JP2005055144A - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air conditioner capable of automatically adjusting a set temperature to an energy-saving optimum value and ensuring high reliability for energy saving. <P>SOLUTION: This air conditioner is adapted so that the set temperature Ts is shifted to a reference value Tref when a fixed time tn passed as it is after the set temperature Ts is changed to a value lower than the reference value Tref (in cooling) or a value higher than it (in heating). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a commercial air conditioner that controls operation according to a set temperature and air-conditions a store such as a convenience store.

  In commercial air conditioners such as those installed in stores, the electricity charges associated with the operation of the air conditioner are managed by the owner of the store, and the actual use of the air conditioners is left to the operations of users such as store staff and customers. It is common that

  From the viewpoint of energy saving, for example, the owner tends to set the set temperature higher for cooling operation, whereas the user tends to set the set temperature lower and perform cooling slightly too cold. This tendency is not preferable from the viewpoint of energy saving on the owner side.

  As an example that satisfies the owner's request, there is a child lock function that prevents all operations on the user side from being fixed, and the set temperature is fixed and the change of the set temperature by the user is prohibited (for example, Patent Document 1).

On the other hand, there is an example in which an energy saving mode is provided and the set temperature is changed to the energy saving side only when a predetermined condition is satisfied in a state where the energy saving mode is selected (for example, Patent Document 2).
Japanese Patent No. 2755172 JP-A-9-318134

  In the example having the child lock function as described above, there is an inconvenience that it is prohibited to change the set temperature to the energy saving side (in the direction of increasing during cooling and in the direction of decreasing during heating). In some cases, it may be desired to temporarily change the set temperature in the anti-energy-saving direction, but in this case, the child lock must be removed. It is possible that once the child lock is removed, the setting is forgotten again.

  In the example having the energy saving mode, the set temperature may be changed in the direction opposite to the energy saving. If this happens, the energy is not saved and the setting temperature needs to be changed again to the energy saving side.

  In consideration of the above circumstances, the present invention provides an air conditioner that can automatically adjust a set temperature to an optimum value on the energy saving side and can achieve energy saving with high reliability. The purpose is that.

  The air conditioner of the invention according to claim 1 shifts the set temperature to the reference value when the set temperature is changed to a value lower than the reference value during the cooling operation and a certain time elapses.

  The air conditioner of the invention according to claim 2 shifts the set temperature to the reference value when the set temperature is changed to a value higher than the reference value during the heating operation and a certain time elapses as it is.

  An air conditioner according to a third aspect of the present invention is the air conditioner according to the first or second aspect, further comprising a first remote control type and a second remote control type for setting a set temperature. An operating device is provided, and a set temperature changed by one of these operating devices is shared as a set temperature in the other operating device.

  In the air conditioner of the present invention, when the set temperature is changed to a value lower than the reference value (at the time of cooling) or higher value (at the time of heating), the set temperature is shifted to the reference value when a certain time has passed. The set temperature can be automatically adjusted to the optimum value on the energy saving side, and high reliability with respect to energy saving can be ensured.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The indoor unit 1 and the outdoor unit 2 are connected via a refrigerant pipe (not shown) and a crossover wiring 3, whereby the air conditioner of the present invention is configured. The indoor unit 1 is provided, for example, on the ceiling in a store of a convenience store, and the outdoor unit 1 is installed outside the store. The indoor unit 1 has an indoor temperature sensor 4 for detecting the indoor temperature Ta of the store.

  In addition, a remote control type first operating device (hereinafter referred to as a standard remote controller) 6 is connected to the indoor unit 1 through a signal line 5, and a remote control type second operation through a signal line 7. A device (hereinafter referred to as a simple remote controller) 10 is connected. The standard remote controller 6 is for setting various operating conditions, and is installed in the office in the back of the store for operation of the store owner, so that the fan air volume and humidity can be set. The simple remote controller 10 is used for setting various operating conditions like the standard remote controller 6, but is installed at a position where a user such as a store clerk or a customer can operate, and simple operation such as driving on / off and temperature setting is performed. In addition to operating means, it also has display means for temperature display.

  The simple remote controller 10 includes setting content changing means 20, communication means 21, operation input means 22, temperature rise switch 23, temperature drop switch 24, display control means 25, set temperature display means 26, and control value setting means 27. Yes.

Among these, the setting content changing unit 20 changes the setting temperature Ts2 input from the operation input unit 22 or the setting temperature Ts1 input from the standard remote controller 6 through the indoor unit 1 and the communication unit 21 lastly. The detected value is captured as the set temperature Ts, and the set temperature Ts is set to the setting value (Tref, tn) of the control value setting means 27, the time count t of the internal timer means, and the operation notified from the indoor unit 1. It has a function to change as necessary according to the mode. The setting content changing means 20 has a function of sending the changed set temperature Ts to the standard remote controller 6 via the communication means 21 and the indoor unit 1. The sent set temperature Ts is updated and displayed as the set temperature Ts1 on the standard remote controller 6 side.
The setting content changing means 20 shares not only the set temperature but also the operating conditions such as the operation mode set by the remote controllers 6 and 10 between the remote controllers 6 and 10. A control program for realizing such sharing is stored in the internal memory of the setting content changing means 20 in the simple remote controller 10. As described above, the control function for changing the set temperature Ts as necessary is mounted only on the setting content changing means 20 of the simple remote controller 10 and is not mounted on the standard remote controller 6.

  The control value setting means 27 variably sets a reference value Tref for the set temperature Ts and a fixed time tn that is a criterion for energy saving in accordance with the operation of the bit switch 28. The bit switch 28 is provided on a circuit board in the simple remote controller 10.

  For example, in the cooling mode, as shown in FIG. 3, “25 ° C.” is prepared as the initial value of the reference value Tref, and the initial value is selected by setting the 2-bit code “1, 0” by the bit switch 28. . When the 2-bit code “0, 0” is set, “23 ° C.” is selected as the reference value Tref. In the heating mode, as shown in FIG. 4, “22 ° C.” is prepared as the initial value of the reference value Tref, and the initial value is selected by setting the 2-bit code “0, 1” by the bit switch 28. When the 2-bit code “0, 0” is set, “21 ° C.” is selected as the reference value Tref. In the cooling / heating automatic mode in which cooling and heating are automatically selected, as shown in FIG. 5, “24 ° C.” is prepared as an initial value of the reference value Tref, and the initial value is a 2-bit code “0, 1” by the bit switch 28. It is selected by setting. When the 2-bit code “0, 0” is set, “23 ° C.” is selected as the reference value Tref. For the fixed time tn, as shown in FIG. 6, “30 minutes” is prepared as an initial value, and the initial value is selected by setting the 2-bit code “0, 1” by the bit switch 28. When the code “1, 0” is set, “60 minutes” is selected.

  The reference value Tref is set for the purpose of obtaining an energy saving effect including the reduction of the electricity bill for the owner of the store.

  The appearance of the simple remote controller 10 is shown in FIG. That is, a temperature rise switch 23, a temperature drop switch 24, and a set temperature display means 26 are provided on the upper surface of the simple remote controller 10, and a start / stop button 31, a cooling / heating automatic mode button 32, a cooling mode button 33, a heating mode button are provided. 34, a blow operation button 35, display lamps (light emitting diodes) 36,..., A rapid wind display lamp 37, a strong wind display lamp 38, and a weak wind display lamp 39, each of which has a different color. The set temperature display means 26 displays the set temperature Ts as a two-digit numerical value by using two 7-segment light emitting diodes.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
The room temperature Ta is detected by the room temperature sensor 4 (step 101). If it is a cooling operation (YES in step 102), the time count t2 for heating is cleared (step 103), and the difference ΔT between the detected temperature Ta and the set temperature Ts is the cooling load ΔT (= Ta−Ts). It is determined (step 104). Then, the capacity of the compressor of the outdoor unit 2, that is, the cooling capacity is controlled according to the obtained cooling load ΔT (step 105).

  The set temperature Ts can be set by operating the standard remote controller 6 on the owner side or by operating the simple remote controller 10 on the user side. When the set temperature Ts1 is set by the standard remote controller 6, the set temperature Ts1 is displayed on the display means of the standard remote controller 6, and the same set temperature Ts1 is sent to the simple remote controller 10 and taken in as a common set temperature Ts. It is. This set temperature Ts is displayed as the set temperature Ts2 on the set temperature display means 26 of the simple remote controller 10.

  When the set temperature Ts2 is set by the simple remote controller 10, the set temperature Ts2 is displayed on the set temperature display means 26 of the simple remote controller 10, and the same set temperature Ts2 is sent to the standard remote controller 6 as the set temperature Ts. . The set temperature Ts sent to the standard remote controller 6 is displayed on the display means as the set temperature Ts1 for the standard remote controller 6.

  During the cooling operation, when the simple remote controller 10 is operated by a store clerk or a customer and the set temperature Ts falls below the reference value Tref as shown in FIG. 8 (YES in step 106), the time count t1 in the simple remote controller 10 is reached. Is started (step 107). Then, the time count t1 is compared with the predetermined time tn (step 108). If the set temperature Ts is changed to the reference value Tref or more as shown by the broken line in the figure while the time count t1 does not reach the predetermined time tn (NO in step 108), the time count t1 is cleared. (Step 109).

  If the set temperature Ts remains below the reference value Tref (YES in step 106) and the time count t1 reaches a certain time tn (YES in step 108), the set temperature Ts is gradually shifted to the reference value Tref (step 110). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, this shift portion (portion surrounded by a two-dot chain line) raises the set temperature Ts to the reference value Tref step by step by 1 deg every 10 minutes. In this way, the set temperature Ts is gradually shifted to the reference value Tref, so that the energy saving operation intended by the store owner can be realized without causing a sudden change in the cooling capacity.

  If it is heating operation (NO in step 102, YES in step 111), the time count t2 for cooling is cleared (step 112), and the difference ΔT between the set temperature Ts and the detected temperature Ta is the heating load ΔT (= Ts−Ta) is obtained (step 113). Then, the capacity of the compressor of the outdoor unit 2, that is, the heating capacity is controlled in accordance with the heating load ΔT (step 114).

  During this heating operation, when the simple remote controller 10 is operated by a store clerk or a customer and the set temperature Ts rises higher than the reference value Tref as shown in FIG. 10 (YES in step 115), the time count t2 is started. (Step 116). Then, the time count t2 is compared with the predetermined time tn (step 117). If the set temperature Ts is changed to the reference value Tref or less (NO in step 115) as shown by the broken line in the figure while the time count t1 does not reach the predetermined time tn (NO in step 117), the time count t2 is cleared. (Step 118).

  If the set temperature Ts remains higher than the reference value Tref (YES in step 115) and the time count t1 reaches a certain time tn (YES in step 117), the set temperature Ts is gradually shifted to the reference value Tref (step). 110). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 11, in this shift portion (portion surrounded by a two-dot chain line), the set temperature Ts is gradually lowered to the reference value Tref by 1 deg every 10 minutes. In this way, the set temperature Ts is gradually shifted to the reference value Tref, so that the energy saving operation intended by the store owner can be realized without a sudden change in the heating capacity.

  When the standard remote controller 6 is operated by an owner or a store clerk and the set temperature Ts is set to a value lower than the reference value Tref (during cooling) or higher (during heating) (setting of energy saving direction), The set temperature Ts is effectively set in the simple remote controller 10 as it is without being shifted to the reference value Tref.

  As described above, the set temperature Ts is shifted to the reference value Tref when the predetermined time tn has passed since the set temperature Ts was changed to a value lower than the reference value Tref (during cooling) or higher (during heating). By doing so, the set temperature can be automatically adjusted to the optimum value on the energy saving side, and high reliability can be ensured with respect to energy saving.

  In addition, since the setting contents of the standard remote controller 6 and the simple remote controller 10 are shared between the two remote controllers, inconsistencies in operating conditions and displays in each remote controller can be prevented even if two remote controllers are employed. Can do.

  In the above embodiment, the simple remote controller 10 may be provided with an operation switch for invalidating the change operation of the set temperature Ts2 by the standard remote controller 6. In the case of this configuration, if the changing operation of the set temperature Ts2 in the standard remote controller 6 is in the direction opposite to the energy saving, the changing operation is prohibited by turning on the operation switch (that is, the intention of the store owner).

  Moreover, although the said embodiment demonstrated the application to the air conditioner for business which air-conditions stores, such as a convenience store, it is applicable similarly to a home air conditioner.

  In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments as they are, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of components disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, you may combine the component covering different embodiment suitably.

The block diagram which shows the structure of one Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the external appearance of the simple remote control in the embodiment. The figure which shows the setting conditions of the reference value Tref by the bit switch at the time of the air_conditioning | cooling mode in the embodiment. The figure which shows the setting conditions of the reference value Tref by the bit switch at the time of the heating mode in the embodiment. The figure which shows the setting conditions of the reference value Tref by the bit switch at the time of the heating and cooling simultaneous mode in the embodiment. The figure which shows the setting conditions of the fixed time tn in the same embodiment. The flowchart for demonstrating the effect | action of the embodiment. The figure which shows the example of a change of preset temperature Ts at the time of the air_conditionaing | cooling operation of the embodiment. The figure which shows the specific example of the shift part in FIG. The figure which shows the example of a change of the preset temperature Ts at the time of the heating operation of the embodiment. The figure which shows the specific example of the shift part in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Indoor unit, 2 ... Outdoor unit, 6 ... Standard remote control, 10 ... Simple remote control, 20 ... Setting content change means, 21 ... Communication means, 22 ... Means similar to operation, 26 ... Setting temperature display means, 27 ... Control value Setting means, 28 ... bit switch

Claims (3)

  In the air conditioner that controls the operation in accordance with the set temperature, the means for shifting the set temperature to the reference value when the set temperature is changed to a value lower than a reference value during a cooling operation and a certain time has passed. An air conditioner comprising:   In the air conditioner that controls the operation according to the set temperature, the means for shifting the set temperature to the reference value when the set temperature is changed to a value higher than a reference value during a heating operation and a certain time has passed. An air conditioner comprising:   The air conditioner according to claim 1 or 2, wherein one of the first remote control type and second remote control type controllers for setting the set temperature, and each of the controllers. An air conditioner further comprising: means for sharing a set temperature changed by the operating device as a set temperature in the other operating device.

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