System for monitoring a combustion apparatus

Abstract: A system for monitoring a combustion apparatus comprises a monitor (5), a memory (6), and a display (7). The monitor (5) determines how many times combustion has taken place in a combustion apparatus. Also the monitor determines a cumulative total period of time for which combustion has occurred in the combustion apparatus since the first use of the combustion apparatus. In addition, the monitor (5) determines what kinds of irregularities have developed in the combustion apparatus during combustion thereof and how many times each kind of irregularity has developed therein since the first use of the combustion apparatus. The memory (6) automatically stores such pieces of information obtained by the monitor (5). Also, the memory stores both a reference number of times of combustion and a reference cumulative time of duration of combustion when such pieces of reference information are set as an initial step. When the actual number of times of combustion has exceeded the reference number of times of combustion or when the actual cumulative total time of duration of combustion has exceeded the reference cumulative time of duration of combustion, whichever comes first, the memory determines it. When the memory has determined it, the display signals to a user of the combustion apparatus the desirability of maintenance work of it The display (7) also displays the three pieces of information automatically stored in the memory when a switch is activated. Another switch is also provided for resetting the two reference values for the memory.

Description: This invention relates to a system for monitoring a combustion apparatus to prevent the combustion apparatus from developing serious trouble. Although there is prior art whereby a combustion apparatus is monitored to determine when a trouble or malfunction has developed therein (as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2-4128 or 2-33520), yet no system has been proposed which monitors a combustion apparatus to prevent it from developing trouble or malfunction. Fig. 1 illustrates a combustion apparatus 20 which includes a parent electromagnetic valve 21, change-over electromagnetic valves 22, a burner 23, a heat collector 24, a sensor 25 for detecting the amount of water, a cock 26 for supplying hot water, and a control panel 27. A timer 28 is used to determine the cumulative total period of time for which the parent electromagnetic valve 21 has been energized, while a counter 29 is used to determine how many times the parent electromagnetic valve 21 has been energized. Thus, when one of the two factors has reached such a great value that the combustion apparatus may develop serious trouble or malfunction, the user can stop using it and instead perform maintenance work of it. The timer 28 and the counter 29 thus serve to signal to the user the desirability of maintenance work of the combustion apparatus to prevent it from developing serious trouble. It is pretty expensive, however, to produce a combustion apparatus with such a monitoring system. In addition, such a monitoring system makes the combustion apparatus rather large. Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a system for monitoring a combustion apparatus to prevent it from developing serious trouble, which can be provided in a combustion apparatus without making it expensive to produce the whole combustion apparatus and does not make the whole combustion apparatus large. Fig. 1 shows a combustion apparatus; Fig. 2 illustrates a monitoring system of the invention; and Fig. 3 shows how the monitoring system works. A monitoring system which embodies the invention in one preferred form will now be described with reference to Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 2 depicts a monitoring system of the invention. The monitoring system is designated by reference numeral 4. The monitoring system 4 comprises a monitor 5, a memory 6, and a display 7. Reference numeral 1 designates a plug of a combustion apparatus to be monitored by the monitoring system 4; reference numeral 2, a power source of the combustion apparatus; and reference numeral 3, a controller for regulating the performance of the combustion apparatus. The power source 2 supplies power both to the controller 3 and to the monitoring system 4. First, the monitor 5 determines how many times the combustion apparatus have been used, or how many times combustion has taken place in the combustion apparatus. Second, the monitor 5 also determines how long a time the combustion apparatus has been used in the aggregate. In other words, the monitor 5 also determines the cumulative total period of time for which combustion has occurred. Third, the monitor 5 also determines what kinds of irregularities have developed during combustion and how many times each kind of irregularity has occurred in the aggregate. In other words, the monitor 5 also determines the cumulative number of times of occurrence of every kind of irregularity that has occurred since the combustion apparatus was used for the first time. The memory 6 automatically stores all these pieces of information obtained by the monitor 5. A volatile memory (not shown) is used in the memory 6. Also, the memory 6 is provided with a backup power (not shown). The display 7 is capable of displaying the pieces of information stored in the memory 6. Also, the display 7 signals the user of the combustion apparatus to stop using the apparatus and instead perform maintenance work of it when such a desirability has come, as will be described below. Storing the pieces of information obtained by the monitor 6 is not the only function of the memory 6. In addition, it is possible to store in the memory 6 both a reference number of times n of combustion and a reference cumulative period of time t of combustion on the basis of which the display 7 signals to the user of the combustion apparatus the desirability of maintenance work of it. The information stored in the memory 6 is not lost when the power 2 is turned off. In use, both a reference number of times n of combustion and a reference cumulative period of time t of combustion are stored in the memory 6. When the combustion apparatus is set into operation, the controller 3 starts to work and at the same time the monitor 5 starts to perform the foregoing three functions. The monitor 5 continues performing its functions during operation of the combustion apparatus. As described above, the information obtained by the monitor 5 is automatically stored in the memory 6. Each time the combustion apparatus is operated, the monitor 5 performs its three functions. When the actual number of times of combustion has exceeded the reference number of times n or when the actual cumulative total period of time of combustion has exceeded the reference cumulative period of time t of combustion, whichever comes first, the memory 6 determines it. When the memory 6 has determined it, the display 7 operates to signal the user of the combustion apparatus to stop using it and instead perform maintenance work of it. Then, the user performs maintenance work of the apparatus. When the user has finished the maintenance work, he activates a switch 9 which is connected to the monitor 5. When the switch 9 is activated, the display 7 stops signalling the desirability of maintenance work and at the same time the reference values n and t are reset in the memory 6. The reference values n and t can be originally set such that the desirability of maintenance work will be signalled well before a number of times of combustion and a cumulative period of time of combustion are reached which may be assumed to result in a serious trouble of the combustion apparatus. Thus, the combustion apparatus can be effectively used without a serious trouble for a very long time by performing maintenance work of the apparatus when the display 7 signals the desirability of it. In addition, it is possible at any desired point of time to make the display 7 display three pieces of information stored in the memory 6, namely, the number of times of combustion, the cumulative total period of time of combustion, and the cumulative number of times of occurrence of every kind of irregularity that has occurred since the combustion apparatus was used for the first time. These pieces of information are displayed when the user activates a switch 8 which is connected to the monitor 5. Thus, the user also can perform maintenance work without waiting for a signal of the display 7, especially when he judges it necessary or desirable to do so from the information of irregularities that have occurred. A system for monitoring a combustion apparatus comprises a monitor, a memory, and a display. The monitor determines how many times combustion has taken place in a combustion apparatus. Also the monitor determines a cumulative total period of time for which combustion has occurred in the combustion apparatus since the first use of the combustion apparatus. In addition, the monitor determines what kinds of irregularities have developed in the combustion apparatus during combustion thereof and how many times each kind of irregularity has developed therein since the first use of the combustion apparatus. The memory automatically stores such pieces of information obtained by the monitor. Also, the memory stores both a reference number of times of combustion and a reference cumulative time of duration of combustion when such pieces of reference information are set as an initial step. When the actual number of times of combustion has exceeded the reference number of times of combustion or when the actual cumulative total time of duration of combustion has exceeded the reference cumulative time of duration of combustion, whichever comes first, the memory determines it. When the memory has determined it, the display signals to a user of the combustion apparatus the desirability of maintenance work of it. The display also displays the three pieces of information automatically stored in the memory when a switch is activated. Another switch is also provided for resetting the two reference values for the memory.

Claims: A system for monitoring a combustion apparatus to prevent the apparatus from developing serious trouble, which comprises: monitor means (5) for determining what kinds of irregularities have developed in the combustion apparatus during operation thereof; memory means (6) for automatically storing data obtained by said monitor means; and display means (7) for displaying the data automatically stored in said memory means; characterized in that said monitor means (5) further determines how many times combustion has taken place in a combustion apparatus since the combustion apparatus was used for the first time, determines a cumulative total period of time for which combustion has occurred in the combustion apparatus since the first use of the combustion apparatus, and determines how many times each kind of irregularity has developed therein since the first use thereof; said memory means (6) for automatically storing such data obtained by said monitor means is further adapted for storing both a reference number of times of combustion ( n ) and a reference cumulative time of duration of combustion ( t ) when such reference data are set as an initial step, and for determining when an actual number of times of combustion has exceeded the reference number of times of combustion ( n ) or when an actual cumulative total time of duration of combustion has exceeded the reference cumulative time of duration of combustion ( t ), whichever comes first; said display means (7) further signalizes to a user of the combustion apparatus the desirability of maintenance work of the combustion apparatus when said memory means has determined that either of the two actual values has exceeded the corresponding reference value ( n , t ); a first switch (9) is provided which resets the two reference values ( n , t ) when said first switch is activated; and that said combustion apparatus is inhibited from being set again into a further operation cycle, when, after said display means (7) recommends maintenance work, either of the two actual values exceeds the corresponding reference value (n, t) by a predetermined value (x), until said first switch is activated. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that a second switch (8) is provided enabling said display means (7) upon activation of said second switch to display the data automatically stored in said memory means (6).

Inventors: ASAI SHIGEKAZU, ISHIGURO TOMOHISA, NISHIMURA ATSUSHI, ASAI, SHIGEKAZU, ISHIGURO, TOMOHISA, NISHIMURA, ATSUSHI
Applicants: PALOMA KOGYO KK, PALOMA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1991
Main classification: F23N5
IPC codes: F23N5, G08B5