JP2002156258A - Flowmeter and flow passage cutting-off control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a flowmeter capable of shortening the lighting period of a warning lamp which is caused by the leakage of an inner pipe to suppress the sudden consumption of a built-in battery. SOLUTION: A gas meter 10 is equipped with a cut-off valve 11 for closing or opening the flow passage of piping 1, a control unit 17 for controlling the on-off operation of the cut-off valve 11, a warning lamp 15 lighting in order to report the leakage or the like of the inner pipe generated within the piping 1, and a power supply part 16 having the built-in battery for supplying voltage to the control unit 17, the warning lamp 15 or the like. When the leakage of the inner pipe is generated, the control unit 17 allows the warning lamp 15 to light and closes the flow passage of the piping 1 by the cut-off valve 11. Thereafter, the control unit 17 inspects a gas leakage and, when there is no gas leakage in the piping 1, the warning lamp 15 is allowed to put out lights and the flow passage is opened by the cut-off valve 11.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a flow meter provided with an alarm lamp for notifying when an abnormality such as leakage of a fluid such as a gas has occurred in a pipe, and a flow path shutoff control method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, a microcomputer is mounted as a flow meter, and when an abnormality such as gas leakage occurs in a pipe, for example, an LED (Light) is used to notify the abnormality.
Gas meters provided with an alarm lamp composed of an emitting diode (light emitting diode) and a shutoff valve for electrically closing or opening a gas flow path in a pipe have been put into practical use.
Such a gas meter closes a gas flow path by a shut-off valve when a gas flow rate in a pipe exceeds a predetermined flow rate or when a gas pressure is out of a predetermined pressure range, and an alarm lamp. Are blinking in a predetermined pattern. In this case, the operator determines the type of abnormality in the pipe based on the blinking state of the alarm lamp, and performs repair work according to the type. Then, after the repair work is completed, the blinking of the alarm lamp is canceled.

[0003] Further, with the increase of 24-hour stores and restaurants in recent years, the number of consumers who use gas continuously for 24 hours is increasing. In such a consumer, since the gas constantly flows in the pipe, the gas meter described above is suspected of leaking the gas on the downstream side, and determines that the leak is the inner pipe, and closes the flow path. The warning lamp blinks in a predetermined pattern to alert the outside. Here, the inner pipe leakage means that there is no abnormality in the flow rate and pressure of the gas in the pipe,
Days), the gas is considered to be continuously used (flowing).

[0004]

By the way, the blinking of the alarm lamp due to the leakage of the inner pipe continues for more than 30 days, for example, until it is released by an operator at the time of reading the gas meter. If the operator overlooks this flash, the flash period will be further extended. Further, even if the blinking of the alarm lamp is once released by the operator, if the gas is used continuously for 30 days, for example, the inner pipe leaks again and the blinking of the alarm lamp is started. Thus, in the case of an internal pipe leak, the alarm lamp blinks repeatedly. However, since the power consumption of the LED used as an alarm lamp is large, the built-in battery, which is the power supply for supplying voltage to the LED and the microcomputer, etc., is in a normal use state where the inner tube leakage hardly occurs. It will wear out faster than it does. As a result, the voltage from the built-in battery suddenly drops and the gas meter does not operate normally. Therefore, the gas meter can be operated in a shorter period (for example, about 1 to 2 years) than a normal replacement period (for example, about 10 years). Had to be replaced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to reduce the period of time for turning on an alarm lamp due to the occurrence of leakage of an inner tube, and to suppress the rapid consumption of a built-in battery. An object of the present invention is to provide a flow path cutoff control method.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A flow meter according to the present invention comprises:
Measuring means for measuring the flow rate of the fluid flowing in the pipe, a shut-off valve for closing or opening the flow path of the pipe, and determining whether there is an inner pipe leak in the pipe based on the measurement result of the measuring means, Control means for controlling the opening and closing of the shut-off valve in accordance with the result of the determination.

The flow path cutoff control method according to the present invention is performed by a flow meter provided with a cutoff valve for closing or opening a flow path of a pipe. The flow rate of a fluid flowing through the pipe is measured, and the measurement result is obtained. It is determined whether or not there is an inner pipe leak in the pipe based on the above, and the opening and closing of the shutoff valve is controlled according to the result of this determination.

In this flow meter or flow path cutoff control method,
The flow rate of the fluid flowing in the pipe is measured, and it is determined whether or not the pipe has an inner pipe leak based on the measurement result. The opening and closing of the shut-off valve for closing or opening the flow path of the pipe is controlled according to the result of this determination.

[0009] The determination of the presence or absence of leakage of the inner pipe is performed, for example, by
The determination is performed based on whether or not the flow rate of the fluid is continuously measured within a predetermined period.

In this flow meter or flow path cutoff control method,
When it is determined that there is leakage of the inner pipe in the pipe, it is preferable to close the flow path of the pipe by a shutoff valve.

Further, according to the flow meter or the flow path cutoff control method, when it is determined that there is an inner pipe leakage in the pipe,
It is preferable to turn on an alarm lamp for notifying an abnormality in the piping to the outside.

Further, according to the flow meter or the flow path cutoff control method, when the pressure of the fluid in the pipe is detected and the alarm lamp is turned on, the fluid leaks in the pipe based on the measurement result and the detection result. It is preferable to turn off the warning lamp when it is determined whether there is no fluid leakage or not.

In this flow meter or flow path cutoff control method,
When the alarm lamp is turned on, the passage of the pipe may be closed by a shutoff valve after a predetermined period has elapsed from the time of lighting.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a gas meter as a flow meter according to an embodiment of the present invention, together with a configuration of a peripheral portion thereof. The gas meter 10 measures the flow rate of gas flowing through a flow path in a pipe.
In addition, since the flow path cutoff control method according to the present embodiment is embodied by the operation of the gas meter 10,
Also described.

The gas meter 10 includes a shut-off valve 11, a flow detecting unit 12, a pressure sensor 13, an operation button 14, an alarm lamp 15, a power supply unit 16, a control unit 17, and a communication interface 18. The shut-off valve 11, the flow detection unit 12, and the pressure sensor 13 are provided in the pipe 1, respectively. A gas appliance 3 is provided downstream of the gas meter 10 in the pipe 1 via an appliance plug 2. The gas flows in the pipe 1 from the upstream side of the gas meter 10 to the instrument plug 2 side. Communication interface 18
Is a command center 2 via a communication line 19 such as a telephone line.
0 host computer 20A.

The shut-off valve 11 is configured to be electrically openable and closable. When supplying gas to the gas appliance 3, the shut-off valve 11 is kept open to open a flow path and supply gas. When the operation is interrupted, a transition is made from an open state to a closed state to close the flow path. Flow rate detector 1
Reference numeral 2 denotes a fluid flow meter or a membrane flow meter, for example, which detects the flow rate of gas flowing downstream of the shut-off valve 11 in the pipe 1 and outputs a flow signal corresponding to the detected flow rate to the control unit 17. It has become. The pressure sensor 13 detects the pressure of the gas flowing downstream of the shutoff valve 11 and outputs a pressure signal indicating the detected pressure to the control circuit 17. The operation button 14 is for inputting a leak test start signal for performing a gas leak test in a flow path cutoff control process described later, as necessary.
The alarm lamp 15 is formed of, for example, an LED, and is turned on to notify the occurrence of an internal pipe leak or the like in the pipe 1, and blinks in a predetermined pattern according to the type of the alarm lamp. The power supply unit 16 has a built-in battery and supplies a voltage to the alarm lamp 15, the control unit 17, and the like.

The host computer 20 of the command center 20
A monitors the operation of the gas meter 10. If the shutoff valve 11 is closed and the flow path is closed, a leak test start signal is transmitted from the host computer 20A to the communication interface 18 of the gas meter 10 through the communication line 19 as necessary. You may.

FIG. 2 shows the schematic configuration of the control unit 17 together with the configuration of its peripheral parts. The control unit 17 is configured by a microcomputer, for example, and monitors the presence or absence of leakage of the inner pipe in the pipe 1. The control unit 17 includes a flow rate calculation unit 21, a shutoff valve driving circuit 22, a memory 23, and a determination processing unit 24. have. The flow rate calculation unit 21 calculates a gas flow rate based on a flow rate signal corresponding to the flow rate output from the flow rate detection unit 12, and determines the calculation result as a determination processing unit 2.
4 is output. Shut-off valve drive circuit 22
Is for opening and closing the shutoff valve 11 under the control of the determination processing unit 24. The memory 23 stores an upper limit value and a lower limit value of a predetermined pressure range in the pipe 1, a leak detection flow rate value, a flow path closing flow rate value, and the like. Here, the leak detection flow rate value is a reference flow rate for detecting inner pipe leakage, and the flow path closing flow rate value is larger than the leak detection flow rate value. This is a reference flow rate for closing.

The judgment processing unit 24 controls the lighting of the alarm lamp 15 and the shutoff valve 1 based on the pressure detected by the pressure sensor 13 and the flow rate calculated by the flow rate calculation unit 21.
It controls the operation of the shut-off valve drive circuit 22 for opening and closing 1 and has a timer 24A. The timer 24A measures time from a predetermined time.

Next, the operation of the gas meter 10 configured as described above will be described.

FIG. 3 shows the flow of the flow path cutoff control processing by the determination processing section 24. The determination processing unit 24 compares the flow rate value calculated by the flow rate calculation unit 21 with the leak detection flow rate value stored in the memory 23,
It is determined whether there is a gas flow in the pipe 1. When the flow rate value is equal to or greater than the leak detection flow rate value and there is a gas flow, the determination processing unit 24 causes the timer 24A to start measuring time from when it is determined that there is a gas flow. Then, based on the measurement result, the determination processing unit 24 determines that a state in which such a gas flow exists for a predetermined period (for example, 30
Days), it is determined whether or not an inner pipe leak has occurred in the pipe 1 (step S1). When the inner pipe leaks (Y), the determination processing unit 24 turns on the alarm lamp 15 and controls the shutoff valve drive circuit 22 to close the shutoff valve 11 and close the flow path ( Step S2). Here, the alarm lamp 15 blinks in a predetermined pattern. At this time, the determination processing unit 24 causes the host computer 20A to transmit a flow path closing signal indicating that the flow path has been closed from the communication interface 18 to the host computer 20A.

Next, the determination processing section 24 determines whether or not a leakage inspection start signal has been received (step S3). Here, for example, when the worker observes the blinking state of the alarm lamp 15 and inputs a leak inspection start signal with the operation button 14, or in response to a flow path closing signal from the gas meter 10, the host computer 20 </ b> A Transmits a leak test start signal to the communication interface 18 via the communication line 19, the leak test start signal is received. When the leak inspection start signal is received (Y), the determination processing unit 24
Performs a gas leak inspection as follows (step S4), and determines whether or not there is a gas leak based on the inspection result (step S5).

More specifically, first, the determination processing section 24 controls the shut-off valve driving circuit 22 to open the flow path by the shut-off valve 11, and after a lapse of several seconds from the opening, for example, the shut-off valve 11 To close the flow path. Then, in this state, the determination processing unit 24 determines whether or not the pressure detected by the pressure sensor 13 is a value within a predetermined pressure range stored in the memory 23. If the detected pressure is a value outside the predetermined pressure range, the determination processing unit 24
It is determined that there is a gas leak inside. Next, for example, it is determined whether or not the flow rate calculated by the flow rate calculation unit 21 for about 2 minutes is equal to or greater than the flow path closing flow rate value stored in the memory 23. Also when the flow rate is equal to or greater than the flow path closing flow rate value, the determination processing unit 24 determines that there is gas leakage.

When there is gas leakage (step S5;
In Y), the alarm lamp 15 is kept lit, and the shutoff valve 11 is kept closed. On the other hand, when it is determined that there is no gas leakage (step S5; N),
The determination processing unit 24 turns off the alarm lamp 15 that is turned on, controls the shut-off valve drive circuit 22, and opens the shut-off valve 11 to open the flow path (step S6).

As described above, in the present embodiment, the piping 1
When the inner pipe leaks inside, the alarm lamp 15 is turned on and the shutoff valve 11 is closed to close the flow path. Therefore, it is possible to notify indirectly to the outside by closing the flow path at the same time when the inner pipe leaks. Then, after closing the flow path, a gas leak inspection is performed, and when it is determined that there is no gas leak, the alarm lamp 15 is turned off. Therefore, the warning lamp 15 can be turned off at an early stage.
Can be shortened, and rapid consumption of the built-in battery can be suppressed.

In the above-described embodiment, the flow path cutoff control processing for turning on the alarm lamp 15 and closing the flow path by the cutoff valve 11 when the inner pipe leaks in the pipe 1 has been described. The present invention is not limited to this,
It is also possible to close the flow path after a predetermined period has elapsed since the alarm lamp 15 was turned on.

FIG. 4 shows the flow of another flow path cutoff control processing by the determination processing section 24. The determination processing unit 24
As described above, it is determined whether or not the inner pipe has leaked in the pipe 1 (step S7). When the inner pipe leaks (Y), the determination processing unit 24 sets the alarm lamp 15
Is turned on (step S8). At the same time when the alarm lamp 15 is turned on, the time is measured by the timer 24A.

Next, the determination processing section 24 determines whether or not a predetermined period (for example, about one week) has elapsed from the time when the alarm lamp 15 was turned on, based on the result of the time measurement by the timer 24A (step S1). S9). If it is determined that the predetermined period has elapsed (Y), the determination processing unit 24 controls the valve drive circuit 22 to close the shutoff valve 11 (Step S10).

Thereafter, the determination processing section 24 determines whether or not a leakage inspection start signal has been received (step S11).
When the leakage inspection start signal is received (Y), the determination processing unit 24 performs a gas leakage inspection in the same manner as described above (step S12), and determines whether there is a gas leakage based on the inspection result. (Step S13). If there is a gas leak (Y), the alarm lamp 15 is kept on and the shutoff valve 11 is kept closed. on the other hand,
When it is determined that there is no gas leakage (step S13;
In N), the determination processing unit 24 turns off the lit alarm lamp 15 and controls the shutoff valve drive circuit 22 to open the shutoff valve 11 and open the flow path (step S14).

As described above, even if the passage is closed by the shut-off valve 11 after a predetermined period has elapsed from the time when the alarm lamp 15 is turned on due to the occurrence of the inner pipe leakage, the occurrence of the inner pipe leakage is not detected outside. It is possible to notify indirectly. In addition, by performing the gas leakage inspection, the warning lamp 15 can be turned off early, so that the lighting period of the warning lamp 15 can be shortened, and rapid consumption of the built-in battery can be suppressed.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications are possible. For example, in the above embodiment, when the inner pipe leaks, the process of closing the flow path by the shut-off valve together with the turning on of the alarm lamp, or the process of turning off the flow after a predetermined period has elapsed since the turning on of the alarm lamp. Although the process for closing the road is performed, any of the processes may be selected and performed. In this case, the selection information indicating the processing to be executed is stored in, for example, a memory, and when the inner pipe leaks, the flow path cutoff control processing selected by the selection information is performed. The selection information may be stored in a memory when the gas meter is shipped, or may be stored in the memory after the gas meter is installed, for example, using a gas meter setting device.

[0033]

As described above, the flow meter according to any one of claims 1 to 6, or the flow meter according to claims 7 to 12
According to the flow path cutoff control method described in any one of the above, the flow rate of the fluid flowing in the pipe is measured, and based on the measurement result, it is determined whether or not the pipe has an inner pipe leak. According to the result, since the opening and closing of the shut-off valve for closing or opening the flow path of the pipe is controlled, the occurrence of the inner pipe leakage can be indirectly notified to the outside by closing the flow path. .

In particular, according to the flowmeter according to the fifth aspect or the flow path shutoff control method according to the eleventh aspect, when the alarm lamp is turned on, it is determined whether or not there is fluid leakage in the piping. When it is determined that there is no leakage of the fluid, the warning lamp is turned off, so that the warning lamp can be turned off early and the lighting period of the warning lamp can be shortened.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a gas meter as a flow meter according to an embodiment of the present invention, together with a configuration of a peripheral portion thereof.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a control unit of the gas meter shown in FIG. 1 together with a configuration of a peripheral portion thereof.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a flow of a flow path cutoff control process by a determination processing unit illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a flow of another flow path cutoff control process by a determination processing unit illustrated in FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Piping, 2 ... Instrument stopper, 3 ... Gas appliance, 10 ... Gas meter, 11 ... Shut-off valve, 12 ... Flow rate detection unit, 13 ... Pressure sensor, 14 ... Operation button, 15 ... Alarm lamp, 16 ... Power supply unit, 17 ... Control unit, 18 ... Communication interface, 19
... Communication line, 20 ... Command center, 20A ... Host computer, 21 ... Flow rate calculator, 22 ... Shutoff valve drive circuit, 2
3 ... memory, 24 ... determination processing unit, 24A ... timer.

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Mitsuhiro Nakamura 1-5-20 Kaigan, Minato-ku, Tokyo Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2F030 CC13 CF05 CF11

Claims (12)

[Claims] A measuring means for measuring a flow rate of a fluid flowing in a pipe; a shutoff valve for closing or opening a flow path of the pipe; and an inner pipe leaking in the pipe based on a measurement result of the measuring means. Control means for judging whether or not this is the case, and controlling the opening and closing of the shut-off valve according to the judgment result. 2. The flow rate according to claim 1, wherein the control means determines that there is an inner pipe leak when the flow rate of the fluid is continuously measured within a predetermined period by the measurement means. Total. 3. The flowmeter according to claim 1, wherein the control means closes the flow path of the pipe by the shutoff valve when it is determined that there is an inner pipe leak in the pipe. 4. An alarm lamp for notifying an abnormality in the pipe to the outside, wherein the control means turns on the alarm lamp when it is determined that there is a leak in the pipe in the pipe. The flowmeter according to claim 1, wherein: 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a detecting unit configured to detect a pressure of the fluid in the pipe, wherein the control unit outputs a measurement result of the measuring unit and a detection result of the detecting unit when the alarm lamp is turned on. 5. The flowmeter according to claim 4, wherein it is determined whether or not there is a fluid leak in the piping, and if it is determined that there is no fluid leak, the alarm lamp is turned off. 6. The control means, when lighting the alarm lamp, after a lapse of a predetermined period from the lighting time,
The flow meter according to claim 4, wherein the flow path of the pipe is closed by the shutoff valve. 7. A flow path shutoff control method using a flow meter having a shutoff valve for closing or opening a flow path of a pipe, wherein a flow rate of a fluid flowing in the pipe is measured, and the flow rate is measured based on a result of the measurement. A flow path shutoff control method, comprising: judging whether or not there is an inner pipe leak in a pipe, and controlling opening / closing of the shutoff valve according to a result of the judgment. 8. The flow path shutoff control method according to claim 7, wherein when the flow rate of the fluid is continuously measured within a predetermined period, it is determined that there is an inner pipe leakage. 9. The flow path shutoff control method according to claim 7, wherein the flow path of the pipe is closed by the shutoff valve when it is determined that the inner pipe has leaked in the pipe. 10. An alarm lamp for notifying an abnormality in the pipe to the outside when it is determined that there is a leak in the pipe in the pipe.
The flow path cutoff control method according to the above. 11. Detecting the pressure of the fluid in the pipe, and when turning on the alarm lamp, determine whether there is a fluid leak in the pipe based on the measurement result and the detection result. 11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the alarm lamp is turned off when it is determined that there is no leakage of the fluid. 12. The flow path shutoff according to claim 10, wherein when the alarm lamp is turned on, the flow path of the pipe is closed by the shutoff valve after a predetermined period has elapsed from the time of lighting. Control method.