DE10003029A1 - Method and appliance for restricting amount of liquids and gases drawn off automatically cuts off supply if set quantityt or time is exceeded - Google Patents

Abstract

The appliance consists of a combination of commonly used threaded pipe flange couplings (metric or Imperial threads) fitted with a flow meter and cut-off valve and designed for the particular flow and pressure requirements. Supplied from a battery or mains supply a control circuit can restrict the quantity drawn off to a set volume or cut it off after a set time. Once the cut-of valve has been closed it cannot be reopened until the previous operation has been cancelled

Description

The invention relates to a device and a method for limitation the removal of liquids and gases.

Is a withdrawal point for liquids or gas to a large storage container or connected to the public network, is the possible withdrawal amount practically unlimited in size.

If the removal actuator is opened unintentionally, e.g. B. the tap, a valve or a slide valve for liquids or gases direct financial damage from the corresponding media outflow or indirect financial damage from water damage, from environmental leakage harmful liquids or gas deflagration.

The invention is based on the problem that depending on the requirement and the place of installation should allow different withdrawal quantities. In an industrial company, it may well be relative large quantities are withdrawn for a longer period of time. A private household becomes smaller quantities for a smaller one as well Remove period.

This requires an individually adjustable withdrawal limit that Flow and sampling times recorded.  

Between the supply connection, for example the central one Water connection of a building or a gas connection, and the possible tapping points is registered via a flow meter, whether a medium is removed.

The time of withdrawal is determined by the feedback from the flow meter also recorded.

In the first stage of development, the detection of the medium removal is carried out the flow meter only recognized as yes / no.

In this case, the flow meter serves as a trigger for time recording. The time recording records the time that the flow meter takes the withdrawal reports and checks this time against a set or fixed one Maximum value.

If the maximum value of the allowed withdrawal time is exceeded, the Removal interrupted.

This interruption is displayed and can be acknowledged.

In a further expansion stage, the flow meter additionally the withdrawn quantity registered.

This opens up the possibility of a pipe break due to an unusually high level Detect quantity.

In addition, a limitation to an absolute withdrawal quantity can be set become.

In this stage of expansion, too, the limit values for are interrupted maximum withdrawal time or maximum withdrawal quantity the withdrawal. The interruption is also displayed here and can be acknowledged.

The limits are set to a value that a regular Withdrawal cycle cannot be achieved. With this regular withdrawal the media flow through the actuator is interrupted before the control forcibly switches off. This also becomes the transmission signal of the flow meter interrupted to the control.  

The amount of water integrated up to that point or the recorded flow time will be reset to zero in the control. So start with the next one Open an actuator a new monitoring cycle.

With the invention, protection is also sought for the implementation of the method. As a device for this, the following versions are available in different Examples of expansion stages.

The device consists of a combination of common screw connections with metric thread or inch thread for flanging in lines. Furthermore, a flow meter and a shut-off valve are integrated. The fittings, the flow meter and the shut-off valve are that Flow requirements and the pressure load adapted to the respective application. The components are commercially available components that may be used for the Application can be modified.

Furthermore, the device includes an electrical power supply and a electrical or electronic evaluation control.

The voltage supply can be realized via batteries or via mains plug. If necessary, it is a combination of supply via mains plug and buffering possible via batteries or accumulators.

A processor control is also optional as electronic evaluation control usable with display.

The flow meter gives an electrical signal to the evaluation control of the Contraption.

In the first stage of expansion, this signal is a high / low voltage level. This only detects whether there is a withdrawal.

This high / low voltage level is then used as an input in the evaluation control guided.

This flow meter signal can be used in a higher configuration proportional current or voltage signal.

Usually 0-10 V, 0-20 mA or 4-20 mA are used.  

Limit values can be set in the evaluation control.

Depending on the configuration of the control, this is, for example, a rotary potentiometer, which the flow signal signal in time via an RC element in a capacitor integrated and in a comparison module, e.g. B. an operational amplifier, evaluates.

Another electronic circuit with IC-based timers (Integrated Circuit) can be implemented.

The feedback of operating mode and fault display is, for example realized via indicator lights or LEDs.

In the highest configuration, the evaluation control is equipped with a processor. This is especially necessary if analog current or voltage levels from Flow meter be reported back.

Actual values can be reported back on the display, e.g. B.

• - Flow available
• - Current flow rate
• - elapsed time / remaining time,

and setting values specified and displayed on the keypad and display become, e.g. B.

• - Maximum flow rate per unit of time
• - Maximum flow rate per cycle
• - Maximum removal time.

With an output signal from the evaluation control, the valve for the Forced shutdown connected.

If the valve is activated, the flow is released. If the controller the control signal to the valve is recognized if the time or quantity is exceeded withdrawn and the removal interrupted by the closed valve. The forced shutdown must be acknowledged. Only then is there a withdrawal possible.  

This forced shutdown is on the device via optical or acoustic signal is displayed.

For certain applications, for example in industrial use, a Potential-free contact can be provided for connecting additional alarm devices. Furthermore, depending on the expansion level, there is a release contact in the evaluation control possible that only enables a removal cycle.

The advantage achieved by the invention is that in household or Industrial applications extraction of liquid or gaseous media, that go beyond regular withdrawal quantities or regular withdrawal periods, be prevented.

Financial damage from constantly running faucets is excluded. Above all, property damage, such as those caused by burst hoses on dishwashers or washing machines, in their extent greatly reduced.

In this case, the water only runs for the maximum set period or until the maximum set withdrawal quantity is reached. The underwatering of the entire apartment or house is locked out.

The uncontrolled drainage of other liquids that can cause damage is limited.

Gas leaks that can cause explosions or deflagration also limited.

Claims (8)

1. A method for limiting the withdrawal amount of liquids or gases from large containers or from line networks, characterized in that the withdrawal is detected by means of a flow meter and is limited in terms of volume or withdrawal time with electronic evaluation control and a valve. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that application-specific limit values are specified or the limit values are fixed. 3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the monitoring cycle with the first detection of the flow starts at the flow switch and lasts until the Flow monitor no longer detects removal. 4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the Volume or the time at the end of a sampling cycle to zero reset and immediately a next monitoring process is active for the next extraction cycle.   5. Device for performing the method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that either the withdrawal time via the flow meter Voltage level signal is shown or via analog signal a volume measurement is performed. 6. Device for performing the method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the evaluation control by means of electronic components or by means of Processor is built. 7. Device for performing the method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the power is supplied via the mains socket. In another In the expansion stage, electricity is buffered using batteries. 8. Device for performing the method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that Depending on the expansion level, a signal exchange is implemented. This gives the possibility of further signaling the forced shutdown. Furthermore, an enable signal is provided for the evaluation control, which is activated as a prerequisite for a withdrawal cycle can be.