JP2002350200A - Flow rate-measuring instrument, gas meter, and flow rate-reading apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a flow rate-measuring instrument and a gas meter for surely and quickly performing inspection at a low flow-rate region and confirming the presence or absence of a small flow rate, and to provide a flow rate-reading apparatus for performing inspection and conformation automatically. SOLUTION: The flow rate-measuring instrument comprises a flow rate measurement section 10 for measuring the flow rate value of fluid, a flow rate value integration section 20 for integrating the integration value, a flow rate integration value display section 31 for displaying the flow rate integration value in numbers, and a flow rate blinking display section 32 for displaying a blinking figure corresponding to the change in a flow rate integration value in a smaller digit than the minimum digit of a numeric value being displayed by the flow rate value display section 31, thus displaying the change in the flow rate integration value at a low flow rate region, the presence or absence a small flow rate by blinking figures in single periods, and hence quickly and surely performing inspection or conforming the presence of a small flow rate.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a flow rate measuring device and a gas meter for measuring a flow rate of an industrial raw material gas, a city gas, and the like, and a flow rate reading device used for inspection at the time of shipping.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a gas meter for measuring the flow rate of city gas or LPG (liquefied natural gas) supplied to general houses and stores, and a flow rate measuring device for measuring a flow rate of raw material gas for the chemical industry, a manufacturing plant is used. In order to confirm that the various performances of the flow measurement device are appropriate when shipped from the factory, and to detect operation failures and other problems, test the flow of gas and air, etc. An inspection is performed.

More specifically, for example, in the case of a general household gas meter, it is checked whether or not the gas meter can accurately measure the true value of the volume flow rate at that time by flowing air instead of city gas. Things have been done. Gas meters generally have a practical flow range from low to medium
Since the flow rate extends over a wide range up to a high flow rate, an inspection is required to confirm that accurate flow rate measurement is always possible in such a wide measurement range. More specifically, when the gas meter is actually used, it is necessary to accurately measure the flow rate when gas is used in a small flow rate region, such as detecting a small flow rate leak or burning in the state of a simmering fire. On the other hand, it is necessary to perform accurate measurement even when gas in a large flow rate region is used by a large gas consuming device such as a gas appliance for cooling and heating or a hot water heater. Such inspections performed at the time of factory shipment or the like are generally performed by visually confirming changes in the integrated flow rate value displayed on the counter of the gas meter.

[0004]

However, in such a visual inspection, human labor for the inspection is required, and the inspection work tends to be complicated.

In particular, in the inspection in the low flow rate region, it takes a long time until the value of the smallest digit of the counter for displaying the integrated flow rate value changes by one, so that it takes a long time to finish the inspection. In addition, there is a problem that the efficiency of the inspection process is reduced. For example, the minimum digit of the flow value displayed on the counter of the gas meter is 1 [L] (liter; 1/10
(00 cubic meters), it takes 2 minutes for 1 [L] to flow and change the numerical value of the smallest digit by one even when the gas is flowing at a flow rate of 30 [L / h]. If the flow rate of the gas is smaller, a longer time is required. For example, in the case of inspecting the measurement performance when the gas flow rate is 3 [L / h], it takes 20 minutes before the numerical value of the smallest digit changes by one.

In order to improve the labor and labor of the inspection at the time of shipping, the complexity of the operation, and the length of the inspection time, for example, the numerical value of the volume flow rate value displayed on a counter or a liquid crystal display panel or the like is measured by using a CCD image pickup device or the like. It is also conceivable that the flow rate is automatically recognized by extracting the image data into a computer, extracting numbers, characters, and the like from the image data. However, in practice, it is not easy to accurately perform automatic extraction and automatic recognition of such patterns of numbers and characters, and an apparatus capable of reliably realizing such functions with high reliability is a problem. There is a problem that the configuration and operation are extremely complicated and costly.

Further, in addition to the time of the shipment inspection, when there is a suspicion of leakage of a minute flow rate, it may be necessary to confirm the presence or absence of the minute flow rate by observing a change in the display of the counter of the gas meter. . However, as described above, it takes a long time, for example, 20 minutes or more to confirm the presence or absence of the minute flow rate by observing the change in the numerical value displayed on the counter.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a flow rate measuring device, a gas meter, and a flow rate reading device capable of reliably performing an inspection in a low flow rate region in a short time. It is in.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a flow rate measuring device, a gas meter, and a flow rate reading device capable of checking the presence / absence of a minute flow rate in a short time even at the time other than the time of shipping inspection.

[0010] In addition to the above objects, it is another object of the present invention to provide a flow rate measuring device, a gas meter, and a flow rate reading device capable of always automatically checking measurement performance with high reliability by a simple and low-cost method. is there.

[0011]

A flow measuring device or gas meter according to the present invention comprises a flow measuring device for measuring a flow value of a fluid, a flow integrating device for integrating a flow value, and a flow integrating device obtained by the flow integrating device. A flow rate measuring device having a flow rate integrated value display means for displaying a value as a numerical value, comprising a flow rate blinking display means for displaying a figure blinking in response to a change in the flow rate integrated value.

Further, another flow rate measuring device or gas meter according to the present invention comprises a flow rate measuring means for measuring a flow rate value of a fluid, a flow rate integrating means for integrating the flow rate value, and a flow rate integrating value obtained by the flow rate integrating means. A flow rate measuring device having a flow rate integrated value display means for displaying a numerical value, wherein at least a figure blinking in response to a change in the flow rate integrated value of a digit smaller than the minimum digit of the numerical value displayed by the flow value display means is provided. It is provided with a flow rate blinking display means for displaying.

[0013] The flow reading device according to the present invention comprises an optical detecting means for optically detecting a figure blinking and displayed by the flow measuring device in response to a change in the flow rate value or the integrated flow rate value of the fluid; And flow rate counting means for counting a change in the flow rate value or the integrated flow rate value of the fluid based on the blinking of.

In the flow rate measuring device or gas meter according to the present invention, the flow rate (in other words, the change in the integrated value of the flow rate) is displayed by blinking a figure such as a dot or a rectangle. By detecting the flickering of the figure by using, for example, an optical reading device using a simple and low-cost optical sensor or the like, it is possible to read the gas in a non-contact reading method such as connecting an electric circuit without any trouble. Perform reliable reading of the flow rate.

In another flow rate measuring device or gas meter according to the present invention, a blinking figure corresponding to the flow rate is displayed in addition to the numerical display of the integrated value of the flow rate. In order to be able to confirm in a short time that the integrated value of the flow rate has changed (in other words, there is a flow equal to or more than the measurable flow rate), at least one of the above-described figures has the flow rate Blinks in response to a change in the numerical value of a digit smaller than the minimum digit of the numerical value display of the integrated value.

In the flow reading device according to the present invention, the blinking of the figure displayed by the above-mentioned flow measuring device or gas meter is read by, for example, an optical reading device using a simple and low-cost optical sensor or the like. A change in the flow rate value or the integrated flow rate value of the fluid is automatically detected based on the blinking cycle, duty, or on / off timing.

The flow rate blinking display means may determine that there is a flow rate if the flow rate value exceeds a predetermined value, and blink the figure.

The flow rate blinking display means displays a plurality of figures, and displays each of the plurality of figures in response to a change in a numerical value of a different one of a plurality of digits of the integrated flow value. And may blink independently.

[0019] Further, a blinking display switching means for switching display / non-display or blinking / non-blinking of a figure may be further provided.

Further, the display device may further include blinking display switching means for switching the blinking of the graphic to a plurality of different blinking states.

The flow value display means displays the integrated flow value as a numerical value on the liquid crystal display panel, and the flow blinking display means displays the blinking figure corresponding to the flow rate on the same liquid crystal display panel. May be displayed. In other words, it is possible to display both the numerical value of the integrated flow value and the blinking figure on the display screen of one liquid crystal display panel.

Further, the flow rate blinking display means may make the display time of the figure constant, and if the next integrated value of the flow rate changes within that time, the figure may be displayed continuously. .

[0023]

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 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows a flow rate reading device. The gas meter 1 includes a flow rate measuring unit 10 (flow rate measuring means), a flow value integrating unit 20 (flow rate integrating means), a display unit 30 (flow rate integrated value displaying means, flow rate blinking displaying means), a control unit 40, and a switching unit. Input switch 5
0 (blinking display switching means) constitutes the main part. The flow reading device 2 includes an optical sensor 60 (optical detecting means), a flow counting section 70 (flow counting means),
The main part is comprised from the display part 80.

The flow rate measuring unit 10 includes a flow rate measuring device 11 and a flow rate measuring signal processing circuit 12, and measures a gas flow rate. The flow rate measuring device 11 is, for example, a film flow meter that measures a change in volume of a blower, a hot wire flow meter that measures a gas flow rate based on the amount of heat taken from a hot wire by a gas flow, Flow meter of various methods (configuration and method) such as an ultrasonic flow meter that measures the gas flow rate based on the propagation time difference between when the ultrasonic wave propagates downwind and when it propagates in the opposite direction Or a flow sensor or the like. The flow rate measuring signal processing circuit 12 outputs a signal corresponding to the gas flow rate to the flow rate measuring device 1.
1 is output to the flow rate integrating section 20 at the subsequent stage.
Various signal processing such as A / D (analog / digital) conversion is performed so that the arithmetic processing in the above and the display on the display unit 30 can be performed.

The flow rate integrating section 20 includes an integrating buffer 21 and an integrated value counter circuit 22. The flow rate accumulating section 20 receives a pulse carrying information on the flow rate value output from the flow rate measuring section 10 and temporarily holds the pulse in the integrating buffer 21 to carry out each digit of the flow rate value. ,
Based on the output, the integrated value counter circuit 22 increments the integrated value data (the operation of cumulatively rewriting the data). The integration buffer 21 handles a value at least one digit smaller than the minimum digit of the integrated value. Therefore, the pulse input to the integration buffer 21,
Alternatively, if a pulse or the like input to the buffer of the smallest digit in the accumulation buffer 21 is used, a change in the accumulated flow value at least one digit smaller than the displayed minimum digit of the accumulated value can be detected.

The display section 30 includes a flow rate integrated value display section 31 and a flow rate blinking display section 32. Flow integrated value display 3
Reference numeral 1 denotes a function to display the integrated flow value as a numerical value on a display screen such as a liquid crystal display panel based on the data of the integrated flow value. The numerical value of the flow rate integrated value may be displayed using a so-called segment type liquid crystal display panel, or may be displayed using a dot matrix type liquid crystal display panel. Or, for only the numerical value of the flow rate integrated value,
In addition to electronically displaying numerical values such as a liquid crystal display panel, it is also possible to use a mechanically displaying device such as a mechanical counter. However, in this case, it goes without saying that a dedicated liquid crystal display panel or the like must be separately provided as the flow rate blinking display section 32. The flow rate blinking display section 32 receives the output from the flow rate measuring section 10 or the output from the accumulation buffer 21 and blinks in response to a change in the numerical value of at least one digit smaller than the minimum digit of the numerical value of the flow integrated value. Is displayed on a display screen such as a liquid crystal display panel. The graphic may be displayed using a segment type liquid crystal display panel or a dot matrix type liquid crystal display panel.

The numerical value of the flow rate integrated value and the figure blinkingly displayed (hereinafter simply referred to as a figure) are, for example, those shown in FIG.
As shown in (A) and (B), they may be displayed on the screen of one liquid crystal display panel 300, or may be displayed on separate liquid crystal display panels (not shown).
Alternatively, as shown in FIG.
01 may be used to display the numerical value of the integrated flow value, while a dedicated liquid crystal display panel 302 may display a graphic.

Further, the figure blinking is displayed, for example, in FIG.
As shown in (A), 0.1 [L] (liter), 1
[L] and 10 [L], as shown in FIG.
As shown in the above, 0.01 [L], 0.1 [L], 1
5 [L], 10 [L], and 100 [L]. As shown in FIG. 3C, 0.01 [L], 0.
Four types of 1 [L], 1 [L], and 10 [L] may be used. In any case, the minimum digit of the flow rate that can be blinked and displayed in this figure is determined by the minimum digit that can be obtained from the signal output from the flow rate measurement unit 10 or the integration buffer 21 corresponding to the flow rate. It is desirable to appropriately set the number of blinking figures and the number of digits in consideration of the minimum number of digits and the number of digits required for the purpose of performance inspection, flow rate detection, and the like. For example, when it is possible to obtain flow rate data of the minimum digit 0.01 [L], the flow rate integrated value is 0.01 [L].
Every time it changes (increases) by [L], the change can be detected. If the graphic is set to blink once each time in response to a change of 0.01 [L], for example, when there is a very small flow rate of 3 [L / h], the graphic blinks. Is once every 12 seconds. Similarly 3
When there is a minute flow rate of [L / h], if the figure is set to blink once every time corresponding to a change of 0.1 [L], the figure blinks every two minutes. One time.
As described above, even when the gas flow rate is a very small flow rate of about 3 [L / h], it is possible to inspect the measurement performance and detect the presence or absence of the flow rate in a short time of about 12 seconds or 2 minutes. Alternatively, if the flow rate is about 30 [L / h], 0.1 [L]
Even if the graphic is set to blink once for each change, the figure blinks once every 12 seconds, making it possible to perform inspection and detection in a very short time.

Further, the figure blinking in response to the change in the integrated flow value is displayed as a dark rectangle in the example shown in FIG. 3, but it is needless to say that the figure is not limited to this. In addition, a display such as a star, a triangle, or a circle (dot) is also possible. Also,
When a blinking figure is displayed using the liquid crystal display panel, for example, a normally white mode liquid crystal display panel may be used to display the figure in a dark color with a light background, or vice versa. By using a liquid crystal display panel in a mari black mode, a figure may be displayed in a light color with a dark background.

As a method of expressing a flow rate by blinking a figure, for example, it is possible to make the blinking cycle proportional to the flow rate, or to make the duty ratio proportional to the flow rate. However, when reading the flow rate based on the blinking of this figure using the flow rate reading device 2,
It goes without saying that the method of expressing the flow rate by the graphic needs to be synchronized with the reading function of the flow rate reading device 2.

The control unit 40 includes a display control logic storage unit 4
1 and a blinking display switching unit 42. A switching input switch 50 is provided as an interface for inputting an instruction for switching the display of a blinking graphic.

The display control logic storage unit 41 stores various display control logics for performing display such as numerical display of the flow rate integrated value and display of blinking figures in the ROM or RAM (not shown) in advance. It is something that I remember. Based on the various display control logics, the entire control unit 40 controls the display operation of the display unit 30, and
The operations of the flow measuring unit 10 and the flow integrating unit 20 are also generally controlled. Therefore, more specifically, a so-called microcomputer (microcomputer) or the like can be suitably used as the control unit 40.

The blinking display switching unit 42 receives a switching command input via the switching input switch 50,
The on / off state of the blinking state of the figure and the display itself is switched. More specifically, the blinking display switching unit 42
Controls the flow rate integrating unit 20 and the display unit 30 so that, for example, when a predetermined command is input at the time of shipping inspection, the figure blinks at a predetermined cycle corresponding to a change in the integrated value of the flow rate. When the performance test is completed and a predetermined command different from the above is input, the graphic displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal display panel 300 of the display unit 30 is switched to non-display. In this switching, if no graphic is displayed after the gas meter 1 is shipped, it is possible to prevent the graphic from being displayed again even if the same command is input after the graphic is once switched to non-display. is there. Alternatively, when it is desired to display a graphic as required after shipment, when a display command is input again, the graphic may be displayed again.

Alternatively, after the gas meter 1 has been shipped and installed in a general home or the like and has received a predetermined command,
The display of the graphic may blink in a state different from the blinking state at the time of the shipment inspection. For example, at the time of shipment inspection, 10
Although all figures such as [L], 1 [L], and 0.1 [L] are blinking, when the gas meter 1 is installed and used by each user, 0.1 [L] is set. In addition to displaying only the figure that represents, the blinking state may be blinked at a cycle corresponding to the gas flow rate when the gas flow rate is detected, and may be kept off if the gas flow rate is not detected. Alternatively, when the gas flow rate is detected, the gas may be blinked at a constant blinking cycle. Further, as the display mode, more specifically, for example, when displaying a graphic using a liquid crystal display panel in a normally white mode, when a gas flow rate is detected, a dark graphic is blinked at a predetermined cycle. For example, it is possible to keep the display screen light in the background without blinking the graphic when the gas flow rate is detected and the gas flow rate is not detected.

The main part of the flow reading device 2 includes an optical sensor 60, a flow counting unit 70, and a display unit 80. As the optical sensor 60, a light receiving element such as a photodiode or a charge coupled device (CCD) can be used. In this optical sensor 60,
A figure displayed on the screen of the flow rate blinking display unit 32 is optically detected, and converted into an electric signal and output. As the electric signal, for example, one unit of pulse may be output for each blink of the figure, or a voltage level corresponding to the amount of received light may be output. Also, in reading only by reflection of natural light, the amount of light may be insufficient and reading may be uncertain. Therefore, a light emitting element or a light valve that irradiates the screen of the flow rate blinking display unit 32 with illumination light from the flow rate reading device 2 (Not shown) is desirably used in combination with the optical sensor 60. For the sake of simplicity, in the following description, a case where one unit of pulse is output in response to one blink of a figure will be described as an example.

The flow rate counting section 70 includes a signal processing circuit 71, a counter circuit 72, and a clock circuit 73. The signal processing circuit 71 performs signal processing such as A / D conversion on the electric signal output from the optical sensor 60 so that the counter circuit 72 and the display unit 80 can perform arithmetic processing and display on the electric signal. Is applied. In the counter circuit 72, when one unit of pulse is input via the signal processing circuit 71 for each blinking of the figure, the clock circuit 73 outputs the cycle from the currently input pulse to the next input pulse from the clock circuit 73. The counting is performed based on the clock signal. Alternatively, the counter circuit 72 may count pulses input via the signal processing circuit 71 within a predetermined time period based on a clock signal output from the clock circuit 73. In any case, the counter circuit 72 counts the flow rate value in accordance with the cycle or frequency of the input pulse.

The display section 80 displays the flow rate value obtained by the flow rate counting section 70 as a numerical value. Its flow rate value, on the screen of the liquid crystal display panel 400 as shown in FIG. 4, the value of example 3 digit [m ^3] (cubic meter) units, 10
For example, it is possible to display with a 4-digit numerical value of [L] unit from 0 [L] to 0.1 [L]. This display section 80
For example, as shown in FIG. 3B, the rectangular figure displayed on the flow rate blinking display section 32 of the gas meter 1 is 0.1.
If it is set to blink each time the gas [L] flows, the optical sensor 60 optically detects the blink, and the flow counter 70 counts the flow value corresponding to the blink. The display unit 80 numerically displays the flow rate value, for example, to the 0.1 [L] digit.

The liquid crystal display panel used for the display section 80 may be a segment display type or a dot matrix type. The use of the flow rate reading device 2 itself is limited to the inspection at the time of shipping the gas meter 1 and the like, and the display contents may be limited to those shown in FIG. It is also possible to achieve further simplification and cost reduction of the display unit 80 by using the liquid crystal display panel described above.

Next, main operations of the gas meter and the flow rate reading device according to the present embodiment will be described. 5 and 6 are flow charts showing the outline of the operation of the gas meter 1, and FIG.
4 is a flowchart showing an outline of the operation of the flow reading device 2.

When the gas meter 1 is manufactured at a factory, the measuring performance as a flow rate measuring device is inspected at the time of shipment.
First, the gas meter 1 is mounted on the inspection apparatus so that the gas or air for inspection can be conducted based on a predetermined test pattern, and when the power is turned on by the inspector, the flow meter is automatically turned on. 10 starts and starts the operation of the flow rate measurement (s1). At this time, the flow rate integrating section 2
Needless to say, the display unit 30, the display unit 30, and the control unit 40 are also activated at the same time.

Subsequently, based on the signal output from the flow measuring unit 10, the flow integrating unit 20 calculates the integrated flow value,
A signal carrying the information is output (s2). At this time, the signal carrying the information of the integrated flow value output from the flow integrating unit 20 is transmitted to the integrated flow value display unit 31 of the display unit 30 (s3). Further, a pulse corresponding to the flow rate of a digit smaller than the minimum digit of the numerical value display of the flow rate integrated value is transmitted from the flow rate integrating section 20 to the flow rate blinking display section 32 (s4).

When the display unit 30 receives the signal and the pulse sent from the flow integrating unit 20, the integrated flow value display unit 31
The numerical value of the integrated flow value is displayed at (s5), and at the same time, the figure blinking in accordance with the flow rate is displayed on the flow blinking display section 32 (N to s6 of s10).

The operation from the measurement of the gas flow rate to the display is repeated in this manner, but as shown in FIG.
When a command to switch the display of the figure to be suppressed in the middle is input from the switch input switch 50 to the control unit 40 (s
7) The control unit 40 includes the flow rate integrating unit 20 and the display unit 30
Is controlled so that a blinking figure is not displayed (s8). At the same time, the display control logic storage unit 41 stores a flag F1 carrying information that the display of the graphic has been suppressed (s9). Therefore, this flag F1
Before the shipment inspection, the display control logic storage unit 41
When the switching command to suppress the display of the graphic is input after the shipment inspection is completed,
It is stored in the display control logic storage unit 41 for the first time.

When the shipment inspection is completed, the gas meter 1 is shipped, but the entire operation of the gas meter 1 is temporarily stopped until the gas meter 1 is installed in a user's house or store and started to be used (Y in s13). .

If there is no problem in the measurement performance or the like after the completion of the shipping inspection, the gas meter 1 is shipped as a product, installed in a user's home or store, and turned on again to measure the gas flow integrated value. Is started (s1).
To s11). At this time, as described above, since the flag F1 is already stored in the display control logic storage unit 41 at the time of shipment (Y in s10), based on the flag F1, the flow rate blinking display unit 32 performs blinking display of the figure. Suppress (do not blink).

Here, during the continuous use of the gas meter 1, for example, when it is suspected that a minute leak has occurred, the minute flow rate is determined in order to accurately confirm (detect) the minute flow rate in a short time. It is necessary to display a flashing figure correspondingly. Therefore, in such a case, the user or the person in charge of managing the gas operates the switch input switch 50 to input a command to restart the display of the graphic to the control unit 40 (s11).
Y). In response to the command input, the control unit 40 deletes the flag F1 stored in the display control logic storage unit 41 (s12), and restarts the blinking display of the graphic by the flow rate blinking display unit 32 ( N to s6 of s10
To s1). Then, when it is necessary to return to the normal flow rate integrated value measurement mode again after the confirmation of the minute leakage or the like is completed, the user or the person in charge of gas operates the switch input switch 50 to suppress the display of the graphic. The instruction to execute is input to the control unit 40 (Y in s7). Upon receiving the command input, the control unit 40 stores the flag F1 in the display control logic storage unit 41 (s9), and thereafter, it is possible to return to the state where the blinking display of the figure is suppressed again (s9 to s1).
3 N to s1 to s11 to s1).

On the other hand, the main operation of the flow reading device 2 is as shown in FIG. First, the optical sensor 60 of the flow rate reading device 2 is turned on by the flow rate blinking display unit 32 of the gas meter 1.
, The blinking of the figure displayed on the screen is made optically detectable (not shown). When the operation start switch is turned on, blinking of a figure displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 300 of the flow rate blinking display section 32 is detected by the optical sensor 60 (s61), and for example, one unit of pulse is performed for each blinking of the figure. Output is performed (s62). Then, the flow rate counting section 70 counts the cycle or frequency of the pulse by the counter circuit 72 based on the clock signal output from the clock circuit 73 (s63), and displays the data of the flow rate value obtained thereby on the display section 80. Send out. The display unit 80 displays the flow rate value as a numerical value read from the blinking of the graphic (s64). Such a series of operations (s61 to s65) are repeatedly performed. If an operation end command is input while the operation is being continued (s
65Y), the flow reading device 2 stops its entire operation.

As described above, according to the gas meter 1 and the flow rate reading device 2, 0.1 [L], which is a digit smaller than the minimum digit of the integrated flow value numerically displayed on the integrated flow value display section 31, and the like. A rectangular figure that blinks in response to a very small flow rate, such as 0.01 [L], is displayed on the flow blinking display unit 32, and the blinking of the figure is optically detected by the flow reading device 2 having a simple configuration. Since the micro flow rate value is automatically read, inspection at the time of shipment of the gas meter 1 can be automatically performed in a short time. Moreover, the flow rate reading device 2 used at this time can reliably read the flow value with an extremely simple configuration.

Further, even if a minute leak occurs while the gas meter 1 is used on the user side, it is possible to reliably confirm the presence or absence of the minute flow rate in a short time.

Since the blinking of the figure is suppressed in the integrated flow value measurement mode, when the gas meter 1 is actually used, the integrated flow value is only displayed numerically on the integrated flow value display section 31. There is no sense of incongruity with the display of the counter of the gas meter, and it is possible to prevent the erroneous recognition of the integrated value of the flow rate at the time of meter reading or the like.

When the gas meter 1 is installed on the user side after shipment and basically only the integrated value of the flow rate needs to be displayed, it is desirable to suppress the display of the graphic itself, but this is not a limitation. Instead of suppressing the blinking of the shape,
You may make it always display in a still state. For example, when the display screen of the flow rate blinking display unit 32 is a normally white mode liquid crystal display panel shown in FIG.
The three figures [L], 1 [L], and 0.1 [L] may always be stopped in black display. This allows
The blinking flow rate display section 32 displays a graphic for displaying the flow rate by blinking.
Can be always visually recognized as being displayable on the screen.

In the embodiment described above, the case where the present invention is applied to a gas meter which is one of typical flow rate measuring devices has been described. However, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the gas meter alone. No. In addition, the present invention is also applicable to, for example, a flow rate measuring device that measures the flow rate of a raw material gas or the like for the chemical industry.

[0054]

As described above, according to the flow rate measuring device, the gas meter or the flow rate reading device of the present invention, the flow rate is displayed by blinking a figure such as a dot or a rectangle, and the blinking of the figure can be simplified. In this case, the flow rate is detected by the flow rate reading device that optically detects the flow rate by using a low-cost optical sensor or the like, so that the flow rate can be reliably read automatically. As a result, automatic inspection and the like can be performed, so that the trouble and trouble of the inspection process that depended on human work can be improved.

According to the flow rate measuring device according to any one of claims 2 to 5 or the gas meter according to any one of claims 7 to 11, the figure blinking in response to the flow rate is displayed. Since at least one of the figures blinks in response to a change in a digit smaller than the minimum digit of the numerical value display of the flow rate integrated value,
There is an effect that a change in the integrated flow rate value in a small flow rate region can be confirmed in a short time. Further, there is an effect that the presence / absence of a small flow rate less than the minimum digit displayed as a numerical value can be reliably detected based on the blinking of the displayed graphic. As a result, the inspection process of the measurement performance in the small flow rate region can be completed in a short time, and the throughput of the inspection process can be further improved. Further, for example, the presence or absence of a minute flow rate caused by a minute leak can be detected in a short time by visual observation or using a flow rate reading device according to the twelfth or thirteenth aspects.

In the flow rate measuring device, gas meter, or flow rate reading device of the present invention, figures corresponding to a plurality of digits are provided, and when the flow rate value increases and the digits move up,
Correspondingly, by setting the figure of the next digit to blink, and by setting to perform reading corresponding to such carry of the digit, it is possible to detect the flow rate over a wide range of flow values. Needless to say, there are things.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a gas meter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a flow reading device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram exemplifying a state in which a flow rate integrated value is displayed as a numerical value or a graphic.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a state in which a flow rate value read from a blink of a graphic is displayed on a display unit of the flow rate reading device.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an outline of the operation of the gas meter.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an outline of an operation of the gas meter executed subsequent to the operation shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an outline of the operation of the flow reading device.

[Explanation of symbols]

10: flow rate measuring section, 20: flow rate integrating section, 30: display section,
40: control unit, 50: switch input switch

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (71) Applicant 000116633 Aichi Watch Electric Co., Ltd. 1-2-70, Millennial, Atsuta-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi (72) Inventor Ikko Itsui 1-5-2, Kaigan, Minato-ku, Tokyo Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Katto Sakai 1-5-20 Kaigan, Minato-ku, Tokyo Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Shinichi Sato 1-5-20 Kaigan, Minato-ku, Tokyo Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd. In-house (72) Inventor Shuichi Okada 4-1-2, Hirano-cho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi Within Osaka Gas Co., Ltd. ) Inventor Takato Sato 507-2 Shinhocho, Tokai-shi, Aichi Prefecture Toho Gas Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hori Itsuro 2-70, Millennial, Atsuta-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi Aichi Watch Electric Co., Ltd. Company in (72) inventor Masaki Ohashi Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture Atsuta-ku, thousand-year-chome No. 2 70 No. Aichitokeidenki Co., Ltd. in the F-term (reference) 2F030 CB02 CC13 CE02 CE22 CE25 2F031 AA01 AF04 AF10

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. Flow rate measuring means for measuring a flow rate of a fluid,
A flow rate measuring device having a flow rate integrating means for integrating the flow rate, and a flow rate integrated value display means for numerically displaying a flow rate integrated value obtained by the flow rate integrating means, wherein A flow rate measuring device comprising a flow rate blinking display means for displaying a blinking figure. 2. A flow rate measuring means for measuring a flow rate value of a fluid, a flow rate integrating means for integrating the flow rate value, and a flow rate integrated value display means for displaying a numerical value of the flow rate integrated value obtained by the flow rate integrating means. A flow rate measuring device having a flow rate blinking display means for displaying at least a figure blinking in response to a change in the flow rate integrated value of a digit smaller than the minimum digit of the numerical value displayed by the flow value display means. A flow measuring device characterized by the above-mentioned. 3. The flow rate measurement according to claim 2, wherein the flow rate blinking display means determines that there is a flow rate when the flow rate value exceeds a predetermined value, and blinks the graphic. apparatus. 4. The flow rate blinking display means displays a plurality of the figures, and changes each of the figures to a change in a numerical value of a different one of a plurality of digits of the integrated flow rate value. 3. The flow measurement device according to claim 1, wherein the flow measurement device blinks independently. 5. The flow rate measuring apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a blinking display switching means for switching display / non-display or blinking / non-blinking of the figure. . 6. The flow rate measuring device according to claim 1, further comprising a blinking display switching means for switching the blinking of the figure to a plurality of different blinking states. . 7. A flow rate measuring means for measuring a flow rate value of a gas, a flow rate integrating means for integrating the flow rate value, and a flow rate integrated value displaying means for displaying a numerical value of the flow rate integrated value obtained by the flow rate integrating means. A gas meter comprising: a flow rate blinking display means for displaying a figure blinking in response to a change in the integrated value of the flow rate. 8. A flow rate measuring means for measuring a flow rate value of gas, a flow rate integrating means for integrating the flow rate value, and a flow rate integrated value display means for displaying a numerical value of the flow rate integrated value obtained by the flow rate integrating means. A gas meter having flow rate blinking display means for displaying at least a figure blinking in response to a change in the flow rate integrated value of a digit smaller than the smallest digit of the numerical value displayed by the flow rate value display means. Characteristic gas meter. 9. The flow rate blinking display means displays a plurality of the figures, and changes each of the plurality of figures to a change in a numerical value of a different one of a plurality of digits of the integrated flow rate value. 9. The gas meter according to claim 7, wherein the gas meter is independently flashed correspondingly. 10. The flow rate blinking display means is capable of displaying a figure corresponding to a plurality of digits of a flow rate value, keeping the display time of the figure constant, and within the time, there is a change in the next integrated flow value. The gas meter according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein, in such a case, the graphic is displayed continuously and the graphic of the next digit is started to blink. 11. The display / non-display or blinking /
The gas meter according to any one of claims 7 to 10, further comprising blinking display switching means for switching non-blinking. 12. The display device according to claim 7, further comprising a blinking display switching means for switching the blinking of the figure to a plurality of different blinking states.
Gas meter as described in the two sections. 13. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 13, wherein the flow rate value display means displays the integrated value of the gas flow rate on a liquid crystal display panel as a numerical value, and the flow rate blinking display means displays the graphic on the liquid crystal display panel. The gas meter according to any one of claims 7 to 12, wherein the gas meter is provided. 14. An optical detection means for optically detecting a figure blinking and displayed in response to a change in a flow rate value or an integrated flow rate value of a fluid by a flow rate measuring device, and based on the blinking of the read figure. And a flow rate counting means for counting a change in the flow rate value or the integrated flow rate value of the fluid. 15. A figure blinked by a gas meter in response to a change in a gas flow value or a flow integrated value,
Flow rate reading means comprising: optical detection means for optically detecting; and flow rate counting means for counting a change in a flow rate value or an integrated flow rate value of the gas based on the blinking of the read figure. apparatus.