KR100397583B1 - Apparatus for regulating temperature - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a temperature controller with a safety device, the heater (H) for heating the object to be heated by applying power from the power input unit 11, and the thyristor for adjusting the amount of power applied to the heater (H). (12) and a microcontroller having a microcomputer (CPU) 13 for controlling the thyristor 12, the power supplied to the heater H without being controlled by the microcomputer 13 A safety device for controlling the power supply, the safety device including: a power control unit (110) for turning on / off power applied to the heater (H); A thyristor signal intermitter (120) for intermittent control signals applied from the microcomputer (13) to the thyristor (12); An abnormal state detection unit 130 for detecting a change in physical quantity from which the object to be heated 20 deviates from a normal state; A warning unit 140 for alerting the abnormal state detecting unit 130 to detect an abnormal state; As not controlled by the microcomputer 13, the power control unit 110, the thyristor signal control unit 120, and the warning unit 140 may be organically controlled by a signal generated by the abnormal state detection unit 130. Control unit 150 for controlling; characterized in that it comprises a. By employing the temperature controller having such a structure, there is an effect that the power applied to the heater can be effectively cut off even when the microcomputer or the thyristor fails or malfunctions.

Description

Thermostat with safety device {Apparatus for regulating temperature}

The present invention relates to a temperature controller with a safety device, and more particularly, a temperature controller with a safety device that can operate when the temperature control function is lost due to a malfunction or failure of a peripheral device to cut off the power irreversibly. It is about.

In general, as shown in FIG. 1, the temperature controller is connected to a power input unit 1 to which power is applied, and a heater H that raises a temperature of an object to be heated to supply power to the heater H. The thyristor 2 to turn on / off, the microcomputer (CPU) 3 to control the on / off operation of the thyristor 2, and the temperature of the object to be heated are measured and a signal corresponding to the temperature is generated. It includes a temperature sensor (4) for transmitting to the microcomputer (3).

Any one of the power lines connected to the heater H is connected to a known mechanical temperature controller 5 which is operated when the ambient temperature is above a predetermined temperature to turn on / off the power applied to the heater H. The mechanical temperature controller 5 includes the A and B contacts 5a and 5b for connecting or disconnecting the power supply line and the power supply line, the temperature detection unit 5c for detecting the temperature of the object to be heated, and the temperature detection unit 5c. And a mechanical device 5d for connecting or disconnecting the A and B contacts 5a and 5b by the heat conducted therethrough.

The temperature controller of such a structure raises the temperature of the object to be heated as power is applied and the heater H is heated. When the temperature of the object to be heated is higher than a predetermined temperature, the sensor 4 generates a specific temperature signal, and the CPU 3 receives the CPU 3 to control the thyristor 2 to adjust the power applied to the heater H. .

Since the thermostat controls the high power substantially, the microcomputer 3 or the thyristor 2 may fail or malfunction due to some cause, and the power is continuously applied to the heater H, causing the object to be heated to overheat. Can be. At this time, the mechanical temperature controller is operated. The heat of the overheated object to be heated is transferred to the temperature detection unit 5c and the mechanical device 5d, and the mechanical device 5d separates the A and B contacts 5a and 5b. . Then, the power applied to the heater H is cut off.

Over time, when the ambient temperature decreases, the mechanical device 5d becomes an initial state, and the A and B contacts 5a and 5b are brought into contact with each other, so that the power is applied to the heater H again, Heat.

However, if the user does not detect the failure / malfunction of the microcomputer 3 or the thyristor 2, and the device is left for a long time, the mechanical device 5d continues to operate to contact the A and B contacts 5a and 5b. The detach operation is repeated. Then, a spark is generated due to a surge current between the A and B contacts 5a and 5b, which causes severe EMI (Electro Magnetic Interference) to the peripheral device, and the characteristic of the mechanical contact is a charting phenomenon. This causes severe damage to the A and B contacts 5a and 5b, and in severe cases, the contact is fused. Then, the object to be heated controlled by the temperature controller can be heated continuously to create a very dangerous situation.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a temperature controller with a safety device without the risk of temperature rise of the device even if the microcomputer or the thyristor is broken.

1 is a view showing the configuration of a conventional thermostat,

2 is a view showing the configuration of a thermostat according to the present invention;

3 is a view showing the configuration of the safety device of FIG.

<Description of Signs of Major Parts of Drawings>

11 ... power input 12 ... thyristor

13 ... microcomputer 14 ... temperature sensor

20 ... Object to be heated 100 ... Safety device

110 ... power interrupter 111 ... relay

111a, 111b ... Contacts 120 ... Thyristor signal interruption

130 .. Abnormal state detection unit 131 ... Over temperature sensor

133 ... Liquid level sensor 135 ... Pressure sensor

137 ... Door open detector 140 ... Warning part

141 ... buzzer 143 ... lamp

145 ... Display 150 ... Controls

160 ... reset signal generator 161 ... reset switch

170 ... moving part 171 ... selection switch

H ... heater

In order to achieve the above object, the temperature controller according to the present invention,

A heater (H) for heating the object to be heated by applying power from the power input unit (11), a thyristor (12) for adjusting the amount of power applied to the heater (H), and controlling the thyristor (12). In the temperature controller with a microcomputer (CPU) 13,

It is provided with a safety device for intermitting the power applied to the heater (H) without being controlled by the microcomputer (13), wherein the safety device, the power control to turn on / off the power applied to the heater (H) Section 110; A thyristor signal intermitter (120) for intermittently controlling a control signal applied from the micom (13) to the thyristor (12); An abnormal state detection unit 130 for detecting a change in physical quantity from which the object to be heated 20 deviates from a normal state; A warning unit 140 for warning the abnormal state detection unit 130 when it detects an abnormal state; As not controlled by the microcomputer 13, the power control unit 110, the thyristor signal control unit 120, and the warning unit 140 may be organically controlled by a signal generated by the abnormal state detection unit 130. Control unit 150 to control the; characterized in that it comprises a.

According to the present invention, the power control unit 110 includes a relay 111 directly connected to a power line connected to the heater (H).

Here, the control unit 150, in order to prevent the generation of sparks due to the surge current at the contacts (111a) (111b) of the relay (111), a predetermined time before the on (ON) operation of the relay (111) The thyristor signal control unit 120 is controlled so that the thyristor 12 does not supply power to the heater H.

In addition, the control unit 150 is a predetermined time before turning off the relay 1111 in order to prevent the occurrence of a spark due to a surge current at the contacts 111a and 111b of the relay 111. The thyristor signal control unit 120 is controlled so that the thyristor 12 does not supply power to the heater H.

In the present invention, the abnormal state detection unit 130, the temperature overheat detector 131 for detecting the temperature overheat of the object to be heated 20, or the water level of the object to be heated 20 is out of the normal state. When the liquid level sensor 133 for detecting this, or the pressure sensor 135 for detecting when the pressure of the object to be heated 20 is out of the normal state, or when the door of the object to be heated 20 is opened At least one or more of the door opening detector 137 for detecting this.

In the present invention, the warning unit 140 includes at least one of a buzzer 141 for warning a specific sound, a lamp 143 or a display 145 for visually warning.

In the present invention, at the beginning of the operation of the device or when the contacts 111a and 111b of the relay 111 are disconnected and the power applied to the heater H is cut off, or after the user normalizes the abnormal state. In use, the apparatus further includes an initialization signal generator 160 that controls the controller 150 to supply power to the device.

In the present invention, when the device is in use, when the power failure occurs and is restored again, according to the user's selection, the selection operation unit 170 to determine whether to automatically operate or stop the control unit 150 is further Include.

Hereinafter, the temperature controller according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings, the temperature controller is installed in the object to be heated 20, the heater (H) and the heater (H) for heating the object to be heated 20 by the power applied from the power input unit (11). The temperature of the thyristor 12 for adjusting the amount of power applied, the microcomputer (CPU) 13 for controlling the thyristor 12, and the object to be heated 20 to send a temperature signal to the microcomputer 13 The temperature sensor 14 and the safety device 100 which interrupts the power applied to the heater H without being controlled by the microcomputer 13 are provided. Here, the object to be heated 20 may be variously applied, such as a chamber in which a predetermined object is stored, a water tank in which a predetermined fluid is filled, or a thermostat in which a door is installed.

The safety device 100 finally turns off the power applied to the heater H when the microcomputer 13 or the thyristor 12 breaks / malfunctions, and then turns on the power by the user's manual operation. ) And is not controlled by the microcomputer 13. The safety device 100 includes a power interrupter 110 that turns on / off power applied to the heater H, and a thyristor signal that interrupts a control signal applied from the microcomputer 13 to the thyristor 12. The intermittent unit 120 and the abnormal state detecting unit 130 for detecting a change in the physical quantity from which the object to be heated 20 deviates from the normal state, and the abnormal state detecting unit 130 to warn when an abnormal state is detected The control unit 150 for organically controlling the power control unit 110, the thyristor signal control unit 120 and the warning unit 140 by the signal generated from the warning unit 140 and the abnormal state detection unit 130. In this case, the control unit 150 is an independent configuration that is not controlled by the microcomputer 13. In addition, the safety device 100 includes an initialization signal generator 160 for initializing the temperature controller, and a selective mover 170 for selectively determining the operation of the temperature controller when a power failure occurs during the use of the apparatus employing the temperature controller. Include.

The power intermittent unit 110 cuts or energizes power applied to the heater H, and includes a relay 111 directly connected to a power line connected to the heater H. The relay 111 uses a well-known thing which has the contacts 111a and 111b for energizing the power input part 11 and the heater H / thyristor 12.

The thyristor signal interruption unit 120 interrupts (on / off) a signal applied from the microcomputer 13 to the thyristor 12 and is controlled by the controller 150 of the safety device. That is, the thyristor signal intermittent unit 120 controls the thyristor 12 such that power is applied or cut off by the heater H under the control of the controller 150.

The abnormal state detection unit 130 may be a temperature overheat sensor 131 for detecting a temperature overheat of the object to be heated 20. As a separate from the temperature sensor 14 connected to the microcomputer 13, it detects when the temperature of the object to be heated 20 is overheated out of an appropriate range. The temperature overheat sensor 131 may be a temperature sensor or a known mechanical temperature switch.

A temperature detecting unit (not shown) installed close to the object to be heated 20 of the mechanical temperature switch to detect the temperature of the object to be heated, and a temperature switch (not shown) operated by heat conducted through the temperature detecting unit. It is composed of The temperature switch is mechanically operated by the temperature of the object to be heated. Examples of the temperature switch include a known bimetal switch and a known liquid expansion temperature switch using liquid expansion according to temperature. By such a configuration, it is possible to detect the temperature displacement of the object to be heated 20.

The abnormal state detection unit 130 may be a liquid level sensor 133 that detects when the level of the object to be heated 20 is out of the normal state. In the case where the liquid is filled in the interior of the object to be heated 20, the liquid level is detected when the liquid level is out of an appropriate range. The liquid level sensor 133 may be a sensor contained in a water tank or a buoy floating in a liquid phase.

The abnormal state detection unit 130 may be a pressure detector 135 that detects the pressure of the object to be heated 20 when it is out of the normal state. In the case of a pressure chamber in which a predetermined pressure is applied to the inside of the object to be heated 20, it is detected when the pressure inside the pressure chamber is out of an appropriate range. The pressure sensor 135 may be a pressure gauge installed in the pressure chamber.

The abnormal state detection unit 130 may be a door opening detector 137 that detects the door of the object to be heated 20 when it is opened. When the object to be heated 20 is a thermostat or a thermo-hygrostat, the door is detected when the door is opened. The door opening detector 137 may be a magnetic switch or a micro switch installed between the object to be heated and the door.

The warning unit 140 may be a buzzer 141 warning a specific sound, a lamp 143 or a display 145 visually warning. Such alarms may or may not be employed depending on the user's choice. By employing the warning unit 140, it is possible to easily know the abnormal state of the temperature controller from the outside, and furthermore, it can also know what part is abnormal.

The control part 150 controls the thyristor 12 before a predetermined time to operate the relay 111 on to prevent the occurrence of a spark due to a surge current at the contacts 111a and 111b of the relay 111. ) Controls the thyristor signal interruption unit 120 to cut off the power applied to the heater (H).

The controller 150 controls the thyristor 12 before a predetermined time before the relay 111 is turned off in order to prevent generation of sparks due to a surge current at the contacts 111a and 111b of the relay 111. ) Controls the thyristor signal interruption unit 120 to cut off the power applied to the heater (H).

The initialization signal generator 160 is operated at the beginning of the operation of the device employing the temperature controller of the present application, or when the contacts 111a and 111b of the relay 111 are disconnected and the power applied to the heater H is cut off. Or a reset switch 161 for controlling the controller 150 so that power is applied to the device as the user normalizes the abnormal state. That is, when the reset switch 161 is pressed, the initialization signal generator 160 generates an initialization signal, so that the controller 150 controls the power interrupter 110 so that the contacts 111a and 111b come into contact with each other. 111). The initialization signal generator 160 is also used to artificially stop the device while the device is in operation.

The selector 170 may automatically operate or stop the controller 150 of the thermostat according to the user's selection when a power failure occurs and the power is restored again during the use of the apparatus employing the thermostat of the present application. It includes a selection switch 171 to determine the.

Some specific objects to be heated are easily damaged by a change in temperature. If a temperature change occurs due to a power failure, the specific object to be heated no longer needs to be heated. In this case, once a power failure occurs, even if the power is restored, the temperature controller should not be operated, and the user can determine this by the selection switch 171.

On the other hand, a certain object to be heated is not damaged even if there is a change in temperature. In this case, the thermostat should be operated automatically when it recovers after a power failure. This is also possible by the user using the selection switch 171.

The thermostat of the above structure, the user turns on the power switch to operate the device. The warning unit 140 does not operate when various parts of the device are in a normal state.

Thereafter, when the reset switch 161 is pressed, the power interrupter 110 contacts the contacts 111a and 111b of the relay 111 to supply power to the front end of the thyristor 12, and a predetermined time elapses. Then, the thyristor signal intermittent unit 120 applies the control signal of the microcomputer 13 to the thyristor 12 so that the thyristor 12 supplies power to the heater H so that the target object 20 can be heated. Heat. That is, after the contacts 111a and 111b of the relay 111 come into contact with each other, power is supplied to the heater H through the thyristor 12. In this way, sparks due to surge current are not generated in the contacts 111a and 111b.

The microcomputer 13 senses the temperature of the object to be heated 20 with the temperature sensor 14 and compares the set temperature value with the actual temperature value of the object to be heated to adjust the amount of power supplied to the heater H.

The operation of the temperature controller having the above structure will be described.

Since the thermostat controls substantially a large amount of current, the thyristor 12 may malfunction / malfunction, and the microcomputer 13 may lose normal control capability due to electronic disturbance or program error. In this case, power may be continuously applied to the heater H, and the object to be heated may be overheated and dangerous.

like this. When the object to be heated 20 is overheated, the abnormal state detecting unit 130 detects that the object is overheated and notifies the controller 150. Since the controller 150 is an independent configuration not controlled by the microcomputer 13, the controller 150 operates independently without being affected by the failure / malfunction of the microcomputer 13 to stop the device to be safe.

When the object to be heated 20 is overheated, when the temperature overheat sensor 131 of the abnormal state detection unit 130 detects an overheat and sends the electrical signal to the controller 150 as an electrical signal, the controller 150 first starts the thyristor. The signal interrupter 120 operates to block a signal for operating the thyristor 12 generated in the microcomputer 13, and after a predetermined time, the relay 111 contact point 111a of the power interrupter 110. (111b) is separated.

In addition, the abnormal state signal generated by the liquid level sensor 133, the pressure sensor 135, the door open detector 137, etc. are also processed in the same manner as described above can induce the safe use of the device.

In the case of door opening detection, which can be artificially used by the user, the device is stopped when the door is opened, and when the door is closed, the device is normally operated again.However, except in this case, If the device is stopped due to abnormality or disturbance of the device, the device will not work again even if the time does not appear even after time passes, and the user removes the cause of the error and resets the reset switch 161 again. Press to operate the unit.

On the other hand, the abnormal state of the liquid level, overpressure, overheating, etc., when these detectors operate, the alarm unit 140 displays the abnormal state on the display 145 and sounds the buzzer 141. These abnormal conditions are not caused by a user's artificial use, but are caused by an abnormality or disturbance of the device. Therefore, when these sensors are operated and the device is stopped, the alarm unit 140 continuously displays the abnormal state even if the abnormal state does not appear. The 145 and the buzzer 141 are operated so that the user can immediately determine whether the device is abnormal.

In the case of the door opening due to the artificial use of the user, the buzzer 141 is not operated but only the display 145 is operated. After a predetermined time, the buzzer 141 is operated to vent the door opening state to the user. do.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to one embodiment shown in the drawings, this is merely exemplary, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications and equivalent other embodiments are possible. Therefore, the true technical protection scope of the present invention will be defined by the technical spirit of the appended claims.

According to the temperature controller according to the present invention, by employing a separate safety device that is not controlled by the microcomputer, even when the microcomputer or the thyristor breaks / malfunctions, it operates independently to safely cut off the power applied to the heater and the apparatus There is an effect that it is possible to make the use of the heating device equipped with more safe.

Claims (8)

A heater (H) for heating the object to be heated by applying power from the power input unit (11), a thyristor (12) for adjusting the amount of power applied to the heater (H), and controlling the thyristor (12). In the temperature controller with a microcomputer (CPU) 13, It is provided with a safety device to control the power applied to the heater (H) without being controlled by the microcomputer 13, the safety device, A power interrupter 110 for turning on / off power applied to the heater H; A thyristor signal intermitter (120) for intermittently controlling a control signal applied from the micom (13) to the thyristor (12); An abnormal state detection unit 130 for detecting a change in a physical quantity from which the object to be heated 20 deviates from a normal state; A warning unit 140 for warning the abnormal state detection unit 130 when it detects an abnormal state; As not controlled by the microcomputer 13, the power control unit 110, the thyristor signal control unit 120, and the warning unit 140 may be organically controlled by a signal generated by the abnormal state detection unit 130. Control unit 150 for controlling with; Temperature controller with a safety device comprising a. The method of claim 1, The power control unit 110 is a temperature controller with a safety device, characterized in that it comprises a relay 111 is directly connected to the power line connected to the heater (H). The method of claim 2, In order to prevent generation of sparks due to a surge current at the contacts 111a and 111b of the relay 111, the controller 150 may be configured to operate at a predetermined time before the relay 111 is turned on. Temperature controller with a safety device, characterized in that for controlling the thyristor signal interruption unit (120) so that the stirrer (12) does not supply power to the heater (H). The method of claim 2, In order to prevent generation of sparks due to a surge current at the contacts 111a and 111b of the relay 111, the controller 150 may stop the relay 1111 in a predetermined time before turning off the relay 1111. Temperature controller with a safety device, characterized in that for controlling the thyristor signal interruption unit (120) so that the stirrer (12) does not supply power to the heater (H). The method of claim 1, The abnormal state detection unit 130, the liquid phase for detecting the temperature overheat detector 131 for detecting the temperature overheat of the object to be heated 20, or when the water level of the object to be heated 20 is out of the normal state The water level detector 133 or the pressure sensor 135 for detecting when the pressure of the object to be heated 20 is out of a normal state, or the door opening for detecting a door when the door of the object to be heated 20 is opened. Thermostat with a safety device, characterized in that it comprises at least one or more of the detector (137). The method of claim 1, The warning unit 140 is a temperature controller with a safety device, characterized in that it comprises any one or more of a buzzer 141, a visual warning of the lamp 143 or a display 145. The method of claim 1, It is used at the beginning of the operation of the device or when the contact points 111a and 111b of the relay 111 are disconnected and the power applied to the heater H is cut off or after the user normalizes the abnormal state. And a reset signal generator (160) for controlling the controller (150) so that power is applied to the device. The method of claim 1, The apparatus may further include a selective mover 170 that may determine whether to automatically operate or stop the controller 150 according to a user's selection when a power failure occurs and the power is restored again. Thermostat with safety device.