JP6289233B2 - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conditioner composed of an indoor unit and an outdoor unit.

  Some conventional air conditioners that consist of indoor units and outdoor units employ a configuration that can ensure safety when piping that circulates refrigerant between the indoor unit and outdoor unit is damaged. To do. For example, as a protection operation against damage to piping due to vibration such as an earthquake, a method of detecting a shake by a vibration sensor and shutting off a refrigerant circuit has been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1). In addition, a method has been proposed in which protection is performed by automatically selecting different operations depending on the magnitude of vibration such as an earthquake (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

JP 2000-28238 A JP 2009-144991 A

  In the conventional method, the protection operation is performed based on the presence or absence or magnitude of vibration, that is, the state of the pipe is estimated by vibration, and the state of the pipe is not directly observed. Therefore, there is a problem that protection may not be activated when piping is damaged due to small vibrations, or even if there is no abnormality in the piping, protection may be activated and recovery may take a long time. there were.

  This invention is made | formed in view of the above, Comprising: It aims at obtaining the air conditioner which improved safety | security more than before.

In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the present invention is an air conditioner including a pipe for circulating a refrigerant between an indoor unit and an outdoor unit, and a light emitting unit attached to the pipe, A light receiving unit attached to the pipe so as to be able to receive light emitted from the light emitting unit, and detecting abnormality of the pipe based on an intensity change amount of the received light, and the light emitting unit and the The light receiving unit includes a power storage unit for continuing power supply to each part in the unit even when power supply from the outside is stopped, and when power is supplied from the outside, the power received from the outside is used. The operation is performed, and when power supply from the outside is stopped, the operation is performed using the electric power stored in the power storage unit .

  According to the present invention, it is possible to realize an air conditioner that can improve pipe state detection accuracy and can perform an appropriate protective operation when an abnormality occurs.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the air conditioner according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit included in the air conditioner of the second embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a light-emitting unit and a light-receiving unit provided in the air conditioner according to the third embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit included in the air conditioner of the fourth embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the air conditioner according to the fifth embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the air conditioner according to the sixth embodiment.

  Embodiments of an air conditioner according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments. In each embodiment, an example of a configuration of an air conditioner in which an indoor unit and an outdoor unit are connected one-to-one, power is supplied from the indoor unit to the outdoor unit, and the indoor unit controls operation will be described.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of Embodiment 1 of an air conditioner according to the present invention.

  The air conditioner includes an indoor unit 1 and an outdoor unit 2. Connected between the indoor unit 1 and the outdoor unit 2 are an internal / external power line 3 for supplying power from the indoor unit 1 to the outdoor unit 2, an internal / external signal line 4 for communication, and a pipe 5 for circulating the refrigerant. ing. A light emitting unit 6 and a light receiving unit 10 are attached to the pipe 5. The light emitting unit 6 includes a light emitting power source unit 7 that supplies power for operating the light emitting unit 6, a light emission control unit 8 that controls light emission of a light emitting unit 9 described later, and a light emitting unit 9 that emits light. The light receiving unit 10 detects the abnormality from the light receiving power supply unit 11 that supplies power for operating the light receiving unit 10, the control of the light receiving unit 13 described later, and the light quantity received by the light receiving unit 13, and transmits information to the indoor unit 1. A light receiving control unit 12 for receiving light and a light receiving unit 13 for receiving light. Connected between the indoor unit 1 and the light emitting unit 6 and the light receiving unit 10 are a power line 14 for supplying power from the indoor unit 1 to the light emitting unit 6 and the light receiving unit 10 and a signal line 15 for communication. . The light emitting unit 6 and the light receiving unit 10 are attached to the pipe 5 so that the light emitted from the light emitting unit 9 of the light emitting unit 6 can be received by the light receiving unit 13 of the light receiving unit 10.

  Next, the operation will be described. In the air conditioner having the configuration shown in FIG. 1, when the pipe 5 is normal, the relative position between the light emitting unit 6 and the light receiving unit 10 does not change, so that the light receiving unit 13 receives a certain amount of light from the light emitting unit 9. On the other hand, when an abnormality such as twisting or breaking occurs in the pipe 5, the relative position between the light receiving unit 10 and the light emitting unit 6 changes, so that the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 13 changes. Due to this change, the light reception control unit 12 detects an abnormality and notifies the indoor unit 1 through the signal line 15. For example, the light reception control unit 12 checks the light amount (light reception intensity) received by the light reception unit 13 constantly or periodically, and when the amount of change in the light amount per predetermined time exceeds a certain value (threshold value), the pipe 5 It is determined that an abnormality has occurred. In addition, when the indoor unit 1 receives a notification of abnormality detection from the light reception control unit 12, for example, the air conditioner operation is stopped and a notification that an abnormality has been detected is given to the outside (a user or the like).

  In the present embodiment, the light receiving control unit 12 of the light receiving unit 10 performs abnormality detection. However, the light receiving control unit 12 notifies the indoor unit 1 of the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 13, and an abnormality is detected on the indoor unit 1 side. Detection may be performed.

  As described above, in the air conditioner of the present embodiment, the state of the pipe 5 is directly observed by the light emitting unit 6 and the light receiving unit 10 attached to the pipe 5, so Compared with the case where the state is estimated, the accuracy of the information regarding the state of the pipe 5 is improved, and a more appropriate protection operation can be performed. That is, an air conditioner with improved safety can be realized.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
In Embodiment 1 described above, the light emitted from the light emitting unit 6 is attached to the pipe 5 so that the light receiving unit 10 can receive the light. Next, the light receiving unit 10 receives light other than the light emitting unit 6. An embodiment capable of accurately detecting an abnormality in the environment will be described. The overall configuration of the air conditioner according to the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment (see FIG. 1). In the present embodiment, parts different from the air conditioner of the first embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the light emitting unit 6 and the light receiving unit 10 provided in the air conditioner of the second embodiment. As shown in the figure, the difference from the air conditioner of Embodiment 1 (see FIG. 1) is that a soft light shielding tube 16 is provided between the light emitting unit 9 and the light receiving unit 13.

  Next, the operation will be described. When the installation location of the pipe 5 of the air conditioner described in the first embodiment is outdoors, the light receiving unit 13 may receive light from other than the light emitting unit 9, for example, external light such as sunlight or illumination. . When the light receiving unit 13 receives light other than the light emitting unit 9 as described above, the change in the amount of received light cannot be accurately detected, and the accuracy of detecting an abnormality in the pipe 5 is reduced. Therefore, in the air conditioner of the present embodiment, a configuration in which the light emitting unit 9 and the light receiving unit 13 are connected by the soft light shielding tube 16 is applied. Thereby, since external light is interrupted | blocked and an influence can be excluded, abnormality detection accuracy can be improved.

  As described above, in the air conditioner of the present embodiment, the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 13 is determined by connecting the light emitting unit 13 and the light receiving unit 9 with the light shielding tube 16 to block outside light. Regardless of whether it is constant. As a result, it is possible to accurately detect a change in the amount of received light due to a change in the state of the pipe 5, and to detect an abnormality in the pipe 5, thereby further improving safety compared to the first embodiment. In addition, by using the light shielding tube 16 as a soft material, it is possible to maintain the function without being damaged by vibration such as an earthquake.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
In the first embodiment, one set of the light emitting unit 6 and the light receiving unit 10 is attached to the pipe 5, but next, by providing a plurality of light emitting units 6 and light receiving units 10, there is an abnormality in the pipe 5. An embodiment for collecting information related to the above will be described in detail. The overall configuration of the air conditioner according to the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment (see FIG. 1). In the present embodiment, parts different from the air conditioner of the first embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the light emitting unit 6 and the light receiving unit 10 provided in the air conditioner of the third embodiment. As shown in the figure, the difference from the air conditioner of the first embodiment (see FIG. 1) is that the light emitting units 6A and 6B having the same function as the light emitting unit 6 in FIG. The light receiving units 10A and 10B provided with

  Next, the operation will be described. In the air conditioner of the present embodiment, the light receiving unit 10A is activated when an abnormality occurs in the pipe 5 in the illustrated section (A), and the light receiving unit 10B when an abnormality occurs in the pipe 5 in the section (B). Detects anomalies.

  Thus, in the air conditioner of the present embodiment, a plurality of pairs of light emitting units and light receiving units are provided in the pipe 5. When a plurality of pairs of light emitting units and light receiving units are attached, it is possible to identify an abnormality occurrence location of the pipe 5 by the light receiving unit that detects the abnormality. Further, since the pair of the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit can be arranged only in a straight line, an abnormality can be detected even in a pipe that is not a straight line by attaching a plurality of pairs.

  The light shielding tube 16 described in the second embodiment may be provided between the light emitting unit 6A and the light receiving unit 10A or between the light emitting unit 6B and the light receiving unit 10B.

Embodiment 4 FIG.
In the first embodiment, the power for operating the light emitting unit 6 and the light receiving unit 10 is always supplied from the power line 14. Next, by mounting a storage battery on the light emitting unit 6 and the light receiving unit 10, An embodiment capable of maintaining functions even when power is lost will be described. The overall configuration of the air conditioner according to the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment (see FIG. 1). In the present embodiment, parts different from the air conditioner of the first embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the light emitting unit 6a and the light receiving unit 10a included in the air conditioner of the fourth embodiment. As shown in the figure, the difference from the air conditioner of the first embodiment (see FIG. 1) is that the light emitting unit 6a includes a light emitting power storage unit 21 that stores electric power by a battery, a storage battery, a capacitor, etc. The light receiving power storage unit 22 having the same function as the light emitting power storage unit 21 is provided.

  Next, the operation will be described. In the air conditioner of the present embodiment, when power is supplied from the power line 14, the light emitting unit 6 a and the light receiving unit 10 a are operated by the power supplied from the power line 14. On the other hand, when the power supply from the power supply line 14 is stopped due to a power failure, disconnection or the like, the light emitting power storage unit 21 detects the voltage drop of the power supply line 14 and uses the held power as the light emitting power supply unit of the light emitting unit 6a. 7 is supplied. Similarly to the light emitting power storage unit 21, the light receiving power storage unit 22 also supplies power to the light receiving power source unit 11 of the light receiving unit 10a.

  As described above, in the air conditioner of the present embodiment, the abnormality of the pipe 5 is detected using the light emitting unit 6 a provided with the light emitting power storage unit 21 and the light receiving unit 10 a provided with the light receiving power storage unit 22. Thereby, the function which detects the abnormality of the piping 5 at the time of the power failure by an earthquake etc. or the disconnection of the power supply line 14 can be maintained.

  Although the example which adds an electrical storage part with respect to the light emission unit and light reception unit with which the air conditioner concerning Embodiment 1 is provided was demonstrated, in the light emission unit and light reception unit of the air conditioner concerning Embodiment 2 or 3, On the other hand, a power storage unit can be added.

Embodiment 5. FIG.
In the first embodiment, communication between the light emitting unit 6 and the light receiving unit 10 and the indoor unit 1 is performed using signal lines. Next, communication between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit and the indoor unit is performed wirelessly. An embodiment to be performed will be described. In the present embodiment, parts different from the air conditioner of the first embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the air conditioner according to the fifth embodiment. As shown in the figure, the air conditioner of the present embodiment deletes the signal line 15 from the air conditioner of the first embodiment (see FIG. 1) and replaces the indoor unit 1, the light emitting unit 6, and the light receiving unit 10 with the indoor unit. It is replaced with the machine 1b, the light emitting unit 6b, and the light receiving unit 10b. The indoor unit 1 b has a configuration in which a wireless communication unit 23 is added to the indoor unit 1, the light emitting unit 6 b has a configuration in which a light emitting wireless communication unit 24 is added to the light emitting unit 6, and the light receiving unit 10 b has The light receiving wireless communication unit 25 is added.

  Next, the operation will be described. In the air conditioner of the present embodiment, communication between the indoor unit 1b and the light emitting unit 6b is performed by the wireless communication unit 23 and the light emitting wireless communication unit 24. Communication between the indoor unit 1b and the light receiving unit 10b is performed by the wireless communication unit 23 and the light receiving wireless communication unit 25.

  Thus, in the air conditioner of the present embodiment, wireless communication is performed instead of signal line communication (wired communication). As a result, the signal line is not disconnected due to vibration such as an earthquake and communication is not disabled, and the function of detecting an abnormality in the pipe 5 can be maintained.

  Although the example which replaces wired communication with wireless communication in the air conditioner concerning Embodiment 1 was demonstrated, it is also possible to substitute wired communication with wireless communication in the air conditioner concerning Embodiment 2-4.

Embodiment 6 FIG.
In the first embodiment, the power line 14 and the signal line 15 connected to the light emitting unit 6 and the light receiving unit 10 are dedicated lines. Next, the power line and the signal line are connected to the indoor unit 1 and the outdoor unit. An embodiment in which the internal / external power supply line 3 and the internal / external signal line 4 connected between the machines 2 are also described. In the present embodiment, parts different from the air conditioner of the first embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the air conditioner according to the sixth embodiment. As shown in the drawing, the difference from the air conditioner of the first embodiment (see FIG. 1) is that the power supply line 14 and the signal line 15 shown in FIG. 1 are not provided, and the indoor unit 1, the light emitting unit 6, and the light receiving unit 10 are provided. Is connected by the internal / external power supply line 3 and the internal / external signal line 4.

  Next, the operation will be described. In the air conditioner of the present embodiment, the power of the light emitting unit 6 is supplied from the indoor unit 1 through the internal / external power supply line 3 and is converted into an appropriate voltage by the light emitting power supply unit 7. Similarly, the power of the light receiving unit 10 is supplied from the indoor unit 1 through the internal / external power line 3 and is converted into an appropriate voltage by the light receiving power supply unit 11. Communication between the indoor unit 1 and the light emitting unit 6 and the light receiving unit 10 is performed through the inside / outside signal line 4.

  As described above, in the air conditioner of the present embodiment, the power line and the signal line between the indoor unit 1 and the light emitting unit 6 and the light receiving unit 10 are connected between the indoor unit 1 and the outdoor unit 2. Since the internal / external power supply line 3 and the internal / external signal line 4 are also used, it is possible to reduce costs by reducing the amount of electric wires used at the time of installation and shorten the installation time by reducing the amount of work.

  In the present embodiment, the configuration in which both the internal / external power supply line 3 and the internal / external signal line 4 are shared has been described. However, by using at least one of the internal / external power supply line 3 and the internal / external signal line 4, the amount of electric wire used Reduction effect is obtained.

  In the air conditioner according to the first embodiment, the example in which the power line and the signal line are combined has been described. However, the air conditioner according to the second to fourth embodiments may be configured to have the power line and the signal line. The air conditioner of Embodiment 5 may be configured to also use a power line.

  As described above, the air conditioner according to the present invention is useful as an air conditioner having a configuration including a pipe for circulating a refrigerant between an indoor unit and an outdoor unit.

  1, 1b indoor unit, 2 outdoor unit, 3 internal / external power supply line, 4 internal / external signal line, 5 piping, 6, 6A, 6B, 6a, 6b light emitting unit, 7 light emitting power supply unit, 8 light emitting control unit, 9 light emitting unit, 10 , 10A, 10B, 10a, 10b Light receiving unit, 11 Light receiving power supply unit, 12 Light receiving control unit, 13 Light receiving unit, 14 Power line, 15 Signal line, 16 Light shielding tube, 21 Light emitting power storage unit, 22 Light receiving power storage unit, 23 Wireless communication 24, a wireless communication unit for light emission, 25 a wireless communication unit for light reception.

Claims (6)

An air conditioner including a pipe for circulating a refrigerant between an indoor unit and an outdoor unit,
A light emitting unit attached to the pipe;
A light receiving unit that is attached to the pipe so as to be able to receive light emitted from the light emitting unit, and that detects abnormality of the pipe based on an intensity change amount of the received light;
Equipped with a,
The light emitting unit and the light receiving unit include a power storage unit for continuing power supply to each part in the unit even when power supply from the outside is stopped. When power is supplied from the outside, power is supplied from the outside. Performs operation using electric power, and operates using electric power stored in the power storage unit when power supply from the outside is stopped.
An air conditioner characterized by that. Light shielding means for preventing the light receiving unit from receiving light other than light emitted from the light emitting unit;
The air conditioner according to claim 1, comprising:   The air conditioner according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a plurality of pairs of the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit wirelessly communicate with the indoor unit. The signal line for the light emitting unit to communicate with the indoor unit, the signal line for the light receiving unit to communicate with the indoor unit, and the signal line for the outdoor unit to communicate with the indoor unit are combined. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein The light emitting unit, the light receiving unit and the outdoor unit operate by receiving power supply from the indoor unit,
A power supply line for the light emitting unit to receive power supply from the indoor unit, a power supply line for the light receiving unit to receive power supply from the indoor unit, and a power supply for the outdoor unit to receive power supply from the indoor unit The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the air conditioner is also used as a wire.

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