JP5243949B2 - Open combustion equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention comprises a burner for burning supplied fuel;
Ignition means for igniting the burner;
A combustible gas sensor that is in a detectable state capable of detecting the concentration of the combustible gas with the supply of power for driving the sensor; and
Fuel intermittent means that can be switched between a fuel supply state for supplying fuel to the burner and a fuel supply stop state for stopping the supply of fuel to the burner;
When starting operation is commanded by the operation command means, there is provided control means for executing an ignition process for operating the ignition means and switching the fuel intermittent means to the fuel supply state,
The present invention relates to an open-type combustion apparatus provided with a combustion device configured to switch the fuel intermittent means to the fuel supply stop state when the control means detects a fuel leak based on detection information of the combustible gas sensor.

Such an open-type combustion apparatus is operated in a state where combustion gas of the burner is released into the room, and specific examples include a gas fan heater and a gas stove.
Then, when the burner is operated while being burned, if fuel leakage is detected based on the detection information of the combustible gas sensor, the fuel intermittent means is switched to the fuel supply stop state, thereby supplying fuel to the burner. Is stopped, and safety measures against fuel leakage are taken (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2001-65989 A

By the way, the combustible gas sensor is in a detectable state in which the concentration of the combustible gas can be detected with the supply of the sensor driving power for driving the combustible gas sensor, but the sensor driving power is supplied. It takes a certain amount of time (for example, 5 seconds to 1 minute) until the detection is possible. Incidentally, the detectable state indicates that the concentration of the combustible gas can be detected with sufficient accuracy.
Further, the concentration of the combustible gas detected by the combustible gas sensor that is not in the detectable state may be low in reliability, and the concentration of the combustible gas in which the reliability may be low as such. The presence or absence of a fuel leak detected based on the detection information may be less reliable.

  Some conventional open-type combustion devices, for example, start supplying sensor driving power to a combustible gas sensor when an operation start command is issued by an operation command means. In this case, since the control means performs the ignition process when the start of operation is instructed by the operation command means, there is a possibility that the ignition process may be performed when the combustible gas sensor is not in a detectable state, resulting in fuel leakage. There was room for improvement in further improving safety against this.

  This invention is made | formed in view of this situation, The objective is to provide the open type combustion apparatus which can improve further the safety | security with respect to a fuel leak.

An open combustion apparatus of the present invention comprises a burner for burning supplied fuel,
Ignition means for igniting the burner;
A flammable gas sensor that requires a predetermined time from when the power for driving the sensor is supplied until it becomes a detectable state in which the concentration of the flammable gas can be detected;
Fuel intermittent means that can be switched between a fuel supply state for supplying fuel to the burner and a fuel supply stop state for stopping the supply of fuel to the burner;
When starting operation is commanded by the operation command means, there is provided control means for executing an ignition process for operating the ignition means and switching the fuel intermittent means to the fuel supply state,
When the control means detects a fuel leak based on detection information of the combustible gas sensor, the control means comprises a combustion device configured to switch the fuel intermittent means to the fuel supply stop state,
The first characteristic configuration is configured such that when device driving power is supplied, the sensor driving power is supplied to the combustible gas sensor,
When the combustible gas sensor within the predetermined time after the sensor driving power is supplied is not in the detectable state, the operation start command operation by the operation command means as an external input is prohibited. Alternatively, an operation prohibiting unit that operates so as not to accept an operation start command from the operation command unit is provided.

In other words, when device driving power is supplied to the open-type combustion device, the sensor driving power is automatically supplied to the combustible gas sensor, and a predetermined time elapses after the sensor driving power is supplied. If the conditions for the combustible gas sensor to be detectable are satisfied, the combustible gas sensor is in a detectable state.
The operation prohibiting means is configured to start operation by the operation command means as an external input when the combustible gas sensor is not in a detectable state even when the device driving power is supplied to the open combustion apparatus. Since the operation is performed so that the command operation is prohibited or the operation start command by the operation command means is not accepted, for example, the supply of device driving power to the open-type combustion device is started and the combustible gas sensor is in a detectable state. When the combustible gas sensor is not in a detectable state, for example, the operation start command operation by the operation command unit as an external input is prohibited or the operation start command by the operation command unit is not accepted.
Thereby, when the combustible gas sensor is not in a detectable state, it is an operation start process for starting the combustion of the burner without prohibiting an operation start command operation by the operation command means or accepting the operation start command itself. The ignition process is prohibited. Only after the combustible gas sensor is in a detectable state, the operation start command is permitted by the operation command means or the operation start command is accepted by the operation command means, and the fuel leakage is detected based on the detection information of the combustible gas sensor. It is possible to execute the ignition process in a state where it is accurately detected that there is no occurrence.
Accordingly, it is possible to provide an open type combustion apparatus that can further improve the safety against fuel leakage.

In addition to the first feature configuration, the second feature configuration is
The control means is configured not to accept the operation start command even when the operation start command is instructed by the operation command means when the combustible gas sensor is not in the detectable state. The prohibiting means is constituted by the control means.

That is, when the combustible gas sensor is not in a detectable state, the control means is configured not to accept the operation start command even if the operation start command is issued by the operation command means. Therefore, the operation prohibiting means can be configured by using the control means originally provided for the purpose.
Accordingly, since the operation prohibiting means is configured using the control means provided originally, the safety against fuel leakage can be further improved while preventing an increase in the price of the open type combustion equipment. .

In addition to the first feature configuration, the third feature configuration is
Lock means is provided that can be switched between a locked state in which the operation command for starting operation by the operation command means as an external input is not accepted and a lock release state in which the command operation for starting operation is accepted,
The locking means is configured to switch to the locked state when the combustible gas sensor is not in the detectable state, and the operation prohibiting means is configured by the locking means.

That is, when the lock means is provided in order to prevent the operation command means from being operated by the operation command means although it is not intended, the lock means can be detected by the combustible gas sensor. If not, by switching to the locked state, the operation prohibiting means can be configured using the originally provided locking means.
Incidentally, the locking means is provided to prevent a command operation for starting driving from being performed even though it is not intended, for example, when an infant or the like contacts the driving command means.
Therefore, when the locking means is provided, the operation prohibiting means is configured by using the locking means, so that safety against fuel leakage is further improved while preventing an increase in the price of the open type combustion equipment. Can now.

In addition to the first feature configuration, the fourth feature configuration is
The operation command means is constituted by a touch panel type switch device that performs a command operation for starting operation by contacting a display location of a button,
Switch display switching means capable of switching the switch device between a switch operating state in which the button is displayed and a switch inactive state in which the button is not displayed is provided,
The switch display switching means is configured to switch the switch device to the switch inactive state when the combustible gas sensor is not in the detectable state, and the operation prohibiting means is configured to switch the switch display switching means. It is in the point comprised by.

That is, when the combustible gas sensor is not in the detectable state, the switch device is switched to the non-operating state, and the operation operation is not performed without displaying the button. Accordingly, the operation prohibiting unit can be configured by using the switch device and the switch display switching unit originally provided for performing the operation operation for starting the operation.
Accordingly, since the operation prohibiting means is configured using the switch device and the switch display switching means that are originally provided, it is possible to further improve the safety against fuel leakage while preventing an increase in the price of the open type combustion equipment. I can do it now.

In addition to any one of the first to fourth feature configurations described above, the fifth feature configuration is
The operation prohibiting unit determines that the combustible gas sensor is not in the detectable state until the startup set time elapses after the supply of the sensor driving power to the combustible gas sensor is started. It is in the point comprised as follows.

That is, for example, there is a heater in which a sensor element of a combustible gas sensor is heated and the sensor element is heated to a predetermined detection temperature by the heater or the like so that the combustible gas sensor can be detected. In this case, whether or not the temperature of the sensor element reaches a predetermined detection temperature and is in a detectable state is determined based on the elapsed time since the start of supply of power for driving the sensor to the combustible gas sensor. can do. Therefore, the combustible gas sensor can detect until the set time for starting elapses after the device driving power is supplied to the open-type combustion equipment and the sensor driving power is supplied to the combustible gas sensor. By determining that the combustible gas sensor is in a detectable state, it is possible to accurately determine whether or not the combustible gas sensor is in a detectable state by determining that the combustible gas sensor is in a detectable state after the startup set time has elapsed. .
By the way, it is possible to provide a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the sensor element of the combustible gas sensor and to determine whether or not the combustible gas sensor is in a detectable state based on detection information of the temperature sensor. Although it is possible, according to the fourth characteristic configuration, it is possible to determine whether or not the combustible gas sensor is in a detectable state without providing such a temperature sensor.
Accordingly, it is possible to further improve the safety against fuel leakage while reducing the cost.

The sixth feature configuration is in addition to any one of the first to fifth feature configurations,
When the operation prohibiting means is operated so as not to accept the operation start command, an alarm means is provided for alarming.

That is, when the operation prohibiting means is operated so as not to accept the operation start command, the alarm means is activated, so that the user can recognize that the operation start command is not accepted by the alarm. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the user from making an erroneous determination that the open-type combustion device has failed.
Therefore, it is possible to prevent the user from making an erroneous determination that the open-type combustion device has failed, and not to accept an operation start command when the combustible gas sensor is not in a detectable state. Safety can be further improved.

[First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, a first embodiment when the present invention is applied to a gas fan heater as an example of an open type combustion apparatus will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the gas fan heater is provided with a burner 1 for combusting supplied gas fuel, an igniter 2 as ignition means for igniting the burner 1, and supply of sensor driving power. A combustible gas sensor 3 that is in a detectable state in which the concentration of the combustible gas can be detected, a fuel supply state in which the gas fuel is supplied to the burner 1, and a fuel supply stop state in which the supply of the gas fuel to the burner 1 is stopped A combustion device B including a fuel intermittent means V that can be switched to and a control unit 4 that controls the operation of the gas fan heater is provided.
The combustion apparatus B further includes a blower 5 that supplies combustion air to the burner 1, a constant voltage circuit 6 that supplies power for driving the gas fan heater, and an operation unit that commands various control commands to the control unit 4. 7 is also provided.

As shown in FIG. 1, the burner 1 is housed in a casing 10 having an intake port 8 on the upper side of the back surface and an outlet port 9 on the lower side of the front surface.
In the casing 10, a part of the air outside the casing sucked through the intake port 8 is supplied to the burner 1 as combustion air, and the remaining part is mixed with the combustion gas of the burner 1 and led to the blowout port 9. Thus, the internal air passage 11 is formed. An air filter 12 is provided at the intake port 8.
The blower 5 is provided in the middle of the internal air passage 11 in a state where the air suction is applied to the air inlet 8 and the discharge portion faces the air outlet 9.
That is, the combustion gas of the burner 1 is mixed with the air in the space to be heated sucked through the intake port 8 to generate hot air, and the hot air is blown out from the outlet 9 to the space to be heated to heat the space to be heated. Is configured to do.

As shown in FIG. 1, the igniter 2 is provided above the flame opening (not shown) of the burner 1, and a thermocouple 13 that detects ignition of the burner 1 is also provided above the flame opening of the burner 1. ing.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fuel supply passage 14 for supplying gas fuel to the burner 1 has an electromagnetic on-off valve 15 for opening and closing the fuel supply passage 14 and the fuel supply amount to the burner 1. An electromagnetic proportional valve 16 to be adjusted is provided, and the on-off valve 15 and the proportional valve 16 constitute a fuel intermittent means V.
The fuel supply path 14 is connected to, for example, a city gas pipe (not shown) to which city gas (13A or the like, gas mainly composed of methane gas (CH ₄ )) is supplied. It is supplied to the burner 1. And the combustible gas sensor 3 is comprised so that the density | concentration of the methane gas as combustible gas may be detected, for example.

  The combustible gas sensor 3 is provided near the air inlet 8 of the casing 10 so as to detect the concentration of combustible gas in the air sucked through the air inlet 8.

  The constant voltage circuit 6 is configured to step down and rectify and smooth a commercial AC power supply to obtain a predetermined DC voltage. When the plug 19 of the power cord 18 for supplying device driving power to the gas fan heater is inserted into an insertion port (a so-called power outlet, not shown) to which commercial power is supplied, The voltage circuit 6 is configured to be supplied with driving power for driving it to the control unit 4 and to be supplied with sensor driving power to the combustible gas sensor 3.

Since the combustible gas sensor 3 is well known, detailed description and illustration thereof will be omitted and will be briefly described.
In this embodiment, for example, a semiconductor type sensor is used as the combustible gas sensor 3, and this semiconductor type sensor includes a sensor element made of a metal oxide semiconductor such as tin oxide. It is configured to detect a change in resistance value that occurs when it comes into contact with gas as a gas concentration.
The combustible gas sensor 3 includes an electric heater (not shown) for heating the sensor element, a heating control unit (not shown) for controlling the heating operation of the electric heater, and the like, and a plug 19 of the power cord 18 is provided. Along with the insertion into the insertion port, power for driving the sensor is supplied from the constant voltage circuit 6 to the combustible gas sensor 3 and heating of the sensor element is started by the electric heater. Thereafter, the temperature of the sensor element is predetermined. The heating operation of the electric heater is controlled so as to reach the heating target temperature.
When the sensor element of the combustible gas sensor 3 is heated to the heating target temperature, the combustible gas sensor 3 enters a detectable state in which the concentration of the combustible gas can be detected.
Incidentally, after the combustible gas sensor 3 starts supplying sensor driving power, the time required for the temperature of the sensor element to reach the heating target temperature and become in a detectable state varies depending on the type of sensor, for example, from 5 seconds to 1 The range of minutes.

As shown in FIG. 2, the operation unit 7 waits for operation until the operation switch 20 as an operation command means for instructing operation start and operation stop of the gas fan heater and the combustible gas sensor 3 are in a detectable state. A standby notification lamp 21 for notifying an abnormality, an abnormality notification lamp 22 that is turned on when a fuel leak is detected, a temperature setting unit 23 for setting a heating target temperature, and a display unit for displaying various information such as a heating target temperature and an indoor temperature (illustration) (Omitted) etc. are provided.
The operation switch 20 is configured so that an operation start and an operation stop are alternately commanded every time the push operation is repeated.

Hereinafter, the control operation of the control unit 4 will be described.
In the present invention, when the combustible gas sensor 3 is not in a detectable state, the operation prohibiting means P that operates so as not to accept the operation start command from the operation switch 20 is provided.
In the first embodiment, when the combustible gas sensor 3 is not in a detectable state, the control unit 4 is configured not to accept the operation start command even if the operation start is commanded by the operation switch 20. Thus, the operation prohibiting means P is configured by the control unit 4.

When the combustible gas sensor 3 is in a detectable state, the control unit 4 is in a state of accepting an operation start command from the operation switch 20, and ignites the burner 1 when the operation start is commanded by the operation switch 20. When the ignition process is executed and the operation stop is instructed by the operation switch 20, the fire extinguishing process for extinguishing the burner 1 is executed.
In the ignition process, the control unit 4 activates the blower 5 and, after the blower 5 is activated, activates the igniter 2 and opens the on-off valve 15 and the proportional valve 16 when the pre-purge set time has elapsed (fuel supply). In the fire extinguishing process, the on-off valve 15 and the proportional valve 16 are closed (corresponding to switching to the fuel supply stop state), and after the valves are closed, the post purge is performed. When the set time for use elapses, processing for stopping the blower 5 is executed. Incidentally, the pre-purge setting time is set to a time in the range of 4 to 7 seconds, for example, and the post-purge setting time is set to a time in the range of 100 to 160 seconds, for example.

And the control part 4 detects the presence or absence of the occurrence of fuel leak based on the detection information of the combustible gas sensor 3 from the start of the ignition process to the end of the fire extinguishing process, and when detecting the fuel leak, A fire extinguishing process is executed and the abnormality notification lamp 22 is turned on.
Incidentally, the control unit 4 is configured to detect fuel leakage when the concentration of methane gas detected by the combustible gas sensor 3 becomes, for example, 3000 ppm or more.

The control operation of the control unit 4 will be described.
The control unit 4 starts the control operation when the supply of driving power is started as the plug 19 of the power cord 18 is inserted into the insertion port, and after the driving power is supplied, that is, From the start of supplying sensor driving power to the combustible gas sensor 3, it is determined that the combustible gas sensor 3 is not in a detectable state until the set time for starting elapses, and the set time for starting elapses. Then, it is configured to determine that the combustible gas sensor 3 is in a detectable state. Incidentally, the start setting time is set to a time slightly longer than the time (for example, 5 seconds to 1 minute) required for the temperature of the sensor element to reach the heating target temperature after the supply of the sensor driving power is started.

When the control unit 4 determines that the set time for activation has not elapsed since the start of supply of driving power and the combustible gas sensor 3 is not in a detectable state, the operation is started by the operation switch 20. Is in a state where the operation start command is not accepted even when the command is issued, the standby notification lamp 21 is turned on.
If the control unit 4 determines that the combustible gas sensor 3 is in a detectable state after the start-up set time has elapsed after the start of the drive power supply, it receives an operation start command from the operation switch 20. When the standby notification lamp 21 is extinguished and the operation start is instructed by the operation switch 20, the presence or absence of fuel leakage is detected based on the detection information of the combustible gas sensor 3, and the fuel leakage is detected. If not detected, ignition processing is executed.
That is, the alarm unit 21 is configured as an alarm unit that operates when the operation prohibiting unit P operates so as not to accept the operation start command.

Next, a series of control operations by the control unit 4 will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG.
When the driving power is supplied as the plug 19 of the power cord 18 is inserted into the insertion port, the control unit 4 starts the control operation.
Then, the control unit 4 first determines in step # 1 whether or not the set time for activation has elapsed after the start of supply of drive power, so that the combustible gas sensor 3 is in a detectable state. Determine whether or not. If it is determined that the combustible gas sensor 3 is not in a detectable state, the standby notification lamp 21 is turned on in step # 2, the process returns to step # 1, and the combustible gas sensor 3 is in a detectable state. In step # 3, it is determined whether or not the operation start command from the operation switch 20 is not accepted. If it is determined that the operation is in standby, the process proceeds to step # 4. After the standby notification lamp 21 is turned off, the process proceeds to step # 5, and when it is determined that the system is not in standby, the process immediately proceeds to step # 5. While the controller 4 determines that the combustible gas sensor 3 is not in a detectable state and the standby notification lamp 21 is lit, the control unit 4 issues a command to start the operation even if the operation start is instructed by the operation switch 20. Not accepted.

When the control unit 4 determines that the combustible gas sensor 3 is in a detectable state, and the operation start is commanded by the operation switch 20, the control unit 4 receives the operation start command and receives the combustible gas sensor 3. Based on the detected information, the presence or absence of fuel leakage is detected (steps # 5 and # 6).
When the fuel leakage is not detected in step # 6, the control unit 4 executes the ignition process in step # 7, and after executing the ignition process, until the operation switch 20 instructs to stop the operation, Combustion amount adjustment control for adjusting the combustion amount of the burner 1 by adjusting the opening of the proportional valve 16 so that the detection temperature of a room temperature sensor (not shown) for detecting the temperature becomes the heating target temperature, and detection by the combustible gas sensor 3 Based on the information, a fuel leak detection process for detecting whether or not a fuel leak has occurred is executed. When the operation switch 20 is instructed to stop the operation without detecting the fuel leak, a fire extinguishing process is executed and the process returns (step S40). # 8-11).
Incidentally, the control unit 4 performs the combustion amount adjustment control for each set period for adjusting the combustion amount, and executes the fuel leakage detection process for each set period for detecting abnormality.

When the control unit 4 detects a fuel leak in step # 6 before executing the ignition process, the controller 4 turns on the abnormality notification lamp 22 and returns when a reset command is issued by a reset switch (not shown). (Steps # 12 and 13) After the ignition process is performed, if a fuel leak is detected in Step # 9, the abnormality notification lamp 22 is turned on, the fire extinguishing process is performed, and then a reset command is issued by the reset switch. Then (steps # 14, 15, 13), the process returns.
That is, when a fuel leak is detected and the abnormality notification lamp 22 is turned on, the operation start command from the operation switch 20 is not accepted until the reset switch is pressed and a return command is issued.
Incidentally, when the abnormality notification lamp 22 is turned on, the user or the like presses the reset switch after confirming safety.

  Then, while the plug 19 of the power cord 18 is inserted into the insertion port, that is, while the supply of the sensor driving power to the combustible gas sensor 3 is continued, the operation switch 20 repeatedly starts and stops the operation. When the gas fan heater is repeatedly operated, at least when the gas fan heater starts to be operated for the second and subsequent times, the combustible gas sensor 3 is normally in a detectable state. When the operation start is commanded by 20, the start command is immediately accepted, and if no fuel leakage is detected, the burner 1 is ignited and the gas fan heater is operated.

[Second Embodiment]
Hereinafter, a second embodiment when the present invention is applied to a gas fan heater as an example of an open combustion apparatus will be described.
In the second embodiment, another embodiment of the operation prohibiting means P is described. Since the overall configuration of the gas fan heater is the same as that of the first embodiment, the operation prohibiting means P will be mainly described. To do.

When the combustible gas sensor 3 is not in a detectable state, the operation prohibiting means P in the second embodiment is configured to prohibit an operation start command operation by the operation switch 20 as an external input.
As shown in FIG. 4, in the second embodiment, a lock that can be switched between a locked state in which an operation start command operation by an operation switch 20 as an external input is not accepted and an unlock state in which the operation start command operation is accepted. Means R is provided, and the lock means R is configured to switch to the lock state when the combustible gas sensor 3 is not in a detectable state, and the operation prohibiting means P is constituted by the lock means R.

The lock means R will be further described.
A lock switch 24 for instructing the control unit 4 to issue a lock command for setting the locked state is provided in the operation unit 7.
When the lock switch 24 is pressed in a state that is not set to the locked state, a lock command is instructed. When the lock switch 24 is pressed in the locked state for a set time for unlocking or longer, the unlock command is issued. It is configured to be.
When a lock command is instructed by the lock switch 24, the control unit 4 sets a locked state in which the operation start command operation is not accepted even if the operation start command is instructed by the operation switch 20, and is locked by the lock switch 24. When a release command is issued, the lock release state is set to accept the operation start command operation by the operation switch 20.
That is, the lock switch R and the control unit 4 constitute the lock means R.
The control unit 4 is also configured to set the locked state even when it is determined that the combustible gas sensor 3 is not in a detectable state. In the following description, a lock state that is set when it is determined that the combustible gas sensor 3 is not in a detectable state may be referred to as a self-lock state.

The control operation of the control unit 4 will be described.
The control unit 4 starts a control operation when the supply of drive power is started, and determines whether or not the start-up set time has elapsed after the start of supply of the drive power, so that the combustible gas sensor When it is determined whether or not 3 is in a detectable state and it is determined that the combustible gas sensor 3 is not in a detectable state, the self-locking state is set and the standby notification lamp 21 is turned on.
When the control unit 4 determines that the set time for activation has elapsed after the start of the supply of drive power and the combustible gas sensor 3 is in a detectable state, the control unit 4 releases the self-lock state, and the operation switch When the standby notification lamp 21 is turned off and the operation start is instructed by the operation switch 20, the occurrence of fuel leakage occurs based on the detection information of the combustible gas sensor 3. When the presence / absence is detected and no fuel leakage is detected, an ignition process is executed.

Next, a series of control operations by the control unit 4 will be described based on the flowcharts shown in FIGS.
When the driving power is supplied as the plug 19 of the power cord 18 is inserted into the insertion port, the control unit 4 starts the control operation.
Then, when the lock command is instructed by the lock switch 24, the control unit 4 sets the lock state, and continues the setting of the lock state until the lock release command is instructed by the lock switch 24. While the state is set, even if the operation start is commanded by the operation switch 20, the operation start command is not accepted (steps # 21 to 24).

When the lock command is not instructed in Step # 21 or when the lock state is released in Step # 24, the control unit 4 starts the supply of drive power in Step # 25, and then the startup set time elapses. It is determined whether or not the combustible gas sensor 3 is in a detectable state by determining whether or not it is detected.
If the control unit 4 determines in step # 25 that the combustible gas sensor 3 is not in a detectable state, the control unit 4 sets the self-locking state and turns on the standby notification lamp 21 (step # 26, 27) When it is determined that the combustible gas sensor 3 is in a detectable state, it is further determined in step # 28 whether or not the self-locking state is set, and the self-locking state is being set. After canceling the self-locking state and turning off the standby notification lamp 21 (steps # 29 and 30), the process proceeds to step # 31. If the self-locking state is not set, the process immediately proceeds to step # 31. .
While the control unit 4 is set to the self-locking state, even if the operation start is instructed by the operation switch 20, the control unit 4 does not accept the operation start instruction.

  5 and 6, the control operations in steps # 31 to # 41 are the same as the control operations in steps # 5 to 15 in FIG. 3 described in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

[Another embodiment]
Next, another embodiment will be described.
(A) The specific configuration of the operation prohibiting means P is not limited to the configuration exemplified in the first and second embodiments.
For example, a plurality of buttons for commanding a plurality of types of command information including a command for starting operation are displayed on different places by liquid crystal display etc., and the command information corresponding to each button when touching the display location of each button When a touch panel type switch device configured to command is provided, the operation prohibiting means P can be configured as follows.
That is, when each button is displayed and the display location of each button is touched, the switch operating state for receiving the command information corresponding to each button, and the location corresponding to the display location of each button without displaying each button Also provided is a switch display switching means capable of switching the switch device to a switch inactive state where command information is not received.
When the combustible gas sensor 3 is not in a detectable state, the switch display switching means is configured so that the switch device is in a switch non-operation state, and the operation prohibiting means P is configured by the switch display switching means.

(B) The configuration for determining whether or not the combustible gas sensor 3 is in a detectable state is not limited to the configuration exemplified in the first and second embodiments.
For example, a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the sensor element of the combustible gas sensor is provided, and the combustible gas sensor 3 can be detected when the temperature of the sensor element is lower than the heating target temperature based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor. If the temperature of the sensor element is equal to or higher than the heating target temperature, it may be determined that the combustible gas sensor 3 is in a detectable state.

(C) The specific configuration of the warning means is not limited to the standby notification lamp 21 as exemplified in the first and second embodiments. For example, a display device that displays and outputs a message not accepting an operation start command, a speaker that outputs a message by voice, or a standby notification lamp 21, a display device that displays and outputs a message, and a speaker that outputs a message by voice Any two or all of them may be used in combination.

(D) The specific configuration of the locking means R is not limited to the configuration exemplified in the second embodiment.
For example, when the operation command means is composed of a movement-operated switch that is instructed to start operation by moving the button to different locations such as the front-rear direction and the left-right direction, the button is moved to the position where the operation start is instructed. A locking mechanism R may be configured by providing a mechanical locking mechanism such as a solenoid that can be controlled to be switched between an acceptable receiving state and a non-accepting state in which movement thereof is prohibited.
In this case, when the combustible gas sensor 3 is not in the detectable state, the control unit 4 is configured to switch the lock mechanism to the non-accepting state.

(E) The type of the combustible gas sensor 3 is not limited to the semiconductor type as exemplified in the first and second embodiments. For example, various types of sensors such as an infrared type may be used. Is possible.

(F) In each of the first and second embodiments described above, the case where the present invention is applied to the combustion apparatus B that uses gas fuel as the fuel is exemplified. However, the present invention is applied to the combustion apparatus B that uses liquid fuel as the fuel. In this case, the concentration of the gas obtained by vaporizing the liquid fuel is detected by the combustible gas sensor 3.
When the present invention is applied to the combustion apparatus B that uses gas fuel as the fuel, the gas fuel is not limited to city gas mainly composed of methane, and may be propane gas, for example.

(G) The present invention is applied to various open-type combustion devices such as a gas stove, an oil fan heater, an oil stove, and a hot water supply device in addition to the gas fan heater exemplified in the first and second embodiments. be able to.

  As described above, it is possible to provide an open combustion apparatus that can further improve the safety against fuel leakage.

1 is a longitudinal side view showing a schematic configuration of an open combustion apparatus according to an embodiment. The block diagram of the open type combustion apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment The figure which shows the flowchart of control operation | movement of the open type combustion apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. The block diagram of the open type combustion apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment The flowchart of the control action of the open type combustion apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment is shown. The flowchart of the control action of the open type combustion apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment is shown.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Burner 2 Ignition means 3 Combustible gas sensor 4 Control means 18 Power cord 19 Plug 20 Operation command means 21 Alarm means B Combustion device P Operation prohibition means R Lock means V Fuel interruption means

Claims (6)

A burner for burning the supplied fuel;
Ignition means for igniting the burner;
A flammable gas sensor that requires a predetermined time from when the power for driving the sensor is supplied until it becomes a detectable state in which the concentration of the flammable gas can be detected;
Fuel intermittent means that can be switched between a fuel supply state for supplying fuel to the burner and a fuel supply stop state for stopping the supply of fuel to the burner;
When starting operation is commanded by the operation command means, there is provided control means for executing an ignition process for operating the ignition means and switching the fuel intermittent means to the fuel supply state,
When the control means detects a fuel leak based on detection information of the combustible gas sensor, the control means is an open-type combustion device including a combustion device configured to switch the fuel interrupting means to the fuel supply stop state,
When the device driving power is supplied, the combustible gas sensor is configured to be supplied with the sensor driving power,
When the combustible gas sensor within the predetermined time after the sensor driving power is supplied is not in the detectable state, the operation start command operation by the operation command means as an external input is prohibited. Alternatively, an open-type combustion device provided with an operation prohibiting unit that operates so as not to accept an operation start command from the operation command unit.   The control means is configured not to accept the operation start command even when the operation start command is instructed by the operation command means when the combustible gas sensor is not in the detectable state. The open combustion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the prohibiting means is constituted by the control means. Lock means is provided that can be switched between a locked state in which the operation command for starting operation by the operation command means as an external input is not accepted and a lock release state in which the command operation for starting operation is accepted,
The lock means is configured to switch to the locked state when the combustible gas sensor is not in the detectable state, and the operation prohibiting means is constituted by the lock means. Open combustion equipment. The operation command means is constituted by a touch panel type switch device that performs a command operation for starting operation by contacting a display location of a button,
Switch display switching means capable of switching the switch device between a switch operating state in which the button is displayed and a switch inactive state in which the button is not displayed is provided,
The switch display switching means is configured to switch the switch device to the switch inactive state when the combustible gas sensor is not in the detectable state, and the operation prohibiting means is configured to switch the switch display switching means. The open-type combustion apparatus according to claim 1, which is configured by:   The operation prohibiting unit determines that the combustible gas sensor is not in the detectable state until the startup set time elapses after the supply of the sensor driving power to the combustible gas sensor is started. The open combustion apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which is configured as described above.   6. The alarm unit according to claim 1, further comprising: an alarm unit configured to perform an alarm operation when the operation prohibiting unit is operated so as to prohibit the operation start command operation or not to accept the operation start command. Open combustion equipment.

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