JP2002303543A - Gas meter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a gas meter dealing with the discount rate system. SOLUTION: The gas meter has a flow rate measuring means 21 disposed in a gas channel for measuring he gas flow rate, a flow rate calculating means 23-1 for calculating the gas flow rate based on a flow rate detecting signal from the flow rate measuring means 21, and a flow rate integrating means 29a for integrating the gas flow rate calculated by the flow rate calculating means 23-1. The gas meter also has a discount judging means 23-3 for determining whether a prescribed discount rate by time slot set by a setting means 30 (31) should be applied to the gas flow rate calculated by the flow rate calculating means 23-1 or not, and an object of discount flow rate integrating means 29 for integrating the gas flow rate calculated by the flow rate calculating means 23-1 during the time slot to which the discount rate should be applied, based on the result of the judgement by the discount deciding means 23-3 that the discount rate should be applied.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gas meter compatible with a discount rate system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a first example of a conventional gas meter disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-142208, a display device for a gas meter switches a calendar function, a predetermined time period usage amount, an all day usage amount, and the like. Can be switched to display.

As a second example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-53
No. 663 has a function of calculating a fluid use time and a fluid use flow rate.

As a third example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-944
No. 11 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-287993 have a function of analyzing a gas use pattern, distinguishing and monitoring a used tool, and the like.

[0005]

However, none of the above-mentioned gas meters use a discounted rate system.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention is directed to providing a gas meter compatible with a discount rate system, focusing on the above problems.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, which is provided to solve the above-mentioned problems, as shown in a functional block diagram of FIG. 1, the invention is disposed in a gas flow path and measures a gas flow rate. A flow rate measuring means 21, a flow rate calculating means 23-1 for calculating a gas flow rate based on a flow rate detection signal from the flow rate measuring means 21, and a flow rate integrating means for integrating the gas flow rate calculated by the flow rate calculating means 23-1 Means 29a, the discount determining means 23 for determining whether or not to apply the predetermined time zone discount set by the setting means 30 (31) to the gas flow rate calculated by the flow rate calculating means 23-1. -3 and the discounted flow rate product that integrates the gas flow rate calculated by the flow rate calculation means 23-1 during the time period to be discounted based on the determination result of the discount application by the discount determination means 23-3. Resides in a gas meter, characterized in that it comprises a means 29, a.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the gas meter is disposed in the gas flow path, and measures the gas flow rate based on the flow rate detection signal from the flow rate measurement means 21 for measuring the gas flow rate. A flow rate calculating means 23-1 for calculating;
And a flow rate integrating means 29a for integrating the gas flow rate calculated by the flow rate calculating means 23-1. The gas meter includes a discount determining unit 23-3 that determines whether to apply a predetermined time zone discount set by the setting unit 30 (31) to the gas flow rate calculated by the flow rate calculating unit 23-1. A discount target flow integrating means 29 for integrating the gas flow rate calculated by the flow rate calculating means 23-1 during the time period to be discounted, based on the determination result of the discount application by the discount determining means 23-3.
And

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the setting means 30 sets a late-night discount time zone setting, a day-of-week discount setting, a seasonal discount setting, and / or a long-time use discount setting. The gas meter according to claim 1, characterized in that:

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the setting means 3
0 performs late-night discount time zone setting, day-of-week discount setting, seasonal discount setting, and / or long-time use discount setting.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the discount target flow rate integrating means 29 calculates the gas flow rate calculated by the flow rate calculating means 21-1 during the late night discount time zone. The late-night discount integrating means 29b for integrating, the day-of-the-week discount integrating means 29c for integrating the gas flow rate calculated by the flow rate calculating means 21-1 during the weekly discount time zone, and the flow rate calculating means 21- during the seasonal discount time zone. And / or the seasonal discount integrating means 29d for integrating the gas flow rate calculated in step 1 and / or the flow rate calculating means 21 during the long-time use discount time zone.
3. The gas meter according to claim 2, further comprising a long-time use discount integrating means 29e for integrating the gas flow rate calculated in -1.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the discount target flow integrating means 29 includes a late night discount integrating means 29b for integrating the gas flow rate calculated by the flow rate calculating means 21-1 during the late night discount time zone. During the discount period, the flow rate calculating means 21-
Day discount integrating means 2 for integrating the gas flow rate calculated in 1
9c, seasonal discount integrating means 29d for integrating the gas flow rate calculated by the flow rate calculating means 21-1 during the seasonal discount time zone and / or calculated by the flow rate calculating means 21-1 during the long use discount time zone. And a long-time use discount integrating means 29e for integrating the gas flow rate.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage means for storing integrated values from the flow rate integrating means and the discounted integrating means.
4. The gas meter according to claim 3, further comprising:

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the storage means 24 for storing the integrated values from the flow rate integrating means 29a and the discount target integrating means 29.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display means for displaying integrated values from the flow rate integrating means and the discounted integrating means stored in the storage means. The gas meter according to claim 4, further comprising:

According to the invention described in claim 5, the storage means 2
4 is provided with a display means 25 for displaying the integrated value from the flow rate integrating means 29a and the discounted integrating means 29 stored in the storage unit 4.

The invention according to a sixth aspect of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problem is characterized in that the late-night discount integration means 29b, the day-of-week discount integration means 29c, the seasonal discount integration means 29d, and the long-time use integration means 29e. 6. The gas meter according to claim 5, further comprising a display switching means for switching and displaying each of the integrated values.

According to the invention described in claim 6, each integrated value from the late-night discount integrating means 29b, the day-of-week discount integrating means 29c, the seasonal discount integrating means 29d and the long-time use integrating means 29e is switched and displayed. Display switching means 32 is provided.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided the present invention, wherein the setting means 30 (31) is a setting unit 30 or an NCU 31 externally connected to a gas meter. It depends on the gas meter described.

According to the invention described in claim 7, the setting means 3
0 (31) is a setting device 30 externally connected to the gas meter.
Or NCU31.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 8 is characterized in that the setting unit 30 or the NCU 31 comprises:
8. The gas meter according to claim 7, wherein the gas meter also functions as a reading unit that reads the integrated value from the discount target flow rate integrating unit 29 stored in the storage unit 24.

According to the invention described in claim 8, the setting device 30
Alternatively, the NCU 31 also functions as a reading unit that reads out the integrated value from the discount target flow rate integrating unit 29 stored in the storage unit 24.

[0023]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a gas supply system including the gas meter of the present invention. Gas supply system 10
Is roughly divided into a gas container 11 containing a liquefied gas.
And a container valve 12 for controlling the flow rate of the gas supplied from the gas container 11, and adjusting the pressure of the gas flowing out of the gas container 11 so that the pressure on the meter outlet side of the gas meter 15 described later corresponds to the reference pressure ( Pressure regulator 1 to decompress)
3, a gas meter 15 connected to the pressure regulator 13 via a gas pipe 14 to accumulate the gas passing volume, a combustor 17 for burning the supplied gas and converting it into heat energy, and a combustor 17 It comprises a gas cock 18 for supplying / cutting off gas to / from the apparatus, a setting unit 30, and an NCU (network control unit) 31.

The gas meter 15 has a flow rate measuring section 21 provided between the meter inlet section 19 and the meter outlet section 20 as flow rate measuring means, a pressure measuring section 22 provided on the meter outlet section 20 side, and a control section. 23, a memory 24, a display unit 25, a notification unit 26, a shutoff valve drive unit 27, a shutoff valve 28 provided on the meter outlet 20 side, and a counter unit 29.
And a display changeover switch 32.

The flow rate measuring unit 21 is composed of, for example, a membrane type flow meter, and detects the flow rate of the gas flowing through the gas pipe 14.
The flow rate detection signal is output to the control unit 23.

The pressure measuring section 22 detects the gas pressure at the meter outlet section 20 and outputs a pressure detection signal to the control section 23.

The control unit 23 is composed of, for example, a microcomputer, and receives a flow rate detection signal from the flow rate measurement unit 21 and
A pressure detection signal from the pressure measurement unit 22 is supplied, and based on the flow rate detection signal and the pressure detection signal, calculation and integration of a gas flow rate, monitoring of pressure fluctuation, and output of a shutoff determination signal are performed. Further, the control unit 23 performs a calculation of applying the discount rate system to the calculated and integrated gas flow rate.

The reporting unit 26 reports information on abnormal operation and discount rate setting described later to the outside (for example, a management center of a gas supplier) via the NCU 31.

The shutoff valve driving section 27 outputs a shutoff control signal based on the shutoff determination signal from the control section 23,
8 is driven.

The shutoff valve 28 shuts off the gas flowing through the gas pipe 14 according to a shutoff control signal from the shutoff valve drive unit 27.

The counter unit 29 includes a total usage counter 29.
a, midnight time zone counter 29b, weekday discount counter 29
c, a seasonal discount counter 29d and a long-time use discount counter 29e.

Next, the general operation of the gas supply system having the above configuration will be described.

When the user twists the gas cock 18 to open the liquefied gas in the gas container 11, the flow rate of the liquefied gas in the gas container 11 is adjusted by the container valve 12, the pressure is reduced by the pressure regulator 13, and The gas is supplied to the gas meter 15.

The flow measuring section 21 of the gas meter 15 measures the flow rate of the gas flowing through the gas pipe 14 and supplies a flow rate detection signal to the control section 23. The control unit 23 includes the flow measurement unit 21
The flow rate is calculated based on the flow rate detection signal, and the calculated flow rate is integrated by the total usage counter 29a of the counter unit 29 to calculate the integrated flow rate. The integrated flow rate calculated by the control unit 23 is stored in the memory 24 and the display unit 25
Will be displayed.

When the gas meter operates abnormally, for example, when it is determined that the detected pressure from the pressure measuring unit 22 is abnormal, the control unit 23 outputs a shutoff determination signal to the shutoff valve driving unit 27.
Output to The shutoff valve driving unit 27 outputs a shutoff control signal based on the shutoff determination signal from the control unit 23, and outputs the shutoff valve 2
8 is driven to shut off the gas flowing through the gas pipe 14.

Next, the operation corresponding to the discount rate system of the present invention will be described. The gas meter 15 has a calendar function, and a program for executing the calendar function is stored in a built-in memory (not shown) of the control unit 23.
Using this calendar function, the setting unit 30 can perform various time zone discount settings, for example, discount settings such as late-night discount time zone setting, day-of-week discount setting, seasonal discount setting, and long-time use discount setting.

That is, the late-night discount time zone can be set by the setting unit 30 for the late-night discount time zone. The day of the week discount setting can be set by the setting unit 29 on which day of the week to discount. In the seasonal discount setting, a discount period according to the season can be set by the setting unit 29. In the long-time use discount setting, the discounter time when gas is continuously used can be set by the setting unit 29.

Upon receiving the discount setting information from the setting unit 30, the control unit 23 causes the counter unit 29 to set the setting unit 30.
The gas flow rate measured by the flow rate measurement unit 21 and calculated by the control unit during the discount target period is integrated by a counter corresponding to the discount content set in the step (1). For example, when late-night discount and day-of-the-week discount are set by the setting unit 30, the control unit 23 integrates the gas flow rate within the discount target period by the late-night discount counter 29b and the day-of-the-week discount counter 29c. Each integrated value is
The integrated value stored in the memory 24 is stored in the m setting device 2
At 9, it is possible to extract from the memory 24.

The integrated value of the gas flow rate is always counted by the total usage counter 29a, counted by the midnight time zone counter 29b when the set nighttime zone is reached, and is counted by the daytime when the set day of the week is reached. It is counted by the discount counter 29c, and is counted by the seasonal discount counter 29d when the set season comes (time).

Further, the accumulated data is counted in the long-time use discount counter at the start of gas use, and when the time exceeds the discount target time, the discount rate is recognized.

The count value accumulated in each of the above-described counters is periodically stored in the memory 24, for example, once a month, and stored as one-month data.
It is counted again for the next month.

The integrated value indicating the total used amount stored in the memory 24 and the data of the integrated value for each time period discount are:
It can be read by the setting device 30. Further, this data is reported to the outside, for example, to a management center of a gas supplier, outside the telephone line via the reporting unit 26 and the NCU. The management center can calculate the gas rate by applying the discount rate corresponding to each time zone discount setting based on the integrated value indicating the total usage reported and the integrated value for each time zone discount. it can.

The integrated value indicating the total amount of use stored in the memory 24 and the integrated value for each time zone discount are displayed on the display unit 25. By operating the display changeover switch 32, it is possible to switch and display each integrated value of the late night discount, the day of the week discount, the seasonal discount, and the long-term use discount.

Next, the discount judging process corresponding to the above-described discount rate system executed by the control unit 23 will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, the control unit 23 determines whether or not the discount target season has come (step S1). If the answer is yes, the process proceeds to step S2, where the seasonal discount counter 29d counts the integrated value of the gas flow rate during the target period. I do.

When the answer to step S1 is NO or following step S2, the control unit 23 determines whether or not the day to be discounted has come (step S3), and if the answer is yes, the process proceeds to step S4. The integrated value of the gas flow during the target period is counted by the day-of-week discount counter 29c.

When the answer to step S3 is NO or following step S4, the control unit 23 determines whether or not the midnight discount time has come (step S5). If the answer is YES, the control unit 23 proceeds to step S6. The late night discount counter 29b counts the integrated value of the gas flow during the target period.

If the answer to step S5 is NO or following step S6, the control section 23 counts the integrated value of the gas flow rate from the start of gas use by the long-time use discount counter 29e (step S7). It is determined whether the gas has been used continuously for a preset time or more continuously from the start of use (step S8).

If the answer to step S8 is YES, the process proceeds to step S9, in which the accumulated count value of the long-time use discount counter 29e is multiplied by a preset long-term use discount rate.

Next, the control unit 23 determines whether or not a predetermined period, for example, one month, has passed by the calendar function (step S10).
Then, the process proceeds to step S11, where the integrated count value of each of the counters 29a to 29e is stored in the memory 24.

Next, the control unit 23 controls each counter 29a.
２９29e are reset to clear the integrated count value (step S12), and wait for a discount determination process for the next predetermined period.

In this way, it is possible to construct a gas meter capable of integrating a gas flow rate corresponding to a time zone discount rate system.
Further, the integrated value of the gas flow rate corresponding to the time zone discount rate system can be displayed by using the display unit 25 for displaying the integrated value of the normal gas flow rate without requiring a special display device. Further, various discounts can be set at any time by the setting device 30.

As described above, the embodiment of the present invention has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications and applications are possible.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, various time zone discounts are set using the setting device 30. Instead, the various time zone discounts are set using the NCU 31 on the management center side. May be set.

The contents of the various time zone discounts that have been set can be changed at any time using the setting unit 30 or the NCU 31.

The counter unit 29 may be a counter built in the control unit 23.

[0057]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to construct a gas meter capable of integrating a gas flow rate corresponding to a time zone discount rate system.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to set a late-night discount time zone setting, a day-of-week discount setting, a seasonal discount setting, and / or a long-time use discount setting.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to perform the integrated counting of the gas flow rate corresponding to the setting of the late-night discount time zone setting, the day-of-week discount setting, the seasonal discount setting, and / or the long-time use discount setting.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, it is possible to store the normal gas flow integrated value and the discount target gas flow integrated value.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the discounted gas flow rate integrated value is displayed using a display means for displaying a normal gas flow rate integrated value without requiring a special display device. Can be.

According to the sixth aspect of the invention, late-night discount,
It is possible to switch and display each integrated value of a day-of-the-week discount, a seasonal discount, and a long-time use discount.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, various time zone discount settings can be made using the setting unit or NCU externally connected to the gas meter.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the discounted flow rate integrated value data can be read using the setting device for setting or the NCU. It also functions as reading means.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a functional block diagram of a gas meter of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration diagram of a gas supply system including the gas meter of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a discount determination process of the gas meter of FIG. 2;

[Explanation of symbols]

 21 Flow rate measuring means 23-1 Flow rate calculating means 23-2 Flow rate integrating means 23-3 Judging means 24 Storage means 25 Display means 29 Discount target flow rate integrating means 29a Flow rate integrating means 30 Setting means (reading means) 31 Setting means (Reading means) 32) Display switching means

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G01F 15/06 G01F 15/06 (72) Inventor Tomiko Yamashita 23 Minamikashima, Futamata-cho, Tenryu-shi, Shizuoka Prefecture Yazaki Keiki Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Koichi Ueki 1006 Kadoma Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Inside Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Norio Shinmura 1006 Okadoma Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2F030 CA04 CC13 CE02 CE04 CE09 CE25 CE32 CF05 CF11 CF20 2F031 AE00 2F075 GG04 GG07 GG16 GG17

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A flow rate measuring means disposed in a gas flow path for measuring a gas flow rate, a flow rate calculating means for calculating a gas flow rate based on a flow rate detection signal from the flow rate measuring means, and the flow rate calculating means. A gas meter having flow rate integrating means for integrating the calculated gas flow rates, wherein a discount determination for determining whether to apply a predetermined time zone discount set by the setting means to the gas flow rates calculated by the flow rate calculating means. Means, and discount target flow rate integrating means for integrating the gas flow rate calculated by the flow rate calculating means during a time period to be discounted based on the determination result of the discount application by the discount determining means. A gas meter characterized by the following. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the setting means sets a late-night discount time zone,
2. The gas meter according to claim 1, wherein a day-of-week discount setting, a seasonal discount setting, and / or a long-time use discount setting are performed. 3. The discount target flow integrating means includes a late night discount integrating means for integrating the gas flow rate calculated by the flow rate calculating means during the late night discount time zone, and a flow rate calculating means during the day of the week discount time zone. Day-of-week discount integrating means for integrating the calculated gas flow rates, seasonal discount integrating means for integrating the gas flow rates calculated by the flow rate calculating means during the seasonal discount period, and / or
3. The gas meter according to claim 2, further comprising a long-time use discount integrating means for integrating the gas flow rate calculated by the flow rate calculating means during a long-time use discount time period. 4. The gas meter according to claim 3, further comprising storage means for storing integrated values from said flow rate integrating means and said discount target integrating means. 5. The gas meter according to claim 4, further comprising display means for displaying an integrated value from said flow rate integrating means and said discount target integrating means stored in said storage means. 6. A display switching means for switching and displaying each integrated value from said late night discount integrating means, said day discount integrating means, said seasonal discount integrating means and said long-time use integrating means. The gas meter according to claim 5, wherein 7. The gas meter according to claim 4, wherein the setting means is a setting device or an NCU externally connected to the gas meter. 8. The gas meter according to claim 7, wherein the setting unit or the NCU also functions as a reading unit that reads out an integrated value from the discount target flow rate integrating unit stored in the storage unit.