JP2001255182A - Electronic water meter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To take out a signal from inside an electronic water meter case to the outside, without troubles and to avoid an influence of water when submerged in the water by surely assuring sealing of the case. SOLUTION: At least a sensing meter 17 for sensing the rotational speed of an impeller 9, provided in a meter body 1 in the meter case 7 having an upper surface on an assembled transparent window plate 15 and a metering circuit 19 for converting the rotational speed of the sensor 17 into flow rate are provided in the body 1. A flexible circuit board 25, formed into a strip plate-like state to be vertically drawn, is arranged through cabling between an outer peripheral edge of the plate 16 and an inner wall surface of the case 7. Meanwhile, the case 7 and the plate 15 are sealed by a sealing member 31 therebetween over an entire periphery. A signal from the circuit 19 is transmitted to an outer signal cable 27 via the board 25.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an electronic water meter.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in an electronic water meter,
Even if the meter body is submerged, the internal electronic circuit has a sealed structure so as not to be directly affected by the submergence.

[0003] In particular, in the case of an electronic water meter, since a measured value or the like is transmitted from the meter main body to the outside by a signal line, a reliable seal of a drawer for drawing the signal line out of the sealed case main body is required. Is done.

[0004] For this purpose, in the conventional means, a plurality of terminal pins for connecting signal lines, which are vertically projected, are provided in a peeping glass window provided on the upper surface of the case body, and are integrated with the glass window. With this structure, a seal is secured.

[0005]

Since the terminal pins for connecting the signal lines are provided integrally with the glass window, it is necessary to eliminate the problems such as the breakage of the glass due to the temperature difference by adjusting both the coefficients of linear expansion. For this reason, special glass and terminal pins are required, which increases the material cost and is not desirable in terms of cost.

In addition, since each cable core of the signal line must be selected so as to correspond to each terminal pin and soldered correctly, it is not desirable in terms of workability because of the nervousness of the soldering operation.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic meter which solves the above-mentioned problems.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a meter body having an impeller whose rotation increases and decreases in response to the flow of water. A meter case having an upper surface is provided, and in the meter case, at least, a detection sensor for detecting a rotation speed of the impeller, and a measurement circuit unit for converting the rotation speed of the detection sensor into a flow rate, Between the outer edge of the transparent window plate and the inner wall surface of the meter case, a flexible wiring board formed in the shape of a strip that can be pulled up and down is routed, and the entire space between the meter case and the transparent window plate is sealed. While sealing with a member, one end of the flexible wiring board is connected to the measuring circuit section, and the other end is connected to the signal cable.

Thus, the signal from the measuring circuit is transmitted to the external signal cable via the flexible wiring board.

On the other hand, the flexible wiring board is arranged without any trouble so as to pass vertically between the meter case and the transparent window plate due to the shape of the strip, and does not cause an increase in cost.

Further, between the meter case and the transparent window plate,
Since it is sealed by the seal member over the entire circumference, there is no possibility of causing adverse effects of water when submerged.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the flexible wiring board is provided with a soldering portion having the same arrangement as the arrangement of the cable cores of the signal cable.

[0013] With this arrangement, since each cable core of the signal cable is opposed to the soldering portion of the flexible wiring board, the same soldering position is obtained, so that soldering can be performed without mistake. Soldering work is completed quickly.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, a detection sensor is provided on one of the flexible wiring boards, and the detection sensor is positioned at a proper mounting position by a support bracket incorporated in the meter case.

Thus, since the flexible wiring board and the detection sensor have an integral structure, the number of components is reduced, and the assembly is completed at one time. In addition, the detection sensor can be correctly positioned at a regular position.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a meter case having a transparent window plate on an upper surface is provided on a meter body having an impeller whose rotation increases and decreases in accordance with the flow of water. Inside, at least, a detection sensor for detecting the rotation speed of the impeller, and a measuring circuit unit for converting the rotation speed sent from the detection sensor into a flow rate, the outer peripheral edge of the transparent window plate and a meter Between the inner wall surface of the case, a flexible wiring board formed in the shape of a strip that can be pulled up and down is routed, and the space between the meter case and the transparent window plate is sealed with a sealing member over the entire circumference, while the meter case is sealed. A flexible wiring board extending further outward is connected to the signal cable, and at least the measuring circuit section is directly incorporated into the flexible wiring board in the meter case.

This eliminates the need for a circuit board for the measuring circuit section and greatly reduces the number of components. Also,
The work can be completed quickly because the flexible wiring board may be assembled, which is very preferable in terms of man-hours for parts management and ease of assembly.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 shows an electronic water meter. In the meter main body 1 of the electronic water meter, the holding pipe 5 rises from the water pipe 3, and the meter case 7 is assembled in the holding pipe 5 in a state where the entire circumference is sealed. The meter case 7 is formed of a material that allows magnetic force to pass through, and an impeller 9 whose rotation speed increases and decreases in accordance with the flow of water is provided in a region of the water pipe 3 below the meter case 7.

The impeller 9 is rotatably supported by a support shaft 11, and a magnet 13 that rotates together with the support shaft 11 is disposed on the support shaft 11 above the impeller 9.

On the upper open side of the meter case 7, a transparent window plate 15 serving as a viewing window is provided.

Inside the meter case 7, the impeller 9
Sensor 17 for detecting the number of rotations of the
Circuit 19 for converting the number of revolutions sent from
And a display unit 21 for digitally displaying the flow rate.

The detection sensor 17 is a magnetoresistive element, is supported by a support member 23, and is positioned at a position facing the magnet 13 via the bottom plate 7a of the meter case 7.

The measuring circuit section 19 has a function of receiving a signal of the number of revolutions from the detection sensor 17 and converting the signal into a flow rate based on the signal. One of the converted flow rate values is digitally displayed on the display section 21. It is displayed.

The other of the flow values is the flexible wiring board 2
5 to an external signal cable 27.

As shown in FIG. 3, the flexible wiring board 25 has a shape in which a plurality of signal lines 29 are arranged in a thin film base 27 made in a strip shape. It penetrates vertically between the outer peripheral edge and the inner wall surface of the meter case 7, and the sealing member 31 such as packing covers the entire area between the outer peripheral edge of the transparent window plate 15 and the inner wall surface of the meter case 7. The sealing state is ensured.

One of the flexible wiring boards 25 is electrically connected to the output side of the measuring circuit section 19 and the other extending outward from the meter case 7 to the cable core 33 of the signal cable 27 by means such as soldering. Connected to

The soldering portion 35 of the signal line 29 of the flexible wiring board 25 which is connected to the cable core 33 of the signal cable 27 has the same arrangement as that of the cable core 33 of the signal cable 27 as shown in FIGS. It has the same arrangement.

Specifically, the covering portion of the cable core wire 33 of the signal cable 27 is formed by white 37-a, red 37-b, green 37-a.
-C, black 37-d, and so on, and the arrangement of the soldering portions 35 of the colors opposite to that color allows quick selection of the soldering portion 35 for each cable core 33. You can do it.

As shown in FIG. 6, the connection area between the flexible wiring board 25 and the signal cable 27 is surrounded by a holding case 39 which can be divided into upper and lower parts.
The stopper ring 47 does not easily come off even when a tensile force acts. The flexible wiring board 25 has a play 49 so that an unreasonable load does not act on the internal signal line 29. The inside of the holding case 39 is filled with a filler 45 such as an adhesive from an injection port 43 closed by a lid 41, so that the entire sealing state is ensured.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 51 denotes a transparent window plate 1.
5 shows a cover which covers the upper part of FIG.

According to the electronic water meter configured as described above, the number of revolutions of the impeller 9 is input to the measuring circuit section 19 and is converted into a flow rate in the measuring circuit section 19. The flow rate value converted by the measuring circuit unit 19 is digitally displayed on the display unit 21, and is transmitted to the external signal cable 27 via the flexible wiring board 25.

In this case, the flexible wiring board 25
The strip-like shape allows the cable to pass through vertically between the outer peripheral edge of the transparent window plate 15 and the inner wall surface of the meter case 7 without difficulty, and the entire peripheral area including the wiring area is made of packing or the like. Because it is reliably sealed by the seal member 31,
There is no adverse effect of water when submerged.

FIGS. 7 to 9 show a second embodiment.

That is, the provision of the soldering portion 35 on one side of the flexible wiring board 25 is the same as in the first embodiment, but the electronic component 53 constituting the measuring circuit portion 19 and the digital A measuring circuit mounting section 57 in which the display section 55 for displaying is integrally mounted, and on the other end side,
A detection sensor mounting portion 63 in which a pair of detection sensors 59 are mounted integrally and a mounting hole 61 for positioning is provided.
And

On the other hand, a support bracket 65 for supporting the flexible mounting board 25 is disposed in the meter case 7.

The support bracket 65 has a U-shaped cross section open on both sides, and an intermediate portion thereof has:
A support plate 67 for supporting the measuring circuit mounting portion 57 of the flexible wiring board 25 is provided.

The bottom plate 65a of the support bracket 65 is a support portion for supporting the detection sensor mounting portion 63 of the flexible wiring board 25. The bottom plate 65a has an engagement with the mounting hole 61 for positioning. The protrusion 69 is fitted with the detection sensor 59, and fitting holes 71 are provided, each of which partially protrudes below the bottom plate 65a.

The other components are the same as those in the first embodiment, and therefore, are denoted by the same reference numerals and will not be described in detail.

Therefore, according to the second embodiment, by assembling the flexible wiring board 25 into the meter case 7, the assembling work of the measuring circuit section 19 and the detection sensor 59 is completed at once, and the workability is improved. Significant improvement can be achieved.
Further, since the number of parts can be greatly reduced, it is very preferable in terms of assemblability and man-hours for parts management.

Further, the measuring circuit mounting portion 57 and the detection sensor mounting portion 63 can obtain a stable supporting state in which the measuring circuit mounting portion 57 and the detection sensor mounting portion 63 are reliably supported by the support bracket 65, and the reliability is improved.

[0042]

As described above, according to the electronic water meter of the present invention, the strip-shaped flexible wiring board can be easily taken out of the meter case and out of the meter case, and the signal from the measuring circuit section can be obtained. Can be reliably transmitted to an external signal cable without being affected by water when submerged.

Further, since the same arrangement of the cable core wires and the signal wires makes it easy to select the corresponding wires, the soldering operation can be completed quickly without any mistake, and the work efficiency can be improved.

Further, since the measuring circuit section and the detection sensor can be directly mounted on the flexible wiring board, the number of components can be greatly reduced. As a result, the assemblability is improved, and it is very preferable in terms of man-hours for parts management.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view of an electronic water meter according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory sectional view of a signal cable.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a soldering portion of the flexible wiring board.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of soldering between a cable core of a signal cable and a soldering portion of a flexible wiring board.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the electronic water meter as viewed from above.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram in which a connection area between a flexible wiring board and a signal cable is surrounded by a case, and the inside is filled with a filler such as an adhesive to seal the inside.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram in which a measuring circuit unit, a display unit, a detection sensor, and the like are mounted on a flexible wiring board.

FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of a support bracket.

FIG. 9 is a schematic explanatory view similar to FIG. 1 in which a flexible wiring board is supported by a support bracket.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Meter main body 7 Meter case 9 Impeller 15 Transparent window board 17 Detection sensor 19 Measurement circuit part 25 Flexible wiring board 27 Signal cable 31 Seal member

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A meter body having an impeller whose rotation increases and decreases in response to the flow of water is provided with a meter case having a transparent window plate on an upper surface thereof.
A detection sensor for detecting the rotation speed of the impeller, and a weighing circuit unit that converts the rotation speed of the detection sensor into a flow rate,
Between the outer peripheral edge of the transparent window plate and the inner wall surface of the meter case, a flexible wiring board formed in the shape of a strip that can be pulled up and down is arranged, and the entire space between the meter case and the transparent window plate is provided. An electronic water meter, wherein one end of a flexible wiring board is connected to the measuring circuit section and the other end is connected to a signal cable while being sealed with a sealing member. 2. The electronic water meter according to claim 1, wherein the flexible wiring board is provided with soldering portions having the same arrangement as the arrangement of the cable cores of the signal cable. 3. The flexible wiring board according to claim 1, wherein a detection sensor is provided on one side of the flexible wiring board, and the detection sensor is positioned at a regular mounting position by a support bracket incorporated in the meter case. Electronic water meter as described. 4. A meter body having an impeller whose rotation increases and decreases in accordance with the flow of water is provided with a meter case having a transparent window plate on an upper surface thereof.
A detection sensor for detecting the rotation speed of the impeller, and a measuring circuit unit for converting the rotation speed sent from the detection sensor into a flow rate, the outer peripheral edge of the transparent window plate and the inner wall surface of the meter case, Between the meter case and the transparent window plate with a sealing member over the entire circumference, while extending outward from the meter case. The electronic water meter according to claim 1, wherein the flexible wiring board is connected to the signal cable, and at least the measuring circuit section is directly incorporated into the flexible wiring board in the meter case.