Operating machine monitoring system

Abstract

To provide an operating device monitoring system configured to properly detect a sign of a failure while preventing increase of the amount of data to be transmitted from an operating device to a monitoring device.SOLUTION: An operating device WH to be monitored includes a control unit 20 which can executes a control to acquire operation status data with a predetermined control period through detection means and transmit the data periodically to a monitoring device A. The monitoring device A is an operating device monitoring system SY configured to determine the presence of a sign of failure in the operating device WH, on the basis of the data transmitted from the operating device WH. The control unit 20 repeatedly executes a control to determine whether the operation status data obtained through the detection means during a predetermined data integration period falls within a predetermined normal range or not, generate integration data indicating a result of the determination, and transmit the integration data to the monitoring device A.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an operating device monitoring system for monitoring a desired operating device such as a water heater. to the extent and the like.

Background Art

[0002] As a specific example of an operating device monitoring system, an operating device as a monitoring target and a monitoring device capable of performing data communication with this operating device are combined, and this monitoring device is configured to determine whether there is a sign of failure before a failure (abnormality) occurs in the operating device. (See, for example, Patent Document 1). As a result of the above determination, if there is a sign of failure in the operating device, a predetermined notification operation or the like is executed. Therefore, users and the like can take countermeasures to prevent failures in advance, which is convenient.

[0003] However, in the above prior art, as described below, there is still room for improvement.

[0004] That is, in the operating device monitoring system as described above, it is common to determine whether there is a sign of failure in the operating device based on data on the operating status of the operating device detected using a predetermined sensor. In this case, it is difficult to adopt a method of collecting and learning data at the time of occurrence of an abnormality as a method for determining a sign of failure. Therefore, by learning data on the operating status during normal operation of the operating device, a normal range is defined, and when information deviating from this range is obtained, a determination method for determining that there is an abnormality (sign of failure) is generally used. However, the conditions under which such a determination method is used are as follows. As a first condition, the usage method and operating status of the operating device have a certain periodicity and little variation. As a second condition, the correlation between the data transmitted from the operating device to the monitoring device is not lost. As a third condition, device information indicating the operating status can be acquired at a cycle that can accurately capture the abnormal state of the motive device. If the first and second conditions are not satisfied, only obvious abnormalities can be detected. Also, if the third condition is not satisfied, even if an abnormality occurs, it may be overlooked.

[0005] There are operating device monitoring systems that do not satisfy the above-described first to third conditions. For example, a monitoring system in which the operating device is a water heater does not satisfy the first condition. Specifically, in a water heater, for example, when the hot water tap is opened by a user's operation and hot water supply starts, the opening degree of the hot water tap is not constant (the usage method is not constant), and the hot water supply flow rate varies greatly depending on the size of the opening degree of the hot water tap. Therefore, when the hot water supply flow rate is treated as device information, the variation in values tends to be large, and the first condition is not satisfied. In such an operating device monitoring system, it is difficult to accurately determine a fault omen.

[0006] Also, as described above, when the operating device is, for example, a water heater, excellent responsiveness to quickly converge the hot water supply temperature to the target temperature is required. Therefore, the control cycle is short, and the time in an abnormal (fault omen) state tends to be short. In this case, it is necessary to shorten the acquisition cycle of the operating status data, but doing so has the disadvantage of increasing the amount of that data. Furthermore, high-speed communication is required when transmitting data to the monitoring device, and the communication method is also limited.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0007]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0008] The present invention has been devised under the circumstances described above, and provides an operating device monitoring system that can appropriately detect signs of failure while suppressing an increase in the amount of data transmitted from the operating device to a monitoring device, even when the control cycle of the operating device is short or when the data on the operating status varies greatly. to the extent of The challenge is to provide it. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides the following technical solutions.

[0010] Original clearly The operating equipment monitoring system provided by the present invention includes an operating equipment as a monitoring target and a monitoring device capable of performing data communication with the operating equipment, and the operating equipment has at least one detection means for detecting the operating status of the operating equipment, and acquires data of the operating status at a predetermined control period using the detection means. do Equipped with a control unit capable of executing control be , an operating equipment monitoring system, The control unit of the operating device can determine the presence or absence of a failure of the operating device based on the data of the operating status, and The data obtained by using the detection means during a predetermined data collection period that is longer than the control period. the A control is repeatedly executed to determine whether the operational status data is within a predetermined normal range, to create aggregate data indicating the determination result, and to transmit the aggregate data to the monitoring device. when the data of the operating status is not within the normal range, the aggregated data is data when the operating status data is not within the normal range but the determination that the operating device has failed has not been reached, and includes data on the number of times of deviation from within the normal range to outside the normal range and / or the length of time of deviation outside the normal range. The monitoring device can determine whether there is a sign of failure in the operating device based on the aggregated data transmitted from the operating device, and the determination of whether there is a sign of failure is made based on a predetermined criterion that, although the failure has not occurred, there is a high probability that a failure will occur in the near future It is characterized by the following. The operating device may be, for example, a water heater.

[0011] This configuration provides the following effects. That is, the data transmitted from the control unit of the operating device to the monitoring device is aggregated data indicating whether or not the data on the operating status acquired during a predetermined data aggregation period is within a predetermined normal range. Therefore, in the monitoring device, based on this aggregated data, it is possible to appropriately determine whether or not there is a sign of failure in the operating device. On the other hand, when the aggregated data is compared with the data on the operating status itself acquired at a predetermined control cycle, while reducing the total data volume, it more accurately indicates the content or trend of the operating status. Therefore, even when the control cycle of the operating device is short or the variation in the data on the operating status is large, it is possible to appropriately detect a sign of failure while suppressing an increase in the amount of data transmitted from the operating device to the monitoring device.

[0013] Furthermore, the According to the configuration, the content of the aggregated data is is adapted to the determination of the presence or absence of a sign of failure, which is more preferable for enhancing the accuracy and reliability of the determination of the presence or absence of a sign of failure.

[0014] In the present invention, preferably, the control unit obtains, as reference data, at least any one of the maximum value, minimum value, average value, median value, or difference from a predetermined reference value of the data on the operating status acquired during the data aggregation period, and is capable of executing control to add this reference data to the aggregated data and transmit it to the monitoring device. According to such a configuration, when determining the presence or absence of a sign of failure based on the aggregated data, the reference data can also be considered, which is more preferable for enhancing the accuracy and reliability of the determination.

[0015]

[0018] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of the embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0020] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

[0021] The operating equipment monitoring system SY shown in FIG. 1 includes a hot water supply device WH corresponding to an example of an "operating equipment" as a monitoring target in the present invention, and a monitoring device A for monitoring this hot water supply device WH. Further, as means for constructing a wireless LAN system 6 near the installation location of the hot water supply device WH, it is provided with a line termination device 61 (modem) for the communication network N and a router 60 (wireless LAN master unit).

[0022] The monitoring device A is a server (computer) connected to the communication network N. For example, for hot water supply It is owned and managed by the manufacturer, sales company, or maintenance company of the water heater WH, and is equipped with a communication unit 80, a data processing unit 81, a memory unit 82, an operation unit 83 consisting of various operation switches, and a display unit 84 capable of displaying data. As will be described later, this monitoring device A is configured to receive predetermined operating status data from the water heater WH, and to determine whether there are any signs of a malfunction in the water heater WH based on this received data.

[0023] The hot water supply apparatus WH is, for example, a gas hot water supply apparatus, and its basic configuration is similar to that of a conventionally known apparatus, so the configuration of each part will be described relatively simply. That is, water heater WH includes a hot water supply operating unit B that can supply hot water to a hot water tap 33 installed in a kitchen or the like and fill a bathtub 39 with hot water, and further includes a control unit 20 with a memory unit 20a for controlling the hot water supply operating unit B, and a communication unit 21. Remote controls 7A and 7B and a communication unit 7C installed in the bathroom and kitchen are connected by wire to communication unit 21. Control unit 20 is configured using a microcomputer, just like control unit 70 of communication unit 7C and the control units of remote controls 7A and 7B, which will be described later, and performs data processing and operation control, which will be described later.

[0024] The remote controls 7A and 7B are equipped with a plurality of operating switches 72 that can be used to set data such as changing the target hot water temperature and to instruct the bathtub 39 to start filling with water, a display unit 73 that can display specified data such as the target hot water temperature, a speaker SP, and a control unit not shown.

[0025] Communication unit 7C serves as a slave device of wireless LAN system 6, enabling data communication between control unit 20 of water heating apparatus WH and monitoring device A, and includes a communication unit 71 and a control unit 70. In FIG. 1, the communication unit 7C is shown as a unit installed separately from the remote controls 7A and 7B, but it is not limited to this. For example, the communication unit 7C may be assembled or substantially built-in into at least one of the remote controls 7A and 7B, and a configuration may be adopted in which the communication unit 7C separate from the remote controls 7A and 7B is omitted.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 2, the hot water supply operation unit B is configured such that in the exterior case 19, there are provided a fan 11, a can body 14 that receives the supply of combustion air from the fan 11 inside, first and second burners 10a and 10b as gas burners disposed in the can body 14, first and second heat exchangers 12a and 12b that recover sensible heat and latent heat from the combustion gas generated by the first and second burners 10a and 10b, and a neutralizer 9 and the like. Normal hot water supply in the hot water supply operation unit B is executed by opening the hot water supply faucet 33, sending the hot and cold water from the water inlet 30a through the piping section 30 to the first heat exchanger 12a, and then heating it with the first burner 10a. The heated hot and cold water reaches the hot water outlet 31a through the piping section 31 and is then supplied to the hot water supply faucet 33 through the hot water supply pipe 32.

[0027] Filling the bathtub 39 with hot water is executed by switching the on-off valve V1 of the hot water pouring pipe section 36 branched and connected to the piping section 31 to the open state. In this case, the hot and cold water flowing from the piping section 31 into the hot water pouring pipe section 36 is supplied to the bathtub 39 through the piping sections 35a and 35b that constitute the bathtub supplementary heating circuit. Bathtub supplementary heating is executed by driving the circulation pump P provided in the piping section 35b. When the circulation pump P is driven, the hot water in the bathtub 39 is sent to the second heat exchanger 12b through the piping section 35b, heated, and then returned to the bathtub 39 through the piping section 35a.

[0028] The neutralizer 9 is for neutralizing strongly acidic condensed water (drain water) generated when latent heat is recovered from combustion gas by the first and second heat exchangers 12a and 12b. This neutralizer 9 is, for example, inside a container 90 having a condensate inlet 90a and an outlet 90b and is configured to contain a granular neutralizing agent 91.

[0029] The water heater WH is further provided with a plurality of sensors (detection means), described later, for detecting the operating status of each part. Functionally, the control unit 20 includes a failure determination unit 20b that determines whether a predetermined failure has occurred in the hot water supply operation unit B based on the data of the operating status obtained using the plurality of detection means, and an aggregation data creation unit 20c that repeatedly creates the aggregation data, described later, to be transmitted to the monitoring device A at a predetermined cycle. On the other hand, the data processing unit 81 of the monitoring device A includes a failure prediction determination unit 81a that determines whether there is a failure omen in the water heater WH based on the aggregation data transmitted from the water heater WH.

[0030] Specific examples of the plurality of sensors provided in the water heater WH include a water level sensor Sa that outputs a predetermined signal to detect when clogging occurs in the neutralizer 9 and the water level of the condensed water in the neutralizer 9 becomes an abnormal water level exceeding a predetermined level, and a fan rotation speed sensor Sb provided on the fan 11. Also, as other detection means, there are a flame rod (flame sensor, not shown) for determining whether the first and second burners 10a and 10b are being combustion-driven, a tank body temperature sensor Sc for detecting the temperature of the tank body 14, a water inlet temperature sensor Sd, a hot water outlet temperature sensor Se, a bath water inlet temperature sensor Sf, and a bath water outlet temperature sensor Sg. In addition, various flow sensors (not shown) for detecting the flow rate of hot and cold water and the presence or absence of hot and cold water flow in each part are also provided.

[0031] Next, a specific example of the operation procedure and the action in the operation device monitoring system SY described above will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 3 to 8.

[0032] First, in the water heater WH, the control unit 20 receives output signals from the plurality of sensors Sa to Sg and the like described above at a predetermined control cycle, acquires data on the operating status of each part of the water heater WH, and based on this data, performs operation control and failure determination of the water heater WH (S1, S2). The control cycle is a short cycle of about 0.1 seconds, for example. Note that the acquisition of the data on the operating status described above and the creation process of the aggregated data described later are continuously executed regardless of the on / off state of the operation switches of the remote controllers 7A and 7B of the water heater WH.

[0033] In the above determination, when it is determined that there is a failure in the water heater WH, a notification operation to that effect is performed, and the operation of the water heater WH is immediately stopped (S3: NO, S9, S10). The notification operation is performed, for example, by displaying data using the display units 73 of the remote controllers 7A and 7B, or by outputting a predetermined sound from the speaker SP. Specific examples of when it is determined that there is a failure in the water heater WH will be described later. However, when the data on the operating status of the water heater WH is abnormal and it is clearly determined that there is a failure, the operation of the water heater WH is immediately stopped, thereby ensuring safety. Although omitted in FIG. 3, when it is determined that there is a failure in the water heater WH, preferably, data to that effect is transmitted to the monitoring device A. Also, even after it is determined that there is a failure in the water heater WH and its operation is immediately stopped, the acquisition of the data on the operating status in the water heater WH and the creation process of the aggregated data described later are continuously executed.

[0034] On the other hand, the control unit 20 randomly executes a creation process for predetermined aggregated data based on the acquired data on the operating status, and stores the aggregated data in the storage unit 20a (S4). Here, the creation process for the aggregated data is a process of determining whether the data on a specific operating status during a predetermined data aggregation period Pa is within a predetermined normal range, and creating data (aggregated data) indicating the determination result.

[0035] For a specific example, Fig. 5 shows, as data on the operating status, an example of the change in the data D1 of the rotational speed of the fan 11 detected using the fan rotation speed sensor Sb. The data D 1 is acquired by the control unit 20 at a predetermined control cycle. The control unit 20 determines whether the data D1 acquired during the data aggregation period Pa falls within the range of the upper and lower threshold values TH1 and TH2, that is, within a predetermined normal range. The data indicating the determination result is the aggregated data, and this aggregated data is created. In addition, when the previous data D1 exceeds the threshold value TH3 for failure determination or falls below the threshold value TH4, and this situation continues for a predetermined time Ta or more, the fan 11 is determined to be faulty.

[0036] Since the data D1 shown in Fig. 5 exceeds the upper threshold value TH1 once, it is determined that the data of the rotational speed of the fan 11 does not fall within the normal range. However, in this embodiment, in addition to that, the content that the rotational speed of the fan 11 exceeds the upper threshold value TH1 once is also used as the aggregated data. This aggregated data is temporarily stored in the storage unit 20a. In this case, for example, it is simply set to "1", and if it exceeds the threshold value TH1 twice, it is set to "2", for example. In contrast, when it falls below the lower threshold value TH2 once or twice, it is set to "-1" or "-2", and when all of the data D1 falls within the normal range, it is set to "0". Of course, the aggregated data can be expressed differently. For example, the number of times exceeding the upper threshold value TH1 and the number of times falling below the lower threshold value TH2 can be counted and included in the aggregated data.

[0037] Regarding the data D1 of the rotational speed of the fan 11, the maximum value and the minimum value during the data aggregation period Pa are also determined, and these data are stored in the storage unit 20a in the form of being added to the above-mentioned aggregated data as reference data (S5).

[0038] In the above description, as a specific example of the data on the operating conditions, the data D1 of the rotational speed of the fan 11 was given. However, for the data on the operating conditions other than this data D1, for the data on the operating conditions specified in advance, the control unit 20 creates and stores aggregated data. Also, for the data on the operating conditions for which additional specification (further specification) has been made, data on values indicating the characteristics of the data, such as the maximum value and the minimum value, are obtained and stored as reference data. As examples of the reference data, in addition to the maximum value and the minimum value, the average value, the median value, or the difference from a predetermined reference value (threshold value) can be used.

[0039] In the control unit 20, when a predetermined data aggregation period Pa elapses in a state where the above-described data processing is being executed, the aggregated data and the reference data created at that time are transmitted from the water heater WH to the monitoring device A (S7). For example, in the monitoring device A, a timing operation is always executed, and each time a predetermined time is counted up, a command for requesting aggregated data and the like from the monitoring device A to the water heater WH is periodically transmitted. The timing when such a command is received by the water heater WH is set to be the time when the data aggregation period Pa expires. However, it is not limited to this. For example, the water heater WH may be configured to always execute a timing operation, and each time a predetermined time is counted up in this timing operation, that time may be set as the time when the data aggregation period Pa expires. The data aggregation period Pa is a time longer than the above-described control period, for example, about 1 hour, or about several hours to 8 hours, but of course, it is not limited to these values.

[0040] When the data transmission of the above-described aggregated data and the like is completed, the data of the transmission completion is deleted from the storage unit 20a, and then the above-described series of operation processes is repeatedly executed (S8, S1). That is, with the transmission of the aggregated data to the monitoring device A, in the water heater WH, the data for which the transmission has been completed is reset, and the process of creating new aggregated data is started. Such a process of creating aggregated data is repeatedly executed regardless of whether the operation of the water heater WH is on or off.

[0041] On the other hand, in the monitoring device A, the following operation process is executed. That is, when receiving the aggregated data and the reference data from the water heater WH, these data are stored in the storage unit 82 (S21: YES, S22). Next, based on these data, it is determined whether there is a sign of failure in the water heater WH (S23).

[0042] Regarding the above determination, several specific examples will be given and described as follows. FIG. 6 shows a procedure when the operation status data is data regarding the rotation speed of the fan 11. As previously described, the failure determination of the fan 11 is made based on the threshold values TH3 and TH4 shown in FIG. 5. More precisely, when the error between the actual rotation speed of the fan 11 and the target rotation speed of the fan 11 becomes larger than a predetermined value and this state continues for a predetermined time Ta or more, it is determined that a failure has occurred in the fan 11 (S31: YES, S32 in FIG. 6). This determination is made by the control unit 20 of the water heater WH as described above. On the other hand, when it is not determined that a failure has occurred in the fan 11, the monitoring device A determines whether the cumulative number of times the rotation speed of the fan 11 has deviated from the normal range for failure prediction determination (the range of the threshold values TH1 to TH2 in FIG. 5) has reached a predetermined number Na based on the aggregated data (S31: NO, S33). If the cumulative number of times has reached the predetermined number Na, it is determined that there is a sign of failure in the fan 11 (S33: YES, S34).

[0043] However, when making the above determination, it is possible to refer to the reference data indicating the maximum value, minimum value, etc. of the rotation speed of the fan 11 and change (correct) the value of the predetermined number Na. For example, when the rotation speed of the fan 11 is relatively high compared to the target rotation speed, if the maximum value of the rotation speed is large, it is possible to make a change such that the predetermined number Na is set to a smaller number than when it is small.

[0044] FIG. 7 shows a procedure when the data on the operating status is data regarding an abnormal water level rise of the neutralizer 9 detected using the water level sensor Sa. When an abnormal water level rise of the neutralizer 9 is detected using the water level sensor Sa and that state continues for a predetermined time Tb or more, in the control unit 20, it is determined that a failure (clogging) has occurred in the neutralizer 9 (S41: YES, S42). On the other hand, when it is not determined that a failure has occurred in the neutralizer 9, the monitoring device A determines, based on the aggregated data, whether the number of occurrences of an abnormal water level rise that has continued for a predetermined time Tc (a shorter time than the predetermined time Tb) or more in the neutralizer 9 has reached a predetermined number Nb (S41: NO, S43). The aggregated data is data indicating the number of occurrences of an abnormal water level rise that has continued for a predetermined time Tc or more in the neutralizer 9. If the number of occurrences of the abnormal water level rise has reached the predetermined number Nb, it is determined that there is a sign of failure in the neutralizer 9 (S43: YES, S44).

[0045] FIG. 8 shows a procedure when the data on the operating status is data regarding an ignition operation error detected using a frame rod. The control unit 20 of the water heater WH can control an operation of driving an ignition plug (not shown) to ignite the first and second burners 10a, 10b. At that time, it uses the frame rod to determine whether ignition has occurred, and further, when the ignition operation error is repeated, it can determine the number of times. When the ignition operation error is continuously repeated a predetermined number of times Nc, in the control unit 20, it is determined that a failure of poor ignition has occurred (S51: YES, S52). On the other hand, when such a determination has not been made, the monitoring device A determines, based on the aggregated data, whether the cumulative number of times that the ignition operation error has occurred continuously a predetermined number of times Nd (a smaller number than the predetermined number Nc) has reached a predetermined number Ne (S51: NO, S53). The aggregated data is data indicating the number of times that the ignition operation error has occurred continuously a predetermined number of times Nd. If the cumulative number of times has reached the predetermined number Ne, it is determined that there is a sign of failure of poor ignition (S53: YES, S54).

[0046] In the water heater WH, cases determined as failures, other than the above, further include, for example, the following cases. The phenomenon that the first and second burners 10a and 10b are suddenly extinguished during the driving combustion occurs more than a predetermined number of times. The maximum flame temperature during the driving combustion at a predetermined stage of the first and second burners 10a and 10b is lower than the original temperature by a predetermined temperature or more. The phenomenon that the pump discharge amount does not increase to a predetermined flow rate or more after a predetermined time has elapsed since the circulation pump P is driven on occurs more than a predetermined number of times. The phenomenon that the error between the actual hot water supply temperature and the hot water supply target temperature becomes larger than a predetermined value occurs more than a predetermined number of times. Regardless of the hot water supply target temperature, the event that the actual hot water supply temperature becomes a high temperature range exceeding a predetermined temperature occurs more than a predetermined number of times. The event that the temperature of the can body 14 becomes a high temperature range exceeding a predetermined temperature occurs more than a predetermined number of times. The water flow rate [L / sec] exceeds a predetermined flow rate. The cumulative number of communication errors occurs more than a predetermined number of times.

[0047] Regarding the determination of the above-mentioned failures, the determination of the presence or absence of failure omens is based on a criterion looser than the conditions determined as the above-mentioned failures, that is, a criterion (allowable range) that although it has not reached a failure, it is considered that there is a high probability of a failure occurring in the near future. However, different from such a determination, for example, when the cumulative number of hot water supply operations reaches a predetermined number, when the cumulative flow rate of the hot water flowing through the water heater WH reaches a predetermined flow rate, or when the cumulative combustion time of the first and second burners 10a and 10b reaches a predetermined time, etc., it is considered that the durability life of the water heater WH is approaching and the probability of a failure occurring in the water heater WH is increasing. It is also possible to use such matters as the criterion for determining the presence or absence of failure omens.

[0048] As a result of the determination of the presence or absence of the above-described failure omen, if it is determined that there is a failure omen, a predetermined notification operation is executed (S24: YES, S25 in Fig. 4). This notification operation is executed, for example, in the monitoring device A. As a result, the person in charge of monitoring the water heater WH using the monitoring device A can accurately detect that there is a predetermined failure omen in the water heater WH, and can take appropriate countermeasures to prevent the water heater WH from malfunctioning. Preferably, data indicating that there is a failure omen is transmitted from the monitoring device A to the water heater WH, and a notification operation is also performed in the water heater WH. As a result, the user of the water heater WH can also quickly and accurately detect that there is a failure omen, and it becomes possible to more appropriately avoid the water heater WH from malfunctioning.

[0049] The present invention is not limited to the contents of the above-described embodiments. The operating device monitoring system according to the present invention to the extent of The specific configuration of each part can be freely designed and changed in various ways within the scope intended by the present invention.

[0050] The specific content of the failure omen referred to in the present invention and its judgment criteria, etc. are matters that can be appropriately determined in advance, and it goes without saying that they are not limited to those exemplified as specific examples in the above-described embodiments. The detection means is also not limited to the above-described sensors. The length of the data aggregation period does not have to be constant and may be indefinite. Also, depending on the type of data, the length of the data aggregation period may be configured to be different.

[0051] In the above-described embodiment, the control unit 20 of the water heater WH is configured to perform processes such as the creation process of aggregated data. However, instead of or in addition to the control unit 20, for example, the control units provided in the remote controls 7A and 7B may be configured to execute the above processes. Furthermore, the control unit 70 of the communication unit 7C may be configured to be used for the above processes. The operating device referred to in the present invention is not limited to the water heater, and for example, a bathroom dryer, a fan heater It can be other various devices and equipment such as aタ. When the operating device is a water heater, instead of a gas water heater, it can also be an oil water heater or a storage tank type water heater.

Explanation of symbols

[0052] A Monitoring device SY Operating device monitoring system WH Water heater (operating device) Sa Water level sensor (detection means) Sb Fan rotation speed sensor (detection means) Sc Cylinder body temperature sensor (detection means) Sd Inlet water temperature sensor (detection means) Se Outlet water temperature sensor (detection means) Sf Bath inlet water temperature sensor (detection means) Sg Bath outlet water temperature sensor (detection means) 20 Control unit (of the water heater)

Claims

1. An operating device to be monitored, A monitoring device capable of performing data communication with the operating device, Comprising: The operating device includes at least one detection means for detecting the operating status of the operating device, and a control unit capable of executing control to acquire data of the operating status at a predetermined control period using the detection means. An operating device monitoring system, The control unit of the operating device, Can determine the presence or absence of a failure of the operating device based on the data of the operating status, During a predetermined data aggregation period that is longer than the control period, it is determined whether the data of the operating status obtained using the detection means is within a predetermined normal range, and aggregated data indicating the determination result is created, and this aggregated data is repeatedly transmitted to the monitoring device. When the data of the operating status is not within the normal range, the aggregated data is data when the operating device has not reached a failure determination although the data of the operating status is not within the normal range, and includes the number of times of deviation from within the normal range to outside the normal range and / or data on the length of time of deviation outside the normal range. It is configured to include, The monitoring device, Based on the aggregated data transmitted from the operating device, it can determine whether there is a sign of failure in the operating device, and the determination of whether there is a sign of failure is based on a predetermined criterion that although the failure has not occurred, the probability of failure occurring in the near future is considered high. An operating device monitoring system characterized by being performed.

2. The operating device monitoring system according to Claim 1, The control unit obtains at least one of the maximum value, minimum value, average value, median value, or difference from a predetermined reference value of the data of the operating status obtained during the data aggregation period as reference data, and adds this reference data to the aggregated data and transmits it to the monitoring device. An operating device monitoring system capable of executing control.

3. The operating device monitoring system according to Claim 1 or 2, The operating device is a water heater. An operating device monitoring system.

Images