JPH11134019A - Fault diagnostic system for combustion equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fault diagnostic system for combustion equipment such as a hot water supplier which facilitates and speeds up a fault repair by speedily specifying the fault place according to a fault symptom that the combustion equipment has. SOLUTION: A host computer and the combustion equipment (hot water supplier 2) are associated with each other to display a candidate for the fault position on a display means (display unit 114) by referring to various data on the combustion equipment inputted previously to the host computer and selecting guide information showing fault symptoms of the combustion equipment and a fault symptom, and then the fault position is speedily specified to facilitate and speed up the fault repair.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a failure diagnosis system for combustion equipment such as a water heater.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a water heater, the number of functional components increases with the performance improvement. In particular, the number of electronic control units and sensors increases. For this reason, connectors on a substrate are also increasing. In the event that such a problem occurs in the water heater, it is necessary to identify a failure site such as a functional component in the water heater in addition to a human factor in order to determine the cause, and the diagnosis time is determined by the functional component. It grows with the number and requires a lot of experience and intuition. For example, the service technician searches the fault location by referring to the manual for specifying the fault location, specifies the rough fault location, replaces the parts, checks the operation, and in the case of malfunction, further performs another operation. It has been practiced to repeat the operation of replacing parts and checking the operation again.

[0003]

However, the service efficiency of the failure diagnosis and repair of such a serviceman greatly differs depending on the experience and intuition of the serviceman. For this reason, it is difficult for a service engineer with little experience to perform a complete failure diagnosis, and even if completed, it takes much time to reach the failure location.

[0004] The difficulty of such fault diagnosis is that there is a problem in a method that simply relies on the experience and intuition of a service person, and the relationship between the fault situation and the fault location, and where to place an inspection device to identify the fault location. Whether the connection should be made is established on the premise of the operation of the equipment and the operation principle, but in that case, the wiring connection between the water heater and the inspection equipment has become more complicated due to the higher performance of the water heater. With a highly functionalized water heater, it takes time to diagnose the failure, making it difficult for even a fairly experienced person to reach the failure location in a short time, and the occurrence of errors during the diagnosis cannot be ignored. However, accurate diagnosis may not be possible.

[0005] Fig. 10 shows an example of a connection state between a highly functional water heater and an inspection device. In this water heater 2, eleven main functional components 201, 20 are provided for one control board 20.
2, 203 ... 211, 6 sensors 221, 222
.. 226 are functional components 201, 202, 203,.
226 are connected through terminals 230 corresponding to the sensors 221, 222,. The inspection device 4 for inspecting the failure of the water heater 2 includes the functional components 201 and 20.
2, 203 ... 211 and each sensor 221, 222
.. Are connected with a large number of connection lines 8 with the connector 6 interposed between the connection lines 226. In this example, 17 sets of connection lines 8 are required, and the connection relation is very complicated, so diagnosing a failure of a water heater installed in each home is a very troublesome task. It can be seen.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a failure diagnosis system for a combustion device which can quickly identify a failure part based on a failure symptom occurring in a combustion device such as a water heater and facilitate and promptly repair a failure. With the goal.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided a failure diagnosis system for a combustion apparatus in which a host computer (21) and a combustion apparatus (water heater 2) are linked to each other, and various types of combustion equipment input in advance to the host computer are provided. The display means (display 114) displays the guide information indicating the failure symptom of the combustion equipment, and displays the candidate failure site by selecting the failure symptom by referring to the data of (1). It is easier and faster.

[0008] The failure diagnosis system for combustion equipment according to the present invention comprises a combustion equipment (water heater 2) and a host computer (2).
1) is a system for diagnosing a failure of the combustion equipment by linking the above 1) with the combustion equipment. The diagnosis should be made by referring to data corresponding to the combustion equipment which has been input to the host computer in advance. The guide information indicating the failure symptom of the combustion equipment is displayed on the display means (display 114),
According to a feature of the present invention, one or two or more failure parts are displayed on the display means by selecting the failure symptom displayed on the display means.

With such a configuration, it is necessary to connect an inspection device to the functional part in order to specify a failure point of the water heater, for example, to specify a functional part to be replaced. . Therefore, the failure symptom of the hot water heater whose failure is to be diagnosed is input to the diagnosis means before the start of the inspection. By referring to various data relating to the water heater that has been input to the host computer in advance, the display means displays guide information indicating a failure symptom of the water heater, and a candidate failure site by selecting the failure symptom. The inspector can check the display, connect the inspection device to the identified failure site of the water heater, and then perform a series of operation inspections for identifying the failure site, so that the failure site can be located, Replace the functional part at the failed part.

In such a failure diagnosis system,
The combustion device and the host computer are linked by a communication medium such as a telephone line, radio waves, sound waves, and light. That is, by linking the complicated combustion equipment and the host computer with the communication medium, the failure diagnosis can be quickly and reliably performed by the information processing.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a failure diagnosis system for combustion equipment according to the present invention. Water heater 2 as combustion equipment
Is a target to be diagnosed for failure. This water heater 2
Tester 10 that diagnoses failures and inspects failure parts for
Is installed. The inspection device 10 performs a failure diagnosis based on a failure symptom of the water heater 2, that is, a failure condition.
A failure diagnosis control unit 100 is provided as diagnostic means for inspecting a failure site, that is, a failure location by connection to the water heater 2. The failure diagnosis control unit 100 has an input unit 102 for inputting various data.
An input switch 104 is connected to 02 as input means for inputting a fault condition of the water heater 2 for which a fault is to be diagnosed.

Further, the failure diagnosis control unit 100 is provided with a central processing unit (CPU) 106 as arithmetic means for processing various kinds of input data. This CPU1
Reference numeral 06 performs necessary arithmetic processing based on a diagnostic control program, a failure inspection program, and other fixed data written in the read-only memory (ROM). The RAM 110 is a writable memory in which data that is being calculated by the CPU 106 and data that indicates a failure state and the like captured by the input unit 102 are temporarily written. Then, the input unit 102, the CPU 106, the RO
The M 108 and the RAM 110 are linked by a bus 112.

A display 114 is connected to the failure diagnosis control unit 100 as display means for displaying various data such as diagnosis results. The display 114 indicates LC
It consists of a D display and other displays.

The tester 10 has an input switch 104 and a display 1 on its front surface as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the input switch 104 is composed of a plurality of push-button switches labeled “YES”, “NO”, and “0” to “9”. Further, the display 114 displays a failure diagnosis result, input data, and the like, as shown in FIGS.

The operation will be described based on the above configuration. FIG. 6 shows an example of the failure diagnosis control program. In step S1, initialization is performed by turning on a power switch, and preparation for data input is performed. Next, step S2
Then, the failure status of the water heater 2 whose failure is to be diagnosed is input by selecting the input switch 104. Next, step S
In 3, the failure location is determined from the failure status, and in step S4, a wiring connection location is selected. If the failure location cannot be specified due to insufficient input in steps S3 and S4, the process proceeds to step S5, and the display 114 is displayed for inputting details of the failure status.
Is displayed on the display unit 114 as shown in FIG. 4 to further prompt the user to input a failure status and the like, and obtain an input necessary for specifying a failure location. As a result, in step S6, the location to which the tester 10 is to be connected is displayed on the display 114 in accordance with the failure state of the water heater 2. FIG. 4 shows a display example in that case, which shows a connection point of the inspection device 10 in the case of ignition failure.

On the basis of the result of the diagnosis, the tester 10 is connected to functional parts required for a fault test as shown in FIG. That is, FIG. 7 shows a selective connection based on a failure diagnosis result according to the failure state of the water heater 2. In this case, the number of connection lines 8 is six, and the simplification will be understood.

Next, FIG. 8 shows the connection example shown in FIG. 7, that is, the connection configuration of the connector 6 in the solenoid valve portion. In this case, the water heater 2 is provided with an electromagnetic valve as the functional component 201, and is connected to the control board 20. Therefore, when the inspection device 10 is connected to the functional component 201, the connector 6 is required, and the inspection device 10 is connected via the connector 6. The inspection device 10 is provided with switches SW1 and SW2,
1. The closed contact side voltage detection element 116 of SW2 is connected,
A current detection element 118 is connected between the closed contact of the switch SW2 and the control board 20. The detection data obtained from the voltage detection element 116 and the current detection element 118 is input to the input unit 102 in the failure diagnosis control unit 100.
Is input to Note that a, b, c, and d of the connector 6 indicate connection contacts. This is the case where the solenoid valve as the functional component 201 is connected, the current and voltage flowing through the solenoid valve can be measured simultaneously, and the ON / OFF of the solenoid valve is controlled by the instruction of the inspection device 10 regardless of the signal of the water heater 2. It can be turned off. Therefore, when a specific voltage and current cannot be obtained, the solenoid valve 201 is diagnosed as defective.

When connected to a sensor, the current,
In addition to the voltage, a resistance value, a frequency, and the like can be measured according to the sensor. In some cases, a voltage can be applied to the sensor, or a current can be passed.

Next, FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of the failure diagnosis system for hot water supply equipment of the present invention. In the above-described embodiment, the failure diagnosis control unit 100 is installed inside the inspection device 10, and the failure diagnosis control unit 100 alone determines or identifies the failure location of the water heater 2. In this embodiment, By linking a failure diagnosis control unit 100 built in the inspection device 10 and a host computer 21 as a main processing device installed in the failure diagnosis center through a telephone line 22, a diagnosis program stored in the host computer 21 can be obtained. This realizes comprehensive failure diagnosis while referring to the diagnosis data. In such a failure diagnosis system, failure diagnosis can be performed by quickly referring to data of a new product, an old product, and the like, and a wide range of failure diagnosis can be performed.

In the embodiment, the case where a wired or telephone line is used has been described. However, as a communication medium for transmitting data, various data transmission media such as light and radio waves can be used.

[0022]

As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. a. Along with facilitating failure diagnosis of combustion equipment such as hot water heaters that have become more sophisticated and complicated,
Highly reliable failure diagnosis and repair can be realized. b. It is possible to reduce the number of wires between the water heater and the inspection device for the inspection, simplify the connection work, and prevent a connection error by simplifying the connection. c. In the case of a new product, it can be handled by changing the program of the inspection device, so that the burden on the serviceman is reduced, and the failure diagnosis and repair can be simplified without being affected by the experience and intuition of the serviceman. d. Since the number of inputs and outputs of the inspection device can be reduced, the inspection device can be simplified by sharing the connectors, functional components, sensors and the like of the control board of the water heater. e. By using the indicator and input unit of the inspection device, other than inputting the failure status and displaying the necessary wiring, items that cannot be confirmed by the inspection device itself, such as gas or water being supplied or ignition of the igniter It is possible to urge the user to confirm whether or not the inspection is performed, and it is possible to give sufficient consideration to what the tester cannot do, and to perform a highly reliable comprehensive failure diagnosis.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of a failure diagnosis system for a combustion device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a tester which is an embodiment of a failure diagnosis system for a combustion device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of an input switch of a tester in the failure diagnosis system shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display on a display of a tester in the failure diagnosis system shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a display on a display of a tester in the failure diagnosis system shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of a failure diagnosis system for a combustion device according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a connection relation of testers by the failure diagnosis system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram showing a specific example of a circuit configuration showing a connection relation of testers by the failure diagnosis system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the failure diagnosis system for a combustion apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram showing a connection state of a conventional inspection device in a water heater.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Hot water heater (combustion equipment) 21 Host computer 114 Indicator (display means)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A failure diagnosis system for a combustion device for diagnosing a failure portion of the combustion device by linking the combustion device with a host computer, the failure diagnosis system corresponding to the combustion device input to the host computer in advance. Displaying guide information indicating a failure symptom of the combustion equipment to be diagnosed with reference to the data on the display means, and selecting one or more failure parts on the display means by selecting the failure symptom displayed on the display means. A failure diagnosis system for combustion equipment. 2. The failure diagnosis system for a combustion device according to claim 1, wherein the communication between the combustion device and the host computer is performed by a communication medium such as a telephone line, radio waves, sound waves, and light.