Heat engine

Abstract

To provide a technology capable of performing installation work of a thermal apparatus more easily.SOLUTION: A thermal apparatus disclosed herein includes a heating part, a control part, and a communication part. The control part can set one of a plurality of operation specifications including a single operation specification and a connection operation specification. The control part can set one of a plurality of operation modes including a master unit operation mode and a slave unit operation mode. The control part transmits a first signal in the case where the master unit operation mode is set as the operation mode. The control part transmits a second signal in the case where the slave unit operation mode is set as the operation mode. In the case where the single operation specification is set as the operation mode, and in the case where the first signal is received and the second signal is transmitted via the communication part, or in the case where the first signal is transmitted and the second signal is received via the communication part, the control part switches the set operation specification into the connection operation specification.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The technology disclosed in this specification relates to thermal equipment.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a thermal equipment. The thermal equipment includes a heating unit, a control unit for controlling the heating unit, and a communication unit capable of communicating with other thermal equipment. The control unit can set, as an operation specification of the thermal equipment, one of a plurality of operation specifications including a single operation specification in which the thermal equipment operates alone and a linked operation specification in which the thermal equipment operates in cooperation with the other thermal equipment. The control unit can set, as an operation mode of the thermal equipment, one of a plurality of operation modes including a master unit operation mode mainly performing management of the other thermal equipment and a slave unit operation mode subordinate to management by the other thermal equipment.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The thermal equipment of Patent Document 1 is provided with a setting operation unit, and the set operation specification is switched according to an operation on the setting operation unit. In such a configuration, when it is desired to operate the thermal equipment and other thermal equipment in a linked operation specification, an operator performing the installation work of the thermal equipment needs to operate the setting operation unit in each thermal equipment to set the linked operation specification as the operation specification, and the labor of the work has been large. This specification provides a technology capable of more easily performing the installation work of the thermal equipment.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The heat equipment disclosed in this specification may include a heating unit, a control unit for controlling the heating unit, and a communication unit capable of communicating with other heat equipment. The control unit may be able to set, as the operation specification of the heat equipment, one of a plurality of operation specifications including a single operation specification in which the heat equipment operates alone and a linked operation specification in which the heat equipment operates in cooperation with the other heat equipment. The control unit may be able to set, as the operation mode of the heat equipment, one of a plurality of operation modes including a master unit operation mode mainly performing management of the other heat equipment and a slave unit operation mode subordinate to management by the other heat equipment. When the master unit operation mode is set as the operation mode, the control unit may transmit a first signal via the communication unit regardless of the set operation specification. When the slave unit operation mode is set as the operation mode, the control unit may transmit a second signal via the communication unit regardless of the set operation specification. When the single operation specification is set as the operation specification, if the control unit receives the first signal and transmits the second signal via the communication unit, or if the control unit transmits the first signal and receives the second signal via the communication unit, the set operation specification may be switched to the linked operation specification.

[0006] According to the above configuration, the operation specification of the heat equipment can be automatically switched based on communication with other heat equipment via the communication unit. By adopting such a configuration, the installation work of the heat equipment can be performed more easily.

[0007] In the heat equipment, the first signal may be a signal having an active value at a first timing, and the second signal may be a signal having an active value at a second timing that is temporally offset from the first timing.

[0008] According to the above configuration, since the timing at which the first signal is transmitted and received and the timing at which the second signal is transmitted and received are offset, the first signal and the second signal can be transmitted and received on the same communication line.

[0009] The heat device may further include a non-volatile memory unit that stores a first flag indicating one of the plurality of operation specifications. When the power is turned on, the control unit may set the operation specification based on the first flag stored in the non-volatile memory unit. When switching the set operation specification, the control unit may update the first flag stored in the non-volatile memory unit.

[0010] According to the above configuration, the first flag indicating the operation specification set based on communication with other heat devices via the communication unit can be stored in the non-volatile memory unit. Therefore, for example, even when the power supply to the heat device is interrupted, when the power supply to the heat device is restored, the heat device can be operated with the previously set operation specification.

[0011] In the heat device, the non-volatile memory unit may further store a second flag indicating one of the plurality of operation modes. The heat device may further include a setting input unit capable of inputting a switching operation for switching the operation mode. When the switching operation is input to the setting input unit, the control unit may update the second flag stored in the non-volatile memory unit.

[0012] According to the above configuration, an operator can manually switch the operation mode indicated by the second flag stored in the non-volatile memory unit.

[0013] In the heat device, when the power is turned on, the control unit may set the operation mode based on the second flag stored in the non-volatile memory unit.

[0014] According to the above configuration, for example, when it is desired to operate a heat device operating in a single operation specification and another heat device in a combined operation specification, by performing a switching operation on each setting input unit, the operation mode indicated by the second flag stored in the non-volatile memory unit of the heat device is set as the master device operation mode (or slave device operation mode), and the operation mode indicated by the second flag stored in the non-volatile memory unit of another heat device is set as the slave device operation mode (or master device operation mode). By turning off and then turning on the power supplies of the heat device and the other heat device, the respective operation specifications can be easily switched to the combined operation specification.

[0015] In the heat device, when the combined operation specification is set as the operation specification, the control unit may periodically update the set operation mode based on the second flag stored in the non-volatile memory unit.

[0016] According to the above configuration, when the combined operation specification is set, even if the power supply of the heat device is not turned off and then turned on, the switching of the operation mode set manually by the operator can be promptly reflected.

[0017] In the heat device, when the power is turned on, if the operation specification set based on the first flag stored in the non-volatile memory unit is the combined operation specification, the control unit may set the operation mode based on the second flag stored in the non-volatile memory unit. If the operation specification set based on the first flag stored in the non-volatile memory unit is the single operation specification, the control unit may randomly set the operation mode regardless of the content of the second flag stored in the non-volatile memory unit. When the control unit switches the set operation specification to the combined operation specification, it may update both the first flag and the second flag stored in the non-volatile memory unit.

[0018] According to the above configuration, when the first flag stored in the non-volatile memory unit indicates the single operation specification at power-on, the operation mode is set randomly. Therefore, as a result of the operation mode being set randomly, when the operation mode of the thermal device and the operation mode of other thermal devices are set to be different from each other, the operation specifications of the thermal device and other thermal devices can be switched to the combined operation specification. Further, as a result of the operation mode being set randomly, even when the operation mode of the thermal device and the operation mode of other thermal devices are set to be the same, until the operation mode of the thermal device and the operation mode of other thermal devices are set to be different, by repeatedly turning off and then turning on the power of the thermal device and other thermal devices, the operation specifications of the thermal device and other thermal devices can be switched to the combined operation specification. According to the above configuration, the operation specifications of the thermal device and other thermal devices can be easily switched to the combined operation specification.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0019]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0020] (Embodiment 1) As shown in FIG. 1, the heat equipment system 2 of this embodiment includes a first heat equipment 4a and a second heat equipment 4b. In this embodiment, both the first heat equipment 4a and the second heat equipment 4b are water heaters for heating water.

[0021] The first heat equipment 4a includes a water inlet 6a, a hot water outlet 8a, a burner 10a, a control circuit board 12a, and a remote controller 14a. The first heat equipment 4a heats the water flowing in from the water inlet 6a to a desired temperature by the burner 10a and discharges it to the hot water outlet 8a. Although not shown, the first heat equipment 4a further includes various components such as a water supply temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the water flowing in from the water inlet 6a, a hot water temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the water flowing out from the hot water outlet 8a, and a water supply servo for adjusting the flow rate of the water flowing in from the water inlet 6a. The control circuit board 12a controls the operations of the various components of the first heat equipment 4a. The control circuit board 12a includes a microcomputer 16a having a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc., a non-volatile memory 18a having an EEPROM, etc., a setting display unit 20a for displaying information related to the settings of the first heat equipment 4a, a setting input unit 22a for receiving inputs related to the settings of the first heat equipment 4a by an operator, a communication IF 26a that can be electrically connected to a communication cable 24, and a remote controller IF 28a that can be electrically connected to the remote controller 14a. The remote controller 14a includes a remote controller display unit 30a for displaying information related to the first heat equipment 4a and a remote controller input unit 32a for receiving inputs of operations on the first heat equipment 4a by a user.

[0022] The second heat appliance 4b has the same configuration as the first heat appliance 4a. The second heat appliance 4b includes a water inlet 6b, a hot water outlet 8b, a burner 10b, a control circuit board 12b, and a remote controller 14b. The control circuit board 12b includes a microcomputer 16b, a memory 18b, a setting display section 20b, a setting input section 22b, a communication IF 26b, and a remote controller IF 28b. The remote controller 14b includes a remote controller display section 30b and a remote controller input section 32b. Since each component of the second heat appliance 4b is the same as each component of the first heat appliance 4a, detailed description thereof is omitted. In the following description, the first heat appliance 4a and the second heat appliance 4b are collectively referred to simply as the heat appliance 4.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 2, the first heat appliance 4a and the second heat appliance 4b can each be used independently. For example, the first heat appliance 4a can heat the water supplied from the water supply pipe 34 and send it out to the hot water supply pipe 36 by connecting the water supply pipe 34 to the water inlet 6a and the hot water supply pipe 36 to the hot water outlet 8a. Similarly, the second heat appliance 4b can heat the water supplied from the water supply pipe 34 and supply it to the hot water supply pipe 36 by connecting the water supply pipe 34 to the water inlet 6b and the hot water supply pipe 36 to the hot water outlet 8b. In the following, as shown in FIG. 2, the operation mode in which the first heat appliance 4a or the second heat appliance 4b is used independently is also referred to as the independent operation mode.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 1, the first heat device 4a and the second heat device 4b can also be used in a connected manner. For example, a first water supply pipe 34a branched from the water supply pipe 34 is connected to the water supply port 6a of the first heat device 4a, and a second water supply pipe 34b branched from the water supply pipe 34 is connected to the water supply port 6b of the second heat device 4b. Also, a first hot water supply pipe 36a that merges into the hot water supply pipe 36 is connected to the hot water supply port 8a of the first heat device 4a, and a second hot water supply pipe 36b that merges into the hot water supply pipe 36 is connected to the hot water supply port 8b of the second heat device 4b. Further, the control circuit board 12a of the first heat device 4a and the control circuit board 12b of the second heat device 4b are electrically connected via a communication cable 24 so as to be capable of two-way communication. In this case, the water supplied from the water supply pipe 34 is heated by the first heat device 4a and / or the second heat device 4b and supplied to the hot water supply pipe 36. Hereinafter, as shown in FIG. 1, the operation specification in which the first heat device 4a and the second heat device 4b are used in a connected manner is also referred to as a connected operation specification. In the connected operation specification, one of the heat devices 4 (for example, the first heat device 4a) serves as a master unit that mainly performs the overall management of the heat device system 2, and the other heat device 4 (for example, the second heat device 4b) serves as a slave unit that subordinates to the management by the master unit. Hereinafter, the operation mode in which the first heat device 4a or the second heat device 4b operates as a master unit is also referred to as a master unit operation mode, and the operation mode in which the first heat device 4a or the second heat device 4b operates as a slave unit is also referred to as a slave unit operation mode.

[0025] (Setting Switching of Heat Device) As described above, since the first heat device 4a and the second heat device 4b have the same configuration, hereinafter, taking the first heat device 4a as an example, the switching of settings between the single operation specification and the connected operation specification, and the switching of settings between the master unit operation mode and the slave unit operation mode will be described.

[0026] In the first heat machine 4a, a connection / single flag and a master / slave flag are stored in the memory 18a. The connection / single flag is a flag for identifying the single operation specification and the connection operation specification. The master / slave flag is a flag for identifying the master operation mode and the slave operation mode. When the first heat machine 4a is shipped from the factory, the connection / single flag in the memory 18a indicates the single operation specification, and the master / slave flag in the memory 18a indicates the master operation mode.

[0027] The setting display unit 20a includes, for example, a 7-segment LED and can display the content of the connection / single flag and the content of the master / slave flag stored in the memory 18a, respectively. The setting input unit 22a includes, for example, a push switch that can accept a switching operation for switching the content of the master / slave flag stored in the memory 18a.

[0028] The master / slave flag stored in the memory 18a switches between the master operation mode and the slave operation mode each time a switching operation is performed on the setting input unit 22a while the first heat machine 4a is powered on. That is, when the first heat machine 4a is powered on and the master / slave flag stored in the memory 18a is in the master operation mode, if a switching operation is performed on the setting input unit 22a, the master / slave flag stored in the memory 18a is updated to the slave operation mode. Similarly, when the first heat machine 4a is powered on and the master / slave flag stored in the memory 18a is in the slave operation mode, if a switching operation is performed on the setting input unit 22a, the master / slave flag stored in the memory 18a is updated to the master operation mode.

[0029] The connection / single flag stored in the memory 18a cannot be switched by the setting input unit 22a, and it switches between the single operation specification and the connection operation specification according to the signal communication status via the communication IF 26a while the first heat device 4a is powered on. Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the switching between the single operation specification and the connection operation specification in the first heat device 4a will be described. When the power is turned on for the first heat device 4a, the microcomputer 16a of the first heat device 4a starts the process of FIG. 3.

[0030] In S2, the microcomputer 16a reads out the connection / single flag and the content of the master / slave flag from the memory 18a respectively, and sets the operation specification and operation mode of the first heat device 4a.

[0031] In S4, the microcomputer 16a determines whether the operation specification of the first heat device 4a is the connection operation specification. If it is the single operation specification (NO), the process proceeds to S6.

[0032] In S6, the microcomputer 16a determines whether the operation mode of the first heat device 4a is the master operation mode. If it is the master operation mode (YES), the process proceeds to S8.

[0033] In S8, the microcomputer 16a transmits the first signal via the communication IF 26a.

[0034] In S10, the microcomputer 16a determines whether to receive a second signal via the communication IF 26a. As shown in FIG. 5, in the heating equipment system 2 of this embodiment, the heating equipment 4 in the master operation mode transmits a first signal having an active value at the first timing t1 on the communication cable 24, and the heating equipment 4 in the slave operation mode transmits a second signal having an active value at the second timing t2 that is later in time than the first timing t1 on the communication cable 24. Therefore, when the first heating equipment 4a is in the master operation mode and is connected to another heating equipment 4 (for example, the second heating equipment 4b) via the communication cable 24, and the other heating equipment 4 is in the slave operation mode, when the first heating equipment 4a transmits the first signal, it receives the second signal from the other heating equipment 4, and communication between the master and the slave is established. Therefore, when the second signal is received in S10 (in the case of YES), the microcomputer 16a determines that the first heating equipment 4a is in the master operation mode, is connected to another heating equipment 4 (for example, the second heating equipment 4b) via the communication cable 24, and the other heating equipment 4 is in the slave operation mode, so it determines that operation in the linked operation specification is possible, and the process proceeds to S12.

[0035] In S12, the microcomputer 16a updates the content of the link / standalone flag stored in the memory 18a to the linked operation specification.

[0036] In S14, the microcomputer 16a operates the first heating equipment 4a in the linked operation specification. At this time, the microcomputer 16a operates the first heating equipment 4a in the master operation mode. After S14, the process proceeds to S26 (see FIG. 4).

[0037] In S6, if it is in the slave operation mode (in the case of NO), the process proceeds to S16. In S16, the microcomputer 16a determines whether to receive the first signal via the communication IF 26a. When the first signal is received (in the case of YES), the microcomputer 16a determines that the first heating equipment 4a is in the slave operation mode, is connected to another heating equipment 4 (for example, the second heating equipment 4b) via the communication cable 24, and the other heating equipment 4 is in the master operation mode, so it determines that operation in the linked operation specification is possible, and the process proceeds to S18.

[0038] In S18, the microcomputer 16a transmits a second signal via the communication IF 26a.

[0039] In S20, the microcomputer 16a updates the content of the connection / standalone flag stored in the memory 18a to the connection operation specification.

[0040] In S22, the microcomputer 16a operates the first heat device 4a according to the connection operation specification. At this time, the microcomputer 16a operates the first heat device 4a in the slave operation mode. After S22, the process proceeds to S26 (see FIG. 4).

[0041] If the second signal is not received in S10 (NO), the microcomputer 16a determines whether another heat device 4 (for example, the second heat device 4b) is not properly connected via the communication cable 24, or whether another heat device 4 (for example, the second heat device 4b) is in the same master operation mode as the first heat device 4a, so that the operation according to the connection operation specification is impossible, and the process proceeds to S24. Also, if the first signal is not received in S16 (NO), the microcomputer 16a determines whether another heat device 4 (for example, the second heat device 4b) is not properly connected via the communication cable 24, or whether another heat device 4 (for example, the second heat device 4b) is in the same slave operation mode as the first heat device 4a, so that the operation according to the connection operation specification is impossible, and the process proceeds to S24.

[0042] In S24, the microcomputer 16a operates the first heat device 4a according to the standalone operation specification. After S24, the process returns to S6.

[0043] In the process of Figure 3, while the first heat device 4a is operating in the single operation mode, the microcomputer 16a does not newly read the contents of the connection / single flag and the master / slave flag stored in the memory 18a. Therefore, during the execution of the process in Figure 3, even if the operator performs a switching operation on the setting input unit 22a and the contents of the master / slave flag stored in the memory 18a are updated, the updated contents of the master / slave flag are not reflected in the process of Figure 3. In the process of Figure 3, whether the operation mode of another heat device 4 (for example, the second heat device 4b) connected via the communication cable 24 is switched and communication is established between the master and the slave, or the power of the first heat device 4a is cut off and then re-supplied, until the contents of the connection / single flag and the master / slave flag stored in the memory 18a are newly read in the process of S2, the first heat device 4a continues to execute the operation in the single operation mode.

[0044] In S4, when it is the connection operation mode (YES), the process proceeds to S26 in Figure 4. In S26, the microcomputer 16a determines whether the operation mode of the first heat device 4a is the master operation mode. If it is the master operation mode (YES), the process proceeds to S28.

[0045] In S28, the microcomputer 16a transmits the first signal via the communication IF 26a.

[0046] In S30, the microcomputer 16a determines whether to receive the second signal via the communication IF 26a. If the second signal is received (YES), the microcomputer 16a determines that since the first heat device 4a is in the master operation mode, another heat device 4 (for example, the second heat device 4b) is connected via the communication cable 24, and the other heat device 4 is in the slave operation mode, the operation in the connection operation mode is possible, and the process proceeds to S32.

[0047] In S32, the microcomputer 16a operates the first heat device 4a according to the linked operation specification. At this time, the microcomputer 16a operates the first heat device 4a in the master unit operation mode. Before executing the process of S32, if the error flag stored in the memory 18a is on and an error is notified via the setting display unit 20a by the process of S42 or S50 described later, in S32, the microcomputer 16a turns off the error flag stored in the memory 18a and terminates the error notification via the setting display unit 20a.

[0048] In S34, the microcomputer 16a newly reads the content of the master / slave flag from the memory 18a and newly specifies the operation mode of the first heat device 4a. After S34, the process returns to S26.

[0049] In S26, when it is in the slave unit operation mode (NO), the process proceeds to S36. In S36, the microcomputer 16a determines whether to receive the first signal via the communication IF 26a. When the first signal is received (YES), the microcomputer 16a determines that the first heat device 4a is in the slave unit operation mode, another heat device 4 (for example, the second heat device 4b) is connected via the communication cable 24, and another heat device 4 is in the master unit operation mode, so it is possible to operate according to the linked operation specification, and the process proceeds to S38.

[0050] In S38, the microcomputer 16a transmits the second signal via the communication IF 26a.

[0051] In S40, the microcomputer 16a operates the first heat device 4a according to the linked operation specification. At this time, the microcomputer 16a operates the first heat device 4a in the slave unit operation mode. Before executing the process of S40, if the error flag stored in the memory 18a is on and an error is notified via the setting display unit 20a by the process of S42 or S50 described later, in S40, the microcomputer 16a turns off the error flag stored in the memory 18a and terminates the error notification via the setting display unit 20a. After S40, the process proceeds to S34.

[0052] When the second signal is not received in S30 (in the case of NO), the microcomputer 16a determines that another heating device 4 (for example, the second heating device 4b) is not properly connected via the communication cable 24, or that another heating device 4 (for example, the second heating device 4b) is in the same master unit operation mode as the first heating device 4a, so the operation in the connected operation specification is impossible, and the process proceeds to S42.

[0053] In S42, the microcomputer 16a turns on the error flag stored in the memory 18a and notifies the error via the setting display unit 20a.

[0054] In S44, the microcomputer 16a determines whether the elapsed time since the error flag in the memory 18a was turned on has reached a predetermined time (for example, 10 minutes). If the elapsed time has not reached the predetermined time (in the case of NO), the process proceeds to S34. If the elapsed time has reached the predetermined time (in the case of YES), the process proceeds to S46.

[0055] In S46, the microcomputer 16a updates the connection / standalone flag stored in the memory 18a to the standalone operation specification.

[0056] In S48, the microcomputer 16a turns off the error flag stored in the memory 18a and ends the error notification via the setting display unit 20a. After S48, the process returns to S4 in FIG. 3.

[0057] When the first signal is not received in S36 (in the case of NO), the microcomputer 16a determines that another heating device 4 (for example, the second heating device 4b) is not properly connected via the communication cable 24, or that another heating device 4 (for example, the second heating device 4b) is in the same slave unit operation mode as the first heating device 4a, so the operation in the connected operation specification is impossible, and the process proceeds to S50.

[0058] In S50, the microcomputer 16a turns on the error flag stored in the memory 18a and notifies the error via the setting display unit 20a. After S50, the process proceeds to S34.

[0059] During the execution of the process in FIG. 4, each time the microcomputer 16a executes the process of S34, it newly reads the content of the master / slave flag stored in the memory 18a. Therefore, during the execution of the process in FIG. 4, if an operator performs a switching operation on the setting input unit 22a and the content of the master / slave flag stored in the memory 18a is updated, the updated content of the master / slave flag will be reflected in the process of FIG. 4.

[0060] (Embodiment 2) The heating equipment system 2 of this embodiment has substantially the same configuration as the heating equipment system 2 of Embodiment 1. Hereinafter, the differences between the heating equipment system 2 of this embodiment and the heating equipment system 2 of Embodiment 1 will be described.

[0061] In the heating equipment system 2 of this embodiment, when the power is turned on to the first heating equipment 4a, the microcomputer 16a of the first heating equipment 4a executes the processes of FIGS. 6 and 7 instead of the processes of FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0062] In S52 of FIG. 6, the microcomputer 16a reads the content of the connection / single flag from the memory 18a and sets the operation specification of the first heating equipment 4a.

[0063] In S54, the microcomputer 16a determines whether the operation specification of the first heating equipment 4a is a combined operation specification. If it is a single operation specification (in the case of NO), the process proceeds to S56.

[0064] In S56, regardless of the content of the master / slave flag stored in the memory 18a, the microcomputer 16a randomly sets the operation mode. For example, the microcomputer 16a makes a built-in timer (not shown) run freely and sets the operation mode to either the master operation mode or the slave operation mode based on the timer value at the time of executing the process of S56.

[0065] In S58, the microcomputer 16a determines whether the operation mode of the first heating equipment 4a is the master operation mode. If it is the master operation mode (in the case of YES), the process proceeds to S60.

[0066] In S60, the microcomputer 16a transmits a first signal via the communication IF 26a.

[0067] In S62, the microcomputer 16a determines whether to receive a second signal via the communication IF 26a. When the second signal is received (YES), the microcomputer 16a determines that the first heating device 4a is in the master operation mode, another heating device 4 (for example, the second heating device 4b) is connected via the communication cable 24, and another heating device 4 is in the slave operation mode, so it is possible to operate in the connection operation specification, and the process proceeds to S64.

[0068] In S64, the microcomputer 16a updates the content of the connection / single flag stored in the memory 18a to the connection operation specification, and updates the content of the master / slave flag stored in the memory 18a to the master operation mode.

[0069] In S66, the microcomputer 16a operates the first heating device 4a in the connection operation specification. At this time, the microcomputer 16a operates the first heating device 4a in the master operation mode. After S66, the process proceeds to S78 (see FIG. 7).

[0070] In S58, when it is in the slave operation mode (NO), the process proceeds to S68. In S68, the microcomputer 16a determines whether to receive a first signal via the communication IF 26a. When the first signal is received (YES), the microcomputer 16a determines that the first heating device 4a is in the slave operation mode, another heating device 4 (for example, the second heating device 4b) is connected via the communication cable 24, and another heating device 4 is in the master operation mode, so it is possible to operate in the connection operation specification, and the process proceeds to S70.

[0071] In S70, the microcomputer 16a transmits a second signal via the communication IF 26a.

[0072] In S72, the microcomputer 16a updates the content of the connection / single flag stored in the memory 18a to the connection operation specification, and updates the content of the master / slave flag stored in the memory 18a to the slave operation mode.

[0073] In S74, the microcomputer 16a operates the first heating device 4a according to the connection operation specification. At this time, the microcomputer 16a operates the first heating device 4a in the slave operation mode. After S74, the process proceeds to S78 (see FIG. 7).

[0074] When the second signal is not received in S62 (NO case), the microcomputer 16a determines that it is impossible to operate in the connection operation specification because another heating device 4 (for example, the second heating device 4b) is not properly connected via the communication cable 24, or the heating device 4 (for example, the second heating device 4b) is in the same master operation mode as the first heating device 4a, and the process proceeds to S76. Also, when the first signal is not received in S68 (NO case), the microcomputer 16a determines that it is impossible to operate in the connection operation specification because another heating device 4 (for example, the second heating device 4b) is not properly connected via the communication cable 24, or the other heating device 4 (for example, the second heating device 4b) is in the same slave operation mode as the first heating device 4a, and the process proceeds to S76.

[0075] In S76, the microcomputer 16a operates the first heating device 4a in the single operation specification. After S76, the process returns to S56.

[0076] In the process of FIG. 6, while the first heat device 4a is operating in the single operation specification, each time the microcomputer 16a executes the process of S56, it repeatedly and randomly sets the operation mode of the first heat device 4a. Therefore, during the execution of the process of FIG. 6, if another heat device 4 (for example, the second heat device 4b) is connected via the communication cable 24 and communication between the master device and the slave device is established between the first heat device 4a and the other heat device 4 (for example, the second heat device 4b), the microcomputer 16a updates the content of the connection / single flag stored in the memory 18a to the connection operation specification, updates the content of the master / slave flag stored in the memory 18a to the operation mode of the first heat device 4a set at that time, and then switches from the single operation specification to the connection operation specification. Also, during the execution of the process of FIG. 6, if another heat device 4 (for example, the second heat device 4b) is not normally connected via the communication cable 24, the first heat device 4a continues to execute the operation in the single operation specification.

[0077] The processes of S78 - S102 shown in FIG. 7 are the same as the processes of S26 - S50 shown in FIG. 4. In the process shown in FIG. 7, after S100, the process returns to S54 of FIG. 6.

[0078] During the execution of the process in FIG. 7, each time the microcomputer 16a executes the process of S86, it newly reads the content of the master / slave flag stored in the memory 18a. Therefore, during the execution of the process in FIG. 7, if an operator performs a switching operation on the setting input unit 22a and the content of the master / slave flag stored in the memory 18a is updated, the updated content of the master / slave flag is reflected in the process of FIG. 7. Accordingly, during the execution of the process in FIG. 7, if an operator performs a switching operation on the setting input unit 22a or if the connection with another heating device 4 (for example, the second heating device 4b) via the communication cable 24 is disconnected, an error notification is issued. When the operation mode at the time of error notification is the master operation mode, the operation mode is switched from the combined operation specification to the independent operation specification. After the error is cleared, the process of FIG. 6 is executed again. That is, the first heating device 4a randomly sets either the master operation mode or the slave operation mode again. When communication is established between the master and the slave with another heating device 4 (for example, the second heating device 4b), the operation mode is switched back from the independent connection specification to the combined operation specification. When the operation mode at the time of error notification is the slave operation mode, the process of FIG. 7 is continued without switching from the combined operation specification to the independent operation specification. When communication is established between the master and the slave with another heating device 4 (for example, the second heating device 4b), the error is cleared.

[0079] As described above, in Embodiments 1 and 2, the first heat device 4a (an example of a heat device) includes a burner 10a (an example of a heating unit), a microcomputer 16a (an example of a control unit) that controls the burner 10a, and a communication IF 26a (an example of a communication unit) that can communicate with a second heat device 4b (an example of another heat device). The microcomputer 16a can set, as an operation specification of the first heat device 4a, one of a plurality of operation specifications including a stand-alone operation specification in which the first heat device 4a operates alone and a linked operation specification in which the first heat device 4a operates in cooperation with the second heat device 4b. The microcomputer 16a can set, as an operation mode of the first heat device 4a, one of a plurality of operation modes including a master unit operation mode that mainly manages the second heat device 4b and a slave unit operation mode that subordinates to the management by the second heat device 4b. When the master unit operation mode is set as the operation mode, the microcomputer 16a transmits a first signal via the communication IF 26a regardless of the set operation specification. When the slave unit operation mode is set as the operation mode, the microcomputer 16a transmits a second signal via the communication IF 26a regardless of the set operation specification. When the stand-alone operation specification is set as the operation specification, the microcomputer 16a switches the set operation specification to the linked operation specification when it receives the first signal and transmits the second signal via the communication IF 26a, or when it transmits the first signal and receives the second signal via the communication IF 26a.

[0080] According to the above configuration, the operation specification of the first heat device 4a can be automatically switched based on communication with the second heat device 4b via the communication IF 26a. By adopting such a configuration, the installation work of the first heat device 4a can be performed more easily.

[0081] In Embodiments 1 and 2, the first signal is a signal having an active value at a first timing t1, and the second signal is a signal having an active value at a second timing t2 that is temporally offset from the first timing t1.

[0082] According to the above configuration, since the timing at which the first signal is transmitted and received is offset from the timing at which the second signal is transmitted and received, the first signal and the second signal can be transmitted and received on the same communication line.

[0083] In Embodiments 1 and 2, the first heat device 4a further includes a memory 18a (an example of a non-volatile storage unit) that stores a first flag indicating one of a plurality of operation specifications. When the power is turned on, the microcomputer 16a sets the operation specification based on the connection / stand-alone flag (an example of the first flag) stored in the memory 18a. When switching the set operation specification, the microcomputer 16a updates the connection / stand-alone flag stored in the memory 18a.

[0084] According to the above configuration, the connection / stand-alone flag indicating the operation specification set based on the communication with the second heat device 4b via the communication IF 26a can be stored in the memory 18a. Therefore, for example, even when the power supply to the first heat device 4a is cut off, when the power supply to the first heat device 4a is restored, the first heat device 4a can be operated in the previously set operation specification.

[0085] In Embodiments 1 and 2, the memory 18a further stores a master / slave flag (an example of the second flag) indicating one of a plurality of operation modes. The first heat device 4a further includes a setting input unit 22a capable of inputting a switching operation for switching the operation mode. When a switching operation is input to the setting input unit 22a, the microcomputer 16a updates the master / slave flag stored in the memory 18a.

[0086] According to the above configuration, the operator can manually switch the operation mode indicated by the master / slave flag stored in the memory 18a.

[0087] In Embodiment 1, when the power is turned on, the microcomputer 16a sets the operation mode based on the master / slave flag stored in the memory 18a.

[0088] According to the above configuration, for example, when it is desired to operate the first heat device 4a and the second heat device 4b, which are each operating in a single operation specification, in a combined operation specification, by switching operations to the respective setting input units 22a and 22b, the operation mode indicated by the master / slave flag stored in the memory 18a of the first heat device 4a is set as the master operation mode (or slave operation mode), and the operation mode indicated by the master / slave flag stored in the memory 18b of the second heat device 4b is set as the slave operation mode (or master operation mode). By turning off and then turning on the power supplies of the first heat device 4a and the second heat device 4b, the respective operation specifications can be easily switched to the combined operation specification.

[0089] In the first embodiment, when the combined operation specification is set as the operation specification, the microcomputer 16a periodically updates the set operation mode based on the master / slave flag stored in the memory 18a.

[0090] According to the above configuration, when the combined operation specification is set, even without turning off and then turning on the power supply of the first heat device 4a, the switching of the operation mode set manually by the operator can be promptly reflected.

[0091] In the second embodiment, when the power is turned on, if the operation specification set based on the combined / single flag stored in the memory 18a is the combined operation specification, the microcomputer 16a sets the operation mode based on the master / slave flag stored in the memory 18a. If the operation specification set based on the combined / single flag stored in the memory 18a is the single operation specification, the operation mode is set randomly regardless of the content of the master / slave flag stored in the memory 18a. When the microcomputer 16a switches the set operation specification to the combined operation specification, it updates both the combined / single flag and the master / slave flag stored in the memory 18a.

[0092] According to the above configuration, when the connection / standalone flag stored in the memory 18a indicates the standalone operation specification at power-on, the operation mode is set randomly. Therefore, as a result of the operation mode being set randomly, when the operation modes of the first heat device 4a and the second heat device 4b are set to be different from each other, the operation specifications of each of the first heat device 4a and the second heat device 4b can be switched to the combined operation specification. Also, as a result of the operation mode being set randomly, even when the operation modes of the first heat device 4a and the second heat device 4b are set to be the same, until the operation modes of the first heat device 4a and the second heat device 4b are set to be different, by repeatedly turning off and then turning on the power supplies of the first heat device 4a and the second heat device 4b, the operation specifications of each of the first heat device 4a and the second heat device 4b can be switched to the combined operation specification. According to the above configuration, the operation specifications of each of the first heat device 4a and the second heat device 4b can be easily switched to the combined operation specification.

[0093] (Modification example) In the above embodiment, between when an error is notified at S42 in FIG. 4 (or S94 in FIG. 7) and when the error is cleared at S48 in FIG. 4 (or S100 in FIG. 7), the microcomputer 16a may stop the operation of the first heat device 4a, for example, by extinguishing the burner 10a and / or setting the flow rate of the water volume servo to zero.

[0094] In the above embodiment, when it is NO at S36 in FIG. 4 (or NO at S88 in FIG. 7), the process may proceed to S42 in FIG. 4 (or S94 in FIG. 7). That is, when the operation mode at the time of error notification is the slave unit operation mode, the same processing as when the operation mode at the time of error notification is the master unit operation mode may be executed.

[0095] In the above-described embodiment, the configuration has been described in which the first signal transmitted by the heat device 4 in the master unit operation mode is temporally ahead, and the second signal transmitted by the heat device 4 in the slave unit operation mode is temporally delayed. Differently, the second signal transmitted by the heat device 4 in the slave unit operation mode may be temporally ahead, and the first signal transmitted by the heat device 4 in the master unit operation mode may be temporally delayed.

[0096] In the above-described embodiment, the configuration has been described in which the communication IF 26a of the first heat device 4a and the communication IF 26b of the second heat device 4b can communicate with each other by wired communication via the communication cable 24. Differently, the communication IF 26a of the first heat device 4a and the communication IF 26b of the second heat device 4b may be configured to be able to communicate with each other by wireless communication such as infrared communication, Bluetooth (registered trademark) communication, or Wi-Fi (registered trademark) communication.

[0097] In the above-described embodiment, the configuration has been described in which the setting display units 20a, 20b and the setting input units 22a, 22b are provided on the control circuit boards 12a, 12b of the first heat device 4a and the second heat device 4b. Differently, the setting display units 20a, 20b and the setting input units 22a, 22b may be provided on the remote controllers 14a, 14b of the first heat device 4a and the second heat device 4b.

[0098] In the above-described embodiment, the configuration has been described in which the first heat device 4a and the second heat device 4b include the burners 10a, 10b that use gas as the heating units. Differently, the first heat device 4a and / or the second heat device 4b may be configured to include a heater that uses electricity as the heating unit.

[0099] In the above-described embodiment, the configuration has been described in which the first heat device 4a and the second heat device 4b are water heaters that heat water. Differently, the first heat device 4a and the second heat device 4b may be configured to be heaters that heat indoor air.

[0100] Although each of the above embodiments has been described in detail, these are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the claims. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications and changes to the specific examples illustrated above. The technical elements described in this specification or the drawings exhibit technical utility either alone or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. In addition, the technology illustrated in this specification or the drawings can achieve multiple objectives simultaneously, and achieving one of these objectives itself has technical utility.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0101] 2: Heat equipment system 4: Heat equipment 4a: First heat equipment 4b: Second heat equipment 6a: Water inlet 6b: Water inlet 8a: Hot water outlet 8b: Hot water outlet 10a: Burner 10b: Burner 12a: Control circuit board 12b: Control circuit board 14a: Remote control 14b: Remote control 16a: Microcomputer 16b: Microcomputer 18a: Memory 18b: Memory 20a: Setting display section 20b: Setting display section 22a: Setting input section 22b: Setting input section 24: Communication cable 26a: Communication IF 26b: Communication IF 28a: Remote control IF 28b: Remote control IF 30a: Remote control display section 30b: Remote control display section 32a: Remote control input section 32b: Remote control input section 34: Water supply pipe 34a: First water supply pipe 34b: Second water supply pipe 36: Hot water supply pipe 36a: First hot water supply pipe 36b: Second hot water supply pipe

Claims

1. A heat device, comprising a heating unit, a control unit for controlling the heating unit, and a communication unit capable of communicating with other heat devices, wherein the control unit can set, as an operation specification of the heat device, one of a plurality of operation specifications including a single operation specification in which the heat device operates alone and a linked operation specification in which the heat device operates in cooperation with the other heat devices, the control unit can set, as an operation mode of the heat device, one of a plurality of operation modes including a master device operation mode mainly performing management of the other heat devices and a slave device operation mode subordinately following management by the other heat devices, when the master device operation mode is set as the operation mode, the control unit transmits a first signal via the communication unit regardless of the set operation specification, when the slave device operation mode is set as the operation mode, the control unit transmits a second signal via the communication unit regardless of the set operation specification, when the single operation specification is set as the operation specification, if the control unit receives the first signal and transmits the second signal via the communication unit, or if the control unit transmits the first signal and receives the second signal via the communication unit, the heat device switches the set operation specification to the linked operation specification.

2. The first signal is a signal having an active value at a first timing, and the second signal is a signal having an active value at a second timing temporally offset from the first timing. The heat device according to Claim 1.

3. The heat device further comprises a non-volatile memory unit storing a first flag indicating one of the plurality of operation specifications, wherein the control unit sets the operation specification based on the first flag stored in the non-volatile memory unit when power is turned on, and the control unit updates the first flag stored in the non-volatile memory unit when switching the set operation specification. The heat device according to Claim 1 or 2.

4. The non-volatile memory unit further stores a second flag indicating one of the plurality of operation modes, the heat device further comprises a setting input unit capable of inputting a switching operation for switching the operation mode, and the control unit updates the second flag stored in the non-volatile memory unit when the switching operation is input to the setting input unit. The heat device according to Claim 3.

5. The heat appliance according to claim 4, wherein the control unit sets the operation mode based on the second flag stored in the non-volatile memory unit when the power is turned on.

6. The heat appliance according to claim 5, wherein the control unit periodically updates the set operation mode based on the second flag stored in the non-volatile memory unit when the linked operation specification is set as the operation specification.

7. When the power is turned on, the control unit sets the operation mode based on the second flag stored in the non-volatile memory unit when the operation specification set based on the first flag stored in the non-volatile memory unit is the linked operation specification, randomly sets the operation mode regardless of the content of the second flag stored in the non-volatile memory unit when the operation specification set based on the first flag stored in the non-volatile memory unit is the single operation specification, The heat appliance according to claim 4, wherein the control unit updates both the first flag and the second flag stored in the non-volatile memory unit when switching the set operation specification to the linked operation specification.

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