JP6227444B2 - Pipe connection detection device and pipe connection detection method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a pipe connection detection device and a pipe connection detection method.

  In the air conditioning system, an outdoor unit and an indoor unit are connected by a refrigerant pipe, the outdoor unit is provided outdoors, and the indoor unit is provided indoors. An air conditioning system (multi air conditioner) provided in a large facility such as a building has a plurality of indoor units in one or a plurality of outdoor units, and there may be a plurality of refrigerant systems with different refrigerant pipes. It takes effort to confirm the connection state between the unit and the indoor unit.

The connection setting between the outdoor unit and the indoor unit in the same refrigerant pipe (system) includes manual setting and automatic setting by a dip switch or the like provided on the control board.
Regardless of manual setting or automatic setting, the outdoor unit compressor is operated and the indoor unit expansion valve is opened to check whether the connection to the refrigerant piping of the outdoor unit or indoor unit matches the setting. Let the refrigerant flow through the refrigerant piping. As a result, refrigerant pipe connection confirmation (hereinafter referred to as “indoor / outdoor unit pairing”) is performed based on temperature changes, refrigerant flow noise, and the like generated in the indoor unit heat exchanger.

The indoor / outdoor unit pairing using such refrigerant operation has the following problems.
1. Since confirmation is actually performed by flowing the refrigerant through the refrigerant pipe, it takes time from the start to the completion of the confirmation.
2. Depending on the surrounding environment (temperature, noise, etc.) of the air-conditioning system and the construction status such as the pipe length, the accuracy of detection of connection confirmation decreases.
3. There are implementation restrictions on the construction schedule for operating the refrigerant, such as securing power supply to the air conditioning system and completion of refrigerant charging.
4). In an existing air conditioning system, it is necessary to perform a procedure of starting up a communication network of the entire air conditioning system after establishing communication and confirming connection for each refrigerant system.

  Here, in Patent Document 1, in order to use the refrigerant pipe as a communication line, the pipe is provided with a signal connection portion for transmitting and receiving signals between the outdoor unit and the indoor unit, and the test frame is directed toward the indoor unit. An air conditioner that sets a unique address for an indoor unit when it is determined that the indoor unit is connected to the refrigerant piping of the same system is disclosed. Has been.

Japanese Patent No. 4703201

  However, in the air conditioner described in Patent Literature 1, since the refrigerant pipe is used as a communication line, it is assumed that the refrigerant pipe is already correctly connected, and the connection state between the outdoor unit and the indoor unit is confirmed. It is not a thing.

  This invention is made in view of such a situation, Comprising: It is providing the pipe connection detection apparatus and pipe connection detection method which can detect the connection state of the apparatus and apparatus which are connected by piping easily. Objective.

  In order to solve the above problems, the pipe connection detection device and the pipe connection detection method of the present invention employ the following means.

  The pipe connection detection device according to the first aspect of the present invention is a pipe connection detection device in which a plurality of devices are connected by piping and provided for each of the devices, and between the other devices via the piping. Signal transmitting / receiving means for transmitting / receiving a detection signal, information transmitting / receiving means for transmitting / receiving signal information indicating the detection signal to / from another device via a communication network, and the detection signal received by the signal transmitting / receiving means And determination means for comparing the signal information received by the information transmission / reception means and determining a connection state with the other device on the transmission side of the detection signal.

According to this configuration, the pipe connection detection device is provided for each of a plurality of devices connected by pipes.
The signal transmission / reception means transmits / receives a detection signal to / from another device via a pipe, and the information transmission / reception means transmits / receives signal information indicating the detection signal to / from another device via a communication network. Done.

Then, the detection signal received by the signal transmission / reception unit and the signal information received by the information transmission / reception unit are compared by the determination unit, and the connection state with another device on the transmission side of the detection signal is determined. For example, if the detection signal received by the receiving device matches the signal information, it is determined that the receiving device and the transmitting device are connected by piping. On the other hand, when the detection signal does not match the signal information or when the detection signal is not received, it is determined that the receiving-side device and the transmitting-side device are not connected by piping.
Therefore, this structure can detect easily the connection state of the apparatus connected with piping.

In the first aspect, the detection signal from the signal of the plurality of patterns stored in advance in the apparatus, is less affected by signal noise occurring in the pipe is preferred to be selected.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to more reliably detect the connection state between devices connected by piping.

  In the first aspect, it is preferable that the device that has received the detection signal transmits the detection signal to the other device that is the transmission side of the detection signal.

  According to this configuration, since the connection side of the device is determined by switching the transmission side and the reception side of the detection signal, the connection state between the device and the device can be detected more reliably.

  In the first aspect, there is provided a peak value detecting means for detecting a peak value of the detection signal received by the signal transmitting / receiving means, and the determination means has the peak value detected by the peak value detecting means equal to or less than a predetermined value. It is preferable to determine that the signal is not the detection signal.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to more reliably detect the connection state between devices connected by piping. Further, the distance between devices can be estimated based on the peak value.

  In the first aspect, when there are a plurality of devices on the reception side of the detection signal, it is preferable that the device having the highest peak value received among the plurality of devices is the next transmission side.

The detection signal has a greater attenuation when the length of the pipe connecting the transmission side and the reception side of the detection signal is increased, and there is a possibility that the transmission / reception means cannot receive the detection signal even if the devices are connected by a pipe. .
According to this configuration, even when the pulse signal is attenuated because the pipe is long, the device that transmits the pulse signal can be switched, so that the devices connected to the same pipe can be detected without omission.

  In the first aspect, it is preferable to include a blocking unit that blocks an electrical connection between the signal transmitting / receiving unit and the pipe when an overcurrent flows.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent an electric shock of the operator and damage to the control board.

  In the first aspect, it is preferable that the devices are an outdoor unit and an indoor unit constituting an air conditioning system, and the pipe is a refrigerant pipe through which a refrigerant flows.

The pipe connection detection method according to the second aspect of the present invention is a pipe connection detection method using a pipe connection detection device in which a plurality of devices are connected by pipes and provided for each of the devices. There line transmission and reception of detection signals to and from the device, the detection of the an as first factory for transmitting and receiving signal information indicating the detection signal, and received with the other of said device via a communication network by comparing the signal before SL signal information; and a second step you determine the connection state between the other of said device which is a transmission side of the detection signal.

  According to the present invention, there is an excellent effect that it is possible to easily detect a connection state between devices connected by piping.

It is a lineblock diagram of the air-conditioning system concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the electric potential of the refrigerant | coolant piping which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is an equivalent circuit of the path | route through which the pulse signal which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention is transmitted. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of the pulse signal which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the pipe connection detection process which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the pulse detection part which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows attenuation | damping of the pulse signal in the refrigerant | coolant piping which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. In the air conditioning system which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention, it is the schematic diagram which showed the attenuation | damping state of the pulse signal when the pulse transmission side is an outdoor unit and the pulse reception side is a plurality of indoor units. It is a schematic diagram which shows the case where the pulse transmission side which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention is switched. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the pipe connection detection process which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the connection number confirmation process which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the air conditioning system which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a pipe connection detection device and a pipe connection detection method according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
The first embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an air conditioning system 10 which is an example of an apparatus in which a plurality of devices are connected by piping. The air conditioning system 10 is a building multi air conditioner installed in, for example, a building or a large commercial facility.

In the air conditioning system 10, one or a plurality of outdoor units 12 and one or a plurality of indoor units 14 are connected via a refrigerant pipe 16. The refrigerant pipe 16 is at least one of a liquid pipe and a gas pipe. The refrigerant pipe 16 connects a refrigerant circuit 20A such as a compressor or a heat exchanger provided in the outdoor unit 12 and a refrigerant circuit 20B such as a heat exchanger or an expansion valve provided in the indoor unit 14.
The air conditioning system 10 may have a plurality of combinations of the outdoor unit 12 and the indoor unit 14.

  The control board 22A of the outdoor unit 12 includes a pulse generation unit 24A, a pulse detection unit 26A, a communication control unit 28A, a display unit 29A, and a device control unit 30A.

The pulse generator 24 </ b> A generates a pulse signal and transmits the pulse signal to the indoor unit 14 via the refrigerant pipe 16.
The pulse detection unit 26 </ b> A detects a pulse signal transmitted from the indoor unit 14 through the refrigerant pipe 16.
That is, the pulse generator 24A and the pulse detector 26A constitute a pulse signal transmitter / receiver 27A that transmits / receives a pulse signal (analog signal) to / from the indoor unit 14.

  The communication control unit 28 </ b> A transmits and receives various data (digital signals) to and from the indoor unit 14 via the communication network 18. This data includes pulse signal information indicating a pulse signal.

  The communication network 18 may be connected to a main controller 32 that controls the entire air conditioning system 10. The main control device 32 starts or stops the air conditioning system 10 and transmits various commands to the outdoor unit 12 and the indoor unit 14. Further, the main control device 32 is provided with a monitor that displays the state of the air conditioning system 10.

  The display unit 29A displays the status of the outdoor unit 12 and the air conditioning system 10 and the like. Specifically, for example, the display unit 29 </ b> A includes a plurality of LEDs and the like, and predetermined LEDs are turned on or off according to the state of the outdoor unit 12 and the air conditioning system 10. Or display part 29A is a 7 segment display device, and displays a numerical value according to the state of outdoor unit 12 or air-conditioning system 10.

  The device control unit 30A controls the outdoor unit 12. In addition, the device control unit 30A generates pulse signal information and outputs the pulse signal information to the pulse generation unit 24A and the communication control unit 28A. Furthermore, the device control unit 30A compares the pulse signal received by the pulse detection unit 26A with the pulse signal information received by the communication control unit 28A, and determines the connection state with the indoor unit 14 that is the transmission side of the pulse signal. It has a pipe connection detection function.

  The control board 22B of the indoor unit 14 includes a pulse generation unit 24B, a pulse detection unit 26B, a communication control unit 28B, a remote control communication unit 31, a display unit 29B, and a device control unit 30B.

The pulse generator 24 </ b> B generates a pulse signal and transmits the pulse signal to the outdoor unit 12 or the other indoor unit 14 via the refrigerant pipe 16.
The pulse detection unit 26 </ b> B detects a pulse signal transmitted from the outdoor unit 12 or another indoor unit 14 through the refrigerant pipe 16.
That is, the pulse generation unit 24B and the pulse detection unit 26B constitute a pulse signal transmission / reception unit 27B that transmits / receives a pulse signal (analog signal) to / from the outdoor unit 12 or another indoor unit 14.

  The communication control unit 28 </ b> B transmits and receives various data (digital signals) to and from the outdoor unit 12 or other indoor units 14 via the communication network 18.

The remote controller communication unit 31 transmits and receives various signals between the remote controller 33 and the indoor unit 14.
The remote controller 33 transmits control signals for starting and stopping the operation of the indoor unit 14, switching between cooling and heating, temperature setting, etc. to the indoor unit 14 and receiving various signals from the indoor unit 14 and displaying the contents on the screen. indicate.

  The display unit 29B displays the state of the outdoor unit 12 and the air conditioning system 10 and the like. A specific example of the display unit 29B is the same as that of the display unit 29A.

  The device control unit 30B controls the indoor unit 14. In addition, the device control unit 30B generates pulse signal information and outputs the pulse signal information to the pulse generation unit 24B and the communication control unit 28B. Further, the device control unit 30B compares the pulse signal received by the pulse detection unit 26B with the pulse signal information received by the communication control unit 28B, and the outdoor unit 12 or other indoor unit 14 that is the transmission side of the pulse signal. Has a pipe connection detection function for determining the connection state.

  The device control units 30A and 30B are composed of, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a computer-readable storage medium, and the like. A series of processes for realizing various functions is stored in a storage medium or the like in the form of a program as an example, and the CPU reads the program into a RAM or the like to execute information processing / arithmetic processing. As a result, various functions are realized. The program is preinstalled in a ROM or other storage medium, provided in a state stored in a computer-readable storage medium, or distributed via wired or wireless communication means. Etc. may be applied. The computer-readable storage medium is a magnetic disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a semiconductor memory, or the like.

  In addition, in the following description, when distinguishing each structure of the outdoor unit 12 and the indoor unit 14, either A-B is attached | subjected to the end of a code | symbol, and when not distinguishing each structure, AB is abbreviate | omitted. To do.

Here, for example, the reception side of the pulse signal is the outdoor unit 12 and the transmission side is the indoor unit 14. Then, the indoor unit 14 that has received the pulse signal from the outdoor unit 12 is determined to be connected to the outdoor unit 12 by the device control unit 30B. On the other hand, the indoor unit 14 that does not receive the pulse signal from the outdoor unit 12 is determined not to be connected to the outdoor unit 12 by the device control unit 30B.
As described above, the air conditioning system 10 according to the first embodiment is connected to the refrigerant pipe 16 by the transmission / reception of the pulse signal via the refrigerant pipe 16 (also referred to as “pairing”). ) Is detected.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, it is conceivable that the refrigerant pipe 16 is connected to the ground potential as an inhibiting factor for transmitting the pulse signal through the refrigerant pipe 16.
However, as shown in FIG. 3, the connection path (wiring, sheet metal, etc.) between the pulse generator 24 that transmits the pulse signal and the pulse detector 26 that receives the pulse signal has an impedance. For this reason, although the signal level of the pulse signal is attenuated according to the distance between the transmission side and the reception side, the pulse signal can be transmitted.

Further, noise may be generated in the refrigerant pipe 16. This noise includes periodic noise such as inverter noise as shown in FIG. Such noise becomes disturbance noise (background noise) with respect to a pulse signal transmitted through the refrigerant pipe 16.
Therefore, before transmitting the pulse signal, the pulse detection unit 26 detects noise, and the device control unit 30 determines a signal that is less affected by noise generated in the refrigerant pipe 16 as the pulse signal to be transmitted.

The device control unit 30 stores a plurality of patterns as pulse signals in advance as shown in FIG. 4, and selects a pulse signal that is less affected by noise from the plurality of patterns.
As a waveform of the pulse signal, there are a pulse signal having a constant pulse interval such as pattern A, a pulse signal having a different pulse interval such as pattern B, a pulse signal having a random pulse interval such as pattern C, and the like. .

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of pipe connection detection processing executed in the air conditioning system 10 when pipe connection detection is performed. The pipe connection detection is performed, for example, by inputting a connection detection command for instructing the start of pipe connection detection from the main control device 32, or by a predetermined operation with respect to a dip switch provided on the control board 22A of the outdoor unit 12. Be started.
In the following description, a device that transmits a pulse signal is simply referred to as a pulse transmitter, and a device that receives a pulse signal is simply referred to as a pulse receiver.

  First, in step 100, arbitration for determining the pulse transmission side (pulse transmission side arbitration) is performed between the outdoor unit 12 and the indoor unit 14. Thereby, the devices on the pulse transmission side and the pulse reception side are determined.

  In the next step 102, arbitration for determining the waveform of the pulse signal to be transmitted (transmission pulse waveform arbitration) is performed between the pulse transmission side and the pulse reception side. In transmission pulse waveform arbitration, a pulse signal with less influence of noise is selected by the device control unit 30 on the pulse transmission side. Then, pulse signal information indicating the waveform of the selected pulse signal is transmitted from the pulse transmission side to the pulse reception side via the communication network 18.

  In the next step 104, the pulse transmission side transmits a pulse signal from the pulse generation unit 24 via the refrigerant pipe 16, and the pulse reception side receives the pulse signal at the pulse detection unit 26 via the refrigerant pipe 16. The pulse transmission side transmits transmission information indicating that the pulse signal has been transmitted via the communication network 18 to the pulse reception side. Thereby, the pulse receiving side recognizes the timing at which the pulse transmitting side transmits the pulse signal.

  In the next step 106, the pulse receiving side determines whether or not the pulse signal received through the refrigerant pipe 16 matches the pulse signal information. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 112. If the determination is negative, Control goes to step 108.

  In step 108, the pulse receiving side transmits a pulse rerequest signal for requesting retransmission of the pulse signal to the pulse transmitting side via the communication network 18.

  In the next step 110, the pulse receiving side determines whether or not the re-transmission request of the pulse signal has reached a predetermined number of times or more. If the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step 104, and the pulse transmitting side transmits the pulse signal again. Send. On the other hand, if the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step 130.

  In step 130, the pulse transmission side transmits an unconnected signal to the main control device 32, and the main control device 32 indicates that the refrigerant pipe 16 is not connected between the pulse transmission side and the pulse reception side. The connection display is displayed on the monitor, and the pipe connection detection process is terminated.

  In step 112, the pulse transmission signal indicating that the pulse signal has been received is transmitted from the pulse transmission side to the pulse reception side via the communication network 18.

  In the next step 114, pulse transmission side arbitration is performed between the outdoor unit 12 and the indoor unit 14. In the pulse transmission side arbitration in step 114, the device that has been the pulse reception side until then is the pulse transmission side, and the device that has been the pulse transmission side is the pulse reception side.

  In the next step 116, transmission pulse waveform arbitration is performed between the pulse transmission side and the pulse reception side.

  In the next step 118, the pulse transmission side transmits a pulse signal from the pulse generation unit 24 via the refrigerant pipe 16, and the pulse reception side receives the pulse signal at the pulse detection unit 26 via the refrigerant pipe 16.

  In the next step 120, the pulse transmission side determines whether or not the pulse signal received via the refrigerant pipe 16 matches the pulse signal information. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 126. If the determination is negative, Control goes to step 122.

  In step 122, the pulse receiving side transmits a pulse re-request signal to the pulse transmitting side via the communication network 18.

  In the next step 124, the pulse receiving side determines whether or not the pulse signal re-transmission request has exceeded a predetermined number of times. If the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step 118, and the pulse transmitting side transmits the pulse signal again. Send. On the other hand, if the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step 130.

  In step 126, the pulse transmission side transmits a pulse reception signal to the pulse reception side via the communication network 18.

  In the next step 128, the pulse transmission side transmits a connection confirmation signal to the main control device 32, and the main control device 32 confirms that the refrigerant pipe 16 is connected between the pulse transmission side and the pulse reception side. The connection confirmation display shown is displayed on the monitor, and this pipe connection detection processing is performed.

In this way, in the pipe connection detection process, the pulse receiving side that receives the pulse signal becomes the next pulse transmitting side, and transmits the pulse signal to the device that was the pulse transmitting side.
As a result, the transmission side and the reception side of the pulse signal are switched to determine the connection state of the device, so that the connection state between the device and the device can be detected more reliably.

  When the air conditioning system 10 does not include the main control device 32, various displays in the pipe connection detection process are the display unit 29A included in the control board 22A of the outdoor unit 12 and the display unit 29B included in the control board 22B of the indoor unit 13. , And at least one of the screens of the remote controller 33.

  As described above, in the air conditioning system 10 according to the first embodiment, a plurality of outdoor units 12 and indoor units 14 are connected by the refrigerant pipe 16, and a pipe connection detection function is provided for each of the outdoor units 12 and the indoor units 14. A control board 22 is provided. The control board 22 transmits and receives a pulse signal to and from other devices via the refrigerant pipe 16 and a pulse signal between the other devices via the communication network 18. A communication control unit 28 that transmits / receives pulse signal information indicating a device, and a device control unit 30 that compares the pulse signal with the pulse signal information and determines a connection state with another device on the pulse signal transmission side. Prepare.

  Thereby, the air conditioning system 10 which concerns on this 1st Embodiment can detect the connection state of the apparatus and apparatus which are connected by the refrigerant | coolant piping 16 easily.

[Second Embodiment]
Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  In addition, since the structure of the air conditioning system 10 which concerns on this 2nd Embodiment is the same as that of the air conditioning system 10 which concerns on 1st Embodiment shown in FIG. 1, description is abbreviate | omitted.

As shown in FIG. 6, the pulse detection unit 26 according to the second embodiment includes an edge detection unit 40 and a peak hold unit 42.
The edge detection unit 40 detects the edge of the pulse waveform received via the refrigerant pipe 16 (the rising portion of the signal) and outputs the detection result to the device control unit 30.
The peak hold unit 42 detects the peak value of the pulse waveform received via the refrigerant pipe 16 and outputs the detection result to the device control unit 30.

The device control unit 30 determines that only a signal whose peak value detected by the peak hold unit 42 exceeds a predetermined value is a pulse signal, although a signal whose edge is detected by the edge detection unit 40 is a candidate for a pulse signal. That is, the device control unit 30 determines that a signal whose peak value is equal to or less than a predetermined value is not a pulse signal. In addition, the said predetermined value is made into the magnitude | size equivalent to the peak value of the noise which arises in the refrigerant | coolant piping 16, for example.
Thereby, since the noise and pulse signal which generate | occur | produce in the refrigerant | coolant piping 16 are clearly distinguished, the connection state of the apparatus and apparatus which are connected by the refrigerant | coolant piping 16 is detected more reliably.
In addition, when the peak value of the pulse signal received on the pulse receiving side is lower than the peak value expected in advance, the device control unit 30 may determine that the operation is abnormal on the pulse transmitting side.

  Here, although the conductive copper steel pipe is mainly used as the refrigerant pipe 16, the attenuation or blunting of the pulse signal occurs as shown in FIG. 7 due to the impedance of the refrigerant pipe 16 which is a long pipe. Further, there is a possibility that the pulse signal is attenuated by connecting the refrigerant pipe 16 to a building facility structure or a maintenance duct that is grounded. That is, the peak value of the pulse signal becomes smaller as the distance from the pulse transmission side is longer.

  By using this attenuation of the pulse signal, it is possible to estimate the distance between devices by comparing the peak value between the pulse transmitting side and the pulse receiving side and the peak value between the plurality of pulse receiving sides. .

[Third Embodiment]
Hereinafter, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  The configuration of the air conditioning system 10 according to the third embodiment is the same as the configuration of the air conditioning system 10 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. The configuration of the pulse detection unit 26 according to the third embodiment is the same as the configuration of the pulse detection unit 26 according to the second embodiment shown in FIG.

As described above, the refrigerant pipe 16 is a long pipe, the attenuation of the pulse signal is large, and even if the devices are connected by the pipe, the pulse signal may not be transmitted from one end to the opposite end.
Therefore, the air conditioning system 10 according to the third embodiment switches the pulse receiving side having the highest peak value of the received pulse signal from the plurality of pulse receiving sides to the next pulse transmitting side.
As a result, even when the pulse signal is attenuated because the refrigerant pipe 16 is long, the pulse transmission side can be sequentially switched to one having a short connection distance, so that devices connected to the same refrigerant pipe 16 can be detected without omission. .

  The switching on the pulse transmission side will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, the indoor unit 14-1, the indoor unit 14-2, and the indoor unit 14-3 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 are closer to the outdoor unit 12 as the number is smaller.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the attenuation state of the pulse signal when the pulse transmission side is the outdoor unit 12 and the pulse reception side is a plurality of indoor units 14.
As shown in FIG. 8, the pulse signal transmitted from the outdoor unit 12 attenuates in the order of the indoor unit 14-1, the indoor unit 14-2, and the indoor unit 14-3.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 9, the indoor unit 14-1 having the highest peak value of the received pulse signal is set as the next pulse transmission side, and the outdoor unit 12, the indoor units 14-2 and 14-3 are set as the next pulse transmission side. The pulse receiving side.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a flow of pipe connection detection processing according to the third embodiment. In FIG. 10, in the transmission / reception of the first pulse signal, the outdoor unit 12 is set as the pulse transmission side and the indoor unit 14 is set as the pulse reception side.

  First, in step 200, a pulse signal is transmitted from the outdoor unit 12.

  In the next step 202, each indoor unit 14 detects a pulse signal.

  In the next step 204, it is determined whether or not the pulse signal received by each indoor unit 14 matches the pulse signal information. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 208. If the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step 206. To do.

  In step 206, the outdoor unit 12 determines whether or not the pulse retransmission signal transmitted because the pulse signal does not match the pulse signal information has reached a predetermined number of times or more. The outdoor unit 12 transmits a pulse signal again. On the other hand, if a negative determination is made, the routine proceeds to step 207.

  In step 207, since there is no pulse receiving side, the pulse transmitting side transmits an unconnected signal to the main control device 32, and the main control device 32 does not connect the refrigerant pipe 16 between the pulse transmitting side and the pulse receiving side. An unconnected display indicating connection is displayed on the monitor, and the pipe connection detection process is terminated.

  In step 208, each device control unit 30B shares the peak value detected by each indoor unit 14.

  In the next step 210, each device control unit 30B compares the peak values shared by the indoor units 14.

In the next step 212, the indoor unit 14 that has received the pulse signal having the highest peak value is determined as the next pulse transmission side. Since the shared peak value is the same for any indoor unit 14, the next pulse transmission side determined by each indoor unit 14 is the same.
When the pulse signal having the highest peak value is received by a plurality of indoor units 14, the indoor unit 14 having a young unique address on the communication network, the indoor unit 14 having a fast pulse signal detection, or the like is determined in advance. The indoor unit 14 on the pulse transmission side is determined based on the determined conditions.

  In the next step 214, a pulse signal is transmitted from the indoor unit 14 on the pulse generation side.

  In the next step 216, a pulse signal is detected by each indoor unit 14 and outdoor unit 12 on the pulse receiving side.

  In the next step 218, it is determined whether or not the pulse signal received by the pulse receiving side matches the pulse signal information. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 222. If the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step 220.

  In step 220, the indoor unit 14 on the pulse generation side determines whether or not the pulse retransmission signal transmitted because the pulse signal does not match the pulse signal information exceeds a predetermined number of times, and a negative determination is made. In this case, the process proceeds to step 214, and the pulse transmission side transmits the pulse signal again. On the other hand, if a negative determination is made, the process proceeds to step 230.

  In step 222, each device control unit 30 shares the peak value detected by the outdoor unit 12 and each indoor unit 14.

  In the next step 224, each device control unit 30 compares the peak values shared by the indoor units 14.

In the next step 226, it is determined whether or not the pulse receiving side that has received the pulse signal having the highest peak value was the pulse transmitting side in the previous transmission and reception of the pulse signal. For example, in the previous transmission and reception of the pulse signal, the pulse transmission is performed. When the side is the outdoor unit 12, the peak value of the pulse signal received by the outdoor unit 12 should be the highest in the transmission / reception of the current pulse signal. Thereby, in step 226, it is determined whether or not the connection confirmation is normal.
If the determination in step 226 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 228. If the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step 230.

  In step 228, it is determined whether or not all the indoor units 14 are on the pulse transmission side. If the determination is affirmative, the piping connection detection process is terminated. If the determination is negative, the process returns to step 212, and all the indoor units 14 are determined. The process is repeated until 14 becomes the pulse transmission side.

  In step 230, although the connection could be confirmed once, but the connection could not be reconfirmed, the pulse transmission side transmits a connection abnormality signal to the main controller 32, and the main controller 32 confirms that the connection is abnormal. The connection abnormality display shown is displayed on the monitor, and the pipe connection detection process is terminated.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the flow of the connected number confirmation process executed by the main control device 32. The connected number confirmation process is a process for determining whether or not the number of devices detected in the pipe connection detection process matches the set number.
The connected number confirmation process may be executed not by the main control device 32 but by a predetermined device control unit 30 (for example, the device control unit 30A included in the outdoor unit 12).

  First, in step 300, a connection detection command is output to the control board 22, and a pipe connection detection process is started.

  In the next step 302, pipe connection detection processing is executed.

  In the next step 304, the end of the pipe connection detection process is confirmed.

  In the next step 306, the number of outdoor units 12 and indoor units 14 connected to the refrigerant pipe 16 (hereinafter referred to as “set number”) is read. Note that the set number is set in advance by using a dip switch of the outdoor unit 12 or via the communication network 18.

In the next step 308, it is determined whether or not the read set number matches the number of devices detected by the pipe connection detection process (hereinafter referred to as “detected number”). If the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step 312.
By comparing the set number and the detected number, the presence / absence of a device not connected to the refrigerant pipe 16 or a device not connected to the power source is determined.

  In step 310, the connection confirmation display is displayed on the monitor, and the number of connected units is confirmed. After that, the main controller 32 causes the refrigerant to flow through the refrigerant pipe 16 to operate the air conditioning system 10.

  In step 312, the detection abnormality display is displayed on the monitor, and the number of connected units is confirmed.

  Further, the number-of-connections confirmation processing is not limited to this, and the main control device 32 stores the unique address information of the outdoor unit 12 and the indoor unit 14 that have received the pulse signal, and is stored after a single connection check is performed. Based on the unique address information, each device sends / receives a pulse signal to each other to extract devices that cannot be confirmed for connection, and by confirming the connection by newly setting these devices on the pulse transmission side, connection confirmation It is possible to carry out with certainty without exiting.

[Fourth Embodiment]
The fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

  FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram of an air conditioning system 10 according to the fourth embodiment. In FIG. 12, the same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG.

The outdoor unit 12 and the indoor unit 14 according to the fourth embodiment include overcurrent detection cutoff circuits 50A and 50B between the pulse generators 24A and 24B and the refrigerant pipe 16.
The overcurrent detection cutoff circuits 50A and 50B cut off the electrical connection between the pulse generators 24A and 24B and the refrigerant pipe 16 when an overcurrent flows. This overcurrent is caused by the pulse signal transmitted from the pulse generator 24.
Thereby, the air conditioning system 10 according to the fourth embodiment can prevent an operator's electric shock, damage to the control board 22, damage such as burnout, and the like.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated using said each embodiment, the technical scope of this invention is not limited to the range as described in the said embodiment. Various changes or improvements can be added to the above-described embodiments without departing from the gist of the invention, and embodiments to which the changes or improvements are added are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. Moreover, you may combine said each embodiment suitably.

  For example, in each of the above embodiments, the form in which the present invention is applied to the air conditioning system 10 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of devices are connected to each other by piping. It is good also as a form applied to another system.

  Moreover, although each said embodiment demonstrated the form with which the air conditioning system 10 was provided with the main control apparatus 32, this invention is not limited to this, The apparatus control part 30A of the outdoor unit 12 is connected with a monitor. In addition, the main control device 32 may have a function.

  The flow of each process described in each of the above embodiments is also an example, and unnecessary steps are deleted, new steps are added, and the processing order is changed within a range not departing from the gist of the present invention. May be.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Air conditioning system 12 Outdoor unit 14 Indoor unit 16 Refrigerant piping 18 Communication network 22 Control board 24 Pulse generation part 26 Pulse detection part 28 Communication control part 30 Equipment control part 50 Overcurrent detection interruption | blocking circuit

Claims (8)

A plurality of devices are connected by piping, and a piping connection detection device provided for each device,
A signal transmitting / receiving means for transmitting / receiving a detection signal to / from another device via the pipe;
Information transmitting / receiving means for transmitting / receiving signal information indicating the detection signal to / from other devices via a communication network;
A determination unit that compares the detection signal received by the signal transmission / reception unit with the signal information received by the information transmission / reception unit to determine a connection state with another device that is a transmission side of the detection signal;
A pipe connection detection device comprising: The pipe connection detection device according to claim 1, wherein the detection signal is selected from signals of a plurality of patterns stored in the device in advance, and a signal that is less affected by noise generated in the pipe is selected .   The pipe connection detection device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the device that has received the detection signal transmits the detection signal to another device that was on the transmission side of the detection signal. A peak value detecting means for detecting a peak value of the detection signal received by the signal transmitting / receiving means,
The pipe connection detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the determination unit determines that a signal whose peak value detected by the peak value detection unit is not more than a predetermined value is not the detection signal. .   The pipe connection detection device according to claim 4, wherein, when there are a plurality of devices on the reception side of the detection signal, the device having the highest received peak value among the plurality of devices is the next transmission side.   The pipe connection detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a blocking unit that blocks an electrical connection between the signal transmission / reception unit and the pipe when an overcurrent flows.   The pipe connection detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the devices are an outdoor unit and an indoor unit constituting an air conditioning system, and the pipe is a refrigerant pipe through which a refrigerant flows. A plurality of devices are connected by piping, a piping connection detection method using a piping connection detection device provided for each device ,
A first step of performing transmission / reception of a detection signal with the other device via the pipe and performing transmission / reception of signal information indicating the detection signal with the other device via a communication network;
Compared received the detection signal with said signal information, and the second step you determine the connection state between the other of said device which is a transmission side of the detection signal,
A pipe connection detection method comprising:

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