JP3163860B2 - Operation control device for air conditioner - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an operation control device for an air conditioner, and more particularly to a countermeasure against time when an abnormality occurs.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-155144, a controller of an outdoor unit and a controller of an indoor unit transmit and receive signals via a signal line to an operation control device of an air conditioner. In some cases, a remote controller is connected to the indoor controller via a signal line so as to be able to send and receive signals. When the operation button or the temperature setting button of the remote controller is operated, a start signal of the compressor is transmitted and received between the outdoor controller and the indoor controller to control the air-conditioning operation. An abnormal signal is transmitted to the remote controller to display the contents of the abnormality on the remote controller.

[0003]

In the above-described operation control device for an air conditioner, a time circuit is provided in each of the controllers of the indoor units, and the time circuit outputs a time signal by counting the current time. When an error occurs, the details of the error and the time of occurrence of the error are stored. However, in this case, since the time circuit is provided in the indoor unit, in the multi-type air conditioner having a plurality of indoor units, it is necessary to provide the time circuit for each indoor unit, and the number of parts is large. There was a problem of becoming. Conversely, an indoor unit without a time circuit cannot recognize the time of occurrence of an abnormality, so that the cause of the abnormality cannot be accurately grasped.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to accurately recognize the time of occurrence of an abnormality with a small number of parts and to make accurate failure diagnosis. Is what you do.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the means adopted by the present invention is such that each air conditioning unit is provided with one timer means for outputting a time signal. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, means taken by the invention according to claim 1 first includes a plurality of air conditioning units (3, 3,...) Performing an air conditioning operation, and each of the air conditioning units (3, 3,. 3,
..) Are premised on the operation control device of the air conditioner connected via the signal line (11). An abnormality detection means (33) for detecting an abnormality and outputting an abnormality signal is provided. Further, a time signal is output so that each of the air conditioning units (3, 3,...) Captures time data indicating the current time.
Two timer means (5) are provided. In addition, the storage means (35) for receiving the abnormality signal of the abnormality detection means (33) and the time signal of the timer means (5) and storing the content of the abnormality and the time of occurrence of the abnormality is stored in the air conditioning units (3, 3). ,…). Further, the means taken by the invention according to claim 2 is the same as that of claim 1, wherein the timer means (5) is
Each air conditioning unit (3,3,…) is configured separately from the signal line
Each of the air conditioning units (3, 3,...) Is connected via (11) with a timer unit.

[0006]

According to the above construction, according to the first aspect of the present invention,
The timer means (5) counts the current time and outputs a time signal indicating the current time. For example, in the invention according to claim 2, one timer unit outputs a time signal at every ten intervals. On the other hand, when each of the air conditioning units (3, 3, ...) receives the time signal, it takes in the time signal and sequentially stores the current time. The abnormality detecting means (33) outputs an abnormality signal when a transmission abnormality or a high-pressure abnormality occurs. When the abnormality signal is output, the abnormality detecting means (33) of each of the air conditioning units (3, 3,...). The contents of the abnormality and the abnormality occurrence time based on the time signal from the timer means (5) are stored in the storage means (35). Thereafter, in maintenance or the like, the contents of the abnormality and the time of occurrence of the abnormality stored in the storage means (35) are extracted, and the abnormality processing is performed.

[0007]

Therefore, according to the first aspect of the present invention,
Each of the air conditioning units (3, 3,...) Is provided with one timer means (5) to transmit a time signal using the signal line (11) and to store the time of occurrence at the time of abnormality. Since the number of parts can be reduced as compared with the case of providing each device, the configuration of the entire apparatus can be simplified. In addition, since the time at which an abnormality has occurred can be recognized, the cause of the abnormality can be accurately grasped, and accurate maintenance can be performed. According to the second aspect of the present invention, in order to provide one timer unit separate from the air conditioning unit (3,3,...), The air conditioning unit (3,3,. And the versatility of the air conditioning unit (3, 3,...) Can be improved.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 shows an overall system configuration diagram of the air conditioner (1). The air conditioner (1) is composed of four outdoor units (2, 2,...) And a plurality of air conditioner indoor units ( ) Are connected to a refrigerant pipe to constitute one refrigerant system, and each of the outdoor units (2, 2, ...) and the indoor units (3, 3, ...) are connected to a signal line (11). To form one control system (12), and the outdoor unit (2, 2,...)
) And the indoor units (3, 3,...) Exchange control signals such as operation signals. In addition, the indoor units (3,3, ...
), A remote control (4) is connected via a signal line (13),
The remote controller (4) is connected to each indoor unit (3,3,...) Or one remote controller (4) is connected to a plurality of indoor units (3,3,...) One for each remote control (4)
Remote control group (14,1) controlled by one remote control (4)
4,…). Furthermore, all the indoor units (3,
3,...) Are connected to a schedule timer (5) via a signal line (11).

FIG. 3 shows a control block of each of the air conditioners (1), and the indoor units (3, 3,...)
(31). The CPU (31) is connected to the remote controller (4) and the outdoor units (2, 2,...) Via the transmission units (3a, 3b, 3c), and has a schedule timer (5). And is connected to various actuators (32) such as an indoor fan to control the fan airflow and the like. Above outdoor unit
(2, 2,...) (2) controls the capacity of the compressor, the opening of the electric expansion valve, etc., while the remote controller (4) includes a CPU (41), and the CPU (41) Indoor unit via section (4a)
(3,3,…), and a display section (42) and an input section (4
3) and are connected. The display unit (42) displays the room temperature, the set temperature, and the like, while the input unit (43)
It is configured to input an operation signal, a set temperature signal, and the like. The schedule timer (5) is connected to the CPU (51).
The CPU (51) is connected to the indoor units (3, 3,...) Via the transmission unit (5a), and the input unit (52) is connected to the clock circuit unit (53). I have. The input unit (52)
The operation time and the stop time are configured to be input, and the clock circuit unit (53) outputs a clock signal to the CPU (51). And the above schedule timer
(5) When the operation time or the stop time input from the input unit (52) is reached based on the clock signal from the clock circuit unit (53), the indoor unit (3,3,...) It is configured to output a signal.

On the other hand, as a feature of the present invention, the CPU (51) of the schedule timer (5) is provided with a time oscillating means (54), and the CPU of each of the indoor units (3, 3,...)
(31) is provided with an abnormality detecting means (33) and a RAM
(34) and EEPROM (35) are connected. The time oscillating means (54) receives the clock signal from the clock circuit unit (53), ticks the current time, and causes the indoor units (3, 3, ...) to capture time data indicating the current time. It is configured to output a time signal, and the schedule timer (5) constitutes timer means as one timer unit. On the other hand, the abnormality detecting means (33) detects a transmission abnormality between the outdoor unit (2, 2,...) And the remote controller (4), a high-pressure abnormality of the refrigerant due to the outside air temperature, and the like, and an abnormality code indicating the content of the abnormality. Is output.
The RAM (34) receives the time signal from the schedule timer (5), sequentially updates and writes the current time, and stores the current time. The above EEPROM
(35) receives the abnormality signal of the abnormality detection means (33),
A storage means for receiving the time signal of the schedule timer (5) from the RAM (34) and storing the abnormal code and the abnormal occurrence time.

Next, the processing operation of the air conditioner (1) when an abnormality occurs will be described with reference to the control flows of FIGS. First, the remote controller (4) transmits an operation signal, a set temperature signal, and the like to the indoor units (3, 3, ...), and the indoor unit (3, 3, ...) transmits a status signal such as a current indoor temperature. Is transmitted to the remote controller (4), and the remote controller (4) displays the room temperature and the like on the display section (42). The above indoor unit
(3, 3,...) Transmits an operation signal and the like from the remote controller (4) to the outdoor unit (2, 2,...).
2,…) transmits control signals such as the expansion valve opening to the indoor unit (3,
3, ...) to control the air-conditioning operation.

On the other hand, in the schedule timer (5), the CPU (51) fetches a clock signal from the clock circuit section (53), the time oscillating means (54) ticks the current time, and outputs a time signal indicating the current time. Output to the indoor units (3, 3,...), For example, a time signal is output at intervals of 10 minutes. And
In the indoor units (3, 3,...), First, as shown in FIG.
, It is determined whether or not time data has been received, that is, whether or not a time signal has been transmitted from the schedule timer (5). Until the time data is received, the determination in step ST1 is NO. And waits at step ST1. Thereafter, when the indoor unit (3, 3,...) Receives a time signal from the schedule timer (5), the indoor unit (3, 3,...)
Is YES, the process moves to step ST2, and writes time data based on the time signal to the RAM (34), returns to step ST1, and repeats the above operation. That is, for example, since the schedule timer (5) outputs a time signal at intervals of 10 minutes, the indoor units (3, 3,...) Store the current time data in the RAM based on the time signal.
(34) is sequentially updated and written every 10 minutes.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the indoor units (3, 3,...), When an abnormality processing routine is started, it is determined in step ST3 whether an abnormality has occurred and an abnormality occurs. Until the determination in step ST3 is N
It becomes O and stands by at step ST4. That is, when a transmission abnormality or a high-pressure abnormality occurs, the abnormality detection means (33) outputs an abnormality signal. Therefore, the process waits in step ST3 until the abnormality signal is output. If the determination in step ST3 is YES, the process moves to step ST4,
The abnormal code and the time data in the RAM (34) are written in the EEPROM (35), and the process returns to step ST3 to repeat the above-mentioned operation. That is, when the abnormality detection means (33) outputs an abnormality signal, an abnormality code indicating the content of the abnormality and time data indicating the time of occurrence of the abnormality are written and stored in the EEPROM (35). Thereafter, when the data at the time of the abnormality is taken out from the remote controller (4) during maintenance or the like, the abnormality code written in the EEPROM (35) and the abnormality occurrence time are displayed on the display section (42) of the remote controller (4). That is, abnormality processing is performed based on the abnormality code and the abnormality occurrence time.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, the schedule timer (5) as one timer means is provided, and the signal line (11)
The time signal is transmitted by using the indoor units (3,3,…
) Stores the time of occurrence at the time of abnormality, and the number of parts can be reduced as compared with the case where each indoor unit (3, 3, ...) is provided. Can be simplified. In addition, since the time at which an abnormality has occurred can be recognized, the cause of the abnormality can be accurately grasped, and accurate maintenance can be performed. Moreover, the indoor unit (3,3,...) And the outdoor unit (2,
In addition to providing one schedule timer (5) separate from the indoor units (3,3, ...), the indoor units (3,3, ...) can be shared. ..) Can be improved.

In this embodiment, the timer unit is constituted by the schedule timer (5). However, the timer means of the present invention may be constituted by one separate timer unit which outputs only the current time. Further, the timer means of the present invention includes an indoor unit (3,3,3) such as a schedule timer (5).
…), Etc., need not be provided separately, but provided in one indoor unit (3,3,...) Or one outdoor unit (2,2,...), And the indoor unit (3,3,. Unit (2,2,
Each indoor unit (3,3,…) from one timer means
May output a time signal. In addition, the above E
Writing of the error code and time data to the EPROM (35) is not an update (overwrite), but a memory
You may make it accumulate. The storage means is an EEP
It is not limited to the ROM (35), and may be a nonvolatile memory or the like. The air conditioner (1) has one outdoor unit.
(2, 2,...), And it is a matter of course that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram of the air conditioner.

FIG. 3 is a control block diagram of the air conditioner.

FIG. 4 is a control flowchart showing a time processing routine.

FIG. 5 is a control flowchart showing an abnormality processing routine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Air conditioner 11 Signal line 3 Indoor unit (air conditioning unit) 31 CPU 33 Abnormality detection means 34 RAM 35 EEPROM (storage means) 5 Schedule timer (timer means) 53 Clock circuit unit 54 Time oscillating means

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) F24F 11/02 103 F24F 11/02 102 F24F 11/02

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] A plurality of air conditioning units (3, 3) for performing an air conditioning operation.
3,...), And each of the air conditioning units (3, 3,...) Has a signal line.
In the operation control device of the air conditioner connected via (11), abnormality detecting means for detecting an abnormality and outputting an abnormality signal (33)
And the time data indicating the current time are stored in each of the above air conditioning units (3, 3,
) Are provided in each of the air conditioning units (3, 3,...), And the abnormality signal of the abnormality detection means (33) and the timer means (5) are provided. The operation control device for an air conditioner, further comprising storage means (35) for receiving the time signal of (3) and storing the content of the abnormality and the time of occurrence of the abnormality. 2. The operation control device for an air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the timer means (5) is formed separately from each of the air conditioning units (3, 3,...) And connected via a signal line (11). Each air conditioning unit (3,
3, ...) An air conditioner operation control device comprising a connected timer unit.