JPH09119635A - Hot water supplier - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve a convenience for an operator by telling necessary information in control processing by voice. SOLUTION: A hot water heater 2 is provided to heat cold water and supply hot water and a control means (a body side controller 6 and a remote control side controller 8) is provided to control the supply of hot water from the hot water heater. The hot water heater is controlled by the control means. In this case, a user is notified vocally of malfunctioning based on the detection of a flame after the operation of an operation switch or after a shift to the operation of combustion via the operation of an operation switch, and abnormality of operation is shown by voice in case the detection of the flame fails.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hot water supply device that emits a voice indicating guide information indicating a switch operation and accompanying hot water supply control.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a hot water supply device is provided with a hot water supply dedicated device for heating the supplied water to a desired temperature and for reheating the water or hot water in a hot water storage means such as a bathtub or a tank. There is an additional hot water heater. In each case, advanced electronic control is performed using a microcomputer as control means, and high-precision hot water supply control and safety assurance are realized.

[0003]

By the way, in such a hot water supply apparatus which is designed to perform a high degree of control, there is a tendency that the equipment operation for hot water supply, the initial setting, etc. become complicated, and the handling thereof is very troublesome. Is. Further, the consumer may not be able to grasp the operation method or the operating state of the automated water heater, and may determine that the water heater is out of order, and the seller may be obliged to deal with it. There is an inconvenience that handling becomes troublesome as much as the computerization is convenient, and improvement in operation is desired.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a hot water supply device for the convenience of the operator by notifying information necessary for control processing by voice.

[0005]

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, a hot water supply apparatus of the present invention includes a water heater (2) for heating water to supply hot water, and a control for controlling hot water supply of the water heater. A hot water supply apparatus comprising means (main body side controller 6 and remote controller side controller 8) for controlling the water heater by the control means, and an operation switch (SW1) provided in the control means for instructing operation start, Judging means (main body side controller 6) for judging the presence or absence of ignition based on flame detection in the combustion system of the water heater, and storage means (voice data ROM 89) for storing voice data representing ignition information to be notified to the operator. After the operation of the operation switch,
A voice data reading unit (CPU 82) that reads the voice data representing the ignition information from the storage unit based on the determination result of the determination unit, and a voice that synthesizes a voice signal by the voice data read by the voice data reading unit. It is provided with a synthesizing unit (speech synthesizing circuit 88) and a sound output unit (speech output circuit 90 and speaker 46) for uttering a sound representing the ignition information by the sound signal synthesized by the sound synthesizing unit. And

According to this structure, the control command is given by the switch operation, the control output according to the control input is given to the various control parts and the driving part of the water heater, and the hot water supply control according to the control output is performed. Done. In this hot water supply control, the control output output from the control means is transmitted to the control means, the control program set for performing the necessary hot water supply control is executed, and in executing the program,
The control output obtained by each procedural operation is output to the control means. This control output is the control input from the operator,
That is, based on the ignition failure due to the operation of the operation switch after the operation of the power switch, the guide information such as a message indicating the operation state is converted into voice and output. The operator can promptly know the operation abnormality according to the guide information output by voice, and can take necessary measures such as starting the operation again.

Further, the hot water supply apparatus of the present invention is, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, a water heater (2) for heating and supplying hot water to the hot water.
And a control means (main body side controller 6 and remote controller side controller 8) for controlling hot water supply of the water heater,
A hot water supply device for controlling the hot water supply device by a control means, the operation switch (SW1) provided in the control means for instructing an operation start, and a combustion operation through flame detection in the hot water supply device from the operation of the operation switch. After starting
Judgment means (main body side controller 6 and remote controller side controller 8) for judging operation abnormality based on presence or absence of combustion by flame detection, storage means (audio data ROM 89) for storing voice data indicating operation abnormality to be notified, and the operation described above. Audio data read-out means (CPU 82) for reading out the audio data representing the operation abnormality from the storage means according to the judgment result of the judgment means after the switch is operated,
A voice synthesizing unit (voice synthesizing circuit 88) for synthesizing a voice signal by the voice data read by the voice data reading unit, and a voice for uttering a voice indicating the operation abnormality by the voice signal synthesized by the voice synthesizing unit. It is characterized by being provided with an output means (audio output circuit 90 and speaker 46).

According to this structure, although the combustion operation is started through the operation of the operation switch, the operation abnormality can be known by voice depending on the presence / absence of the flame detection, and it is necessary to start the operation again or repair the table. You can take a work.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the hot water supply device of the present invention. This water heater is provided with a water heater 2 that receives water to supply water at a desired temperature.
A remote control device 4 is installed as a remote control means for performing remote control of the water heater 2, and the water heater 2 and the remote controller 4 constitute one voice guide system.
Then, the water heater 2 is provided with a main body side controller 6 as a control means, the remote control device 4 is provided with a remote control side controller 8 as a control means, and both are linked by a transmission / reception cable 10 for necessary control. Information is exchanged.

Water W to be heated is supplied to the water heater 2 through the water supply pipe 12, and this water W is added to the heat exchanger 16 which is a heating means through the flow rate sensor 14 and heated through the heat exchanger 16. The hot water HW thus drawn is guided to a desired location, for example, a bathroom, a washroom, a sink, etc., and is supplied from hot water taps 18A and 18B serving as hot water outlet means. Flow sensor 14
A thermistor 20 is installed in the water supply portion between the heat exchanger 16 and the heat exchanger 16, and a thermistor 22 is installed in a pipe on the output side of the heat exchanger 16 as hot water detection means.

The heat exchanger 16 has a burner 2 as a combustion means for combusting a gas G as a fuel to generate necessary heat.
4 is installed, and the gas G is supplied to the burner 24 through the original solenoid valve 26, the hot water supply solenoid valve 28, and the proportional valve 30. The burner 24 is provided with a fan 32 for supplying air required for gas combustion by blowing air, and an igniter 34 for igniting the gas G of the burner 24. Frame rods 36 are arranged side by side. The igniter 34 is connected to an ignition transformer 38 for electrically igniting, and is supplied with a voltage and a current for ignition. Further, the heat exchanger 16 is provided with a switch 40 for preventing empty heating.

The main body side controller 6 is provided with a flow rate.
The flow rate detection signal S from the sensor 14₁, Thermistor 20, 2
2 to the temperature detection signal S_Two, S_Three, Rotation detection from fan 32
Outgoing signal S_Four, An empty-fire detection signal from the empty-fire prevention switch 40
No. S_FiveFlame signal S from the frame rod 36₆Is added
And a control output is generated from the main controller 6
And the original solenoid valve 26, the hot water supply solenoid valve 28, and the proportional valve 30
Control signal C₁, C_Two, C _ThreeFor the fan motor 33
Drive signal C_FourControl signal to the ignition transformer 38.
Issue C_FiveIs given.

Further, the remote controller 8 of the remote controller 4 is connected to a switch group 42 composed of a plurality of switches to which control inputs are given, and a display 44 for displaying control information and other messages is installed. Further, a speaker 46 is connected as a voice output unit for outputting control information and other guide information by voice.

Next, FIG. 2 shows a book of the water heater 2 shown in FIG.
Body-side controller 6 and remote controller in remote controller 4
A specific circuit configuration example of the side controller 8 will be shown. Main unit side
The controller 6 includes a flow detection signal S₁, Temperature detection signal
S_Two, S_Three, Rotation detection signal S _Four, Empty fire detection signal S_FivePassing
Flame signal S₆Input circuit 61 is installed
In both cases, the control signal C₁, C_Two, C_Three, Rotation drive signal C_Four
And control signal C_FiveAn output circuit 62 for outputting
I have. Furthermore, these detection signals S₁~ S₆And remote control
Necessary operation in response to control input from controller 8
Central processing as arithmetic and control means to perform and generate control output
A device (CPU) 63 is installed.
Of the input signals applied to the input circuit 61, an analog signal
Is input through an analog / digital converter (A / D) 64
Is forced. Then, a control timing signal is sent to the CPU 63.
Oscillator 65 for Forming Sound, Voice Guide Program
Read as storage means for storing various control programs such as
Read-only memory (ROM) 66, stores information during the calculation
Randomly writable memory (RAM) 67 is linked
Control information with the remote controller 8.
A transmission / reception circuit 68 for transmitting / receiving information is connected.
You.

Further, the remote controller 8 is provided with a transmitter / receiver circuit 81 connected to the transmitter / receiver circuit 68 of the main body side controller 6 via the transmitter / receiver cable 10.
Central processing unit (CPU) 8 as an arithmetic control means for performing necessary arithmetic operations and generating control outputs
2, an input circuit 83 is connected to the CPU 82, and the operation switches SW1,
Set temperature rise switch SW2, Set temperature fall switch S
W3 is connected. These switches SW1 to SW
Reference numeral 3 denotes a momentary push button switch. The CPU 82 has an oscillating circuit 84 for forming a control timing signal, and a read-only memory (R) as storage means for storing a control program such as an audio guide program.
OM) 85, a writable memory (RAM) 86 for storing information on the way of calculation are linked, an LCD drive circuit 87 for driving the LCD display 440 as an output means, and a voice synthesis output based on the calculation output. A voice synthesizing circuit 88 is connected as a voice synthesizing means for generating the. A voice data ROM 89 is connected to the voice synthesizing circuit 88 as a storage unit for storing voice information, and a voice data ROM is provided by the CPU 82 as a voice data reading unit.
Upon receiving the voice information from 89, the voice synthesis output is output to the speaker 46.
Audio output circuit 90 as audio output means for outputting to
Is connected.

Based on the above configuration, the hot water supply control and voice guidance program will be described with reference to the flow charts shown in FIGS. When the power switch is turned on, each of the controllers 6 and 8 performs initial settings and prepares for a control operation. In FIG. 3, in step S1, it is determined whether the operation switch SW1 is on or not, and the operation switch SW1 is turned on.
If 1 is off, the process proceeds to step S2. In step S2, it is determined whether the hot water taps 18A and 18B are open. If neither hot water tap 18A or 18B is open, the process returns to step S1. If any one of the hot water taps 18A and 18B is open, the process proceeds to step S3, and after "turn on the operation switch" is output as a voice output, the process returns to step S1.

Further, in step S1, the operation switch SW1
Is turned on, the process proceeds to step S4, and it is determined whether or not the hot water taps 18A and 18B are opened.
In this case, if neither of the hot water taps 18A and 18B is open, the process waits until one of the hot water taps is opened in step S4. When both or one of the hot water taps 18A and 18B is opened in step S4, the process proceeds to step S5, and the operation of the fan motor 33 is performed.

Next, in step S6, it is determined whether or not the rotation speed of the fan 32 is normal, and if it is normal,
Move to step S7. In step S7, an ignition control signal is applied to the ignition transformer 38, and ignition is started.
Next, in step S8, after the main solenoid valve 26, the hot water supply solenoid valve 28, and the proportional valve 30 are controlled to be opened by the control output of the main body side controller 6, the process proceeds to step S9. In step S9, it is determined whether flame has been detected based on the presence or absence of a flame signal from the frame rod 36. If it is determined in step S9 that a flame has been detected,
The process proceeds to step S10, and “normally ignited” is output as a voice output.

Next, in step S11 (FIG. 4), the original solenoid valve 26, the hot water solenoid valve 28, and the proportional valve 30 are maintained in the open state with the ignition signal to the ignition transformer 38 released, and the process proceeds to step S12. To do. In step S12, it is determined whether or not a flame is detected. If the flame is detected, the process proceeds to step S13. Step S
At 13, it is determined whether the fan rotation is normal or not,
If the fan rotation is normal, the process proceeds to step S14. In step S14, it is determined whether or not the dry heating prevention switch 40 is operating, and if not, the process proceeds to step S15. In step S15, hot water HW
It is determined whether or not the temperature has risen to the set temperature. If the temperature has risen to the set temperature, the process proceeds to step S16, and after "hot water becomes hot" and "be careful" are output as voice outputs Then, the process proceeds to step S17. Also, if it is determined in step S15 that the temperature has not risen to the set temperature, the process skips step S16 and shifts to step S17. In step S17, it is determined whether one or both of the hot-water taps 18A and 18B are open. If either one is open, the process proceeds to step S18,
It is determined whether or not the operation switch SW1 is on, and if it is on, the process returns to step S11.

If it is determined in step S6 (FIG. 3) that the fan speed is not normal, step S19
Then, it is determined whether or not the delay time has elapsed. If the delay time has not elapsed, the process returns to step S5, and the operation of the fan motor 33 is continuously performed. If it is determined in step S19 that the delay time has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S20, where the fan motor 33
After the stop operation is performed, the process proceeds to step S21 (FIG. 4).

Next, when it is determined in step S12 that the flame detection is not performed, when it is determined that the fan rotation is not normal in step S13, or step S14
Also, when it is determined that the empty-fire prevention switch 40 is operating, the process proceeds to step S21. Step S21
Then, after outputting "Abnormality has occurred in the water heater" and "Please contact the nearest service store" as an audio output notifying the occurrence of the abnormality, the process proceeds to step S22.

In step S17, the hot water taps 18A, 1
If the switch 8B is not open, or if the operation switch SW1 is not on in step S18, the process also proceeds to step S22.

Further, in step S9 (FIG. 3), it is determined that no flame is detected, the process proceeds to step S23, and if the predetermined delay time has not elapsed in step S23, the process proceeds to step S7 and the predetermined delay time is reached. If the delay time has passed, the process proceeds to step S22.

In step S22, the fan motor 33,
After stopping all operations of the ignition transformer 38, the original electromagnetic valve 26, the hot water supply electromagnetic valve 28, and the proportional valve 30, all control operations are ended.

In this voice guidance control, in the voice output operation, the signal output from the main body side controller 6 is sent from the transmission / reception circuit 68 through the transmission / reception cable 10 and added to the transmission / reception circuit 81 of the remote controller side controller 8.
That is, in the remote controller 8, the CPU 82 decodes the signal, the voice synthesizing circuit 88 selects the voice data, and the digital data is converted into an analog signal. In this case, the voice information to be generated is stored in the voice data ROM 89 as digital data, and in the voice synthesis circuit 88,
Based on the control information from the main body side controller 6, the voice information therein, for example, "Please turn on the operation switch" is selected. This audio output is applied to the speaker 46 through the audio output circuit 90, and is output from the speaker 46 as audio.

In the embodiment, the operation guide of the operation switch or the message about the operation leading to the occurrence of abnormality and the message about the guidance are taken as an example. However, the present invention can be applied to a reheating water heater, in which case The control operation and its operating procedure associated with the reheating are output by voice.

Further, in the embodiment, the main body side controller and the remote controller side controller are linked by the transmission / reception cable, but instead of the transmission / reception cable, light or radio waves may be used as the signal transmission medium for wireless transmission.

[0028]

As described above, according to the present invention,
On the control process of the control means that controls the water heater, information that should be notified to the operator is emitted by voice, and as a result, the operator can easily recognize the control content and state and it is necessary even when there is a malfunction such as a malfunction. It is possible to take appropriate measures promptly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a hot water supply device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a specific configuration example of a controller in the hot water supply device shown in FIG.

3 is a flowchart showing a voice guide program in the hot water supply device shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a voice guide program in the hot water supply device shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 water heater 6 main body side controller (control means, determination means) 8 remote controller side control (control means, determination means) 42 switch group SW1 operation switch SW2 set temperature raising switch SW3 set temperature lowering switch 46 speaker (voice output means) 82 CPU (Voice data reading means) 88 Voice synthesis circuit (voice synthesis means) 89 Voice data ROM (storage means) 90 Voice output circuit (voice output means)

Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Yasunori Watanabe 201 Nishi-Kashiwara Nitta 201 Fuji, Shizuoka Prefecture Inside Takagi Industry Co., Ltd.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A hot water supply apparatus, comprising: a water heater for heating water to supply hot water; and a control means for controlling hot water supply of the water heater, wherein the control means controls the water heater. Operation switch for instructing operation start, determination means for determining presence or absence of ignition based on flame detection in the combustion system of the water heater, and storage means for storing voice data representing ignition information to be notified to the operator And a voice data reading means for reading the voice data representing the ignition information from the storage means based on the determination result of the determination means after the operation of the operation switch, and the voice data read by the voice data reading means. A voice synthesizing means for synthesizing a voice signal, and a voice output means for uttering a voice representing the ignition information by the voice signal synthesized by the voice synthesizing means. A water heater provided with. 2. A hot water supply apparatus, comprising: a water heater for heating water to supply hot water; and a control means for controlling hot water supply of the water heater, wherein the control means controls the water heater. The operation switch for instructing the start of operation, and the judgment means for judging the operation abnormality by the presence or absence of combustion by the flame detection after starting the combustion operation through the flame detection in the water heater from the operation of this operation switch. Storage means for storing voice data indicating abnormal operation, and voice data reading means for reading out the voice data indicating the abnormal operation from the storage means according to the determination result of the determination means after the operation switch is operated. A voice synthesizing means for synthesizing a voice signal by the voice data read by the voice data reading means, and the voice synthesized by the voice synthesizing means. A hot water supply device comprising: a voice output unit that outputs a voice indicating the abnormal operation by a signal.