JP5355731B2 - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To detect whether optional equipment to be connected to an air conditioner has been connected, and to determine, when it is determined that the equipment has not been connected due to breaking of wire etc., whether the air conditioner has to be forcedly stopped on the basis of a predetermined condition. <P>SOLUTION: When determining that a setting of a switch is off, a control device 2 decides that a forced operation stop process need not be performed and continues an operation of a body 1. When determining that the setting is on, the control device decides that a communication trouble is caused by disconnection of a connection connector of a communication line 6, breaking of wire of the communication line 6, failure of a drain pump control device 45, or the like and performs the forced operation stop process. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2012,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conditioner that detects whether or not an optional device is connected.

  In some conventional air conditioners, an air cleaner is attached as an option, a door switch that supplies power to the high-voltage power supply unit of the air cleaner, and a suction grill that detects opening and closing of the door switch. The air conditioner and the high-pressure power supply unit of the air purifier are connected by a signal line, so that it is possible to detect whether or not the high-voltage power supply unit is connected, and it is possible to detect the open / closed state of the suction grille by a door switch. (See Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-074481 (page 4, FIG. 2)

However, in such a conventional air conditioner, it is possible to detect the connection state with an optional air purifier, but even if an abnormal connection state occurs, the dust collector has The air conditioner will continue to operate without the dust collection function of the unit being activated. At this time, it is found that the dust collecting part is not dirty at the time of the next maintenance and inspection, and there is a problem that the user makes a complaint.
Also, for example, when the optional device is a drain pump device, if the communication line that connects between the air conditioner and the drain pump device is disconnected or the connector is disconnected, the drain pump device Since the air conditioner continues to operate without transmitting an operation stop instruction signal to the air conditioner, there is also a problem that drain water overflows and damages the user's household property.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and detects whether or not an optional device connected to the air conditioner is connected, and is determined not to be connected due to disconnection or the like. In such a case, an air conditioner that can determine whether to forcibly stop the air conditioner based on a predetermined condition is obtained.

An air conditioner according to the present invention includes a heat exchanger, a main body incorporating the heat exchanger, a control unit that controls the heat exchanger, and an optional connection to the main body to remotely control the control unit. An optional device, wherein the control unit detects whether or not the optional device is connected to the main body, and whether or not the optional device is connected to the main body. And a forced operation stop processing execution mode storage unit that stores information for determining whether to continue the operation of the main body or to forcibly stop the main unit, and the optional device is a predetermined device. If it is determined, the contents stored in the forced operation stop processing execution mode storage means are rewritten, and the connection presence / absence detection means is connected to the main body by the optional device. If it is detected that it is not based on the contents stored in the forced shutdown process implemented mode storage unit, whether to continue the operation of the main body, or a feature determining whether to suspend To do.

  The air conditioner according to the present invention has a water leakage problem by forcibly stopping the operation of the air conditioner body when a connection connector of the communication line is disconnected, the communication line is disconnected, or a failure of an optional device occurs. Can be prevented, and a high-quality air conditioner can be provided to the user.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of an air conditioner according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is an internal detail drawing of the drain pump apparatus which comprises the air conditioner which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart of the operation | movement which determines the communication state in the air conditioner which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart of the operation | movement which determines the communication state in the air conditioner which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a flowchart of the operation | movement which determines automatically whether the forced operation stop is performed in the air conditioner which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a flowchart of the operation | movement which determines the communication state in the air conditioner which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an air conditioner according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an internal detail diagram of a drain pump device that constitutes the air conditioner.
A control device 2 for controlling the operation of the main body 1 is installed on the right side of the main body 1 of the air conditioner according to Embodiment 1 and is introduced into the main body 1 at a substantially central portion inside the main body 1. A heat exchanger 3 for cooling or heating the air to be heated is installed. Further, a drain pump device 4 as an optional device is disposed on the right side of the main body 1, and the main body 1 and the drain pump device 4 are detachably connected by a drain hose 5. A display 7 is provided on the front surface of the main body 1 to notify the user of information such as the operation status of the main body 1.
A drain pan 41 for storing drain water is installed at the bottom inside the drain pump device 4, and a drain pump 42 for draining the water stored in the drain pan 41 is installed at the top. A drain hose 43 extending to the outside of the drain pump device 4 is attached to the drain pump 42. Further, the drain pan 41 is provided with a water level sensor 44 for detecting the water level of the water stored therein. A drain pump control device 45 that controls the operation of the drain pump device 4 is installed on the left side surface inside the drain pump device 4.
The control device 2 installed in the main body 1 and the drain pump control device 45 installed in the drain pump device 4 are detachably connected by a communication line 6.

  For example, when the air conditioner according to Embodiment 1 is performing a cooling operation, a fan (not shown) is driven, and air is introduced into the main body 1 from a suction port (not shown). The introduced air comes into contact with the heat exchanger 3 cooled by the refrigerant to exchange heat, and is blown out as a cold air from the outlet (not shown) into the cooling target chamber. At this time, in the heat exchanger 3, the air passing through the heat exchanger 3 is subjected to heat exchange, whereby moisture contained in the air is condensed and water droplets are attached to generate drain water. The drain water passes through the drain hose 5 and is stored in the drain pan 41 in the drain pump device 4. At this time, the drain pump control device 45 of the drain pump device 4 monitors the operation state of the main body 1 via the communication line 6, and synchronizes with the start of the cooling or dry operation of the main body 1. 42 is driven. The drain water stored in the drain pan 41 is pumped up by the drain pump 42 and drained to the outside through the drain hose 43. Moreover, the water level sensor 44 installed in the drain pan 41 detects the water level of the stored drain water. When the drain water level exceeds a predetermined reference water level, the drain pump control device 45 that has received the detection result of the water level determines that the drain pump 42 has failed, the drain hose 43 is clogged, or the like. In order to prevent the drain water from overflowing from the drain pan 41, an operation stop instruction signal is transmitted to the control device 2 in the main body 1 through the communication line 6. The control device 2 that has received this instruction signal stops the operation of the main body 1. For transmission of the operation stop signal, a highly versatile signal specified by JEM standard JEM 1427 (HA terminal (JEM-A)) of JEMA (Japan Electrical Manufacturers' Association) may be used. Many.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an operation for determining a communication state in the air conditioner according to Embodiment 1.
First, the control device 2 determines whether or not the drain pump device 4 as an optional device is connected to the main body 1 via the communication line 6 and the drain pump control device 45 installed in the drain pump device 4. The communication is confirmed (S1). As a result of the confirmation of the communication, when the control device 2 determines that the communication is normal, the drain water draining operation using the drain pump device 4 is performed. Further, when the control device 2 determines that the communication is abnormal due to the interruption of communication, the connection connector of the communication line 6 is disconnected, the communication line 6 is disconnected, or the drain pump control device 45 is broken. The operation of the main body 1 is forcibly stopped, and the operation is prohibited until the communication is restored (hereinafter, this process is referred to as a forced operation stop process) (S2).

  With the above configuration and operation, in addition to stopping the operation of the main body 1 when the water level sensor 44 provided in the drain pan 41 detects a water level exceeding a predetermined reference, the connection connector of the communication line 6 is disconnected and communication is performed. When the disconnection of the wire 6 or the failure of the drain pump control device 45 occurs, it is possible to prevent a water leakage problem by performing the forced operation stop process, and it is possible to improve the quality to the user. An air conditioner can be provided.

In addition, it is good also as a thing alert | reported to a user by the display by the indicator 7, or the audio | voice by an audio | voice means (not shown) that the driving | operation of the main body 1 has stopped at the time of implementation of this forced operation stop process. .
Moreover, although the case where the drain pump apparatus 4 is connected to the main body 1 as an optional device has been described above, the forced operation stop process is not limited to the drain pump apparatus 4 but communication with the main body 1 is abnormal. It may be other optional equipment that is necessary.

Embodiment 2.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an operation for determining a communication state in the air conditioner according to the second embodiment. Hereinafter, the air conditioner according to the second embodiment will be described focusing on the contents different from those of the first embodiment.
In the air conditioner according to Embodiment 1, even if the drain pump device 4 that is an optional device is not connected, the drain water adhering to the heat exchanger 3 is separated from the main body 1 by the natural gradient formed inside the main body 1. It is possible to drain directly to the outside. Therefore, if the natural gradient can be easily formed by the structure of the property where the air conditioner according to Embodiment 1 is installed, the drain pump device 4 does not need to be attached. At this time, when the drain pump device 4 is not attached, the above-described forced operation stop process does not need to be performed. Therefore, in the air conditioner according to the second embodiment, a switch that allows the control device 2 installed in the main body 1 in FIG. 1 to select whether or not the forced operation stop processing is performed by the control device 2 ( (Not shown). In the air conditioner according to the second embodiment, for example, when the switch is ON, the drain pump device 4 is used, and when the switch is OFF, the drain pump device 4 is not used. .
First, the control device 2 determines whether or not the drain pump device 4 as an optional device is connected to the main body 1 via the communication line 6 and the drain pump control device 45 installed in the drain pump device 4. The communication is confirmed (S11). As a result of the confirmation of the communication, when the control device 2 determines that the communication is normal, the drain water draining operation using the drain pump device 4 is performed. Further, when the control device 2 determines that there is an abnormality due to interruption of communication or the like, subsequently, the setting state of the switch provided in the control device 2 is determined (S12). As a result of the determination, when the control device 2 determines that the setting of the switch is OFF, it is determined that it is not necessary to perform the forced operation stop process, and the operation of the main body 1 is continued. If it is determined that the setting is ON, the communication is abnormal because the connection connector of the communication line 6 is disconnected, the communication line 6 is disconnected, or the drain pump control device 45 is broken. The forced operation stop process is performed (S13).

  By providing a switch that can select whether or not forced operation stop processing is performed as in the above configuration and operation, when the user has an abnormality in communication with the optional device, the air conditioner body It is possible to select whether the operation is forcibly stopped or continued, and the convenience of the air conditioner can be improved. When the optional device is the drain pump device 4 as in the above-described second embodiment, the drain water is drained using the drain pump device 4, and the main body 1 is not used without using the drain pump device 4. It is possible to select when draining directly.

In the above operation, when the switch provided in the control device 2 is ON, the drain pump device 4 may not be used, and when the switch is OFF, the drain pump device 4 may be used. It may be selected by a method of switching the switches.
In the above configuration, the switch is provided in the control device 2, but the present invention is not limited to this, and may be provided in any part of the main body 1. 2 may be detected.
Further, in the above configuration, a switch is provided as a means for selecting whether or not the forced operation stop process is performed by the control device 2, but not limited thereto, a jumper wire or the like is provided, and the short circuit is provided. It may be selected depending on the state.
In step S12, whether or not the forced operation stop process is performed is selected depending on the setting of the switch. However, the selection is not limited to this, and the selection may be made by the following method. In other words, a non-volatile memory installed in the control device 2 or installed outside the control device 2 and electrically connected to the control device 2 is installed, and the connection history of past optional devices is stored in the non-volatile memory. Information shall be memorize | stored and the control apparatus 2 is good also as what selects whether a forced operation stop process is implemented based on the connection log information.

Embodiment 3.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an operation for automatically determining whether or not to stop forced operation in the air conditioner according to Embodiment 3, and FIG. 6 determines the communication state in the air conditioner according to Embodiment 3. It is a flowchart of the operation | movement to perform. Hereinafter, the air conditioner according to Embodiment 3 will be described focusing on the contents different from those of Embodiments 1 and 2 described above.
The control device 2 is provided with a non-volatile memory (not shown), and stores ON / OFF information of the forced operation stop processing execution mode. Here, the forced operation stop processing execution mode means that when an optional device such as the drain pump device 4 is attached to the main body 1, the control device 2 is disconnected from the connection connector of the communication line 6 in communication with the optional device. When it is determined that the communication is abnormal due to disconnection of the communication line 6 or failure of an optional device (S31 described later), a forced operation stop process is performed (S33 described later). is there. The main body 1 is provided with a mode clear switch (not shown) for clearing the forced operation stop processing execution mode information stored in the nonvolatile memory.

Hereinafter, an operation flow for automatically determining whether or not to stop the forced operation will be described with reference to FIG.
The control device 2 is always in a transmission / reception standby state for communication with the drain pump device 4 which is an optional device. When the drain pump device 4 is attached and both the main body 1 and the drain pump device 4 are turned on, the control device 2 installed in the main body 1 and the drain pump control device 45 installed in the drain pump device 4 are scheduled. Communication is started.
First, the control device 2 refers to the ON / OFF state of the forced operation stop process execution mode information stored in the nonvolatile memory (S21). When the referenced forced operation stop processing execution mode information is ON, the control device 2 determines that an optional device that needs to be operated in the forced operation stop processing execution mode is connected to the main body 1 and performs the forced operation. The process is terminated with the stop process execution mode information as it is. When the forced operation stop processing execution mode information is OFF, the control device 2 determines whether the drain pump device 4 as an optional device is connected to the main body 1 via the communication line 6. Confirmation of communication with the drain pump control device 45 installed in 4 is carried out (S22). If the control device 2 determines that the communication is normal as a result of the confirmation of the communication, it is subsequently determined whether or not the optional device is the drain pump device 4 (S23). As a result of the determination, if it is determined that the optional device is the drain pump device 4, and if communication with the drain pump device 4 that is the optional device becomes abnormal, the forced operation stop process needs to be performed. Since there exists, the control apparatus 2 memorize | stores the forced operation stop process execution mode information of a non-volatile memory in ON (S24). If it is determined in step S23 that the optional device is not the drain pump device 4, the process ends with the forced operation stop process execution mode information as it is. On the other hand, if the control device 2 determines in step S22 that the communication is abnormal, the process ends with the forced operation stop process execution mode information as it is. In consideration of the fact that the drain pump device 4 is not required to be mounted due to the transfer of the main body 1 or the like, the user operates the mode clear switch provided in the main body 1 to store the drain pump device 4 in the nonvolatile memory. The forced operation stop processing execution mode information can be cleared, that is, rewritten to OFF.

Next, an operation flow of the air conditioner according to Embodiment 3 will be described with reference to FIG.
First, the control device 2 determines whether or not the drain pump device 4 as an optional device is connected to the main body 1 via the communication line 6 and the drain pump control device 45 installed in the drain pump device 4. The communication is confirmed (S31). As a result of the confirmation of the communication, when the control device 2 determines that the communication is normal, the drain water draining operation using the drain pump device 4 is performed. Further, when the control device 2 determines that the communication is abnormal due to interruption of communication or the like, the controller 2 refers to the ON / OFF state of the forced operation stop process execution mode information stored in the nonvolatile memory (S32). If the referenced forced operation stop process execution mode information is OFF, the control device 2 determines that it is not necessary to execute the forced operation stop process, and continues the operation of the main body 1. When the forced operation stop processing execution mode information referred to is ON, the control device 2 indicates that the communication is abnormal because the connection connector of the communication line 6 is disconnected, the communication line 6 is disconnected, or the drain. It is determined that the failure is caused by a failure of the pump control device 45, and the forced operation stop process is performed (S33).

With the configuration and operation described above, when there is an abnormality in communication between the main body 1 and the optional device, it is possible to automatically determine whether or not to perform the forced operation stop process.
In addition, the automatic discrimination can not only prevent a water leakage problem due to forgetting to set the switch or jumper wire, but also eliminates the need to mount the switch or jumper wire, and provides an inexpensive and high-quality air conditioner. It becomes possible.
Then, by storing the forced operation stop processing execution mode information in the nonvolatile memory in step S24, even when returning from an unexpected power failure, referring to the contents of the nonvolatile memory in step S21, step S22 and step S23. This determination result can be continued.

The nonvolatile memory does not need to be mounted on the control device 2 and may be configured to be installed outside the control device 2 and electrically connected so that the control device 2 can refer to information.
In step S23, the control device 2 determines whether the optional device is the drain pump device 4. However, not only the drain pump device 4 but also the communication with the main body 1 is abnormal. In some cases, it may be determined whether or not it is another optional device that needs to perform the forced operation stop process.
In step S23, the control device 2 determines whether or not the optional device is the drain pump device 4, but instead of or in addition to that, the control device 2 determines as follows. It is good. That is, it is assumed that the connection history information of the past optional device is stored in the nonvolatile memory, and the control device 2 turns on the forced operation stop processing execution mode information stored in the nonvolatile memory based on the connection history information. It may be rewritten as

  The present invention is effective not only in a drain pump device but also in an air conditioning system in which remote control from the outside is given priority over user operations, such as demand control.

  1 Main body, 2 control device, 3 heat exchanger, 4 drain pump device, 5 drain hose, 6 communication line, 7 indicator, 41 drain pan, 42 drain pump, 43 drain hose, 44 water level sensor, 45 drain pump control device.

Claims (4)

A heat exchanger,
A body containing the heat exchanger;
A control unit for controlling the heat exchanger;
Optional equipment connected as an option to the main body and remotely controlling the control unit;
With
The controller is
Connection presence / absence detecting means for detecting whether or not the optional device is connected to the main body;
Forced operation stop process for storing information for determining whether to continue operation of the main body or to forcibly stop when the connection presence / absence detecting unit detects that the optional device is not connected to the main body Execution mode storage means;
With
When it is determined that the optional device is a predetermined device, the content stored in the forced operation stop processing execution mode storage means is rewritten,
If the connection presence / absence detecting means detects that the optional device is not connected to the main body, whether to continue the operation of the main body based on the contents stored in the forced operation stop processing execution mode storage means Or an air conditioner that determines whether to forcibly stop . A heat exchanger,
A body containing the heat exchanger;
A control unit for controlling the heat exchanger;
Optional equipment connected as an option to the main body and remotely controlling the control unit;
With
The controller is
Connection presence / absence detecting means for detecting whether or not the optional device is connected to the main body;
Forced operation stop process for storing information for determining whether to continue operation of the main body or to forcibly stop when the connection presence / absence detecting unit detects that the optional device is not connected to the main body Execution mode storage means;
Connection history storage means for storing past connection history information of the optional device;
With
The controller is
Based on the connection history information, rewrite the content stored in the forced operation stop processing execution mode storage means,
If the connection presence / absence detecting means detects that the optional device is not connected to the main body, whether to continue the operation of the main body based on the contents stored in the forced operation stop processing execution mode storage means Or decide whether to forcibly stop
An air conditioner characterized by that. The air conditioner according to claim 1 or 2 , further comprising a notification unit that notifies the user by voice or display when the control unit forcibly stops the operation of the main body. It said optional device is an air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the drain pump device.

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