U.S. patent application number 15/861513 was filed with the patent office on 2018-07-12 for heating device with hot water supply function.
This patent application is currently assigned to NORITZ CORPORATION. The applicant listed for this patent is NORITZ CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Akihisa KAGEYAMA, Toshihiro KAWACHI, Yoshihisa KITANO, Yasutaka KURIYAMA, Hiroshi MORIMOTO, Yasushi MORITA, Midori YOKOYAMA, Takehito YOKOYAMA.
Application Number | 20180195739 15/861513 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 62781856 |
Filed Date | 2018-07-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180195739 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KAWACHI; Toshihiro ; et
al. |
July 12, 2018 |
HEATING DEVICE WITH HOT WATER SUPPLY FUNCTION
Abstract
A heating device with hot water supply function includes: a
combustion means; a first heat exchanger; a circulation passage
that connects the first heat exchanger and an room heating unit; a
circulation pump; a bypass passage that branches off from the
circulation passage; a second heat exchanger for hot water supply
provided in the bypass passage; a cold water supply passage; a hot
water supply passage for supply of hot water from the second heat
exchanger; and a distribution means that is provided at a branching
section and whose distribution ratio can be adjusted, so that it
becomes possible selectively to execute either only room heating
operation, or only hot water supply operation, or simultaneous room
heating operation and hot water supply operation; wherein the hot
water supply outlet, the thermal medium inlet, and the room heating
outlet of the distribution means are at the same height.
Inventors: |
KAWACHI; Toshihiro;
(Kobe-shi, JP) ; MORITA; Yasushi; (Kobe-shi,
JP) ; YOKOYAMA; Midori; (Kobe-shi, JP) ;
MORIMOTO; Hiroshi; (Kobe-shi, JP) ; YOKOYAMA;
Takehito; (Kobe-shi, JP) ; KURIYAMA; Yasutaka;
(Kobe-shi, JP) ; KITANO; Yoshihisa; (Kobe-shi,
JP) ; KAGEYAMA; Akihisa; (Kobe-shi, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
NORITZ CORPORATION |
Hyogo |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
NORITZ CORPORATION
Hyogo
JP
|
Family ID: |
62781856 |
Appl. No.: |
15/861513 |
Filed: |
January 3, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24D 2220/06 20130101;
F28F 9/0256 20130101; F24D 3/087 20130101; F28F 2280/06 20130101;
F28D 9/005 20130101; F28F 9/0246 20130101; F28F 3/046 20130101;
F28F 9/0253 20130101; F28F 27/02 20130101; F28F 9/002 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F24D 3/08 20060101
F24D003/08; F28F 9/02 20060101 F28F009/02; F28F 3/04 20060101
F28F003/04; F28D 9/00 20060101 F28D009/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 6, 2017 |
JP |
2017-000876 |
Jan 6, 2017 |
JP |
2017-000877 |
Claims
1. A heating device with hot water supply function, comprising: a
combustion means; a heat exchanger for heating a thermal medium for
room heating; a circulation passage that connects the heat
exchanger and a room heating unit; a circulation pump for
circulating the thermal medium provided in the circulation passage;
a bypass passage that branches off from the circulation passage and
bypasses the room heating unit; a heat exchanger for hot water
supply provided in the bypass passage; a cold water supply passage
for supplying cold water to the heat exchanger for hot water
supply; a hot water supply passage for supply of hot water that has
been heated by the heat exchanger for hot water supply at a
predetermined set hot water supply temperature; and a distribution
means that is provided at a branching section where the bypass
passage branches off from the circulation passage, and whose
distribution ratio can be adjusted, so that it becomes possible
selectively to execute either only room heating operation, or only
hot water supply operation, or simultaneous room heating operation
and hot water supply operation; the distribution means being a
distribution valve comprising a cylindrical main body portion, and
a hot water supply outlet and a thermal medium inlet and a room
heating outlet that are formed on the main body portion, and is
disposed so that the axial direction of said main body portion is
horizontal and the hot water supply outlet, the thermal medium
inlet, and the room heating outlet are all at the same height.
2. The heating device with hot water supply function according to
claim 1, wherein the hot water supply outlet, the thermal medium
inlet, and the room heating outlet are disposed at different
positions along the axial direction of the main body portion, with
pointing toward different directions.
3. The heating device with hot water supply function according to
claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger for hot water supply is a plate
type heat exchanger that is formed as a rectangular parallelepiped;
and the distribution means is disposed so that the axial direction
of the main body portion is parallel to a longitudinal direction of
the heat exchanger for hot water supply.
4. The heating device with hot water supply function according to
claim 3, wherein the hot water supply outlet of the distribution
means is directly connected to a thermal medium inlet port of the
heat exchanger for hot water supply by use of a metallic connection
clip.
5. The heating device with hot water supply function according to
claim 3, wherein the hot water supply outlet of the distribution
means and the thermal medium inlet port of the heat exchanger for
hot water supply are connected together via a straight pipe
section, of which one end portion is connected to the thermal
medium inlet port by a first quick fastener, and the other end
portion is connected to the hot water supply outlet by a second
quick fastener; and a distance between the hot water supply outlet
of said distribution means and the thermal medium inlet port
corresponds to a distance between the center of the first quick
fastener in its width direction and a center of the second quick
fastener in its width direction.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a heating device with hot
water supply function that performs room heating by supplying heat
produced by combustion to a thermal medium for room heating, and
that also performs supply of hot water by supplying heat to cold
water by heat exchange with the thermal medium for room heating;
and in particular relates to a heating device with hot water supply
function that is capable of performing room heating operation and
hot water supply operation simultaneously.
[0002] In the prior art, heating devices with hot water supply
function that are capable of performing changeover between room
heating operation and hot water supply operation have been widely
employed in practice. Such a heating device with hot water supply
function typically comprises a combustion means, a heat exchanger,
a circulation passage that connects between the heat exchanger and
a room heating unit that is installed inside a building, a
circulation pump provided in the circulation passage, a bypass
passage that branches off from the circulation passage and bypasses
the room heating unit, and so on. A changeover means that is
capable of performing changeover so that the thermal medium for
room heating flows either in the circulation passage or in the
bypass passage is provided at the location where the bypass passage
branches off from the circulation passage. And a heat exchanger for
hot water supply is provided in the bypass passage, with a cold
water supply passage that supplies fresh cold water and a hot water
supply passage for supplying heated water to a hot water supply
faucet or the like from the heat exchanger for hot water supply
both being connected to the heat exchanger for hot water
supply.
[0003] The thermal medium for room heating flows due to the
operation of the circulation pump, and is heated in the heat
exchanger by utilizing the combustion heat provided by the
combustion means. During room heating operation the changeover
means is changed over so that the thermal medium for room heating
flows in the circulation passage, in order for the thermal medium
for room heating to which heat has been supplied to be utilized by
the room heating unit. The heated thermal medium for room heating
then flows through the circulation passage with its heat being
dissipated by the room heating unit, and returns to the heat
exchanger.
[0004] On the other hand, during hot water supply operation, the
changeover means is changed over so that the thermal medium for
room heating flows in the bypass passage, in order for the thermal
medium for room heating to which heat has been supplied to be
utilized by the heat exchanger for hot water supply. The cold water
that is supplied from the cold water supply passage is heated in
the heat exchanger for hot water supply due to heat exchange with
the thermal medium for room heating. And the thermal medium for
room heating returns to the heat exchanger, after having exchanged
heat with cold water in the heat exchanger for hot water supply.
Moreover, the hot water that has been heated by the heat exchanger
for hot water supply is then supplied to a hot water supply faucet
or the like via the hot water supply passage from.
[0005] Such a heating device with hot water supply function that
performs changeover between room heating operation and hot water
supply operation in this manner has the problem of being somewhat
inconvenient, due to the fact that room heating operation and hot
water supply operation cannot both be performed simultaneously.
[0006] Due to these considerations, the present applicant has
already proposed a heating device with hot water supply function
with which simultaneous room heating and hot water supply operation
are possible, and that performs both room heating operation and hot
water supply operation simultaneously by adjusting the distribution
ratio of a distribution means for the thermal medium (refer to
Japanese Patent Application No.2016 -146594). In simultaneous room
heating and hot water supply operation, the circulating thermal
medium for room heating is distributed between the room heating
unit and the heat exchanger for hot water supply, so that hot water
is supplied by heat being supplied to cold water in the heat
exchanger for hot water supply.
[0007] Typically, a plate type heat exchanger is employed as the
heat exchanger for hot water supply. Since multiple passages whose
cross-sectional areas are small are provided in the interior of a
plate type heat exchanger, accordingly in some cases the flow of
the thermal medium for room heating and/or the flow of hot water
for hot water supply may be difficult. Due to this, a structure is
per se known in which a passage whose resistance to water flow is
low is provided within the plate type heat exchanger, as for
example in the case of the plate type heat exchanger of Japanese
Patent No. 5,882,491. Because the water flow resistance is low,
both the thermal medium for room heating and the hot water for hot
water supply can easily flow within this plate type heat
exchanger.
[0008] However, since such a heating device with hot water supply
function that is capable of performing room heating operation and
hot water supply operation simultaneously needs to be equipped with
a distribution valve to serve as a distribution means that is
larger in size than a three-way valve that serves as a changeover
means, accordingly it is not easy to house such a distribution
valve in the relatively limited space within the heating device
with hot water supply function. Additionally, such a heating device
with hot water supply function is required to have both
satisfactory hot water output characteristics during the supply of
hot water and also satisfactory performance for drainage during
maintenance. With the structure of Japanese Patent No. 5,882,491,
although the flows of the thermal medium for room heating and of
the hot water for hot water supply are improved to be satisfactory,
the quality of the characteristics for hot water output including
the characteristics of the passages connected to the plate type
heat exchanger and the quality of the drainage performance are
unclear.
[0009] An object of the present invention is to provide a heating
device with hot water supply function, that is capable of
performing any one of only room heating operation, or only hot
water supply operation, or simultaneous room heating operation and
hot water supply operation; and that, along with being provided
with a distribution valve having satisfactory drainage performance,
moreover is capable of implementing a satisfactory hot water output
characteristic.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The present invention presents a heating device with hot
water supply function, comprising: a combustion means; a heat
exchanger for heating a thermal medium for room heating; a
circulation passage that connects the heat exchanger and a room
heating unit; a circulation pump for circulating the thermal medium
provided in the circulation passage; a bypass passage that branches
off from the circulation passage and bypasses the room heating
unit; a heat exchanger for hot water supply provided in the bypass
passage; a cold water supply passage for supplying cold water to
the heat exchanger for hot water supply; a hot water supply passage
for supply of hot water that has been heated by the heat exchanger
for hot water supply at a predetermined set hot water supply
temperature; and a distribution means that is provided at a
branching section where the bypass passage branches off from the
circulation passage, and whose distribution ratio can be adjusted,
so that it becomes possible selectively to execute either only room
heating operation, or only hot water supply operation, or
simultaneous room heating operation and hot water supply operation;
the distribution means being a distribution valve comprising a
cylindrical main body portion and a hot water supply outlet and a
thermal medium inlet and a room heating outlet that are formed on
the main body portion, and is disposed so that an axial direction
of the main body portion is horizontal and the hot water supply
outlet, the thermal medium inlet, and the room heating outlet are
all at the same height.
[0011] According to the present invention, the hot water supply
outlet, the thermal medium inlet, and the room heating outlet of
the distribution valve are all at the same height. Due to this, it
is possible to obtain satisfactory drainage performance when the
thermal medium is drained during maintenance or the like, since it
is difficult for the thermal medium to stagnate within the
distribution valve. Moreover, since the hot water supply outlet and
the thermal medium inlet are at the same height, accordingly, when
room heating operation has been stopped and the circulation of the
thermal medium has ceased, even if the closing function of the
distribution valve is insufficient, still no flow of the thermal
medium within the distribution valve will occur from the thermal
medium inlet toward the hot water supply outlet due to the
propulsive force of natural convection, and the thermal medium for
room heating will not flow into the heat exchanger for hot water
supply. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent unanticipated supply
of heat to the hot water in the heat exchanger, so that it is
possible to obtain a satisfactory hot water output characteristic
during supply of hot water.
[0012] In a preferable first aspect of the present, the hot water
supply outlet, the thermal medium inlet, and the room heating
outlet are disposed at different positions along the axial
direction of the main body portion, with pointing toward different
directions.
[0013] In a preferable second aspect of the present invention, the
heat exchanger for hot water supply is a plate type heat exchanger
that is formed as a rectangular parallelepiped, and the
distribution means is disposed so that the axial direction of the
main body portion is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the
heat exchanger for hot water supply.
[0014] According to the second aspect, it is possible simply and
easily to arrange the heat exchanger for hot water supply and the
distribution valve in the limited space within the heating device
with hot water supply function.
[0015] In a preferable third aspect of the present invention, the
hot water supply outlet of the distribution means is directly
connected to a thermal medium inlet port of the heat exchanger for
hot water supply by use of a metallic connection clip.
[0016] According to the third aspect, the distribution valve and
the heat exchanger for hot water supply are connected together
through the shortest possible distance. Accordingly, it is possible
to obtain a satisfactory output hot water characteristic during
supply of hot water, since the thermal medium that is distributed
by the distribution valve during the supply of hot water can flow
immediately into the heat exchanger for hot water supply.
[0017] In a preferable fourth aspect of the present invention, the
hot water supply outlet of the distribution means and the thermal
medium inlet port of the heat exchanger for hot water supply are
connected together via a straight pipe section, of which one end
portion is connected to the thermal medium inlet port by a first
quick fastener, and the other end portion is connected to the hot
water supply outlet by a second quick fastener; and a distance
between the hot water supply outlet of the distribution means and
the thermal medium inlet port corresponds to a distance between a
center of the first quick fastener in its width direction and a
center of the second quick fastener in its width direction.
[0018] According to the fourth aspect, the distribution valve and
the heat exchanger for hot water supply are connected together via
the straight pipe section through the shortest possible distance.
Accordingly, it is possible to obtain a satisfactory output hot
water characteristic during supply of hot water, since the thermal
medium that is distributed by the distribution valve during the
supply of hot water can flow immediately into the heat exchanger
for hot water supply.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing showing a heating device with
hot water supply function according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0020] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a portion for
connection between a distribution valve and a heat exchanger for
hot water supply;
[0021] FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a state in which the
distribution valve and the heat exchanger for hot water supply are
connected together;
[0022] FIG. 4 is a figure corresponding to FIG. 2, relating to a
variant embodiment; and
[0023] FIG. 5 is a figure corresponding to FIG. 3, relating to the
variant embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] A heating device with hot water supply function according to
an embodiment of the present invention will now be explained on the
basis of the drawings. First, the overall structure of the heating
device with hot water supply function 1 will be explained on the
basis of FIG. 1.
[0025] The heating device with hot water supply function 1
circulates a thermal medium for room heating that has been heated
by utilizing heat generated by a combustion section 2 to a room
heating unit (not shown) that is installed in a room of a building,
thereby performing room heating, and is also adapted to provide hot
water supply by heating cold water by utilizing the heat of the
room heating thermal medium while adjusting its temperature to a
predetermined set hot water supply temperature. In FIG. 1, the
arrow F represents supply of fuel, the arrow AS represents supply
of air, the arrow E represents exhaust gas, the arrow D represents
drainage, the arrow CW represents supply of cold water, the arrow
HW represents supply of hot water, the arrow HS represents supply
of the room heating thermal medium, the arrow HR represents return
of the room heating thermal medium, and the arrow R represents
replenishment of the room heating thermal medium.
[0026] The heating device with hot water supply function 1
comprises a combustion section 2 that constitutes a combustion
means, a heat exchanger 10, a circulation passage 4 connecting the
heat exchanger 10 and the room heating unit (not shown) that is
provided inside a building, a circulation pump 11 that is provided
in the circulation passage 4 on the upstream side of the heat
exchanger 10, and so on. The combustion section 2 mixes fuel gas
and air, and combusts the mixture. And the heat exchanger 10
supplies heat to the room heating thermal medium by exchanging heat
between the combustion gas generated by the combustion section 2
and the room heating thermal medium.
[0027] Moreover, the heating device with hot water supply function
1 comprises a bypass passage 12 (a first bypass passage), a heat
exchanger for hot water supply 20 that is provided in the first
bypass passage 12, a cold water supply passage 19, a hot water
supply passage 21, and so on. The first bypass passage 12 branches
off from the circulation passage 4 on the downstream side of the
heat exchanger 10 and bypasses the room heating unit, and joins to
the circulation passage 4 on the upstream side of the circulation
pump 11. And the cold water supply passage 19 supplies cold water
to the heat exchanger for hot water supply 20. Moreover, the hot
water supply passage 21 provides supply to a hot water supply
faucet of hot water that has been heated up by application of heat
by the heat exchanger 20.
[0028] Furthermore, the heating device with hot water supply
function 1 comprises a control unit 7; and the various devices and
so on described above, including the control unit 7, are contained
within a casing 8. The control unit 7 receives detection signals
from temperature sensors and so on that will be described
hereinafter, and also performs control to operate the circulation
pump 11 and a first distribution valve 30, so as to make it
possible selectively to execute either only room heating operation,
or only hot water supply operation, or simultaneous room heating
operation and hot water supply operation.
[0029] Next, the circulation passage 4 will be explained.
[0030] The circulation passage 4 comprises a first temperature
sensor 13 provided between the circulation pump 11 and the heat
exchanger 10, and a second temperature sensor 14 provided at the
downstream side of the heat exchanger 10. The first temperature
sensor 13 detects the temperature of the room heating thermal
medium flowing into the heat exchanger 10. And the second
temperature sensor 14 detects the temperature of the room heating
thermal medium to which heat has been supplied by the heat
exchanger 10.
[0031] The first distribution valve 30, which is a distribution
means, is provided at the branching section where the circulation
passage 4 and the first bypass passage 12 branch apart. The first
distribution valve 30 distributes the room heating thermal medium,
to which heat has been supplied by the heat exchanger 10, to the
circulation passage 4 and the first bypass passage 12, and is
capable of adjusting its distribution ratio.
[0032] A pressure relief valve 16 for venting the pressure within
the circulation passage 4 is provided between the heat exchanger 10
and the first distribution valve 30. And a room heating return
temperature sensor 17 is provided on the upstream side of the
circulation pump 11 and detects the temperature of the thermal
medium returning from the room heating unit. A replenishment
passage 18 for replenishment of the thermal medium is connected
between the circulation pump 11 and the room heating return
temperature sensor 17.
[0033] Next, the heat exchanger for hot water supply 20 will be
explained. The heat exchanger 20 that is provided in the first
bypass passage 12 is a plate type heat exchanger that is formed in
the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped. In this plate type heat
exchanger, a plurality of heat exchange plates are laminated
together so that passages are defined between these heat exchange
plates. Within the heat exchanger 20, mutually opposing flows for
the thermal medium and for cold water supplied from the cold water
supply passage 19 are defined between alternate ones of the heat
exchange plates, so that these flows can exchange heat without
mutually mixing together. These heat exchange plates are formed
with roughnesses, in order to increase their surface areas and to
enhance the heat exchange efficiency.
[0034] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a connection portion 29a is
formed at a heating medium inlet port 29 for introducing the
thermal medium to the heat exchanger 20. The connection portion 29a
includes a cylindrical passage portion 29b that projects from the
heat exchanger 20, an enlarged diameter portion 29c at the end of
the passage portion 29b whose diameter is enlarged to be greater
than that of the passage portion 29b, and a flange portion 29d that
is formed at the end of the enlarged diameter portion 29c. Similar
connection portions are also formed at the thermal medium outlet,
at the hot water inlet, and at the hot water outlet of the heat
exchanger 20, and project in the same direction as its connection
portion 29a. The heat exchanger 20 is fixed in the casing 8 by its
surface on which these connection portions 29a and so on are not
formed, in an attitude in which its longitudinal direction is
horizontal.
[0035] Next, the cold water supply passage 19 and the hot water
supply passage 21 will be explained.
[0036] As shown in FIG. 1, the cold water supply passage 19
comprises a second distribution valve 23, a flow rate adjustment
valve 24, a hot water supply flow rate sensor 25, and an intake
cold water temperature sensor 26. The second distribution valve 23
distributes cold water to the cold water supply passage 19 and to a
hot water supply bypass passage 22 (a second bypass passage 22)
that is branched off from the cold water supply passage 19 at the
second distribution valve 23, and its distribution ratio can be
adjusted. Accordingly, the second distribution valve 23 serves as a
flow rate adjustment means that adjusts the flow rate of cold water
flowing in the second bypass passage 22. And the flow rate
adjustment valve 24 adjusts the flow rate of the cold water
entering into the second distribution valve 23. The hot water
supply flow rate sensor 25 detects the adjusted flow rate of cold
water. Moreover, the intake cold water temperature sensor 26
detects the temperature of the cold water entering the second
distribution valve 23.
[0037] The second bypass passage 22 joins to the hot water supply
passage 21 on the downstream side of the heat exchanger 20. An
output hot water temperature sensor 27, which is a temperature
detection means, is provided in the hot water supply passage 21
between the junction of the hot water supply passage 21 and the
second bypass passage 22, and the heat exchanger 20. This output
hot water temperature sensor 27 detects the temperature of the hot
water outputted from the heat exchanger 20.
[0038] A hot water supply temperature sensor 28 is provided at the
downstream end of the hot water supply passage 21. This hot water
supply temperature sensor 28 detects the temperature of the hot
water that has been obtained by mixing together the hot water to
which heat has been supplied by the heat exchanger for hot water
supply 20 and cold water flowing through the second bypass passage
22.
[0039] Next, the first distribution valve 30 will be explained.
[0040] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first distribution valve 30
comprises a cylindrical main body portion 31 and an driving
adjustment portion 32 at one end portion in the axial direction of
the main body portion 31 for adjusting the distribution ratio
provided by the first distribution valve 30. A hot water supply
outlet 33, a thermal medium inlet 34, and a room heating outlet 35
are arranged on the main body portion 31, at different positions
along its axial direction and pointing in different directions.
[0041] The hot water supply outlet 33 is arranged at a side portion
of the main body portion 31 that is close to the driving adjustment
portion 32 of the main body portion 31, so as to point outward
along a radial direction thereof. The room heating outlet 35 is
arranged at the other end portion of the main body portion 31 in
its axial direction opposite to the driving adjustment portion 32,
so as to point in the direction away from the driving adjustment
portion 32. And the thermal medium inlet 34 is arranged at a
position in the axial direction of the main body portion 31 between
the hot water supply outlet 33 and the room heating outlet 35, so
as to point in the direction opposite to the direction in which the
hot water supply outlet 33 is pointing.
[0042] The first distribution valve 30 is arranged with the axial
direction of its main body portion 31 (i.e. its longitudinal
direction) horizontal and parallel to the longitudinal direction of
the heat exchanger 20 which is formed as a rectangular
parallelepiped, and its hot water supply outlet 33 is arranged so
as to point toward the heat exchanger 20. At this time, the hot
water supply outlet 33, the thermal medium inlet 34, and the room
heating outlet 35 are at the same height. The hot water supply
outlet 33 is directly connected to the connection portion 29a of
the thermal medium inlet port 29 of the heat exchanger 20 by the
use of a metallic connection clip.
[0043] The hot water supply outlet 33 includes a cylindrical
passage portion 33a and an enlarged diameter portion 33b at the end
of the passage portion 33a whose external diameter is enlarged to
be greater than that of the passage portion 33a. This enlarged
diameter portion 33b is fitted to the enlarged diameter portion 29c
of the connection portion 29a and is fixed thereto by the
abovementioned metallic connection clip. For example, a quick
fastener 36 may be used as this metallic connection clip. A sealing
member is provided around the circumference of the enlarged
diameter portion 33b, so as to ensure that the hot water supply
outlet 33 is connected to the connection portion 29a of the thermal
medium inlet port 29 in a water-tight manner.
[0044] Next, the operation and the beneficial effects of this
heating device with hot water supply function 1 will be
explained.
[0045] Since, along with the axial direction of the main body
portion 31 of the first distribution valve 30 being oriented
horizontally and parallel to the longitudinal direction of the heat
exchanger 20 which is shaped as a rectangular parallelepiped, also
the hot water supply outlet 33 is disposed to point toward the heat
exchanger 20, therefore the hot water supply outlet 33, the thermal
medium inlet 34, and the room heating outlet 35 are all at the same
height. And, since the first distribution valve 30 is thus disposed
so that the thermal medium flows horizontally in its interior,
accordingly, when the thermal medium is drained for maintenance or
the like, the thermal medium does not stagnate within the first
distribution valve 30, so that satisfactory drainage performance
can be obtained.
[0046] Moreover, since the thermal medium inlet 34 and the hot
water supply outlet 33 are at the same height, accordingly, when
the room heating operation has been stopped and circulation of the
thermal medium has ceased, flow of the thermal medium within the
first distribution valve 30 from the thermal medium inlet 34 toward
the hot water supply outlet 33 due to natural convection acting as
a propulsive force does not take place. Because of this, even if
the closing function of the first distribution valve 30 is
insufficient, still the thermal medium will not flow into the heat
exchanger 20. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent unanticipated
supply of heat to the hot water in the heat exchanger 20, so that
it is possible to obtain a satisfactory hot water output
characteristic during supply of hot water.
[0047] Furthermore, since the first distribution valve 30 is
directly connected to the heat exchanger 20, accordingly it is
possible for the thermal medium that has been distributed by the
first distribution valve 30 to be immediately flowed into the heat
exchanger 20, so that it is possible to obtain a satisfactory
output hot water characteristic during hot water supply.
[0048] Yet further, the first distribution valve 30 is disposed so
that the axial direction of its main body portion 31, which is its
longitudinal direction, is parallel to the longitudinal direction
of the heat exchanger 20, and moreover so that the distance between
the heat exchanger 20 and the first distribution valve 30 is short.
Accordingly, it is possible easily to arrange the first
distribution valve 30 and the heat exchanger 20 in the limited
space inside the heating device with hot water supply function
1.
[0049] Next, a variant embodiment in which the connection
construction that connects between the first distribution valve 30
and the heat exchanger 20 is modified will be explained on the
basis of FIGS. 4 and 5.
[0050] A first distribution valve 40 comprises a cylindrical main
body portion 41 and an driving adjustment portion 42 at one end
portion in the axial direction of the main body portion 41 for
adjusting its distribution ratio. A hot water supply outlet 43, a
thermal medium inlet 44, and a room heating outlet 45 are disposed
on the main body portion 41, at different positions along its axial
direction and pointing in different directions.
[0051] The hot water supply outlet 43 is arranged at a side portion
of the main body portion 41 that is close to the driving adjustment
portion 42 of the main body portion 41, so as to point outward
along a radial direction thereof. The room heating outlet 45 is
arranged at the other end portion of the main body portion 41 in
its axial direction opposite to the driving adjustment portion 42,
so as to point in the direction away from the driving adjustment
portion 42. And the thermal medium inlet 44 is arranged at a
position in the axial direction of the main body portion 41 between
the hot water supply outlet 43 and the room heating outlet 45, so
as to point in the direction opposite to the direction in which the
hot water supply outlet 43 is pointing.
[0052] The first distribution valve 40 is arranged with the axial
direction of its main body portion 41 (i.e. its longitudinal
direction) horizontal and parallel to the longitudinal direction of
the heat exchanger 20 which is formed as a rectangular
parallelepiped, and its hot water supply outlet 43 is arranged so
as to point toward the heat exchanger 20. At this time, the hot
water supply outlet 43, the thermal medium inlet 44, and the room
heating outlet 45 are at the same height.
[0053] As shown in FIGS. 1, 4, and 5, the hot water supply outlet
43 of the first distribution valve 40 is connected to the
connection portion 29a of the thermal medium inlet port 29 of the
heat exchanger 20 via a straight pipe section 37. The hot water
supply outlet 43 of the first distribution valve 40 has a
cylindrical passage portion 43a, an enlarged diameter portion 43b
at the end of the passage portion 43a whose external diameter is
enlarged to be greater than that of the passage portion 43a, and a
flange portion 43c that is formed on the end portion of the
enlarged diameter portion 43b.
[0054] The two ends of the straight pipe section 37 are provided
with enlarged diameter portions 38, 39 whose external diameters are
enlarged. The enlarged diameter portion 38 is fitted to the
enlarged diameter portion 29c of the thermal medium inlet port 29
and is fixed thereto by a first quick fastener 46, so that it
cannot come off. And the enlarged diameter portion 39 is fitted to
the enlarged diameter portion 43b of the hot water supply outlet 43
and is fixed thereto by a second quick fastener 47, so that it
cannot come off. At this time, since the first and second quick
fasteners 46, 47 are closely approached together so as to contact
one another, accordingly the first distribution valve 40 and the
heat exchanger for hot water supply 20 are connected together via
the straight pipe section 37 through as short a distance as
possible. Sealing members are provided around the circumferences of
the enlarged diameter portions 38, 39, in order to ensure
water-tight connections.
[0055] Engagement portions are provided on the first and second
quick fasteners 46, 47 at their central portions in their width
directions which are parallel to the axial direction of the
straight pipe section 37, for engaging with the flange portion 29d
of the thermal medium inlet port 29, the flange portion 43c of the
hot water supply outlet 43, and the enlarged diameter portions 38,
39 of the straight pipe section 37. Accordingly, the distance
between the hot water supply outlet 43 and the thermal medium inlet
port 29 corresponds to the distance between the center in the width
direction of the first quick fastener 46 and the center in the
width direction of the second quick fastener 47. It should be
understood that, if the first and second quick fasteners 46, 47 are
of the same size, then this distance will correspond to the width
of the first quick fastener 46 or to the width of the second quick
fastener 47.
[0056] Next, the operation and the beneficial effects of the
connection construction shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 will be explained.
Since, along with the axial direction of the main body portion 41
of the first distribution valve 40 being oriented horizontally and
parallel to the longitudinal direction of the heat exchanger 20
which is shaped as a rectangular parallelepiped, also the hot water
supply outlet 43 is disposed to point toward the heat exchanger 20,
therefore the hot water supply outlet 43, the thermal medium inlet
44, and the room heating outlet 45 are all at the same height. And,
since the first distribution valve 40 is thus disposed so that the
thermal medium flows horizontally in its interior, accordingly,
when the thermal medium is drained for maintenance or the like, the
thermal medium does not stagnate within the first distribution
valve 40, so that satisfactory drainage performance can be
obtained.
[0057] Moreover, since the thermal medium inlet 44 and the hot
water supply outlet 43 are at the same height, accordingly, when
the operation has been stopped and circulation of the thermal
medium has ceased, flow of the thermal medium within the first
distribution valve 40 from the thermal medium inlet 44 toward the
hot water supply outlet 43 due to natural convection acting as a
propulsive force does not take place. Because of this, even if the
closing function of the first distribution valve 40 is
insufficient, still the thermal medium will not flow into the heat
exchanger 20. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent unanticipated
supply of heat to the hot water in the heat exchanger 20, so that
it is possible to obtain a satisfactory hot water output
characteristic during supply of hot water.
[0058] Furthermore, the first distribution valve 40 is connected to
the heat exchanger 20 via the straight pipe section 37 which is
held on by the first and second quick fasteners 46, 47, and the
distance between the center of the first quick fastener 46 in its
width direction and the center of the second quick fastener 47 in
its width direction is made to be as short as possible. Accordingly
it is possible for the thermal medium that has been distributed by
the first distribution valve 40 to be immediately flowed into the
heat exchanger 20, so that it is possible to obtain a satisfactory
output hot water characteristic during hot water supply.
[0059] Yet further, the first distribution valve 40 is disposed so
that the axial direction of its main body portion 41, which is its
longitudinal direction, is parallel to the longitudinal direction
of the heat exchanger 20, and moreover so that the distance between
the heat exchanger 20 and the first distribution valve 40 is short.
Accordingly, it is possible easily to arrange the first
distribution valve 40 and the heat exchanger 20 for hot water
supply in the limited space inside the heating device with hot
water supply function 1A.
[0060] Apart from the above, for a person skilled in the art,
without deviating from the gist of the present invention, it would
be possible to implement the present invention by making additions
of various types to the embodiment described above; and the present
invention is to be considered as encompassing modifications of this
kind.
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