Diagnostic tool for an energy conversion appliance

Abstract

A diagnostic tool for an energy conversion appliance, which may be a heating, ventilating or air conditioning appliance, comprises a sound receiving transducer ( 1 ) coupled to output means ( 5 ) to identify, discriminate and log the acoustic signatures of a sequence of events within an operating sequence of an appliance. Individual event occurrences are identified by comparison of a received acoustic signature with stored data to determine whether an event occurrence has occurred in a proper manner and at a correct position in the sequence of a plurality of event occurrences.

1 . A method of monitoring an energy conversion appliance, comprising:
 positioning a sound receiving transducer to receive sound signals emitted by the appliance during each of two or more operational events;   associating an output device with said sound receiving transducer, said output device being responsive to the sound emitted by each of said two or more operational events; and   employing a monitoring device to compare each of said received sound signals with pre-established data, said monitoring device comprising a data store to store information related to at least one of (a) a plurality of operating sequences that are indicative of correct functioning of the appliance or (b) time intervals between received acoustic signatures that are indicative of correct functioning of the appliance, and said monitoring device being operable to compare at least one of the order of occurrence of monitored acoustic signatures or monitored time intervals with information held in said data store,   wherein the energy compliance in normal use, performs the two or more operational events in a pre-determined sequence, each of said operational events having a different acoustic signature.   
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the monitoring device is operable to compare the order of occurrence of monitored acoustic signatures with said stored operating sequences, and at least some of said operational events occurring in one operating sequence are events which occur in one or more other sequences of the plurality of operating sequences for which the monitoring device stores data. 
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the monitoring device is operable to determine whether an acoustic signature indicative of an operational event is concomitant with normal performance of that operational event. 
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the output device is responsive to occurrences of the sound emitted by the appliance, or by a single operational event, departing from said sound profile concomitant with proper functioning of the appliance or said operational event. 
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the output device is responsive only if the emitted sound lies beyond a pre-established threshold level. 
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the appliance comprises a protective enclosure which protects the appliance from the surrounding environment and within which enclosure said two or more operational events occur, said method comprising providing said sound receiving transducer within said enclosure. 
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising employing the output device to transmit signals related to the acoustic signatures of events within the operating sequence of the appliance to a remote data processing device. 
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said operational events comprises operation of a mechanical or electro-mechanical device. 
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the operation event comprises at least one of operation of a pump, operation or a relay, or flow of liquid or gas through a pipe. 
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the monitoring device employs the signature of an operational event to establish the type of event which has occurred and then verifies that that operational event has occurred at a correct position in a normal operating sequence of the appliance. 
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the output device either substantially directly, or substantially indirectly via a remote data processing device, causes operation of an alarm when the sound emitted by the appliance departs from a sound profile concomitant with proper functioning of the appliance. 
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the monitoring device is operable to cause shutting down of the appliance in the event of the acoustic signature of an operational event departing by a pre-determined amount from an acoustic signature concomitant with proper functioning of that operational event. 
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising providing within an enclosure a plurality of sound receiving transducers. 
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein one transducer is selected to have a frequency response different from that of the other transducer. 
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising providing to the monitoring device signals from transducers of a non-acoustic type. 
   
   
       16 . A diagnostic tool for an energy conversion appliance of a kind which, in normal use, performs two or more operational events in a pre-determined sequence and each said event having a different acoustic signature, said diagnostic tool being adapted for performing a method in accordance with  claim 1 . 
   
   
       17 . A diagnostic tool for an energy conversion appliance of a kind which, in normal use, performs two or more operational events in a pre-determined sequence and each said event having a different acoustic signature, said diagnostic tool comprising a sound receiving transducer coupled to an output and monitoring device to receive, identify, discriminate and log the acoustic signatures of each of said two or more operational events within the operating sequence of the appliance, said diagnostic tool comprising a data store of pre-established data of at least one of the order of occurrence of each said operational events and the time intervals between operational events concomitant with proper functioning of the appliance, and said monitoring device being operable to compare each of said received acoustic signatures with pre-established data held in said data store with at least one of the order of occurrence of each said received acoustic signatures and the time intervals between said received acoustic signatures of the operational events. 
   
   
       18 . The diagnostic tool according to  claim 17 , wherein a device is provided to transmit to a remote data processing device signals related to the acoustic signatures of operating events within the operating sequence of the appliance. 
   
   
       19 . The diagnostic tool according to  claim 17 , wherein the energy conversion appliance comprises a protective enclosure within which said operational events occur, the or each sound receiving transducer being provided within said enclosure. 
   
   
       20 . The diagnostic tool according to  claim 17 , further comprising at least two sound receiving transducers at least one of which has a frequency response different from that of the or each other sound receiving transducer. 
   
   
       21 . The diagnostic tool according to  claim 17 , wherein said sound receiving transducer is receptive to the acoustic signature associated with an operational event which comprises at least one of operation of a pump, operation of a relay, and flow of a liquid or gas through a pipe. 
   
   
       22 . The diagnostic tool according to  claim 17 , wherein the output or monitoring device has coupled thereto a transducer of a kind responsive to signals other than sound.