Drainage system

Abstract

To provide a drainage system and a drain plug device that eliminate the need of matching signals and communication specification between a drain plug device and equipment and that solve problems due to wiring and noise.SOLUTION: A drainage system includes: a drain plug device 1 that opens / closes an exhaust port of a tank by first operation instruction information; a sensor 2 that detects a state of the drain plug device 1 and a bathroom to output first status information; a piece of equipment 3 that operates by second operation instruction information and outputs second status information; a portable terminal 4 that transmits operation information through a transmission channel and that receives the first status information and the second status information to perform display corresponding to the status; and a control part 51 that accumulates the first and the second status information transmitted through the transmission channel, that forms required operation instruction information by comparing the status information and the operation information and that transmits for the drain plug device 1 and the equipment 3 through the transmission channel as the first and the second operation instruction information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a drainage system for opening and closing a drain outlet formed in a tank body and a drain plug device that can be used in the drainage system.

Background Art

[0002] As a conventional drainage system, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, there is known a structure in which when a hot water filling operation for a water heater, which is a bathroom equipment, is instructed by an operation panel, a drain outlet is closed by a drain plug device.

[0003] Here, due to reasons such as different communication methods and communication standards between the drain plug device and the equipment, communication between the drain plug device and the equipment may not be possible. In this case, the drain outlet cannot be closed by the drain plug device during the hot water filling operation, and the drain plug device must be operated separately from the equipment.

[0004] In view of the above problems, Patent Document 2 adopts a structure in which a drain plug device and equipment are connected by a HA terminal (JEM-A terminal), and the drain plug device is controlled in response to an instruction for a hot water filling operation for the equipment.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] In each patent document, in order for the drain plug device and the equipment to communicate, their communication specifications may be different, and in order to enable communication, corresponding measures at the construction site are required, which involves complicated work. Furthermore, when connecting a drain plug device and equipment directly with a wired transmission line, if the distance between the drain plug device and the equipment is large, routing the wiring of the transmission line becomes difficult. Also, if the transmission line is long, noise may occur in the transmitted communication, potentially causing malfunctions.

[0007] Therefore, the present invention provides a drainage system and a drainage plug device that eliminate the need to match signal and communication specifications between the drainage plug device and the equipment, thereby solving problems caused by wiring and noise. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The first invention is a drain plug device that opens and closes the drain port of the tank body according to first operation instruction information, A sensor that detects the drain plug device and the state of the bathroom and outputs first state information, Equipment that operates based on second operation instruction information and outputs second status information, and a portable terminal that transmits operation information via a transmission line and receives the first and second status information and displays the status corresponding to the information, The system stores the first and second state information transmitted via the transmission path, and generates necessary operation instruction information by comparing the state information with the operation information. A network having a control unit, The network includes a repeater capable of communicating with the aforementioned network, The relay device receives from the network The drainage system is characterized by transmitting the first operation instruction information and the second operation instruction information to the drain plug device and the equipment via the transmission line.

[0009] The second invention includes a first communication module capable of communication via a transmission line, and a drain plug device that opens and closes the drain port of the tank body, It has a second communication module capable of communicating via the aforementioned transmission line, and a sensor that detects the drain plug device and the state of the bathroom, Equipment having a third communication module capable of communicating via the aforementioned transmission line, Operation information is transmitted via the aforementioned transmission line, and the drain plug device and bathroom FirstStatus information and equipment second A mobile device that receives status information, via the aforementioned transmission path Communication with at least one of the first communication module, the second communication module, and the third communication module. A repeater, From the aforementioned relay The transmission via the transmission line First Status information and the second state information In addition to accumulating the above first Status information and the second state information It has a control unit that compares the operation information with the control unit and generates the necessary operation instructions, and transmits them as operation instruction information. The first communication module, the second communication module, and the third communication module are Without going through the aforementioned relay device This drainage system is characterized by its ability to communicate with each other and to operate the drain plug device, the sensor, and the equipment.

[0010] The third invention is that the first state information is Drain plug information relating to the open / closed state of the drain outlet, It consists of bathroom information relating to the movement of people in the bathroom or the state of the bathroom, The aforementioned drain plug device is The drainage system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the drain outlet can be forcibly opened and closed in priority over the operation information based on the drain plug information and the bathroom information.

[0012] Furthermore, the equipment described in the first and second inventions above may include not only water heaters but also bathtub cleaning devices, bathroom dryers, and the types of equipment are not limited. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the present invention, there is no need to synchronize signals between the drain plug device and the equipment. Furthermore, even when the distance between the drain plug device and the equipment is large, malfunctions due to noise can be prevented. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1] It is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a drain plug device and equipment according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] It is a schematic diagram showing the communication mode of the drainage system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] It is a schematic diagram showing the communication mode of the drainage system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] It is a schematic diagram showing the communication mode of the drainage system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] It is a schematic diagram showing the communication mode of the drainage system according to the second embodiment. [Figure 6] It is a schematic diagram showing the communication mode of the drainage system according to the second embodiment. [Figure 7] It is a schematic diagram showing the communication mode of the drainage system according to the second embodiment. [Figure 8] It is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a drain plug device. [Figure 9] It is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A' of FIG. 8. [Figure 10] It is a cross-sectional view showing another example of the drain plug device.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0015] Hereinafter, the drainage system and the drain plug device of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiments described below are for facilitating the understanding of the invention, and the invention is not limited or understood thereby.

[0016] 1. First Embodiment [Configuration of Drainage System] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the drainage system of the first embodiment is a system for opening and closing a drain port 110 formed on the bottom surface of a tank body 100 which is a bathtub, and is composed of a drain plug device 1, a sensor 2, equipment 3, a mobile terminal 4, a network 5, and a repeater 6. Further, the drain plug device 1, the sensor 2, and the repeater 6 are arranged indoors.

[0017] The drain plug device 1 is attachable to the drain port 110 of the tank body 100 and comprises a plug cover 12 for opening and closing the drain port 110, an operating unit 13 for performing the opening and closing operation, a drive unit 14 for opening and closing the plug cover 12, and a release wire 16 for transmitting the operation of the drive unit 14 toward the plug cover 12. The stopper cover 12 is a cover that covers the drain port 110 and moves up and down according to instructions given by the operating unit 13. The stopper cover 12 is fitted with a packing around it, and when lowered, the packing closes the drain port 110, allowing hot water to be stored in the tank body 100, and when raised, it opens the drain port 110, allowing hot water to be discharged. The operating unit 13 consists of a manual operating unit 131 that raises and lowers the stopper cover 12 by manual operation, and an electric operating unit 132 that operates the drive unit 14 to raise and lower the stopper cover 12. The manual operating unit 131 is located on the edge of the tub body 100 and can be operated by the user by pushing it. The electric operating unit 132 is provided on an operating panel 32 installed inside or outside the bathroom. The operating panel 32 can also operate the equipment 3, such as the water filling operation and the reheating operation, and the drive unit 14 may be configured to be linked to the equipment 3, or the drive unit 14 may be operated independently of the equipment 3 by the operating panel 32. The drive unit 14 is a motor whose operation is controlled by a signal output from the circuit board 15, and it is capable of rotating in both directions. The circuit board 15 controls the operation of the drive unit 14 based on signals input to the electric operation unit 132, and also functions as a communication unit capable of communicating with the network 5 via the repeater 6. Therefore, the circuit board 15 can receive first operation instruction information transmitted from the mobile terminal 4, and can output the state of the drain plug device 1 detected by the sensor 2 as first state information. The release wire 16 consists of a cylindrical outer tube made of elastic material and a metal inner wire. In response to manual or electric operation performed on the operating part 13, the inner wire moves back and forth within the outer tube, thereby transmitting the opening and closing operation to the stopper cap 12.

[0018] The drain plug device 1 described above has an internal locking mechanism that allows the plug cover 12 to be held in the raised position. Furthermore, the locking mechanism is configured to repeatedly hold and release the plug cover 12 in the raised position each time the operating part 13 is operated.

[0019] Sensor 2 is a detection device that detects the state of the drain plug device 1 and the bathroom and outputs it as first state information. It consists of a drain plug sensor 21 that acquires drain plug information regarding the open / closed state of the drain outlet 110 by detecting the raising and lowering state of the plug cover 12 using magnetism, and a bio-information sensor 22 that acquires bathroom information regarding the bather. The drain plug sensor 21 is attached to the drain plug device 1, and the detection method is not limited to magnetic detection, but may also be optical, contact, or other detection methods. Furthermore, the bio-information sensor 22 could be, for example, a motion sensor that detects the presence or absence of a person in the bathroom, or a sensor that detects the heart rate and blood pressure of a bather, and the system would consist of at least one of these.

[0020] Equipment 3 includes a water heater 31 that heats water supplied by a water supply pipe connected to the water supply and dispenses it into a hot water supply pipe, and an operation panel 32. The water heater 31 is connected to the bath tank 100 by a bath supply pipe and a bath return pipe (not shown), and operates either by direct operation on the control panel 32 or by instructions transmitted from a mobile terminal 4 via a relay 6. The control panel 32 is located inside and outside the bathroom and consists of a display unit that shows the temperature of the water stored in the tank 100 and the temperature inside the bathroom, and operation buttons that give operation instructions to the drain plug device 1 and the water heater 31. The operation buttons include buttons for operating the water heater 31 to fill the bathtub and reheat the water, and operation buttons for the electric control unit 132 that operates the drain plug device 1. In addition, operation buttons for cleaning the bathtub and drying the bathroom, and timers for setting the operating times of various devices may also be provided. Furthermore, the control panel 32 can communicate with the network 5 via the repeater 6 and can receive second operation instruction information transmitted from the mobile terminal 4, and can output the status of the equipment 3 as second status information.

[0021] The water heater 31 is located outdoors and is connected to the control panel 32 located indoors by a wired transmission line, but it is not connected to the drain plug device 1 or the repeater 6. Furthermore, the water heater 31 and the control panel 32 do not necessarily need to be connected by a wired transmission line; they may be connected by a wireless transmission line if possible. Furthermore, the control panel 32 and the drain plug device 1 are connected by a wireless transmission line.

[0022] Here, the drain plug information and bathroom information detected and output by sensor 2 are output to repeater 6 as first status information, and the status of equipment 3 is output to repeater 6 as second status information. Furthermore, the drain plug device 1 is capable of receiving the first operation instruction information output from repeater 6, and equipment 3 is capable of receiving the second operation instruction information output from repeater 6.

[0023] Mobile device 4 is a mobile device such as a smartphone owned by the user, and can communicate with network 5 via a transmission path using a dedicated application. The above application can set instructions for the drain plug device 1 and equipment 3 as operation information and transmit them via a transmission line, and can also receive and display status information of the drain plug device 1 and equipment 3 transmitted from the network 5.

[0024] Network 5 is a server having a control unit 51 that receives operation information from the mobile terminal 4 and generates operation instruction information for the drain plug device 1 and equipment 3. For example, when operation information regarding the hot water filling operation is transmitted from the mobile terminal 4, it generates a first operation instruction information that instructs to close the drain port 110 and a second operation instruction information that instructs to store hot water in the tank body 100, and transmits them to the relay unit 6. In addition, when the control unit 51 receives status information from the drain plug device 1 and equipment 3, it stores that information and transmits it to the mobile terminal 4 as needed. Users who wish to operate the control unit 51 can connect to the network 5 from indoors or outdoors using a dedicated application installed on their mobile terminal 4, thereby enabling them to operate the drain plug device 1 and the equipment 3, and to receive the results of such operations.

[0025] The repeater 6 is located indoors and transmits operation instruction information sent via the network 5 by the mobile terminal 4 to the corresponding device via a wireless or wired transmission path. Furthermore, when status information is output from the drain plug device 1 or equipment 3, it transmits this status information to the mobile terminal 4 via the transmission path.

[0026] [Communication Mode 1 in the First Embodiment] Next, the communication mode of the drainage system and drain plug device of the first embodiment will be described.

[0027] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing the flow of the drainage system. Note that the drain port 110 of the tank body 100 is open, and the equipment 3 is not performing any operations such as filling the tank with hot water, and no reservations for operations such as filling the tank with hot water are set.

[0028] The status of the drain plug device 1 is detected by the drain plug sensor 21 and output as first status information via the circuit board 15, which is then transmitted to the network 5 (control unit 51) via the repeater 6. The status of the equipment 3 is also output by the operation panel 32 and transmitted to the network 5 (control unit 51) via the repeater 6. The control unit 51 receives and stores the first and second status information.

[0029] When the user operates the mobile terminal 4 and uses the dedicated app, the current status of the bathroom is displayed. At this time, the mobile terminal 4 displays the status of the drain plug device 1, i.e., the open / closed status of the drain outlet 110, and the status of the equipment 3, i.e., whether hot water supply has started, whether a hot water supply reservation has been made, etc., which have been stored in the control unit 51.

[0030] Next, the user inputs a command to fill the bathtub using the app. At this time, the input command is transmitted as operation information to network 5 via a wireless transmission path (step S1).

[0031] The operation information transmitted to network 5 is analyzed by the control unit 51. At this time, the control unit 51 compares the operation information transmitted from the mobile terminal 4 with the stored first state information and second state information and generates operation instruction information. Specifically, since the first state information recognizes that the drain port 110 is open, the control unit 51 generates first operation instruction information for the drain plug device 1 to operate in a manner that closes the drain port 110. Furthermore, since the second state information recognizes that the hot water filling operation has not yet started, the control unit 51 generates second operation instruction information for the equipment 3 to start the hot water filling operation after the time required for the drain port 110 to be closed by the drain plug device 1 has elapsed. If the stored first state information recognizes that the drain port 110 is already closed, the control unit 51 generates first operation instruction information for the drain plug device 1 to operate in a manner that maintains the closed state.

[0032] The operation instruction information generated by the control unit 51 is transmitted to the indoor repeater 6 via the transmission line (step S2).

[0033] The operation instruction information transmitted to the repeater 6 is then sent as follows: the first operation instruction information is sent to the drain plug device 1, and the second operation instruction information is sent to the equipment 3 (step S3).

[0034] Upon receiving the first operation instruction information from the repeater 6, the drain plug device 1 activates the drive unit 14 via the circuit board 15, lowering the plug cover 12 via the release wire 16 and closing the drain outlet 110. The drain plug sensor 21 also detects the lowered state of the plug cover 12, thereby detecting the open / closed state of the drain plug device 1 and the drain outlet 110, and outputs this as first status information to the repeater 6 via the circuit board 15 (step S4).

[0035] Upon receiving the second operation instruction information from the repeater 6, the equipment 3 waits for the time required for the drain plug device 1 to close the drain port 110, and then starts the hot water filling operation. The equipment 3 is also equipped with a water level sensor or water volume sensor (not shown), and when the completion of the hot water filling operation is detected by the sensor, it outputs the end of operation as the second status information to the repeater 6 (step S5).

[0036] The repeater 6 transmits the status information received from the drain plug device 1 and the equipment 3 to the network 5 (step S6). The network 5, via the control unit 51, compares the received status information with the operation information received from the mobile terminal 4. If the status information matches the expected status based on the operation information, the control unit 51 transmits the status information to the mobile terminal 4 upon completion of the operation (step S7). On the other hand, if the state information differs from the state expected by the operation information, the control unit 51 generates an operation instruction again and transmits it to the repeater 6, and repeats the operations from step S2 onward until the state information becomes the state expected by the operation information.

[0037] Furthermore, if the status information does not reach the expected state based on the operation information due to a malfunction of the drain plug device 1 or equipment 3, the system may repeat steps S2 to S6 a predetermined number of times, send an error message to the mobile terminal 4, and then stop the operation.

[0038] [Communication Mode 2 in the First Embodiment] The following describes a drainage system based on information detected by a biometric information sensor 22 that detects bathers.

[0039] Figures 3 and 4 are schematic diagrams showing the flow of the drainage system when an abnormality in a bather is detected and the system automatically drains. The drain port 110 of the tank 100 is closed, and water is stored in the tank 100 by the equipment 3, indicating that a bather is inside. At this time, the presence or absence of a bather and heart rate detected by the biometric information sensor 22 are transmitted to the control unit 51 as first state information, along with the drain plug information detected by the drain plug sensor 21, as bathroom information indicating that the bather's condition is normal. The control unit 51 also receives and stores this first state information.

[0040] Here, when the biometric information sensor 22 detects the presence of a bather, if another user inputs operation information from their mobile terminal 4 to open the drain port 110 and drain the water from the bathtub 100 (step S11), the control unit 51 compares it with the first status information transmitted from the drain plug device 1 and sends a notification to the mobile terminal 4 to cancel the operation information (step S12).

[0041] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3, if the biometric information sensor 22 detects an abnormality in the bather's posture or heart rate, the circuit board 15 of the drain plug device 1 opens the drain port 110 in priority to operation information and transmits first status information to the relay device 6 (step S13). Upon receiving the first status information, the relay device 6 transmits second operation instruction information to stop the equipment 3 from performing operations such as hot water supply (step S14). Furthermore, a notification of an abnormality to the bather is transmitted wirelessly and displayed on the mobile terminal 4 via the network 5 (step S15).

[0042] According to the first embodiment described above, since the repeater 6 transmits operation instruction information to both the drain plug device 1 and the equipment 3 via a wireless transmission path, a direct transmission path is not required between the drain plug device 1 and the equipment 3. As a result, malfunctions will not occur even if the distance between the drain plug device 1 and the equipment is large. Furthermore, according to the drainage system described above, if the biometric information sensor 22 detects an abnormality in the bather, the drain plug device 1 can forcibly open or close the drain outlet 110, taking precedence over operational information. This prevents the bather from drowning or other fatal accidents. Furthermore, abnormalities detected by the biometric information sensor 22 are displayed on the mobile terminal 4, making it possible for the person holding the mobile terminal 4 to detect abnormalities in the bather.

[0043] 2. Second Embodiment [Drainage system configuration] Next, a drainage system according to the second embodiment will be described. The drainage system according to the second embodiment has the same configuration as the first embodiment, except that the drain plug device 1, sensor 2, and equipment 3 are each equipped with communication modules and can communicate with each other without going through the repeater 6. Therefore, in the description of the second embodiment, parts that are the same as in the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment, and their descriptions will be omitted.

[0044] As shown in Figure 5, the communication module consists of a first communication module M1 attached to the drain plug device 1, a second communication module M2 attached to the sensor 2, and a third communication module M3 attached to the equipment 3. Each of the first communication module M1, the second communication module M2, and the third communication module M3 can communicate with each other via a wireless transmission path, transmit information about the attached equipment, and input information received from other communication modules into each device.

[0045] [Communication Mode 1 in the Second Embodiment] Next, the communication mode of the drainage system and drain plug device of the second embodiment will be described.

[0046] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram showing the flow of the drainage system. Note that the drain port 110 of the tank body 100 is open, and the equipment 3 is not performing any operations such as filling the tank with hot water, and no reservations for operations such as filling the tank with hot water are set. In the first embodiment, the status of the drain plug device 1 was detected by the drain plug sensor 21 and transmitted directly to the control unit 51 as first status information. However, in the second embodiment, the first status information is transmitted to the third communication module M3 via the second communication module M2, and the third communication module M3, having received the first status information from the second communication module M2, transmits it to the control unit 51 via the relay 6 along with second status information indicating the status of the equipment 3. The control unit 51 receives and stores the first and second status information, similar to the first embodiment. Herein, the communication mode in the second embodiment described below is the same as steps S1 and S2 in communication mode 1 of the first embodiment described above until the operation instruction information generated by the control unit 51 is transmitted to the indoor repeater 6 via the transmission line. Therefore, only the mode thereafter will be described below.

[0047] In the first embodiment described above, the operation instruction information created by the control unit 51 was divided into first operation instruction information and second operation instruction information, and transmitted to the drain plug device 1 and the equipment 3 respectively by the repeater 6. However, in the second embodiment, all of the operation instruction information is transmitted by the repeater 6 to a third communication module M3 attached to the equipment 3 (step S21).

[0048] Upon receiving operation instruction information from the repeater 6, the equipment 3 performs the necessary operations for the hot water filling operation based on the operation instruction information. Specifically, upon receiving the operation instruction information, the equipment 3 waits for the time required for the drain plug device 1 to close the drain port 110, and then starts the hot water filling operation. In addition, the third communication module M3 communicates with the first communication module M1 and the second communication module M2 to transmit operation instruction information to the drain plug device 1 and the sensor 2 (step S22).

[0049] When the first communication module M1 receives operation instruction information from the third communication module M3 via the transmission line, it inputs this operation instruction information to the drain plug device 1. That is, based on the operation instruction information input from the first communication module M1, the drive unit 14 of the drain plug device 1 operates, lowering the plug cover 12 via the release wire 16 and closing the drain outlet 110. In addition, the drain plug sensor 21 detects the lowered state of the plug cover 12, thereby detecting the open / closed state of the drain plug device 1 and the drain outlet 110, and outputs this as first state information to the first communication module M1 via the second communication module M2 (step S23).

[0050] The third communication module M3, having received the first status information from the first communication module M1, outputs it to the repeater 6 along with the second status information, which is the status of the equipment 3 (step S24).

[0051] The repeater 6 transmits the status information received from the third communication module M3 to the network 5 (step S25). The network 5, via the control unit 51, compares the received status information with the operation information received from the mobile terminal 4. If the status information is consistent with the expected state based on the operation information, the control unit 51 transmits the status information to the mobile terminal 4 upon completion of the operation (step S26). On the other hand, if the state information differs from the state expected by the operation information, the control unit 51 generates an operation instruction again and transmits it to the repeater 6, and repeats the operations from step S2 onward until the state information becomes the state expected by the operation information.

[0052] Furthermore, if the status information does not reach the expected state based on the operation information due to a malfunction of the drain plug device 1 or equipment 3, the system may repeat steps S2 to S25 a predetermined number of times, send an error message to the mobile terminal 4, and stop the operation.

[0053] [Communication Mode 2 in the Second Embodiment] The following describes a drainage system based on information detected by a biometric information sensor 22 that detects bathers.

[0054] Figures 6 and 7 are schematic diagrams showing the flow of the drainage system when an abnormality in a bather is detected and the system automatically drains the water. The drain port 110 of the bathtub 100 is blocked, and water is stored inside the bathtub 100 by the equipment 3, indicating that a bather is inside. At this time, the presence or absence of a bather and heart rate detected by the biometric information sensor 22 are transmitted from the second communication module M2 to the third communication module M3 as bathroom information indicating that the bather's condition is normal. In addition, drain plug information detected by the drain plug sensor 21 is transmitted from the second communication module M2 to the third communication module M3. The third communication module M3 transmits the drain plug information and bathroom information received from the second communication module M2 together as first state information to the control unit 51. The control unit 51 also receives and stores this first state information.

[0055] Here, when the biometric information sensor 22 detects the presence of a bather, if another user inputs operation information from their mobile terminal 4 to open the drain port 110 and drain the water from the bathtub 100 (step S27), the control unit 51 compares it with the first status information transmitted from the drain plug device 1 and sends a notification to the mobile terminal 4 to cancel the operation information (step S28).

[0056] Furthermore, if the biometric information sensor 22 detects an abnormality in the bather's posture or heart rate, the second communication module M2 communicates to the first communication module M1 to open the drain outlet 110, prioritizing it over operation information (step S29). The second communication module M2 also communicates to the third communication module M3 to stop operations such as hot water supply (step S30). Furthermore, the third communication module M3 communicates to the bather that there has been an abnormality, and this information is displayed on the mobile terminal 4 via the wireless transmission path and through the network 5 (step S31).

[0057] According to the second embodiment described above, the drain plug device 1, sensor 2, and equipment 3 each communicate with each other and have a communication module capable of operating the drain plug, sensor, and equipment. Therefore, the control unit 51 can control all the devices by communicating information with at least one communication module. Furthermore, according to the drainage system described above, if the biometric information sensor 22 detects an abnormality in the bather, the drain plug device 1 can forcibly open or close the drain outlet 110, taking precedence over operational information. This prevents the bather from drowning or other fatal accidents. Furthermore, abnormalities detected by the biometric information sensor 22 are displayed on the mobile terminal 4, making it possible for the person holding the mobile terminal 4 to detect abnormalities in the bather.

[0058] An example of the drain plug device 1 described in each embodiment is explained below. As shown in Figure 8 or Figure 9, the drain plug device 1 is connected to the plug cover 12 by a release wire 16, and a manual operation unit 131, a drive unit 14, a circuit board 15, a locking mechanism 17, and a drain plug sensor 21 are housed in a casing attached to the edge of the tank body 100.

[0059] The manual operation unit 131 is exposed inside the bathroom and has a disc-shaped switch part 131a that can be displaced up and down by a pushing operation, with an operating shaft 131b fitted to its back surface. The operating shaft 131b is a rod-shaped shaft extending in the vertical direction, and a locking mechanism 17 is connected to its lower end. The operating shaft 131b also has a convex contact portion 131c that protrudes outward to receive the movement of the drive unit 14, and a signal transmitting unit 211, which constitutes the drain plug sensor 21, is mounted inside. The locking mechanism 17 houses a rotating gear and a stationary gear, and each time a pushing operation is applied to the switch section 131a, the engagement and disengagement of the rotating gear and the stationary gear are switched, thereby maintaining the raised and lowered state of the plug cover 12. The drive unit 14 is a stepping motor whose operation is controlled by the circuit board 15, and it rotates the drive shaft 141 based on electrical signals. The push portion 142 is a cylindrical member positioned on the outer circumference of the operating shaft 131b. A rack is formed on its outer surface that meshes with a gear formed on the drive shaft 141, and it is displaced vertically as the drive shaft 141 rotates. The push portion 142 also has a stepped portion that contacts the contact portion 131c formed on the operating shaft 131b.

[0060] The drain plug sensor 21 consists of a signal transmitting unit 211 and a signal receiving unit 212. The signal transmitting unit 211 is a magnet attached to the operating shaft 131b, and the signal receiving unit 212 is a magnetic sensor that detects the magnetism emitted from the signal transmitting unit 211. The signal receiving unit 212 is fixed to the casing and is provided in two locations along the displacement direction of the operating shaft 131b. Here, the signal transmitting unit 211 is positioned to face the lower signal receiving unit 212 when the plug cover 12 is in the raised position, and to face the upper signal receiving unit 212 when the plug cover 12 is in the lowered position. This allows the raised or lowered state of the plug cover 12 to be detected depending on which of the upper or lower signal receiving units 212 detects the magnetism.

[0061] When a push operation is applied to the switch portion 131a of the manual operation portion 131 of the drain plug device 1, the operation is transmitted through the release wire 16, causing the plug cover 12 to be raised or lowered, and the raised or lowered state of the plug cover 12 is held by the locking mechanism 17. On the other hand, when an operation is performed on the control panel 32, which is the electric control unit 132, the drive unit 14 is activated by the instruction of the circuit board 15, and the drive shaft 141 is rotated. At this time, the push part 142 descends and pushes down the contact part 131c, causing the control shaft 131b to descend and the plug cover 12 to be raised or lowered. The raised or lowered state of the plug cover 12 is held by the locking mechanism 17.

[0062] The structure of the drain plug device 1 is as described above, but the structure of the drain plug device 1 may be changed to various shapes of the invention. For example, the drain plug device 1 shown in Figure 8 or Figure 9 was connected to the power supply by a cable, but as in another example shown in Figure 10, it may be powered by contactless power supply. The drain plug device 1 shown in Figure 10 has coils C corresponding to the inside and outside of the casing, and power is supplied by electromagnetic induction by these coils. In this way, it is not necessary to make holes in the casing for wiring cables, and thus it is possible to ensure that the inside of the casing is watertight.

[0063] Furthermore, although the drive unit 14 was attached to the edge of the tank body 100 in each embodiment, it may also be placed near the drain port 110. Also, although the drive unit 14 was a motor in each embodiment, it may be a solenoid.

[0064] The embodiments of the present invention are described above, but the present invention is not limited to the shapes described in each embodiment, and various design modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, although the equipment in each embodiment was a water heater, it may also be a bathtub cleaning device or a bathroom dryer, and the type of equipment is not limited. Furthermore, in each embodiment, the equipment may consist of multiple devices, such as a water heater and a bathtub cleaning device. In this case, operation instruction information based on operation information from a mobile terminal may be generated separately for each piece of equipment. For example, when an instruction to automatically clean the bathtub and then fill it with hot water after cleaning is transmitted as operation information from a mobile terminal, the control unit transmits operation instruction information to the drain plug device, the bathtub cleaning device, and the water heater to open the drain to discharge any remaining water in the tub, perform automatic cleaning of the bathtub, then close the drain and start supplying hot water. At this time, the control unit may generate operation instruction information for the water heater and the bathtub cleaning device together as a second set of operation instruction information, or it may generate operation instruction information for either the water heater or the bathtub cleaning device as a third set of operation instruction information.

[0065] Furthermore, in each embodiment, the drain plug sensor 21 of the sensors 2 was incorporated inside the drain plug device 1, but it may also be provided separately from the drain plug device 1. Furthermore, the detection method of sensor 2 and the type of information to be detected are not limited in any way in each embodiment. Furthermore, in each embodiment, the mobile terminal 4 was notified of the abnormality of the bather, but at the same time, the abnormality may also be notified to a designated emergency medical institution.

[0066] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the state of the bathroom detected by the bio-information sensor 22 was transmitted to the relay 6 as first state information along with drain plug information indicating the state of the drain plug device 1. However, the state of the bathroom detected by the bio-information sensor 22 may be transmitted separately from the state information transmitted from the drain plug device 1 and equipment 3 as third state information.

[0067] Furthermore, in the second embodiment, the control unit 51 communicated with the third communication module M3, but it may also communicate with the first communication module M1 or the second communication module M2. In the second embodiment, the first communication module M1 may also transmit its operating status to the second communication module M2. In this case, it becomes possible to check for malfunctions by comparing the information transmitted from the first communication module M1 with the information detected by the sensor 2. Furthermore, in the second embodiment, the first communication module M1 and the second communication module M2 were separate communication modules, but they may also be a single communication module that serves both the first communication module M1 and the second communication module M2. [Explanation of symbols]

[0068] 1 Drain plug device 12 Bottle lid 13 Control section 131 Manual operation section 131a Switch section 131b Operation axis 131c Contact part 132 Electric operation unit 14 Drive Unit 141 Drive shaft 15 circuit boards 16 Release wires 17. Locking mechanism 2 sensors 21 Drain plug sensor 211 Signal Transmitter 212 Signal receiving section 22 Biometric Information Sensors 3 Equipment 31 Water heater 32 Control Panel 4 Mobile devices 5 Network 6 Repeater 100 tank body 110 Drain M1 First Communication Module M2 Second Communication Module M3 Third Communication Module C coil

Claims

1. A drain plug device that opens and closes the drain port of the tank body based on the first operation instruction information, A sensor that detects the drain plug device and the state of the bathroom and outputs first state information, Equipment that operates based on second operation instruction information and outputs second status information, and a portable terminal that transmits operation information via a transmission line and receives the first and second status information and displays the status corresponding to the information, A network having a control unit that stores the first state information and the second state information transmitted via the transmission line, and compares the state information with the operation information to generate necessary operation instruction information, The network includes a repeater capable of communicating with the aforementioned network, The drainage system is characterized in that the relay device transmits the first operation instruction information and the second operation instruction information received from the network to the drain plug device and the equipment via the transmission path.

2. It has a first communication module capable of communication via a transmission line, and a drain plug device that opens and closes the drain port of the tank body, It has a second communication module capable of communicating via the aforementioned transmission line, and a sensor that detects the drain plug device and the state of the bathroom, Equipment having a third communication module capable of communicating via the aforementioned transmission line, A portable terminal that transmits operation information via the aforementioned transmission line and receives first status information of the drain plug device and bathroom, and second status information of the equipment, A relay that communicates with at least one of the first communication module, the second communication module, and the third communication module via the transmission path, The system includes a control unit that stores the first state information and the second state information transmitted from the relay via the transmission path, and compares the first state information and the second state information with the operation information to generate necessary operation instructions and transmit them as operation instruction information. A drainage system characterized in that the first communication module, the second communication module, and the third communication module communicate with each other without the need for a relay, and are capable of operating the drain plug device, the sensor, and the equipment.

3. The first state information is, Drain plug information relating to the open / closed state of the drain outlet, It consists of bathroom information relating to the movement of people in the bathroom or the state of the bathroom, The aforementioned drain plug device is The drainage system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the drain outlet can be forcibly opened and closed in priority over the operation information based on the drain plug information and the bathroom information.

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