JP2002243511A - Flow meter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a flow meter capable of improving safety by preventing an inner pipe leakage from continuing over a long period, preventing an insecure feeling by confirming a progressing state in a restoration leakage confirming process, and capable of predicting a replacement timing of a flow meter body by confirming a remaining capacity of a battery. SOLUTION: The flow meter is provided with a display part 14 having a bar display area composed of a plurality of segments, a restoration button 15, a determination processing part 25 and a power source part 17. If an average flow rate of gas inside piping is an internal pipe leakage detecting flow rate or more, the determination processing part 25 determines a duration of the average flow rate and information showing the duration is displayed in the bar display area of the display part 14. When the restoration button 15 is pressed after closing of a passage, the determination processing part 25 carries out the restoration leakage confirming process and information showing its progressing state is displayed in the bar display area. The determination processing part 25 calculates a capacity of the battery 17A of the power source part 17 and information showing the calculated capacity is displayed in the bar display area.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a function of notifying the occurrence of leakage of an inner pipe when the leakage of the inner pipe has occurred in a pipe through which a fluid such as gas flows, and the occurrence of an abnormality such as fluid leakage in the pipe. The present invention relates to a flow meter having a function of performing a return leak confirming process for opening a flow path after closing the flow path.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, in addition to a function of measuring a pressure and a flow rate of a gas flowing in a flow path in a pipe as a flow meter, a microcomputer is mounted, and when an abnormality such as gas leakage occurs in the pipe, Equipped with a function to display information indicating abnormalities while closing the gas flow path, and a function to perform a return leak confirmation process to open the closed flow path,
An electronic gas meter called a so-called microcomputer meter has been put to practical use. FIG. 13 is a front view of the external appearance of a gas meter having such a function. The gas meter 100 includes a pressure sensor, a flow rate sensor, a case 101 for accommodating a shutoff valve for closing a gas flow path when gas leaks, a control unit for controlling an opening / closing operation of the shutoff valve, and the like. And a case 102 for accommodating the same. The case 102 also houses a power supply unit composed of a battery for supplying power to a control unit, a display unit 104 described below, and the like. On a front surface of the case 102, a return button 103 for opening a gas flow path when the gas flow path is closed by a shut-off valve, for example, an LCD (Liquid).
A display unit 104 including a crystal display (liquid crystal display) is provided. At the top of the case 102,
A gas introduction pipe 105 for introducing gas and a gas discharge pipe 106 for discharging gas are connected.

FIG. 14 shows a display example on the display screen of the display unit 104. The display screen 107 of the display unit 104 includes an integrated flow rate value 108, information (for example, “A”) 109 indicating an abnormality when an abnormality (interruption / warning event) such as gas leakage occurs, Information (for example, “gas stop”) 110 indicating that the flow path is closed when closed, integrated flow dot information 111A, 111B used when adjusting the instrument difference of the gas meter 100,
111C etc. are displayed. Integrated flow rate dot information 111
A is turned on every time a flow rate of, for example, about 0.1 liter / hour is integrated, and then turned off. Integrated flow dot information 1
11B is turned on each time a flow rate of, for example, about 1 liter / hour is integrated, and then turned off. Further, the accumulated flow dot information 111C is turned on every time a flow rate of, for example, about 10 liters / hour is accumulated, and then turned off. The integrated flow rate dot information 111A is also used as flow rate pilot information so that the presence or absence of the current flow rate can be checked at a glance. That is, in a normal gas use state, for example, when there is a flow rate of about 1.5 liter / hour or more, the display is flashed as pilot information.

In the gas meter 100 described above, when the gas flow continues for a predetermined period of time, there is a suspicion of gas leakage on the downstream side, and it is determined that the inner pipe is leaking, and the flow path is closed. Instead, the display unit 104 displays inner pipe leak information (for example, “N”) indicating that the inner pipe leak has occurred, so as to call attention to the outside. Here, the inner pipe leakage refers to a case where there is no abnormality in the flow rate and pressure of the gas in the pipe, but it is recognized that the gas flows continuously for a predetermined period (for example, 30 days). For example, it is rare that the gas is continuously used for 30 days in a normal use state. Therefore, when the gas flow is detected for 30 consecutive days, it is determined that the gas is not used but a leak.

[0005] For example, among the gas meters 100 described above, in the case of a fluid gas meter, the inner pipe leakage information is displayed as follows (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-6).
2002 publication). First, for example, the average flow rate of the gas is calculated every about 120 seconds, and it is determined whether the calculated average flow rate is equal to or more than a predetermined flow rate (eg, about 3 liters / hour). If the result of this determination is not less than the predetermined flow rate, it is determined whether or not this predetermined flow rate has continued for, for example, 30 days. As a result, if it has been continued for 30 days, the inner pipe leakage information is displayed on the display unit.

[0006] Further, the gas meter 100 has the shut-off valve in the open state in the normal gas use state, but judges that an abnormality such as gas leakage has occurred based on the gas pressure detected by the pressure sensor. At times, the shut-off valve is closed to close the flow path. Thereafter, when an operator or the like presses the return button 103, a return leak confirmation process is performed in the gas meter 100. FIG. 15 shows the flow of the return leak confirmation process when the gas meter 100 is of a fluidic type. When the return button 103 is pressed, the shutoff valve is opened (step S101), and after about 5 seconds, for example, the open shutoff valve is closed (step S102). In this state, the initial pressure in the pipe is measured (Step S103), and for example, approximately 20 seconds elapse from the measurement of the initial pressure (Step S103).
104). After the elapse of 20 seconds, the pressure in the pipe is reduced to a predetermined first value (for example, about 200 P) from the initial pressure.
a) It is determined whether or not it has decreased by more than this (Step S10)
5). If the pressure has not dropped below the first value (Y), a predetermined time (eg, about 20 seconds or about 60 seconds)
Within a second), it is determined whether or not the pressure in the pipe has decreased by a predetermined second value (for example, about 50 Pa) or more (step S106). When the pressure has decreased by the first value or more (step S105; Y) or when the pressure has decreased by the second value or more during the predetermined time (step S106; Y), it is determined that there is gas leakage, and the shutoff valve is set. The closed state is maintained (step S107). On the other hand, if the pressure has not decreased to the second value or more (step S106; N), it is determined that there is no gas leakage, and the shutoff valve is opened (step S10).
8) The use of gas is enabled. During the return leak confirmation processing as described above, the information (for example, “L”) indicating that the confirmation processing is being performed is displayed on the display unit 104 instead of the information (“A”) 109 shown in FIG. Screen 1
07 is displayed. If it is determined that there is no gas leakage, the information (“L”) indicating that the return leakage confirmation processing is being performed is not displayed on the display unit 104.

[0007]

As described above, the inner pipe leakage information is displayed when the gas flow at a flow rate of about 3 liters / hour or more continues for 30 days. Therefore, the occurrence of the inner pipe leakage in the pipe is considered to be 3 hours from the start of the gas flow at such a flow rate.
It will not be possible to discover until day 0 has passed. Also,
In the case of a gas meter that is not connected to the command center through a communication line, the operator checks the information displayed on the display unit at the time of the meter reading to check whether or not the inner tube has leaked. If it is performed only once a month, it may not be possible to detect the occurrence of inner tube leakage for a maximum of about two months. If the operator has overlooked the inner tube leak information at the time of meter reading, the gas flow will continue for a longer period of time. However, such a gas flow (leakage of the inner pipe) is prolonged (about 2
For more than a month) is not preferable from the viewpoint of safety.

During the above-mentioned return leak confirmation processing, the operator basically waits at the place and waits for the completion of this confirmation processing. This is because some repair work needs to be performed if the shut-off valve does not open due to the abnormality being confirmed by the return leak confirmation processing. However, since the time required for the return leak confirmation process (return time) and the progress of this confirmation process cannot be confirmed by the operator, the return time is felt long. In particular, since the return time varies depending on the type of abnormality, the type of gas meter, the pressure state downstream of the gas meter, and the like, if the return time is long, the operator must confirm whether the return leak confirmation processing has been performed reliably. There is a problem of feeling uneasy.

Further, the gas meter 100 includes a battery as described above. However, if the battery is rapidly consumed for some reason, the voltage and current supplied to the control unit and the display unit 104 decrease. Then, the gas meter does not operate normally. However, since the operator does not know the remaining capacity of the battery, there is a problem that the gas meter main body cannot be replaced unless the gas meter stops operating normally.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and a first object of the present invention is to be able to predict the occurrence of an inner pipe leak, to prevent the inner pipe leak from continuing for a long time, An object of the present invention is to provide a flow meter capable of improving safety.

A second object of the present invention is to prevent the worker from feeling uneasy when the return leak confirmation processing is performed by pressing the return button so that the progress of the return leakage confirmation processing can be confirmed. It is to provide a flow meter which can be used.

A third object of the present invention is to provide a flow meter capable of confirming the remaining capacity of the battery and predicting the time of replacement of the flow meter body.

[0013]

A first flow meter according to the present invention comprises measuring means for measuring a flow rate of a fluid flowing in a pipe, a display area for displaying a flow rate of the fluid, and a plurality of segments. A display unit having a bar display area, and determining whether or not the flow rate of the fluid is equal to or more than a predetermined flow rate based on the measurement result of the measurement unit. A determination processing unit configured to display information indicating a duration of the flow of the fluid in a bar display area of the display unit.

In the first flow meter of the present invention, the flow rate of the fluid flowing in the pipe is measured, and it is determined based on the measurement result whether the flow rate of the fluid is equal to or more than a predetermined flow rate. Then, when the flow rate of the fluid is equal to or more than the predetermined flow rate, the information indicating the duration of the flow of the fluid having the predetermined flow rate or more is displayed on the display unit.
It is displayed in a bar display area composed of a plurality of segments. Thereby, the occurrence of the inner pipe leakage is predicted in advance.

The second flow meter according to the present invention is capable of executing a return leak confirming process for opening a flow path of a fluid flowing in a pipe when the flow path is closed. An input unit for inputting a start signal for starting a confirmation process, a display unit having a display area for displaying a flow rate of a fluid, and a bar display area configured by a plurality of segments, and a start signal input by the input unit It is determined whether or not the process has been performed, and when a start signal is input, the return leak confirmation process is performed, and a determination processing unit that displays information indicating the progress of the return leak confirmation process in a bar display area of the display unit. It has a configuration provided.

In the second flow meter of the present invention, it is determined whether or not a start signal for starting the return leak confirmation processing has been input. And when this start signal is input,
The return leak confirmation process is performed, and information indicating the progress of the return leak confirmation process is displayed in a bar display area of the display unit, which is configured by a plurality of segments. This makes it easy to confirm the progress of the return leak confirmation process.

A third flow meter according to the present invention measures a flow rate of a fluid flowing in a pipe, and comprises a display area for displaying a flow rate of the fluid and a bar display area formed by a plurality of segments. A display unit having at least a battery that supplies power to the display unit, and a determination processing unit that calculates the capacity of the battery and displays information representing the calculated battery capacity in a bar display area of the display unit. Have.

In the third flow meter of the present invention, at least the capacity of the battery for supplying power to the display unit is calculated, and the information indicating the calculated battery capacity is constituted by a plurality of segments of the display unit. Displayed in the bar display area. Thereby, the remaining capacity of the battery is easily confirmed.

In the first, second or third flow meter,
The determination processing means may display the integrated flow rate dot information in the bar display area of the display unit for each predetermined integrated flow rate.

In the first, second, or third flowmeter, the determination processing means may display flow rate pilot information indicating that there is a fluid flow rate in a bar display area of the display unit. .

Further, in the first, second or third flowmeter, it is preferable that the display section comprises a liquid crystal display.

[0022]

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 a flow rate and a pressure of a gas flowing through a flow path in a pipe, closes a flow path when an abnormality such as gas leakage occurs in the pipe, and opens a closed flow path. is there.

The gas meter 10 includes a shut-off valve 11, a flow detection unit 12, a pressure sensor 13, a display unit 14, and a return button 1.
5, a control unit 16 and a power supply unit 17. The shut-off valve 11, the flow detection unit 12, and the pressure sensor 13 are provided in the pipe 1, respectively. Gas meter 1 in pipe 1
A gas appliance 3 is provided on the downstream side of 0 through an appliance plug 2. The gas is supplied from the upstream of the gas meter 10 to the instrument plug 2.
It flows inside the pipe 1 toward the side.

The shutoff valve 11 is configured to be electrically openable and closable. When supplying gas to the gas appliance 3, the shutoff valve 11 is kept open to keep the flow path open.
When the supply of gas is interrupted, a transition is made from an open state to a closed state to close the flow path. Flow rate detector 12
Is configured by, for example, a fluidic flow meter, configured to detect a flow rate of gas flowing downstream of the shut-off valve 11 in the pipe 1 and output a flow rate signal corresponding to the detected flow rate to the control unit 16. The pressure sensor 13 detects the pressure of gas flowing on the downstream side of the shutoff valve 11 and outputs a pressure signal indicating the detected pressure to the control circuit 16. The display unit 14 includes, for example, an LCD, and displays an integrated flow rate and the like. The return button 15 is used to start a return leak confirmation process for opening the flow path after the flow path is closed by the shut-off valve 11. A start signal for starting the leak confirmation processing is input to the control unit 16.

FIG. 2 shows the schematic configuration of the control unit 16 together with the configuration of its peripheral parts. The control unit 16 is configured by, for example, a microcomputer, and monitors the presence or absence of an abnormality in the pipe 1 and performs cutoff control of a flow path according to the monitoring result. 22, a shut-off valve drive circuit 23, a memory 24, and a determination processing unit 25. The flow rate calculation section 21 calculates the gas flow rate based on the flow rate signal output from the flow rate detection section 12 and outputs the calculation result to the flow rate integration section 22 and the determination processing section 25, respectively. The flow rate integrating section 22 integrates the flow rate calculated by the flow rate calculating section 21 and outputs the integrated flow rate to the display section 14. The shutoff valve drive circuit 23 opens and closes the shutoff valve 11 under the control of the determination processing unit 25.

The memory 24 stores an upper limit value and a lower limit value of a pressure range in the pipe 1, an inner pipe leak detection flow rate value, a return time according to a type of abnormality such as gas leakage, and the like. The inner pipe leakage detection flow rate value is a reference flow rate (for example, about 3 liters / hour) for detecting inner pipe leakage. The return time is a time (for example, about 45 seconds) until the return leak confirmation processing ends. Here, the flow rate detector 12
The "measurement means" of the present invention is constituted by the flow rate calculation unit 21.

The determination processing section 25 performs display control of the display section 14 and operation control of the shut-off valve drive circuit 23 for opening and closing the shut-off valve 11, and has a timer 25A. The timer 25A is for measuring time from a predetermined time.

The power supply unit 17 is for supplying electric power (voltage or current) to the display unit 14, the control unit 16, and the like, and has a battery 17A.

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

First, in a normal gas use state, the determination processing unit 25 causes the display screen of the display unit 14 to display the integrated flow value. In this state, the inner pipe leakage display control process is performed as follows. FIG. 3 shows the flow of the inner pipe leakage display control processing by the determination processing unit 25. The determination processing unit 25 calculates, for example, an average value of the flow rate calculated by the flow rate calculation unit 21 for every predetermined time (for example, about 120 seconds),
It is determined whether or not the calculated average flow rate value is equal to or more than the inner pipe leak detection flow rate value (3 liters / hour) stored in the memory 24 (step S1). When the average flow rate value is equal to or greater than the leak detection flow rate value (Y), the determination processing unit 25
The timer 25A starts measuring time. Then, the determination processing unit 25 determines the number of continuous days of the average flow rate equal to or more than the inner pipe leak detection flow rate based on the measurement result by the timer 25A (Step S2).

As a result of this determination, if the number of continuation days is, for example, four days or less, as shown in FIG. 4, the integrated flow value ("0000.000") is displayed on the display screen 30 of the display unit 14.
31 and a plurality (seven in this case) of segments 32
A, 32B, 32C, 32D, 32E, 32F, 32G
Is displayed in the bar display area 32 composed of At this time, these segments 32A to 32G are in a white display state, for example.

When the number of continuous days is, for example, 5 to 9 days, in addition to the integrated flow rate value 31, the bar display area 32 displays 5 to 9 days.
9th day is displayed (step S
3). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, only the segment 32B of the bar display area 32 is set to a black display state, for example. Similarly, when the number of continuation days is, for example, 10 days to 14 days, information indicating that the number of days is 10 days to 14 days is displayed in the bar display area 32 (step S4). If the continuation period is, for example, 15 days to 19 days, the bar display area 32 displays information indicating that it is 15 days to 19 days (step S5). The number of continuation days is, for example, 20 to 24.
If it is a day, the bar display area 32 displays information indicating that it is 20 to 24 days (step S6).
If the continuation period is, for example, 25 days to 29 days, information indicating that the duration is 25 days to 29 days is displayed in the bar display area 32 (step S7). When the number of continuation days is, for example, 30 days or more, information indicating that the number of continuation days is 30 days or more is displayed in the bar display area 32 (step S8). That is, when the number of continuation days exceeds 30 days, as shown in FIG.
32G are in a black display state, for example. At this time, the inner pipe leakage information (“N”) 33 is also displayed. Incidentally, the segment 32A is used for displaying the flow rate pilot information.

Each segment 32A of the bar display area 32
Around 32G, for example, above, as shown in FIG.
"(Sun)", "5", "10", "15", "20",
Information indicating continuation days of “25” and “30” is shown. As a method of displaying the information indicating the number of continuous days,
For example, it can be prepared as a liquid crystal segment, but other than that, each of the segments 32A to 32G
It is also possible to write information indicating the number of continuous days directly around the mark, or to attach a sticker or the like on which the information indicating the number of continuous days is written. However, the information indicating the number of continuation days does not necessarily need to be indicated, and is unnecessary if it is previously known that one segment corresponds to five days. In addition, this means “%” described later and “0.1 L” representing a flow rate dot.
The same applies to a method of displaying information such as.

If the average flow rate value is smaller than the inner pipe leak detection flow rate value during the inner pipe leak display control process, the timer 25A stops measuring the time and resets the timer 25A. Thereafter, when the average flow rate value becomes equal to or more than the inner pipe leak detection flow rate value, the determination processing unit 25 sets the timer 25A.
Then, the measurement of time is started again, the above-described number of days is determined, and information indicating the number of days is displayed in the bar display area 32.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the pipe 1
When the flow rate of the gas flowing through the inside is equal to or more than the inner pipe leak detection flow rate, information representing the duration of the fluid flow equal to or more than the inner pipe leak detection flow rate is displayed in the bar display area 32 of the display unit 14. . Therefore, it is possible to quickly find the pipe 1 in which there is a possibility of leakage of the inner pipe, and to monitor such a pipe 1 suspected of leaking the inner pipe from an early stage. In addition, it is possible to estimate the date when the inner pipe leakage has occurred and the time when the inner pipe leak warning is determined. As a result, it is possible to quickly detect the leakage of the inner pipe, and it is possible to improve safety.

In the above embodiment, the display control processing for displaying the information indicating the duration of the fluid flow equal to or greater than the inner pipe leak detection flow rate has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. When performing the processing, the present invention can also be applied to the following display control processing for displaying information indicating the progress of the return leak confirmation processing.

First, when it is determined that an abnormality such as gas leakage has occurred in the pipe 1 based on gas pressure or the like in a normal gas use state, As shown in FIG. 7, the determination processing unit 25 causes the display screen 30 to display information (for example, “A”) 34 indicating the occurred abnormality in addition to the integrated flow rate value 31. In addition, the determination processing unit 25 closes the flow path by closing the shutoff valve 11, and also displays information (for example, “gas stop”) 35 indicating that the flow path is closed by the shutoff valve on the display screen 30. Display. Here, the progress display control processing of the return leak confirmation processing is performed as follows.

FIG. 8 shows the flow of the progress display control processing of the return leak confirmation processing by the determination processing section 25. After the flow path is closed by the shutoff valve 11, the determination processing unit 25 determines whether the return button 15 is pressed by the operator (Step S9). This determination is made based on whether or not the determination processing unit 25 has received a start signal for starting the return leak confirmation processing. When the return button 15 is pressed (Y), the determination processing unit 25 reads the return time corresponding to the type of the abnormality that has occurred from the memory 24 and starts measuring the time by the timer 25A (step S10). .

After the start of the time measurement by the timer 25A, the determination processing section 25 performs a return leak confirmation process and displays the bar display area 32 described above. Then, based on the return time read from the memory 24 and the measurement result of the timer 25A, the determination processing unit 25 causes the bar display area 32 to display information indicating the progress of the return leak confirmation processing (step S11). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, the end state of the return leak confirmation processing is set to 100%, and the segments 32B to 32F are sequentially set to, for example, a black display state according to the progress of the return leak confirmation processing. I have.
FIG. 9 shows that about 80% or more of the entire return leak confirmation processing has been completed. In addition, the determination processing unit 25
Information (“L”) 36 indicating that the return leak confirmation processing is being performed is displayed on the display screen 30 instead of the information 34 indicating the abnormality.

Thereafter, if the return leak confirmation processing is completed and it is determined that there is no gas leakage, the determination processing section 25 outputs the information 35,
36 is not displayed on the display screen 30. on the other hand,
If it is determined that there is a gas leak, the determination processing unit 25
For example, the information 34 is displayed on the display screen 30 instead of the information 36.

In the above-described display control process, when the return leak confirmation process is performed, information indicating the progress of the return leak confirmation process is displayed in the bar display area 32 of the display unit 14. Therefore, the end time of the return leak confirmation process can be estimated, and the worker does not feel uneasy. Further, the operator does not feel the time required for the return leak confirmation processing to be long.

As described above, the display control processing for displaying the information indicating the progress of the return leak confirmation processing has been described. Further, the present invention provides the following for displaying the remaining capacity of the battery. It can be applied to various display control processes.

(Battery Capacity Display Control Processing) FIG. 10 shows the flow of the battery capacity display control processing by the determination processing section 25 when, for example, the return button 15 is pressed in a normal gas use state. The determination processing unit 25 determines whether the return button 15 has been pressed by the operator (step S12), and when the return button 15 has been pressed (Y).
In addition, the determination processing unit 25 detects the voltage (current) of the battery 17A in the power supply unit 17, and based on the detected voltage,
The capacity of A is calculated (step S13). Then, the determination processing unit 25 causes the bar display area 32 to display information indicating the calculated capacity of the battery 17A (Step S14). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 11, the total capacity of the battery 17A is set to 100%, and the segments 32B to 32F are
For example, a white display state is sequentially set according to the remaining capacity of A. In FIG. 11, the battery 17A has a capacity of 80%.
%. In FIG. 11, “(%)” is above the rightmost segment, and “20”, “40”, “6” are above each of the segments 32B to 32F.
Information indicating the battery capacity of “0”, “80”, and “100” is shown. The method of displaying this information is the same as that described with reference to FIG. However, this information need not necessarily be shown.

In the above display control processing, the remaining capacity of the battery 17A is displayed in the bar display area 32 of the display unit 14. Therefore, the battery life can be estimated, and the replacement time of the gas meter 10 or the like can be easily grasped.

The setting of the display of the bar display area 32 and the change of the display content of the bar display area 32 may be performed by operating the return button 15 or separately provided in the main body. You may make it perform by providing a button. Also, the display content may be changed by a communication operation using the gas meter setting device.

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-described embodiment, the bar display area 32 displays information indicating the duration of the fluid flow that is equal to or more than the inner pipe leak detection flow rate. At that time,
As shown in FIG. 12, the segments 32B, 32D, 3
2F may be used as the accumulated flow dot information. In FIG. 12, 0.1 L is a flow rate of 0.1 liter / hour, 1 L is a flow rate of 1 liter / hour, 10 L
Represents a flow rate of 10 liters / hour, respectively. The display method of “0.1L”, “1L”, and “10L” is the same as that described in FIG. However, this information need not necessarily be shown.

For example, in the above embodiment, the bar display area 32 displays information indicating the duration of the flow of the fluid at or above the inner pipe leak detection flow rate, and also indicates the progress of the return leak confirmation processing. And information indicating the remaining capacity of the battery can be displayed, but a bar display area for displaying information indicating the progress of the return leak confirmation process and information indicating the remaining capacity of the battery are displayed. A bar display area for display may be provided separately from the bar display area 32.

[0049]

As described above, according to the flow meter according to claim 1 or any one of claims 4 to 6, the flow rate of the fluid flowing in the pipe is measured, and the measurement result is obtained. It is determined whether or not the flow rate of the fluid is equal to or greater than the predetermined flow rate based on the information. Is displayed in the bar display area constituted by the segments of the above, it is possible to predict in advance the occurrence of leakage of the inner pipe.

Further, according to the flow meter according to any one of claims 2 and 4 to 6, it is determined whether or not a start signal for starting the return leak confirmation processing is input. When the start signal is input, the return leak confirmation process is performed, and information indicating the progress of the return leak confirmation process is displayed in a bar display area formed by a plurality of segments on the display unit. Therefore, it is possible to easily confirm the progress of the return leak confirmation process.

Further, claim 3 or claims 4 to 6
According to the flowmeter described in any one of the above, at least the capacity of the battery that supplies power to the display unit is calculated, and information representing the calculated battery capacity is configured by a plurality of segments of the display unit. Since the information is displayed in the bar display area, the remaining capacity of the battery can be easily confirmed.

[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 an inner pipe leakage display control process performed by a determination processing unit illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a display example on a display unit according to an inner pipe leakage display control process illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a display example on a display unit according to an inner pipe leakage display control process illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a display example on a display unit according to an inner pipe leakage display control process illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a display example on a display unit when it is determined that there is an abnormality in a pipe.

8 is a diagram illustrating a flow of a progress display control process of a return leak confirmation process by the determination processing unit illustrated in FIG. 2;

9 is a diagram illustrating a display example on a display unit in a progress display control process of the return leak confirmation process illustrated in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a flow of a battery capacity display control process performed by a determination processing unit illustrated in FIG. 2;

11 is a diagram illustrating a display example on a display unit by the battery capacity display control process illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating another display example on the display unit by the determination processing unit illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 13 is a front view of the appearance of a conventional gas meter.

14 is a diagram illustrating a display example on a display unit of the gas meter illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a flow of a return leak confirmation process by a conventional fluidic gas meter.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Piping, 2 ... Instrument plug, 3 ... Gas appliance, 10 ... Gas meter, 11 ... Shut-off valve, 12 ... Flow detection part, 13 ... Pressure sensor, 14 ... Display part, 15 ... Return button, 16 ... Control part,
17 power supply section, 17A battery, 21 flow rate calculation section, 22
... Flow rate integration unit, 23 ... Shutoff valve drive circuit, 24 ... Memory,
25: determination processing unit, 25A: timer.

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (reference) G01F 15/06 G01F 15/06 F term (reference) 2F030 CB02 CC13 CE02 CE22 CE25 CE27 CE32 CF05 CF11 CF20 2F031 AA01 AB01 AF04 AF10 3J071 AA02 BB14 CC17 DD30 EE02 EE07 EE18 EE24 EE25 EE32 EE37 FF03

Claims (6)

[Claims] A measuring unit for measuring a flow rate of a fluid flowing in a pipe; a display unit having a display area for displaying the flow rate of the fluid; and a bar display area configured by a plurality of segments; It is determined whether the flow rate of the fluid is equal to or greater than a predetermined flow rate based on the measurement result. A flow rate meter comprising: a determination processing means for displaying the data in a bar display area of the display means. 2. A flow meter capable of executing a return leak confirmation process for opening a flow passage of a fluid flowing in a pipe when the flow passage is closed, wherein the return leak confirmation process is started. Input means for inputting a start signal of the above, a display area having a display area for displaying the flow rate of the fluid, and a bar display area constituted by a plurality of segments; and whether or not the start signal has been input by the input means. And when the start signal is input, the return leak confirmation process is performed, and determination processing means for displaying information indicating the progress of the return leak confirmation process in a bar display area of the display means, A flow meter comprising: 3. A flow meter for measuring a flow rate of a fluid flowing in a pipe, the display unit having a display area for displaying a flow rate of the fluid, and a bar display area configured by a plurality of segments. A battery that supplies power to the display unit; and a determination processing unit that calculates a capacity of the battery and displays information indicating the calculated battery capacity in a bar display area of the display unit. Flowmeter. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination processing means displays the integrated flow rate dot information in a bar display area of the display unit for each predetermined integrated flow rate.
Flowmeter according to the paragraph. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said determination processing means displays flow rate pilot information indicating that there is a flow rate of said fluid in a bar display area of said display section.
The flow meter according to any one of claims 1 to 4. 6. The flow meter according to claim 1, wherein the display section is formed of a liquid crystal display.