JP2022083213A - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an air conditioner which can discriminate whether a cause of a high temperature in a man body results from a temperature rise caused by a disturbance, or an abnormality of the main body.SOLUTION: Temperature detection means 14 is arranged at an upstream side of a heater 13 which is arranged in a blowing path of a main body 1, the heater 13 is turned on/off by a detection temperature of the temperature detection means 14, and a control part 30 can perform a first determination for determining whether or not an on/off-rotation number n of the heater 13 reaches a prescribed rotation number N within a first prescribed time t1, and a second determination for determining whether or not the detection temperature of the temperature detection means 14 reaches a third threshold within a second prescribed time t2 in a state that the heater 13 is turned off. When the rotation number reaches the prescribed rotation number N by the first determination, the second determination is performed, when the rotation number does not reach the third threshold by the second determination, an error is notified, and when a cause of a high temperature in the main body 1 results from an abnormality of the main body 1, the error can be notified, thus providing an excellent air conditioner.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

The present invention relates to an air conditioner provided with a heater.

Conventionally, in an air conditioner in which a heater is provided in the air passage from the suction port to the air outlet, the temperature is detected in the air passage in order to detect the temperature rise in the main body due to an abnormal condition such as a blockage of the air outlet or an abnormality of the motor. Means are provided. In such an air conditioner, when the main body is in an abnormal state, it becomes difficult for the warm air that has passed through the heater to be discharged from the air outlet, and it is trapped inside the main body and flows back to the suction port side. By providing the above, an abnormal state of the main body is detected (for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2019-039635

By the way, in general, by lowering the threshold temperature when determining that the main body is in an abnormal state, it is possible to detect the abnormal state of the main body at an early stage and improve safety.

However, if the threshold value is lowered, it is affected by the disturbance and may lead to an erroneous determination. For example, depending on the installation environment of the air conditioner, warm air emitted from a heating device such as an air conditioner or a fan heater may be taken in from a suction port. In this case, even though there is no abnormality in the main body, it is determined that the abnormal state is due to the warm air taken in from the suction port.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner capable of discriminating between a temperature rise due to a disturbance and an abnormality of the main body.

The present invention
The main body with a suction port and an outlet,
The air passage from the suction port to the air outlet,
The heater provided in the air passage and
A temperature detecting means provided in the air passage path and arranged upstream of the heater, and
A notification means for notifying an error of the main body and
A control unit that controls the notification means is provided.
The heater is
When the detection temperature of the temperature detecting means reaches the first threshold value, it is turned off, and when it reaches the second threshold value, it is turned on.
The control unit
The first determination for determining whether or not the number of times n of the heaters are turned off or on has reached the predetermined number of times N within the first predetermined time t1.
It is possible to execute the second determination of determining whether or not the detection temperature of the temperature detecting means has reached the third threshold value within the second predetermined time t2 with the heater turned off.
When the predetermined number of times N is reached in the first determination, the second determination is executed.
It is an air conditioner that notifies an error by the notification means when the third threshold value is not reached in the second determination.

By configuring as described above, it becomes an excellent air conditioner that can discriminate between the temperature rise due to the disturbance and the abnormality of the main body and notify the error when the cause of the high temperature in the main body is the abnormality of the main body. ..

It is external perspective view of the humidifying apparatus of this embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the humidifying apparatus of this embodiment. It is a block diagram in this embodiment. It is a flowchart of the first determination in this embodiment. It is a flowchart of the second determination in this embodiment. It is a figure which showed the timing to start the first determination in this embodiment.

Embodiments of the present invention which are considered to be suitable will be briefly described by showing the operation of the present invention.

The present invention is an air conditioner including a temperature detecting means arranged upstream of a heater provided in a ventilation path and a control unit for controlling a notifying means for notifying an error of the main body, and the heater is a temperature detecting means. When the detection temperature of is reached the first threshold value, it is turned off, and when the second threshold value is reached, it is turned on. The control unit makes a first determination to determine whether or not the number of times n of the heaters are turned off or turned on reaches a predetermined number of times N within the first predetermined time t1, and within the second predetermined time t2 with the heater turned off. It is possible to execute a second determination to determine whether or not the detection temperature of the temperature detecting means has reached the third threshold value, and if the first determination reaches N a predetermined number of times, an abnormality in the main body is suspected. Execute the judgment. In the second judgment, whether or not the detection temperature has reached the third threshold value in a state where the heater is turned off, that is, in a state where the detection temperature cannot reach a high temperature even if the main body is in an abnormal state because there is no heat source. judge. If the third threshold value is not reached in the second determination, it is determined that the reason why the heater is repeatedly turned on and off in the first determination is that the temperature inside the main body has become high due to an abnormality in the main body, and an error is notified. As a result, when the cause of the high temperature in the main body is an abnormality in the main body, an error can be notified, and the air conditioner becomes an excellent air conditioner.

Further, when the third threshold value is reached in the second determination, the error is not notified. When the heater is turned off and the third threshold is reached even though there is no heat source, it is judged that the reason why the heater was repeatedly turned on and off in the first judgment is not the abnormality of the main body but the temperature rise due to the disturbance. Then, the operation of the main body is continued without notifying the error. As a result, the air conditioner is highly convenient because it does not generate unnecessary errors.

Further, the second predetermined time t2 is set to be shorter than the first predetermined time t1. In the second determination, when the detection temperature does not reach the third threshold value within the second predetermined time t2, an error is notified, so that it takes a second predetermined time t2 to notify the error. By setting the second predetermined time t2 to be shorter than the first predetermined time t1, it does not take longer than necessary to notify the error. This makes the air conditioner excellent in safety.

Further, the minimum value t2min of the second predetermined time is set to t2min = t1 × (1 / (N-1)). As a result, the longest time required for one cycle of turning the heater off or on in the first determination can be set to the minimum value t2min of the second predetermined time, and the temperature rise due to the disturbance can be accurately detected.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a humidifying device will be described as an example of the air conditioning device.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the humidifying device of the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional configuration view of the humidifying device of the present embodiment. On the upper surface of the main body 1 of the humidifying device, an operation unit 2 provided with a large number of switches for instructing the operation of the humidifying device, a display unit 3 for displaying the operating state, and an outlet 4 for blowing out humidified air are provided. There is. Further, a water supply tank 6 for supplying water to the humidifying means 9 for generating humidified air is detachably provided in the main body 1.

A suction port 5 for taking indoor air into the main body 1 is provided on the back surface of the main body 1. Further, a water tank portion 7 to which water is supplied from the water supply tank 6 to store a certain amount of water and a vaporization filter 8 having water absorption are arranged in the water tank portion 7 at the bottom of the main body 1. The humidifying means 9 for generating humidified air is configured by the vaporization filter 8 and the vaporization filter 8. A part of the vaporization filter 8 is immersed in the water in the water tank portion 7, and the vaporization filter 8 is moistened by sucking up the water.

A blower 12 including a fan 10 and a motor 11 is provided above the vaporization filter 8, and the blower 12 is driven to blow air into the blow path from the suction port 5 to the outlet 4. Further, a heater 13 for heating the air introduced from the suction port 5 into warm air is provided upstream of the vaporization filter 8 in the air passage, and the main body 1 is provided upstream of the heater 13 as a temperature detecting means. A thermistor 14 for detecting the temperature inside is arranged.

When the blower 12 is driven, the air in the room is taken in from the suction port 5 by the rotation of the fan 10, the taken-in air becomes warm air while passing through the heater 13, and the warm air becomes a vaporization filter. By passing through 8, it becomes humidified air, and the humidified air is discharged into the room from the outlet 4.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram according to the present embodiment. An instruction regarding operation is input from the operation unit 2 to the control unit 30. The operation unit 2 is provided with various switches operated by the user. In this embodiment, the operation switch 20 for instructing the start and stop of the operation of the main body 1, the humidity setting switch 21 for setting the target humidity in the room, and the humidity setting switch 21 for setting the target humidity in the room. The operation changeover switch 22 for setting the operation mode of the main body 1 is provided. Further, information from various sensors is input to the control unit 30. As various sensors, in this embodiment, a thermistor 14 for detecting the temperature inside the main body 1 and a humidity sensor 15 for detecting the humidity of the indoor air are provided.

A display unit 3, a blower 12, and a heater 13 are connected to the output side of the control unit 30. The control unit 30 sets the rotation speed of the blower 12 and the output of the heater 13 based on the input instructions and information regarding the operation, and performs the humidification operation. Further, in addition to displaying the humidity of the indoor air on the display unit 3, in this embodiment, since an error code indicating an abnormal state of the main body 1 is displayed, the display unit 3 serves as a notification means for notifying the error. The notification means is not limited to this embodiment, and the operation unit 2 may be provided with an error lamp that lights up or blinks at the time of an error, or may sound a notification sound.

When the detection temperature of the thermistor 14 becomes high, the heater 13 is turned off, and then when the detection temperature drops, the heater 13 is turned on again. When the heater 13 is repeatedly turned on and off, the control unit 30 determines that the main body 1 is in an abnormal state, notifies an error, and stops the operation of the main body 1. The temperature inside the main body 1 becomes high because the intake of air from the suction port 5 and the discharge of humidified air from the outlet 4 are hindered. When the intake of air from the suction port 5 is hindered (for example, the suction port 5 is blocked), the air does not flow in the air flow path, and the heat of the heater 13 rises above the heater 13. Further, when the discharge of the humidified air from the air outlet 4 is hindered (for example, the air outlet 4 is blocked), the warm air that has passed through the heater 13 is trapped in the main body 1 and flows back to the suction port 5 side. Therefore, by arranging the thermistor 14 upstream of the heater 13, the high temperature caused by these causes is detected and an error is notified.

By the way, in addition to the causes described above, the inside of the main body 1 may become hot due to disturbance. For example, when the main body 1 is installed at a place where hot air discharged from a heating device such as an air conditioner or a fan heater is taken in from a suction port 5, the high temperature due to disturbance is regarded as an abnormality of the main body 1. In particular, if the thermistor 14 is arranged upstream of the heater 13 and is located close to the suction port 5, it is easily affected by disturbance, and there is a risk of erroneous determination. Therefore, by the first determination and the second determination described later, it is determined whether the cause of the high temperature in the main body 1 is due to the disturbance or the abnormality of the main body 1.

The first determination is executed to determine whether or not the main body 1 is suspected to be in an abnormal state. In the first determination, when the detection temperature of the thermistor 14 is hunted and the heater 13 is repeatedly turned ON / OFF, that is, the number n of OFFs or ONs of the heater 13 reaches a predetermined number N within the first predetermined time t1. In some cases, the abnormality of the main body 1 is suspected. When an abnormality in the main body 1 is suspected in the first determination, a second determination is executed in order to identify whether the cause of the high temperature in the main body 1 is a temperature rise due to disturbance or an abnormality in the main body 1. In the second determination, the detection temperature of the thermistor 14 is monitored with the heater 13 turned off, and the temperature rise due to disturbance is the cause of the high temperature in the main body 1 depending on whether the detection temperature reaches the third threshold value. It can be identified whether it is an abnormality of the main body 1.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the first determination in the present embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the second determination in the present embodiment. In the figure, the time when the detection temperature of the thermistor 14 reaches the first threshold value and the heater 13 is turned off is defined as “start”, and this time is counted as the number of times n = 1 of the heater 13 being turned off. In this embodiment, the number of times the heater 13 is turned off is counted, but the number of times the heater 13 is turned on may be counted. In that case, when the detection temperature of the thermistor 14 reaches the second threshold value and the heater 13 is turned on, "start" is performed. And. Further, in the flowchart, "step" is abbreviated as "S".

In FIG. 4, when the heater 13 is turned off (start), counting for the first predetermined time is started (step 1). The first predetermined time t1 can be any time, but in this embodiment, it is 30 minutes. Next, it is determined whether or not the detection temperature of the thermistor 14 has reached the second threshold value, which is a temperature equal to or lower than the first threshold value (step 2). When the temperature inside the main body 1 drops due to the heater 13 being turned off and reaches the second threshold value (Yes in step 2), the heater 13 is turned on (step 3). After that, it is determined whether or not the detection temperature of the thermistor 14 has reached the first threshold value (step 4), and if the first threshold value is reached (Yes in step 4), the heater 13 is turned off (step 5), and the heater is turned off. The number of OFF times n of 13 is increased by 1 (step 6). Next, it is determined whether or not the OFF count n of the heater 13 has reached the predetermined number N (step 7), and if the predetermined number N has not been reached (No in step 7), the process returns to step 2. On the other hand, when the predetermined number of times N has been reached (Yes in step 7), it is determined whether or not the first predetermined time t1 has elapsed (step 8), and when the first predetermined time t1 has not elapsed (step 8). No), the second determination is executed.

When the second threshold value has not been reached in step 2 (No in step 2), it is determined whether the first predetermined time t1 has elapsed (step 9), and when the first predetermined time t1 has not elapsed (step). In No. 9 at 9, the process returns to step 2. Similarly, when the first threshold value is not reached in step 4 (No in step 4), it is determined whether the first predetermined time t1 has elapsed (step 10), and the first predetermined time t1 has not elapsed. If (No in step 10), the process returns to step 5.

Further, when the first predetermined time t1 has elapsed in each step for determining whether or not the first predetermined time t1 has elapsed (Yes in step 8, step 9, and step 10), that is, within the first predetermined time t1. When the number of OFF times n of the heater 13 does not reach the predetermined number of times N, it is determined that the main body 1 is not in an abnormal state, the first determination is completed, and normal operation is performed. In this embodiment, in step 8, step 9, and step 10, it is determined whether or not the first predetermined time t1 has elapsed, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the first is not limited to this, after the start of counting the first predetermined time. It may be determined whether or not the first predetermined time t1 has elapsed in parallel with the determination.

When the main body 1 is in an abnormal state, the heat of the heater 13 is not discharged from the inside of the main body 1 and is stored. Therefore, the detection temperature of the thermistor 14 hunts to follow the ON / OFF of the heater 13, and the heater 13 ON / OFF will be repeated. Therefore, in the first determination, when the heater 13 is repeatedly turned on and off, an abnormality in the main body 1 is suspected and the second determination is executed.

The second determination shown in FIG. 5 starts with the heater 13 turned off. When the second determination is executed, the counting of the second predetermined time is first started (step 11). The second predetermined time t2 can be any time, but in this embodiment, it is 15 minutes. Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the detection temperature of the thermistor 14 has reached the third threshold value, which is a temperature equal to or lower than the first threshold value (step 12), and if the detection temperature does not reach the third threshold value (No in step 12), the second It is determined whether or not the predetermined time t2 has elapsed (step 13). If the second predetermined time t2 has not elapsed (No in step 13), the process returns to step 12. When the second predetermined time t2 has elapsed (Yes in step 13), it is determined that the reason why the heater 13 is repeatedly turned on and off in the first determination is that the abnormality of the main body 1 is the cause, and an error is notified (Yes). Step 14), stop the operation. Further, when the detection temperature of the thermistor 14 reaches the third threshold value (Yes in step 12), it is determined that the reason why the heater 13 is repeatedly turned on and off in the first determination is that the disturbance is the cause, and no error is notified. Continue driving (end). After that, normal operation may be performed, or the heater 13 may be kept off until the operation of the main body 1 is stopped.

When the number of times the heater 13 is turned on is counted in the first determination, since the heater 13 is turned on at the start of the second determination, a step of turning off the heater 13 is added before the step 11.

The second determination is executed in a state where the heater 13 is turned off, that is, in a state where there is no heat source. Since the heater 13 is turned off, the second determination can be safely made even if the main body 1 is in an abnormal state. When the main body 1 is in an abnormal state, the detection temperature of the thermistor 14 follows the ON / OFF of the heater 13 for hunting. Therefore, if the heater 13 is OFF, the detection temperature does not reach the third threshold value. Therefore, when the detection temperature of the thermistor 14 does not reach the third threshold value within the second predetermined time t2, it can be determined that the reason why the heater 13 is repeatedly turned on and off in the first determination is due to an abnormality in the main body 1. .. As a result, when the cause of the high temperature in the main body 1 is an abnormality in the main body 1, an error can be notified, and the air conditioner becomes an excellent air conditioner. On the other hand, when the third threshold value is reached within the second predetermined time t2, it can be determined that the cause of the high temperature in the main body 1 is disturbance. As a result, the humidifying device is highly convenient because it does not generate unnecessary errors.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the timing at which the first determination in the present embodiment is started, and the horizontal axis represents time and the vertical axis represents the detection temperature of the thermistor 14, and the change in the detection temperature of the thermistor 14 is shown. In the figure, when the heater 13 is turned off, a white circle mark, a circle mark filled with the start of counting at the first predetermined time t1, a square mark filled with the end of counting at the first predetermined time t1, and 1 of OFF of the heater 13. The cycle is indicated by a double-headed arrow. The time shown below the double-headed arrow is an example of the time required for one cycle of turning off the heater 13. In this embodiment, the first threshold value is set to 30 ° C., but the temperature is not limited to this, and any value can be used. Further, the predetermined number of times N is set to 3 times in this embodiment, but it may be 2 times or more.

The first determination may be started every time the heater 13 is turned off, and the counting of the first predetermined time may be started (FIGS. 6A, B, C). As a result, even if the time required for one cycle of turning off the heater 13 varies, it is possible to detect the possibility that the main body 1 is in an abnormal state at an early stage. For example, in A, it takes 33 minutes from the first OFF of the heater 13 to the third OFF of the heater 13, and the first predetermined time t1 is exceeded, so that the second determination is not performed. However, in B and C, since it takes 30 minutes from the first OFF of the heater 13 to the third OFF of the heater 13, it is within the first predetermined time t1, and the second determination is performed. When the count for the first predetermined time is started again from the OFF of the heater 13 after the first predetermined time t1 (C is started after the end of A), the second determination is made for the third heater 13 in C. It will be when it is turned off. On the other hand, when the count for the first predetermined time is started every time the heater 13 is turned off (B is started in parallel with A), the second determination is made when the heater 13 is turned off for the third time in B. It becomes possible to detect the possibility that the main body 1 is in an abnormal state at an early stage.

Further, the first predetermined time t1 and the second predetermined time t2 can be arbitrary times, but the second predetermined time t2 may be shorter than the first predetermined time t1. In the second determination, an error is notified when the detection temperature of the thermistor 14 does not reach the third threshold value within the second predetermined time t2. Therefore, at least the second predetermined time from the suspected abnormality of the main body 1 to the error notification. It will take t2. By setting the second predetermined time t2 to be shorter than the first predetermined time t1, it does not take longer than necessary to notify the error, and the air conditioner has excellent safety.

However, if the second predetermined time t2 is too short, the second predetermined time t2 may elapse before the warm air discharged from the heating device is taken in from the suction port 5, and an error may be notified. In order to suppress such an unnecessary error, it is necessary to appropriately set the minimum value t2min for the second predetermined time. Specifically, it is preferable that the minimum value t2min of the second predetermined time is the longest time required for one cycle of OFF or ON of the heater 13 in the first determination, and t2min = t1 × (1 / (N-1)). Can be found at.

In the first determination, the time required for one cycle becomes the longest when the heater 13 takes exactly the first predetermined time t1 to turn off or on N times, and at this time, within the first predetermined time t1. It means that N-1 cycle has just occurred. Therefore, the longest time required for one cycle can be obtained by multiplying the first predetermined time t1 by 1 / (N-1), and by setting this time as the minimum value t2min of the second predetermined time, it is caused by disturbance. It is possible to accurately detect the temperature rise.

1 Main unit 3 Notification means (display unit)
4 Air outlet 5 Suction port 13 Heater 14 Temperature detection means (thermistor)
30 Control unit

Claims (4)

The main body with a suction port and an outlet,
The air passage from the suction port to the air outlet,
The heater provided in the air passage and
A temperature detecting means provided in the air passage path and arranged upstream of the heater, and
A notification means for notifying an error of the main body and
A control unit that controls the notification means is provided.
The heater is
When the detection temperature of the temperature detecting means reaches the first threshold value, it is turned off, and when it reaches the second threshold value, it is turned on.
The control unit
The first determination for determining whether or not the number of times n of the heaters are turned off or on has reached the predetermined number of times N within the first predetermined time t1.
It is possible to execute the second determination of determining whether or not the detection temperature of the temperature detecting means has reached the third threshold value within the second predetermined time t2 with the heater turned off.
When the predetermined number of times N is reached in the first determination, the second determination is executed.
An air conditioner that notifies an error by the notification means when the third threshold value is not reached in the second determination. The air conditioner according to claim 1, which does not notify an error when the third threshold value is reached in the second determination. The air conditioner according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second predetermined time t2 is shorter than the first predetermined time t1. The air conditioner according to claim 3, wherein the minimum value t2min of the second predetermined time is t2min = t1 × (1 / (N-1)).

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