JP2001339775A - Remote monitoring for lp gas bulk container, method of maintenance control and billing processing therefor, and billing processing system therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a stabilization of LP gas supply, a safety of facility associated with a setting of LP gas bulk container, an automatic delivery and a billing processing associated with the delivery. SOLUTION: In this method of maintenance control and billing processing for LP gas bulk container, monitoring items including consumed amount in a specified period, pressure, temperature, capacity, earthquake and gas leaks of LP gas in a LP gas bulk container 1 are monitored, and monitoring data that is obtained by the monitoring is transmitted to a centralizing monitoring center 23 via telephone line, leased line or internet. The center 23 makes arrangement for delivery trucks so as to supply LP gas to the container 1 and processes remote monitoring for LP gas supply amount and for the container 1, and also processes billing processing for maintenance control.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and system for remotely monitoring, maintaining and managing an LP gas bulk container, and processing a bill.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a suburban restaurant or the like, LP gas is used for daily work by juxtaposing a plurality of small LP gas containers.

[0003]

The regulations have been relaxed, and even in suburban restaurants, for example, a height of about 1310 mm,
The use of LP gas bulk containers with a diameter of 650 mm is permitted, and there are few containers in the conventional cylinder method.
The fact that there was a problem with the work could be improved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0004] In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to stabilize the supply of LP gas, and to perform safety and automatic supply of equipment associated with the installation of an LP gas bulk container, and to perform a billing process accordingly. I do.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an LP gas bulk container, wherein the LP gas usage, pressure,
Monitors monitoring items including temperature, capacity, earthquake, gas leak, and transmits monitoring data obtained by the monitoring to a centralized monitoring center via a telephone line, a dedicated line, or a communication network such as the Internet. , Arranges a delivery vehicle, issues a delivery instruction of the LP gas to the LP gas bulk container, and performs a remote monitoring of the LP gas bulk container and a request for remote monitoring and maintenance management of the LP gas bulk container. Provide monitoring, maintenance and billing methods.

The present invention relates to a data collection device for monitoring monitoring items including LP gas bulk containers for a certain period of time including usage, pressure, temperature, capacity, earthquake, and gas leakage, and collecting monitoring data, and a data collection device. Monitoring device in a centralized monitoring center that receives the transmitted monitoring data,
The monitoring device instructs an LP gas supply / delivery vehicle from the usage amount monitoring data, checks a remote monitoring status of a monitoring item, and refers to contents stored in a storage medium for remote monitoring and maintenance management. LP that performs billing for
Provide a remote monitoring, maintenance and billing system for gas bulk containers.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, an LP gas bulk container 1 (for example, a height of about 1310 mm and a diameter of 650 mm) is vertically arranged and fixed in an underground room 2 formed by digging down the premises of a suburban restaurant or the like.

[0010] The LP gas bulk container 1 is provided with a pipe 4 to the cooking chamber 3, and a pipe 6 for supplying LP gas from a vehicle 5. FT sensor 11 for pipe 4 and PT for pipe 7
The sensor 12, the pipe 8 are provided with a TT sensor 13, and the pipe 9 is provided with an LT sensor 14. In addition, L
A leak sensor 15 and a run-out sensor 16 are provided beside the P gas bulk container 1.

The FT sensor 11 is a flow sensor, and detects a monthly usage amount. The PT sensor 12 is a pressure sensor. The TT sensor 13 is a temperature sensor. The LT sensor 14 is a level sensor. The LP gas bulk container 1 is provided with a shake sensor 16 for detecting a shake such as an earthquake. Gas leak is detected by the leak sensor 15.

[0010] The detection information detected by the sensors 11 to 16 is collected by the data collection device 21. This data collection device 21 is provided near the LP gas bulk container 1. As shown in the figure, the collected data is (1) usage detection, (2) pressure monitoring / abnormal pressure operation monitoring, (3) temperature monitoring, (4) capacity monitoring, (5) earthquake monitoring, (6) Used for gas leak monitoring. Therefore, these data are transmitted to a remote centralized monitoring center 23 via a communication network 22 such as a telephone line, a dedicated line, and an interface. The centralized monitoring center 23 includes a monitoring device (PC) 24
Is provided. The monitoring device 24 includes a storage medium 25 including a ROM and a RAM. The contents of the contract exchanged between the centralized monitoring center 23 and the business owner 31 who runs a suburban restaurant or the like are stored in the storage medium 25.

The monitoring device 24 refers to the information stored in the storage medium 25 and uses various types of monitoring data sent from the data collection device 21 to perform remote monitoring 26, maintenance management 27, and billing processing 28. I do.

[0012] Based on the data obtained by the FT sensor 11, the monthly usage amount and the billing amount are calculated, and an automatic payment system between the centralized monitoring center 23, the business owner 31 and the financial institution 32 is constructed. Claims processed are business owner 3
1 and paid by the financial institution 32 in response to a payment request from the business owner 31. This processed claim will include the price for the remote monitoring and maintenance management tasks described below.

The pressure is detected by the PT sensor 12, and normal pressure monitoring is performed and an abnormal pressure alarm is issued. or,
Operate the safety valve remotely to stabilize the pressure.

The temperature is detected by the TT sensor 13, and an abnormal temperature alarm and monitoring are performed based on this data.

The capacity in the container is detected by the LT sensor 14, and this data is used for grasping the capacity in the container.
When the level decrease exceeds a certain amount, the centralized monitoring center 23
From the delivery vehicle 5 via wireless or PHS (delivery destination instruction), and a delivery to the corresponding facility is arranged. In this case, the delivery arrangement may be automatically performed by using the processing program.

If it is estimated that the vibration signal from the vibration sensor 16 is abnormal, the delivery service man is instructed to rush to the site, and the delivery service man uses the pressure sensor or ultrasonic inspection to detect the LP gas bulk container 1. Diagnose safety.

The gas leak is detected by the leak sensor 15, and the gas leak of the LP gas bulk container 1 is detected, or the presence or absence of a leak is monitored.

[0018]

As described above, according to the present invention, remote monitoring, automatic supply and distribution, and maintenance of the LP gas bulk container are performed under the initiative of the centralized monitoring center to stabilize the LP gas supply. Will be performed. This allows the employer to make little or no initial investment, helping to stabilize management.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... LP gas bulk container, 2 ... Underground room, 3 ... Cooking room,
4, 6, 7, 8, 9: piping, 5: vehicle, 11: FT sensor, 12: PT sensor, 13: TT sensor, 14: L
T sensor, 15: leak sensor, 16: runout sensor, 21
... data collection device, 22 ... communication network, 23 ... centralized monitoring center, 24 ... monitoring device, 25 ... storage medium, 26 ... remote monitoring, 27 ... maintenance management, 28 ... billing process, 31 ... business owner,
32 ... Financial institution.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G01F 23/00 G01F 23/00 C 5C086 G08B 21/00 G08B 21/00 5C087 21/16 21/16 5K048 25 / 08 25/08 A G08C 15/00 G08C 15/00 B F-term (reference) 2F030 CB02 CC13 CE09 2F073 AA08 AA19 AB01 BB04 BB07 BB09 BC01 CC01 CC08 CC14 DD02 FG01 FG02 GG01 GG04 2F075 GG04 GG11 2F07 BA11 BA11 BE05 BE09 BE17 3E072 AA01 GA30 5C086 AA02 AA13 BA17 CA15 CA23 CB01 CB11 CB20 CB28 DA10 DA14 DA27 EA11 EA41 EA45 5C087 BB03 BB12 BB74 DD02 DD07 DD23 EE16 FF01 FF04 FF19 FF20 GG23 EB21 GG20

Claims (2)

[Claims] The present invention monitors an LP gas bulk container for a certain period of time, including a usage amount, a pressure, a temperature, a capacity, an earthquake, and a gas leak of the LP gas, and monitors the monitoring item via a communication network such as a telephone line, a dedicated line, or the Internet. Transmitting the monitoring data obtained by the monitoring to a centralized monitoring center,
The centralized monitoring center arranges for a delivery vehicle and sends the L
The LP which issues a supply instruction to the P gas bulk container, and performs a billing process regarding the supply and delivery amount of the LP gas and the remote monitoring and maintenance management of the LP gas bulk container.
Remote monitoring, maintenance management and billing method for gas bulk containers. 2. A data collection device for monitoring a monitoring item including a usage amount, a pressure, a temperature, a capacity, an earthquake, and a gas leak of the LP gas in the LP gas bulk container for a predetermined period, and collecting monitoring data, and a collected data. A monitoring device in a centralized monitoring center for receiving monitoring data, wherein the monitoring device instructs an LP gas supply / delivery vehicle from the usage amount monitoring data and checks a remote monitoring status of monitoring items. And a remote monitoring, maintenance management, and billing system for the LP gas bulk container, wherein a billing process for remote monitoring and maintenance management is performed with reference to contents stored in a storage medium.