Abstract: A combustion controlling system according to the present invention provides a signal path for transmitting the normal combustion signal SB output from the master device to the transmission line through cascade-connected slave devices. Then, the combustion controlling system determines whether each of the slave devices outputs the normal combustion signal SB to the subsequent device based on whether there is a flame of the corresponding burner, or not, during the combustion of burners, and the master device closes a safety shutoff valve on the condition that an input of a normal combustion signal SBo from a transmission line is stopped.

Abstract: A combustion controlling system according to the present invention provides a signal path for transmitting an ignition preparation signal SA output from a master device to a transmission line through cascade-connected slave devices. Then, each of the slave devices determines whether each of the slave devices outputs the ignition preparation signal to a subsequent device, or not, based on whether there is a flame of the corresponding burner, or not, at the time of igniting the burners, and the master device opens a safety shutoff valve on the condition that an ignition preparation signal SAo has been input from the transmission line.

Abstract: A valve leak detecting method includes a pressure setting step before closing valves individually to set a pressure in a pipe, a first threshold value evaluating step for closing the valves after the pressure has been set to no less than the threshold value, and evaluating whether the pressure, after a specific time interval has elapsed, is at least threshold value, a second valve normalcy evaluating step for evaluating that one of the valves is operating properly or faultily if the pressure is at least or less than the threshold value, respectively, a second threshold value evaluating step for closing the valves and evaluating whether the pressure is less than the threshold value after a specific time interval has elapsed, and a first valve normalcy evaluating step for evaluating whether the valve is operating properly or faultily depending on the pressure being less or no less than the threshold value.

Abstract: A valve leak detecting method includes a started pressure setting step for opening and closing valves individually to set a pressure in a pipe, a first threshold value evaluating step for closing the valves, after the pressure being set to no less than the threshold value, and evaluating whether the pressure, after a specific time interval has elapsed, is at least threshold value, a second valve normalcy evaluating step for evaluating that one of the valves is operating properly or faultily if the pressure is at least or less than the threshold value, respectively, a second threshold value evaluating step for closing the valves and evaluating whether the pressure is less than the threshold value after a specific time interval has elapsed, and a first valve normalcy evaluating step for evaluating whether the valve is operating properly depending on the pressure being less or no less than the threshold value.

Abstract: An RTC, having a crystal oscillator of different characteristics from those of a crystal oscillator, is provided, and the pulse period of the pulse signal from the RTC and the pulse signal based on the crystal oscillator are compared to detect a fault in the crystal oscillator. As a result, even if, for example, located in a high temperature environment, the degrees to the decrease in frequency will be different, thus making it possible to detect reliably a fault in the crystal oscillator.

Abstract: A valve leak detecting method includes a started pressure setting step for opening and closing valves individually to set a pressure in a pipe, a first threshold value evaluating step for closing the valves, after the pressure being set to no less than the threshold value, and evaluating whether the pressure, after a specific time interval has elapsed, is at least threshold value, a second valve normalcy evaluating step for evaluating that one of the valves is operating properly or faultily if the pressure is at least or less than the threshold value, respectively, a second threshold value evaluating step for closing the valves and evaluating whether the pressure is less than the threshold value after a specific time interval has elapsed, and a first valve normalcy evaluating step for evaluating whether the valve is operating properly depending on the pressure being less or no less than the threshold value.

Abstract: A valve leak detecting method includes a pressure setting step before closing valves individually to set a pressure in a pipe, a first threshold value evaluating step for closing the valves after the pressure has been set to no less than the threshold value, and evaluating whether the pressure, after a specific time interval has elapsed, is at least threshold value, a second valve normalcy evaluating step for evaluating that one of the valves is operating properly or faultily if the pressure is at least or less than the threshold value, respectively, a second threshold value evaluating step for closing the valves and evaluating whether the pressure is less than the threshold value after a specific time interval has elapsed, and a first valve normalcy evaluating step for evaluating whether the valve is operating properly or faultily depending on the pressure being less or no less than the threshold value.

Abstract: A system for transmission of signals between modules wherein, for example, it is possible to transmit reliably, between modules, information relating to, for example, the actuation of safety devices. A transmission module for transmitting a pulse signal of a specific period, which indicates the existence of information, generates, in time division, pulse signals by a plurality of signal generating units that are provided in parallel, and then combines these pulse signals into a single time series pulse signal. Then an attempt is made to output this pulse signal towards a receiving-side module through a relay for controlling the output, and the signals appearing at a normally-open terminal and at a normally-closed terminal of the relay are monitored to determine whether or not there is a failure, where the generation of the pulse signal is stopped when a failure is detected.

Abstract: A relay failure detecting device able to detect reliably a fault in a relay circuit that provides alternating current power to a load through a relay that is a double-pole switch. Individual common terminals of first and second relays are connected individually to a pair of outputs terminals of an alternating current power supply, individual normally-open terminals of the first and second relays are connected to a pair of power supply input terminals, and a dummy load that is driven by the alternating current power supply through a diode between the individual normally-closed terminals of the first and second relays is provided. A fault in the first and second relays is evaluated from the state of operation of the dummy load when the first and second relays are not driven.

Abstract: First through third relays are connected in series, and a load 4 does not operate unless all are in the ON state. This enables the prevention of failures such as spilling of fuel due to a malfunction of the load, even when there is a fault in any of the first through third relays.

Abstract: Two temperature controllers, a first temperature controller and a second temperature controller are provided, and combustion in the furnace is controlled based on a first signal and a second signal outputted therefrom. Doing so enables safe control of the furnace even when a failure occurs in one of the temperature controllers.

Abstract: Two controlling devices, namely a combustion controlling device controlling the combustion of a combustion furnace, and a safety controlling device checking the operation of the devices wherein the operations are controlled by the combustion controlling device. This enables safer control of combustion because if there is a fault in either the combustion controlling device or the safety controlling device, a process can be performed by the other device to stop the combustion. Additionally, because the controlling device for controlling the structural elements that control the combustion in the boiler system and the controlling device for operational checks of the outputs from those structural elements are separate, if there is a failure in any of the structural elements or controlling devices, that failure can be detected reliably, enabling safer control of the combustion.

Abstract: An RTC, having a crystal oscillator of different characteristics from those of a crystal oscillator, is provided, and the pulse period of the pulse signal from the RTC and the pulse signal based on the crystal oscillator are compared to detect a fault in the crystal oscillator. As a result, even if, for example, located in a high temperature environment, the degrees to the decrease in frequency will be different, thus making it possible to detect reliably a fault in the crystal oscillator.

Abstract: Power that is supplied to a primary coil of a transformer from a DC power supply that is connected to the primary coil is modulated based on continuous pulses supplied from a microcontroller, and power that is induced between terminals of a secondary coil of the transformer is supplied to a relay. A large driving current can be supplied to the relay thereby, thus making it possible to reduce the ripple component, and, as a result, to achieve stabilized operation.

Abstract: Forecasting the end of the service life of a relay more accurately due to the effects of the load conditions and the environmental conditions can occur through diagnosing the end of service life of the relay based on the time, until the point in time that the actual opening or closing of the relay is detected, from the point in time of the application of the power to the relay or the point in time of the end of application of power to the relay coil by the controlling portion. Forecasting the end of the service life of the relay based on time, increases accuracy because time is a value that is not affected by the external environment. Additionally, because the end of the service life is forecasted based on the actual opening/closing of the relay, not only is it possible to detect immediately a fault in the relay, but it is also possible to eliminate the effects due to individual differences.

Abstract: A combustion furnace control apparatus for which an operation control system that ensures the combustion safety of the combustion furnace can be constructed easily. Interlocks pertaining to the safe operation of a combustion furnace are classified as a 1st interlock pertaining to the safe operation of the overall combustion furnace, a 2nd interlock pertaining to the combustion environment of a combustion zone and a 3rd interlock pertaining to the combustion of a burner. Whereby, a common control module judges the state of the 1st interlock and controls the overall operation of the combustion furnace; a combustion zone control module, receiving a control signal from the common control module, operates to judge the state of the 2nd interlock and prepare the combustion environment for the combustion zone; and a burner control module, receiving a control signal from the combustion zone control module, operates to judge the state of the 3rd interlock and control the operation of the burner.

Abstract: A system for transmission of signals between modules wherein, for example, it is possible to transmit reliably, between modules, information relating to, for example, the actuation of safety devices. A transmission module for transmitting a pulse signal of a specific period, which indicates the existence of information, generates, in time division, pulse signals by a plurality of signal generating units that are provided in parallel, and then combines these pulse signals into a single time series pulse signal. Then an attempt is made to output this pulse signal towards a receiving-side module through a relay for controlling the output, and the signals appearing at a normally-open terminal and at a normally-closed terminal of the relay are monitored to determine whether or not there is a failure, where the generation of the pulse signal is stopped when a failure is detected.

Abstract: A relay failure detecting device able to detect reliably a fault in a relay circuit that provides alternating current power to a load through a relay that is a double-pole switch. Individual common terminals of first and second relays are connected individually to a pair of outputs terminals of an alternating current power supply, individual normally-open terminals of the first and second relays are connected to a pair of power supply input terminals, and a dummy load that is driven by the alternating current power supply through a diode between the individual normally-closed terminals of the first and second relays is provided. A fault in the first and second relays is evaluated from the state of operation of the dummy load when the first and second relays are not driven.

Abstract: An interface for car-mounted devices includes hand data detecting means for determining devices to be controlled among the car-mounted devices based upon hand data corresponding to an operator hand state, voice recognizing means for determining how to change the state of the devices to be controlled based upon an operator voice utterance, and control signal-forming means for forming control signals for the devices to be controlled relying upon the devices to be controlled determined by said hand data detecting means and upon the content of change determined by said voice recognizing means.

Abstract: An interface for car-mounted devices includes hand data detecting means for determining devices to be controlled among the car-mounted devices based upon hand data corresponding to an operator hand state, voice recognizing means for determining how to change the state of the devices to be controlled based upon an operator voice utterance, and control signal-forming means for forming control signals for the devices to be controlled relying upon the devices to be controlled determined by said hand data detecting means and upon the content of change determined by said voice recognizing means.