JP5236242B2 - Water heater - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a water heater, and more specifically, when a water heater has been used more than a certain number of times, a notification is provided to prompt the user to check and the notification can be stopped. Related to the vessel.

In recent years, in a hot water supply device, when it is in a state where there is a high possibility of failure (for example, a certain number of years, a usage state of a certain number of times or more), in order to prevent an accident from occurring, It is becoming obligatory to give a notice to urge inspection of the gas hot water supply device. Under such circumstances, it is provided with integrating means and an informing means for integrating the burner combustion amount, and when the integrated combustion amount by the integrating means exceeds a set value, it is determined that maintenance is necessary, and There has been proposed a hot water supply device that notifies the effect by means of notification (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-19467

  However, in such a hot water supply apparatus, once maintenance is required, the user is continuously notified even though no abnormality has actually occurred. There is a problem of giving a feeling. For this reason, a configuration for canceling the notification is required. However, if a new operation button is provided, the cost is increased due to a change in the substrate and the like, so it is necessary to cancel using the existing configuration. However, when there are extremely few operation means like a water heater, it is also difficult.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and provides a water heater capable of notifying the user that inspection is necessary and stopping the notification as necessary. With the goal.

In order to solve the above object, a water heater of the invention according to claim 1 is a gas burner, a heat exchanger that heats water in a heat transfer tube using combustion exhaust heat of the gas burner, and the heat exchanger. A hot water discharge pipe connected to the downstream side of the hot water to discharge the water heated by the heat exchanger to the outside, a hot water start means for starting hot water from the hot water discharge pipe, and a flame rod, whether or not the gas burner has a flame The flame detection means for detecting the hot water, the hot water count accumulation means for accumulating the number of times the hot water is started by the hot water start means, the notification control means for controlling the notification by the notification means, and the control of the notification by the notification control means In the water heater comprising a notification canceling means, a hot water count totaling means, the notification control means, and a battery for supplying power for driving the notification canceling means, the notification control means comprises the hot water When tapping cumulative number of times cumulated by number cumulative means it is equal to or more than a predetermined number of times, the timing that initiated the tapped by tapping starting means starts the notification in the first embodiment is a predetermined notification manner, the notification control means When the flame detection means detects a fire extinguishing in a state where the notification in the first aspect is executed by the notification means , the second aspect is a different notification form from the first aspect. The notification is performed by the notification unit, and when the power supply by the battery is stopped, the notification release unit is activated, and then the control of the notification by the notification control unit is released.

  In the water heater of the invention according to claim 1, the heat exchanger heats the water passing through the heat transfer pipe using the combustion exhaust heat of the gas burner, and from the hot water pipe connected to the downstream side of the heat exchanger, The water heated by the heat exchanger is discharged to the outside. In addition, the hot water starting means starts the hot water from the hot water pipe, the flame detecting means detects the presence or absence of the flame of the gas burner by the frame rod in the state where the hot water is started, and the hot water counting means is the hot water starting means by the hot water starting means. The number of times of starting is accumulated as the total number of tapping hot water. The notification control unit controls the notification by the notification unit, and the notification release unit cancels the control of the notification by the notification control unit. Further, the battery supplies electric power for driving the hot water discharge count accumulating means, the notification control means, and the notification canceling means. Then, the notification control means starts the notification at the timing when the hot water start is started by the hot water start means when the accumulated hot water count is a predetermined number or more. Thereafter, in a state where the notification control means is executing the notification by the notification means, when the flame detection means detects the extinguishing of the flame, and then the power supply by the battery is stopped, the notification release means performs the subsequent notification control. The control of notification by means is canceled. Therefore, a water heater that has been used a predetermined number of times and needs to be inspected can be informed to the user that the inspection is necessary, and by having a method of stopping this notification, it is unnecessary for the user. You can avoid feeling anxious. In addition, since it is not necessary to newly provide an operation button or the like, a function for canceling notification can be added at a low cost.

  Hereinafter, a water heater 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the water heater 1, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the water heater 1, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart of notification control processing by the CPU.

  First, the overall structure of the water heater 1 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the water heater 1 includes a metal case-like instrument (not shown). A main burner 14 for burning gas is provided slightly above the middle stage in the appliance. The main burner 14 is provided with an ignition electrode 44 for igniting the main burner 14 by continuous spark, and an igniter 43 (see FIG. 2) is connected to the ignition electrode 44. A flame rod 45 for detecting the flame of the main burner 14 is provided next to the ignition electrode 44. A heat exchanger 12 is provided above the main burner 14 to heat the water flow through the heat transfer tube 12 a by the combustion exhaust heat of the main burner 14. An operation panel (not shown) is provided at the lower front of the instrument, and an operation button 54 is provided on the operation panel.

  The appliance is also provided with a gas inlet 21 through which gas flows, a water inlet 25 through which water flows, and a hot water outlet 28 through which hot water flows out. A gas pipe 22 is connected between the gas port 21 and the main burner 14, a water supply pipe 16 is connected between the water inlet 25 and the inlet of the heat exchanger 12, and the hot water outlet and the heat exchanger 12 are connected. A hot water discharge pipe 18 is connected between the outlet.

  Furthermore, a water stop cock 20 is provided at the base of the water supply pipe 16. The stop cock 20 is provided with a faucet pilot valve 26. Further, between the faucet pilot valve 26 and the operation button 54, interlocking levers 30 and 32 that are moved by the operation of the operation button 54 are interposed. That is, when the operation button 54 is pressed, the interlock levers 30 and 32 act to open the faucet pilot valve 26. As a result, water flows through the water supply pipe 16.

  On the other hand, a gas supply plug 24 is provided at the base of the gas pipe 22. The gas supply valve 24 includes a water pressure responsive valve 34 that opens in conjunction with the flow of water into the water supply pipe 16, a magnet type gas electromagnetic valve 36 for preventing ignition trouble, and the gas electromagnetic valve 36. A magnet valve opening mechanism 37 that opens and closes the valve and an instrument plug 38 that opens and closes the gas supply passage in the gas supply plug 24 by operating the operation button 54 are provided. The faucet pilot valve 26 and the water pressure responsive valve 34 are connected via a projecting rod 40. The projecting rod 40 is provided with water pressure switches 50 and 51 for outputting on / off signals as the projecting rod 40 moves. Further, a gas governor 29 for adjusting fluctuations in supply gas pressure is provided on the downstream side of the gas supply plug 24.

  Further, the main burner 14 is provided with a primary thermocouple 58 that detects the disappearance or lack of oxygen of the main burner 14. The primary thermocouple 58 is provided with a sensing burner 53. As a result, the primary thermocouple 58 is directly heated by the flame of the sensing burner 53. Further, the heat exchanger 12 is provided with a secondary thermocouple 60 that detects clogging of the fins 12b. The secondary thermocouple 60 is disposed at a position facing an opening (not shown) provided on the side wall of the heat exchanger 12.

  And the control board 62 (refer FIG. 2) for controlling operation | movement of the water heater 1 is provided in the instrument provided with the said structure. The control board 62 includes a primary thermocouple 58, a secondary thermocouple 60 (hereinafter collectively referred to as “thermocouple 70”), water pressure switches 50 and 51, an igniter 43, a frame rod 45, a gas solenoid valve 36, and the like. Are connected to each other. That is, the driving of the igniter 43 and the gas solenoid valve 36 is controlled based on the output signals of the thermocouple 70, the water pressure switches 50 and 51, and the frame rod 45.

  Next, the configuration of the control board 62 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the control board 62 temporarily stores a CPU 71 as a central processing unit, a ROM 72 storing various control programs, initial values of various data, and data generated during the arithmetic processing of the CPU 71. A RAM 73 for storing data, an EEPROM 74, which is a nonvolatile storage element for storing counters, parameters, and the like, and an oscillator 75 for supplying a clock for driving the CPU 71 are provided. Further, a thermocouple circuit 78 that detects an electromotive force generated by the thermocouple 70, an igniter circuit 79 that controls the igniter, a magnet drive circuit 80 that controls the gas electromagnetic valve 36, and a frame that detects an output signal from the frame rod 45. A rod circuit 82, a thermocouple circuit 78, and a safety circuit 81 driven by a detection signal output from the frame rod circuit 82 are provided. Further, water pressure switches 50 and 51 are connected. Moreover, LED77 for notifying a user of the necessity for a maintenance is provided. Further, a battery 76 for supplying power necessary for driving them is connected.

  Next, notification control processing executed by the CPU 71 (see FIG. 2) will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The hot water heater of the present embodiment requires the user to perform maintenance by blinking the LED 77 (see FIG. 2) at the start of the hot water when the total number of times of hot water reaches 100,000 times or more. (Hereafter, the state in which the LED 77 (see FIG. 2) blinks at the start of hot water is referred to as “notification mode”). Here, by storing flag information indicating the notification mode (hereinafter referred to as “notification mode flag”) in the EEPROM 74 (see FIG. 2) which is a non-volatile storage element, notification is made when hot water is started. The mode flag is read to determine whether the notification mode is set. More specifically, “OFF” is stored in the notification mode flag when the number of times of hot water is less than 100,000. Then, when the notification mode flag is read at the start timing of the hot water and the notification mode flag is “OFF”, notification by the LED 77 (see FIG. 2) is not performed. On the other hand, “ON” is stored in the notification mode flag when the number of times of hot water is 100,000. Then, when the notification mode flag is read at the timing of the subsequent hot water start, if the notification mode flag is “ON”, the process shifts to the notification mode, and the LED 77 (see FIG. 2) blinks. Like to do. Further, as a method of canceling the notification mode, a method is provided in which a gas cock (not shown) is closed during hot water discharge and gas supply to the main burner 14 (see FIG. 2) is stopped. Since the flame of the main burner 14 (see FIG. 2) is misfired by closing the gas cock (not shown), this state is detected by the CPU 71 (see FIG. 2) via the frame rod 45 (see FIG. 2) and the frame rod circuit 82. In this case, the notification mode is canceled by storing “OFF” in the notification mode flag.

  The notification control process is a process that is started when the operation button 54 (see FIG. 1) is pressed and the hot water is started. As shown in FIG. 3, first, the number of times of hot water stored in the EEPROM 74 (see FIG. 2) and the notification mode flag are read (S11). If the notification mode flag is not “ON” (S13: NO), then the number of times of hot water is determined (S15), and if it is not 100,000 times (S15: NO), the LED 77 (NO) is not shifted to the notification mode. The operation according to the normal operation mode is performed without performing the notification according to FIG. When the pressed state of the operation button 54 (see FIG. 2) is released (S39: YES), the hot water is stopped, and a value obtained by adding “1” to the read out hot water number is stored in the EEPROM 74 (see FIG. 2). Then, after updating the hot water discharge frequency (S41), the process is terminated.

  On the other hand, if the read notification mode flag is “ON” (S13: YES), the operation proceeds to S19 in order to operate in the notification mode in which the LED 77 blinks to notify the necessity of maintenance. Even if the read notification mode flag is “OFF” (S13: NO), if the read out hot water number is 100,000 (S15: YES), “ON” is newly stored in the notification mode flag. And it memorize | stores in EEPROM74 (refer FIG. 2) (S17), and in order to operate | move in alerting | reporting mode, it transfers to S19.

  In S19, the notification which blinks LED77 (refer FIG. 2) with a slow period is started with the start of hot water supply (S19). When the pressing of the operation button 54 (see FIG. 2) is released and the hot water is stopped (S23: YES), a value obtained by adding “1” to the read hot water number is stored in the EEPROM 74 (see FIG. 2) ( S25) The process ends.

  On the other hand, in the state where the hot water is continued and the LED 77 (see FIG. 2) is blinking, when the gas cock (not shown) is closed, the gas supply from the gas port 21 (see FIG. 2) is stopped. The flame of the main burner 14 (see FIG. 2) is misfired. Then, no current flows through the frame rod 45 (see FIG. 2), and this current change is detected via the frame rod circuit 82 (see FIG. 2). Thereby, it is detected that the main burner 14 (see FIG. 2) has misfired (S21: YES). Since the hot water is continued and the main burner 14 (see FIG. 2) is in a state of continuous combustion if it is in normal operation, processing for canceling the notification mode is started by detecting this misfire.

  Next, a value obtained by adding “1” to the read out hot water number is stored in the EEPROM 74 (see FIG. 2) (S27), and the hot water number is updated. Next, “OFF” is temporarily stored in the notification mode flag and stored in the EEPROM 74 (see FIG. 2) (S29). And the alerting | reporting mode of LED77 (refer FIG. 2) is changed, and the alerting | reporting which blinks with a quick cycle is started (S31).

  Next, when the battery 76 (see FIG. 2) is removed while the LED 77 (see FIG. 2) is blinking at a fast cycle (S33: YES), power supply to the control board 62 (see FIG. 2) is performed. Since the various devices including the CPU 71 (see FIG. 2) are stopped and the subsequent processing cannot be performed, the processing ends. In this state, since “OFF” is stored in the notification mode flag stored in the EEPROM 74 (see FIG. 2), when the operation button 54 (see FIG. 2) is pressed again and the hot water is started. The LED 77 (see FIG. 2) is not notified. As a result, the notification mode is canceled, and thereafter the hot water operation is performed in the normal operation mode.

  On the other hand, when the notification mode of the LED 77 (see FIG. 2) is changing, the battery 76 (see FIG. 2) is not removed (S33: NO), and 30 seconds have passed (S35: YES). (Refer to FIG. 2) stops blinking, “ON” is stored in the notification mode flag and stored in the EEPROM 74 (see FIG. 2) (S37), and the process is terminated. As a result, when the operation button 54 (see FIG. 2) is pressed again and the hot water is started, “ON” is stored in the read notification mode flag, so the LED 77 ( It operates in a notification mode in which notification according to FIG. 2 is performed.

  As described above, by controlling the notification mode flag stored in the non-volatile memory, the gas cock (not shown) is closed during the hot water discharge, and the flame of the main burner 14 (see FIG. 2) is misfired. The notification mode can be canceled by removing the battery within a predetermined time. It is to be noted that not only the procedure for closing the gas cock (not shown) but also the procedure for removing the battery is performed, so that the notification mode can be canceled so that the main burner 14 (see FIG. 2) is affected by the disturbance. When the flame disappears instantaneously and is detected by the frame rod 43 and the frame rod circuit 82, it is possible to prevent the notification mode from being canceled by mistake.

  In the above invention, the main burner 14 shown in FIG. 1 corresponds to the “gas burner” of the present invention, and the heat exchanger 12 shown in FIG. 1 corresponds to the “heat exchanger” of the present invention, which is shown in FIG. The heat transfer tube 12a corresponds to the “heat transfer tube” of the present invention, the LED 77 shown in FIG. 2 corresponds to the “notification means” of the present invention, and the hot water pipe 18 shown in FIG. 1 corresponds to the “hot water pipe” of the present invention. The battery 76 shown in FIG. 2 corresponds to the “battery” of the present invention, the frame rod 45 shown in FIG. 2 corresponds to the “frame rod” of the present invention, and the frame rod circuit 82 corresponds to the present invention. The “notification control process” that is started by pressing the operation button 54 shown in FIG. 3 corresponds to the “hot water start means” of the present invention. Moreover, CPU71 which performs each process of S25 and S27 shown in FIG. 3 is corresponded to the "hot water frequency totaling means" of this invention, and CPU71 which performs each process of S19 and S31 shown in FIG. The CPU 71 that corresponds to the “notification control unit” and performs the determination of S13 shown in FIG. 5 corresponds to the “notification release unit” of the present invention.

  Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible. In the above-described embodiment, flame misfire of the main burner 14 is detected by the frame rod, but the present invention is not limited to this, and flame misfire may be detected by other methods.

  The water heater of the present invention can be applied to a water heater having a function of notifying a user of the necessity of maintenance.

It is sectional drawing of the water heater. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the water heater 1. FIG. It is a flowchart of the alerting | reporting control process by CPU.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Water heater 12 Heat exchanger 12a Heat transfer pipe 14 Main burner 18 Hot water outlet pipe 43 Igniter 45 Frame rod 54 Operation button 62 Control board 71 CPU
74 EEPROM
76 Battery 77 LED
82 Frame rod circuit

Claims (1)

With a gas burner,
A heat exchanger that heats the water passing through the heat transfer tubes using the combustion exhaust heat of the gas burner;
A tapping pipe connected to the downstream side of the heat exchanger and discharging the water heated by the heat exchanger to the outside;
Hot water start means for starting hot water from the hot water pipe;
Flame detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of flame of the gas burner by means of a frame rod;
A hot water number totaling means for accumulating the number of times the hot water has been started by the hot water starting means;
Notification control means for controlling notification by the notification means;
Notification canceling means for canceling the control of notification by the notification control means;
In a water heater comprising a battery for supplying electric power for driving the hot water accumulation means, the notification control means, and the notification release means,
The notification control means includes
When the accumulated hot water accumulated number accumulated by the unloaded hot water number accumulating means is a predetermined number or more, at the timing when the discharged hot water is started by the unloaded hot water starting means , notification is started in the first mode which is a predetermined notification mode ,
In a state where the notification control means is executing the notification in the first mode by the notification unit, when the flame detection unit detects the extinction of the flame, the notification mode is a notification mode different from the first mode. When the notification by the notification means is performed in two aspects, and then the power supply by the battery is stopped,
The notification release means is activated,
Thereafter, the notification control by the notification control means is canceled.

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