JP2012095720A - Device and method for controlling drainage of bathtub - Google Patents

Abstract

Discharge and supply of some hot water can be efficiently controlled, and wasteful discharge is prevented without switching control between discharge and supply of hot water.
An opening 5 and a door capable of opening and closing the opening are provided on a side 3 of a bathtub 2. The drainage control device 17 includes a water level sensor 18 that detects the water level of hot water in the bathtub, a partial drain switch 25 that discharges hot water exceeding the water level below the opening, and a hot water switch 23 that supplies hot water into the bathtub. Provided. The control means 26 determines whether the water level detected by the water level sensor 18 is higher than the opening 5 by the water level determination means, and when the water level is lower than the opening, drains until the water level becomes lower than the opening by the operating means. Hot water is discharged by the cylinder 20. Further, by the input of the hot water filling switch 23, the water supply / drainage control means prevents drainage and raises the door regardless of the water level of the hot water.
[Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a drainage control device and a control method for a bathtub which has an opening portion used when, for example, a physically handicapped bather or the like bathes, and controls drainage.

In general, when bathing a person who is inconvenient and needs assistance (hereinafter referred to as the person in need of assistance), the seat part without a backrest that can be seated in the bathtub to move the person in need of assistance to the bathtub. In addition, a seat chair portion provided with a backrest or a chair portion of a bathing wheelchair is used.
For example, in a bathing wheelchair described in Patent Document 1 below, the bathing wheelchair is positioned close to and parallel to the side of a bathtub having an opening to lock each other. And the wheelchair for bathing is provided with a detachable chair part on the upper part of a cart provided with casters on the lower part.

  In this bathtub, the door provided on the side is moved downward to open the opening, and the trolley of the bathing wheelchair and the chair are unlocked, and the chair with the bather is placed on the trolley. It is made to run from the provided 1st rail to the 2nd rail on the seat part provided in the bathtub. And in the state where the chair part was hold | maintained in the bathtub, the door was raised, the opening part was plugged up, hot water was supplied in the bathtub, the water level higher than an opening part was filled, and it is in the bathing state.

When the bather who has finished bathing is withdrawn from the bathtub, about half of the water level exceeding the opening is drained to lower the water level below the opening. Next, the door is lowered, and the chair portion on which the bather is placed is moved to the carriage from the opening. And the chair part which carried the next bather is similarly moved to the inside of a bathtub via a rail, and is made to bathe.
Also, instead of discharging half the amount of hot water when the door is lowered, the hot water is sucked into the tank installed in the bathtub and stored, and the hot water is supplied from the tank to the bathtub with the door closed. Has also been done.

JP 2004-154241 A

By the way, it is necessary to bathe a plurality of bathers sequentially in a containment facility such as an elderly person or a person who needs assistance. Each time a bather is changed, a part of hot water is discharged to lower the door and open the opening. However, after that, it is necessary to perform an operation of raising the door and supplying a part of hot water to the bathtub to fill it, and it is troublesome and time-consuming to perform these water supply and drainage manually.
Moreover, after discharging some hot water in the bathtub and controlling the water level below the opening, the bather leaves and the new bather enters the bathtub, and the opening is closed with a door. If you forget to switch control to close the discharge valve of the bathtub when filling the hot water to fill the hot water, the hot water will be discharged from the opening if the water level is higher than the water level below the opening. It was.

  In view of such circumstances, the present invention has an object to provide a drainage control device and a control method for a bathtub that can prevent wasteful discharge without performing switching control between discharge and supply of hot water. To do.

According to the drainage control device for a bathtub according to the present invention, the drainage control device for a bathtub is provided with an opening on the side of the bathtub and a door capable of opening and closing the opening, and detects the level of hot water in the bathtub. A water level sensor, water level determination means for determining whether the water level detected by the water level sensor is higher than the water level below the opening, or until the water level detected by the water level sensor is higher than the opening until the water level is below the opening Detecting whether the hot water filling switch is ON, a partial draining means for draining hot water in the bathtub, a door lifting means for raising and lowering the door to open and close the opening, a hot water switch for supplying hot water into the bathtub, A drainage control device comprising a water supply / drainage control means for partially blocking drainage by the drainage means regardless of the water level of the hot water.
According to the present invention, when the bather leaves the bathtub, the water level in the bathtub is detected by the water level sensor and determined by the water level determining means, and when the water level is higher than the opening, the water level is lower than the opening. After draining with some drainage means, the door is lowered to open the opening of the bathtub, in this state the bather is withdrawn from the opening and a new bather is moved from the opening into the bathtub, In order to put a new bather in the bathing state, a hot water filling switch is input, the door is raised to close the opening, and the water level in the bathtub is detected by the hot water supplied by the water level sensor. Even if you forget to switch off the part drainage means, even if the hot water level rises above the water level below the opening, the drainage by some drainage means is blocked by the water supply / drainage control means that detects the hot water switch ON, Proceed It is possible to meet the hot water in the bathtub in Rukoto.
In the present invention, “drainage” and “discharge” include not only flowing to the outside but also sucking in order to temporarily store in a tank or the like. In short, hot water is temporarily or permanently derived from the bathtub. It includes actions.

In addition, some drainage means have a partial drainage switch for draining hot water with a water level exceeding the water level below the opening in the bathtub, and the water level detected by the water level sensor and determined by the water level discrimination means is below the opening. It is preferable to provide a drainage cylinder for draining hot water in the bathtub when the water level is higher.
Turn on the partial drain switch, determine whether the water level detected by the water level sensor is higher than the opening or not by the water level discriminating means, and operate the drain cylinder to discharge hot water and open the water level in the bathtub Reduce to less than part. Even if the hot water filling switch is turned on for hot water supply and some of the drainage switches are forgotten to be turned off, the hot water filling switch is turned on so that the hot water level rises above the level below the opening. The drainage by the partial drainage means is blocked by the water supply / drainage control means.

According to the drainage control method for a bathtub according to the present invention, a drainage control method for a bathtub, in which an opening and a door capable of opening and closing the opening are provided on the side of the bathtub, the drainage switch is partially turned on, When the water level in the hot water is higher than the opening, drain the hot water so that the water level is below the opening, lower the door to open the opening, and then turn on the hot water switch that supplies hot water into the bathtub The door is raised so as to close the opening, and the discharge of hot water is stopped even when the water level in the bathtub is higher than the water level below the opening, so that the bathtub is filled with hot water. To do.
According to the present invention, when the bather leaves, the hot water in the bathtub is drained so that the water level is lower than the opening, and then the hot water switch is turned on for the new bather, and the opening is opened to the door. When the hot water is supplied with the water closed, the drainage is prevented even if the water level rises below the opening, and the hot water can be continued to fill the bathtub.

According to the drainage control device and drainage control method for a bathtub according to the present invention, a portion of the bath water is discharged to a level below the opening, the door is lowered to open the opening, Even if the water level exceeds the water level below the opening by closing the opening for new bathing and supplying hot water, it is possible to prevent the hot water from being discharged and fill the bathtub with hot water. it can. Therefore, even if forgetting to switch from the partially drained state of hot water to the stoppage of discharge occurs, wasteful discharge of hot water can be prevented by turning on the hot water filling switch.
Then, the water supply is stopped by stopping the drainage from the opening and closing of the opening by raising and lowering the door for bathing and leaving the bather, and the drainage of some hot water for lowering the water level, which has been done manually. Can be performed automatically and efficiently.

It is a perspective view which shows the bathing apparatus by embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the drainage control apparatus of the bathtub shown in FIG. It is a block diagram of a drainage control device. It is a flowchart which shows the process of draining hot water and supplying hot water using a drainage control apparatus.

Hereinafter, a bathtub drainage control device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.
FIG. 1 shows a state in which a seat 4 on which a bather can sit is attached in a bathtub 2 in a bathing apparatus 1. The bathtub 2 has an opening 5 formed in an upper portion which is substantially the upper half of one side 3, and a door 6 for opening and closing the opening 5 is slidably provided so as to move up and down. Further, although the bottom of the bathtub 2 is located below the opening 5 of the side 3, it may be set to the same depth as the opening 5. Note that a part of the capacity of the bathtub 2, for example, a half amount of hot water, or a part of hot water so that the water level is lower than the lower end of the opening 5 is applied to the other side surface 7 facing the side part 3 having the opening part 5. A tank 8 is provided for storage. The tank 8 may not be provided.

  In FIG. 1, the other side surface 7 is provided with a lift 10 that can move up and down on a support column 9. The arm 11 and the shaft portion 12 constitute a link mechanism 13, and a seat portion 4 is provided at the lower end portion thereof. The seat portion 4 is supported at substantially the same height as the lower end surface of the opening portion 5 provided in the side portion 3 at both left and right end positions within a swingable range by the link mechanism 13.

  The seat part 4 is provided with a groove part 15 for detachably attaching a chair part for a bather to sit on and a rail 16 for running a chair part of a bathing wheelchair. As a member for a bather to sit, there are a seat portion having a seat chair shape, a seat portion without a backrest, or a chair portion of a bathing wheelchair that can be attached separately from a carriage.

FIG. 2 is a view showing the drainage control device 17 for the bathtub 2 in the bathing device 1.
In FIG. 2, a water level sensor 18 that detects a water level H of hot water that does not overflow from the opening 5 for opening and closing the door 6 is provided at a position near the lower part of the opening 5 in the side 3 of the bathtub 2. ing. This water level H is, for example, a position slightly lower than the lower end of the opening 5, which is hereinafter referred to as a water level H below the opening.
A drain cylinder 20 for opening and closing the drain plug 19 is provided at the bottom of the bathtub 2. Further, a panel 22 provided on the side surface of the tank 8 includes a hot water filling switch 23 for supplying hot water into the bathtub 2, a total drain switch 24 for discharging all the hot water in the bathtub 2, and an opening in the bathtub 2. A partial drain switch 25 for discharging hot water above the water level H below the part is provided.
The water level sensor 18, the drain cylinder 20, the hot water filling switch 23, the total drain switch 24, and the partial drain switch 25 are all electrically connected to the control means 26 provided in the bathtub 2.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of the drainage control device 17 including the control means 26. The control means 26 includes an operation means 27 for opening and closing the water level discrimination means 28 and the drainage cylinder 18, and supply and drainage of hot water in the bathtub 2. A water supply / drainage control means 29 for controlling opening and closing of the opening 5 by raising and lowering the door 6 is provided. Further, the water supply / drainage control means 29 is provided with a door elevating means 31 for controlling the opening / closing of the opening 5 by the elevating of the door 6.
The water level discriminating means 28 discriminates the water level of the hot water in the bathtub 2, and when the water level of the hot water in the bathtub 2 detected by the water level sensor 18 is higher than the water level H below the opening, a partial drain switch 25. When is ON, a signal is output for draining. The actuating means 27 receives the signal from the water level discriminating means 28 and outputs it to the drain cylinder 20 to open the drain plug 19 and drain the water. When the water level detected by the water level sensor 18 falls to the water level H below the opening, the drain plug 19 of the drain cylinder 20 is closed.

In addition, when the total drain switch 24 is turned on, the water supply / drainage control means 29 opens the drain cylinder 20 via the operating means 27 and discharges the entire amount of hot water in the bathtub 2. In addition, when the partial drain switch 25 is turned on, the water supply / drainage control means 29 includes a water level determination means 28 and an actuation means 27 until the water level in the bathtub 2 detected by the water level sensor 18 falls to the water level H below the opening. Thus, the hot water in the bathtub 2 is discharged.
In addition, when the hot water filling switch 23 is turned ON, hot water is supplied to a full water state higher than the water level H in all drainage states. Further, when the hot water filling switch 23 is turned ON, in the partially drained state in which the water level in the bathtub 2 is set to the water level H, the door 6 is opened when the door 6 is in an open state regardless of the input and shutoff of the partially drained switch 25. The opening 5 is raised and closed, and the hot water supply means 30 supplies hot water from the hot water supply means 30 into the bathtub 2. At that time, even if the water level in the bathtub 2 rises above the water level H below the opening, a signal for preventing drainage due to the operation of the drainage cylinder 20 is output to the actuating means 27.

The drainage control device 17 of the bathtub 2 according to the present embodiment has the above-described configuration, and the drainage control method of the drainage control device 17 will be described with a focus on the flowchart shown in FIG.
In the bathing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1, for example, when a bather seated on a sitting chair is in a bathing state in the bathtub 2, the opening 5 of the bathtub 2 is closed by a door 6, and the hot water in the bathtub 2 is The water level is a water level filled up to a predetermined position above the water level H below the opening, for example, the shoulder of the bather sitting on the seat. Then, after the bathing is completed, in order to cause the bather to leave the bathtub 2, it is necessary to discharge a part of the hot water to the water level H, so the partial drain switch 25 is turned on (step 101).

2 and 3, since the water level detected by the water level sensor 18 is higher than the water level H below the opening, this is discriminated by the water level discriminating means 28 and an operating signal is output to the operating means 27. Thereby, the drain plug 19 of the drain cylinder 20 is opened (step 102), and hot water is discharged from the bathtub 2. And the fall of the water level in the bathtub 2 is detected by the water level sensor 18, and the drainage by the drainage cylinder 20 is continued until the water level H is reached (step 103).
When the water level in the bathtub 2 reaches the water level H below the opening, the water level discriminating means 28 detects it and the water supply / drainage control means 29 outputs a stop signal via the actuating means 27 to close the drainage cylinder 20 (step). 104). Further, a door lowering signal is output from the water supply / drainage control means 29 to the door lifting / lowering means 31, and the opening 5 is opened (step 105). Even if the opening 5 is opened, the water level H of the hot water is not more than the opening 5 so that it does not overflow into the bathroom, and the bather seated in the sitting chair portion can be discharged outside.
Then, a new bather is seated on the seat and moved into the bathtub 2.

Then, in order to fill the bathtub 2 by further supplying hot water into the bathtub 2 from the water level H so that a new bather can take a bath, an output from the water supply / drainage control means 29 is turned on (step 106). Hot water is supplied from the hot water supply means 30 into the bathtub 2 by a signal. At this time, even if an operator such as an assistant forgets to partially turn off the drain switch 25, the ON signal of the hot water filling switch 23 is input to the water supply / drain control means 29, so that An operation stop signal for the cylinder 20 is output (step 107). Thereby, the partial drain switch 25 is turned OFF, and the drain cylinder 20 is prevented from opening.
Further, when the hot water filling switch 23 is turned ON, the door lifting / lowering means 31 is operated to raise the door 6 and close the opening 5 (step 108). And even if the water level of the hot water in the bathtub 2 exceeds the water level H below the opening, the hot water is continuously supplied from the hot water supply means 30 without being drained, and the hot water in the bathtub 2 is filled. Therefore, it is possible to prevent hot water from being discharged even if the partial drain switch 25 is forgotten to be shut off.

As described above, according to the drainage control device 17 and the drainage control method for the bathtub 2 according to the present embodiment, the water level H is drained in the bathtub 2 by draining hot water with the drainage cylinder 20 with the drainage switch 25 partially turned on. Even if the water drain switch 25 is forgotten to shut off or change over and the hot water switch 23 is turned on, even if the water level detected by the water level sensor 18 exceeds the water level H below the opening, The part 5 is closed by the door 6, and the drainage cylinder 20 can be switched to the valve closing state to maintain the hot water supply state. Therefore, wasteful discharge of hot water due to forgetting to switch off the partial drain switch 25 can be prevented.
Further, conventionally, manually opening and closing of the opening 5 by raising and lowering the door 6 for bathing and leaving the bather, draining a part of the hot water to lower the hot water to the water level H, and a new water after that The supply of hot water for bathing by the bather can be performed automatically and efficiently without waste simply by operating the partial drainage switch 25 and the hot water filling switch 23.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the scope of the present invention.
For example, in the above description, when the opening 5 is opened and closed, the amount of hot water above the water level H below the opening is discharged to the outside each time. Instead, it is discharged from the bathtub 2 and into the tank 8. You may make it store. In this case, hot water is sucked (drained) into the tank 8 and stored until the drain switch 25 is partially turned ON and the water level H detected by the water level sensor 18 is reached. Even if the amount of hot water exceeding the water level H is accumulated in the bathtub 2 by turning on the hot water filling switch 23, even if the partial drainage switch 25 is forgotten to be turned off, the water supply / drainage control means 29 causes the drainage cylinder 20. The hot water can be supplied into the bathtub 2 from the tank 8.
In addition, in this specification, drainage and discharge include the meaning of pouring hot water to the outside and sucking and storing in the tank 8.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the door opening / closing means 31 is automatically operated to control the opening / closing of the opening 5 by raising / lowering the door 6, but instead of this, as shown by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 4. The door up / down switch 32 may be provided to manually control the opening / closing of the door 6. In this case, prior to turning on the hot water filling switch 23, the door lifting switch 32 may be operated to raise the door 6.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Bathing apparatus 2 Bathtub 4 Seat part 5 Opening part 6 Door 17 Drainage control apparatus 18 Water level sensor 20 Drain cylinder 23 Hot water filling switch 25 Partial drainage switch 26 Control means 27 Actuation means 28 Water level discrimination means 29 Water supply / drainage control means 30 Hot water supply means

Claims (3)

A drainage control device for a bathtub provided with an opening and a door capable of opening and closing the opening on the side of the bathtub,
A water level sensor for detecting the level of hot water in the bathtub, a water level determining means for determining whether the water level detected by the water level sensor is higher than the water level below the opening, and the water level detected by the water level determining means is the opening. A part of drainage means for draining hot water in the bathtub until the water level is lower than the opening when it is higher than the opening, door lifting means for raising and lowering the door to open and close the opening, and supplying hot water into the bathtub A drainage control apparatus comprising: a hot water filling switch; and a water supply / drainage control means for detecting the ON of the hot water filling switch and blocking drainage by a part of the drainage means.   The partial drainage means includes a partial drainage switch for draining hot water of a water level exceeding the level below the opening in the bathtub, and the water level detected by the water level sensor and determined by the water level determination means is the opening. The drainage control device according to claim 1, further comprising a drainage cylinder for draining hot water in the bathtub when the water level is higher than the following. A bathtub drainage control method in which an opening and a door capable of opening and closing the opening are provided on the side of the bathtub,
Turn on the partial drainage switch, and when the water level of the hot water in the bathtub is higher than the opening, drain the hot water so that the water level is below the opening and lower the door to open the opening,
Then, the hot water filling switch for supplying hot water into the bathtub is turned on, the door is raised so as to close the opening, and the discharge of hot water is stopped even if the water level in the bathtub becomes higher than the water level below the opening. A drainage control method characterized by letting the bath fill with hot water.

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