JP2675508B2 - Heating equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a heating device such as a water heater, a heater, and a stove, and more particularly to a heating device having a self-monitoring function for abnormality occurring in the heating device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In heating devices such as water heaters, heaters and gas stoves, a controller for controlling the heating operation has a so-called self-diagnosis function to detect whether or not an abnormality has occurred in the heating device and the contents of the abnormality. In addition, it is generally known that the contents of the generated abnormality are displayed on a display.

For example, a gas water heater or a gas heater is usually provided with a misfire detection sensor for detecting the misfire of the gas burner, and when the controller detects the misfire, the gas is supplied to the gas burner. The combustion operation of the device is automatically stopped by shutting off, and an appropriate indicator is provided to indicate that misfire has occurred.

On the other hand, a user of this type of heating device requests a repair company to perform repair when an abnormality occurs and the device stops operating. And when making such a request,
The user usually makes a repair request to the dealer by telephone, but at this time, the user forgets the telephone number of the dealer, or loses the paper etc. in which the telephone number of the dealer is written, In many cases, the place where the paper or the like is stored is forgotten, and in such a case, the user cannot request the repair to the dealer or the repair request is delayed.

Therefore, in this type of heating device,
It is known that a sticker on which a telephone number of a repairer is attached is attached to the main body or the like.

However, in the case where the sticker in which the telephone number of the trader is written is attached to the main body of the heating device as described above, there are many cases where the sticker is peeled off or the telephone number becomes unreadable due to dirt. Therefore, there is an inconvenience that the user cannot be surely made to recognize the telephone number of the dealer.

Further, in the case where the sticker in which the telephone number of the trader is described is attached to the main body of the heating device,
There were also the following inconveniences.

That is, some of the abnormalities that occur in this type of heating device include those that must be repaired and those that do not necessarily require repair. For example, when the hot water temperature sensor in the gas water heater having the function of maintaining the hot water temperature at the set temperature or the room temperature sensor in the gas heater having the function of keeping the room temperature at the set temperature fails, It is essential to perform repairs such as replacement of the sensor. On the other hand, for example, in a gas water heater or a gas heater, when the gas burner misfires due to wind or the like, the combustion operation is automatically stopped once by the control of the controller, and a message indicating that misfire has occurred is displayed. Although it is notified to the user by the device, in such an abnormality, the combustion operation can be restarted without trouble by restarting the device.

However, in the case where the seal having the telephone number of the trader is attached to the main body of the heating device as described above, when an abnormality occurs and the operation of the heating device is stopped, the abnormality is caused by the heating device. Although it is abnormal that the heating operation can be restarted without trouble if the device is restarted, the user often requests the repair to the contractor easily. There was an inconvenience that

[0010]

In view of the background described above, the present invention can reliably inform the user of the telephone number of a dealer who repairs the heating device when an abnormality occurs in the heating device. An object of the present invention is to provide a heating device capable of accurately notifying the telephone number according to the content of the abnormality.

[0011]

In order to achieve such an object, the present invention provides an abnormality detecting means for detecting whether or not an abnormality has occurred and the content of the abnormality when the heating device is in operation, and the abnormality detecting means In a heating device provided with an operation stopping means for stopping the operation of the heating device when detected, a storage device for storing in advance the telephone number of a trader engaged in the repair of the heating device, and the storage device. Notifying means for notifying the telephone number of the trader,
When an abnormality occurs in the heating device, a determination unit that determines whether the abnormality content detected by the abnormality detection unit is a serious abnormality content that requires repair according to a predetermined classification or a minor abnormality content other than that, and the determination unit. When it is determined by the means that the content is the serious abnormality, the notification means notifies the telephone number of the trader after the occurrence of the abnormality,
When the determination means determines that the content of the minor abnormality is, when the abnormality of the content of the minor abnormality occurs continuously for a predetermined number of times by restarting the heating device after the occurrence of the abnormality, the notification means calls the telephone of the vendor. And a notification control means for notifying the number.

[0012]

Further, the storage means is a nonvolatile storage means capable of electrically writing / erasing.

[0014]

According to the present invention, when an abnormality occurs and is detected by the abnormality detecting means, the telephone number of the dealer stored in the storage means is stored at an appropriate timing according to the content of the abnormality. This is notified by the notifying means, which allows the user to surely recognize the telephone number as necessary.

That is, when an abnormality occurs, the determination means determines whether the content of the abnormality is the serious abnormality content in which the heating device must be repaired or the other minor abnormality content. At this time, the abnormality occurs. When the abnormality content is a serious abnormality content, the notification means notifies the telephone number of the trader under the control of the notification control means.
As a result, the user can recognize that the abnormality that has occurred is an abnormality that needs to be repaired, and can promptly request a repair from a dealer. Then, if the abnormality content that occurred is a minor abnormality content, the telephone number of the dealer is not immediately notified by the control of the notification control means, and the heating stopped by the operation stopping means when the abnormality occurs. Even if the device is restarted a predetermined number of times, if a slight abnormality occurs, the telephone number of the dealer is notified. This makes it possible to prevent the user from easily making a repair request to a contractor when an abnormality occurs in which the operation of the heating device is restarted without trouble by restarting the heating device. It is possible to recognize the necessity of requesting a repair from the dealer by notifying the telephone number of the dealer after repeating the restart a predetermined number of times.

Further, when the storage means is an electrically writable / erasable non-volatile storage means, the telephone number of the dealer can be surely stored and retained without being affected by a power failure or disturbance. For each heating device, it is possible to store the telephone number of the nearest dealer or the like convenient for the user at any time.

[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An example of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 by taking a water heater as a heating device as an example. FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a water heater to which the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is a block configuration diagram of a main part of the water heater, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the water heater.

In FIG. 1, the water heater according to the present embodiment has a water pipe 3 of a heat exchanger 2 having a gas burner 1 as a heating source.
In addition, a feed water temperature thermistor 4 that detects the feed water temperature to the heat exchanger 2, a tap water temperature thermistor 5 that detects the tap water temperature from the heat exchanger 2, and a water flow that detects the presence or absence of a water flow in the water pipe 3. A switch 6 and a flow rate sensor 7 in the water pipe 3 are provided, and a frame rod 8 for detecting ignition / misfire of the gas burner 1 is provided near the gas burner 1. The water supply temperature thermistor 4, the hot water temperature thermistor 5, the water flow switch 6, the flow rate sensor 7, and the frame rod 8 are sensors for controlling the operation of the water heater and detecting an abnormality occurring in the water heater.

In the water heater of the present embodiment, the gas pipe 9 to the gas burner 1 is provided with a solenoid valve 10 for opening and closing the gas pipe 9 and a gas proportional for adjusting the gas supply amount to the gas burner 1. A combustion fan 13 for supplying combustion air to the gas burner 1 is provided in the water heater main body 12 provided with a valve 11 and the gas burner 1 and the heat exchanger 2.
And a sparker 14 for igniting the gas burner 1. These solenoid valve 10, gas proportional valve 1
1, the combustion fan 13, and the sparker 14 are actuators for driving and driving the water heater.

Further, the water heater according to the present embodiment has a control unit 15 for controlling its operation, detecting whether or not an abnormality has occurred and the content of the abnormality, and a remote control unit 16 (hereinafter, referred to as "control unit 15") connected to the control unit 15. Remote control unit 16). Note that, in FIG. 1, for convenience of description, the control unit 15 is described as being provided outside the water heater body 12, but in reality, the control unit 15 is provided in the water heater body 12, and the remote control unit is provided. Reference numeral 16 is provided outside the water heater main body 12 (in an appropriate place such as a kitchen).

Referring to FIG. 2, the control unit 15
Includes a main body control unit 17 to which the above-mentioned sensors and actuators are connected, and a communication circuit unit 18 for exchanging signals with the remote control unit 16.
Reference numeral 7 is composed of an electronic circuit including a microcomputer (not shown) and a drive circuit for each actuator described above. The main body control unit 17 has, as its functional configuration, an operation for driving and controlling each actuator such as the solenoid valve 10 based on the above-mentioned sensor signals, command signals given from the remote control unit 16 and the like during hot water supply operation. The control unit 19 and an abnormality detection unit 20 (abnormality detection unit) that detects the presence or absence of an abnormality and the content of the abnormality based on the signals of the respective sensors are provided.

In this case, as shown in Table 1, the abnormality detecting section 20 detects, for example, a poor initial check and the hot water temperature thermistor 5.
Abnormality, an abnormality of the feed water temperature thermistor 4, an ignition mistake, a misfire, and the like can be detected.

[0023]

[Table 1]

More specifically, regarding the initial check failure, for example, the main body control unit 17 outputs the output of the frame rod 8 and the above-mentioned each before the hot water supply operation immediately after the hot water supply is started (before the combustion of the gas burner 1). The output of an actuator drive circuit (not shown) is detected. At this time, for example, a signal indicating that the gas burner 1 has ignited is output from the frame rod 8 even though the gas burner 1 has not yet ignited. In such a case, the abnormality detection unit 20 detects that an abnormality such as initial check failure has occurred.

Further, for example, regarding the abnormality of the hot water temperature thermistor 5 and the water supply temperature thermistor 4, the main body control unit 17
Detects the energization voltage to these thermistors 5 and 4 during operation of the water heater, and detects the presence or absence of disconnection or short circuit of each thermistor 5 or 4 based on the detected energization voltage. When a short circuit or a short circuit is detected, the abnormality detection unit 20 detects that an abnormality has occurred in the thermistor 5 or 4.

Further, for example, with respect to the ignition error, the operation control unit 19 opens the solenoid valve 10, the combustion fan 13 and the sparker 14 in accordance with a predetermined ignition sequence when the gas burner 1 is ignited. When the ignition of the gas burner 1 is not detected via the frame rod 8 in such an ignition sequence, the abnormality detection unit 20 detects that an abnormality such as an ignition error has occurred. .

Regarding the above-mentioned misfire, the main body control section 17 detects the output of the flame rod 8 during combustion of the gas burner 1, and the output of the flame rod 8 indicates the misfire of the gas burner 1. If
The abnormality detection unit 20 detects that an abnormality such as misfire has occurred.

The hot water supply operation of the water heater under the control of the operation control unit 19 is performed by the applicant of the present invention, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-213.
It is basically the same as that disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 644,
Although detailed description is omitted, feedback control and feed are performed so that the hot water temperature detected through the hot water temperature thermistor 5 at the time of hot water supply becomes a set temperature set by a temperature setting switch of a remote control unit 16 described later. By the forward control, the combustion of the gas burner 1 is controlled via the gas proportional valve 11 and the combustion fan 13.

The operation control section 19 constitutes an operation stopping means corresponding to the constitution of the present invention. When the abnormality detection section 20 detects the occurrence of an abnormality,
The hot water supply operation of the water heater is stopped.

Further, the main body control section 17 transmits a signal indicating that the gas burner 1 is burning during the hot water supply operation to the remote control unit 16 via the communication circuit section 18, and
The abnormality content detected by the abnormality detection unit 20 when an abnormality occurs is transmitted to the remote control unit 16 via the communication circuit unit 18.

The remote control unit 16 sets a communication circuit section 21 for exchanging signals with the control unit 15, an operation switch 22 for starting and stopping the water heater, and a hot water temperature. Temperature setting switch 2 for
An operation unit 24 having 3 or the like, an EEPROM 25 that is an electrically writable and erasable nonvolatile storage means that stores and holds the telephone number of a service provider who repairs the water heater, and the set temperature of the hot water temperature and the storage in the EEPROM 25 A display unit 26 (notifying means) for displaying the telephone number etc., and a remote controller control unit 27 composed of an electronic circuit including a microcomputer like the main body control unit 17 are provided. In this case, the remote controller control unit 27 transmits a start / stop command given from the operation switch 22 of the operation unit 24 to the control unit 15 via the communication circuit unit 21 and also from the control unit 15 when an abnormality occurs. The contents of the abnormality and the like are received via the communication circuit unit 21 and displayed on the display unit 26.

Further, the remote controller control unit 27 has, as its functional configuration, whether the abnormality content transmitted from the control unit 15 when an abnormality occurs is a serious abnormality content essential for repair,
An abnormality content discriminating section 28 (discriminating means) for discriminating whether or not the content is a minor abnormality and a display control section (informing control means) 29 for controlling the display of the display section 26 when an abnormality occurs are provided.

In this case, the abnormality content discriminating section 28 determines the abnormality content which can be detected by the abnormality detecting section 20 into the serious abnormality content which is indispensable for repair and the other minor abnormality content as shown in Table 1. For example, the severe abnormality content is classified into abnormal content such as the initial check failure, the discharge hot water temperature thermistor 5 abnormality, and the feed water temperature thermistor 4 abnormality. The abnormal contents such as the ignition failure and the misfire are classified.

That is, for example, the initial check failure is
As described above, for example, the signal indicating that the gas burner 1 is ignited from the frame rod 8 is output immediately before the hot water supply operation (before the combustion of the gas burner 1) immediately after the hot water supply is started, and when the hot water is discharged. The abnormality of the temperature thermistor 5 and the abnormality of the feed water temperature thermistor 4 are the cases where the thermistors 5 and 4 are disconnected or short-circuited as described above. Therefore, these abnormality cannot be resolved without repair. Therefore, it is classified as a serious abnormality.

Further, abnormalities such as poor ignition and misfire may occur due to, for example, mere wind.
In some cases, repair is not always necessary, so these abnormalities are classified as minor abnormalities.

Then, the abnormality content discriminating section 28 discriminates whether the abnormality content transmitted from the control unit 15 when the abnormality occurs is the severe abnormality content or the mild abnormality content based on the file data as described above. I am trying to do it.

The display control section 2 will be described in detail later.
9 indicates whether the abnormality content transmitted from the control unit 15 when an abnormality occurs is a serious abnormality content or a minor abnormality content,
The telephone number of the trader stored and held in the EEPROM 25 is appropriately displayed on the display unit 26.

Next, the operation of such a water heater will be described.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, when the operation switch 22 of the remote control unit 16 is turned on (ST
(YES in EP1), the operation command signal is transmitted from the remote controller control section 27 to the main body control section 17 via the communication circuit sections 21 and 18, whereby the operation control section 19 starts the operation of the water heater and the hot water supply. Operations etc. are performed (S
TEP2).

When an abnormality occurs during the operation until the user turns off the operation switch 22 (STEPs 3 and 4), this is the main body control unit 1.
The abnormality is detected by the abnormality detecting unit 20 of No. 7, and at this time, the operation control unit 19 closes the electromagnetic valve 10 to stop the combustion of the gas burner 1 and automatically stop the operation of the water heater (STEP 5). At this time, the content of the abnormality detected by the abnormality detection unit 20 is transmitted from the main body control unit 17 to the communication circuit unit 1
When it is transmitted to the remote controller control unit 27 via 8 and 21, and the content of the abnormality is received, the remote controller control unit 27 displays the abnormality content on the display unit 26 (STEP).
6).

It should be noted that the operation switch 22 is operated without any abnormality.
Is turned off (YES in STEP 3
S), the operation of the water heater is normally stopped (STEP
7) Then, it stands by until the operation switch 22 is turned on again.

When the abnormality occurs, the abnormality content received by the remote controller control unit 27 is the serious abnormality content that is indispensable for repair according to the file data shown in Table 1 above by the abnormality content determination unit 28, or other than that. It is determined whether or not the contents are minor abnormal contents (STEP 8).

If it is determined that the abnormality content that has occurred is a serious abnormality content (YES in STEP 8).
S), the display control unit 29 of the remote control control unit 27 causes the EEPR
The telephone number of the trader stored in the OM 25 is read out and displayed on the display unit 26 (STEP 9).

Therefore, when an essential abnormality of repair occurs, the telephone number of the dealer is immediately displayed on the display unit 26,
As a result, the user can recognize the necessity of repair, and can promptly request a repair from the dealer.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the abnormality content that has occurred is a minor abnormality content (N in STEP 8
O), after the occurrence of the abnormality, even if the water heater is restarted twice in a row (the operation switch 22 is turned on again),
Whenever a minor abnormality occurs, the display control unit 29 causes the display unit 26 to display the telephone number of the vendor stored and held in the EEPROM 25.

More specifically, with reference to FIG. 3, the display control unit 29 has a count parameter N, and the value of this count parameter N is set at the time of the first operation of the water heater,
It is set (reset) to "0" when the hot water supply operation is stopped without any abnormality (STEP a, b).

If an abnormality occurs during operation and the content of the abnormality is a minor abnormality content (NO in STEP8), "1" is added to the current value of the count parameter N (STEPc), and the addition is performed. When the value of the new count parameter N later is smaller than "3" (NO in STEPd), the display control unit 29 does not display the telephone number of the dealer on the display unit 26 and restarts the water heater. And the process after STEP 1 is repeated.

After the occurrence of the minor abnormality content, the restart of the water heater by the ON operation of the operation switch 22 is repeated twice, and each time the minor abnormality content occurs, the count parameter N is changed. The value becomes “3”,
At this time, the display control unit 29 displays the telephone number of the trader on the display unit 2.
Display on page 6. Therefore, in the case of occurrence of a minor abnormality, even if the abnormality is caused by restarting the water heater,
If it occurs consecutively, the telephone number of the supplier is displayed on the display unit 26.
If the abnormality is not caused by the restart, the telephone number of the dealer is not displayed on the display unit 26.

Specifically, in the case where the ignition failure or the misfire, which is a slight abnormality, occurs due to wind or the like, for example, normally,
Since the operation of the water heater is restarted without trouble by restarting the water heater by turning on the operation switch 22 again, in such a case, the telephone number of the dealer is not displayed on the display unit 26.

On the other hand, if a small abnormality such as a defective ignition occurs due to a failure of the combustion fan 13 or the like, even if the hot water heater is repeatedly restarted after that, an abnormality such as a defective ignition occurs each time. In many cases, the telephone number of the trader is displayed on the display unit 26.

This prevents the user from easily making a repair request to the dealer in the event of an abnormality in which operation can be restarted without trouble by restarting the water heater, but it cannot be solved even by restarting. When an abnormality occurs, the telephone number of the dealer is displayed on the display unit 26 after several restart operations, so that the user can recognize the necessity of repair and request the repair by the display. Can be done quickly.

As described above, according to the water heater of the present embodiment, when an abnormality occurs, the telephone number of the dealer stored in the EEPROM 25 is appropriately displayed on the display unit of the remote control unit 16 according to the content of the abnormality. Since it is displayed on 26, the user can easily recognize the telephone number of the dealer, and can promptly request a repair to the dealer if necessary. In this case, since the telephone number of the dealer is stored and held in the EEPROM 25, the storage is surely maintained without being affected by a power failure or disturbance, and the telephone number is displayed when an abnormality occurs. It can be carried out. Further, since the stored contents of the EEPROM 25 can be easily written / erased, it is possible to store the telephone number of a dealer convenient to the user, such as a dealer closest to the user, in the EEPROM 25 when the water heater is purchased. it can.

In the embodiment described above, the telephone number of the dealer is displayed on the display unit 26 of the remote control unit 16.
However, it may be displayed on the main body side of the water heater.

In the present embodiment, the telephone number of the dealer is displayed when the abnormality of the minor abnormality content occurs, for example, three times in succession. However, the minor abnormality content for displaying the telephone number is displayed. The number of consecutive occurrences is not limited to 3 times, but 2 or 4 times.
It can be set arbitrarily such as times.

Further, in the present embodiment, the telephone number of the trader is displayed on the display unit 26, but the user may be notified by voice or the like.

In this embodiment, the water heater is used as an example of the heating device, but an oven, a range,
Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to various types of heating devices such as stoves.

[0057]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the telephone number of the dealer is stored in the storage means, and when an abnormality occurs, the telephone number of the dealer stored in the storage means. By notifying the user by means of the notification means, when an abnormality occurs, the user can easily recognize the telephone number of the contractor requesting the repair, and by notifying the telephone number, the contractor is notified. You can make a quick repair request.

Then, the abnormality content that has occurred is discriminated by the discriminating means as to whether it is a serious abnormality content that requires repair or other minor abnormality content. Inform the user of the telephone number, and if the content is a minor abnormality, restart the heating device and notify the user of the telephone number of the vendor when the abnormality of the minor abnormality occurs consecutively for a predetermined number of times. By doing so, the user can recognize the need for repair by notifying the telephone number and promptly request a repair to the contractor, and restart the heating device to restart the heating device without trouble. In the event of a minor abnormality that can be performed, it is possible to prevent the user from easily requesting a repair from the dealer, and to properly notify the telephone number according to the abnormality content. Can That.

Further, since the storage means is composed of an electrically writable and erasable non-volatile storage means, the storage and retention of the telephone number of the dealer can be ensured irrespective of a power failure or disturbance, and an abnormality occurs. In this case, the telephone number can be reliably notified, and the telephone number of the operator convenient for the user can be appropriately stored and held.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a water heater to which an example of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block configuration diagram of a main part of the water heater of FIG. 1;

3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the water heater of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

19 ... Operation control section (operation stop means), 20 ... Abnormality detection section (abnormality detection means), 25 ... EEPROM (storage means),
26 ... Display unit (informing unit), 28 ... Abnormality content determination unit (determination unit), 29 ... Display control unit (display control unit).

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A method for determining whether or not an abnormality has occurred during the operation of the heating device.
And an abnormality detecting means for detecting the content of the abnormality, and an operation stopping means for stopping the operation of the heating device when the occurrence of the abnormality is detected by the abnormality detecting means. a storage means for the telephone number of skilled previously stored and held engaged, and informing means for informing the telephone number of the skill that is stored and held in the storage means, before
When an abnormality occurs in the heating device, the abnormality detection means
According to the predetermined classification
Or other minor abnormalities that need repair.
And a determination means for determining whether the
When it is determined that the content is normal
The notification means notifies the telephone number of the trader,
If it is determined by the determination means that the content is a minor abnormality
In that case, restart the heating device after the abnormality occurs
Before the occurrence of the above-mentioned minor abnormality details for several consecutive times
Information that informs the telephone number of the above-mentioned supplier by the notification means.
A heating device comprising: intelligent control means . 2. A method according to claim 1 Symbol, wherein the storage means is an electrically write and erasable non-volatile memory means
On-board heating device.