device, when the hot water supply operation is completed and the can body temperature falls, the display unit is set to the non-display state or the power saving state, so that the power consumption of the display unit is suppressed. Power consumption of the remote controller can be reduced.

In particular, since the display unit is set to the non-display state or the power saving state when the can body temperature falls below the predetermined temperature, the hot water supply unit immediately supplies the hot water of the set temperature after the combustion stops. In the case where the apparatus is provided with a means for controlling the mixing ratio of hot and cold water so that hot water is supplied, the hot water operation mode is matched, and power saving of the remote controller can be rationally performed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the hot water supply apparatus according to the first aspect, further comprising means for detecting a flow rate of the water flowing through the water heater. Is characterized by returning the display unit from the non-display state or the power saving state to the display state.

[0010] In this embodiment, when water is supplied to the hot water supply amount or more to start the tapping operation, the remote controller automatically returns to the normal display state. There is no need to return with.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a water heater 1 and a remote controller (hereinafter abbreviated as a remote controller) 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention. A heat exchanger 4 is provided in the can 3 of the water heater 1, and a water inlet pipe 6 having a flow rate sensor 5 and the like is connected to a water inlet side of the heat exchanger 4. A tapping pipe 9 provided with a tapping temperature sensor 7 and a flow control valve 8 is connected to the outlet side. A bypass pipe 10 is provided between the water inlet pipe 6 and the tapping pipe 9 so as to bypass the heat exchanger 4.
1 is provided. A gas burner 12 is provided below the heat exchanger 4 for heating the heat exchanger 4 with the combustion gas to exchange heat with water flowing through the heat exchanger 4.
Further, the can body 3 is provided with a can body temperature sensor 13 for measuring the can body temperature.

Flow sensor 5, tapping temperature sensor 7, can body temperature sensor 13, flow control valve 8, bypass flow control valve 11
Are connected to the water heater control unit 14, and the water heater 1 controls the flow control valve 8 and the like based on information from these sensors. That is, the tip end of the tapping pipe 9 is opened, and the flow rate sensor 5 allows the inlet pipe 6 to burn to the combustible flow rate (minimum operating flow rate).
When it is detected that the above water has flowed, the gas burner 12 is ignited and hot water is discharged from the heat exchanger 4, and the hot water discharged from the heat exchanger 4 is mixed with the water passed through the bypass pipe 10. The combustion power and bypass flow rate of the gas burner 12 are controlled so that hot water at a set temperature is supplied from the tapping pipe 9. When the hot water is stopped, the hot water mode is maintained until the can body temperature detected by the can body temperature sensor 13 (or the hot water temperature sensor 7) becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature. That is, until the can body temperature falls below the hot water supply set temperature, the hot / water mixing ratio is controlled by gradually reducing the bypass flow rate according to the can body temperature, and the set temperature is immediately set when the tap of the tapping pipe 9 is opened. So that hot water can be supplied.

FIG. 2 shows a water heater control unit 1 through a signal line 24.
FIG. 3 is an external front view of a remote controller 2 connected to the remote controller 4. On the front surface of the remote controller 2, a remote controller operation unit 15 and a display unit 16 are provided. The remote control operation unit 15 includes an operation switch 17 for switching the operation of the water heater 1 on (“on”) or off (“off”), and an automatic bath operation switch 1.
8, hot water temperature setting switches 19a, 19b, etc. The display unit 16 includes an LED lamp 20 for displaying the operation ON state, an LED lamp 21 for displaying that the bath is being automatically operated, a large display panel 22, and the like. The display panel 22 is a fluorescent tube display, a liquid crystal display with a backlight, or the like, but is not limited thereto. Display panel 22 displays, for example, hot water supply set temperature, current time, bath automatic operation reservation time, and the like.

FIG. 3 is a schematic functional diagram schematically showing a state in which the remote controller 2 and the instantaneous water heater 1 are connected through a signal line 24. Water heater 1 is provided by water heater controller 1 as described above.
4. It has a can body temperature sensor 13, a flow rate sensor 5, and the like, and further includes a water heater communication unit 25 for communicating with the remote controller 2 through a signal line 24. The remote control 2 includes a remote control communication unit 26 for communicating with the water heater 1 and a remote control control unit 2 for controlling the display unit 16 and the remote control operation unit 15.
7 and a power control unit 28 for controlling the power of the display unit 16. The power of the remote controller 2 is built in the remote controller 2 or supplied from the water heater 1 through a communication line.

In the remote controller 2, when the operation switch 17 is turned on, the power saving mode of the display unit 16 can be executed according to the flowchart of FIG. I have. That is, when the operation switch 17 of the remote controller 2 is turned on and the water heater 1 is performing the tapping operation, the display unit 16 displays the image with normal brightness. However, after the hot water supply operation of the water heater 1 is stopped (S1), it is monitored by the water heater control unit 14 or the remote control unit 27 whether or not the can body temperature has dropped below a predetermined temperature (S2). While the temperature of the can body is higher than the predetermined temperature, the display unit 16 displays the normal brightness. However, when the temperature of the can body drops to the predetermined temperature after the stop of hot water supply, the power supply control unit 28
As a result, the supplied power is suppressed, the luminance is reduced, and the power saving mode is set (S3), and the power consumption in the display unit 16 is suppressed. Here, whether or not the display unit 16 is set to the power saving mode may be determined by the water heater control unit 14 or the remote control unit 27, and depending on either of them, the water heater control unit 14 Power saving mode switching information or can body temperature information is transmitted to the remote control unit 27.

After the display unit 16 is in the power saving mode, the water heater control unit 14 or the remote control unit 27 monitors whether or not a power saving end condition occurs (S4).
The power saving end conditions include, for example, a case where any switch operation of the remote control operation unit 15 is performed, a case where the flow rate sensor 5 detects the amount of water that can be supplied, and the like. When any of the power saving end conditions occurs, the water heater control unit 14 or the remote control unit 27 restores the power supplied from the power supply control unit 28 to the display unit 16 to a normal state, and the display on the display unit 16 Is set to normal luminance (S5).

According to the present invention, even if the operation switch 17 is turned on, when the temperature of the can body drops after tapping, the brightness of the display unit 16 is reduced to set the power saving state. Therefore, useless power consumption can be reduced. Further, when the switch of the remote controller 2 is operated, or when the amount of combustible water flows into the water inlet pipe 6 and water is to be discharged, the display unit 16 returns to the original brightness. Can be fulfilled.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that when the temperature of the can body becomes lower than a predetermined temperature after stopping the hot water supply, the power saving mode is set. In order to switch to the power saving mode, the power saving mode may be set after a lapse of a predetermined time after the stop of hot water supply. However, in a water heater having a hot water mode in which hot water is immediately discharged at a desired temperature if residual water is kept at a predetermined temperature or higher, the time during which the water heater 1 is maintained in the quick water mode after hot water supply is stopped is omitted. Since it does not always coincide with the time for shifting to the power mode, if the power saving mode is set in a certain time, the display unit 16 of the remote controller 2 will be in the power saving mode even though the water heater 1 is still in the hot water mode. In some cases, the display unit 16 of the remote controller 2 is still in a normal display even though the water heater 1 is no longer in the hot water mode. On the other hand, if the can body temperature for switching to the power saving mode is set in accordance with the switching temperature of the hot water supply mode of the water heater 1, the display unit of the remote control 2 is provided while the water heater 1 is in the quick water mode. When the water heater 1 is not in the hot water mode, the display unit 16 of the remote controller 2 can be switched to the power saving mode, and the display unit 16 can be controlled rationally. Furthermore, it becomes possible to know whether or not the water heater 1 is in the hot water mode by the display state (display luminance) of the display unit 16.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 5 is a schematic functional diagram showing the configuration of another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the display unit 16 of the remote controller 2 is set with an operation-on display LED lamp 20 for displaying the current status, an LED lamp 21 for displaying that the bath is being automatically operated (hereinafter, referred to as a status display unit 16a), and the like. It is divided into a display panel 22 for displaying information and the like (hereinafter, referred to as an information display section 16b).

In this embodiment, as shown in the flow chart of FIG. 6, when the temperature of the can body drops below a predetermined temperature after stopping the hot water supply (S11) (S12), the status display section 16a is turned on. Only the information display section 16b is turned off (not displayed) while the display is kept (S13). When the power saving end condition occurs (S14), the information display unit 16b is turned on again (S15).

In this embodiment, since only the status display section 16a such as the LED lamp 20 for indicating that the operation is on is turned on, the operation state of the water heater 1 can be displayed even in the power saving mode. Can be.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a hot water supply apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a remote controller used in the water heater.

FIG. 3 is a functional schematic diagram of the water heater.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of power saving control in the water heater.

FIG. 5 is a functional schematic diagram of a water heater according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of power saving control in the water heater.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 hot water heater 2 remote controller 13 can body temperature sensor 14 hot water heater control unit 16 display unit 20, 21 LED lamp 22 display panel 24 signal line 28 power supply control unit

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A water heater comprising a water heater and a remote controller of the water heater having a display unit by light emission, comprising means for detecting a body temperature of the water heater, wherein the body temperature of the water heater is a predetermined temperature. If it falls below,
A water heater, wherein the display unit is set to a non-display state or a power saving state. And a means for detecting a flow rate of water flowing through the water heater, and when the amount of water that can be supplied to the water heater exceeds the amount that can be supplied by the water heater, the display unit returns from the non-display state or the power saving state to the display state. The hot water supply device according to claim 1, wherein the hot water supply device is operated. 3. The water heater according to claim 1, wherein the water heater is provided with means for controlling a mixing ratio of hot water so that hot water at a set temperature is immediately discharged after the combustion is stopped. .