JP5873856B2 - Hot air heater - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a hot air heater. In particular, the present invention relates to a warm air heater excellent in fuel saving performance.

  For example, a gas fan heater, which is a hot air heater, includes a gas burner and a blower fan in a main body case, and sucks room air by rotating the blower fan and blows air heated by the gas burner into the room. By doing so, the heating operation which raises room temperature is performed.

  In a warm air heater with a temperature control function, the set temperature set by the user using the temperature setting switch and the actual room temperature detected by the temperature sensor provided near the air inlet of the room air are substantially the same. Thus, the heating amount of the gas burner and the blowing amount of the blower fan are adjusted. In consideration of the case where the room temperature detected by the temperature sensor continues to rise even if the amount of heating of the gas burner is minimized, the gas burner is extinguished when the room temperature is higher than the set temperature by a predetermined temperature or more. Also known is a hot air heater that performs so-called on / off control, which ignites a gas burner when the temperature is lower than a predetermined temperature.

  Further, in a warm air heater having a save operation function (fuel saving operation function), after the room temperature detected by the temperature sensor reaches a set temperature, a save operation is performed in which the control temperature is gradually decreased. Yes. Specifically, after the initial heating operation is performed to substantially match the room temperature with the set temperature, the control temperature is maintained at the set temperature until 30 minutes have elapsed, and after 30 minutes, the control temperature is lowered by 1 ° C., and thereafter There has been proposed a warm air heater that performs a save operation that lowers the control temperature by 1 ° C. after 30 minutes.

  In addition to the above-described control temperature lowering, the control temperature of the save operation is controlled according to the room temperature at the initial stage of the heating operation until the room temperature substantially matches the set temperature and the heating load characteristics of the temperature increase range. There is also known a hot air heater that changes the lowering conditions.

  According to the hot air heater having the save operation function as described above, the heating amount is controlled so that the control temperature slightly lower than the set temperature is maintained for a predetermined time as the heating operation becomes longer. Person's perceived temperature does not change much. Therefore, the heating amount of the gas burner can be reduced, and the fuel consumption can be improved without causing discomfort to the user.

JP-A-8-189708 JP 2010-2063 A JP 2010-2064 A

  By the way, after the user accidentally turns off the operation switch during the heating operation, when the heating operation is restarted again within a short time, or after the user turns off the operation switch during the heating operation, Another user may start the heating operation again within a short time. When such a heating operation is resumed, the room temperature often increases compared to the previous time when the heating operation was performed.

  However, in the warm air heater having the above-described conventional save operation function, after the initial heating operation for raising the room temperature to the set temperature is finished, until the indoor heating due to the previously performed heating operation or the heating operation is resumed. Regardless of the stop time, after the specified save time has elapsed, the control temperature is lowered by the specified save amount, so the save operation performed for the purpose of improving fuel efficiency is not sufficiently effective. There's a problem.

  In addition, the heating load characteristics when the first heating operation starting from a low temperature room temperature is performed, and at the time of restart when the heating operation is performed from the state where the heating operation was performed and the room was warmed last time It differs from the heating load characteristics. In addition, since the control temperature is lowered in the save operation, the sensible temperature also changes depending on the save operation time. Therefore, there is a problem in that an appropriate save operation is not performed when the save operation is performed in consideration of only the heating load characteristic at the initial stage of the heating operation when resuming.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a warm air heater that performs a save operation in consideration of a heating load characteristic in the early stage of the heating operation, from the end of the previous heating operation. In the case where the heating operation is resumed within a short time, the fuel consumption performance is improved without lowering the sensible temperature in consideration of the heating operation performed last time.

The present invention
A heating source;
A blower fan for sending warm air heated by the heating source into the room;
A room temperature detector for detecting room temperature;
An operation switch for instructing activation / deactivation of the heating operation;
A set temperature input section for inputting the set temperature;
When the operation switch is activated and heating operation is started, an initial heating operation control unit that determines a heating amount of the heating source so that a detected room temperature detected by the room temperature detection unit matches the set temperature; ,
A load characteristic determination unit for determining a heating load characteristic based on a detected room temperature detected by the room temperature detection unit during the initial heating operation;
A load characteristic storage unit for storing a heating load characteristic in the initial heating operation;
After the detected room temperature reaches the set temperature by the initial heating operation, the amount of heating of the heating source is controlled so that the detected room temperature maintains a predetermined control temperature, and the control temperature is set in a predetermined save pattern. A save operation control unit that decreases,
Based on the heating load characteristic in the initial heating operation, a plurality of standard save patterns for decreasing the control temperature by a predetermined standard save amount as the predetermined standard save time elapses, and the standard save time A save pattern setting unit in which a plurality of restart save patterns for decreasing the control temperature by a predetermined restart save amount as a predetermined restart save time for a short period of time is set ;
When the save operation is performed in the standard save pattern at the end of the heating operation, a save amount storage unit that stores an execution save amount executed to lower the control temperature from the start of the save operation to the end of the heating operation; With
The save operation control unit is an initial heating operation at the time of resumption determined by the load characteristic determination unit when the operation switch is activated and the heating operation is restarted after a predetermined stop time is exceeded after the heating operation is finished. Execute save operation with standard save pattern based on heating load characteristics in
When the heating operation is ended and the save operation is not performed, and the operation switch is activated and the heating operation is restarted within the stop time after the heating operation is ended, the heating in the previous initial heating operation is performed. This is a hot air heater that performs a save operation with a standard save pattern based on load characteristics.

When the operation switch is activated and the heating operation is restarted after the predetermined stop time after the heating operation is completed, the room temperature is likely to have dropped. By selecting the standard save pattern based on the heating load characteristic of the rising width, it is possible to execute a save operation in consideration of the ease of warming the room.

On the other hand, even when the heating operation is ended by turning off the operation switch before the control temperature is lowered in the previous heating operation, the room is warmed to some extent by the initial heating operation for raising the room temperature to the set temperature. Therefore, when the heating operation is performed until before the control temperature is lowered last time and the heating operation is restarted within a short time, the save pattern is selected based on the heating load characteristic in the initial heating operation at the time of restart. In this case, there is a possibility that the save operation may be executed with a different save pattern even though the same room is heated. However, in the hot air heater, when the heating operation is resumed within a predetermined stop time, the standard save pattern based on the previous heating load characteristic is selected instead of the heating load characteristic at the time of resumption. The save operation can be executed with an appropriate save pattern based on the ease of warming in the room.

In the hot air heater, preferably,
The save operation control unit executes the save operation when the heating operation is finished, and when the operation switch is activated and the heating operation is resumed within the stop time after the heating operation is finished. As the save amount increases, the save operation is performed with the restart save pattern set to lower the control temperature earlier than the standard save pattern based on the heating load characteristic in the previous initial heating operation.

  According to the hot air heater, when the save operation is executed when the heating operation is ended by forced timer operation or the user's operation of turning off the operation switch, the save amount executed so far is stored. Therefore, the progress degree of the save operation at the end of the previous heating operation can be determined.

  In addition, when the heating operation is completed, the save operation is performed, and when the operation switch is activated within a predetermined stop time after the heating operation is completed and the heating operation is resumed, the initial room temperature is compared with the previous heating operation. Is higher, and the temperature rise is less. Therefore, if the save pattern is selected based on the heating load characteristic in the initial heating operation at the time of resumption, the save operation may not be executed with an appropriate save pattern.

However, in the heating operation at the time of restarting , the save operation is executed with the restart save pattern that lowers the control temperature earlier than the standard save pattern selected based on the heating load characteristic in the previous initial heating operation. It is possible to execute a save operation in consideration of the heating load characteristics.

The larger the execution save amount executed last time, that is, the longer the save operation is performed, the more the room is warmed and the temperature is less likely to decrease. In addition, as the amount of saved execution by the save operation increases, the heating operation is performed for a long time at a lower control temperature, so that the user is accustomed to the reduced room temperature according to the control temperature. . Therefore, if the detected room temperature has reached the set temperature by the initial heating operation at the time of restart, without maintaining a high control temperature for a long time, rather than the standard save pattern selected based on the previous heating load characteristics, In the heating operation after restarting, even if the save operation is executed with the restart save pattern that lowers the control temperature earlier according to the previous execution save amount, the sensible temperature is not easily lowered, so the warm air heater is According to this, fuel efficiency can be improved without impairing the sensed temperature.

In the hot air heater, preferably,
The save operation control unit is configured to stop when the save operation is performed at the end of the heating operation, and the operation switch is operated within the stop time after the heating operation is completed and the heating operation is resumed. As the time is shorter, the save operation is performed with the restart save pattern set so as to lower the control temperature earlier.

The shorter the stop time from the end of the heating operation until the operation switch is activated and the restart of the heating operation, the less likely the room temperature or sensation temperature will decrease, so it is more than the standard save pattern selected based on the previous heating load characteristics In the heating operation at the time of resumption, the fuel consumption can be further improved without impairing the sensed temperature by executing the save operation with the restart save pattern that lowers the control temperature earlier.

  As described above, according to the present invention, when the operation switch is operated and the heating operation is restarted after a predetermined stop time after the heating operation is completed, the heating load characteristic in the initial heating operation at the time of restarting is based. Since the save operation is executed with the save pattern, the save operation can be executed in consideration of the ease of warming in the room.

  In addition, if the save operation is not executed at the end of the heating operation and the operation switch is activated within the predetermined stop time after the heating operation is completed, it is based on the previous heating load characteristic, not the heating load characteristic at the time of restart. Since the save operation is executed with the save pattern, the save operation can be executed with an appropriate save pattern, and the fuel efficiency can be improved without impairing the sensed temperature.

  In addition, when the heating operation is completed, a save operation is performed, and when the operation switch is activated within a predetermined stop time from the end of the heating operation, the heating load characteristic at the time of restart is different from the previous heating load characteristic, According to the present invention, the save operation in the heating operation at the time of restarting is earlier than the save pattern based on the previous heating load characteristic as the execution save amount in the previous save operation is larger and the stop time is shorter. Because it is executed with a save pattern that lowers the control temperature, considering the ease of warming in the room, the warming of the room by the save operation performed so far, the user's familiarity with the room temperature, and the room temperature until restart It is possible to perform heating operation according to the decrease in. Thereby, even if the heating operation is resumed within a short time, the heating operation can be efficiently performed with a small heating amount without excessively reducing the sensible temperature.

It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows an example of the warm air heater which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a control block diagram of the warm air heater which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows a part of control operation in the warm air heater which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows a part of control operation in the warm air heater which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows a part of control operation in the warm air heater which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, the hot air heater according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of a hot air heater according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, a warm air heater 1 includes a duct 4, a blower fan 5, a gas burner (heating source) 6, an air supply duct 7, a gas supply pipe 8, and a main body case 2 installed indoors. A control unit C is provided.

  The duct 4 constitutes a hot air blowing path, and an air inlet 10 for taking in the indoor air s is opened in the back surface of the main body case 2, and a hot air outlet 11 is formed in the lower front portion of the main body case 2. It is open. An air filter 12 is detachably attached to the air inlet 10 in order to prevent dust and dirt from flowing into the duct 4.

  Further, a temperature sensor (room temperature detection unit) 26 constituted by a thermistor is attached to a location near the air inlet 10 so as to face the air inlet 10. The temperature sensor 26 outputs to the control unit C a signal indicating the detected room temperature that is regularly detected during the heating operation of the hot air heater 1.

  The blower fan 5 includes a fan motor 16 whose rotational speed changes in proportion to the energization amount, and a rotary blade 17 that is disposed in the duct 4 so as to face the air outlet 11 and is driven to rotate by the fan motor 16. The indoor air s is sucked from the air inlet 10 by the rotation of the rotary blade 17. Then, the sucked indoor air s is mixed with the combustion exhaust h of the gas burner 6 incorporated in the duct 4, and is sent to the room from the outlet 11 as warm air m. The blower fan 5 is provided with a rotation speed sensor 18 configured by a Hall element or the like that detects the rotation speed of the fan motor 16. The rotation speed sensor 18 outputs a signal corresponding to the rotation speed of the fan motor 16. Output to control unit C.

  In the gas burner 6 incorporated in the duct 4, a combustion plate 20 is disposed in the combustion cylinder 19, and an ignition electrode 21 for igniting a mixture of combustion air and fuel gas is disposed in the vicinity of the combustion plate 20. doing. The combustion exhaust h from the gas burner 6 is discharged from the combustion cylinder 19 into the duct 4. A thermocouple 22 for detecting the presence or absence of a combustion flame is disposed on the downstream side of the combustion plate 20. When the thermocouple 22 is exposed to the combustion flame of the gas burner 6, it generates a thermoelectromotive force according to the temperature of the combustion flame and outputs the thermoelectromotive force to the control unit C.

  The air supply duct 7 is a passage for supplying room air (combustion air) s and fuel gas to the gas burner 6, communicates with the gas burner 6 and the inside of the combustion cylinder 19, and is defined by the duct 4. An air inlet 23 for indoor air s opened at the back of the main body case 2 is provided. And the nozzle 24 attached to the front-end | tip of the gas supply pipe 8 is provided in the location by the side of the gas burner 6 of the air supply duct 7. FIG. In the air supply duct 7, the indoor air s is sucked from the intake port 23 by the rotation operation of the blower fan 5, and the sucked indoor air s is mixed with the fuel gas ejected from the nozzle 24 of the gas supply pipe 8. The air-fuel mixture is supplied to the gas burner 6. The air inlet 23 is covered with the air filter 12 together with the air inlet 10 of the duct 4.

  The gas supply pipe 8 is provided with solenoid valves 27 and 28 and a proportional control valve 29 in order from the upstream side. The solenoid valves 27 and 28 are opened by energization from the control unit C. When the energization is stopped, the solenoid valves 27 and 28 are closed to block the passage of fuel gas. The proportional control valve 29 is a valve whose opening increases with the amount of current supplied from the control unit C, and adjusts the amount of fuel gas supplied to the gas burner 6.

  An operation panel 30 is provided on the outer surface of the main body case 2, and various switches such as an operation switch 31, a temperature setting switch (set temperature input unit) 32, and a display unit 33 are disposed on the operation panel 30. Has been.

  The operation switch 31 outputs a signal indicating on / off of a main power source (not shown) of the hot air heater 1 to the control unit C by the user's on / off operation. The temperature setting switch 32 is a switch for setting a temperature desired by the user, and is set by increasing / decreasing the set temperature in units of 1 ° C., for example, by a predetermined operation by the user. The temperature setting switch 32 outputs a signal indicating the set temperature to the control unit C.

  The display unit 33 includes a liquid crystal panel, a digital display, and the like, and displays the current detected room temperature detected by the temperature sensor 26, the set temperature set by the temperature setting switch 32, and the like.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit C having a microcomputer includes an operation control unit 50, a time measuring unit 51, an initial heating operation control unit 60, a load characteristic determination unit 70, a save operation control unit 80, a timer operation control unit 90, A temperature control unit 100, a fan drive circuit 101, a proportional valve drive circuit 102, and the like are provided.

  When the user turns on the operation switch 31, the operation control unit 50 energizes the ignition electrode 21 for a predetermined time, opens the solenoid valves 27 and 28, sets the proportional control valve 29 to the ignition opening, and sets the gas burner. 6 is ignited. When the user turns off the operation switch 31, the solenoid valves 27 and 28 and the proportional control valve 29 are closed to extinguish the gas burner 6. In addition, if the output voltage of the thermocouple 22 becomes less than a predetermined value during combustion, the solenoid valves 27 and 28 and the proportional control valve 29 are closed to extinguish the gas burner 6.

  The initial heating operation control unit 60 determines the target combustion amount of the gas burner 6 so that the detected room temperature substantially coincides with the set temperature at the initial stage of the heating operation, and instructs the temperature adjustment control unit 100.

  The load characteristic determination unit 70 includes a load characteristic storage unit 71. Then, when the initial heating operation is started, the load characteristic determination unit 70 acquires the initial room temperature T1 in the initial heating operation based on a signal sent from the temperature sensor 26 one minute after ignition, and the acquired initial room temperature T1 is Whether the first room temperature (for example, less than 5 ° C.), the second room temperature (for example, 5 ° C. or more and less than 16 ° C.), or the third room temperature (for example, 16 ° C. or more) is determined. Moreover, the load characteristic determination part 70 acquires the temperature increase width (T5-T1) in the heating operation initial stage based on the signal which the temperature sensor 26 sends out after 1 minute of ignition and 5 minutes after the ignition, and the acquired temperature increase width ( T5-T1) corresponds to any of the first increase width (for example, less than 6 ° C.), the second increase width (for example, 6 ° C. or more and less than 8 ° C.), or the third increase width (for example, 8 ° C. or more). Determine whether. The load characteristic storage unit 71 stores each characteristic of the determined initial room temperature and temperature rise.

  The save operation control unit 80 maintains a predetermined set temperature maintenance time and a control temperature at the set temperature after the detected room temperature reaches the set temperature by the initial heating operation, and then saves a predetermined save amount every time a predetermined save time elapses. Save pattern setting unit 81 that stores a plurality of save patterns set so as to lower the control temperature at (ΔT), and if the save operation has been executed at the end of the heating operation, it is executed until then The save amount storage unit 82 temporarily stores the execution save amount (ΣΔT).

  The save operation control unit 80 performs the first heating operation after the power is turned on, or the save operation is performed at the end of the heating operation. The save operation control unit 80 sets a predetermined stop time (for example, 10 minutes) after the heating operation is completed. If the heating operation has been resumed over, or when the heating operation has ended, the save operation has not been executed, and the heating operation has been resumed within a predetermined stop time (for example, 10 minutes) after the heating operation has ended. If so, based on the heating load characteristic determined by the load characteristic determination unit 70, the target combustion amount is determined so that the save operation is performed with each standard save pattern shown in Table 1, and the temperature control unit 100 is instructed.

  Here, in any of the standard save patterns of the present embodiment, the control temperature is set until a predetermined set temperature maintenance time (for example, 30 minutes) elapses after the detected room temperature reaches the set temperature in the initial heating operation. It is set to maintain the temperature. Then, after the set temperature maintenance time has elapsed, based on the initial room temperature and the temperature rise determined by the load characteristic determination unit 70 shown in Table 1, the control temperature is set at a predetermined save amount for each save time (for example, 30 minutes). It is set to decrease. Note that the save time is maintained at the set temperature until the predetermined set temperature maintenance time elapses after the detected room temperature reaches the set temperature in the initial heating operation, and then the control temperature is lowered by a predetermined save amount. Therefore, each save amount indicates a temperature decrease range (ΔT) for decreasing the control temperature.

  For example, as shown in Table 1, the initial room temperature determined by the load characteristic determination unit 70 is the first room temperature (for example, less than 5 ° C.), and the temperature increase width is the first increase width (for example, less than 6 ° C.). In the case of the standard save pattern, when the detected room temperature rises to the set temperature and the save operation is started, the control temperature is first maintained at the set temperature for a set temperature maintaining time (for example, 30 minutes) as described above. The control temperature is set to decrease by one save amount (for example, −1 / 3 ° C. = about 0.33 ° C.) every 30 minutes. For example, in the standard save pattern in which the initial room temperature is the third room temperature (for example, 16 ° C. or more) and the temperature increase width is the first increase range (for example, less than 6 ° C.), the detected room temperature is increased to the set temperature. When the save operation is started, the control temperature is maintained at the set temperature for the set temperature maintenance time (for example, 30 minutes) in the same manner as described above, and the control temperature is maintained every 30 minutes after the set temperature maintenance time has elapsed. Is set to decrease by 3 save amount (-1 ° C). In the standard save pattern, the decrease in the control temperature within 30 minutes may be reduced by a predetermined save amount at a time, or may be divided and divided. Further, the set temperature maintenance time, the save time, and the save amount in the present embodiment are obtained by experiments based on the perceived temperature, and any save pattern has a maximum save amount of 6 save amounts (− 2 ° C.), but these can be set as appropriate according to the heating capacity of the hot air heater 1 and the like. In this way, the first heating operation after turning on the power, or when the heating operation has been resumed after a predetermined stop time after the heating operation has been completed, or when the heating operation has ended, the save operation has not been executed. When the heating operation is resumed within a predetermined stop time after the heating operation is completed, by executing the save operation with the standard save pattern set based on the heating load characteristic acquired in the initial heating operation. Thus, it is possible to execute a save operation in consideration of the ease of warming up the room.

  Further, the save operation control unit 80 executes the save operation at the end of the previous heating operation, and when the heating operation is resumed within the stop time, the save operation control unit 80 stores the previous initial value stored in the save amount storage unit 82. The save operation is performed in any one of the resume save patterns 1 and 2 for reducing the control temperature shown in Tables 2 and 3 earlier than the standard save pattern selected based on the heating load characteristic in the heating operation. The target combustion amount is determined so as to be performed, and the temperature control unit 100 is instructed.

  The restart save pattern set in the present embodiment will be described. Like the standard save pattern, the control temperature is maintained until the predetermined set temperature maintenance time elapses after the detected room temperature reaches the set temperature by the initial heating operation. Is maintained at the set temperature, and the control temperature is set to decrease according to the save time shown in Tables 2 and 3.

  For example, in the restart save pattern 1, when the control temperature is shorter than the standard save pattern, the set temperature maintenance time (for example, 10 minutes) is maintained at the set temperature, and the previous execution save amount is 1 or more and less than 3, Each time a save time (for example, 5 minutes) elapses, the control temperature is set to decrease by one save amount. Furthermore, in the restart save pattern 2, when the control temperature is shorter than the standard save pattern, the set temperature maintenance time (for example, 7 minutes), after maintaining the set temperature, the previous execution save amount is 1 or more and less than 3, Each time a save time (for example, 3 minutes) elapses, the control temperature is set to decrease by one save amount. Therefore, for example, when the previous heating operation is the first heating operation, the save operation is executed with the standard save pattern based on the heating load characteristics shown in Table 1, but when the heating operation is resumed, the previous operation is executed. The save operation is executed with the restart save pattern set so as to lower the control temperature earlier than the standard save pattern. That is, when the heating operation is resumed, not only the initial room temperature is high, but also the temperature rise is reduced, and the heating load characteristic in the initial heating operation at the time of restart is different from that of the previous heating operation. ing. For this reason, similarly to the first heating operation or the like, when the standard save pattern is selected based only on the heating load characteristic at the time of restart, there is a problem that an appropriate save operation is not executed. However, in the present embodiment, since the save operation is executed with the restart save pattern that lowers the control temperature earlier than the standard save pattern based on the previous heating load characteristic, the fuel consumption is improved based on the appropriate save pattern. Can be improved.

  Further, as understood from Tables 2 and 3, the restart save pattern is such that the greater the execution save amount executed until the end of the heating operation in the save operation in the previous heating operation, the earlier the control temperature is lowered. Is set. That is, if the forced timer operation functions in a short time after the save operation is started in the previous heating operation or the user turns off the operation switch 31, the save operation is not executed for a long time. The overall temperature may not have risen, or the user may not be used to the room temperature that has risen to the set temperature. Therefore, if the control temperature is lowered too early, the sensible temperature tends to fall. On the other hand, if the save operation has been executed to some extent in the previous heating operation, the temperature of the entire room has increased, and if the heating operation has been performed for a long time at the reduced control temperature, the user It is in a state accustomed to the room temperature which was lowered according to the control temperature. Even in the heating operation after resumption, the initial heating operation is executed so that the detected room temperature becomes the set temperature. Therefore, if the detected room temperature has reached the set temperature, the restart save is performed to lower the control temperature earlier. Even if you perform a save operation with a pattern, the sensible temperature will not drop significantly. Therefore, fuel efficiency can be improved without impairing the temperature of the body. For this reason, even if the stop time is about the same, for example, in both the resume save patterns 1 and 2, the previous execution save amount is 1 when the previous execution save amount is 3 or more and less than 6. As described above, the save amount is set to increase in a shorter time than that in the case of less than 3, and when the previous execution save amount is 6, the save pattern in the previous execution save amount is 3 As described above, the save amount is set to increase in a shorter time than that in the case of less than 6.

  Furthermore, as understood from the comparison of Table 3 and Table 4, the shorter the stop time from the end of the previous heating operation until the user restarts the heating operation by turning on the operation switch 31, the earlier the earlier A restart save pattern is set to lower the control temperature. That is, after a certain period of time has elapsed since the user turned off the operation switch 31, when another user resumes the heating operation, the room temperature has decreased to some extent, but compared to when the heating operation is performed for the first time. Room temperature is high. In addition, for example, when the forced timer operation functions during the previous heating operation and the user immediately turns on the operation switch 31 in order to continue the heating operation, the decrease in the room temperature is small even after the heating operation is completed. Therefore, as the stop time is shorter, the fuel economy can be further improved without causing a decrease in the perceived temperature by performing the save operation with the restart save pattern in which the control temperature is lowered earlier. For this reason, even if the previous execution save amount is the same, the resume save pattern 2 in which the heating operation is resumed is set to increase the save amount in a shorter time than the resume save pattern 1.

  When the elapsed time from the start of the heating operation measured by the timer unit 51 elapses after a predetermined operation stop time (for example, 3 hours), the timer operation control unit 90 compulsorily terminates the heating operation, 28 and the proportional control valve 29 are closed, and the gas burner 6 is extinguished.

  Based on instructions from the initial heating operation control unit 60 and the save operation control unit 80, the temperature adjustment control unit 100 determines the heating capacity (levels 1 to 7) so that the detected room temperature becomes a predetermined set temperature or control temperature. Then, the proportional valve drive circuit 102 and the fan drive circuit 101 are controlled.

  The proportional valve drive circuit 102 energizes the proportional control valve 29 with a current (1 stage to 7 stages) corresponding to the heating capacity (level 1 to level 7) determined by the temperature control unit 100. The fan drive circuit 101 energizes the fan motor 16 with a fan current that provides a fan speed suitable for the heating capacity (level 1 to level 7) determined by the temperature control unit 100.

  Next, with reference to FIGS. 3-5, control operation | movement of the warm air heater of this Embodiment is demonstrated. In the hot air heater according to the present embodiment, when the operation switch 31 is turned on and the heating operation is started, the heating operation is not stopped by the operation of the operation switch 31 or the forced timer operation. Although the save operation is automatically executed in a predetermined save pattern after the heating operation, a save operation switch is separately provided on the operation panel 30 and the save operation is performed only when the save operation switch is turned on. May be configured to be executed.

  When the user inputs a set temperature with the temperature setting switch 32 and turns on the operation switch 31, the control operation of the hot air heater 1 by the control unit C is started (step ST1).

  When the heating operation is started, first, in order to determine whether or not the save operation has been executed at the end of the previous heating operation, the execution save amount is read from the save amount storage unit 82 and from the load characteristic storage unit 71. The heating load characteristic in the previous initial heating operation is read (steps ST2 and ST3).

  Next, the initial heating operation is started (step ST4). In this initial heating operation, before the gas burner 6 is combusted, first, a pre-purge is performed in which the fan drive circuit 101 rotates the fan motor 16 for a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds).

  When the pre-purge is completed, the solenoid valves 27 and 28 are opened by energization from the operation control unit 50. Further, the energization from the proportional valve drive circuit 102 maximizes the opening degree of the proportional control valve 29, and the energization from the fan drive circuit 101 maximizes the rotational speed of the fan motor 16, and then the energization is performed to the ignition electrode 21. Then, the gas burner 6 is ignited.

  When the gas burner 6 is ignited, the gas burner 6 is burned at the maximum combustion amount for one minute, and then the target combustion amount is determined based on the temperature difference between the set temperature and the detected room temperature, and based on the determined target combustion amount. Thus, the temperature control unit 100 determines the heating capacity, and the proportional valve driving circuit 102 adjusts the opening degree of the proportional control valve 29. Further, the target rotational speed of the fan motor 16 is varied by the fan drive circuit 101 in accordance with the determined target combustion amount so that the target rotational speed and the actual rotational speed detected by the rotational speed sensor 18 coincide with each other. In addition, the energization amount to the fan motor 16 is adjusted. Thereby, the initial heating operation is performed so that the detected room temperature approaches the set temperature. Then, in order to determine the heating load characteristic, during the initial heating operation, the initial room temperature (T1) after 1 minute of ignition and the temperature increase range (T5-T1) after 1 minute of ignition and after 5 minutes of ignition are acquired. (Step ST5).

  When the detected room temperature reaches the set temperature by the initial heating operation (Yes in step ST6), it is confirmed whether or not the eco-operation mode in which the fuel-saving operation is performed at the time of resumption, and when not in the eco-operation mode (No in step ST7), It is determined whether or not the stop time from the end of the previous heating operation until the operation switch 31 is turned on and the heating operation is restarted is equal to or shorter than a predetermined first stop time (for example, 10 minutes) (step ST14). If the stop time exceeds the first stop time (No in step ST14), it is considered that the room temperature has decreased, and thus the heating load characteristic in the initial heating operation at the time of resumption is determined (step). ST15) A standard save pattern based on the heating load characteristic described above is selected, and the set temperature maintenance time is set to 30 minutes, and each save time is set to 30 minutes (step ST11).

  Further, although the current heating operation is in the eco operation mode (Yes in step ST7), if the execution save amount in the previous save operation is not stored (No in step ST8), that is, in the previous heating operation. When the heating operation is finished before the control temperature is lowered, it is determined whether or not the stop time is equal to or shorter than the first stop time (step ST14), and the stop time exceeds the first stop time ( In Step ST14, No), it is considered that the room temperature has decreased, so that the heating load characteristic in the initial heating operation at the time of restart is determined in the same manner as described above (Step ST15), and the standard save pattern is selected based on that. (Step ST11).

  Furthermore, when it is not in the eco-operation mode (No in step ST7) or in the eco-operation mode, but the execution save amount in the previous save operation is not stored (No in step ST8), the stop time Is equal to or shorter than the first stop time (Yes in step 14), the heating operation is terminated before the control temperature decrease is executed in the previous heating operation, and the heating operation is resumed within a short time. Although the room is not warm enough, the heating load characteristics at the time of resumption are different from those at the first heating operation. Therefore, the standard save pattern is selected based on the heating load characteristic in the previous initial heating operation read out at the start of the heating operation, not the standard save pattern based on the heating load characteristic in the initial heating operation at the time of resumption ( Step ST11).

  If the previous execution save amount is stored (Yes in step ST8), that is, if a certain amount of save operation has been executed by the end of the previous heating operation, the operation switch 31 is switched from the end of the previous heating operation. It is determined whether or not the stop time until the heating operation is resumed after being turned on is equal to or shorter than the first stop time (step ST9). And when stop time exceeds the 1st stop time (it is No at Step ST9), since it is thought that room temperature is falling, a heating load characteristic is newly judged like the above (Step ST15), Based on this, a standard save pattern is selected (step ST11).

  If the stop time is equal to or shorter than the first stop time (Yes in step ST9), it is further determined whether or not the stop time is equal to or shorter than a second stop time (for example, 5 minutes) (step ST10). If the stop time exceeds the second stop time (No in step ST8), it is considered that the room temperature has not greatly decreased due to the previous heating operation. The restart save pattern 1 is read, and the set temperature maintenance time is set to 10 minutes, and each save time is set to 5 minutes (step ST12).

  Further, when the stop time is equal to or shorter than the second stop time (Yes in step ST10), the heating operation is started immediately after the previous heating operation is completed, and the room temperature is considered to have hardly decreased. The resumption save pattern 2 corresponding to the previous execution save amount is read from the setting unit 81, and the set temperature maintenance time is set to 7 minutes, and each save time is set to 3 minutes (step ST13).

  Next, when the user turns off the operation switch 31 or the heating operation is not stopped due to the lapse of a predetermined time by the forced timer operation (No in step ST16), the set temperature maintained in each save pattern is maintained. It is determined whether time has elapsed (step ST17). When the set temperature maintenance time elapses (Yes in step ST17), the control temperature is decreased by a predetermined save amount each time the save time of each selected save pattern elapses (steps ST18 to ST21). . As the control temperature decreases, the target combustion amount is determined so as to coincide with the control temperature at which the detected room temperature decreases, and the temperature control unit 100 determines the heating capacity based on the determined target combustion amount, Accordingly, the opening degree of the proportional control valve 29 and the rotational speed of the blower fan 5 are adjusted. If the heating operation is stopped before the first decrease in the control temperature is performed (Yes in step ST16), the save operation is terminated without storing the current execution save amount.

  During the save operation, when the operation is stopped by turning off the operation switch 31 or the predetermined timer elapses (Yes in step ST20), or when the save operation is executed up to the maximum save amount ( In step ST21, Yes), the execution save amount executed so far is stored in the save amount storage unit 82 (step ST22). The stored execution save amount is used in the save operation when the heating operation is resumed within a predetermined stop time. When the save operation ends, the temperature control operation is performed so as to coincide with the control temperature at which the detected room temperature has decreased.

  Further, when the current heating operation is restarted after a predetermined stop time has elapsed since the end of the previous heating operation, the heating load characteristic determined during the current initial heating operation is stored as a new heating load characteristic. (Step ST23). That is, in the warm air heater in which the heating load characteristic in the initial heating operation is determined and the standard save pattern is set based on the heating load characteristic, the first heating operation in which the heating operation is performed from a state in which the room temperature is low and the room temperature are increased. If the temperature increase range differs from the heating operation at the time of resumption in which the heating operation is performed from the state in which the vehicle is in the save state, the save operation is executed with a different standard save pattern. On the other hand, if the heating operation is terminated by turning off the operation switch 31 before the control temperature is lowered in the previous heating operation, the room is warmed to some extent. Therefore, when the heating operation is performed before the control temperature is lowered last time and the heating operation is restarted within a short time, the standard save pattern is selected based on the heating load characteristic in the initial heating operation at the time of restart. Then, there is a problem that the save operation is executed with a different standard save pattern even though the same room is heated. However, in the hot air heater according to the present embodiment, the standard save pattern is selected based on the stored previous heating load characteristic, not the heating load characteristic at the time of restart (steps ST3, ST14, and ST11). The save operation can be executed by an appropriate standard save pattern based on the ease of warming in the room.

  As described above, according to the hot air heater 1 of the present embodiment, since a plurality of standard save patterns are set based on the heating load characteristics, heating is performed beyond the initial heating operation or a predetermined stop time. When the operation is performed, the save operation can be executed in consideration of the ease of warming the room.

  In addition, when heating operation is resumed within the predetermined stop time from the end of heating operation, the save operation at the time of restart is a restart save that lowers the control temperature earlier than the standard save pattern based on the previous heating load characteristics. Since the save operation is executed with the pattern, the fuel efficiency can be improved.

  Furthermore, as the amount of saved execution in the previous save operation increases, that is, as the previous save operation progresses, the save operation is executed with a restart save pattern that lowers the control temperature earlier. The heating operation can be performed in consideration of the warming condition. And the save operation at the time of the restart is executed in a restart save pattern in which the control temperature is lowered earlier as the stop time from the end of the previous heating operation to the restart of the heating operation is shorter. Heating operation can be performed in consideration of the subsequent decrease in room temperature. Thereby, even when the heating operation is restarted within a short time, the fuel efficiency can be improved without causing a decrease in the perceived temperature.

  In addition, when the heating operation is finished before the control temperature is lowered last time and the operation switch is operated within a predetermined stop time after the heating operation is finished, the heating load characteristic at the time of restart is based on Since the save operation is executed not with the standard save pattern but with the standard save pattern based on the previous heating load characteristic, the fuel efficiency can be improved without impairing the sensed temperature.

  In the above embodiment, the gas fan heater has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to an FF type hot air heater or an oil type hot air heater. .

  In the above embodiment, the standard save pattern is selected based on both the initial room temperature and the temperature increase range as the heating load characteristic in the initial heating operation, but only one of them may be used.

1 Hot air heater 5 Blower fan 6 Gas burner (heating source)
26 Temperature sensor (room temperature detector)
31 Operation switch 31 Set temperature switch (Set temperature input section)
60 Initial heating operation control unit 70 Load characteristic determination unit 71 Load characteristic storage unit 80 Save operation control unit 81 Save pattern setting unit 82 Save amount storage unit

Claims (3)

A heating source;
A blower fan for sending warm air heated by the heating source into the room;
A room temperature detector for detecting room temperature;
An operation switch for instructing activation / deactivation of the heating operation;
A set temperature input section for inputting the set temperature;
When the operation switch is activated and heating operation is started, an initial heating operation control unit that determines a heating amount of the heating source so that a detected room temperature detected by the room temperature detection unit matches the set temperature;
A load characteristic determination unit for determining a heating load characteristic based on a detected room temperature detected by the room temperature detection unit during the initial heating operation;
A load characteristic storage unit for storing a heating load characteristic in the initial heating operation;
After the detected room temperature reaches the set temperature by the initial heating operation, the amount of heating of the heating source is controlled so that the detected room temperature maintains a predetermined control temperature, and the control temperature is set in a predetermined save pattern. A save operation control unit that decreases,
Based on the heating load characteristic in the initial heating operation, a plurality of standard save patterns for decreasing the control temperature by a predetermined standard save amount as the predetermined standard save time elapses, and the standard save time A save pattern setting unit in which a plurality of restart save patterns for decreasing the control temperature by a predetermined restart save amount as a predetermined restart save time for a short period of time is set ;
When the save operation is performed in the standard save pattern at the end of the heating operation, a save amount storage unit that stores an execution save amount executed to lower the control temperature from the start of the save operation to the end of the heating operation; With
The save operation control unit is an initial heating operation at the time of resumption determined by the load characteristic determination unit when the operation switch is activated and the heating operation is restarted after a predetermined stop time is exceeded after the heating operation is finished. Execute save operation with standard save pattern based on heating load characteristics in
When the heating operation is ended and the save operation is not performed, and the operation switch is activated and the heating operation is restarted within the stop time after the heating operation is ended, the heating in the previous initial heating operation is performed. A warm air heater that performs save operation with a standard save pattern based on load characteristics. The warm air heater according to claim 1,
The save operation control unit executes the execution when the save operation is performed at the end of the heating operation, and the operation switch is operated within the stop time after the heating operation is completed and the heating operation is resumed. A warm air heater that performs a save operation with a restart save pattern that is set to lower the control temperature earlier than a standard save pattern based on the heating load characteristic in the previous initial heating operation as the amount of save increases. The hot air heater according to claim 1 or 2,
The save operation control unit is configured to stop when the save operation is performed at the end of the heating operation, and the operation switch is operated within the stop time after the heating operation is completed and the heating operation is resumed. A warm air heater that performs a save operation with a restart save pattern that is set to lower the control temperature earlier as the time is shorter.

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