KR101372557B1 - Alarm system for breaking of over load protector in heating cable control box - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a heating cable control box.
The heating cable control box of the present invention includes a wiring breaker, an electronic switch, an overload protector for protecting a circuit in the event of an overload or a short circuit, an alarm means for alarming when the overload protector is operated, and a terminal block to which the heating cable is connected. And a control unit for controlling the functional operation of the control box. In the present invention, the terminal block integrally constitutes the connection terminal and the terminal block signal unit A, and the terminal block signal unit A and the electronic switch transmit a power state signal to the control unit. When the signal received from the terminal block signal unit A indicates that the heating cable is cut off, the control unit compares the signal of the terminal block signal unit A with the signal of the electronic switch to determine whether to execute an alarm.

Description

Alarm system for breaking overload protector of heating cable control box {ALARM SYSTEM FOR BREAKING OF OVER LOAD PROTECTOR IN HEATING CABLE CONTROL BOX}

The present invention relates to an alarm system for notifying short circuit of the freeze protection hot wire control box, that is, a short circuit of an overload protector.

Heating cables using resistive heating elements have been applied in various industrial fields. It is widely used for commercial or industrial products such as prevention of frost in commercial buildings such as apartments and office buildings, maintenance of chemical plant piping or tank temperature, and maintenance of long-distance pipeline temperature.

Piping is installed, and heating cables are installed along the outer circumferential surface of the installed piping. Generally, a heating cable uses a PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) heater. The PTC heater operates based on a semiconductive polymer composition. The PTC heating element applied as an industrial heating product was commercialized under the name of Self-Regulating Heating Cable. When current flows through the electrode, resistive heating is performed, and thus, the heating effect is obtained by conducting PTC behavior of the conductive polymer composition. PTC heating element cable has the advantage that the heating value can be deformed according to the ambient temperature or the temperature of the object itself to eliminate the overheating and to conveniently cut and use regardless of the length. In addition, there is an advantage that can be installed in a complex shape with a flexible cable shape.

However, the installation of the heating cable is also electrical work, so a control box for electrical safety and stability is essential. In case of abnormality such as overload or short circuit, the circuit should be controlled to cut off automatically. 4 shows a schematic configuration of a conventional heating cable control box 10. The circuit breaker 11, the electronic switch 12, the overload breaker 13, and the control unit 15 are included, and an output portion of the heating cable control box 10, that is, a portion to which the heating cable 2 is connected, is connected to the terminal box ( 14) was installed.

The overload protector (ELB) protects the circuit by cutting off the short circuit occurring in the heating cable (2). Since no power is applied to the heating cable 2, the heating function does not work. This stops the freeze protection and temperature maintenance of the pipe. There is a risk of freezing of the pipes if no follow-up measures are taken with the overload protector 13 in winter. For this reason, the heating cable control box 10 includes a means for prompting the administrator to follow up. Such means include a signal unit 16 for transmitting a contact signal to the guard room or the like, a lamp 17 for indicating a short circuit interruption, and an alarm 18.

In order to provide an alarm, the controller 15 must recognize that a short circuit state. To this end, conventionally, an overload protector (ELB) 13 uses a separate contact which informs the control unit 15 of whether or not a short circuit or uses a separate device system for detecting a short circuit. However, according to such a prior art, not only the volume of the overload protector 13 becomes large, but also the unit cost of the overload protector 13 increases, so that the contractor is forced to have an economic burden. In addition, the internal space of the control box was narrowed, and consequently, the volume of the control box had to be increased, which adversely affected the construction environment.

The inventor of the present invention has completed the present invention as a result of long research and efforts to solve the above problems.

It is an object of the present invention to implement an alarm system that informs the blocking of an overload protector of a heating cable control box more simply and economically. In addition, it is assumed that the volume of the control box can be made smaller without considering the construction environment.

On the other hand, other unspecified purposes of the present invention will be further considered within the scope of the following detailed description and easily deduced from the effects thereof.

In order to achieve the above object, the first aspect of the present invention is an alarm system to notify the short circuit of the overload protector of the heating cable control box:

The heating cable control box into which an external power line is drawn may include an electronic switch that switches the heating cable power supply according to a sensed temperature, an overload protector that protects a circuit in the event of an overload or a short circuit, and an alarm when an overload protector is activated. An alarm means, a terminal block to which the heating cable is connected, and a control unit for controlling the functional operation of the control box,

The terminal block comprises a connecting terminal and the terminal block signal portion (A) integrally,

The terminal block signal unit (A) and the electronic switch unit transmits a power state signal to the control unit,

If an overload or a short circuit break occurs in a line, the overload protector cuts off the circuit and the control unit executes an alarm set by the alarm means using a signal received from the terminal block signal unit A. It features.

In the alarm system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when power is not supplied to the heating cable because the detected temperature is higher than the set temperature, the control unit receives the signal received from the terminal block signal unit A and the electronics. It is a good idea to compare the signals received from the switchgear so as not to trigger an alarm.

In addition, in the alarm system according to an embodiment of the present invention, the terminal block signal unit (A) is installed on one side of the terminal arrangement of the connection terminal, it is preferable to be connected to the control unit via a cable.

In addition, in the alarm system according to an embodiment of the present invention, the heating cable control box includes a communication means connected to the control unit, and communicates by wire or wirelessly to the management center existing outside through this communication means. can do.

A second aspect of the present invention is directed to controlling heating cable:

A circuit breaker connected to an incoming external power line;

An electronic switch that switches the heating cable power supply according to the sensed temperature;

An overload protector that protects the circuit in the event of an overload or a short circuit;

Alarm means for alarming when the overload protector is activated;

A terminal block to which a heating cable is connected; And

A control unit for controlling the functional operation of the control box,

The terminal block integrally constitutes a connection terminal and a terminal block signal unit (A), the terminal block signal unit (A) and the electronic switch unit transmit a power state signal to the control unit,

When the signal received from the terminal block signal unit (A) indicates that the heating cable is cut off, the control unit compares the signal of the terminal block signal unit (A) with the signal of the electronic switch and executes an alarm by the alarm means. It is characterized by determining whether or not.

In addition, in the heating cable control according to an embodiment of the present invention, the terminal block signal portion (A) may be installed on one side of the connection terminal arrangement of the terminal block to be connected to the control unit via a cable.

In addition, in the heating cable control according to an embodiment of the present invention, the heating cable control box includes a communication means connected to the control unit, the wired or wireless to the management center existing outside through the communication means Can communicate.

The present invention by using the above-described problem solving means has an excellent advantage that it is more economical and effective than the conventional and can easily operate the alarm system while reducing the size of the control box.

On the other hand, even if the effects are not explicitly mentioned here, the effect described in the following specification, which is expected by the technical features of the present invention, and its potential effects are treated as described in the specification of the present invention.

1 is a view schematically showing an example of the internal configuration of the heating cable control box of the present invention.
2 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of the terminal block 140 of the present invention.
3 is a diagram schematically illustrating a process of an alarm system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a view showing the internal configuration of a conventional heating cable control box.
* The accompanying drawings illustrate examples of the present invention in order to facilitate understanding of the technical idea of the present invention, and thus the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description of the present invention, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may obscure the subject matter of the present invention.

1 shows a schematic configuration of a heating cable control box 100 of the present invention. The heating cable control box 100 has a circuit breaker 110, an electronic switch 120, an overload protector 130, a terminal block 140, a controller 150, a communication means 160, an alarm lamp 170, and an alarm sound. Generator 171 may be included. Other components can be added as appropriate for the construction environment and the needs of motion control. For example, a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the current state may be further included for the operation and operation control of the electronic switch 120.

The MCCB (Molded Case Circuit Breaker) 110 is connected to a power line drawn from the outside and functions as a circuit protection circuit breaker. In general, the extinguishing device, trip device, switchgear is built in the heating cable control box 100 in a state stored in the insulated container.

The electronic switch 120 generally uses a magnet switch. The electronic switch 120 of the present invention operates as a switch for determining whether to apply power to the heating cable to protect the pipe or to stop the heating function by cutting off the power applied to the heating cable 50. . In the system of the present invention, the electronic switch 120 is operated according to the temperature. When the current measurement temperature is higher than the set temperature, it is not necessary to perform the function of preventing the pipe from freezing or maintaining the temperature. Therefore, when the present measurement temperature is lower than the set temperature, the magnetic switch of the electronic switch 120 is attached to turn on the switch so that power is applied to the heating cable 50. Also, in the present invention, the power state signal of the electromagnetic switch 120 is transmitted to the controller 150, and the controller 150 can turn the operation of the electromagnetic switch 120 on and off.

The Earth Leakage Breaker (ELB) 130 functions to protect the circuit when an overload or a short circuit occurs. When an abnormal state such as an overload or a short circuit occurs, the overload protector 130 cuts off the power applied to the heating cable 50. According to the prior art, a separate contact that is interlocked with the alarm means is integrally added to the overload protector 130, which is connected to the control unit. However, in the present invention, such a function of the overload protector is omitted, and only the circuit protection function is executed lightly.

At the output portion of the heating cable control box 100, a plurality of heating cables 50 are connected to the terminal block 140 therein. The terminal block 140 of the present invention is integrally configured with a connection terminal to which the heating cable 50 is connected, and a terminal block signal unit (A) 145 for detecting a power state signal of the heating cable and transmitting the signal to the control unit 150. . To this end, an electronic circuit board performing the function of the terminal block signal unit (A) 145 is embedded in the terminal block 140.

2 shows an example of the terminal block 140 of the present invention. Three heating cables (not shown) may be connected to the connection terminal unit 141. 2 illustrates a three-line heating cable terminal block 140, but may be modified to a terminal block 140 of various models, such as six lines, nine lines, 12 lines. In response to this modification, the number of terminals of the connection terminal unit 141 will be increased. On one side of the connecting terminal portion 141 where the connecting terminals are arranged, a terminal block signal portion connecting portion 146 is provided, and a three-line cable is coupled to the terminal block signal portion connecting portion 146, and the cable is connected to the controller 150. By connecting, the signal can be transmitted to the controller.

In addition, in some embodiments, LEDs 147 and 148 may be additionally installed to indicate a line short circuit condition. The green LED 147 may indicate that electricity is normally applied to the electronic circuit of the terminal block signal unit A. FIG. The red LED 148 can act as a lamp to indicate whether the line is shorted.

Standard and shape of the length and width of the terminal block 140 can be modified in various ways, by which the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited. In the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2, the terminal block 140 is integrally formed with the connection terminal 141 and the terminal block signal connection 146 and corresponding to the terminal block signal connection 146 inside the terminal block 140. It is characterized in that the electronic circuit board is built.

The function of the terminal block signal unit 145 controls the power state signal 150 to determine whether electricity is normally applied to the heating cable 50 or whether the overload protector 130 is short-circuited due to an overload or a short circuit. To pass on.

Meanwhile, the control unit 150 is provided with software for executing a predetermined function, and the system can be implemented by this software to notify an alarm in a short-circuited state economically and efficiently. The software can perform the following functions:

(1) Temperature setting function: Executes the function of determining whether or not to execute the function of protecting the piping by applying power to the heating cable. For this, the operating temperature can be set, and the current temperature sensed by the temperature sensor is compared with the set operating temperature.

(2) Electronic switch control function: Performs the function of controlling on / off of the electronic switch according to the temperature.

(3) Execute a function of determining whether the overload protector (ELB) is operating and alarming.

(4) It provides a user interface that allows the user to operate manually rather than automatically. For example, it provides a function to set whether to operate the heating cable control box 100 automatically by the temperature sensor or to manually turn on / off.

In the present invention, the alarm function of (3) is not executed by communication with the overload protector. The earth leakage blocking comparison unit 155 of the controller 150 is executed, and the earth leakage blocking comparison unit 155 compares the power state signals transmitted from the terminal block signal unit 145 and the electronic switch 120 to determine whether an alarm is present. Run

The case where the power is not applied to the heating cable 50 may be classified into, for example, a case in which the electronic switch 120 is not applied (not operating temperature) and a case in which the overload protector 130 is short-circuited due to a short circuit. Can be. The earth leakage blocking comparison unit 155 may effectively determine the two cases.

For example, when the signal received from the terminal block signal unit A indicates that the heating cable is cut off, the earth leakage breaker comparison unit 155 of the control unit 150 is connected to the terminal block signal unit (A) 145. The received signal is compared with the signal received from the electronic switch 120. If the electronic switch 120 is operating normally, and the terminal block signal unit (A) 145 reports the short circuit state of the overload protector 130, an overload or a short circuit break occurs in the line. At this time, the overload protector 130 would immediately cut off the circuit without waiting for the operation control command of the controller 150. The controller 150 issues an alarm using the connected alarm lamp 170 and the alarm sound generator 171. Preventing freezing of pipes by ensuring that the administrator receiving the alarm takes appropriate action.

In an exemplary embodiment, the communication unit 160 may report an abnormal state of the system to a predetermined wired telephone network or a wireless telephone number of an administrator.

When the detected temperature is higher than the set temperature and power is not supplied to the heating cable, and the overload protector 130 is not shorted, the controller 150 receives a signal received from the terminal block signal unit (A) 145. And the signal received from the electronic switch does not execute an alarm.

Figure 3 schematically shows the overall control process of the alarm system in which the heating cable control box notifies the short circuit of the overload protector in response to a short circuit occurring in the track according to an embodiment of the present invention.

If a short circuit condition occurs on the line (S100), the overload protector automatically protects the circuit by shorting the short circuit (S101). Such an earth leakage blocking process is a known technique. However, in the present invention, apart from this process, the terminal block signal unit A transmits a signal to the control unit (S110).

Next, signal analysis is performed using the software installed in the circuit breaker comparator of the controller (S120). The signal transmitted from the terminal block signal unit (A) and the signal from the electronic switch is used to determine whether the power is cut off in the normal state or the power is cut off. If it is recognized as a ground fault interruption, the control unit issues an alarm using an alarm means according to a preset process, and executes emergency communication designated to an external management center (for example, a computer in a comprehensive management room or a monitoring center of a security office). It becomes (S130).

The scope of protection of the present invention is not limited to the description and the expression of the embodiments explicitly described in the foregoing. It is again to be understood that the scope of protection of the present invention can not be limited by obvious alterations or permutations of the present invention.

Claims (7)

As an alarm system for the short circuit of the overload protector of the heating cable control box:
The heating cable control box into which an external power line is drawn may include an electronic switch that switches the heating cable power supply according to a sensed temperature, an overload protector that protects a circuit in the event of an overload or a short circuit, and an alarm when an overload protector is activated. An alarm means, a terminal block to which the heating cable is connected, and a control unit for controlling the functional operation of the control box,
The terminal block comprises a connecting terminal and the terminal block signal portion (A) integrally,
The terminal block signal unit (A) and the electronic switch unit transmits a power state signal to the control unit,
If an overload or a short circuit break occurs in a line, the overload protector cuts off the circuit and the control unit executes an alarm set by the alarm means using a signal received from the terminal block signal unit A. An alarm system for indicating a short circuit in the overload protector of a heating cable control box. The method of claim 1,
When the power is not supplied to the heating cable because the detected temperature is higher than the set temperature, the controller does not execute an alarm by comparing the signal received from the terminal block signal unit A with the signal received from the electronic switch. Alarm system to notify short circuit of overload protector of heating cable control box. The method of claim 1,
The terminal block signal unit (A) is installed on one side of the connection terminal arrangement of the terminal block, the alarm system to notify the short circuit of the overload protector of the heating cable control box, which is connected to the control unit via a cable. The method of claim 1,
The heating cable control box includes a communication means connected to the control unit, the alarm system for notifying the short circuit of the overload protector of the heating cable control box for communicating in a wired or wireless manner to the management center existing through the communication means. By heating cable control:
A circuit breaker connected to an incoming external power line;
An electronic switch that switches the heating cable power supply according to the sensed temperature;
An overload protector that protects the circuit in the event of an overload or a short circuit;
Alarm means for alarming when the overload protector is activated;
A terminal block to which a heating cable is connected; And
A control unit for controlling the functional operation of the control box,
The terminal block integrally constitutes a connection terminal and a terminal block signal unit (A), the terminal block signal unit (A) and the electronic switch unit transmit a power state signal to the control unit,
When the signal received from the terminal block signal unit (A) indicates that the heating cable is cut off, the control unit compares the signal of the terminal block signal unit (A) with the signal of the electronic switch and executes an alarm by the alarm means. Heating cable control box, characterized in that determining whether. 6. The method of claim 5,
The terminal block signal unit (A) is installed on one side of the connection terminal arrangement of the terminal block and connected to the control unit via a cable, heating cable control box. 6. The method of claim 5,
The heating cable control box includes a communication means connected to the control unit, the heating cable control box for communicating by wire or wirelessly to the management center that is external to the communication means.

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