JP2003315201A - Leak tester - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a leak tester which does not erroneously recognize that there is a water leaks, even if a water faucet or the like at the end of a pipeline is mistakenly opened, during the time of judging whether or not there is a water leakage. <P>SOLUTION: The leak tester is arranged in a pipeline 2 for supplying water or hot water, and is provided with at least a pressure detecting means 8 and a water-channel shut-off means 7 arranged on the upstream side of the detecting means 8, and comprises a judging means for judging whether or not water leaks on the basis of a change in pressure with the passage of time, after the upstream side is shut off with the shut-off means 7 by closing a shot-off means 3 such as a water faucet or the like fitted to the end of the pipeline 2, after the pipeline 2 is filled with water by the use of shut-off means 3. It is determined that the shut-off mean 3 such as a faucet or the like fitted to the end of the pipeline 2 is opened, if a detected pressure value becomes a specified pressure or lower, after the shut off with the shut-off means 7. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a leak detector provided in a pipe line for supplying water or hot water to a faucet such as a faucet or a shower faucet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a leak detector, a pipe is filled with water and the downstream end of the pipe is closed and the upstream side is closed by a water passage opening / closing means, and then the presence or absence of water leak is judged based on the change in pressure over time. It is known that a flow rate sensor is used as seen in Japanese Patent No. 2841547 and that an electrode type or float type leak sensor is provided at a location where leaked water is collected. The device that determines the presence / absence can be provided at the lowest cost because it is not necessary to have an expensive flow rate sensor capable of detecting a minute flow rate or a plurality of water leakage sensors attached to various places of piping.

[0003]

However, in the conventional water leak tester for judging the presence or absence of water leak by the change of pressure over time, when the faucet or the like at the end of the pipeline is mistakenly opened during the water leak judgment, Since the pressure dropped, it was sometimes mistaken for water leakage. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a water leak detector that does not misidentify that there is water leak even if a faucet or the like at the end of a pipeline is accidentally opened during water leak determination.

[0004]

[Means for Solving the Problems and Their Actions and Effects] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, claim 1 is provided in a pipe line of water supply or hot water supply, and at least the pressure detection means and the upstream side of the pressure detection means are provided. By closing the opening and closing means such as a faucet provided at the downstream end of the pipeline, by further closing the water passage opening and closing means by closing the upstream side by the opening and closing means, In the water leak inspector provided with a judging means for judging the presence or absence of water leakage based on the change over time of the water supply pressure, the judging means is a first water pressure threshold value for judging that there is water leakage, and the end of the pipeline lower than the threshold value. Is provided with a second water pressure threshold value for determining that is opened, after closing by the water passage opening and closing means, if the pressure detection value by the pressure detecting means is below the second water pressure threshold value Open Since so as to determined that, not to be misjudged as leakage if such faucet is opened accidentally.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the water supply or hot water supply pipe is provided with at least a pressure detecting means and a water passage opening / closing means arranged upstream of the pressure detecting means, and is provided at a downstream end of the pipe. A judgment means for judging the presence / absence of water leakage is provided by closing the opening / closing means such as a faucet, and closing the water passage opening / closing means to close the upstream side by the opening / closing means. In the leak detector,
Since the determining means determines that the end of the pipeline is opened when the amount of decrease in the pressure detection value per unit time after the closing by the water passage opening / closing means is suddenly increased, the faucet or the like is erroneously determined. When opened, it will not be erroneously judged as water leak.

According to claim 3, the user cannot open the faucet or the like at the end of the pipeline by accidentally opening the faucet or the like on the operation panel or the like when the presence or absence of the water leak is judged. You can inform that.

According to the fourth aspect, when the user opens the water faucet or the like even when the presence / absence of water leakage is determined, the determination of the presence / absence of water leakage can be stopped and hot water or water can be used.

According to the fifth aspect, the presence / absence of water leakage can be surely determined because the presence / absence of water leakage, which has been temporarily stopped by the user opening the faucet during the determination of the presence / absence of water leakage, is performed again after a predetermined time.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, once the user has stopped the water tap or the like during the water leak determination, the water leak determination is temporarily stopped and the pressure change when the user closes the water tap is detected again. Because of this, the presence / absence of water leakage, which was once stopped, can be restarted earlier.

According to the present invention, the water passage opening / closing means is kept closed when it is repeatedly judged that the end of the pipeline has been opened during the presence / absence of water leakage. A large amount of water leakage due to indistinguishable pipe damage can be stopped, and damage due to flooding can be minimized.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention. The water leakage tester 4 is mounted on the water supply pipe 2 that extends from the water supply pipe 1 to the faucet 3 in a kitchen or a washroom in a house. The inspection device 4 includes a drive valve 7 that can be opened or closed by a signal from the control device 5, and a pressure sensor 8 that detects the water pressure in the water supply pipe 2 and outputs the water pressure to the control device 5. Further, an operation panel 6 is electrically connected to the control device 5, and the operation unit 6 includes an inspection switch 6a for starting a water leakage inspection, and an alarm buzzer 9 that is driven when it is determined that there is water leakage. An alarm lamp 10 is provided. As for the operation of the water leak inspector 4, the drive valve 7 is in the open state in the usage state other than during the water leak inspection, and the water supplied from the water supply source pipe 1 flows through the water supply pipe 2 by opening the faucet 3. It is supplied from the stopper 3. Further, in the water leakage inspection, in a state where the water supply pipe 2 is filled with water and the water faucet 3 is closed and water pressure is applied, the inspection switch 6a is turned on by the operation panel 6 and the drive valve 7 is closed so that the inside of the water supply pipe 2 is inspected. This is done by monitoring the change in water pressure.

Next, the electrical construction of the water leak detector will be described with reference to FIG. The inspection switch 6a and the pressure sensor 8 are connected to the CPU 13 via the input circuit 11, and the drive valve 7, the alarm buzzer 9 and the alarm lamp 10 are connected via the output circuit. Further, the CPU 13 sets the O of the inspection switch 6a to O.
Upon receiving the N signal, (1) a function of stopping the inspection when the water pressure in the water supply pipe 2 is equal to or lower than a preset water pressure Pa at which water leakage inspection is possible, (2) the drive valve is closed and the water supply pipe 2 within a predetermined time The function to judge the presence or absence of water leakage based on the change in water pressure in the inside, (3) When the water faucet 3 is opened based on the change in water pressure inside the water supply pipe 2 during the water leakage inspection, The function of opening the drive valve, (4) based on the change in the water pressure in the water supply pipe 2 that the water leak inspection interrupted by the water leak opening during the water leak inspection was closed. It has a function of judging and restarting, and is provided with a memory 14 for storing the program and the water pressure in the water supply pipe 2 before the start of the water leakage inspection.

Next, the operation of the water leakage tester will be described with reference to the flow chart of FIG. 3 and the diagram of FIG. 4 showing the relationship between the water pressure and the time after the drive valve is closed. In FIG. 4, the horizontal axis is the time axis,
The vertical axis is the water pressure in the water supply pipe. The water pressure Po is a water pressure when there is no water leakage, Pb is a first water pressure threshold value for determining water leakage, and Pc is a second water pressure threshold value for determining a faucet opening lower than Pb. When the drive valve 7 is closed, when there is water leakage, the water pressure in the water supply pipe 2 decreases with the passage of time. Therefore, it is determined that there is water leakage when the first hydraulic pressure threshold value Pb or less continues for a predetermined time (determination time: 5 seconds).
However, if the faucet is opened during the leak inspection, the water pressure will drop almost instantly. Therefore, before the threshold value Pb of the first hydraulic pressure is equal to or less than the threshold value Pc of the second hydraulic pressure before a predetermined time (determination time: 5 seconds) elapses. This determines that the faucet has been opened. Next, detailed operation will be described. First, in step S1, the leak detector 4 detects the water pressure in the water supply pipe 2 with the pressure sensor 8 while keeping the drive valve 7 open until the inspection switch 6a on the operation panel 6 is turned on, and the input circuit 11, It is stored in the memory 14 via the CPU 13. Next, when the inspection switch 6a is turned on in step S2, the water supply pipe 2 detected by the pressure sensor 8 in step S3.
If the water pressure inside is not less than the minimum water pressure Pa at which the predetermined water leak inspection can be performed, the drive valve 7 is operated at step S4.
Is closed to start the water leakage inspection, but if the water pressure in the water supply pipe 2 detected by the pressure sensor 8 in step S3 is less than the minimum water pressure Pa, the inspection is not possible and the inspection switch 6a is turned off (step S9). When the drive valve 7 is closed in step S4, the water pressure in the water supply pipe 2 is almost the water pressure Po at the time of closing when there is no water leakage as shown in FIG. The water pressure drops. Also, if the faucet is opened during the water leak test, the water pressure will drop almost immediately. Therefore, the first threshold value P of water pressure for determining that there is water leakage
By separately providing b and the second threshold value Pc of the water pressure that is lower than Pb for determining the faucet opening, it is possible to discriminate the decrease in the water pressure between the water leakage and the water tap opening.
When the water pressure sharply decreases due to the opening of the faucet, the water pressure becomes equal to or less than the first threshold value Pb of the water pressure that is determined to be leaking before the water pressure becomes less than the second water pressure threshold value Pc for determining the water tap opening. In the present example, when it is determined that there is water leakage, a condition of being continuous for 5 seconds is set (step S6), and if the water pressure becomes equal to or lower than the second threshold value Pc of water pressure for determining the water tap opening, it is determined that the water tap is open. (Step S10). If the water pressure in the water supply pipe 2 detected by the pressure sensor 8 within three minutes after the valve is closed in step S5 is less than the second water pressure threshold Pc for determining the water tap opening, the water tap 3
Is determined to have been opened, and the drive valve 7 is opened (step S11). And the water pressure at that time is the inspection switch O
When the water pressure before N becomes almost equal (step S12) and it continues for 10 minutes (step S13), the water leak inspection is started again assuming that the use of the faucet 3 is completed and closed (step S3). . Within 3 minutes after the valve is closed (step S5), the water pressure in the water supply pipe 2 detected by the pressure sensor 8 is less than the first water pressure threshold Pb for determining that there is water leakage, and the second water pressure for determining the water tap opening is When the state of being equal to or more than the threshold value Pc continues for 5 seconds (step S6), it is determined that there is water leakage, and the alarm buzzer 9 and the alarm lamp 10 are driven (step S).
7). Pressure sensor 8 within 3 minutes (step S5) after valve closing
When the water pressure in the water supply pipe 2 detected in step S1 does not fall below the first water pressure threshold Pb for determining that there is water leakage (step S
In 6), the second water pressure threshold value Pc for judging the water tap opening is smaller than the first water pressure threshold value Pb for judging that there is water leakage. Since it does not become less than the threshold value Pc of one water pressure (step S1
0), it is determined that there is no water leakage at the stage 3 minutes after the valve is closed, and the inspection ends (step S5, step S8 and step S).
9).

Therefore, it is possible to provide a water leak detector that does not erroneously recognize that there is water leak even if the faucet or the like at the end of the pipeline is accidentally opened during the presence / absence of water leak.

It should be noted that the first threshold value Pb of water pressure for judging that there is water leakage, the second threshold value Pc of water pressure for judging the opening of the faucet, and the inspection time after closing the drive valve 7 in this example is 3 minutes. Then, the condition for the presence of water leakage, which is continuous for 5 seconds, may be a predetermined constant or may be variable as a function of the water pressure Po during opening of the drive valve 7.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a block diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a relationship between water pressure and time after the drive valve is closed.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Water source pipe 2 water supply pipe 3 faucets 4 Water leak tester 5 control device 6 control panel 7 Drive valve 8 Pressure sensor 9 Alarm buzzer 10 alarm lamp 11 Input circuit 12 Output circuit 13 CPU 14 memory

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Osamu Inukai             43-1, Uozakihama-cho, Higashinada-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo             Inside this Yupro Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor, Koyoshi Takeda             43-1, Uozakihama-cho, Higashinada-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo             Inside this Yupro Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Toshimasa Maeda             2-1-1 Nakajima, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture             No. Totoki Equipment Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kimihiro Nakayama             2-1-1 Nakajima, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture             No. Totoki Equipment Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2G067 AA13 BB02 BB11 CC02 DD02                       EE08

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A water faucet or the like provided at a conduit for water supply or hot water supply, comprising at least a pressure detection means and a water passage opening / closing means arranged upstream of the pressure detection means, and provided at a downstream end of the pipeline. By closing the opening / closing means, and further closing the water passage opening / closing means to close the upstream side by the opening / closing means, there is provided a judging means for judging presence / absence of water leakage based on a temporal change of the water supply pressure. In the inspector, the determining means includes a first hydraulic pressure threshold value for determining that there is water leakage, and a second hydraulic pressure threshold value for determining that the end of the pipeline lower than the threshold value has been opened, and the water passage opening / closing A water leakage tester characterized by determining that the end of the pipeline has been opened when the pressure detection value by the pressure detection means becomes equal to or less than the second water pressure threshold after being closed by the means. 2. A water faucet or the like provided at a conduit for water supply or hot water supply, comprising at least a pressure detecting means and a water passage opening / closing means arranged upstream of the pressure detecting means, and provided at a downstream end of the pipeline. The water leak inspector provided with a judging means for judging the presence / absence of water leakage based on the change over time of the water supply pressure by closing the opening / closing means and closing the water passage opening / closing means to close the upstream side by the opening / closing means. In the water leakage tester, the determining means determines that the end of the pipeline is opened when the amount of decrease in the pressure detection value per unit time sharply increases after closing by the water passage opening / closing means. 3. The leak detector according to claim 1, further comprising an informing means for informing a user of a warning when it is determined that the end of the pipeline has been opened. 4. The leak detector according to claim 1, wherein when it is determined that the end of the pipeline has been opened, the water passage opening / closing means is opened to resume water passage. 5. When it is determined that the end of the pipeline has been opened, after opening the water passage opening / closing means to restart water passage, after a predetermined time has elapsed, the water passage opening / closing means is closed again to determine the presence or absence of water leakage. The water leakage tester according to any one of claims 1 to 2. 6. When it is determined that the end of the pipeline has been opened, after opening the water passage opening / closing means and restarting water flow, when it is detected that the end of the pipeline has been closed due to a change in pressure, it is immediately or for a predetermined time. The water leakage tester according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the water passage opening / closing means is closed again after a lapse of time to determine the presence or absence of water leakage. 7. When it is determined that the end of the pipeline has been opened and the water passage opening / closing means is opened to restart water flow, and then it is detected that the end of the pipeline has been closed due to a change in pressure, a predetermined time elapses. When the water passage opening / closing means is closed again to determine the presence or absence of water leakage, and when it is determined that the end of the pipeline has been opened again, it is determined that a large amount of water has leaked and the water passage opening / closing means remains closed. The water leak tester according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein: