JP3892556B2 - Combustion device with communication function - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a combustor with a communication function used in a remote monitoring system using communication means such as a telephone line.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a remote monitoring system in which a gas meter at each home or office is connected to a monitoring center via a telephone line to centrally monitor the remaining amount of gas, gas leakage, or the like has been adopted. Therefore, for the same purpose, a combustion device such as a water heater is connected to the monitoring center of the combustion device via a communication means such as a telephone line, and the failure of the appliance is reported, so that a quick response such as maintenance can be performed. A remote monitoring system that has been made possible can also be configured. Therefore, such a combustion apparatus for a remote monitoring system is provided with a communication function capable of outputting information to the outside using a communication means such as a telephone line.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, since the above remote monitoring system only monitors information related to the appliance such as the usage status of the appliance and the occurrence of an abnormality, for example, when a person living alone falls down in the bathroom while using the water heater, Correspondence when an abnormality occurs is not considered.
On the other hand, since the communication between the combustion apparatus and the monitoring center is almost automatic, if a user wants to request maintenance due to a minor problem that does not lead to a failure, it is necessary to make a separate telephone call. However, since the contact location is unclear and the user cannot often explain the technical contents clearly even if the contact can be made, the contents of the defect are different when the service person actually asks because it is not accurately communicated. The work efficiency becomes very poor because the prepared parts cannot be used.
[0004]
Accordingly, the invention described in claim 1 is used for such a remote monitoring system, and has an object to provide a combustor with a communication function capable of contacting the outside at an arbitrary timing according to the user's will. Is.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 is a combustor with a communication function that includes a storage unit capable of storing generated abnormal data and can output information to the outside using a communication means. In addition, a call switch and a maintenance switch that can be arbitrarily turned ON are provided, and the ON operation information can be output to the outside by the ON operation of the call switch. On the other hand, the ON operation information by the ON operation of the maintenance switch At the same time, the abnormality data stored in the storage unit can be output to the outside .
[0006]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a remote monitoring system using a hot water heater with a communication function (hereinafter abbreviated as “hot water heater”), and FIG. 2 is a configuration explanatory diagram of a controller in the hot water heater. First, the water heater 1 performs well-known hot water control for heating water passing through the heat exchanger with the combustion heat of the burner. The controller 2 includes a CPU 3, a combustion control unit 4, an abnormality detection unit 5, A storage unit 6, a first communication unit 7, and a second communication unit 8 are provided. The combustion control unit 4 includes a drive circuit such as an electromagnetic valve and a proportional control valve disposed in the gas flow path, an ignition circuit equipped with an igniter, and the like, and performs point extinguishing control of the burner and opening / closing control of the proportional control valve. Next, the abnormality detection unit 5 detects non-ignition or misfire by a frame rod or a thermocouple, detection of incomplete combustion, failure detection of a solenoid valve, detection of abnormal temperature by a fuse arranged at the inner cylinder outlet of the combustion chamber, etc. Do. The storage unit 6 stores abnormal data such as the number of occurrences and contents of abnormalities detected by the abnormality detection unit 5 and the like. In particular, here, 8 times of abnormal data can be stored. The storage unit 6 also stores a telephone number of a monitoring center 25 to be described later using a nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM in addition to a normal RAM and ROM.
Further, the first communication unit 7 is connected to the communication unit 10 of the remote controller 9 to exchange signals between the remote controller 9 and the controller 2, and the second communication unit 8 is connected to the NCU 21 on the terminal side, Communication with the outside is possible through a telephone line. On the other hand, in addition to the communication unit 10, the remote controller 9 includes a display unit 11 such as a set temperature and a current time, a display control unit 12, an operation switch and a temperature setting switch (not shown), and the like as a call switch. A call switch 13 and a maintenance switch 14 are installed, and are connected to the communication unit 10 via the switch input unit 15, respectively.
[0007]
The remote monitoring system 20 uses the gas meter remote monitoring system described in the prior art. The NCU 21 arranged in each home or office is a transmission device having a modem function in addition to a normal telephone line control function, and is connected to the telephone set 22, the gas meter 23, and the second communication unit 8 of the water heater 1. The data obtained from the gas meter 23 and the water heater 1 is transmitted to the gas meter monitoring center 24 and the water heater monitoring center 25 through the telephone company line 27. The water heater monitoring center 25 also has an NCU 26 on the center side so that information can be transmitted to and received from each of the water heaters 1, 1. Is constantly monitoring the driving situation. Of course, information can be output by a personal computer or a printer.
[0008]
Therefore, in the remote monitoring system 20, when a fall accident or the like occurs in the bathroom with the remote controller 9 on the hot water heater 1 side and the call switch 13 is turned on, the input information is transmitted to the communication unit 10, the first communication. The data is input to the controller 2 through the unit 7. Then, the telephone number of the monitoring center 25 is dialed in the second communication unit 8 of the controller 2 and a call request is transmitted via the NCU 21 as shown in FIG. In response to this, the monitoring center 25 transmits a data request to the controller 2, and the controller 2 transmits data indicating that the call switch 13 is ON. Therefore, the monitoring center 25 can check the situation by placing a call for confirmation of return or visiting the user's house, and in any case, it is possible to respond promptly to the notification by the call switch 13.
On the other hand, when the maintenance switch 14 is turned on, the controller 2 that has received the data request from the monitoring center 25 in the same flow as the call switch 13 has the maintenance switch 14 turned on as shown in FIG. At this time, the abnormal data stored in the storage unit 6 is also transmitted. Therefore, the monitoring center 25 can make an accurate determination in the water heater 1 based on the transmitted abnormality data, and can arrange for quick and appropriate maintenance.
[0009]
As described above, in the water heater 1, the call switch 13 and the maintenance switch 14 can contact the outside at an arbitrary timing desired by the user, so that it is possible to quickly cope with an emergency or a maintenance request. In particular, in the maintenance switch 14, abnormal data is also transmitted at the same time, so that accurate and efficient maintenance is possible.
Note that the call switch 13 and the maintenance switch 14 may be provided not on the remote controller 9 side but on the water heater body side, or on both sides.
[0010]
In the above embodiment, the output destinations of the information by the call switch 13 and the maintenance switch 14 are both set to the monitoring center 25. For example, the other party dialed by the ON operation of the maintenance switch 14 may be distributed to the service shop of the appliance manufacturer. In this case as well, if it is stored in the non-volatile memory as in the case of the above embodiment, it is not lost even if a power failure occurs, and rewriting is possible.
[0011]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the call switch is provided and the ON operation information can be output to the outside, it is possible to communicate with the outside at an arbitrary timing according to the user's will. Therefore, if it is adopted in a remote monitoring system, it is possible to quickly cope with the occurrence of an accident.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, it is possible to output the information about the appliance together with the ON operation information of the call switch to accurately output the abnormality or the like that has occurred. It becomes possible to contact. Therefore, accurate and efficient maintenance can be performed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a remote monitoring system using a water heater with a communication function.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a controller.
FIG. 3A is an explanatory diagram of communication with the outside by a call switch.
(B) It is communication explanatory drawing with the outside by a maintenance switch.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 .. Hot water heater with communication function 2 .... Controller 3 .... CPU 4 .... Combustion control unit 5 .... Abnormality detection unit 6 .... Storage unit 7 .... First communication unit 8, ... 2nd communication part, 9 ... remote control, 10 ... communication part, 13 ... call switch, 14 ... maintenance switch, 20 ... remote monitoring system, 21, 26 ... NCU, 25 ... monitoring center.

Claims (1)

A combustor with a communication function, comprising a storage unit capable of storing the generated abnormal data, and capable of outputting information to the outside using a communication means,
A call switch and a maintenance switch that can be arbitrarily turned ON are provided, and the ON operation information can be output to the outside by the ON operation of the call switch. On the other hand, along with the ON operation information by the ON operation of the maintenance switch, A combustion apparatus with a communication function, wherein abnormality data stored in a storage unit can be output to the outside .

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